Overlord of the Wilderness

The summit of Xuli Mountain wasn’t the idyllic scene of singing birds and fragrant flowers Zhaang Ye had imagined. Instead, it was a Celestial Pool dozens of miles in circumference. The Celestial Pool’s waters were a shimmering, clear jade. From above, one could faintly make out schools of fish and clusters of clouds floating over its surface.

Zhaang Ye praised, ”To think Xuli Mountain had such a wonderful place. The Water Qi here is so dense. It couldn’t be better for comprehending the power of water.”

Xuli Qiqi nodded and explained, ”Xuli Mountain was the cultivation abode of an expert from Ancient Times. The entire mountain is enveloped in a powerful Ancient Array. It rains all year, yet the flowers bloom profusely. It’s because I’ve spent so long in this environment that I was able to cultivate to the Half-step True Dao Realm on my own.”

As she spoke, Xuli Qiqi gently waved her long sleeve. A surge of pure Innate True Qi shot out silently, striking the Celestial Pool. Hit by this pure Innate True Qi, the Celestial Pool immediately began to spin at high speed, forming a vortex ten zhang across. Zhaang Ye felt a heavy sensation as he was pulled down by the whirlpool.

Zhaang Ye knew this vortex was likely the entrance to the Celestial Pool, so he didn’t resist, allowing it to pull him down.

WHOOSH!

His body plummeted downwards. When he stabilized, a crystalline world appeared before Zhaang Ye’s eyes. It was an underwater world. Strange fish swam past him and overhead. On the golden lakebed, all kinds of peculiar aquatic plants grew vibrantly, some even bearing gorgeous blossoms.

What Zhaang Ye found amazing was that this underwater world was actually filled with abundant Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. This Heaven and Earth Essence Qi faintly contained a gentle power—the very power of water.

Sensing Zhaang Ye’s astonishment, Xuli Qiqi chuckled lightly. ”This is the cave-abode left behind by that ancient expert. There are Arrays set up all around it. They can keep the waters of the Celestial Pool out while still drawing in Heaven and Earth Essence Qi from the void.”

Zhaang Ye praised, ”Truly a magnificent place.”

Xuli Qiqi drifted gracefully forward, leading Zhaang Ye deeper inside. After rounding a bend, a crisp voice called out, ”Miss Qi, who’s talking with you?”

Before Xuli Qiqi could answer, a young woman wearing only pink undergarments emerged, rubbing her eyes. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen. Her hair, like a black cloud, cascaded over her shoulders. Her features were delicate and lovely, and her figure was exquisite and alluring. Upon seeing Zhaang Ye, the young woman’s eyes widened. She rubbed them fiercely, and after confirming she wasn’t seeing things, she let out a shriek and retreated into a room like a bolt of lightning.

WHOOSH!

Just as Zhaang Ye was feeling secretly amused, the young woman quickly jumped out of the room again. She was now wearing a pink dress, her long black hair casually tied into a ponytail. The moment she emerged, she pointed at Zhaang Ye and shouted, ”Ah, it’s you! How did you get in here? You big villain...”

”That’s enough, Xiaobi.” Xuli Qiqi spoke up. ”I brought Little Brother Zhaang here. He is an honored guest of Xuli Mountain, not a great villain.”

Xiaobi said urgently, ”Miss Qi, he really is a great villain! Last time, not only did he slaughter everyone from the Mei Family, but he was also about to kill me. It’s a good thing I ran fast...”

Seeing Xiaobi’s terrified expression, Zhaang Ye gave a dry cough and said with a grin, ”Xiaobi, that was all a misunderstanding. I’m actually a very simple and honest good person.”

Xiaobi shook her head fiercely and pointed at Zhaang Ye. ”I don’t believe you! I don’t believe you! You’re a great villain, a great villain who kills without batting an eye! I’ve seen your true colors. Miss Qi, hurry up and knock him out! Feed him to the fish...”

Before Xiaobi could continue, Xuli Qiqi gave a charming smile and said, ”Alright, alright. Zhaang Ye was only fighting for his life back then. He had to kill, but that doesn’t make him a villain. You can go play on your own for a while. I need to exchange Martial Dao insights with Zhaang Ye.”

Xuli Qiqi led Zhaang Ye into a spacious stone chamber. The thick stone door slowly closed, sealing the wide chamber from the outside world. The room fell into absolute silence.

Even the sound of blood flowing in one’s veins could be heard clearly.

If it were an ordinary man and woman in such a situation, their thoughts would surely wander. They would soon be pressed close together, like dry tinder meeting a raging fire. However, Xuli Qiqi and Zhaang Ye were both single-mindedly pursuing the Dao, people who sought to reach the pinnacle of the True Dao. Their willpower was as firm as iron, and they had no such amorous thoughts for each other.

Zhaang Ye scanned the stone chamber, found a meditation cushion, and sat down. He then said, ”Fairy Xu Li, let’s begin. We can first display the power we cultivate, then explain it and answer each other’s questions. If necessary, we can also spar a little to exchange pointers. What do you think?”

Xuli Qiqi nodded and said cheerfully, ”That’s exactly what we should do. I’ll go first. The Cultivation Technique I practice is called the Nine Heavens Soft Water Technique. It cultivates the power of water, and the resulting power is the most Supreme Yin and gentle force in the world. When facing an enemy, I can use this power to have softness overcome hardness...”

As she spoke, Xuli Qiqi slowly extended a hand as white as snow and smooth as jade. A faint mist clearly swirled around her five slender, pale fingers. While Xuli Qiqi explained, her fingers trembled in a mysterious way, and the faint mist immediately began to undergo all sorts of Transformations.

Zhaang Ye’s eyes were slightly closed, but his Spiritual Power had transformed into countless invisible threads, meticulously sensing the mist on Xuli Qiqi’s fingers. This layer of mist was no ordinary mist; it was the ”Soft Water Innate True Qi” that Xuli Qiqi had painstakingly cultivated. Compared to Zhaang Ye’s Ancient Dragon Power, it possessed a different kind of profundity.

Xuli Qiqi explained for a full seven days.

During those seven days, Zhaang Ye listened with rapt attention, periodically raising his own questions. He then cross-referenced the profundities Xuli Qiqi explained with his own knowledge.

Soft Water Innate True Qi was comprehended from water, while Ancient Dragon Power was a power that controlled water. By comparing the two, some of the difficult problems that Zhaang Ye had been pondering over without resolution were suddenly clarified. His understanding of Ancient Dragon Power deepened, and his Celestial River Righteous Qi also grew stronger.

After Xuli Qiqi finished her explanation, it was Zhaang Ye’s turn.

Zhaang Ye extended his palm, and a sliver of Ancient Dragon Power appeared above it, churning and transforming like a giant dragon. Zhaang Ye stared at the Ancient Dragon Power in his palm and slowly said, ”My Cultivation Technique is rather unique. It takes the strengths of Ancient Dragon Power, Ancient Elephant Power, and Ancient Phoenix Power and fuses them into a completely new kind of power.

”Ancient Elephant Power and Ancient Phoenix Power would be of little use to you, so I’ll just explain Ancient Dragon Power. Ancient Dragon Power is the power cultivated by the Ancient Dragon Clan. It has three wondrous applications: Water Control, Transformation, and Suppression.

”First, let’s talk about Water Control. Ancient Giant Dragons are adept at manipulating the power of water. They can summon clouds and create rain, overturn rivers and seas. The most powerful among the giant dragons can command all the waters in the world...”

Zhaang Ye had possessed Ancient Dragon Power for some time now. Although his understanding of it wasn’t extensive, he had his own unique insights. As he explained, Xuli Qiqi’s eyes sparkled, and she clearly gained a great deal.

...

While Zhaang Ye and Xuli Qiqi were on Xuli Mountain, mutually expounding on the Dao, a snow-white bird streaked across the sky like lightning and flew into the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall.

Ling Dahuang, the Great Hall Master of the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall, caught the snow-white bird with one hand and promptly removed a thin piece of Beast Hide from its leg. After a single glance at the Beast Hide, a terrifying killing intent flared in Ling Dahuang’s eyes. The sharp murderous aura instantly forced all birds and beasts within a ten-li radius of the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall to prostrate themselves on the ground.

The voice of the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall’s Second Hall Master came from outside the main hall. ”Boss, I just sensed your murderous aura. What happened?”

Ling Dahuang gave a sinister smile and said, ”I have just received news. Zhaang Ye has now left the Wei Kingdom True Hall and is heading to Xuli Mountain. The opportunity to avenge my disciple has arrived.”

The Second Hall Master was slightly taken aback. ”Avenge him? Yu’Er is currently in seclusion and needs more than a month to reach Great Perfection. Even if we know Zhaang Ye is out, we don’t have anyone to send after him for revenge.”

Yu’Er’s full name was Ling Huangyu. He was the head disciple of the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall and had entered the Half-step True Dao Realm over a decade ago. After Ling Kongyun was killed by Zhaang Ye, Ling Dahuang had single-mindedly focused on nurturing Ling Huangyu, even going so far as to use the legendary empowerment technique to frantically boost Ling Huangyu’s Cultivation, preparing him to kill Zhaang Ye.

The empowerment technique had an incredible effect, capable of forcibly raising a Martial Artist’s Cultivation in eighty-one days. Ling Huangyu already had a Half-Step True Dao Cultivation. After undergoing the empowerment technique and receiving Ling Dahuang’s Innate True Qi, the Innate True Qi in his body had already swelled to eighty percent of its limit.

However, the empowerment technique was not omnipotent. After using it, one basically had no hope of advancing to the True Dao. Furthermore, after receiving the empowerment, one still needed a period of time to consolidate their power. Right now, Ling Huangyu was in arduous closed-door seclusion, stabilizing his Cultivation.

At this moment, a faint smile appeared on Ling Dahuang’s lips. He said slowly, ”To kill Zhaang Ye, we don’t necessarily need Yu’Er to act. Second Brother, do you know who is on Xuli Mountain?”

The Second Hall Master replied, ”Xuli Mountain is the ancestral origin of the Wei Royal Family. Right now, a young woman named Xuli Qiqi is cultivating on that mountain.”

Ling Dahuang’s eyes glinted as he said sinisterly, ”Exactly! A princess of the Wei Royal Family, Xuli Qiqi, is cultivating on Xuli Mountain. This Xuli Qiqi is exceptionally beautiful, and the Cultivation Technique she practices is of the Supreme Yin and supreme softness, which only further enhances a woman’s charm. Who knows how many people in the Land of Divine Abandonment are interested in her.”

The Second Hall Master was taken aback. ”You want to borrow a knife to kill him? Xuli Qiqi herself has a Half-Step True Dao Cultivation, and Zhaang Ye’s strength is not to be underestimated. There’s no one in the Land of Divine Abandonment who can do anything to them.”

Ling Dahuang gave a sinister laugh and said slowly, ”I know that. No one in the Land of Divine Abandonment can handle them, but outside the Land of Divine Abandonment, there are plenty of people who can. I recall that outside this land, the Taohua Sect has a Vice Sect Leader named the Peach Blossom Young Master. His Cultivation is already approaching the True Dao, and he is extremely lecherous.

”Xuli Qiqi is a rare beauty, and the Cultivation Technique she practices is quite unique. If you secretly leak information about her to him, he will certainly enter the Land of Divine Abandonment and seek out Xuli Mountain. When that happens, Zhaang Ye will be a dead man...”

The Second Hall Master was shocked. ”Great Hall Master, you’re being ruthless enough to destroy a beautiful flower! Once the Peach Blossom Young Master arrives, Zhaang Ye will certainly be dead, but I’m afraid Xuli Qiqi will also fall into his hands, be violated, and become his slave...”

The Great Hall Master waved his hand and said indifferently, ”Then she can only blame her own bad fate! Say no more. Go and make the arrangements.”

The Second Hall Master silently nodded and turned to leave. (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.)