Overlord of the Wilderness

Qi Qingle’s gaze fixed on Zhaang Ye, and he declared in a tone that brooked no argument, ”Zhaang Ye, you will be the Vice Leader.”

”This...”

The pupils of the seven young experts—Pingcang Mountain, Gu Jianyuan, Taishu Gang, Shi Shenghao, Gao Kangzi, Yan Ming, and Galaxy—all contracted slightly. They never could have imagined that Qi Qingle would actually appoint Zhaang Ye as the Vice Leader.

Zhaang Ye was also completely taken aback that Qi Qingle would make him the Vice Leader. Just as he was about to refuse, a figure suddenly flashed before him, and Yan Ming stepped forward.

Yan Ming spoke in a low, serious voice, ”Senior Brother Qi, I’m afraid this arrangement is inappropriate. Zhaang Ye is just a newcomer to the Sect, with a Cultivation of only the True Dao Third Layer. With his abilities, how could he possibly serve as the Vice Leader?”

A young man with snow-white eyebrows also stood up and said in a low, serious voice, ”Senior Brother Yan makes a good point. Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation is too low; he isn’t qualified to be the Vice Leader.”

This young man with snow-white eyebrows was none other than Gao Kangzi. Having practiced a rare technique since childhood, his Cultivation had reached the True Dao Fifth Layer Middle Stage, making him a true top-tier expert of the younger generation.

Qi Qingle’s gaze slowly swept across the faces of the young experts. His invisible stare felt like a knife grazing their skin as he asked faintly, ”What? You’re not convinced? You doubt my decision?”

Qi Qingle was not a particularly large man, and his tone was very mild. But as soon as he spoke those words, all the young experts felt their breath catch. Qi Qingle’s presence seemed to transform into a great mountain pressing down on their hearts. Even the expressions of experts like Pingcang Mountain and Taishu Gang changed.

Yan Ming gave a dry cough and, steeling himself, said, ”Senior Brother Qi, I’m not doubting your decision. I just feel that Zhaang Ye isn’t qualified to be the Vice Leader.”

Gao Kangzi nodded. ”Senior Brother Qi, we are all experts of the True Dao Fifth Layer. Even Galaxy has a Cultivation at the True Dao Fourth Layer. If we let someone at the True Dao Third Layer be the Vice Leader, we’ll be a laughingstock. Senior Brother Qi, please appoint someone else.”

Qi Qingle said faintly, ”Junior Brother Yan, Junior Brother Gao, if you’re not convinced, you can challenge Zhaang Ye. Test his combat strength.”

’Challenge Zhaang Ye? What’s there to challenge about a True Dao Third Layer expert?’ The young experts all turned to look at Zhaang Ye, their gazes filled with disdain.

Among the young experts, only Galaxy wore a slightly solemn expression. He had fought Zhaang Ye before and knew his combat strength far surpassed his Cultivation level; he was by no means an opponent to be taken lightly.

Yan Ming quickly snapped out of it. He let out a loud laugh and said, ”Fine, fine! In that case, I’ll test Zhaang Ye’s combat strength myself!”

Yan Ming’s gaze landed on Zhaang Ye as he said haughtily, ”Zhaang Ye, show me what you’ve got! I’ll let you attack me three times. If you can make me take a single step back, I, Yan Ming, will agree to you being the Vice Leader.”

Yan Ming’s Cultivation was at the Early Stage of the True Dao Fifth Layer, far surpassing Zhaang Ye’s. Although he knew Zhaang Ye had comprehended a Realm, Yan Ming still didn’t take him seriously. He knew that the deeper one’s Cultivation, the more Heaven and Earth Essence Qi one could control. Even with Zhaang Ye’s comprehension of a Realm, he was still confident he could defeat him with ease.

Zhaang Ye sighed softly and said calmly, ”I am only interested in Cultivation; I have no interest whatsoever in being the Vice Leader. However, since Senior Brother Yan is pressing the issue, I will gladly accept your instruction.”

Yan Ming sneered. ”Bring it on! I’ll stand right here, without dodging or evading. Zhaang Ye, I hear you possess some Barbaric Power. Now’s your chance to use it!”

A glint flashed in Zhaang Ye’s eyes. He slowly stood up, his presence becoming ethereal and indistinct. Wisps of azure wind began to circle around him. In the eyes of the other young experts, Zhaang Ye seemed as light as a feather, as if he were about to ride the wind and fly away.

”SWOOSH!”

Zhaang Ye crossed a distance of over thirty yards in an instant. His fist shot out, a brilliant golden light that punched a vacuum tunnel through the air as it blasted straight toward Yan Ming.

A sneer touched the corner of Yan Ming’s lips. He raised his own fist, which began to glow with a faint purple light, and met Zhaang Ye’s attack head-on!

Not only was Yan Ming a genius, but his fortuitous encounters were also quite remarkable. As a child, he had accidentally eaten a strange fruit, which granted him immense strength. Relying on his outstanding natural talent and aptitude, Yan Ming’s Cultivation progressed at a meteoric pace. He had reached the Early Stage of the True Dao Fifth Layer before he was even eighty years old.

With a Cultivation at the True Dao Fifth Layer and his own immense strength, Yan Ming had no fear of Zhaang Ye’s power. Seeing Zhaang Ye’s fist coming at him, he met it head-on, intending to send Zhaang Ye flying with a single punch.

”BOOM!”

Zhaang Ye’s fist and Yan Ming’s fist collided with a dull, tremendous roar, and the very ground of Lianyun Peak trembled violently. The instant Yan Ming’s fist made contact with Zhaang Ye’s, he knew something was wrong. A sharp pain shot through his knuckles as an immense power, like a collapsing mountain, came bearing down on him!

”THUD, THUD, THUD!”

Yan Ming had never imagined that Zhaang Ye’s strength would be so terrifying. From that single clash, he felt his very bones groaning in protest. His arm went numb, and he was involuntarily forced back three steps, his face flushing crimson.

The other young experts gasped.

Seeing Zhaang Ye force Yan Ming back three steps with a single punch, they could hardly believe their eyes. It was unbelievable that he had so easily repelled an expert of the True Dao Fifth Layer.

Once a cultivator reached the True Dao, each increase of a single Layer in Cultivation multiplied their combat strength several times over. Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation was only at the True Dao Third Layer, yet he had forced back Yan Ming with one punch. It was like watching a small child send a hulking man flying with a single slap—it was unacceptable, unbelievable.

Zhaang Ye blew on his knuckles and said with a slight smile, ”Senior Brother Yan Ming, what skill! This fist of mine can kill a Barbaric Beast in a single blow, yet you took my punch and weren’t even injured. It seems you’re much stronger than a Barbaric Beast. I am truly impressed, Senior Brother Yan!”

”You... you...”

Yan Ming’s face turned shades of red and pale. Being forced back by Zhaang Ye’s punch had already been a huge loss of face. Now, Zhaang Ye was comparing him to a Barbaric Beast, which made him so angry he nearly coughed up blood.

”Hmph!”

Gao Kangzi suddenly strode forward and said coldly, ”Zhaang Ye, you relied on your Barbaric Power and took advantage of Yan Ming’s carelessness to get a lucky shot in. What’s there to be proud of? I’m challenging you now. Show me what you’ve really got!”

Zhaang Ye smiled faintly. ”And how will this challenge work? Will you be like Senior Brother Yan Ming, standing still to take three of my attacks without dodging?”

Gao Kangzi’s expression flickered. Zhaang Ye’s last attack had demonstrated immense power. Even with his profound Cultivation, he was not willing to stand there and take Zhaang Ye’s fists head-on.

Gao Kangzi said coldly, ”Zhaang Ye, you only need to withstand three of my attacks, and I will agree to you being the Vice Leader. Considering your low Cultivation, I’ll even let you attack first.”

Seeing Gao Kangzi challenge Zhaang Ye, the other young experts all focused their attention on them. Zhaang Ye forcing back Yan Ming with a single punch had greatly exceeded their expectations and had also piqued their interest. They were eager to see if Zhaang Ye could withstand even three of Gao Kangzi’s ferocious attacks.

Zhaang Ye’s eyebrow twitched. ”I’ll say it again: I have no interest in being the Vice Leader,” he said coolly. ”But since Senior Brother Gao insists on a fight, then let’s fight. Take this!”

”SWOOSH!”

Zhaang Ye formed his hand into a blade and slashed at Gao Kangzi. This was precisely the Mountain-Breaking Slash. As his hand sliced through the air, it left visible ripples in its wake!

”Huh?!”

Seeing Zhaang Ye’s slash, the faces of the young experts filled with astonishment. This strike was not only incomparably profound, seemingly containing terrifying tornadoes, but it also held immense power. Judging by the ripples in the air, the might of this slash was in no way inferior to an attack from a True Dao Fifth Layer expert!

’No wonder the Sect sent him to participate in this assembly of young talents! It seems this Zhaang Ye’s combat strength isn’t as weak as we imagined!’ The young experts finally realized that Zhaang Ye’s fighting prowess was far more formidable than his Cultivation level suggested. No wonder Yan Ming, an expert of the True Dao Fifth Layer, had been forced back by a single punch.

Facing Zhaang Ye’s Mountain-Breaking Slash, Gao Kangzi had no time for extraneous thoughts. He thrust out his fists, which traced a profound arc through the air to collide with Zhaang Ye’s Palm Blade.

”BOOM!”

Gao Kangzi finally understood just how terrifying Zhaang Ye’s strength was. He had already used eighty percent of his power, yet he still couldn’t hold his ground against Zhaang Ye’s Palm Blade. A tyrannical, overbearing force pushed him back a step, and the qi and blood in his body churned violently, rushing up into his chest!

”SWOOSH!”

Zhaang Ye slashed out again. The technique he used was still the Mountain-Breaking Slash.

”BOOM!”

Gao Kangzi clashed with him again and was involuntarily forced back another step. After taking this second blow, the qi and blood in his body churned even more violently. His normally docile blood shot up like an arrow into his throat, nearly bursting from his mouth!

”SWOOSH!”

At that moment, Zhaang Ye delivered his third slash. Once again, it was the Mountain-Breaking Slash!

”BOOM!”

Having already taken two slashes, Gao Kangzi found himself completely locked down by the technique. He couldn’t dodge even if he wanted to and had no choice but to receive the third strike. After he took it, a sharp pain wracked his entire body. His blood felt like it was boiling, and a spray of it shot up into his mouth and erupted outwards!

Three slashes!

In just three slashes, Gao Kangzi had been beaten to the point of coughing up blood!

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-(To be continued.