Overlord of the Wilderness

”AWOOOO—”

These Giant Pythons, hundreds of feet in length, all let out immense roars like those of dragons. The sound of their cries surged outwards like waves, instantly blasting apart the dense clouds and mist above the Dragon Blood Forest to reveal a dozen or so figures.

These dozen-plus figures were none other than Zhaang Ye and the experts from Python City. Zhaang Ye had been flying faster and faster along the way. But those following him were all powerhouses of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer. Sensing Zhaang Ye’s acceleration, they refused to be outdone, unleashing their full abilities to close the distance inch by inch.

Startled, the countless Giant Pythons immediately targeted Zhaang Ye and the group of Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts. Zhaang Ye felt the air beneath his feet tremble as dozens of Giant Pythons, two to three hundred feet long and shrouded in thick mist, shot toward him like arrows!

These Giant Pythons had coiled around the Dragon Blood Wood for years on end, absorbing the Ancient Dragon Power within. After such long Cultivation, every Giant Python possessed a faint trace of Dragon Power in its body. Each one was equivalent to an expert at the Early Stage of Martial Arts Ninth Layer!

Dozens of Giant Pythons were like dozens of experts at the Early Stage of Martial Arts Ninth Layer. Their forms, rocketing into the sky, even trailed streaks of lightning. Faced with such a terrifying assault, Zhaang Ye’s heart couldn’t help but leap in his chest, no matter how bold or resolute he was.

”Hmph!”

Zhaang Ye snorted angrily. The Ancient Dragon Power in his body was released in an instant, and a pure, noble aura abruptly spread out.

Zhaang Ye’s Ancient Dragon Power had been refined by his Ancient Elephant Power, making it incomparably pure. Even the Dragon Power of a Thousand-foot Python could not compare to Zhaang Ye’s. The moment his Ancient Dragon Power was released, the dozens of Giant Pythons instantly froze, a hint of terror appearing in their cold, serpentine eyes!

Taking advantage of the instant the Giant Pythons were stunned, Zhaang Ye used his Water Control Technique at full power, his body flashing a thousand feet away and out of the Giant Pythons’ attack range.

Just as Zhaang Ye erupted with the aura of an Ancient Giant Dragon to escape the Giant Pythons’ attack, the Divine Strategy Double Eagles and Ling Wuliang, who were already ten thousand feet ahead, all shuddered simultaneously. The three of them cried out in unison, ”Such pure Ancient Dragon Power!” They glanced at each other, their eyes filled with bewilderment. They could never have imagined that such an exceedingly pure Ancient Dragon Power would appear here in the Dragon Blood Forest.

The three of them looked toward Zhaang Ye’s direction at the same time, but they couldn’t see a thing. The clouds and mist above the Dragon Blood Forest were simply too thick. Even after being scattered, they would quickly reform. In such dense fog, even a great expert of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer couldn’t hope to see something ten thousand feet away.

Ling Wuliang said in a low voice, ”This person possesses Ancient Dragon Power. He is very likely the murderer who killed Lingruo Sea! He must have that map on him. Otherwise, even if he sensed the Ancient Dragon Power’s aura, he couldn’t possibly have found this place so quickly!”

Divine Strategy Left Eagle’s expression was grave, and a murderous glint appeared in his eyes. ”Ancient Dragon Power is so precious, so rare! For this brat to possess Ancient Dragon Power, he must have some unknown secret. If we can capture him and force the secret out of him, we might reap some unexpected rewards...”

Ling Wuliang’s and the Divine Strategy Double Eagles’ eyes lit up. Although they were great experts of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, having cultivated to this point, they were already getting on in years. Taking another step forward was almost impossible. If they could obtain some unexpected opportunity at this time, they might be able to further improve their Cultivation, perhaps even advance to the True Dao...

At this moment, Divine Strategy Right Eagle took a deep breath and said in a heavy tone, ”We will have to kill this person sooner or later! But time is of the essence. We’d better hurry and enter the depths of the Dragon Blood Forest. According to my calculations, that Little World is about to emerge in the depths of the Dragon Blood Forest. We absolutely cannot miss this opportunity!”

By now, the aura of the Ancient Giant Dragon coming from the depths of the Dragon Blood Forest was growing stronger and stronger. Divine Strategy Left Eagle and Ling Wuliang knew that time was short and it wasn’t wise to get sidetracked, so they nodded in unison. The three of them then executed their Body Techniques and, taking advantage of the moment the Giant Pythons were attacking the experts from Python City, darted toward the depths of the Dragon Blood Forest.

Zhaang Ye also sensed the waves of aura coming from the depths of the Dragon Blood Forest. Without a second thought, he headed directly for the heart of the forest.

”BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

”AHHH—”

Just as Zhaang Ye flashed away, several huge bangs echoed from behind him, shaking the very ground. It turned out that the group of experts behind Zhaang Ye had suddenly been attacked by the Giant Pythons. They had all simultaneously unleashed their life-saving techniques, managing to knock out more than a dozen Hundred-foot Pythons.

However, some unlucky experts had to face the assault of more than ten Giant Pythons alone. Overwhelmed by the attack, they couldn’t react in time. In an instant, three experts of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer were torn to shreds and swallowed by the Giant Pythons.

”SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH—” The Giant Pythons in the Dragon Blood Forest continuously shot into the sky. Some of these Giant Pythons were four to five hundred feet long, with strength comparable to experts at the Middle and Late Stages of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer. Their massive bodies could even hover briefly in the air. Faced with such terrifying Giant Pythons, Zhaang Ye could no longer afford to hide his abilities. First, he disguised himself as a middle-aged man. Then, the Dragon Elephant Power inside him began to circulate wildly, and he radiated a dense aura of an Ancient Giant Dragon, making him seem like an Ancient Giant Dragon himself.

Relying on the auras of the Ancient Giant Dragon and Ancient Elephant Power, Zhaang Ye flew brazenly through the sky. After sensing the auras on Zhaang Ye, the Giant Pythons, hundreds of feet long, all steered clear of him, not daring to attack.

Without the Giant Pythons’ attacks, Zhaang Ye’s speed was far faster than sound. His figure cut a long channel through the dense clouds and mist, like a meteor streaking across the night sky. The sheer spectacle made even the Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts turn their heads in astonishment.

”Ancient Elephant Power! Ancient Dragon Power! This man actually combined the powers of two Ancient Races!” These Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts were all knowledgeable and experienced people. Sensing the auras on Zhaang Ye, all the Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts were utterly horrified.

Ancient Elephant Power and Ancient Dragon Power were the powers with which the Ancient Elephant Clan and the Ancient Dragon Clan dominated the Wilderness. Both possessed infinite uses and boundless might. After the Ancient Races disappeared, even True Dao experts were unable to obtain these two powers. As for those who carried the bloodlines of the Ancient Dragon Clan and Ancient Elephant Clan, their blood was extremely diluted; it was not genuine Ancient Dragon Power at all. Now, for both of these pure powers to appear in a single person was simply too shocking!

”SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH—”

Upon seeing that Zhaang Ye, who possessed both Ancient Dragon Power and Ancient Elephant Power, was completely immune to the Giant Pythons’ attacks, the dozen or so experts of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer moved as one, heading for him. They were currently under assault by the Giant Pythons, their lives in danger at any moment. If they could get close to Zhaang Ye, they would be much safer. They even had another idea: get close to Zhaang Ye, capture him, and then find a way to uncover his secrets. They were convinced that Zhaang Ye held a great secret, and if they could figure it out, a breakthrough would be within their reach!

Cultivation is like sailing against the current. After reaching the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, the vast majority of people were already in their seventies or eighties. At that age, achieving another breakthrough through painstaking Cultivation alone was no longer possible. To break through, they could only seek out opportunities. Only by obtaining a great stroke of fortune would they have a sliver of hope to advance.

”Brat, you stop right there for me!” an expert at the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage shouted, relying on his speed to chase directly after Zhaang Ye. This person held a small black bow. As he yelled, he nocked a short arrow and fired three shots at Zhaang Ye in quick succession, ”SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!”

Zhaang Ye was flying far faster than the speed of sound, but the short arrows were flying far faster than him. After developing his Spiritual Power, Zhaang Ye was exceptionally sensitive to any movement around him. Sensing something amiss behind him, he shifted his body slightly without a second thought, perfectly dodging the three arrows.

He had just dodged the three arrows when another unusual aura came from behind. Another Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Expert had thrown a gleaming Sharp Sword at Zhaang Ye. Propelled by True Qi, the Sharp Sword was as fast as lightning. In less than a hundredth of a blink, it crossed several hundred feet and flew toward Zhaang Ye’s back.

Zhaang Ye snorted in anger, shifting his body slightly to dodge the lightning-fast Sharp Sword. Although he had smoothly avoided the attacks from the short arrows and the Sharp Sword, in the moment it took him to dodge, the group of Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts had suddenly closed the distance, now only five to six hundred feet away from him.

”SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH—”

After Zhaang Ye dodged the short arrows and the Sharp Sword, several more objects came flying from behind. There were broadswords, long arrows, and iron shards—each one exceptionally fierce, as if they wouldn’t stop until Zhaang Ye was dead. While these attacks couldn’t harm him, dodging them greatly affected his speed. As a result, the group of experts closed in even faster!

’These old bastards really deserve to die!’ Being chased and repeatedly attacked by this group of experts, Zhaang Ye’s heart blazed with fury. However, Zhaang Ye knew that while his strength was considerable, he was no match for this entire group. Thus, he could only make a vicious vow in his heart. ’After I get out of this Python Marsh, I’ll hunt them down one by one and kill every last one of these old bastards to vent my hatred.’

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)