Overlord of the Wilderness

After slapping Mei Zhihua away, Zhaang Ye stood with his eyes closed, silently contemplating the mysteries of Spiritual Power.

Ever since the memories of his past life awakened, Zhaang Ye’s Soul Power had been far stronger than an ordinary person’s. At thirteen, he was attacked with the Mysterious Blade Tip by a bearded middle-aged man. Zhaang Ye unleashed a powerful burst of Soul Power, forcibly breaking free from the Spiritual Power lock and catching the Mysterious Blade Tip with his bare hands.

When he was being hunted by the masters of the Zhou Family, Zhaang Ye’s Soul Power was once again on display. Although his Cultivation was only at the Martial Arts Second Layer, he could sense the searching of the ”Celestial Vision and Earthly Hearing” technique, allowing him to escape the pursuit of the Zhou Family’s Third Elder.

In the Mammoth Cemetery, Zhaang Ye withstood the Suppression of the Ancient Mammoths, allowing his spirit and will to be tempered for the first time.

Later, at the City Lord’s Mansion in Cyan Mulberry City, he watched three days of slaughter, tempering his spirit and will for a second time. Among his peers, only Zhaang Ye was able to watch three days of carnage and still walk away composed.

During the aptitude enhancement at the Cyan Mulberry Zhang Family, Zhaang Ye soaked in a terrifying medicinal solution and endured immense pain and suffering, which tempered his spirit and will for a third time.

While passing the trials for the Wei Kingdom True Hall, Zhaang Ye passed through the Ancient Passage in one go, tempering his spirit and will for a fourth time.

The Qi Refining Technique was a strange Cultivation Method, and its Cultivation was excruciatingly painful. Relying on his powerful spirit and will, Zhaang Ye endured the agony time and again, forcibly cultivating the Qi Refining Technique to the Great Success Realm. This tempered his spirit and will for a fifth time.

After that, Zhaang Ye fought against powerful enemies and escaped death time and time again, his spirit and will tempering with each trial. When the Ancient Dragon Power entered Xuli Qiqi’s Meridians, Zhaang Ye finally caught a glimpse of the mysteries of Spiritual Power.

Spiritual Power was a force that manifested when one’s spirit and will were condensed to their absolute limit. Ordinary people had to cultivate to the Martial Arts Ninth Layer to hone their Spiritual Power. However, Zhaang Ye’s Soul Power was stronger than that of an ordinary person, and his spirit and will were also considerably more powerful. Thus, after raising his Cultivation to the Martial Arts Seventh Layer, Zhaang Ye had already faintly touched the threshold of Spiritual Power.

Though he knew he was different from ordinary people, Zhaang Ye did not overestimate himself. He estimated that he would need to cultivate to at least the Martial Arts Eighth Layer to obtain this profound and mysterious power. He had challenged the masters of the younger generation merely to comprehend more of the mysteries of Spiritual Power.

Unexpectedly, at a critical moment between life and death, Zhaang Ye’s Spiritual Power had a massive breakthrough. He now felt that he had already taken half a step through the gateway to Spiritual Power. As long as he could grasp a few key points, he would be able to possess Spiritual Power, and his strength would increase dramatically.

”Hmph!”

The old man from the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall saw that Zhaang Ye had not only turned defeat into victory but also seemed to be on the verge of an epiphany. A wave of irritation washed over him. His figure flashed past Zhaang Ye from a distance, and he let out a cold ”hmph.”

Zhaang Ye had struck a heavy blow, turning Li Zhongtian into a cripple in an instant. But Zhaang Ye had defeated Li Zhongtian fair and square. Even though the Elder from the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall was furious, he could find no reason to attack Zhaang Ye. Under these circumstances, the Elder simply circulated his True Qi covertly and let out a cold snort to interrupt Zhaang Ye’s moment of enlightenment.

He hadn’t attacked Zhaang Ye, merely snorted. Even if the people from the Wei Kingdom True Hall knew he had done it on purpose, they would have no proof.

At that moment, Zhaang Ye was in a wondrous state, only a hair’s breadth away from comprehending Spiritual Power. The cold snort from the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall Elder instantly shattered his enlightenment. Zhaang Ye felt a loud ROAR in his mind and was immediately knocked out of his state of comprehension.

”Ling Wuliang, you’re courting death!”

Before Zhaang Ye even opened his eyes, he heard the dense sound of Powerful Qi clashing. Opening his eyes, he saw two figures in the sky above the small courtyard, radiating an incredibly terrifying aura as their four palms stirred up endless gales.

It turned out that when Wei Jiu’s Book saw Ling Wuliang darting toward the courtyard, he had followed him. Seeing Ling Wuliang intentionally make a sound to interrupt Zhaang Ye’s enlightenment, Wei Jiu’s Book had flown into a rage and immediately attacked Ling Wuliang. The two were now battling in the air.

The two exchanged several blows. Ling Wuliang grunted in pain, and his figure suddenly fell from the sky to the ground. As it happened, their strengths were roughly equal, but since Wei Jiu’s Book had attacked first, he had gained a slight advantage and landed a punch on Ling Wuliang’s shoulder.

Having suffered a small setback, Ling Wuliang’s face turned ashen. ”Wei Jiu’s Book, you attacked me for no reason. Are you trying to start an all-out war with our Da Ling Kingdom True Hall?”

Wei Jiu’s Book sneered coldly. ”You have the nerve to say that! Martial Nephew Zhaang Ye had just entered a state of enlightenment, and you deliberately made a sound to interrupt him. Did you think I wouldn’t notice? You openly attacked a junior, which breaks the rules. I will definitely report this matter to the Hall Master!”

Ling Wuliang already had a retort prepared. He also sneered and said, ”I just saw my Martial Nephew Li Zhongtian severely injured and snorted out of anxiety. What’s wrong with that? Is this area some kind of forbidden ground where even speaking is not allowed?”

”This...!” Although Wei Jiu’s Book knew the man had done it on purpose, he found that he simply couldn’t refute his argument.

A hint of smugness flashed through Ling Wuliang’s eyes. He looked at Zhaang Ye with mock regret and said, ”You’re Zhaang Ye, right? Remember this: next time you want to have an epiphany about something, you’d best find a secluded place to do it slowly. If you try to do it out in the open, it’s very easy to be interrupted, hahaha...”

As he spoke, Ling Wuliang stomped his foot lightly, and Li Zhongtian’s entire body was jolted into the air. He grabbed Li Zhongtian with one hand. With his other hand, Ling Wuliang made a grasping motion, pulling Mei Zhihua, who had fallen dozens of yards away, toward him.

Holding the two of them, a murderous glint flashed in Ling Wuliang’s eyes. His Spiritual Power was incredibly profound. With just a brief scan, he knew that all of Li Zhongtian’s Meridians had been severed. Even if they spared no expense and used Spirit Elixirs to reconnect his broken Meridians, he would never be restored to his original state. In other words, Li Zhongtian was now a cripple.

As for Mei Zhihua, she had been struck by Zhaang Ye’s palm. The immense force sent her flying dozens of yards, and the bones in her hand had been shattered by Zhaang Ye’s immense power. Although the broken bones could be set, it would require the use of Spirit Elixirs, which was undoubtedly a huge expense.

Ling Wuliang glanced at their injuries and was about to leave with them. Just then, Zhaang Ye spoke calmly, ”Hold on. Elder Ling, leave the woman behind.”

”Hm?” Ling Wuliang looked at Zhaang Ye coldly. ”Junior, you dare to command me?”

Ling Wuliang was a master of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer. As he spoke, his aura slowly pressed out, enveloping Zhaang Ye.

If it were an ordinary Martial Arts Seventh Layer master, being suppressed by this aura infused with Spiritual Power would likely leave them terrified. But Zhaang Ye had already faintly touched the threshold of Spiritual Power. Though Ling Wuliang’s aura was formidable, it couldn’t do anything to Zhaang Ye.

When Wei Jiu’s Book saw Ling Wuliang use his aura to suppress Zhaang Ye, he was about to intervene. But upon seeing that Zhaang Ye was perfectly at ease under Ling Wuliang’s aura, he decided not to interfere.

Under Ling Wuliang’s aura, Zhaang Ye’s figure didn’t move an inch. He sneered and said, ”This woman just launched a sneak attack on me. If I hadn’t reacted quickly, my life would have ended on her Long Sword. I am a True Hall Disciple of the Wei Kingdom. Her sneak attack was not only an offense against me but also an offense against our Wei Kingdom True Hall. Her crime is punishable by death. What? Are you thinking of shielding her, Elder Ling?”

Ling Wuliang’s expression changed. Mei Zhihua had indeed launched a sneak attack on Zhaang Ye; by rights, she should die. But Mei Zhihua was, after all, a True Hall Disciple of the Da Ling Kingdom. If he simply handed her over to Zhaang Ye, not only would he lose face, but the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall would lose face as well.

At this moment, Wei Jiu’s Book suddenly took a step forward, blocking Ling Wuliang’s path. He said grimly, ”Martial Nephew Zhaang Ye is right! This woman’s sneak attack was a grave offense against the dignity of our Wei Kingdom True Hall. She must die!”

Wei Dajin had also returned to the small courtyard without a sound, subtly blocking Ling Wuliang’s escape route. If Ling Wuliang insisted on taking Mei Zhihua, he would surely join forces with Wei Jiu’s Book to keep Ling Wuliang there.

Ling Wuliang weighed the situation in his mind. With an angry snort, he flung his hand, and Mei Zhihua flew toward Zhaang Ye.

Zhaang Ye caught Mei Zhihua. Seeing Ling Wuliang about to leave, he said in a low voice, ”Elder Ling, hold on!”

”Hm?” Ling Wuliang’s gaze shot toward Zhaang Ye like two daggers. ”Junior, do not provoke my anger. Otherwise, even with Elder Wei here, you will not escape death.”

The Da Ling Kingdom True Hall had always been a notch above the Wei Kingdom True Hall in terms of power. It was precisely because of this powerful backing that Ling Wuliang spoke with such arrogance and directness.

Zhaang Ye had been on the verge of comprehending the mysteries of Spiritual Power and possessing it for himself. Having his enlightenment interrupted had filled Zhaang Ye’s heart with immense killing intent. This Ling Wuliang had now become a person Zhaang Ye was determined to kill.

Meeting Ling Wuliang’s grim gaze without a trace of weakness, Zhaang Ye stared back and said, word by word, ”I will take your earlier lesson to heart, Elder. To thank you for your teachings, in six months, I will come to your door to experience your ultimate techniques. I hope you will be able to offer me some guidance.”

An uproar!

Upon hearing Zhaang Ye’s words, all the Martial Artists were stunned. Although Zhaang Ye had politely said he wanted to ”experience” his techniques, everyone could tell that he was issuing a challenge to Ling Wuliang!

An Early-stage Seventh Layer Martial Artist was actually challenging a great master of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)