Overlord of the Wilderness

「Three days later.」

The battles for those below the Martial Arts Ninth Layer had concluded after three days. To everyone’s surprise, Jiang Ailiang, a newly admitted disciple, had dominated all the other True Hall Disciples. He defeated Jiang An, who had been number one below the Ninth Layer, and became the strongest person beneath the Martial Arts Ninth Layer.

Next up was the final showdown between the four Martial Arts Ninth Layer experts—Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, Fang Caiying, and Zhaang Ye—to determine the final rankings.

The four of them were to be split into two pairs. The method for grouping them was simple: drawing lots.

It was only then that people noticed Zhaang Ye hadn’t arrived. The Second Elder of the Wei Kingdom True Hall was presiding over the competition. After calling Zhaang Ye’s name a few times with no response, his brows furrowed slightly. He declared in a deep voice, ”Continue with the drawing! If Zhaang Ye has not arrived by the time his match begins, his opponent will automatically win.”

The results of the drawing were soon revealed. Fang Caiying stared at the lot in her hand with a strange expression. As it turned out, her opponent was none other than Zhaang Ye. Meanwhile, Wei Jingtian and Xuli Long were matched against each other.

After a moment of contemplation, Fang Caiying turned to the Second Elder and said, ”For this match, I forfeit.”

”Forfeit?!” the Second Elder said, astonished. ”Are you sure?”

Fang Caiying nodded slightly. ”I am sure.”

”WHOA—” An uproar immediately erupted among the True Hall Disciples watching below the arena. Fang Caiying was incredibly powerful. Her Divine Intent Three Fingers had defeated countless experts, and she was even ranked higher than Xuli Long. Given her formidable strength, no one could believe she would give up so easily.

”Zhaang Ye just reached the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, while Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, and Fang Caiying have been experts at this level for a long time. Zhaang Ye probably knows he’s no match for them, so he didn’t even show up,” a disciple guessed in a low voice.

Someone else nodded in agreement. ”Heh, that’s possible. Those three—Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, and Fang Caiying—are all battle-hardened masters. Even if Zhaang Ye has reached the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, there’s still a huge gap between him and them.”

Another person frowned. ”I doubt it. Zhaang Ye is still a great expert of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, no matter what. How could he be afraid to fight?”

”If he isn’t afraid, then why didn’t he get here on time? This is the New King Selection Tournament, such an important event, and he can’t even arrive promptly. He’s clearly afraid of embarrassing himself and decided to just stay away!”

...

While the many True Hall Disciples chattered amongst themselves, Fang Caiying’s expression remained calm. After her battle with Zhaang Ye three days ago, she knew his strength was far superior to her own, which was why she had forfeited so decisively. Forfeiting now also bought Zhaang Ye some time, hoping he could make it to the arena.

Just as the crowd was in the thick of their discussion, Zhaang Ye’s cyan figure suddenly appeared on the arena stage.

Zhaang Ye had spent the last few days nurturing his soul and had completely lost track of time. It wasn’t until the Fourth Hall Master reminded him that he had hurried over. The moment he arrived on the stage, he heard the discussions of the True Hall Disciples. A cold sneer formed in his mind, and he let out a soft snort.

”SPUTTER SPUTTER SPUTTER SPUTTER SPUTTER!”

Although Zhaang Ye had only let out a soft snort, his Cultivation was so profound that the sound washed over them like a wave. The gossiping True Hall Disciples felt their breathing hitch as a violent gust of air forced its way into their seven orifices, causing several of them to choke, their vital energy thrown into chaos as they coughed up blood on the spot.

”HISS!”

This invisible, lethal technique of Zhaang Ye’s instantly silenced the area, both on and off the stage. The method of injuring people with sound alone caused the expressions of the Martial Arts Seventh Layer and Martial Arts Eighth Layer experts to change. Even the few Stewards near the stage looked aghast.

”Zhaang Ye, what a grand display of might! If you’ve got the guts, let’s see you try that on me later!” Xuli Long called out coldly.

Among the disciples injured just now, two belonged to the Second Hall Master’s faction. For a great expert of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer like Zhaang Ye to actually injure ordinary disciples with just his voice left Xuli Long extremely displeased, and he immediately spoke up to mock Zhaang Ye.

Before Zhaang Ye could speak, Wei Jingtian also frowned slightly and said, ”Junior Brother Zhaang, you are a great expert of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer. Lowering yourself to bicker with disciples of the Martial Arts Sixth and Seventh Layers is beneath your station, isn’t it? We are bound to fight later. Whatever skills you have, you can use them on me then. I’ll take them all on!”

Zhaang Ye raised an eyebrow and said coolly, ”As a Martial Arts Ninth Layer expert, I am their senior by a generation, their martial uncle. These disciples showed no respect for their elders, freely gossiping about and belittling a senior. Should they not be taught a lesson? Since when has the Wei Kingdom True Hall allowed disciples to slander their elders at will?”

Wei Jingtian and Xuli Long were both struck speechless.

Then, Zhaang Ye’s gaze fell upon Wei Jingtian and Xuli Long. He spoke again, his tone just as placid, ”You two are eager to fight me, is that right? Fine, I’ll satisfy you right now. Both of you can come at me together!”

Together?

The moment Zhaang Ye’s voice fell, a dead silence descended upon the entire arena. Everyone looked at their companions, questioning if they had heard correctly. Even Xuli Long and Wei Jingtian suspected they had misheard. They glanced at each other, their expressions indescribably strange.

BOOM!

After a brief silence, sounds of ridicule, whispers, and strange laughter erupted. The area around the stage became as noisy as a marketplace.

”No way! Did he just challenge two Martial Arts Ninth Layer experts at the same time? Did I hear that right?”

”Wei Jingtian is the number one expert of the Wei Kingdom’s Younger Generation. Ever since entering the True Hall, he’s been undefeated among his peers. And while Xuli Long’s strength is a little less than Wei Jingtian’s, he isn’t far behind. He’s even cultivated his Dragon and Tiger Celestial Hand to the Great Success Realm. For Zhaang Ye to challenge both of these formidable experts at once... has he lost his mind?!”

”Yeah, exactly! Zhaang Ye reached the Martial Arts Ninth Layer before the age of thirty, so his talent is even greater than Wei Jingtian’s. But combat power can’t be measured by Cultivation level alone. Challenging two long-established experts of the same level at the same time... he simply doesn’t know the immensity of Vast Heaven and Earth!”

”Hehehehe! So arrogant! Let’s see how he gets himself out of this one!”

In a small house atop the thousand-zhang-tall giant tree, the Fourth Hall Master’s brow was deeply furrowed. Although he knew Zhaang Ye had his own trump cards, challenging two great experts of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer at once was far too arrogant. What’s more, Zhaang Ye’s soul was still gravely injured, and his combat strength was affected.

The Fourth Hall Master shook his head slightly, thinking, ’This kid... it seems his Cultivation has risen too quickly, and his temperament has become unstable. After this selection tournament, I must have him temper his character. Otherwise, he’ll never have a chance to advance to the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage or Late Stage...’

The Second Hall Master and Third Hall Master were also using their Spiritual Power to quietly observe the New King Selection Tournament. When they heard Zhaang Ye challenge both Wei Jingtian and Xuli Long, the two Hall Masters simply gave a slight, dismissive laugh and went back to their own business, paying Zhaang Ye’s words no mind.

”HAHAHAHA!” Amidst the clamor of the True Hall Disciples, Xuli Long finally spoke. As if he had just heard the most hilarious joke, he let out an earth-shattering laugh, his gaze falling coldly upon Zhaang Ye. ”You want me, Xuli Long, and Wei Jingtian to attack together? HAHAHAHA, Zhaang Ye, are you worthy? Your Cultivation is merely at the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, and you’ve only just reached it. With just that, you think you can challenge both of us at once? You think far too highly of yourself! Zhaang Ye, I, Xuli Long, am telling you: you. are. not. worthy!”

Having said his piece, Xuli Long’s figure blurred, and he suddenly appeared on the arena stage. He sneered, ”Zhaang Ye, it seems your mind has become unstable. I advise you to return to your valley and meditate in seclusion! If you keep this up, I’m afraid you’ll turn into a madman...”

Zhaang Ye remained silent, but he suddenly took a step forward.

”BOOM!”

The entire stage began to tremble. An incredibly majestic aura erupted forth, transforming into a Tornado that locked firmly onto Xuli Long. Xuli Long had been about to say more, but when he felt this terrifying aura, his expression changed drastically. He hastily circulated the True Qi in his body to resist Zhaang Ye’s imposing pressure.

”BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

With his aura locked onto Xuli Long, Zhaang Ye took three more steps forward. With each step, his aura surged to a new height. By the third step, Zhaang Ye’s presence had reached its peak, faintly blanketing the entire venue. The terrifying pressure weighed down on everyone’s hearts like a great mountain. The disciples who had been gossiping and jeering moments before were crushed by this pressure, their voices cut off abruptly, like a crowing rooster that had just been throttled!

’What a terrifying aura! Zhaang Ye has completely fused his Spiritual Power into his presence! How is his Spiritual Power so strong?’ Xuli Long was being crushed by Zhaang Ye’s aura, struggling to breathe. He was both shocked and bewildered, unable to comprehend how Zhaang Ye’s Spiritual Power could be this immense.

”HISS HISS HISS—” Xuli Long was horrified. Below the stage, the True Hall Disciples were like a pack of snakes, all sucking in sharp breaths of cold air and making hissing sounds. They couldn’t possibly imagine that Zhaang Ye’s aura could be this powerful, that he could suppress Xuli Long with his presence alone!

”SWISH!”

After taking three steps, Zhaang Ye formed a blade with his hand and slashed down at Xuli Long.

”FWOOM!”

A pale gray storm suddenly materialized between heaven and earth. An even more terrifying aura descended in an instant, crushing the ordinary True Hall Disciples to the point they nearly coughed up blood. Caught within it, Xuli Long’s face drained of all color when he saw the storm. He screamed in terror, ”Ah... a Space Storm! A Space Storm! This is a Space Storm! How is this possible!”(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)