Overlord of the Wilderness

Atop the thousand-foot giant tree.

Zhaang Ye sat cross-legged in the small wooden cabin, silently circulating his Cultivation Technique. As the technique operated, the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi within the cabin slowly poured into his body, where it was then refined into True Qi.

The cabin was the Fourth Hall Master’s personal cultivation spot, and the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi inside was unusually dense. A continuous stream of it surged into Zhaang Ye, and his True Qi gradually grew abundant. After just over ten days of cultivation, he had fully consolidated his Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage, and the True Qi in his body was becoming plentiful.

After stabilizing his cultivation, Zhaang Ye dedicated all his time to comprehending the Cloud-Breaking Slash. Not only was the Cloud-Breaking Slash immensely powerful, but its execution speed was also astonishingly fast, making it an excellent choice for travel as well. Every bit of understanding he gained would mean another layer of safety once he entered the Little World.

Time slowly passed as he focused on his comprehension. One day, Zhaang Ye sensed a slight stir in the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi outside, and a figure suddenly appeared inside the wooden cabin.

The visitor was none other than Zhaang Ye’s master, the Fourth Hall Master of the Moon Country True Hall. The Fourth Hall Master sized Zhaang Ye up, nodded slightly, and said, ”Very good. You’ve completely consolidated your Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage.”

With that word of praise, the Fourth Hall Master took out a small, gray, unremarkable cloth pouch. He carefully handed it to Zhaang Ye, saying, ”We’ll be departing soon to enter the Little World. Here, take this!”

Zhaang Ye accepted the pouch. He saw that its surface was covered in dense runes that looked ancient and mysterious upon closer inspection. A thought stirred in his mind, and he asked, ”Could this be the legendary Spatial Storage Pouch?”

The Fourth Hall Master chuckled. ”It is indeed a Spatial Storage Pouch. You can use it to store the Medicinal Herbs and Essence Stones you collect in the Little World. I hope you can bring back a good haul and bring some honor to our Moon Country True Hall.”

Zhaang Ye infused his Mental Power into the Spatial Storage Pouch, and a strange expression immediately appeared on his face. He discovered that the space inside was merely three feet in diameter. It could hardly hold anything. Compared to the Small Space within his World Stone, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Zhaang Ye scratched his head. ”Master, isn’t the space in this Spatial Storage Pouch a bit too small?”

”Three feet in diameter, and you call that small?” The Fourth Hall Master glared at Zhaang Ye. ”It seems you have no idea how precious a Spatial Storage Pouch is! Our Moon Country True Hall went to great lengths to acquire this. A three-foot diameter is practically a huge space!

Let me tell you, this Spatial Storage Bag is extremely valuable. You’d better handle it with care and make sure you don’t break it. Otherwise, even if I forgive you, your three senior uncles won’t!”

Zhaang Ye, who possessed a space fifty zhang across, couldn’t help but look down on this tiny three-foot space. Seeing the Fourth Hall Master’s grave expression, he was secretly amused. He said, ”Okay, okay. If the bag survives, I survive. If the bag perishes, I perish with it. Will that do?”

The Fourth Hall Master smiled, satisfied. ”Let’s go. It’s about time. We need to head to the entrance of the Little World and open it for you.”

「One Hour Later」

Zhaang Ye arrived on a mountain peak outside Zhen Dian Mountain. Atop the peak, Xuli Long, Wei Jingtian, and Fang Caiying were waiting for him.

For this Newcomer King Competition, each kingdom could send five young experts. Among the Younger Generation of the Moon Country True Hall, only Zhaang Ye, Wei Jingtian, Xuli Long, and Fang Caiying had advanced to the Martial Arts Ninth Layer. Therefore, only the four of them would be participating this time.

After a short wait, the four Hall Masters of the Moon Country True Hall arrived on the peak, riding a massive Flying Pseudo Spirit Beast. The Great Hall Master sat regally atop the beast, glanced at the four disciples, and said in a deep voice, ”All of you, get on the back of this Pseudo Spirit Beast. We will depart for the Little World immediately!”

The four of them leaped onto the back of the Flying Pseudo Spirit Beast. With a soft cry from the Great Hall Master, the beast shot into the sky, carrying the eight of them away at high speed.

The Flying Pseudo Spirit Beast’s speed was incredible. In just one day, it crossed over 500,000 li and arrived outside a massive canyon.

Outside the massive canyon, a dense crowd had already gathered. Zhaang Ye scanned the area and spotted Fu Songcheng, the number one expert of Moon Country’s Younger Generation; Yann Wutian, the number one expert of Great Chang Kingdom’s Younger Generation; Ou Qingxin, the number one expert of Celestial Forest Kingdom’s Younger Generation; Du Hong, the number one expert of Great Bell Kingdom’s Younger Generation; Chu Yuxiang, the number one expert of Great Rong Kingdom’s Younger Generation; and Ling Kongyun, the number one expert of Da Ling Kingdom’s Younger Generation.

He hadn’t seen them for some time, and the auras of Chu Yuxiang, Du Hong, Ou Qingxin, Yann Wutian, and the others had grown considerably stronger. Ling Kongyun had even advanced to the Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer. What astonished Zhaang Ye the most was that Fu Songcheng had not only fully recovered from his injuries but had also raised his cultivation to the Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer, boosting his combat strength by a large margin.

”Hmph!”

Sensing Zhaang Ye’s gaze, Fu Songcheng met it with a cold stare of his own, his eyes filled with thick hatred. A murderous aura surged from him like a tide, seeming to freeze the very air around him.

Feeling Fu Songcheng’s killing intent, Zhaang Ye gave a silent laugh. Although Fu Songcheng’s cultivation had reached the Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer and his combat strength had greatly increased, Zhaang Ye’s own power had advanced so much that he no longer considered him a threat.

While Zhaang Ye was observing these young experts, the young experts from the Thirteen Countries were all focusing their gazes on him.

At not even thirty years old, Zhaang Ye had defeated Chu Yuxiang, slain Fu Qingyun, and killed the Seven Blood Generals. Such ferocious achievements had made his name resound throughout the Land of Divine Abandonment. The young experts of the Thirteen Countries all regarded him as a major enemy, and sharp gazes and streams of invisible Spiritual Power converged on him.

”CAW! CAW!”

Just as Zhaang Ye and the young experts of the Thirteen Countries were sizing each other up, another Flying Pseudo Spirit Beast descended from the sky. A young man in black slowly dismounted. Two short swords with a cold, glittering light were crossed on his back. Every movement he made exuded a sharp Sword Qi, and his entire being seemed like a Sharp Sword itself.

”SHING!”

The black-clad young man’s gaze swept coldly across the faces of the many young experts. It was unspeakably cold and sharp, as if it could see into the deepest secrets of their hearts. Some of the young experts with lower cultivation levels shuddered upon meeting his gaze and involuntarily lowered their heads.

The young man’s gaze first lingered on Ling Kongyun and Chu Yuxiang, then glanced at Fu Songcheng. Finally, his eyes fixed on Zhaang Ye. After giving him a deep look, the black-clad man sat down cross-legged to the side and began to silently regulate his breathing with his eyes closed.

At that moment, a young expert not far from Zhaang Ye whispered, ”Who is that? What a terrifying aura, and what sharp eyes! I’m afraid he’s even more formidable than Chu Yuxiang!”

Another young expert next to him sighed. ”That’s Helian Bi Bi, ranked second in power among the Younger Generation. A year ago, his strength was already at an extreme level. After a year, his power has grown even more. I fear that even an expert at the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Layer would be no match for him now.”

”Not even an expert at the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Layer is his match?” someone gasped, drawing a sharp breath. ”Then among our Younger Generation, who could possibly stop him?”

”Helian Bi Bi’s swordsmanship has reached a state of perfection. Among the Younger Generation, the only ones who can compare with him are Yangx Guyuan, Ling Kongyun, Chu Yuxiang, and Zhaang Ye. Hey, Yangx Guyuan is here...”

Just then, another Flying Pseudo Spirit Beast appeared in the sky. The moment it landed, a young man with fiery red hair leaped off and landed on the ground.

The red-haired young man was like a great ball of fire, or a radiant sun that could not be ignored. The instant he landed, he became the center of everyone’s attention. Even Helian Bi Bi, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them to size up the newcomer.

SHH... SHH... SHH...

The red-haired young man slowly took three steps. To the young experts watching him, he felt like a massive volcano, slowly advancing. The extremely oppressive and dangerous feeling made them all feel deeply uncomfortable. Some of the young experts who had just advanced to the Martial Arts Ninth Layer even turned pale, the qi and blood in their bodies churning.

After taking three steps, the red-haired young man glanced at the meditating Helian Bi Bi and said slowly, ”Helian Bi Bi, it’s been two years. Your Cold Moon Sword Technique has improved again. Once we’re inside the Little World, let’s have a proper spar.”

Helian Bi Bi snorted coldly. ”You’ve also made considerable progress, Yangx Guyuan. I hear your Nine Heavens Ten Earths Burning Celestial True Force has already reached the Great Success Realm. I’ve been wanting to experience it for myself.”

Yangx Guyuan’s gaze met Helian Bi Bi’s, and sparks seemed to fly between them. After a long moment, Yangx Guyuan shifted his gaze away and turned it toward Zhaang Ye.

Zhaang Ye stood there, calm and composed, meeting Yangx Guyuan’s stare without flinching.

Yangx Guyuan was like fire. His aura was like fire, and his gaze was like fire, as if he could ignite a person from a distance. But Zhaang Ye was like a stone imbued with the aura of the ancient Wilderness, timeless and enduring. Yangx Guyuan’s fiery aura washed over Zhaang Ye, but it was like a clay ox entering the sea—it vanished without a ripple.

”Excellent! Excellent!” Yangx Guyuan stared at Zhaang Ye and said, enunciating each word, ”You are indeed worthy of being called the number one expert of the Six Eastern Countries’ Younger Generation! I, Yangx Guyuan, will be waiting for you in the Little World!”

Yangx Guyuan was powerful, but Zhaang Ye was not one to be intimidated. He smiled faintly and said, ”Alright!”

As soon as he spoke, a voice suddenly rang out. ”All True Hall Disciples, retreat immediately! We are about to open the entrance to the Little World!” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)