Overlord of the Wilderness

SKREEEEEE—

On a stretch of sand, Yangx Guyuan was battling a green Centipede dozens of feet long. The Centipede was as fast as lightning, its attacks bizarre and unpredictable. Its strength was comparable to a great master at the Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer, but under Yangx Guyuan’s fierce assault, the Centipede was steadily forced back.

”Die!” Yangx Guyuan roared. Blazing flames erupted from his body, turning him into a raging inferno. He suddenly slammed his hands down, pressing them right onto the Centipede’s head. Under the force of his press, the incredibly formidable Centipede instantly began to emit the smell of roasting flesh.

SKREEEEEE—

The Centipede’s head was nearly cooked by Yangx Guyuan’s press. In its agony, the Centipede launched a crazed counterattack. Its hundred-plus legs whipped up a fierce gale as they lashed toward Yangx Guyuan, while droplets of venom rained down, dyeing the ground for dozens of yards around a pitch-black.

Yangx Guyuan paid it no mind, the flames on his body flaring even more intensely. Protected by the raging fire, the Centipede’s lashing legs couldn’t even reach his body, and the rain of venom was incinerated by the inferno before it could land on him.

Having killed the Centipede, a trace of excitement appeared on Yangx Guyuan’s face. ”Heh heh, I finally killed it! This Centipede was incredibly strong and must have lived for at least three or four thousand years. It should have collected a good number of Essence Stones. I bet it has at least fifty, hehehehe...”

Yangx Guyuan shook his arm, sending a large patch of sand flying and revealing a pitch-black cave. A thick, bloody stench emanated from the dark opening—it was the Centipede’s lair.

Yangx Guyuan’s Spiritual Power probed into the cave, and his expression suddenly changed. ”Not a single Essence Stone! This is impossible! This Centipede was so strong and lived for so long, how could there not be a single Essence Stone in its lair?”

Just then, a clear voice drifted over from the distance. ”Heh heh heh, nothing is impossible.”

Yangx Guyuan’s expression shifted slightly. For someone to approach him unnoticed meant their Cultivation was no lower than his; this was a powerful opponent. His fiery red hair stirred as he shouted, ”Who’s there?”

”Heh heh. It is I.” As the voice spoke, a youth with eagle-like eyes slowly walked out. The youth’s eyes were slightly open, and two clusters of light faintly swirled within them. The light in his right eye was a mass of pure black, while the light in his left was a sheet of silver-white, giving him an unfathomably mysterious air.

Staring at the eagle-eyed youth, Yangx Guyuan’s brow twitched. A towering battle intent suddenly erupted from him as he said, ”Ling Kongyun, you want to fight me?”

Sensing Yangx Guyuan’s battle intent, Ling Kongyun cursed inwardly, ’Battle maniac.’ Out loud, however, he chuckled and said, ”Brother Yangx, your Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Heaven-Burning True Skill has already reached the Great Success Realm. I am ashamed to say I am no match for you. So as for this fight... let’s just skip it.”

Yangx Guyuan said in a deep voice, ”State your purpose.”

Ling Kongyun smiled faintly, pointed at the Centipede’s lair, and said, ”Brother Yangx, you killed this Centipede, yet you didn’t find a single Essence Stone. Isn’t that strange?”

Yangx Guyuan nodded. ”It is strange. After living for several thousand years, the Fierce Beasts in this Little World gain some intelligence and know to collect Essence Stones for their Cultivation. This Centipede’s strength was comparable to a master at the Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer, which is quite respectable in this Little World, yet there wasn’t a single Essence Stone in its lair. It’s truly unbelievable.”

At this, a thought struck Yangx Guyuan. He glared at Ling Kongyun and demanded, ”Ling Kongyun, could it be you know the reason? Spit it out.”

Ling Kongyun nodded slightly. ”Of course I know the reason. I’ll tell you, this Centipede definitely collected Essence Stones. It’s just that... someone else has already taken them.”

Yangx Guyuan’s expression changed. ”You’re saying this Centipede was already defeated and all the Essence Stones it collected were plundered?”

”Precisely,” Ling Kongyun said.

”Who was it?” Yangx Guyuan demanded.

Ling Kongyun’s expression turned grave as he uttered two words: ”Zhaang Ye.”

”Zhaang Ye?” Hearing those two words, Yangx Guyuan clenched his fists so hard his fiery red hair seemed to stand on end. A month ago, Zhaang Ye had lured a swarm of Death Bees to him, and it had taken everything he had just to escape. Although he’d managed to get away, he paid a heavy price. His arm and shoulder had been stung several times, and if not for his profound Cultivation, he would have long since succumbed to the poison.

First, he had been tricked by Zhaang Ye. Now, the Essence Stones from the Centipede he’d worked so hard to kill had also been taken by him. Yangx Guyuan’s hatred for Zhaang Ye was so intense he was grinding his teeth. He wished he could fight Zhaang Ye this very instant, beat him half to death, and toss his body into a Death Bee hive.

Just then, Ling Kongyun continued slowly, ”Zhaang Ye is extremely powerful, and his Body Technique is incredibly fast. In the short month since he entered this Little World, he has defeated more than thirty Fierce Beasts, plundering every last one of their Essence Stones. With him causing such a stir, it’s become difficult for the rest of us to find even a single stone...”

A glint flashed in Yangx Guyuan’s eyes. ”Ling Kongyun, what are you getting at?”

Ling Kongyun’s face was as calm as still water as he said, word by word, ”What I’m proposing is simple. I hope to join forces with you, Brother Yangx, find an opportunity, and kill Zhaang Ye.”

Yangx Guyuan shook his head and said decisively, ”That won’t be necessary. Zhaang Ye may be formidable, but my Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Heaven-Burning True Skill is not to be trifled with. I will kill him with my own hands.”

Ling Kongyun shook his head. ”Brother Yangx, I don’t mean to underestimate you. Your current strength is impressive, but I’m afraid it’s far from enough to kill Zhaang Ye. The man’s rise has been meteoric; his strength leaps forward with every passing moment. The first time I encountered him, his combat power was only equivalent to a master at the Early Stage of Martial Arts Ninth Layer. The moment I made a move, he fled.

”But by the time of the newcomer warm-up tournament for the Six Eastern Countries, his strength had already increased dramatically. He defeated Chu Yuxiang, and even the Ninth Elder of the Moon Country True Hall was helpless against him.

”And after he emerged from the Ten Thousand Volcanoes, his strength became even more terrifying. He cut down Jiang Dijian, a top expert of the Jiang Family’s Younger Generation. Afterward, Fu Qingyun and the Seven Blood Generals of the Moon Country True Hall also fell to him. Brother Yangx, your strength may be tyrannical, but I fear it’s still impossible for you to kill Zhaang Ye on your own...”

Yangx Guyuan’s eyes narrowed. Zhaang Ye’s strength was truly immense, and his Body Technique was incredibly fast. Yangx Guyuan considered it for a moment and realized that, on his own, he indeed couldn’t kill him...

Seeing that Yangx Guyuan was wavering, Ling Kongyun couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. Just as he was about to continue his persuasion, the sound of loud applause suddenly drifted over from the distance.

”Who’s there!”

Neither Yangx Guyuan nor Ling Kongyun had imagined that someone could have snuck so close and overheard their conversation. In their shock, they both bellowed and attacked simultaneously.

Yangx Guyuan thrust his palms forward. Two terrifying fireballs instantly materialized before him, emitting a deep RUMBLE RUMBLE. These fireballs were condensed using his Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Heaven-Burning True Skill and contained unbelievable power—enough to level a small town of ten thousand people.

SWOOSH!

With a shove of his palms, the two fireballs streaked through the void like lightning, hurtling toward a spot a hundred zhang away.

As Yangx Guyuan attacked, Ling Kongyun also made his move. With a slight movement of his hand, five Copper Coins appeared. He flicked his fingers, and the five coins instantly formed a profound Array as they shot through the air.

Both Yangx Guyuan and Ling Kongyun were paragons of the Younger Generation. As they attacked in unison, the fireballs and Copper Coins tore through the void, their combined might simply earth-shattering.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The fireballs and Copper Coins flew toward a grove of trees. Just as they were about to crash into the woods, a low shout came from within. An incredibly gentle force then rose into the air, gave Yangx Guyuan’s two immensely powerful fireballs a light nudge, and pushed them aside.

After deflecting the fireballs, the gentle force suddenly materialized before Ling Kongyun’s five Copper Coins. Blocked by this power, the coins were stopped in their tracks and forced to fly back the way they came.

Yangx Guyuan and Ling Kongyun’s expressions changed simultaneously. The attacks they had just launched, while not their strongest techniques, were still extraordinary. Even a master at the Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer would have been severely injured. Yet this newcomer had silently and effortlessly neutralized their assault. Such strength was simply unfathomable!

When had such a powerful expert appeared among the Younger Generation of the Thirteen Countries? Yangx Guyuan and Ling Kongyun exchanged a look. Just as they were about to attack again and kill this person, a young man in a long robe suddenly appeared a hundred zhang away and said, ”Hold on!”

Ling Kongyun’s gaze was fixed on the robed youth as he slowly asked, ”And who might you be?”

The robed youth looked at Ling Kongyun’s tense expression and chuckled. ”No need to be so nervous. I am here to cooperate with you, not to be your enemy.”

Ling Kongyun was taken aback. ”Cooperate on what?”

The robed youth said slowly, ”To join forces and kill Zhaang Ye, of course. Ling Kongyun, your analysis just now was spot-on. Zhaang Ye’s strength is indeed immense; no one can defeat him in a one-on-one fight. If we want to kill him, our only chance is to work together.”

Ling Kongyun and Yangx Guyuan exchanged a look as the same thought flashed through both their minds. ’Could it be that this person suffered a great loss at Zhaang Ye’s hands? Is that why he’s so determined to see him dead?’ (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)