Overlord of the Wilderness

WHOOSH! Zhaang Ye blurred into motion, arriving amidst a grove of trees. The leaves on these trees were as large as palms, their trunks emitted a faint red glow, and a dense Heaven and Earth Essence Qi swirled between the branches and leaves.

These were Phoenix Trees. Although this grove was not yet composed of Spirit Trees, after being nourished by the Southeast Fire-Departing Phoenix Tree Branch for so long, they were close to becoming true Spirit Trees. Cultivating among them could greatly accelerate one’s Cultivation speed. However, Zhaang Ye had not entered the grove to cultivate, but to deal with the Green-eyed Golden Eagle.

Zhaang Ye darted under the Phoenix Trees and shouted to the Purple-haired Wild Boar in the sky, ”Purple-haired Wild Boar, get over here!”

ROOOAR!

The Purple-haired Wild Boar was being forced back again and again by the Green-eyed Golden Eagle, its body covered in wounds. The Green-eyed Golden Eagle was the king of the skies; in the air, nothing could defeat it. Though the Purple-haired Wild Boar was powerful and lightning-fast, it was still no match for the eagle and was steadily losing ground under its relentless assault.

Hearing Zhaang Ye’s shout, the Purple-haired Wild Boar let out a long cry, struck out fiercely with its claws one last time, then transformed into a streak of purple light and dove into the Parasol Tree Forest.

SCREECH!

The Green-eyed Golden Eagle followed the Purple-haired Wild Boar right into the Parasol Tree Forest. As its massive body descended from the sky, it crushed more than a dozen Phoenix Trees with a series of loud CRACKS. The Green-eyed Golden Eagle had cultivated in this forest for over a thousand years, and a flicker of pain appeared in its eyes as it saw the trees crushed by its own body.

But pain or not, the Green-eyed Golden Eagle did not stop. The Southeast Fire-Departing Phoenix Tree Branch was the very foundation of its Cultivation. It would retrieve the branch today, no matter the cost.

BOOM!

The Green-eyed Golden Eagle let out an angry shriek. Its massive form appeared above Zhaang Ye and the Purple-haired Wild Boar, and its two dazzlingly golden talons suddenly lashed out, descending like twin bolts of golden lightning.

Beneath the Green-eyed Golden Eagle’s talons, everything seemed to freeze. A power from the ancient Wilderness instantly sealed the Parasol Tree Forest. This was the Ancient Phoenix Power, which the eagle had acquired over a thousand years of Cultivation. The Ancient Phoenix Power radiated an immense Suppression, and a single swipe of its talons locked down the surrounding space, trapping both Zhaang Ye and the Purple-haired Wild Boar.

ROOOAR!

The Purple-haired Wild Boar let out a great roar as layers of purple light erupted from its body. It clashed viciously with the Green-eyed Golden Eagle. The resulting shockwave of violent power ripped smaller Phoenix Trees from the ground and tore them to shreds.

’These Phoenix Trees, nourished by the Southeast Fire-Departing Phoenix Tree Branch, are on the verge of becoming Spirit Trees. It would be a real shame to let them be destroyed in this fight,’ Zhaang Ye thought. With a slight wave of his hand, he gathered several of the smaller trees into his Small Space.

After collecting the Phoenix Trees, Zhaang Ye noticed that the Purple-haired Wild Boar was now locked in a fierce struggle with the Green-eyed Golden Eagle. It seemed that while the eagle was the king of the skies, its advantage vanished on the ground, hindered by the dense forest. Under these conditions, the Purple-haired Wild Boar’s agility allowed it to fight the Green-eyed Golden Eagle to a standstill.

”Good!”

Zhaang Ye shouted, breathing an inward sigh of relief. His goal in having the Purple-haired Wild Boar lure the Green-eyed Golden Eagle into the Parasol Tree Forest was precisely this: to use the towering trees to limit the eagle’s attacks and prevent it from unleashing its full strength. It appeared his plan had succeeded.

Seizing the opportunity while the Green-eyed Golden Eagle and the Purple-haired Wild Boar were entangled, Zhaang Ye drew his Long Whip with lightning speed. With a single flick, the whip transformed into a rainbow dozens of feet long and swept viciously toward the eagle. The sound of it tearing through the air was like the roar of thunder!

SCREECH!

The Green-eyed Golden Eagle was still grappling with the Purple-haired Wild Boar. Seeing Zhaang Ye’s whip bearing down, it suddenly unfurled a wing to meet the Long Whip head-on.

BOOM!

The Long Whip and wing collided, sending a tangible shockwave across the battlefield. As powerful as the Green-eyed Golden Eagle was, the weapon in Zhaang Ye’s hand was a genuine True Artifact of incredible might. After taking a direct hit, dozens of feathers were instantly torn from the eagle’s wing, causing it to shriek in pain!

Zhaang Ye roared, ”Purple-haired Wild Boar, hold it down!”

With a great shout, he channeled all his power into the Long Whip, lashing out three times with lightning speed. The Green-eyed Golden Eagle was held fast by the boar, and all three of Zhaang Ye’s strikes landed squarely on its wing, tearing away feathers and flesh. Blood sprayed as the eagle shrieked in agony!

Watching the eagle shriek, Zhaang Ye snatched the Sharp-headed Mongoose from his glove. He chuckled and said, ”Little guy, I’m setting you free. Whether you live or die is all on you now!”

As he spoke, Zhaang Ye’s arm trembled, and a boundless power surged forth. The Sharp-headed Mongoose instantly became a tiny streak of dark light, shooting straight for the Green-eyed Golden Eagle’s beak!

The Green-eyed Golden Eagle was still shrieking from the pain of Zhaang Ye’s three whip strikes. Its beak was wide open just as the Sharp-headed Mongoose arrived. Before the eagle could even react, the mongoose ZIPPED right into its mouth.

The Green-eyed Golden Eagle felt something fly into its mouth, and a flicker of confusion crossed its eyes. However, it was only a brief moment of puzzlement, and the eagle paid it no mind. Its body contained terrifyingly hot Ancient Phoenix Power; anything that entered it would surely be melted into nothing.

But the Green-eyed Golden Eagle soon realized how wrong it was.

It suddenly felt a tiny creature burrowing down its throat and into its stomach. It was a bizarre, wriggling sensation that left it unable to focus its power. Soon, the tiny thing reached its stomach and began to burrow frantically through its internal organs. Waves of excruciating pain immediately erupted from deep within its body!

SCREECH!

The Green-eyed Golden Eagle knew something was terribly wrong. It opened its beak wide, trying to vomit the tiny creature out. But once inside, the creature was single-mindedly focused on burrowing downward. It tore through the eagle’s intestines, its liver, its lungs. No matter what the Green-eyed Golden Eagle did, it refused to come out.

The tiny creature burrowing madly inside the Green-eyed Golden Eagle was, of course, the Sharp-headed Mongoose. After being captured by Zhaang Ye, it had lost its freedom, trapped inside a glove day after day. Now that it was free, the mongoose didn’t have time to think. It subconsciously unleashed its signature ability: burrow, burrow, and burrow like mad!

Among the many Fierce Beasts of the Little World, the Sharp-headed Mongoose was ranked third in terms of power, even more formidable than the Two-winged Flying Crocodile. In a direct confrontation, the mongoose was no match for the Green-eyed Golden Eagle, but from inside the eagle’s stomach, the great bird was completely helpless. It could only allow the Sharp-headed Mongoose to burrow madly, churning its organs into a mangled mess.

SCREECH! SCREECH! SCREECH!

Its heart and lungs were being shredded. The agony was indescribable. Even with its immense power, the Green-eyed Golden Eagle could not help but let out wretched screeches as its massive body trembled uncontrollably.

SCREECH!

In its agony, the Green-eyed Golden Eagle erupted with unparalleled power. Its talons and wings slammed down as endless Ancient Phoenix Power spewed forth like a volcano. Even the Purple-haired Wild Boar could not withstand such terrifying force. With a strange cry, it was swatted more than a thousand yards away by the eagle’s wings, its fur bursting into flames!

Seeing the Green-eyed Golden Eagle go berserk, Zhaang Ye sucked in a sharp breath. He immediately executed his Body Technique and retreated over a thousand yards, putting distance between himself and the crazed beast.

SCREECH! SCREECH! SCREECH!

As the Sharp-headed Mongoose frantically destroyed its insides, the Green-eyed Golden Eagle let out piercing cries, its entire body erupting in a raging inferno. This fire, transformed from Ancient Phoenix Power, could easily ignite stone. Even from a thousand yards away, Zhaang Ye’s hair was singed by sparks and threatened to burst into flame at any moment.

Watching the Green-eyed Golden Eagle erupt in flames, Zhaang Ye felt a pang of confusion. ’This fire should be the eagle’s most powerful technique. What is it trying to do by releasing it?’

The thought had barely crossed Zhaang Ye’s mind when he saw the Green-eyed Golden Eagle’s beak open wide, forcibly swallowing the raging inferno down into its stomach. At that moment, Zhaang Ye finally understood. ’So it’s trying to burn the Sharp-headed Mongoose to death from the inside. But its flames are incredibly destructive. Even if it kills the mongoose, the eagle itself won’t come out of this unscathed.’

GURGLE GURGLE GURGLE—

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK—

As the fire entered the Green-eyed Golden Eagle’s stomach, a chorus of strange noises erupted from within. Although the eagle could conjure terrifying flames, its internal organs were its greatest weakness. The agony of being burned by its own fire was unimaginable. Meanwhile, the Sharp-headed Mongoose, being roasted alive, was also in extreme pain and began to burrow with even greater frenzy.

Burrow! The Sharp-headed Mongoose thrashed wildly, trying to tear a hole through the Green-eyed Golden Eagle’s body and escape the terrifying fire.

Burn! The Green-eyed Golden Eagle frantically stoked the flames, determined to burn the wretched mongoose alive and quell its burning hatred.

SCREEEEECH—

In its agony, the Green-eyed Golden Eagle’s massive body thrashed wildly, slamming into the ground with boundless power that made the very earth for miles around tremble. Gouts of terrifying flame scorched half the sky red. The Phoenix Trees caught fire, and within a radius of hundreds of yards, even the stones were melted into glowing magma.

Zhaang Ye retreated again and again, only stopping once he was several miles away.

「About fifteen minutes later」, the valley finally fell silent. Zhaang Ye slowly returned. He saw the Green-eyed Golden Eagle lying on the ground, barely breathing. Its massive body gave off the scent of roasted meat, and the ground was littered with its golden feathers and bright red blood. Lying beside the great eagle was a small, strange beast: the Sharp-headed Mongoose.

The Sharp-headed Mongoose and the Green-eyed Golden Eagle had annihilated each other! (To be continued. If you enjoy this story, please consider supporting it with Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)