Overlord of the Wilderness

After sparring with everyone, Zhaang Tianlong had a good grasp of each person’s abilities, allowing him to create highly tailored cultivation plans. For instance, those with poor Body Techniques were sent to train in the Wind Cave with an instructor to guide them. Those who lacked practical combat experience were scheduled for constant sparring matches against other disciples and Fierce Beasts.

As for Zhaang Ye, he was assigned to the Wind Cave to continue cultivating his Body Technique.

Once he had assigned everyone their tasks, Zhaang Tianlong said, ”You are all representing the family in the upcoming competition. Therefore, for the next month, the family will provide you with support and a supply of Elixirs for your cultivation. The family will provide Elixirs worth a total of 30,000 gold. You can list which Elixirs you need, and I will have them delivered to you.”

The disciples each listed the Elixirs they needed and handed their requests to Zhaang Tianlong. Zhaang Ye still had a fair amount of Elixirs, but ’more is always better.’ Seeing an opportunity to get more, he didn’t hesitate to write up a list and submit it as well.

Zhaang Tianlong collected the lists, his expression turning grave. ”Right now, the Zhou, Luo, and Lee Families are all brimming with talented geniuses. Of the top ten young masters in Cyan Mulberry City, our Zhaang Family has only one: Zhaang Yijian. In other words, when it comes to the younger generation of experts, we have already fallen behind the other three families. You are about to face an incredibly difficult battle.”

Hearing the gravity in Zhaang Tianlong’s voice, the expressions of the competing disciples grew solemn.

At this, Zhaang Tianlong’s gaze turned exceptionally cold as he continued slowly, ”The original purpose of the Four Races’ Young Masters Ranking Tournament was to resolve disputes. But over the last few decades, the conflict between our four families has grown more and more severe. The tournament has become increasingly fierce, and the participants’ attacks have become increasingly ruthless. People have died in several recent tournaments. You are entering this battle. If you win, all is well. But if you are defeated, the consequence will very likely be death. Therefore, in this final month, you must follow the cultivation plan I’ve given you and train as if your lives depend on it. This fight is for the family, but it is also for yourselves. Do you understand?”

All the competing disciples replied in unison, ”We understand!”

Zhaang Tianlong gave a slight wave of his hand. ”Go. Train hard according to the plans I’ve given you! In one month, you will all gather here again. Remember, in one month, you must show me your progress! If you’ve wasted this month, you won’t need to worry about the tournament. I’ll kill you myself!”

Hearing Zhaang Tianlong’s murderous words, a chill ran down the disciples’ spines, and they all quickly took their leave.

Zhaang Ye left the Cyan Stone Mountain training grounds. Instead of heading straight for the Wind Cave, he took his Golden Tickets and went to browse the weapon shops within the family compound, hoping to find a suitable saber. But to his surprise, despite looking through all the family’s weapon shops, he couldn’t find one that fit his needs.

As he was leaving the last weapon shop, the Shopkeeper said, ”A saber weighing seven or eight hundred pounds... ordinary metals simply can’t achieve that weight. It seems only a saber forged from Heavy Iron and Purple Copper could meet your requirements. However, if the entire blade is made from Heavy Iron and Purple Copper, the price will be astronomical. Very few people can afford such a weapon...”

Zhaang Ye asked, ”How much would a saber like that cost?”

The Shopkeeper smiled. ”At least 100,000 gold.”

”One hundred thousand gold? That’s too expensive!” Zhaang Ye sucked in a sharp breath. ’It looks like I’m about to spend a fortune.’ But after cultivating the Dragon Elephant Skill to the 5th Layer, only a Heavy Saber would allow him to unleash his full power. No matter how expensive it was, Zhaang Ye had to accept it. He then asked, ”Where in Cyan Mulberry City can I find a Heavy Saber like that for sale?”

The Shopkeeper gave him an address. ”It’s very difficult to perform any Saber Techniques with a Heavy Saber like that. Only those who practice Body Refining Techniques use them, so they’re rarely kept in stock. If you need one, you’ll have to go to a smithy to have it custom-made to your specifications. But that means you’ll have to wait a while for it.”

Zhaang Ye thanked the Shopkeeper. Following the man’s directions, he left the family compound and made his way into Cyan Mulberry City proper, where he found the shop called ”Xia’s Weapons.”

As he stepped through the doors of Xia’s Weapons, Zhaang Ye suddenly stopped short. To his surprise, he saw an acquaintance there—Zhaang Yumei.

Zhaang Yumei was dressed in practical martial attire, a short whip in her hand, lending a heroic air to her beautiful features. Beside her stood another girl whose hair was styled in two flat buns. She wore a light green, wide-sleeved spring blouse over a long, silk-sashed skirt that swept the floor. This girl looked even younger than Zhaang Yumei, and her sparkling eyes held a stunning, elegant beauty.

Just as Zhaang Ye saw Zhaang Yumei, she saw him too. A curious expression crossed her face as she quickly walked over. ”Zhaang Ye, I didn’t expect to see you here. Where have you been all this time?”

”Heh, thank you for your concern, Fourth Miss.” Zhaang Ye had a fondness for Zhaang Yumei, who was a bit scatterbrained but also refreshingly frank. He smiled and explained, ”I’ve been away training for a while. I left in such a hurry that I forgot to let you know.”

”Oh,” Zhaang Yumei said. ”No wonder. I looked for you two or three times recently, but you were never around...”

As the two chatted for a moment, Zhaang Ye suddenly noticed that the girl with the two flat buns kept looking over at him. Her gaze seemed to carry a hint of annoyance.

’What’s this girl’s problem?’ Zhaang Ye thought, feeling annoyed. ’I don’t even know her. Why is she glaring at me like that?’

Just then, Zhaang Yumei asked, ”Zhaang Ye, what brings you here? Are you looking for a weapon?”

Zhaang Ye nodded. ”Exactly. I want to have this smithy forge a Heavy Saber for me.”

Zhaang Yumei asked curiously, ”How heavy do you want it?”

Zhaang Ye replied, ”Around six or seven hundred pounds.”

Before Zhaang Yumei could say anything, the green-clad girl with the two flat buns walked over. With a flick of her almond eyes, she glared at Zhaang Ye and sneered, ”A six or seven-hundred-pound saber? Kid, with a build like yours, you probably can’t even lift it.”

Zhaang Yumei also shook her head. ”Zhaang Ye, even if you could lift a six or seven-hundred-pound saber, you wouldn’t be able to perform any Saber Techniques with it. Besides, traveling with such a heavy blade would be a huge pain. You’d be better off choosing a lighter one.”

Zhaang Ye just smiled. ”I really do need a saber this heavy; I’m not just trying to show off. Fourth Miss, when have you ever known me to do anything reckless?”

Zhaang Yumei thought for a moment. ”Alright, how about this: if the saber you have made doesn’t work out, come find me when we get back to the compound. I’ll be sure to find you a good one.”

Zhaang Ye thanked her with a smile. At that moment, the green-clad girl with the two flat buns looked impatient and pulled Zhaang Yumei away. Before she left, she shot Zhaang Ye another fierce glare, leaving him utterly baffled.

*(Thanks to my bros Zi Ting, Xihuan mini, Meng Meng Beast, Second Young Master Xie, 1 piao, Anye de Liuyun, Heiye Yingyan, Sheng Xin, 13131832, hbs1130, Fangxiang~Huan, and 1454101 for their generous donations, and thanks to all my readers for your Recommendation Tickets. This Chapter is late. I’ll make up for it with three Chapters tomorrow. My apologies!)*