Overlord of the Wilderness

In a valley, Zhaang Ye was carefully examining an ancient map.

This was the ancient map Feng Tongming had given Zhaang Ye, and it marked the location of the Phoenix Nirvana. The Land of Divine Abandonment contained countless volcanoes, and the site of the Phoenix Nirvana was situated within a volcanic cluster. This region was incredibly hot and home to a terrifying species of Fire Crow, making it exceptionally dangerous.

After studying it for a moment, Zhaang Ye put the map away. He was in great need of the Ancient Phoenix Power, but the site of the Phoenix Nirvana was a long way from the Wei Kingdom, and he had no time for such a venture at the moment.

Over the days that followed, Zhaang Ye first diligently studied the cultivation notes of the four Hall Masters. These notes chronicled the growth of four True Dao Experts and were a great source of enlightenment for him. After reading them, some of the problems Zhaang Ye had encountered in his own cultivation were easily resolved.

What interested Zhaang Ye most was the process by which the four True Dao Experts had created their own techniques. In their notes, all four had meticulously detailed the creation process, along with their various thoughts and theories. Zhaang Ye had already created the Reverse Flow Slash and the Mountain-Breaking Slash on his own, a testament to his outstanding comprehension. After reading the notes of these four True Dao Experts, his mind was flooded with even more ideas, and the myriad of brilliant concepts almost made him want to roar in excitement.

Zhaang Ye spent a full month and a half poring over the four volumes of cultivation notes.

In the time that followed, Zhaang Ye didn’t cultivate with the four Hall Masters, choosing instead to train on his own. His self-created Mountain-Breaking Slash and Cloud-Breaking Slash, along with the world-shaking fist he had comprehended from the Blade Tip, all contained infinite mysteries and power. Therefore, he had no need to learn other Combat Skills. He simply needed to slowly unravel their mysteries, and his combat prowess would naturally and rapidly improve.

The Sword Fist and Fist Intent from the Blade Tip were profound, domineering, and possessed a majestic vastness. As Zhaang Ye continuously delved into their mysteries, his very temperament began to change, becoming more majestic and domineering. Of course, absorbed in his comprehension and cultivation, he remained unaware of this change.

One day, while Zhaang Ye was sitting cross-legged in cultivation, Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, and Fang Caiying suddenly came looking for him.

Zhaang Ye welcomed the trio into the valley and asked in a deep voice, ”You’ve all come here together. What’s the matter?”

Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, and Fang Caiying exchanged a glance, a flicker of astonishment in their eyes. Zhaang Ye now gave off the impression of a lofty monarch; his every word and gesture carried an irresistible, domineering air. In the face of this aura, the three of them felt so constrained that even speaking seemed difficult.

Wei Jingtian sighed inwardly. ’He’s becoming more and more formidable,’ he thought. ’His aura alone is suffocating.’ Taking a deep breath, Wei Jingtian said slowly, ”Zhaang Ye, within the next ten days, we need to go to the Great Rong Kingdom to participate in the Six Eastern Countries’ Rookie Warm-up Tournament.”

Zhaang Ye frowned. ”The Six Eastern Countries’ Rookie Warm-up Tournament? What kind of event is that?”

Fang Caiying took this moment to explain, ”The Land of Divine Abandonment is divided into two large eastern and western sections. Our Wei Kingdom is located in the east. There are six countries in the eastern region, and before the main Newcomer King Tournament, they want to give the youth a chance to spar and interact. That’s how the Six Eastern Countries’ Rookie Warm-up Tournament came to be. It’s organized entirely by the younger generation. Zhaang Ye, you are the number one of the Wei Kingdom’s younger generation, so you will be leading our team to compete this time.”

Wei Jingtian added, ”This tournament has a thousand-year history. The winner gets to cultivate in the Great Rong Kingdom’s Spiritual Spring for a day. Barring any special circumstances, attendance is mandatory, which is why we must make the trip.”

”Oh?” Zhaang Ye said casually. ”Since we can’t miss it, then we might as well go.”

Wei Jingtian hesitated, looking as if he wanted to say something but held back. His expression soured. Xuli Long and Fang Caiying didn’t look much better; they all seemed extremely reluctant to participate.

Zhaang Ye gave the trio a curious look. ”If you have something to say, just say it.”

After a moment of deliberation, Wei Jingtian said slowly, ”Besides our Wei Kingdom, the Six Eastern Countries include the Great Rong Kingdom, the Great Chang Kingdom, the Celestial Forest Kingdom, the Great Bell Kingdom, and the Moon Country. Right now, experts at the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage have appeared among the younger generation of all five of those countries, and they’re all astonishingly powerful. What’s more, the Great Rong Kingdom, the strongest of them all, even has a young expert who has reached the Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer. In comparison, the Wei Kingdom’s strength is the weakest. We can’t even scrape together five Martial Arts Ninth-Layer experts to send to the competition...”

Zhaang Ye raised an eyebrow. ”Are you afraid?”

Wei Jingtian forced a bitter smile. ”I wouldn’t go so far as to say we’re afraid. It’s just... those scornful looks are very unpleasant...”

Zhaang Ye shook his head slightly, feeling that while Wei Jingtian’s cultivation was decent, his mental fortitude was somewhat lacking. On second thought, however, he could understand. An expert like Wei Jingtian had always been flushed with success, accustomed to others living in his shadow. Now, after first being defeated by Zhaang Ye and then hearing about Mid-stage and even Late-stage Ninth Layer masters in other countries, his composure had been completely shattered.

Zhaang Ye didn’t press the issue, only saying slowly, ”I’ll say it again: since we can’t miss it, let’s go and meet these experts from the other countries.”

...

The next day, Zhaang Ye, Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, and Fang Caiying gathered outside the True Hall. To Zhaang Ye’s surprise, Feng Tongming was also present.

Seeing Zhaang Ye’s confusion, Wei Jingtian explained, ”We are all Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts. Jiang Ailiang is the top expert below the Ninth Layer, and he was originally supposed to accompany us. However, he’s been missing for two or three months now; it seems he’s met with some calamity. Since he couldn’t go, the True Hall decided to send its most promising disciple to gain some experience. Feng Tongming’s cultivation just recently reached the Seventh Layer Peak. Plus, with her Ancient Phoenix Clan bloodline, she’s skilled at controlling Pseudo-Flying Spirit Beasts, so the True Hall had her come along.”

Zhaang Ye understood.

The group of five—Zhaang Ye, Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, Fang Caiying, and Feng Tongming—boarded a Pseudo-Flying Spirit Beast. With her Ancient Phoenix Clan bloodline, Feng Tongming was tasked with controlling the beast, and they set off, flying straight toward the Great Rong Kingdom.

The Flying Pseudo Spirit Beast was incredibly fast, able to cover three hundred thousand li in a single day—far faster than even a Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Expert could fly. In just two days and one night, Zhaang Ye’s party had traveled nearly six hundred thousand li, crossing into the territory of the Great Rong Kingdom.

The venue for the Six Eastern Countries’ Rookie Warm-up Tournament was in the imperial capital of the Great Rong Kingdom: Great Rong City.

Great Rong City spanned over two hundred li, with two massive rivers flowing through it, making for an exceptionally beautiful landscape. Zhaang Ye’s party landed outside the city, found an inn to rest for the night, and set out early the next morning for the tournament arena.

The Six Eastern Countries’ Rookie Warm-up Tournament was an event held only once every twenty years, and the young experts competing were the most brilliant talents from their respective nations. Such an event naturally drew the attention not only of the youth but also of the older generation of powerhouses, who followed it with great interest.

As Zhaang Ye’s group of five walked down the main street, they saw countless Martial Artists heading toward the arena, their faces alight with excitement.

”Look! The young experts from the Moon Country are here! Their leader is named Fu Songcheng. I heard he broke through to the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage three months ago. His Bright Moon Palm has already reached the Great Success Realm, and his strength is said to rival even that of a Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer expert. I wonder how many masters will fall to his palm this time!”

”That’s right! I heard that right after he reached the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, he managed to escape from a Mid-stage Ninth Layer expert who was hunting him down. His power is shockingly formidable.”

”Heh, Fu Songcheng’s talent is astounding. If he weren’t such a notorious womanizer, he’d probably be as famous as Yangx Guyuan, Helian Bi Bi, Ling Kongyun, and Chu Yuxiang by now! Heh heh...”

Listening to the chatter on the street, Zhaang Ye glanced over to see five young people approaching with their heads held high. All five had the cultivation of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer. At their head was a handsome young man in a white robe. His entire body seemed to be veiled in a faint moonlight, giving him an air of detached elegance.

Upon seeing the white-robed man, Wei Jingtian cupped his fist in greeting. ”Brother Fu, long time no see.”

The white-robed man, Fu Songcheng, gave a slight nod in what was barely a response. Such arrogance instantly soured Wei Jingtian’s expression, while Xuli Long and Fang Caiying, who stood beside him, also frowned.

Fu Songcheng utterly ignored Wei Jingtian. His gaze swept over Zhaang Ye and Xuli Long, a trace of disdain in his eyes. After appraising the strength of the Wei Kingdom contingent, his gaze finally settled on the two women, Fang Caiying and Feng Tongming.

Fang Caiying was not only stunningly beautiful but also a powerful Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Expert. And while Feng Tongming’s cultivation was low, her beauty was in no way inferior to Fang Caiying’s; what’s more, she possessed the bloodline of the Ancient Phoenix Clan, making her positively radiant. Fu Songcheng shamelessly ogled the two women, his eyes gradually brightening.

”Heh heh, ladies! I am Fu Songcheng, the foremost expert of the Moon Country’s younger generation, and I delight in making friends from all corners of the land. Your grace is extraordinary, your beauty peerless. You have captured my deepest admiration. Might I be so bold as to ask your names?” Fu Songcheng strode over to Fang Caiying and Feng Tongming and began to make his move.

Fu Songcheng himself was a man of rare beauty, and the unique cultivation technique he practiced further enhanced his striking temperament. Moreover, being a Mid-stage Ninth Layer master at such a young age gave him an extraordinary appeal to women, allowing him to approach strangers directly without any fear of rejection.