Overlord of the Wilderness

Looking at the figure flying among the clouds, someone cried out, ”To be able to fly so leisurely through the sky, that has to be a Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Expert! He looks like a man. I wonder if it’s Wei Jingtian, number one of the Wei Kingdom’s Younger Generation, or Xuli Long of the Xuli Clan?”

As the crowd murmured, two more figures suddenly appeared in the sky. One was dressed in gray, the other in purple, and they streaked by like shooting stars, leaving the disciples on the ground spellbound.

”Three Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Experts! Incredible!” someone exclaimed loudly in admiration.

”Only when you cultivate to the Martial Arts Ninth Layer can you achieve the realm of Void Borrowing Power and fly for extended periods. I hope I can reach that level in this lifetime!” another disciple said in awe, his eyes filled with envy.

”You’re right! To be up in the sky, soaring among the vibrant clouds—what absolute freedom! I hope I can reach the Martial Arts Ninth Layer before I turn sixty. Huh? What are they doing?” a disciple asked, staring at the sky in surprise. Just then, the three figures in the sky suddenly accelerated and then violently collided!

BOOM!

The three figures collided in the sky. With a thunderous roar, an infinite torrent of Powerful Qi erupted in all directions. The clouds were shattered by the boundless force, instantly revealing a vast expanse of clear blue sky for dozens of miles around.

After the impact, the three figures shot off in different directions. With the clouds now gone, the people on the ground could clearly see the three top experts of the Wei Kingdom’s Younger Generation. Hovering steadily in the sky were two men and a woman. The one in the purple dress was Fang Caiying, the Seventh Disciple of the Fourth Hall Master of the Wei Kingdom True Hall. The man with long hair flowing to his waist was Xuli Long. As for the young man in gray, he was none other than Wei Jingtian, the number one expert of the Wei Kingdom’s Younger Generation.

Just then, Xuli Long’s voice drifted down. ”Junior Brother Wei, it’s been a while. I didn’t expect you to have grown even more powerful. I imagine in less than two years, you’ll break through to the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage and stand shoulder to shoulder with Yangx Guyuan, Helian Bi Bi, Ling Kongyun, and Chu Yuxiang.”

Wei Jingtian’s calm voice rang out. ”Xuli Long, no need for false modesty. You’ve made considerable progress recently as well; your Dragon and Tiger Celestial Hand has reached the Great Success Realm. With your Dragon and Tiger Celestial Hand at the Great Success Stage, you could even contend with a Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage expert. However, when compared to me, you’re still lacking.”

Xuli Long flicked his sleeve, his long hair billowing in the wind. ”We’ll have to fight to find out,” he said, brimming with confidence. ”The Newcomer King Selection Tournament is upon us. I will be going all out to fight for the title of number one of the Wei Kingdom’s Younger Generation. Junior Brother Wei, you’d best be on your guard!”

Xuli Long’s words were tantamount to a direct challenge to Wei Jingtian. Hearing his confident tone, the disciples on the ground were practically buzzing with excitement. They stared intently at Xuli Long and Wei Jingtian, wishing the two would just start a grand battle right then and there in the sky.

Just then, Fang Caiying, who had been silent, frowned. ”That’s enough! If you want to fight, you can do so in three days. The entire Younger Generation of the True Hall has gathered here; everyone’s waiting for us. We should get down there!”

Wei Jingtian and Xuli Long both nodded and were about to descend toward the Steward Hall. Just then, all three of them—Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, and Fang Caiying—simultaneously sensed a faint ripple of aura from the horizon. Slightly alarmed, they all turned their gazes toward the distant sky.

In the distant sky, a figure was hurtling toward them at an incredible speed. Their velocity was so great that their form was literally parting the clouds. What Wei Jingtian and Fang Caiying found even stranger was the person’s flying posture: they flew headfirst, with their feet trailing behind, a method completely different from the norm.

By now, the True Hall disciples on the ground had also noticed the approaching figure. Someone cried out in alarm, ”What terrifying speed! It couldn’t be an Elder from the True Hall gracing us with their presence, could it? No, that’s not right. Today is just registration day for the Newcomer King Tournament. Why would an Elder come?”

Wei Jingtian, Fang Caiying, and the True Hall disciples on the ground had no idea who the newcomer was. Xuli Long, however, seemed to know. His eyes were locked on the approaching figure, filled with fighting spirit. Having cultivated his Dragon and Tiger Celestial Hand to the Great Success Realm, Xuli Long no longer feared anyone. He was confident he could defeat any expert of his own generation.

SWOOSH! In the span of a few blinks, the newcomer crossed dozens of miles, resolving into the form of an ordinary-looking youth in green robes who appeared before Wei Jingtian, Fang Caiying, and Xuli Long. When they saw the youth’s face clearly, both Wei Jingtian and Fang Caiying were taken aback, their eyes filled with utter disbelief. Fang Caiying even cried out in astonishment, ”Junior Brother Zhaang? How can it be you? Your Cultivation...”

Sensing Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation, Fang Caiying’s jaw dropped; she was too astonished to speak.

The newcomer was indeed Zhaang Ye, who had hurried back from Python City. In the ten months that had passed, Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation had soared to the Early Stage of Martial Arts Ninth Layer. He exuded a transcendent, otherworldly aura, as if he might merge into the void at any moment. Fang Caiying simply couldn’t believe her eyes.

Xuli Long was also flabbergasted, his eyes bulging. Ten months ago, Zhaang Ye had only been at the Eighth Layer Peak. To think that in just ten months, he had actually broken through to the Martial Arts Ninth Layer... It was simply astounding!

In his shock, Xuli Long pointed a trembling finger at Zhaang Ye. ”Zha-Zhaang Ye! How did your Cultivation reach the Martial Arts Ninth Layer? How is that possible!”

When the True Hall disciples on the ground heard Xuli Long’s exclamation, an uproar instantly swept through the crowd. The disciples who had joined the True Hall at the same time as Zhaang Ye looked at one another in utter disbelief, turning to their companions to ask if they had misheard the name.

Standing before the Steward Hall, Situ Houtu was completely frozen. His gaze was locked onto Zhaang Ye’s figure as he muttered, ’Martial Arts Ninth Layer? Zhaang Ye cultivated to the Martial Arts Ninth Layer? His natural talent isn’t even as good as mine, so how did he cultivate so quickly?’

Jiang Ailiang, who was also standing before the Steward Hall, wore a mask of pure disbelief. His fists were clenched so tightly they trembled, and he let out a low, ragged snarl, ’Zhaang Ye reached the Martial Arts Ninth Layer? Impossible! That’s impossible! There’s no way he cultivated faster than me!’

Ever since receiving the secret tutelage of the main branch of the Jiang Family, Jiang Ailiang’s Cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, leaving even the exceptionally talented Situ Houtu far in his dust. With his 5th Layer Profound Ice Qi, Jiang Ailiang had been confident he would always have the upper hand against Zhaang Ye. He never imagined that the next time they met, Zhaang Ye would already be a mighty Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Expert!

HISS!

A sharp whistling sound cut through the air. Unwilling to believe her own eyes, Fang Caiying had suddenly attacked, wanting to test Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation for herself.

The Combat Skill Fang Caiying used this time was, once again, the Wishful Pointing.

A few years ago, Fang Caiying had suppressed her Cultivation to the Martial Arts Sixth Layer to test Zhaang Ye’s strength with Wishful Pointing. Back then, it had taken Zhaang Ye a great deal of effort just to receive the blow. Now, years later, Zhaang Ye once again faced Fang Caiying’s Wishful Pointing.

This time, Fang Caiying poured half of her True Qi into her Wishful Pointing. With a light flick of her finger, a terrifying bolt of Qi Force tore through the sky, stabbing toward Zhaang Ye from a distance!

Everyone watched Zhaang Ye, holding their breath. The power in that one finger was so great that even an expert at the Eighth Layer Peak would have absolutely no hope of withstanding it. If Zhaang Ye could receive this Wishful Pointing, then there would be no doubt about his Cultivation level!

Zhaang Ye knew why Fang Caiying was attacking. He chuckled softly, not moving a muscle. Just as her Finger Power was about to strike him, Zhaang Ye casually flipped his palm and pressed it into the empty air. With a series of strange crackling sounds, Fang Caiying’s incredibly sharp Finger Power vanished without a trace!

HISS! Fang Caiying sucked in a sharp breath.

HISS! Xuli Long also drew in a sharp breath. Still, he refused to believe it. With a snort, he took a step through the void, appearing directly in front of Zhaang Ye and throwing a punch!

Now that Xuli Long’s Dragon and Tiger Celestial Hand had reached the Great Success Realm, his every movement contained boundless power. Though it was just a simple punch, his Dragon and Tiger Qi instantly locked onto Zhaang Ye, and the Fist Force howled, pressing down on Zhaang Ye like a mountain.

Zhaang Ye let out a hearty laugh. He formed one hand into a blade and slashed through the empty air!

BOOM!

Xuli Long’s seemingly indestructible Dragon and Tiger Qi was instantly sliced in half by Zhaang Ye’s attack, dissipating into the void. Xuli Long never imagined his attack could be broken so easily. All of his planned follow-up moves became useless, and he could only stand there, frozen in shock.

”Excellent!” At that, Wei Jingtian, who had been silent until now, let out a great shout. He turned to Zhaang Ye and said, ”You must be Zhaang Ye—the first among the new disciples, the Eighth Disciple of the Fourth Hall Master, correct? Very good. I never thought you’d reach the Martial Arts Ninth Layer so quickly. Your innate talent and fortuitous encounters are no less than those of Yangx Guyuan, Helian Bi Bi, Ling Kongyun, and Chu Yuxiang!”

Wei Jingtian was the number one expert of the Wei Kingdom’s Younger Generation. The words he spoke carried a weight that even some Elders could not match. Hearing Wei Jingtian personally confirm Zhaang Ye’s Martial Arts Ninth Layer Cultivation, and then hearing him compare Zhaang Ye to the four most outstanding young experts of the Thirteen Abandoned Countries, everyone was left utterly stunned!