Overlord of the Wilderness

Ba Xiongfei’s nickname was the ”Little Lion King,” and he truly resembled a golden-maned lion from a primordial age. With every step he took as he approached from the distance, his aura intensified. It was like a Lion King, lord of all it surveyed, making its grand entrance, instilling in all who watched an urge to prostrate themselves in worship.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Under the weight of Ba Xiongfei’s powerful aura, some of the younger experts with weaker cultivation couldn’t help but unleash their own auras to push back against his immense pressure from afar.

Zhaang Ye bore the full brunt of Ba Xiongfei’s pressure. He felt an immense force descend from the very air, like a mountain crashing down upon his head, an utterly unbearable weight. Zhaang Ye’s heart went cold. ’This Ba Xiongfei... what a powerful aura! He’s definitely a formidable opponent!’

Ba Xiongfei’s strength, however, only served to ignite a quiet excitement within Zhaang Ye. The hem of his robes fluttered though there was no wind. He was like a reef in a tempestuous sea; no matter how astonishing Ba Xiongfei’s aura became, it could not move him in the slightest. He looked Ba Xiongfei straight in the eye and said, without a trace of courtesy, ”Well, well. Brother Ba, your aura is so imposing. Your strength must be unparalleled. I was just hoping to see it for myself.”

”Hm?”

Ba Xiongfei never imagined that Zhaang Ye would dare to speak so disrespectfully while under his immense pressure. A strange glint flashed in his eyes. He fixed his sharp gaze on Zhaang Ye, unleashing the full force of his aura upon him.

”Huh? Are they going to fight?”

”Heh, I can’t believe Zhaang Ye actually dares to provoke Ba Xiongfei!”

”Yeah! Ba Xiongfei is no ordinary master. His combat prowess is far beyond Gu Hengshui’s. Even though Zhaang Ye defeated her, there’s no way he could be Ba Xiongfei’s opponent!”

”That’s right. I heard Gu Hengshui’s cultivation was boosted by an Elixir; she didn’t reach it through her own efforts. She might have had a cultivation at the Peak of True Dao Fifth Layer, but her actual combat strength wasn’t that high. Zhaang Ye may have beaten Gu Hengshui, but he’s definitely no match for Ba Xiongfei. We’ll just have to wait and see!”

”Hmph, I wouldn’t be so sure! There’s something off about Zhaang Ye. His cultivation is only at the True Dao Third Layer, yet he managed to defeat Gu Hengshui, a master at the Peak of True Dao Fifth Layer. If you ask me, Zhaang Ye definitely has a few aces up his sleeve...”

Seeing the two on the brink of a clash, the young experts grew excited. Ba Xiongfei and Zhaang Ye were both incredibly powerful masters and, more importantly, rivals. The surrounding young powerhouses clenched their fists, staring intently, wishing the two would fight right then and there. Ideally, they would grievously injure each other, eliminating two formidable competitors from the running.

”HAHAHAHA!”

Ba Xiongfei let out a long, booming laugh and said arrogantly, ”Excellent, excellent! Ever since I joined the ranks of the Nine Young Giants, not even a master at the Late-stage Fifth Layer of the True Dao has dared to challenge me! Zhaang Ye, your cultivation is only at the True Dao Third Layer, yet you dare challenge me. You’ve got guts! At the Young Nobles’ Assembly, I will grant your wish!”

After giving Zhaang Ye a deep, meaningful look, Ba Xiongfei turned and walked away.

After Ba Xiongfei left, Zhaang Ye found a rock, sat down cross-legged, and began to silently meditate and regulate his breathing. Qi Qingle, Ba Xiongfei, Pingcang Mountain, and Taishu Gang were all incredibly powerful masters. Figures of such extraordinary talent often possessed the ability to challenge those above their own cultivation level. Even though Zhaang Ye had comprehended two Realms and possessed immense strength, he didn’t dare to underestimate any of them in the slightest.

While he meditated, Zhaang Ye took the opportunity to observe the other young experts present.

The most eye-catching of the young experts present was a young woman in a white dress. She was none other than the Sect Leader of the Mad Beast Sect’s Closed-door Disciple—Jade Fox.

Jade Fox was stunningly beautiful, her looks a cut above even Gu Hengshui’s. As she sat quietly cross-legged on a stone, she became a beautiful sight, capturing the gazes of most of the young experts.

Zhaang Ye sized her up discreetly and was slightly surprised. ’Her aura is as formless and ever-changing as water,’ he thought. ’Even with my perception, I can’t discern her true cultivation level.’

Just then, the Fire Spirit spoke in Zhaang Ye’s mind. ”Master, this Jade Fox’s cultivation is at the True Dao Fifth Layer Middle Stage. However, she cultivates an Ancient Illusion Technique. Faced with a technique like that, brute force is useless. Even a master at the True Dao Sixth Layer would face a crushing defeat if they fell into her Illusion Realm.”

Zhaang Ye was taken aback. ’What a terrifying Illusion Technique! How can one break an Ancient Illusion Technique like that?’

The Fire Spirit replied, vexed, ”That... I don’t know either. In any case, masters who cultivate Ancient Illusion Techniques are never to be trifled with. Master, you must not underestimate her.”

Zhaang Ye nodded and continued to observe the young experts. The second person to catch his attention was a young man in yellow robes. His clothes were embroidered with all sorts of Profound Mysteries in the form of Runes, which were interconnected in an esoteric pattern. As golden light flowed between them, they pulsed with a terrifying aura.

A thought struck Zhaang Ye. ’This person must be a Rune Master. Rune Masters excel at Talisman Making and can create all sorts of powerful Spirit Talismans. Rumor has it that Rune Masters have strange methods of both cultivation and combat. This man’s cultivation is unfathomable, and he possesses formidable Spirit Talismans... It seems he must be Yue Changsheng of the Talisman Sect, one of the Nine Young Giants.’

In the Purple Spirit Domain, the Younger Generation had nine outstanding experts, known as the Nine Young Giants. Qi Qingle, Ba Xiongfei, Jade Fox, Yue Changsheng, Pingcang Mountain, and Taishu Gang were all among them. The remaining three giants were Shui Daimai of the Spirit Water Sect, Shui Cangmang of the Spirit Water Sect, and Beibing Feng of the Array Sect.

The fame of the Nine Young Giants echoed throughout the Purple Spirit Domain. Zhaang Ye had only left the Land of Divine Abandonment three years ago. After entering the Green Cloud Sect, he had been preoccupied with his cultivation and was only now learning the names of these nine figures.

Zhaang Ye slowly shifted his gaze, letting it fall upon a slender young man. This slight young man was seated cross-legged on a boulder, his figure seemed illusory and indistinct, constantly shifting. No one dared venture within a hundred-zhang radius of him, as if repelled by some unseen terror.

As Zhaang Ye observed the slender young man, the Fire Spirit also took notice. ”That person is an Array Master,” it said. ”He has laid out an Array around himself. Anyone who enters it will face all sorts of attacks. Master, you must be careful. Array Masters are not to be trifled with. Once you’re trapped in an Array, you’re in deep trouble.”

Zhaang Ye nodded slightly. ’It seems this must be Beibing Feng of the Array Sect, another of the Nine Young Giants. His cultivation is profound and he’s skilled in Arrays. He’s also a powerful foe.’

As Zhaang Ye was observing the other young experts, dozens more arrived in a steady stream. The number of powerhouses gathered by the sea now exceeded two hundred. Among them, even the weakest had a cultivation at the Peak of True Dao Fourth Layer, and the vast majority were at the True Dao Fifth Layer. Any single one of them could be considered a dominant figure of their generation in some corner of the Purple Spirit Domain.

Four more hours passed, and the number of young experts gathered by the sea continued to grow. Just then, a colossal black shadow suddenly broke through the clouds, appearing on the horizon.

What broke through the clouds was an enormous Flying Vessel. It was entirely black, shaped like a swift-flowing river, and it streamed rapidly across the sky toward them.

”The Spirit Water Sect’s Profound Water True Vessel!”

”What a magnificent Profound Water True Vessel! I hear it’s a Fourth-Grade True Artifact, on par with the Mad Beast Sect’s War Beast Golden Vessel. It can change its size, travel three million miles in a day, and unleash attacks of unparalleled power. It’s a true treasure.”

”How strange! Of the three Major Sects in the Purple Spirit Domain, the Mad Beast Sect and the Spirit Water Sect both dispatched Flying Vessels. I wonder what’s going on with the Green Cloud Sect, making their disciples travel here on their own...”

”Heh, what’s so strange about it? The Green Cloud Sect is immensely powerful. Three of the Nine Giants are from their sect. They have no need for a True Vessel to make a statement. Only the weaker Mad Beast Sect and Spirit Water Sect would place so much importance on appearances and send one.”

”Mm, that seems to be the case. Huh, Shui Daimai is coming down! That woman’s talent is extraordinary. She participated in a Young Nobles’ Assembly thirty years ago. This is her second time. Even with so many young experts at this assembly, first place will most likely go to her!”

Amid the crowd’s murmurs, a young woman in black robes stepped out of the Profound Water True Vessel. An ancient sword was strapped to her back, and her long hair cascaded down to just touch its hilt. Her beauty was refined and unparalleled. The stark contrast between her snow-white skin and black attire was so striking that a single glance was enough to sear her image into one’s memory.

The young experts’ eyes lit up when they saw the black-robed woman. Gu Hengshui and Jade Fox were both stunningly gorgeous, like flowers in full bloom. This woman in black, however, was as serene as still water, a subtle beauty that grew more captivating the longer one looked.

The woman in black was very beautiful, but the young experts took only a single glance before quickly looking away. Her aura was simply too vast. Though she was but one person, her presence felt like a boundless ocean; the aura she gave off, seemingly without effort, was enough to leave the other young powerhouses breathless.

”As expected of someone attending the Young Nobles’ Assembly for the second time! She’s terrifying!”

”Indeed. That woman’s cultivation is frighteningly high.”

The young experts muttered in low voices, their expressions turning grim.

The faces of the other young giants—Qi Qingle, Ba Xiongfei, Jade Fox, Yue Changsheng, Beibing Feng, Ping Cangsheng, and Taishu Gang—had remained calm until now. But when they felt the aura coming from Shui Daimai, they could no longer remain composed. The gazes of all seven fell upon her, their expressions turning grave.

”HAHAHAHA! It seems everyone has arrived! Since you’re all here, it is time for this Young Nobles’ Assembly to begin!”

Amid the oppressive silence, five enigmatic figures suddenly materialized in the air. Upon seeing these five profoundly mysterious figures, all the young experts bowed in unison, their voices ringing out as one: ”We greet the five Grandmasters!”

-----

I’ve been running into some depressing things lately, and I’m not in a good state. My health has been acting up again, and I’ve been groggy all day, so I stopped updating for a long time. I am truly sorry. I have let down all my readers, and I have let down Winter Melon. Starting today, I will resume updates.

-(To be continued.