Overlord of the Wilderness

This training ground, set atop the rock, was only a dozen or so zhang in circumference, but that was more than enough for practice. The center of the training ground was empty, while the perimeter was lined with various weapons and equipment for cultivation, such as stone locks, stone balls, and iron horses. Zhaang Ye glanced around, then strode over to the weapon rack and picked up two giant hammers.

Each of these giant hammers weighed over a thousand jin, but in Zhaang Ye’s hands, they felt as light as a feather. Delighted, Zhaang Ye tried a swing. A strange WHOOSH echoed out.

Hammers this heavy, each weighing a thousand jin, were difficult for anyone without Innate Divine Strength to even wield. For Zhaang Ye to create a sound that tore through the air with a casual swing showed that the power in his arms had clearly increased dramatically.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH—

Zhaang Ye’s spirits soared. He began swinging the hammers alternately. In his hands, the two thousand-jin hammers felt as light as blades of grass. As he swung them, a whistling wind kicked up. Dust from a ten-zhang radius swirled into the air, creating a truly astonishing sight.

’What a shame! These hammers are just too big to carry around. Otherwise, they would be a great choice for a weapon.’ After practicing with the hammers for a while, Zhaang Ye reluctantly put them back and picked up a large broadsword.

This broadsword weighed a good seventy-odd jin, but to Zhaang Ye, it felt like holding a thin sheet of iron. He casually swung it a few times. The sharp edge of the blade sliced through the air with ease, a marvelous feeling. Zhaang Ye brandished the broadsword, and Sword Qi shot out in all directions, cutting grooves into the hard surface of the training ground.

After a while, Zhaang Ye returned the sword to its place and proceeded to test every heavy weapon on the rack. At first, he found it amusing, but after trying more than ten different weapons, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. He put the weapon back and muttered to himself, ”Too light. Everything is too light.”

After his strength had increased so dramatically, Zhaang Ye felt as if everything in the world had become lighter and more fragile. A light tap of his finger could pulverize a stone. A firm grip would deform the handle of a weapon. A stomp of his foot would crack the hard training ground beneath him. Zhaang Ye now suspected that if he were to shake hands with someone, he might accidentally crush their hand to pieces.

’After reaching the 5th Layer of the Dragon Elephant Skill, my strength increased so suddenly that I can’t properly control it. It seems I’ll need to spend a few days to slowly adapt.’ Zhaang Ye didn’t have to think hard to understand his situation. He decided to set aside three or four days to acclimate to his new strength and prepare for the next stage of his cultivation.

The method for adapting to his new strength was actually quite simple. By constantly repeating a single action, he would naturally and gradually regain mastery over his power.

Zhaang Ye’s method of adaptation was simple: practice his saber. He felt as if he had returned to his days of training under the waterfall, spending the entire day with his Thick-Backed Saber, performing one slash after another.

This method of training was undoubtedly tedious, but the results were excellent. Three days later, Zhaang Ye had basically mastered his own strength. When he struck, he would no longer lose control of his power.

However, another problem soon followed. Zhaang Ye felt that the Thick-Backed Saber in his hand was now far too light. Wielding his Saber Technique with it was like an elephant using a sewing needle as a weapon—he had strength but no way to apply it.

’It seems the best way to fully unleash my strength is to get a new saber, a Heavy Saber. One weighing four or five hundred jin would be ideal.’ Zhaang Ye stroked the Thick-Backed Saber in his hand, thinking to himself, ’This Thick-Backed Saber has been with me through life and death, slaying many Fierce Beasts and enemies. Unfortunately, it’s ultimately a common weapon. It’s too light, and after so many battles, its blade is now chipped. To better slay my enemies, even though I’m reluctant to part with it, I have no choice but to find a more suitable saber...’

SWISH SWISH SWISH—

Several sounds of something cutting through the air from the distant bamboo forest broke Zhaang Ye’s train of thought. He lifted his head and saw a figure in white circling above the lush green bamboo deep in the forest. They were as light as the wind, as swift as the wind, displaying an exceptionally skilled Body Technique.

The figure seemed somewhat familiar to Zhaang Ye. Just as he was about to take a closer look, the white figure suddenly leaped from a distant bamboo branch, soaring toward a small courtyard on the rock’s peak.

”Heh, so it’s that kid Zhaang Yuhu.” Zhaang Ye now saw the figure’s face clearly. ’I didn’t expect him to be living here too,’ he thought. ’It’s been a while. I wonder if his Ten Thousand Miles Wind Chasing Step has reached the Great Success Realm yet? Heh.’

Just as Zhaang Ye spotted Zhaang Yuhu, Zhaang Yuhu also noticed Zhaang Ye. Abruptly changing direction mid-air, he landed lightly on a bamboo stalk a dozen or so zhang away from Zhaang Ye and shouted, ”Zhaang Ye, what are you doing here? Good! I’m challenging you now to get revenge for that Qi Gathering Pill you won from me!”

Zhaang Ye remained perfectly still and laughed heartily. ”You really want to challenge me?”

It had been some time, and Zhaang Yuhu’s aura had deepened considerably. His cultivation had clearly advanced quite a bit. Hearing Zhaang Ye’s words, he sneered, ”Of course I’m serious! Zhaang Ye, my cultivation is now at the Late-stage Martial Arts Third Layer, and my Ten Thousand Miles Wind Chasing Step has also improved greatly. This time, I’m going to make you suffer a miserable defeat.”

Zhaang Ye simply laughed again and stood up.

Only then did Zhaang Yuhu sense Zhaang Ye’s aura. He felt an aura that was deep and powerful; with a single glance, he realized he couldn’t see through Zhaang Ye’s cultivation at all.

”You... you...” Zhaang Yuhu was so stunned that he lost his footing, tumbling from the bamboo branch to the ground below and nearly face-planting in the dirt. He slapped the ground with his palm, quickly launching himself back onto the branch, and cried out in shock, ”Your cultivation... could it be that you’ve already reached the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer? How is that possible? How is that possible?”

Zhaang Yuhu’s astonishment was justified. He possessed an extremely outstanding Second-Grade Talent and, having received the family’s focused nurturing, had never been short of Elixirs and various medicines. Furthermore, a dedicated teacher guided his cultivation every day. Under such circumstances, for Zhaang Ye to have reached the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer before him was something he found simply impossible to believe.

Seeing Zhaang Yuhu’s shocked expression, Zhaang Ye laughed. ”So? Do you still want to challenge me?”

Hearing Zhaang Ye’s mocking laughter, Zhaang Yuhu’s face flushed red, but he didn’t dare to actually follow through with his challenge. Zhaang Yuhu knew his own limits; he knew Zhaang Ye’s combat strength far surpassed his cultivation level. Zhaang Ye had been able to defeat him back when he was only at the Early-stage Third Layer of Martial Arts. Now that Zhaang Ye’s cultivation had reached the Martial Arts Third Layer Peak, his strength was bound to be even more terrifying. For him, with his Late-stage Third Layer strength, to fight Zhaang Ye would be suicide!

Zhaang Yuhu shot Zhaang Ye a fierce glare and said, ”Zhaang Ye, don’t get too arrogant! I might not be your opponent for now, but someone will be here to deal with you soon enough! Just you wait!”

With that, he didn’t even bother going to his courtyard and sped away into the distance.

”Hmm?” Zhaang Ye paused for a moment, then muttered to himself, ”That little guy isn’t actually going to find someone to fight me, is he? Heh heh, this is getting interesting!”

Zhaang Ye’s muttering proved prophetic. He had just returned to his own courtyard when a voice boomed from outside, ”Zhaang Ye, get out here! I, Zhaang Tianming, challenge you!”

’Zhaang Tianming? The Zhaang Tianming who’s ranked second among the Outer Disciples?’ Zhaang Ye was slightly taken aback. He strode out of his small courtyard and saw two youths standing on the training ground. One was the returning Zhaang Yuhu. The other was a tall youth with thick eyebrows and large eyes, around seventeen or eighteen years old, whose aura was far deeper than Zhaang Yuhu’s. Upon closer inspection, Zhaang Ye realized that the thick-browed youth’s aura was that of the Martial Arts Fourth Layer.

Seeing Zhaang Ye emerge, Zhaang Yuhu grinned at him smugly.

Zhaang Ye paid him no mind. He looked at the thick-browed youth and thought, ’Heh heh, so it really is him. It’s Zhaang Tianming! He must have also recently broken through to the Martial Arts Fourth Layer but hasn’t joined the Inner Sect yet. I can’t believe that little guy Zhaang Yuhu could actually get the second-ranked Outer Disciple to come here!’

Zhaang Ye sized up Zhaang Tianming, and Zhaang Tianming sized him up in return. As Zhaang Ye approached, Zhaang Tianming said coolly, ”So, you must be Zhaang Ye? Reaching the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer at fourteen is pretty good. It’s a shame you chose to provoke my clan brother. You can make the first move. If you can last ten moves against me, I’ll let you off.”