Overlord of the Wilderness

HISSSSS—

The Ancient Phoenix Power flowed into his meridians, purging them of impurities. The Ancient Phoenix Power was aligned with the element of fire, capable of refining the meridians and expelling impurities, but its method of refinement was incredibly brutal. After only a short while, Zhaang Ye’s internal organs felt like they were on fire. The unending agony nearly caused him to faint.

Zhaang Ye sat cross-legged, remaining completely still no matter how much pain wracked his body.

The Ancient Phoenix Power refined his meridians inch by inch. While it expelled the impurities, it also scorched Zhaang Ye’s energy channels. This was where the Ancient Dragon Power came in. Aligned with water, the Ancient Dragon Power could nourish all creation. It repaired the damage within his meridians, making them vibrant and even stronger.

Zhaang Ye carefully controlled the two Ancient Powers, using the Ancient Phoenix Power to refine and the Ancient Dragon Power for Healing. Time slowly passed in this cycle of refinement and Healing.

”Huh?” While refining the second meridian, Zhaang Ye suddenly sensed an incredibly bizarre wisp of energy lurking within it. This wisp was sinister and chilling, containing a faint coldness, like a ghost haunting his meridian. Even with his formidable Spiritual Power, he had almost failed to notice it.

A thought struck Zhaang Ye. ’When I killed Gu Yunsong, a bizarre Rune flew out of his body. When that Rune exploded, it released a strange energy. It seems this wisp in my meridian is the same bizarre energy from that strange Rune!’

With that thought, Zhaang Ye slowly guided the Ancient Phoenix Power toward the strange wisp of energy. The Ancient Phoenix Power was supremely aggressive, capable of incinerating anything. Although this bizarre wisp was quite unusual, it stood no chance against the Ancient Phoenix Power. With a single sweep, the Ancient Phoenix Power completely obliterated it.

Having eliminated the strange wisp of energy, Zhaang Ye continued to refine his meridians.

An unknown amount of time passed before Zhaang Ye’s entire body shuddered. All three hundred and sixty-five of his meridians simultaneously let out the cry of a dragon, a sound that echoed three hundred and sixty-five times before ceasing!

The refinement of all three hundred and sixty-five of Zhaang Ye’s meridians was finally complete!

A look of joy spread across Zhaang Ye’s face. ’Excellent! Now that my meridians are fully refined, I’ll circulate the Dragon Elephant Power and push my Dragon Elephant Skill to the Late Stage of the Sixth Level!’

RUMBLE!

With a mere thought from Zhaang Ye, the Dragon Elephant Power in his body began to circulate. Now that his meridians had been refined, the Dragon Elephant Power flowed with incredible smoothness. Unfettered, it surged freely throughout Zhaang Ye’s body.

With each full circulation, the Dragon Elephant Power grew a little stronger. After eighty-one cycles, it had transformed into a great dragon and a Mammoth, galloping and roaring within Zhaang Ye’s body. Zhaang Ye could feel immense power flooding every bone, every muscle, every strand of hair, and every pore on his skin!

BOOM!

A deafening boom resounded within Zhaang Ye. In that instant, the Dragon Elephant Power swept through every one of his meridians. The endlessly surging Dragon Elephant Power filled his entire being, and a tyrannical aura erupted from him, soaring toward the heavens.

He had finally succeeded in cultivating the Dragon Elephant Skill to the Late Stage of the Sixth Level!

”AHH!”

Zhaang Ye leaped to his feet and let out a tremendous roar. The mighty shout rolled forth like thunder, causing the clouds in the sky to surge wildly outward. The clouds gathered with increasing density, swiftly forming a dark thunderhead. In the span of a few blinks, lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and a torrential rain came crashing down!

To alter the wind and clouds with a single roar—such was the might of the Dragon Elephant Skill at the Late Stage of the Sixth Level!

After cultivating the Dragon Elephant Skill to the Late Stage of the Sixth Level, his skin, flesh, bones, and meridians had all integrated. The power he could erupt with was simply earth-shattering. Zhaang Ye felt as if a great dragon and a Mammoth were dormant within him; even a casual breath now contained immense might!

Zhaang Ye laughed heartily and thought to himself, ’The 1st and 2nd Layers of the Dragon Elephant Skill train the skin, the 3rd and 4th Layers train the flesh, the 5th Layer trains the bones, and the 6th Layer trains the meridians. Now that I’ve completed the 6th Layer, I wonder if I can contend with a Half-Step True Dao Expert?’

At this thought, Zhaang Ye turned his gaze to the Purple-haired Wild Boar. ’The Purple-haired Wild Boar’s strength is greater than that of a typical Half-Step True Dao Expert. I’ll use it to test my power!’

With a loud laugh, Zhaang Ye suddenly charged toward the Purple-haired Wild Boar, shouting, ”Purple-haired Wild Boar, take my punch!”

”AWOO!”

The Purple-haired Wild Boar had never been fully convinced of Zhaang Ye’s strength. Seeing him charge, it leaped into the air, and two beams of purple light erupted from its claws, blasting straight toward Zhaang Ye!

BOOM!

Zhaang Ye didn’t dodge or evade, meeting the Purple-haired Wild Boar’s attack head-on. The boar’s power was immense and brutal, and so was Zhaang Ye’s. When the two colossal forces collided, the entire valley trembled. A boundless shockwave swept through the valley like a hurricane, sending plumes of dust soaring into the sky!

After taking the Purple-haired Wild Boar’s blow directly, Zhaang Ye’s arms made a cracking sound. Pain shot through his arms, his chest, his head, and his legs—his entire body ached. Though the force of the boar’s attack had sent pain wracking through his body, Zhaang Ye was not alarmed. Instead, he was elated—he had actually managed to withstand the Purple-haired Wild Boar’s attack head-on!

”Good! Again!”

Zhaang Ye roared, his figure flashing as he threw another punch at the Purple-haired Wild Boar.

”AWOO!” Seeing that Zhaang Ye had taken its attack directly, the Purple-haired Wild Boar’s fighting spirit flared. With a great roar, its body transformed into a streak of purple light and lunged at Zhaang Ye.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Man and beast clashed head-on three more times in mid-air. The purple light from the Purple-haired Wild Boar and the golden light from Zhaang Ye entangled, the battle so fierce it seemed to darken the sky. The mountains on both sides of the valley shook violently, threatening to collapse at any moment. As for the rain cloud in the sky, it had long since been obliterated by the impact of the two terrifying powers, revealing a clear blue sky once more.

”AWOO!”

After three attacks, the Purple-haired Wild Boar still couldn’t overwhelm Zhaang Ye, and a look of astonishment appeared in its eyes. The boar was well aware of Zhaang Ye’s previous strength. A few days ago, it only needed to use thirty percent of its power to defeat him with ease. But now, even after using seventy to eighty percent of its strength, it still couldn’t take Zhaang Ye down, which shocked it immensely.

PTHOO!

After taking the Purple-haired Wild Boar’s three attacks, Zhaang Ye retreated a thousand zhang and spat out a mouthful of blood. He thought grimly, ’After cultivating the Dragon Elephant Skill to the Late Stage of the Sixth Level, my strength has increased a full four times. Although I’m still not a match for the Purple-haired Wild Boar, I no longer need to fear Half-Step True Dao Experts!’

Returning to the ground, Zhaang Ye glanced toward the depths of the valley when a thought suddenly struck him. ’The Green-eyed Golden Eagle was the Overlord of this Little World, the king of Fierce Beasts. There should be Essence Stones in its lair.’

With this in mind, Zhaang Ye began to search the valley. Sure enough, in the deepest part of the valley, he found an Essence Ore vein. The vein was very small, only a hundred zhang long. But after some digging, Zhaang Ye still managed to harvest over two thousand Essence Stones, a considerable windfall.

Just as he finished storing the Essence Stones in his Small Space, Zhaang Ye suddenly felt the Little World tremble slightly. Then, an ancient voice echoed from the distant horizon: ”Listen well, all disciples! Listen well, all disciples! The time for the Thirteen Countries’ Rookie King Competition is over. You are to proceed immediately to the exit of the Little World and leave! Otherwise, you will be responsible for the consequences!”

Along with the ancient voice, a massive purple portal slowly opened in the distant sky. Faint purple Runes flowed across its surface, giving it an air of profound mystery. Clearly, this giant purple portal was the exit from the Little World.

Zhaang Ye glanced at the giant purple gate, a hint of joy on his face as he said, ”The three-month period is finally over. It’s time for me to leave. Purple-haired Wild Boar, you stay here in the Little World and be the king of your mountain.”

”AWOO!” The Purple-haired Wild Boar stared intently at the purple portal and let out a low growl, a look of helplessness in its eyes. This Little World had its own rules: any being that lived inside it for more than three months could never leave. Although the boar knew this portal led to a much vaster world, it was unable to go through.

Zhaang Ye glanced at the Purple-haired Wild Boar and chuckled. ”You’ve helped me quite a bit. How about this: when I become powerful enough, I’ll come back in here and take you to see the outside world.”

”AWOO!”

The Purple-haired Wild Boar let out a happy roar, its eyes filled with eager anticipation.

Zhaang Ye chuckled, then suddenly executed his Body Technique, transforming into a streak of green light that shot toward the purple portal. As Zhaang Ye took off, a figure also shot up from the depths of the Little World, closely following him. This person tailing Zhaang Ye was none other than Yangx Guyuan, a top expert among the younger generation of the Thirteen Countries.

Zhaang Ye glanced back at Yangx Guyuan, slightly surprised. ”Yangx Guyuan, I haven’t seen you for over a month, and your strength has improved again. Not bad, not bad at all.”

Yangx Guyuan stated proudly, ”The Heaven and Earth Essence Qi in the Little World is abundant. I spent a month and a half in secluded meditation, and my Cultivation finally had a breakthrough. Zhaang Ye, once we are out of this Little World, I, Yangx Guyuan, will challenge you again.”

Zhaang Ye laughed loudly and replied, ”I’ll be waiting!”

As they spoke, Zhaang Ye’s speed suddenly increased. Yangx Guyuan was secretly shocked when he noticed the boost in speed and was about to push himself to catch up. Suddenly, Zhaang Ye transformed into a long, illusory streak of green light, his speed increasing wildly. In just a few blinks, he had crossed hundreds of miles and vanished from Yangx Guyuan’s sight!

”Whew! What terrifying speed!” Yangx Guyuan was completely stunned. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)