Overlord of the Wilderness

Zhaang Ye ended his battle cleanly and decisively. Zhaang Shu, Zhaang Fang, Zhaang Qing, Zhaang Que, and Zhaang River, all Martial Artists of the Martial Arts Third Layer, also quickly finished their fights, advancing to the final eight. The other two youths to enter the top eight, one named Zhaang Yu and the other Zhaang Mu, both had Cultivation at the Peak of Martial Arts Second Layer.

Eight people, the perfect number for four matches. Zhaang Ye drew lots and ended up with the youth named Zhaang Yu. Upon seeing his opponent was Zhaang Ye, Zhaang Yu decisively conceded and forfeited the match.

And just like that, Zhaang Ye entered the top four.

Zhaang Que and Zhaang Qing also entered the top four effortlessly.

Zhaang Que’s opponent was Zhaang Fang. Although Zhaang Fang was also a Martial Artist of the Martial Arts Third Layer, his advancement was more recent, and his strength was a great deal weaker than Zhaang Que’s. His aura was even more lacking. Inferior in strength and aura, Zhaang Fang was at a complete disadvantage in this battle. As expected, the moment they were on the platform, Zhaang Que used a Body Technique called Wolf Step and, in the span of a few blinks, swept Zhaang Fang off the platform.

Zhaang Qing’s opponent was Zhaang Shu. Zhaang Shu’s strength was decent, but he was much weaker compared to Zhaang Qing. The Body Technique Zhaang Qing cultivated was called ”Fallen Flower Chaos,” which excelled at striking from within confusion. Zhaang Qing executed the Fallen Flower Chaos Body Technique, dazzling Zhaang Shu’s eyes within a few blinks. With no other option, Zhaang Shu had no choice but to concede.

The remaining pair, Zhaang River and Zhaang Mu, actually had a good fight. But Zhaang River was a Martial Artist of the Martial Arts Third Layer, after all. He relentlessly pressured Zhaang Mu from the start, knocking him off the Martial Arts Arena in a single, continuous assault.

With that, the Zhaang Family’s final four were decided: Zhaang Ye, Zhaang Que, Zhaang Qing, and Zhaang River.

Next, they drew lots to determine opponents. Zhaang Ye casually drew a wooden stick and glanced at it, seeing the two large words ”First Match” written on it. The stick in Zhaang Qing’s hand also had the two words ”First Match” written on it.

In other words, Zhaang Ye’s next opponent was Zhaang Qing, while Zhaang Que’s opponent was Zhaang River.

Standing on the Martial Arts Arena, Zhaang Qing looked at Zhaang Ye and said, ”I knew I wasn’t mistaken about you. You are a powerful adversary, and only you are my true opponent.”

Zhaang Ye simply smiled, not saying a word.

Seeing that the two were ready, the Grand Elder shouted, ”Begin!”

With that command, Zhaang Qing’s casually slouched posture snapped ramrod straight. His eyes sharpened, his very presence grew incisive, and an invisible killing intent erupted from him, locking firmly onto Zhaang Ye.

Zhaang Ye was startled to see a technique used to deliberately manifest one’s killing intent. However, even though he had never encountered such a Martial Art, he did not panic. He stood firmly in a natural stance, his clothes fluttering gently. A subtle, almost imperceptible killing intent began to rise from him, slowly pervading the entire Martial Arts Arena.

”It seems neither of these two are simple characters. The killing intent from both is incredibly dense. It’s clear that more than just one or two experts have died by their hands.” Watching their display, the Second Elder’s eyes lit up with interest.

The other Elders all nodded in agreement.

The Fifth Elder, who rarely spoke, suddenly chimed in, ”Zhaang Qing’s killing intent is being produced by a Martial Art. Zhaang Ye, on the other hand, has clearly not learned a similar technique, yet he can still generate such a terrifying killing intent. It seems he has killed even more people.”

The Second Elder nodded. ”It seems Zhaang Ye’s advancement to the Martial Arts Third Layer wasn’t achieved just by consuming pills. Judging by this killing intent, I fear more than one Martial Artist of the Third Layer has already fallen by his hand.”

”Slaying a Martial Artist of the Martial Arts Third Layer? That should be impossible, shouldn’t it?” the Sixth Elder said with a frown. ”It’s been less than a year since Zhaang Ye advanced to the Martial Arts Third Layer. He’s lacking in experience and various aspects of his strength. It’s impossible for him to have killed other experts of the same rank at this stage.”

While the Elders were speaking, Zhaang Ye and Zhaang Qing on the arena platform, seeing that neither could overwhelm the other with aura alone, flickered in unison. Each dissolved into a phantom image and vanished from their spot.

Seeing the Body Techniques the two displayed, the Elders on the viewing platform couldn’t help but exclaim:

”Chaotic Flower Fall at the Great Success Stage!”

”Startled Swan Step at the Great Success Stage!”

”To think they’ve both cultivated their Body Techniques to the Great Success Stage!”

”Each new generation surpasses the last. When we were young, we couldn’t have cultivated a Body Technique to the Great Success Stage so quickly.”

The Elders were astounded, and the audience below erupted into discussion. Everyone was stunned by the pair’s incredible performance.

BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM— The two suddenly clashed, exchanging over a dozen palm strikes. In that exchange, Zhaang Qing’s True Qi was more abundant, but Zhaang Ye’s physical body was tougher. They fought to a stalemate, with neither able to gain an advantage.

They resumed their standoff, each shocked by the other’s strength.

The arrogant look on Zhaang Qing’s face vanished, replaced by a solemn expression. Ever since he was young, he had poured all his energy into Cultivation. To test a Combat Skill, he would go into the wilds and fight savage beasts. To master a Combat Skill, he would go for days without food or drink. To experience a particular state of mind, he would venture into the wilderness at midnight to sleep amongst forgotten graves.

Although his Cultivation had stagnated for a long time, he was still unrivaled among his peers within a radius of several hundred li. Now, he had finally met his match. Zhaang Ye was, without a doubt, his strongest adversary.

Zhaang Qing was the type who grew stronger when faced with a strong opponent. Encountering a powerhouse like Zhaang Ye, he was not shocked but thrilled. His fighting spirit surged, and with a quick movement of his hands, he unleashed the Overlapping Waves Palm.

Each strike of the Overlapping Waves Palm contained three distinct surges of True Power, making it one of the most fearsome attack techniques among Low-Tier Combat Skills. Zhaang Qing had cultivated this technique to the Great Success Realm and deeply grasped its essence. Every palm he threw was accompanied by the sound of crashing tides, as if a furious ocean were lunging at Zhaang Ye, its violent waves threatening to submerge him at any moment.

”Good!” Zhaang Ye shouted. He adopted the Iron Bridge Stopping River Formation stance, treating his hand as a blade as he unleashed the Basic Saber Technique.

Zhaang Ye had practiced his saber for months under a waterfall and had a profound understanding of water. Furthermore, the Overlapping Waves Palm was a Palm Technique that emulated waves, bearing a subtle resemblance to some of the Combat Skills in the >. As a result, Zhaang Ye dealt with it effortlessly. Rooted in the Iron Bridge Stopping River Formation, he was like an immovable bridge in a surging river, standing firm against the battering waves. Though he only used the Basic Saber Technique, in his hands it seemed to transform the mundane into the miraculous. Every cut he made was executed with sublime precision, striking the weakest point of Zhaang Qing’s Palm Force!

Zhaang Qing unleashed ten palm strikes in a single flurry before suddenly feeling his True Qi falter. His expression changed slightly. ’I’ve used too much True Power on the Overlapping Waves Palm,’ he realized. ’I can’t keep this up.’

Taking a deep breath, Zhaang Qing changed his hand seals and unexpectedly unleashed a different Palm Technique.

This Palm Technique was called the Chaotic Flower Palm, which formed a complete set of Combat Skills with his Footwork Technique, Chaotic Flower Fall. As he began, the sound of crashing waves across the Martial Arts Arena was replaced by the soft whisper of falling petals. Each palm strike seemed incredibly gentle, like gorgeous Hua’Er drifting on the wind, a sight of extreme beauty. A woman in the crowd below couldn’t help but scream with delight.

The Chaotic Flower Palm, at the Great Success Realm—this was Zhaang Qing’s true ace in the hole.

As the one facing it, Zhaang Ye couldn’t help but admire the magnificent Palm Technique. He met a thousand changes with a single constant, his hands still wielding the simple and direct Basic Saber Technique, his feet still planted in the Iron Bridge Stopping River Formation, calmly dealing with the sky full of Zhaang Qing’s palm afterimages.

In the face of such a dazzling Palm Technique, Zhaang Ye’s Basic Saber Technique appeared clumsy and crude. But it was precisely this clumsy and crude Saber Technique that neutralized Zhaang Qing’s attacks one by one.

”Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique is so ugly! So ugly, so ugly! Zhaang Qing, defeat him! Defeat him!” a few women below the platform shouted, their cries echoed by many other women in the crowd.

Many people found Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique unsightly, but the Elders in their seats were full of praise for it. The Second Elder sighed. ”For Zhaang Ye to have brought this most basic and simple Saber Technique to such a level of Mastery... this child’s comprehension of the Sword Dao is already incredibly deep. Zhaang Qing appears to have the upper hand for now, but such an assault cannot be sustained. Sooner or later, he will be defeated by this Basic Saber Technique.”

The Elders all nodded, agreeing with the Second Elder’s assessment.

Zhaang Qing performed the entire Chaotic Flower Palm sequence, leaving his internal energy in turmoil and making it difficult to continue. Seeing Zhaang Ye still defending with unshakable stability, he couldn’t help but give a wry smile. He stopped his assault, retreated, and said, ”You’ve used that Basic Saber Technique to a divine level. In this battle, I have lost.”