Overlord of the Wilderness

(The New Year is less than ten minutes away. To all my dear readers, I wish you peace and safety, smoothness and success, and for all your wishes to come true in the new year. May your careers flourish, may your lives get better and better each day, and may you always be in good spirits. May the men become more handsome and dashing, the women more beautiful and charming, and your lives so happy and fulfilling that they rival those of immortals! Yours truly.)

————————————————————————————————————————————

Zhaang Zisong’s Body Technique was fast; in just an instant, he had covered several hundred zhang. Only after running that far did he remember that Zhaang Ye was still behind him. He slowed his pace to glance back and saw Zhaang Ye following closely. Though his steps were heavy and his form was ungraceful, he was barely any slower.

Although Zhaang Zisong didn’t know what was in the bundle on Zhaang Ye’s back, he could tell from its size that it must weigh at least two or three hundred jin. The fact that a thirteen-year-old like Zhaang Ye could carry hundreds of jin and still keep up with him left Zhaang Zisong shocked all over again.

While Zhaang Zisong was surprised by Zhaang Ye’s speed, Zhaang Ye himself was extremely dissatisfied with his own Body Technique. The Startled Swan Step he was currently using was, after all, only a Low-level Stepping Technique. Even though he had cultivated it to the Great Success Realm, its speed was nowhere near that of a Mid-Level Body Technique. The reason Zhaang Ye could keep up with Zhaang Zisong was simple: he was relying on his formidable physique, channeling the power of his muscles and bones into his feet and using the Rebound Force from the ground to increase his speed.

However, this method left a deep footprint with every step. His form was also incredibly awkward, making him look like a stampeding elephant.

’All this time, I’ve only focused on cultivating my Saber Technique and Inner Power,’ Zhaang Ye resolved to himself as he ran. ’My Body Technique has fallen far behind. After I get back this time, I have to get my hands on a Mid-Level Body Technique to cultivate.’

The two ran for several li as the sound of beast roars grew louder. After passing through a dense mountain forest, they saw five enormous Bone Spike Beasts on a small, boulder-strewn hill ahead. The beasts were roaring as they attacked two young men in green robes.

Each of the young men in green wielded a gleaming Sharp Sword. Fueled by their True Qi, the Sword Qi erupting from their blades extended nearly two chi long, weaving a chilling curtain of light.

Though the two youths were skilled, the Bone Spike Beasts were even more formidable.

Bone Spike Beasts are classified as Low-level Fierce Beasts, their bodies covered in wickedly sharp Bone Spikes, their claws and fangs just as deadly. In terms of combat prowess, some were on par with average Mid-level Fierce Beasts. Besieged by five of them, the two youths were in grave danger despite their considerable strength. Each had already taken several hits and was dripping with blood. If not for the numerous boulders on the hill providing cover, they would have already been killed by the Bone Spike Beasts.

Zhaang Zisong shouted, ”Zhaang Yitong, Zhaang Wu, hold on! I’m here!”

As he spoke, the Longbow slung over his body was suddenly in his hands. Without any visible motion, a long, glossy black arrow was already nocked on the string. SWOOSH! An arrow shot toward one of the Bone Spike Beasts.

Zhaang Zisong had clearly put immense effort into mastering the Bow and Arrow. The moment he released the string, the long arrow became a streak of black light. It let out a piercing shriek as it viciously struck a Bone Spike Beast in the head, the entire shaft burying itself deep in the creature’s flesh.

”AARGH!”

This Bone Spike Beast was unbelievably tough; it had taken such a vicious arrow to the head and was still alive. It let out a bloodcurdling roar, redirecting all its fury toward Zhaang Yitong and Zhaang Wu as it charged them with reckless abandon!

”Watch out!”

Zhaang Zisong yelled a warning. SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! In a single instant, he fired three more long arrows. Each one struck the wounded Bone Spike Beast, sinking deep into its flesh. No matter how tough it was, it couldn’t take four arrows and collapsed, dead.

With one Bone Spike Beast down, the pressure on Zhaang Yitong and Zhaang Wu immediately eased. Zhaang Yitong yelled, ”Thanks, Zisong! Zhaang Wu and I will keep one of them busy—you pick them off from a distance with your arrows!”

Bone Spike Beasts were covered in Bone Spikes and excelled at close combat, since opponents couldn’t get near them. But every advantage has its drawback. Being covered in Bone Spikes made them slow, leaving them vulnerable to being picked off by a Bow and Arrow.

Zhaang Zisong shouted, ”Alright!”

Zhaang Yitong and Zhaang Wu then used their swift Body Techniques to desperately pin down another Bone Spike Beast. Seizing a moment when its movements slowed, Zhaang Zisong loosed three more arrows and killed it.

Zhaang Zisong’s killing of two Bone Spike Beasts in succession enraged the remaining three. They roared in unison and began to rampage, their massive bodies smashing aside boulders with ease. Trees snapped like twigs in their path as they launched a frenzied assault on Zhaang Yitong and Zhaang Wu.

Zhaang Yitong and Zhaang Wu had already been seriously injured, and their wounds had only worsened while tying down the last Bone Spike Beast. With the remaining three now in a frenzy, the pair could no longer hold their ground. They were forced to dodge relentlessly, but their room to maneuver was shrinking by the second. The color drained from their faces. Their only hope was Zhaang Zisong. They prayed he could kill another one or two of the beasts, as it was their only chance of survival.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! Knowing the two were in mortal danger, Zhaang Zisong hastily fired three more arrows. All three struck a single Bone Spike Beast, but the angle was off. Despite taking three hits, the beast was as ferocious as ever and pressed its attack with even greater intensity.

Zhaang Zisong was stunned. He reached for another arrow, but his hand met only air. His Quiver was empty! Not a single arrow left!

Zhaang Zisong’s Quiver had started with twenty arrows. He had used a few earlier, then a few more when shooting at Zhaang Ye. He had just fired ten at the Bone Spike Beasts. Just like that, all twenty arrows were gone!

Zhaang Zisong’s face went white. ’It’s over. We’re done for!’

When Zhaang Yitong and Zhaang Wu saw that Zhaang Zisong was out of arrows, their hearts sank into despair. ’We’re dead. We’re really going to die this time.’ The shadow of death loomed over them.

Just then, a loud shout was heard: ”Look out!”

As the voice rang out, a massive boulder weighing several hundred jin plummeted from the sky. It let out a piercing shriek as it smashed down viciously on a Bone Spike Beast’s back.

CRACK!

The Bone Spike Beast, weighing nearly twenty thousand jin and measuring two to three zhang long, was struck by the massive boulder. The Bone Spikes along its back shattered instantly. Its entire body was crushed into a bloody pulp, internal organs bursting out. It died without so much as a whimper.

Zhaang Zisong, Zhaang Yitong, and Zhaang Wu all gasped, frozen in shock. Even the two remaining Bone Spike Beasts were terrified by the incredibly vicious boulder strike and stood motionless.

Zhaang Zisong was the first to snap out of it. He turned to Zhaang Ye, who was standing behind him, and said in utter shock, ”Junior Brother, did you... did you throw that boulder?”

Zhaang Ye smiled faintly and nodded. ”I don’t have any special talents. I’m just a little stronger than the average person.” As he spoke, he lifted his foot. THUD! THUD! With two kicks, two boulders in front of him, each weighing several hundred jin, shot forward like meteors. They let out two terrifying screeches as they instantly slammed into the remaining Bone Spike Beasts.

CRACK! CRACK!

With two sharp cracks, the two mighty Bone Spike Beasts were crushed to death by the boulders.

Seeing Zhaang Ye’s casual demeanor, Zhaang Zisong’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. To be able to kick two boulders, each weighing hundreds of jin, over a distance of dozens of zhang... This terrifying power made Zhaang Zisong suspect that Zhaang Ye wasn’t human at all, but a horrifying Fierce Beast in human form!

After a moment, Zhaang Yitong and Zhaang Wu finally came to their senses. They leaped across the distance of several dozen zhang, their eyes landing on Zhaang Ye. Both of them stared for a moment before Zhaang Wu pointed a trembling finger at him and cried out, ”You—you’re the one who bought the Dragon Elephant Skill from Zhaang Yitong! You’ve successfully cultivated the Dragon Elephant Skill?”