Overlord of the Wilderness

Zhaang Ye wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a bitter smile on his face.

He knew that he and his mother had now had a complete falling-out.

But he did not regret it.

’My destiny is my own. I must keep it in my own hands and never let others arrange it for me.

Not even my mother.’

Zhaang Ye let out a low sigh, his hand tightly gripping the Purple Copper Thick-Backed Saber.

His family had grown distant, but fortunately, he still had his Thick-Backed Saber.

’Perhaps, from now on, this Thick-Backed Saber will be my closest companion.’

’People change, but a saber never does.’

’May this saber rest perfectly in my hand and fight alongside me for all eternity.’

A faint, serene smile touched Zhaang Ye’s lips as he closed his eyes and began to contemplate his Saber Technique.

...

Three days later, nine chimes—DONG, DONG, DONG—suddenly rang out from the Zhaang Mansion.

These nine chimes signified the start of the Zhaang Family’s grand competition. On this day, the dozens of youths from the family would unleash the strength they had gained through years of cultivation, all to fight for a high rank.

When the nine chimes fell silent, Zhaang Ye walked slowly out of his small courtyard and onto a massive training ground. The ground was already packed with people, who had naturally gathered into several groups according to their status.

The first group, and the only one with seats, was the Elders. Their seats were on the Martial Arts Arena situated in the middle of the training ground. The Zhaang Family of Three Rivers Town had six Elders. The weakest among them had a cultivation at the Martial Arts Fourth Layer Middle Stage, while the strongest, the Grand Elder, was at the Martial Arts Fifth Layer Middle Stage. The way they simply sat there exuded an imposing aura that no one dared to take lightly.

An empty chair sat in the middle of the Elders’ seats. This was the Patriarch’s seat. The Zhaang Family Patriarch, Zhaang Chengtian—a clean-shaven, fair-faced, middle-aged man who usually spent his years in seclusion recovering from injuries—was now seated firmly in it. He possessed the strength of the Martial Arts Fifth Layer Late Stage, and his aura alone was enough to rival that of the six Elders combined.

Behind the Elders’ seats stood the Stewards. The ten Zhaang Family Stewards had no seats and could only stand in a single row.

Behind the Stewards were the main participants of the day’s competition: the Zhaang Family youths aged sixteen and under. Though the Zhaang Family of Three Rivers Town wasn’t large, its various branches had over a hundred youths between the ages of thirteen and sixteen. These youths were usually away training, on family missions, or focused on their martial arts, so it was rare for them all to be in one place. The grand competition, however, had brought them all together.

At the very back stood the women of the Zhaang Mansion. They were so far away that, in order to get a clear view of their sons, they had to find tall objects to stand on.

Seeing that the appointed hour had arrived, Zhaang Family Patriarch Zhaang Chengtian slowly rose to his feet. He swept his gaze over the crowd below, and his calm yet majestic eyes made many avert their gazes.

When Zhaang Chengtian’s gaze fell upon Zhaang Ye, Zhaang Ye did not lower his head. Instead, he calmly met the Patriarch’s eyes.

Zhaang Chengtian’s gaze lingered on Zhaang Ye for a moment before he spoke. ”The time for the grand competition is upon us once more. I don’t need to explain its significance; I’m sure you all understand. That’s right! The competition exists to select the strongest among you. The Barbaric World is a world where the strong reign supreme. Our Zhaang Family also puts the strong first and honors them above all! Today, you will show your true strength, hone your skills, and strive to walk the path of the powerful!”

Next, Grand Elder Zhaang Chengdi announced the rules and prizes. There were four main rules for the competition. First, no lethal blows. Second, no attacking an opponent who is just stepping onto the arena. Third, no using poisoned weapons or Hidden Weapons. Fourth, no attacking an opponent after they have conceded defeat.

The first-place winner of this competition would become the designated successor to the Patriarch of the Three Rivers Town Zhaang Family and receive the family’s full support in their cultivation. If the winner was unwilling to become the successor, the position would be decided collectively by the Elders and the Patriarch. However, the first-place winner would gain the right to nominate a candidate for the next Patriarch and cast a vote.

The second and third-place winners would earn the opportunity to go to the main Zhaang Family branch in Cyan Mulberry City to continue their cultivation. Fourth place would receive three Qi Gathering Pills and a fine sword. Fifth place would receive two Qi Gathering Pills and a saber. Sixth place would receive one Qi Gathering Pill. Those at the Martial Arts Second Layer could exchange their Qi Gathering Pills for Body Tempering Pills.

As the Grand Elder finished announcing the rules and prizes, Zhaang Ye noticed a slight commotion near him. He turned his head to see a group of youths crowded around Zhaang Jin. They were holding sheets of Golden Tickets and murmuring in low voices:

”I’m backing Zhaang Que! One hundred taels of Gold on him!”

”I’ll put one hundred taels on Zhaang Que, too!”

”Heh, I think Zhaang Qing is a bit stronger. Fifty taels of Gold on Zhaang Qing for me.”

”I like Zhaang Yun’s chances! Twenty taels of Gold!”

After listening for a moment, Zhaang Ye finally understood. They were running a betting pool on the outcome of the competition!

Zhaang Ye shook his head slightly. Just as he was about to walk away, Zhaang Jin, the bookie, who had noticed him at some point, called out with a smirk, ”Zhaang Ye, don’t you want to know your odds?”

Zhaang Ye’s expression remained neutral. ”Not interested,” he said flatly.

Zhaang Jin snickered. ”I’m going to tell you even if you’re not interested. The odds on you winning first place are thirty-to-one, among the longest odds there are. In other words, no one thinks you have a chance. Any thoughts on that?”

Zhaang Jin was deliberately trying to humiliate Zhaang Ye, so he spoke loud enough for people far away to hear him clearly.

Hearing Zhaang Jin’s words, a glint flashed in Zhaang Ye’s eyes. ’The last time Cyan Lotus was harassed, it was very likely Zhaang Jin’s doing,’ he thought. ’He’s quick-witted and full of dirty tricks. If I don’t teach him a lesson now, who knows what he’ll try to pull in the future...’

At this thought, Zhaang Ye spun around and strode toward Zhaang Jin.

His recent advancement in cultivation gave Zhaang Ye’s every move an intimidating aura. As he walked straight toward Zhaang Jin, the latter felt his heart clench. Afraid that Zhaang Ye was about to attack, he put on a brave front and shouted, ”Zhaang Ye, what do you think you’re doing? Let me tell you, this is the Zhaang Family’s martial arts field! Private duels are forbidden...”

Zhaang Ye glanced at Zhaang Jin and said coolly, ”Don’t be afraid. I’m a reasonable person. As long as someone doesn’t offend me, I won’t attack them, even if they’re a worthless piece of trash.”

Hearing Zhaang Ye’s words, Zhaang Jin’s face flushed crimson. He wanted to retort, but the memory of the brutal beating Zhaang Ye had given him a few days ago kept the words stuck in his throat.

Just then, Zhaang Ye took a Golden Ticket from his robes and handed it to Zhaang Jin. ”Five thousand taels,” he said. ”I’m betting on myself to win first place.”

”W-what!” Zhaang Jin stared at the Golden Ticket. His hand trembled so violently he almost dropped the five-thousand-tael note. His eyes darted from the ticket to Zhaang Ye. ”You... how do you have this much Gold?”

”Five thousand taels? Are you kidding? It can’t be a fake Golden Ticket, can it?”

”Whoa, it really is a five-thousand-tael Golden Ticket!” someone with sharp eyes exclaimed, having seen the number clearly.

”What? It’s really five thousand taels!”

All the youths stared wide-eyed at Zhaang Ye.

Gold was not easy to come by. Even with its many businesses, the Zhaang Mansion’s annual income was only a little over a million taels of Gold. Among the youths of Zhaang Ye’s age, very few had a net worth of even one hundred taels. Yet now, Zhaang Ye, a mere thirteen-year-old, had just produced five thousand taels of Gold, stunning all the other youths into silence.

Zhaang Ye ignored everyone’s stares and said to Zhaang Jin, ”What’s the matter? I’m betting on myself to win. Don’t you dare take my bet, Zhaang Jin?”

”I’ll take it! I’ll take it! Why wouldn’t I take it!” Zhaang Jin had never even considered the possibility of Zhaang Ye winning. He snatched the Golden Ticket, wrote out a receipt for Zhaang Ye, and sneered, ”I never expected you to be so rich, Zhaang Ye. But after this competition, your five thousand taels will be mine!”

Zhaang Ye just smiled and walked away.

Seeing Zhaang Ye leave without another word, Zhaang Jin couldn’t help but burst out laughing. ”That Zhaang Ye is just a fraud who relies on pills to boost his cultivation. Win first place? In his dreams! I just got five thousand taels for free! HAHA...”

”Yeah, yeah! With so many experts like Zhaang Que, Zhaang Qing, Zhaang Yun, and Zhaang Shui around, there’s no way Zhaang Ye can take first! You’ve made a killing, Zhaang Jin!”

”That Zhaang Ye really doesn’t know his own limits, daring to bet on himself to win! Who does he think he is?”

”Exactly!”

”Zhaang Jin, you lucky bastard, you’ve hit the jackpot this time! You have to treat us!”

Zhaang Jin grinned from ear to ear, waving his hand grandly. ”Haha, say no more, say no more! Tonight’s on me...”

(Thank you to the friends who left an impression and to those who left a recommendation.)