Overlord of the Wilderness

The short-haired middle-aged man’s hands trembled as he touched his bloated stomach, feeling nothing but endless humiliation. He had spent his whole life bullying others; when had he ever been force-fed a bellyful of stinking swamp mud? The overwhelming shame made his face flush a deep crimson, like a boiled lobster.

”Ah!” Overcome by a rush of blood to his head, the short-haired middle-aged man cried out and fainted.

”Your methods are truly domineering!” Lingruo Sea’s voice traveled from afar. With every word that reached Zhaang Ye, he drew closer. Shortly after the four words were spoken, the man had already crossed a distance of five or six li, appearing before Zhaang Ye.

It turned out that when Lingruo Sea saw Zhaang Ye effortlessly defeat two Martial Arts Seventh Layer experts in quick succession, he was greatly astonished and had rushed over.

Lingruo Sea stared at Zhaang Ye with a sinister grin and said, ”Brat, do you have any idea who we are?”

Zhaang Ye chuckled and said, ”Not only do I know who you are, I know your name is Lingruo Sea. And what’s more, I even know you were beaten by the Rakshasa King of Python City until you were coughing up blood...”

”Silence!” Being defeated by the Rakshasa King was the greatest humiliation of Lingruo Sea’s life. Hearing Zhaang Ye bring it up, Lingruo Sea’s expression instantly changed. He spoke with chilling killing intent, ”Brat, you’ve succeeded in provoking me. Now, you can go to hell!”

With that, Lingruo Sea abruptly threw a punch at Zhaang Ye.

As Lingruo Sea’s fist shot out, the air within a ten-zhang radius instantly solidified, freezing even Zhaang Ye in place, as if he had been teleported into a block of transparent, giant ice.

This ability to solidify the air was one of Lingruo Sea’s peculiar Combat Skills—the Qi Lock. When this Qi Lock was unleashed, his True Qi would instantly lock down the space within a ten-zhang radius, slowing his opponent’s movements and preventing them from launching a timely attack.

Ever since cultivating this Qi Lock to the Minor Achievement stage, an unknown number of experts had fallen to Lingruo Sea. He was using the Qi Lock now with the express purpose of quickly defeating and humiliating Zhaang Ye.

RUMBLE—

Lingruo Sea’s fist pressed forward heavily, suddenly appearing just five chi from Zhaang Ye. At that moment, Zhaang Ye finally made his move. His palm sliced through the air in a perfect, straight line, striking right on top of Lingruo Sea’s fist.

BOOM!

When fist and palm collided, both Lingruo Sea and Zhaang Ye retreated two steps.

Lingruo Sea felt waves of pain from his fist. He glanced at it impassively, only to see a gruesome gash on his hardened fist. Evidently, the Hand Blade Zhaang Ye had just delivered had managed to wound him.

”Huh?” Lingruo Sea’s gaze grew serious. Although his last strike had only used fifty percent of his True Qi, it was by no means insignificant. An ordinary Martial Arts Seventh Layer expert would have found it difficult to escape unscathed from that blow. Zhaang Ye had not only effortlessly broken his Qi Lock but had also wounded his fist. Such strength was far beyond his expectations!

SHING! Lingruo Sea drew his Long Sword. Eighty percent of his skill lay in his swordsmanship. Seeing Zhaang Ye’s terrifying strength, he had drawn his blade at the first opportunity.

Zhaang Ye had witnessed Lingruo Sea’s abilities back in Python City and knew that his swordsmanship was formidable. As Lingruo Sea drew his Long Sword, the Heavy Saber on Zhaang Ye’s back also appeared in his hand in an instant.

Looking at Lingruo Sea, a faint killing intent stirred in Zhaang Ye’s heart. ’The two Martial Arts Seventh Layer Martial Artists are already heavily injured and have no fighting strength left. If I kill this Lingruo Sea, and then finish off the other two, there will be no future trouble!’

As killing intent rose in his heart, Zhaang Ye’s aura instantly became murderous. He abruptly pointed his Heavy Saber, and with a soft FWOOSH, a Tornado suddenly appeared, locking firmly onto Lingruo Sea.

Lingruo Sea’s Qi Lock could immobilize and restrict an opponent. Zhaang Ye’s Tornado had a similar effect. The Tornado’s powerful Rotating Power could firmly lock onto an opponent while also severely restricting their attacks. Locking onto an opponent with a Tornado before striking had already become Zhaang Ye’s signature method of attack.

CRACKLE! Lingruo Sea hadn’t expected Zhaang Ye to be able to conjure a Tornado to lock onto him. However, his reaction was extremely fast. The moment the Tornado took hold, True Qi surged from his body. The Tornado Zhaang Ye had sent forth had only just appeared before it was blasted apart by Lingruo Sea’s tyrannical True Qi.

Although he had dispersed Zhaang Ye’s Tornado, Lingruo Sea’s heart sank.

It had taken him only an instant to shatter the Tornado, but that instant was more than enough for his opponent to launch an attack.

In other words, in that brief clash of auras, he, an Inner Hall Disciple of the True Hall, had already fallen behind.

SWOOSH!

Just as Lingruo Sea expected, the moment the Tornado was dispersed, Zhaang Ye’s attack arrived. A jet-black saber light tore through the void, slashing straight toward him.

Fast!

Domineering!

Tornado!

Devouring Power!

The moment Zhaang Ye unleashed his Saber Technique, Lingruo Sea’s expression changed slightly. He had been cultivating for decades and had seen countless Combat Skills, but he had never encountered a Saber Technique as strange as this.

SWISH!

Lingruo Sea’s Long Sword vibrated, and in an instant, man and sword merged into one, transforming into a massive beam of Sword Light that shot straight toward Zhaang Ye’s Heavy Saber.

BOOM!

The dazzling white Sword Light collided with the pitch-black Saber Qi, erupting in a huge shower of sparks, like an oversized firework exploding.

Lingruo Sea retreated rapidly, spitting out mouthfuls of blood as he went. In that last exchange, Zhaang Ye’s Heavy Saber had felt like a great mountain pressing down on him. Even the Man and Sword as One technique he had executed was unable to neutralize Zhaang Ye’s Saber Qi. From that single blow, Lingruo Sea was heavily injured, and even a few of his teeth had been knocked loose by the impact.

Zhaang Ye also retreated rapidly. The Sword Techniques Lingruo Sea had just used sent Sword Qi stabbing toward him like needles. The skin on Zhaang Ye’s arm was instantly flayed away by the Sword Qi, and a small stream of it even invaded his Meridians. If not for the growing might of his Dragon Elephant Power, that blow alone would have heavily injured him!

An incredible discomfort filled his body, but a flash of excitement flickered in Zhaang Ye’s eyes. He knew that in the last clash, Lingruo Sea’s injuries were even more severe than his own. As long as he pressed his advantage, he could definitely kill Lingruo Sea!

ROAR!

Just as Zhaang Ye was about to kill Lingruo Sea in one fell swoop, a majestic cry suddenly echoed from the far reaches of the swamp. The sound came from over a hundred li away, but when Zhaang Ye and Lingruo Sea heard it, they both felt as if their hearts had been struck by a heavy hammer, and a wave of discomfort washed over them.

Zhaang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. He knew that the Hundred-foot Python was now within a hundred li. If he continued to fight Lingruo Sea, the commotion might attract it. Yet, this was the perfect opportunity to kill Lingruo Sea and his two companions. If he let them go, he would have to face their revenge in the future.

’Should I flee for my life now, or kill these three disciples from the Da Ling Kingdom’s True Hall and then flee?’

Zhaang Ye made a lightning-fast decision in his mind. ’Forget it, I’ll run first! Those three are already heavily injured. When that Hundred-foot Python arrives, they’ll die sooner or later anyway!’

With this thought, Zhaang Ye’s figure suddenly transformed into a green shadow and shot toward the edge of the swamp.

Having been heavily injured by Zhaang Ye’s blow, Lingruo Sea had already prepared to fight to the death. He never expected Zhaang Ye to suddenly turn and flee, which made him sigh in relief. At that moment, however, he also realized the danger. His figure flashed, and he grabbed his two companions, speeding off toward the outside.

ROAR!

Another low roar came from behind them. Lingruo Sea and his two companions were already severely wounded. Under the impact of this cry, their internal injuries were aggravated, and all three of them simultaneously spat out blood wildly!

’That brat was right! A Giant Python with dragon blood really does exist in this swamp! Just its voice is this powerful... its strength must far surpass the Martial Arts Seventh Layer. I’m a dead man!’ A deathly pallor spread across Lingruo Sea’s face.

Lingruo Sea’s heart was filled with despair. The short-haired middle-aged man and the tall, thin Martial Artist also had ashen faces. Although they knew that a python possessing an Ancient Giant Dragon Bloodline was terrifying, they had never imagined it would be terrifying to this degree—that its cry alone could make them cough up blood uncontrollably.

If they hadn’t been injured, they might have had a chance to escape. But all three of them were heavily wounded. Even if they tried to flee, they couldn’t move fast enough. At the Giant Python’s speed, it would probably catch up to them in an instant!

Just as Lingruo Sea was succumbing to despair, a faint human silhouette suddenly descended from the sky, resolving into a white-haired, middle-aged man.

Upon seeing this white-haired man, a look of joy appeared in Lingruo Sea’s eyes. The short-haired middle-aged man and the tall, thin Martial Artist were also ecstatic. The three of them cried out in unison, ”Ninth Martial Uncle! What are you doing here?”

”Hmm?” The Ninth Martial Uncle appeared before the three of them in an instant and asked, ”How did you get injured so badly? Who did this to you?”

”It was some unknown brat!” Lingruo Sea said through gritted teeth. ”His Saber Technique is incredible. Once my injuries have healed, I will kill him with my own hands!”

A glint flashed in the Ninth Martial Uncle’s eyes. He said slowly, ”How audacious, to dare to harm a disciple of our Da Ling Kingdom’s True Hall! Let’s go. This Giant Python is extremely powerful; even I am no match for it. We’ll leave this place first. We can talk about revenge later!”

As he spoke, the Ninth Martial Uncle abruptly lifted the three of them with his two hands. Their combined weight exceeded five hundred jin, but this didn’t affect his Body Technique in the slightest. With just a slight movement, he vanished from the spot with the three of them in tow. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)