Overlord of the Wilderness

Upon hearing the contemptuous voice, the expressions of the dozens of True Dao Experts from the Thirteen Countries of the Land Abandoned by God soured. The younger experts, however, erupted into an uproar, their heads whipping toward the speaker.

Zhaang Ye looked over and saw that a massive Flying Vessel had appeared at some point in the void above. On the vessel stood a woman in a long, green dress and a black-robed man.

The woman in the long, green dress looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old. Her black hair was tied up in a loose bun, and her clear eyes swept over the crowd with a faint, assessing gaze. The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, revealing a trace of contempt. The black-robed man carried two swords on his back. His skin was as clear as jade, his gaze was like lightning, and he looked down upon the crowd with the air of an emperor surveying his domain.

Zhaang Ye silently sized up the green-robed woman and the black-robed man, and his heart suddenly jolted. After his Cultivation had advanced to the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Layer, Zhaang Ye’s Spiritual Power had also become much stronger. Relying on his keen Spiritual Power, Zhaang Ye could clearly sense that both the green-robed woman and the black-robed man were wreathed in wisps of Innate True Qi.

Zhaang Ye’s expression grew solemn. ’This green-robed woman and black-robed man are actually Half-Step True Dao Experts! Judging by the Innate True Qi around them, the woman has already cultivated seventy percent Innate True Qi, while the man has cultivated sixty percent! Just what are their origins?’

Just then, a young expert from the Great Peace True Hall stepped out from the crowd and shouted coldly, ”Who are you two? How dare you come here spouting such arrogant nonsense!”

”Yangx Yibo, be civil! These two are...” Seeing a disciple from his own True Hall being rude to the two Sect Envoys, the Great Hall Master of the Great Peace True Hall, Yangx Poshan, frowned. He quickly spoke up to stop him, intending to introduce the two envoys. But before Yangx Poshan could finish, the black-robed man gave him a slight wave of his hand, signaling him to be quiet.

After waving his hand, the black-robed man’s gaze, as tangible as a physical object, suddenly fell upon Yangx Yibo. ”Insolent!” he said coldly. As he spoke, a terrifyingly powerful aura erupted from his body. This pressure was like a massive iron pillar descending from the heavens, crushing down heavily upon Yangx Yibo.

CRACK!

Crushed by the black-robed man’s aura, Yangx Yibo’s bones immediately began to emit a series of sickening cracks. Before everyone’s eyes, his legs suddenly sank into the ground, and blood began to trickle from his seven orifices. With a SPURT, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and was forced to his knees on the spot!

HISS!

The tyrannical strength displayed by the black-robed man made all the young experts gasp in unison. Yangx Yibo had the Cultivation of the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage and was considered a prominent figure. For this black-robed man to force a Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage expert to his knees using only his aura... his power was simply unfathomable!

A disdainful smirk appeared on the black-robed man’s lips as he announced arrogantly, ”The two of us have come from the Sect for the express purpose of evaluating you. Now, take out the Essence Stones you have gathered, one by one, so we can determine the rankings.”

From the Sect!

Hearing those words, the hearts of the young experts present all skipped a beat, and their eyes began to burn with fervor. Having reached the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, they naturally knew that behind the Thirteen Countries True Hall, there was an enormous Sect. The entire purpose of their painstaking Cultivation was to leave this tiny Land of Divine Abandonment and fight for a chance to enter the Sect. Now, hearing that these two people were actually envoys from the Sect, the crowd could no longer remain calm and broke out into fervent discussions.

Zhaang Ye was also extremely interested in this legendary Sect. He turned to the Fourth Hall Master and asked, ”Master, what is this Sect called? Are there truly as many True Dao Experts there as the clouds in the sky?”

The Fourth Hall Master smiled slightly and said, ”Information about the Sect is sealed off from the outside world, but since you’ve already cultivated to the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Layer, you are naturally qualified to know. Our Sect is located above the green clouds, hence its name, the Green Cloud Sect. There are several hundred True Dao Experts within the Sect. Among them, there are seven Elders whose Cultivation has reached the True Dao Eighth Layer, and three Supreme Elders who have reached the True Dao Ninth Layer. As for the Sect Leader’s Cultivation, it is profound and unfathomable. It is said he has already broken through the True Dao realm...”

Zhaang Ye was visibly moved. He said, ”Advancing from the Martial Dao to the True Dao is harder than ascending to heaven. Not even one in ten thousand Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts might succeed in breaking through. How can the Green Cloud Sect have so many True Dao Experts?”

The Fourth Hall Master said leisurely, ”It’s not that strange. The Heaven and Earth Essence Qi in the outside world is far denser than it is here, not much inferior to that of the Little World. Cultivating in such an environment, as long as one’s aptitude isn’t too poor, they can reach the Sixth and Seventh Layers of Martial Arts. For those with better aptitude, reaching the Martial Arts Eighth Layer isn’t difficult either.

As for those genius experts, they are born and cultivate in an environment rich with Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, and they also have all sorts of Elixirs to aid them. Naturally, their chances of advancing to the True Dao are much greater than ours.

In short, the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi outside is ten times denser than it is here, so naturally, there are many more True Dao Experts. In our Sect, for example, one out of every thousand Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts manages to advance to the True Dao, which is why the number of True Dao Experts has grown so large.”

Listening to his master’s explanation, Zhaang Ye couldn’t help but feel a sense of yearning. He said, ”So the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi outside is ten times denser than here. No wonder there are so many True Dao Experts. And no wonder so many people here want to leave the Land of Divine Abandonment and enter the outside world.”

The Fourth Hall Master nodded slightly. ”Exactly. But don’t imagine the outside world is too wonderful. While the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi outside the Land of Divine Abandonment is ten times denser, the Fierce Beasts and Barbaric Beasts are also far more formidable. Some especially vicious Barbaric Beasts can swallow a True Dao Expert in a single gulp. People without real ability can’t even gain a foothold out there...”

Zhaang Ye knew his master was reminding him to be careful. He nodded slightly and said, ”Don’t worry, Master. I will be.”

While the two were talking, the young experts of the Thirteen Countries had formed a line, each presenting the Essence Stones they had collected to determine the rankings for this Thirteen Countries’ Newcomer King Competition.

Although there were many Essence Stones in the Little World, they were all claimed by Fierce Beasts. To obtain the stones, one had to kill or defeat the beasts. Therefore, using the number of Essence Stones acquired to determine the rankings was quite reasonable.

”Yann Da Fire of the Great Prosperity True Hall, thirty-seven Essence Stones.”

”Ou Dachang of the Celestial Forest True Hall, twenty-five Essence Stones.”

”Du Mu of the Great Bell True Hall, ninety-two Essence Stones.”

”Li Shang Fire of the Changling True Hall, one hundred seventeen Essence Stones.”

”Yann Wutian of the Great Chang Kingdom, one hundred forty-nine Essence Stones.”

”Ou Qingxin of the Celestial Forest Kingdom, one hundred sixty-five Essence Stones.”

Hearing that Ou Qingxin had obtained one hundred sixty-five Essence Stones, the young experts let out a collective gasp, their eyes filled with envy.

There were many Essence Stones in the Little World, but they were all claimed by Fierce Beasts. Snatching them from under the claws of Fierce Beasts was an extremely perilous task. For Ou Qingxin to have taken one hundred sixty-five Essence Stones from the claws of Fierce Beasts was a remarkable feat that demonstrated his formidable strength.

Hearing the crowd’s murmurs, Ou Qingxin’s face immediately showed a hint of pride.

At that moment, the young expert from the Great Bell Kingdom, Du Hong, snorted coldly and said, ”A mere one hundred and sixty-odd stones. What’s there to be so proud of? Watch me!”

WHOOSH!

With a slight wave of his arm, Du Hong sent a small pile of Essence Stones flying out. This pile was considerably larger than Ou Qingxin’s, looking to be close to two hundred stones.

The black-robed man glanced at the Essence Stones and announced impassively, ”Du Hong of the Great Bell True Hall, a total of one hundred ninety-seven Essence Stones.”

”WOW!” The young experts immediately drew in a cold breath. Someone murmured, ”I heard that after Du Hong was defeated by Zhaang Ye, he focused on painstakingly practicing the Cloud-Breaking Scattering Hand and finally cultivated it to its peak. Looking at this now, the rumor must be true. Otherwise, there’s no way he could have obtained so many Essence Stones.”

Someone nodded and said, ”That must be it. Du Hong’s Cloud-Breaking Scattering Hand is mystical and unpredictable. After cultivating it to the pinnacle, he can steal Essence Stones from Fierce Beasts without a trace. No wonder he obtained so many.”

”Heh, over two hundred Essence Stones. It seems only experts like Yangx Guyuan, Helian Bi Bi, Ling Kongyun, Chu Yuxiang, and Zhaang Ye can compare. Du Hong is guaranteed a spot in the top ten this time. He might even make it into the top six...”

Hearing the crowd’s discussion, Du Hong’s face bloomed with delight. He cast an arrogant glance around him, like a proud rooster surveying his hens.

The black-robed man spoke again. ”Only Yangx Guyuan, Helian Bi Bi, Ling Kongyun, Chu Yuxiang, and Zhaang Ye are left. The five of you, present your Essence Stones.”

Yangx Guyuan glanced at Zhaang Ye, then slowly walked forward. With a gentle wave of his arm, a huge pile of Essence Stones appeared on the ground. The moment the pile landed, Primordial Qi surged, and the surrounding Heaven and Earth Essence Qi was thrown into disarray.

HISSS—

Seeing Yangx Guyuan’s pile of Essence Stones, all the young experts gasped. Du Hong, who had been so proud and smug just moments before, saw the pile and his expression changed instantly.

”So many Essence Stones! If it’s not a thousand, it has to be at least nine hundred!”

”Yeah, yeah! As expected of the number one expert of the younger generation in the Thirteen Countries, Yangx Guyuan obtained far more Essence Stones than us. It looks like first place in this year’s Thirteen Countries’ Newcomer King Competition will go to him.”

”That’s right! The Essence Stones he gathered by himself are more than what ten of us gathered combined. Yangx Guyuan’s strength is simply terrifying!”

Amidst the young experts’ discussions, the black-robed man glanced at the pile and announced, ”Yangx Guyuan of the Great Peace True Hall, a total of one thousand and seven Essence Stones!”

Yangx Guyuan’s master, Yangx Poshan, looked at his disciple’s haul with a pleased expression. He said to Yangx Guyuan, ”Yuan’Er, you truly have not disappointed me. One thousand and seven Essence Stones—that’s already a new record. First place in this Thirteen Countries’ Newcomer King Competition is definitely yours.”

Yangx Guyuan shook his head and said with a wry smile, ”Master, it’s impossible for me to get first place. Zhaang Ye hasn’t presented his Essence Stones yet. I’m afraid his total will be far greater than mine.”

Yangx Poshan glanced at Zhaang Ye from afar and chuckled in disbelief. ”How is that possible! Although that boy Zhaang Ye has advanced to the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Layer, your Nine Heavens Ten Earths Burning Celestial True Force has already reached the Great Success Realm. Zhaang Ye is far from being your match. There is absolutely no way he could have obtained over a thousand Essence Stones.”

Yangx Guyuan gave another wry smile and said, ”Master, Zhaang Ye has already defeated me.”

”What?” Yangx Poshan was instantly stunned.

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I missed an update again; my discipline is in shambles. In July, I’ll slowly pick up the shattered pieces, heh... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)