Overlord of the Wilderness

The waterfall cascaded from midair, like the Celestial River itself pouring down from the heavens. Its tremendous roar could be heard for hundreds of miles. The endless torrent of water formed a curtain of white stretching for miles, hundreds of meters high—an utterly majestic sight.

What was even more breathtaking was how the ceaseless deluge crashed below, creating an incredibly dense mist. Under the sunlight, this thick vapor refracted the light into countless seven-colored rainbows, making the scene look like a celestial paradise.

Though Zhaang Ye had lived two lives and was worldly and well-read, he had never before witnessed such a magnificently beautiful spectacle. He stared, transfixed, for a long while before coming to his senses and sighing in admiration. ”Back at the Sect, I read a lot of miscellaneous texts. One of them mentioned that at the border of the Purple Spirit Domain’s three great powers, there was an immense waterfall called the Ten Thousand Rivers Waterfall, a sight so stunning one could never forget it.

”This waterfall before me must be the Ten Thousand Rivers Waterfall! It truly lives up to its reputation, worthy of being one of the most famous waterfalls in this vast region!”

After his exclamation, Zhaang Ye said with satisfaction, ”The Water Qi here is incredibly dense, and as the water pours down from the sky, it undergoes all sorts of transformations. This is a perfect place for gaining comprehension. With a place like this, I’m twenty percent confident I can comprehend the Water Realm!”

A Realm was ethereal and elusive. Comprehending one required not only Comprehension and accumulated knowledge, but also a fortuitous opportunity. For Zhaang Ye to be twenty percent confident was already an astonishing, heaven-defying feat.

SWOOSH!

In his excitement, Zhaang Ye executed his Body Technique and shot straight toward the waterfall. When he was about a hundred li away, the Fire Spirit suddenly spoke up. ”Master, there’s a platform about a hundred zhang wide beneath this waterfall. It’s perfectly suited for Cultivation and for comprehending a Realm!”

”Oh?”

Zhaang Ye’s heart leaped with joy. He flew forward for several dozen li and, just as the Fire Spirit had said, found a platform a hundred zhang wide at the base of the waterfall. Zhaang Ye walked a lap around the platform and quickly found a secluded corner. The flow of water here was just right—not too strong, not too weak. It was perfect for comprehending a Realm and for using the current to temper his physical body.

Having found his spot, Zhaang Ye dove under the waterfall without hesitation.

The Ten Thousand Rivers Waterfall plunged from hundreds of zhang in the sky, its current immense and ferocious, carrying a force of at least twenty to thirty million jin. Even a man made of iron would be crushed flat and ground to dust under such a colossal impact. The moment Zhaang Ye stepped under the torrent, he immediately felt an enormous pressure bearing down on him relentlessly.

Relying on his formidable Physical Power, Zhaang Ye managed to withstand the force, but his clothes weren’t so fortunate. In an instant, the terrifying current tore his robes to shreds, leaving him completely naked.

While his body endured the waterfall’s pressure, his mind began to settle, growing clearer and more serene. Without realizing it, Zhaang Ye entered the state of ”Specializing in Qi to Achieve Softness.” All distracting thoughts were purged, his aura gradually retracted, and he became like a lifeless stone statue.

Ever since obtaining the *Tao Te Ching*, Zhaang Ye had developed a special insight into water. Back when he was practicing his Saber Technique in Three Rivers Town, he’d faintly sensed that water, the most common of substances, concealed immense power. Based on this perception, Zhaang Ye had created his own Saber Technique: the Reverse Flow Slash.

After obtaining the Ancient Dragon Power, Zhaang Ye’s understanding of water deepened. He became capable of using Water Qi to fly and to fight.

On Xuli Mountain, Zhaang Ye had spent time exchanging insights with Xuli Qiqi. That exchange gave him an even deeper understanding of water’s power. He vaguely began to grasp water’s unceasing and unstoppable will, and with Xuli Qiqi’s guidance, he even touched upon water’s Tolerance Power.

After entering the Green Cloud Sect, while cultivating in a great river, Zhaang Ye encountered the Nine-headed Python. It was thanks to this python that he fully comprehended water’s Tolerance Power, which allowed him to successfully fuse the Ancient Power within his body into a single entity. At that point, Zhaang Ye’s understanding of water was already profound, unmatched by anyone in his generation.

Although Zhaang Ye’s understanding of water grew ever deeper, he had always been cultivating through self-exploration. So, despite his profound insights, he struggled to unify all he had learned. That is, until he encountered the Sect Leader of the Black Water Sect.

The Sect Leader of the Black Water Sect had been practicing Water Element Cultivation Techniques for several hundred years and was a formidable expert who had faintly touched upon the Water Realm. Hunted by such a powerful master, Zhaang Ye was forced to desperately analyze and counter his opponent’s attacks. Under that pressure, he gained new insights into the power of water, and many of his lingering questions were finally answered!

All that accumulated effort was about to pay off.

Zhaang Ye had struggled long and hard to understand the power of water, gaining a profound understanding. Now, he intended to sort through all his insights and, in one fell swoop, comprehend the Water Realm!

Merge, and merge again.

Zhaang Ye slowly merged his insights. As they combined, his understanding of water’s power became ever deeper and more complete.

Zhaang Ye’s body slowly grew supple. It transformed from the hardness of a stone statue to the softness and agility of a fish!

He became like a fish, completely at home in the water!

This was a skill Zhaang Ye could only use after gaining an extremely deep understanding of water’s power. He had naturally grasped the power of water, its very mysteries. His entire being was like a fish living in the current; the water was his closest companion!

Transformed into a fish, Zhaang Ye could breathe easily within the waterfall. He could effortlessly deflect the millions of jin of crushing force. He could keenly sense the faintest stirrings in the water around him.

Time passed slowly.

A dozen or so days later, a watery aura began to emanate from Zhaang Ye’s body. This aura grew denser and denser until he no longer seemed like a man of flesh and blood. He was like a mass of water—crystalline and translucent, soft and ever-changing—slowly melting into the waterfall itself.

POP!

When the watery aura around Zhaang Ye reached its absolute peak, his entire body shuddered, and he completely merged with the water.

He became water, man and water as one!

In that instant, Zhaang Ye understood the myriad wonders of water, its countless methods of attack and defense. He felt his entire body turn translucent and pure. With a slight wave of his arm, the surrounding water obediently followed his command, forming several water spheres the size of washbasins.

”Hahahaha! I’ve finally comprehended the Water Realm!” Zhaang Ye stared at the water spheres before him, his heart bursting with joy, and he couldn’t help but let out a long, loud laugh.

The Water Realm and the Wind Realm were complementary.

After comprehending the Water Realm, Zhaang Ye gained new insights into his Wind Realm as well. By using both Realms together, his combat power would be vastly enhanced. He wouldn’t fear even an expert of the True Dao Fifth Layer!

Zhaang Ye felt utterly exhilarated and was about to step out from the waterfall to return to the Sect. Just then, the Fire Spirit’s voice suddenly rang out, ”Wait. Two experts are heading toward the waterfall. They are both incredibly powerful. You should hide and observe them first!”

Zhaang Ye froze. He then activated the Water Realm, his body transforming into a sphere of water and merging into the waterfall. The Water Qi within the cascade was dense; by hiding with his Water Realm, not even a True Dao Fifth Layer expert could detect his presence.

No sooner had Zhaang Ye concealed himself than he sensed two incomparably tyrannical auras approaching the waterfall from a great distance. Hiding his Spiritual Sense within the Water Qi, he secretly peered out. He saw two young men flying in from two hundred li away, frantically attacking each other as they flew, their battle shaking the heavens and the earth.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Both young men wielded a Long Sword. With every swing, they unleashed a Sword Gang that stretched for dozens of li. The indestructible Sword Gang tore through the void and sundered the earth!

SWISH! SWISH!

They fought closer and closer, and as they neared the waterfall, both men simultaneously unleashed a Sword Gang over sixty li long. The two colossal Sword Gangs brutally sliced the waterfall into three sections. The sound of their collision actually overpowered the roar of the falls!

BOOM!

After that clash, both young men retreated several li. Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths; clearly, both had sustained serious injuries.

”Hahaha!”

A silver-haired young man roared with laughter. ”Mercury Stone, for all your True Dao Fifth Layer Cultivation, you’re still no match for me! Within two years, I, Galaxy, will challenge you again. When that time comes, I will surely cut you down!”

”Galaxy!”

Hearing this name, Zhaang Ye was slightly startled. ’The former Inner Sect Senior Brother of the Green Cloud Sect was named Galaxy,’ he thought. ’It seems this silver-haired young man is him! And this Mercury Stone... he must be a young expert from the Spirit Water Sect, given the name.’

Just then, Mercury Stone sneered. ”A joke! We first met ten years ago and have been fighting this entire decade. In all that time, though I haven’t been able to defeat you, you haven’t been able to defeat me either.

”Galaxy, you may be able to fight me to a standstill now, but your Cultivation is merely at the Early Stage of the True Dao Fourth Layer. You’re relying on nothing more than your Golden Realm. The day I comprehend a Realm of my own, you’re a dead man!”

Galaxy roared with laughter. ”Mercury Stone, a Realm isn’t so easy to comprehend. Your Cultivation may have reached the True Dao Fifth Layer, but you’ve yet to comprehend a Realm of your own. Your future is limited. In two years at most, or perhaps just one, I will come find you at the Spirit Water Sect and chop you in two.”

”Hmph!”

Mercury Stone snorted heavily and said grimly, ”I have to return to my Sect for the Jade Maiden selection ceremony. I have no time to trade barbs with you. Galaxy, I hear your Green Cloud Sect has a formidable new disciple. They say he reached the True Dao Third Layer in just a few short years and even comprehended the Wind Realm. Don’t go losing to him and disgracing yourself!”

Galaxy just laughed, his voice dripping with disdain. ”A mere new disciple dares to be mentioned in the same breath as me!”

With that, Galaxy flicked his sleeve and vanished in an instant from the sky above the waterfall. As Galaxy disappeared, Mercury Stone also departed quietly.

Seeing them both leave, the Fire Spirit said with a laugh, ”Master, it seems that Galaxy doesn’t give you a second thought!”

Zhaang Ye replied slowly, ”This Galaxy is indeed extraordinary. He has the power to back up his arrogance. However, that doesn’t mean I’m afraid of him. We’ll have to fight to see who is truly stronger.”

SWOOSH!

Zhaang Ye leaped out from the waterfall and quickly changed into a fresh set of robes.

The Fire Spirit said, ”Master, you’ve already spent twenty days here comprehending the Water Realm. Are you returning to the Sect now?”

A glint flashed in Zhaang Ye’s eyes. He said slowly, ”No. We’re going to pay a visit to the Black Water Sect.”

-

My deepest apologies!!!!!!!!!!!!

-(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.com to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)