Overlord of the Wilderness

Xuli Mountain. Within an underwater stone chamber.

Zhaang Ye spent seven days meticulously explaining his insights and demonstrating the mysteries of the Ancient Dragon Power within the stone chamber.

When he was finished, Zhaang Ye felt a sense of exhilaration. In explaining his insights, he had effectively organized and reviewed them, benefiting greatly in the process.

Xuli Qiqi also benefited greatly. Her Innate True Qi grew increasingly dense and pure. From a distance, Zhaang Ye saw her as a being of water, crystalline and pure.

The two sat in meditation within the stone chamber. A day and a night passed. Then, they both opened their eyes at the same time and exchanged a smile.

They had grown incredibly close in Python Marsh and understood each other perfectly. Because of this, they could place their complete trust in one another, allowing them to display their full power and validate their martial knowledge. This feeling of mutual trust, of working hand in hand to comprehend the mysteries of the Martial Dao, was truly wonderful.

Zhaang Ye looked at Xuli Qiqi and said slowly, ”Let’s spar.”

A slight smile touched Xuli Qiqi’s lips. She nodded. ”Alright! This chamber is surrounded by arrays, so we can fight without holding back. We don’t have to worry about it collapsing.”

They both rose to their feet, unleashing their auras and locking onto each other.

The Martial Dao held infinite mysteries, some of which could not be explained in words—they had to be experienced to be understood. Under these circumstances, only through combat could the full mysteries of the Ancient Dragon Power and the Nine Heavens Soft Water Technique be revealed. This was why Zhaang Ye had suggested they fight.

Zhaang Ye clapped his palms together, producing a clear, metallic ring. He called out, ”Your Nine Heavens Soft Water Technique excels at using softness to overcome hardness, while my Celestial River Righteous Qi is the epitome of unyielding power. Let’s battle with these two forces and see if we can grasp the finer points of the Ancient Dragon Power and the Nine Heavens Soft Water Technique.”

As he spoke, Zhaang Ye abruptly waved his hands, unleashing two palm strikes.

VMMMM!

Zhaang Ye’s Celestial River Righteous Qi was an utterly domineering power. The two strikes instantly created a vacuum in the chamber, then detonated the air itself, forming two terrifying spheres of force that shot toward Xuli Qiqi.

A flicker of surprise crossed Xuli Qiqi’s eyes. When she first met Zhaang Ye, his strength had been so weak he couldn’t have withstood a single blow. Yet, by their second meeting in Python Marsh, his Cultivation had already reached the Martial Arts Eighth Layer, and his combat prowess far surpassed it.

Now, his combat power was even more terrifying. Even though she had cultivated the Nine Heavens Soft Water Technique to the 9th Layer, she still didn’t dare to underestimate him.

WHOOSH! Xuli Qiqi waved her slender hands, and the dry stone chamber instantly filled with immense Water Qi, so thick one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face. From within the mist, two long dragons formed of cloud and vapor soared up, twisting around the two spheres of force Zhaang Ye had launched.

CRACKLE! POP! SNAP!

Xuli Qiqi’s aptitude was extraordinary; she was truly a genius among geniuses, having reached the Half-step True Dao all on her own. After her intimate encounter with Zhaang Ye in Python Marsh, she had cultivated the Nine Heavens Soft Water Technique to the Ninth Layer in a remarkably short time, and the Innate True Qi within her was now over seventy percent pure.

After this exchange with Zhaang Ye, Xuli Qiqi’s Cultivation had risen once more, with her Innate True Qi now approaching eighty percent purity. The two Cloud Dragons she had just manifested were incredibly supple. As they coiled around the two fiercely rigid spheres of force, they completely neutralized them, causing them to dissipate into nothing with a series of strange crackles.

”Excellent!”

Zhaang Ye felt the power of Xuli Qiqi’s two Cloud Dragons and realized her combat prowess was likely now greater than his. He cried out in approval, then, using his palm as a blade, he unleashed a slash.

SWISH!

Zhaang Ye was a master of the blade, and the majority of his strength lay in his swordsmanship. Even when using his palm as a blade, though he couldn’t unleash his full power, the attack was still formidable. As he slashed, the temperature in the chamber plummeted. Under the influence of his Sword Force, the very air seemed to transform into countless invisible blades, filling the room with a chilling, murderous aura!

Xuli Qiqi smiled gently. Her fingers bloomed open like a flower, forming a wondrous hand seal. With this gesture, the air in the chamber suddenly trembled, and the chilling murderous aura vanished without a trace.

Having effortlessly dispelled the murderous aura, Xuli Qiqi swept her sleeve, and an invisible wave of Innate True Qi surged forth. Under her control, the pure Innate True Qi fused with the Water Qi in the chamber, forming a shield visible to the naked eye that materialized directly in the path of Zhaang Ye’s Sword Qi.

BOOM!

Zhaang Ye’s Sword Qi was blocked by Xuli Qiqi’s shield, erupting into a gale so powerful it felt tangible. Since the chamber was sealed, the wind had nowhere to go, and it immediately spun into a series of tornadoes that swirled ceaselessly around the room.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Controlling tornadoes was Zhaang Ye’s specialty. Seeing them form, he casually unleashed five more slashes. Each domineering strike generated its own Tornado, adding to the chaos.

Xuli Qiqi’s Cultivation was profound and unfathomable; she remained utterly fearless no matter how terrifying Zhaang Ye’s attacks became. As the tornadoes and Sword Qi descended upon her, her form shifted slightly as she executed an exceptionally profound Body Technique. Xuli Qiqi had comprehended the power of water; she was like water itself, like a cloud.

Upon using this Body Technique, she instantly became ethereal and illusory. Zhaang Ye’s fierce Sword Qi and tornadoes passed right through her, slamming into the walls and shaking the chamber so violently it seemed on the verge of collapse. Yet for all their ferocious power, they were completely unable to harm her.

Softness overcomes hardness; the gentle triumphs over the unyielding. Her Body Technique was like smoke and mist, cloud and water. No matter how ferocious Zhaang Ye’s attacks were, they were powerless against her.

”Incredible!”

Witnessing Xuli Qiqi’s Body Technique, Zhaang Ye had a flash of insight and quietly closed his eyes to contemplate it. At the same moment, Xuli Qiqi also seemed to realize something and closed her eyes in meditation as well.

After some time, they both opened their eyes and began to fight again. Their power was immense, and their battle shook the stone chamber ceaselessly as deep rumbles echoed like muffled thunder.

One day, two days, three days...

’So noisy! It’s driving me crazy! I don’t know what’s gotten into Miss Qi, holing up in there fighting all day. It’s so annoying!’ Outside the chamber, Xiaobi frowned as she listened to the constant booming, muttering in complaint.

For three straight days, the sounds of battle from the stone chamber only grew louder and more intense. Xiaobi couldn’t take it anymore. She simply opened the array to the Celestial Pool and returned to the surface.

Upon the Celestial Pool rested an island of several hundred acres. It was covered in lush green grass and a wide variety of blooming flowers. At the island’s center grew dozens of fruit trees, their verdant branches laden with fruit year-round.

Xiaobi casually plucked a Celestial Star Fruit and began munching on it, not even noticing the juice dripping onto her clothes. She finished it and was just reaching for a second when a sinister voice drifted down from the tree above. ”Hee hee, what a cute little girl. Come here, let your big brother show you some affection.”

Xiaobi was so startled the Celestial Star Fruit nearly fell from her hand. ”Who’s there!” she shrieked.

”Hee hee, it’s me.”

With the voice, a youth dressed in pink appeared on a branch about thirty feet above Xiaobi’s head. The youth had sharp, slanted brows and eyes as bright as stars. Dressed in pink against the green leaves, he was a striking sight. However, there was a hint of frivolity in his expression and a sinister air in his speech and mannerisms that greatly marred his appearance.

A sense of dread washed over Xiaobi. Without a sound, she activated her Body Technique, intending to flee the island and return to the underwater grotto. But she had barely moved when the pink-robed youth swept a sleeve. A vast power descended from above, pinning her firmly to the grassy ground.

The youth in pink leaped down from the branch and landed beside Xiaobi. He looked her over carefully and praised, ”Hee hee. Such a pretty little thing. A bit unripened, perhaps, but that has its own special charm. Today, this Young Master will pluck this lovely little flower first, and then I’ll find a way into that grotto to get to Xuli Qiqi.”

Xiaobi was so terrified she nearly fainted.

Just then, the youth in pink was heard muttering to himself, ’If the maid is this beautiful, Xuli Qiqi must be even more stunning. Hee hee, this trip was well worth it.’

As he spoke, the youth in pink leaned in close and took a deep sniff. ”Excellent! Excellent! The pure, authentic scent of a virgin! Heh heh, little girl, allow me, the Peach Blossom Young Master, to make a real woman out of you. Mmm, yes, I’ll make you a woman first, and then I’ll do the same for Xuli Qiqi. Hahahaha!”

”Aah!”

Hearing the Peach Blossom Young Master’s utterly vile words, Xiaobi was petrified. She didn’t know where the strength came from, but she let out a shriek and bolted.

Unfortunately, Xiaobi’s Cultivation was far too low. She had only run a dozen steps before she felt her body grow heavy, completely immobilized. The Peach Blossom Young Master strolled over with an air of casual grace, a sinister smile on his face. ”Little girl, you don’t need to be so afraid. Once you’ve tasted the pleasure this Young Master can give you, you’ll never want to leave my side.”

Sob... Xiaobi was gripped by absolute terror. Her body was completely immobile, and she could only watch helplessly as the Peach Blossom Young Master drew closer, step by step.