Overlord of the Wilderness

Zhaang Ye glanced at Zhaang Chengxing and said, ”Don’t be ridiculous!”

Zhaang Chengxing flew into a rage. His body flickered, and in less than the blink of an eye, he was behind Zhaang Ye, a silent fist shooting toward his back.

Zhaang Chengxing’s greatest skill was his Body Technique. He used the Mid-Level Body Technique, Ghost Shadow Step, known for its speed and unpredictable, eerie movements. In battle, he excelled at hit-and-run tactics and surprise attacks. This single movement left a long trail of afterimages in its wake, while his true form had already appeared behind Zhaang Ye. It was a move that was nearly impossible to defend against.

Just as Zhaang Chengxing’s fist was about to land on Zhaang Ye’s back, a hint of delight flashed across his face.

But at that exact moment, Zhaang Ye suddenly twisted his body ever so slightly. With that simple turn, Zhaang Chengxing felt his fist strike nothing but empty air, its power finding no target.

’Not good!’

His punch having missed its mark, Zhaang Chengxing cursed inwardly and prepared to use Ghost Shadow Step at full power to retreat. But just then, a hand clamped down on his fist.

CRACK—

Before Zhaang Chengxing could react, the hand suddenly tightened. An immense, terrifying force surged from the grip, and with that one squeeze, a series of sharp cracks echoed as the bones in Zhaang Chengxing’s fist shattered!

”AARGH—” Zhaang Chengxing shrieked in agony, scrambling back until he was dozens of yards away. He came to a stop, waves of excruciating pain radiating from his hand. He hastily lifted it to take a look and saw five deep finger marks branded onto the back of it. His entire hand was limp, as if the bones within had been plucked out. Every single one of his finger bones had been completely shattered by that one squeeze!

”You... you...”

Only then did Zhaang Chengxing realize just how formidable Zhaang Ye was. His hand throbbed with pain, his heart a maelstrom of shock and terror. He could only point at Zhaang Ye, speechless.

”Hmph.” At that moment, Granny Mei, who had been watching from the side, frowned and spoke up. ”Zhaang Ye, how can you be so ruthless? This was merely a spar between sect brothers. Why did you have to be so heavy-handed?”

Granny Mei’s strength was at the Martial Arts Fifth Layer Middle Stage, and she was very experienced. She had finally figured it out: in addition to his Cultivation at the Martial Arts Fourth Layer, Zhaang Ye also practiced Body Refining Techniques. It was thanks to the advantage granted by these techniques that Zhaang Ye had been able to defeat both Zhaang Cang and Zhaang Chengxing so quickly and effortlessly.

For some reason, Granny Mei had never liked Zhaang Ye. Now, believing she had fully grasped the extent of his abilities, she wasted no time stepping forward to rebuke him.

Zhaang Ye replied calmly, ”Fists and feet have no eyes; injuries are inevitable. Besides, Senior Brother Zhaang only suffered some bone injuries. He just needs to apply some healing medicine and rest for a while to recover...”

Granny Mei sneered, ”Easy for you to say! It’s clear to me you’re just using your strength to bully the weak and deliberately harming a sect brother. If I hadn’t seen it, I could have let it go. But since I have, I must get involved.”

Her words stoked Zhaang Ye’s anger. His expression remained unchanged, however, as he said coolly, ”Oh? And how, exactly, do you plan to get involved?”

Granny Mei let out a cold laugh. With a single step, her hunched figure appeared right in front of Zhaang Ye. ”I’m taking you to the family’s Punishment Hall to teach you the Zhaang Family rules!” she bellowed. As she spoke, one of her withered, claw-like hands shot toward Zhaang Ye.

Granny Mei was a master at the Martial Arts Fifth Layer Middle Stage. Even a simple grab from her packed astonishing power. The few Inner Sect Disciples standing dozens of feet away could feel the fierce wind generated by her claw and involuntarily took a few steps back.

Zhaang Ye sneered. Without dodging or evading, he formed a Palm Blade with one hand and chopped down at Granny Mei’s claw.

”Courting death!” Granny Mei sneered. She possessed the Cultivation of the Martial Arts Fifth Layer Middle Stage and refused to believe Zhaang Ye could possibly clash with her head-on.

’This old woman needs to be taught a lesson,’ Zhaang Ye thought, also sneering.

BAM!

The claw and the Palm Blade collided with a tremendous bang, and two figures were sent flying backward.

Zhaang Ye stumbled back more than ten steps before steadying himself, a sharp pain shooting through his palm. He glanced at his hand and saw that Granny Mei’s sharp claws had broken the skin.

Granny Mei had also been forced back more than ten steps. Her expression remained unchanged, but one of her hands trembled uncontrollably as if afflicted by a palsy. Although she had managed to block Zhaang Ye’s Palm Blade, she had been struck by the incredible sharpness of his True Qi and the immense force of his Dragon Elephant Power. The impact had shattered several bones in her hand, leaving it throbbing with an excruciating, unbearable pain.

Then, Zhaang Ye’s cold laughter rang out. ”Granny Mei, I was showing you respect due to your age and holding back. I never thought you’d actually attack an Inner Sect Disciple! Hmph. My fight with my two senior brothers was a mutually agreed-upon challenge; it was completely justified. You’re nothing more than a servant. What right do you have to accuse me of bullying the weak? What gives you the authority to drag me to the Punishment Hall? Who the hell do you think you are?”

Hearing Zhaang Ye’s scathing remarks toward Granny Mei, the other Inner Sect Disciples were completely dumbfounded.

”You... you...” Granny Mei pointed at Zhaang Ye, so enraged she was at a loss for words.

Zhaang Ye sneered again. His gaze swept over the Inner Sect Disciples before finally landing on Granny Mei. ”This is my territory,” he said. ”I have the right to throw out anyone who isn’t welcome. If you all don’t leave now, then I’ll have no choice but to *escort* you out.”

The other Inner Sect Disciples snorted angrily, shot Zhaang Ye a venomous glare, and turned to leave. They weren’t idiots. If even Granny Mei couldn’t gain an advantage over Zhaang Ye, then for them to continue opposing him would be nothing short of asking for a beating.

Zhaang Ye’s gaze fell on Granny Mei.

Granny Mei felt a surge of rage so intense it made her face flush crimson. She wanted to roar at the heavens, to crush Zhaang Ye in her hand and grind him into the dirt. But their earlier clash had shown her that Zhaang Ye’s strength was likely no less than her own. Her hand was already injured from that exchange; if they were to fight again, she would almost certainly be no match for him.

After shooting Zhaang Ye one last, venomous glare, Granny Mei snorted in fury, turned, and sped away.

Zhaang Ye sneered and thought to himself, ’That old crone seems determined to oppose me. If she provokes me again, I won’t care that she’s Zhaang Yumei’s servant. I’ll just kill her, and that will be the end of it. Better than having to constantly guard against her schemes...’