Overlord of the Wilderness

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Looking out from the Guiding Flying Vessel, a never-before-seen azure sky appeared before Zhaang Ye’s eyes. His first impression of this sky was that it was incredibly high and vast. The white clouds seemed impossibly distant, ethereal and light. Golden sunlight sprinkled upon them, causing them to emit a faint glow that gave them a translucent, crystalline feel.

Looking down at the ground, he saw vast stretches of forests, grasslands, and lakes, like a verdant carpet rolling all the way to the horizon. All sorts of strange and exotic plants bloomed with multicolored flowers, their beauty dazzling and almost too much to take in. The trees growing from the ground towered thousands of feet high, their sturdy branches pointing straight at the blue sky.

Zhaang Ye emerged from the cabin and stepped onto the deck of the Guiding Flying Vessel. He took a deep breath, and wisps of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, visible to the naked eye, swarmed toward him. They seeped into his body through every pore, transforming into threads of pure True Qi. Zhaang Ye felt as if every pore was cheering, an indescribable comfort washing over his entire body.

The gray-robed middle-aged man said leisurely, ”This is the world outside. Zhaang Ye, how does it feel?”

Zhaang Ye nodded and said, ”It’s wonderful. Very wonderful. In the world outside, the sky is higher, the earth is thicker, and the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi is more abundant. It’s truly a great place for Cultivation.”

The gray-robed middle-aged man smiled faintly. ”Vast Heaven and Earth—you put it well. This world is the true Barbaric World. The Land of Divine Abandonment is merely the size of your palm by comparison.”

Yang Guyuan, Du Hong, Zhou Lihuo, and Yin Chenyun had also emerged from the cabin by now, marveling at the scenery outside. The gray-robed middle-aged man glanced at the four of them and said slowly, ”You’d best stand still and not move around. This is the true Barbaric World. Only True Dao Experts can fly here. If you fall off this Guiding Flying Vessel, even I won’t be able to save you.”

HISS—

Hearing the middle-aged man’s warning, Yang Guyuan, Du Hong, Zhou Lihuo, and Yin Chenyun all gasped, their scalps tingling with fear. Even Zhaang Ye was secretly alarmed. To get a better view of the scenery below, he had just walked to the very edge of the Guiding Flying Vessel’s railing—an extremely dangerous move.

Yang Guyuan asked respectfully, ”In the Land of Divine Abandonment, experts at the Martial Arts Ninth Layer can use Qi Manipulation Flight. Why is it that in the true Barbaric World, one must cultivate to the True Dao to fly?”

The gray-robed middle-aged man said lightly, ”It’s simple: the Laws of Heaven and Earth are different here. The Land of Divine Abandonment is enveloped by a massive Spatial Array that separates it from the true Barbaric World. That’s why even a Martial Artist at the Martial Arts Ninth Layer can use Qi Manipulation Flight there. But the true Barbaric World is vast and immense; without cultivating to the True Dao, it is impossible to fly in the sky.”

The sun rose and set, and before they knew it, more than a month had passed on the Guiding Flying Vessel.

Zhaang Ye used this month to silently refine the True Qi within his body. As his Cultivation progressed, more and more of his Postnatal True Qi converted into Innate True Qi. Zhaang Ye had a faint feeling that he was already very close to the Half-step True Dao. All he needed was a period of secluded cultivation to break through.

One day, a verdant mountain range that soared into the clouds suddenly appeared before the Guiding Flying Vessel. The range stretched straight forward like a colossal dragon. Just a single glance from afar was enough to feel a time-worn, ancient aura wash over them, making it difficult to breathe.

The Guiding Flying Vessel gradually slowed, flying toward the massive mountain range. After traveling for several thousand more miles, it slowly began to descend toward a mountain peak.

The gray-robed middle-aged man landed the Guiding Flying Vessel on a White Jade Platform, then called out, ”Alright, we’ve arrived at the Sect. Come down with me immediately to register your identities and receive your Identity Recognition Jade Tokens.”

After saying this, the gray-robed man executed a Body Technique, transforming into a faint gray streak of light as he dropped from the Guiding Flying Vessel.

Zhaang Ye, Yang Guyuan, Du Hong, Zhou Lihuo, and Yin Chenyun also used their Body Techniques, heading for the Jade Platform below. But the moment the five of them leaped from the Guiding Flying Vessel, they immediately sensed something was wrong. Their usually light bodies suddenly felt abnormally heavy, as if they were carrying an immense weight, and they were completely unable to control their descent!

WHOOSH!

Zhaang Ye, Yang Guyuan, Du Hong, Zhou Lihuo, and Yin Chenyun plummeted like five stones!

Seeing the five of them plummeting, a smile appeared on the gray-robed middle-aged man’s face. He watched them with a grin, preparing to enjoy the sight of their pathetic landing.

Just as the middle-aged man was settling in to enjoy the show, Zhaang Ye, still in mid-air, suddenly took a deep breath. A strange humming sound emanated from within his body. In the next instant, his body transformed into a dazzling golden blade that zipped through the air. In the blink of an eye, Zhaang Ye had reached the ground.

SWOOSH!

The golden light around Zhaang Ye dissipated, and he landed on the ground, safe and sound.

”Nice!”

Seeing that Zhaang Ye had actually managed to land unharmed, the gray-robed middle-aged man was extremely surprised and let out a soft exclamation of approval.

While Zhaang Ye landed safely, Yang Guyuan, Du Hong, Zhou Lihuo, and Yin Chenyun were not so lucky. Caught completely off guard, the four of them smashed into the ground like rocks. Even though their Cultivation had reached the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, the unexpected fall sent them sprawling.

Yang Guyuan, Du Hong, Zhou Lihuo, and Yin Chenyun were all considered experts in their own right. To be thrown to the ground so humiliatingly made them feel disgraced and utterly dejected.

The gray-robed man looked at their pathetic state with a smirk. ”The gravity in the Barbaric World is over fifty times greater than in the Land of Divine Abandonment. In other words, a person who weighs one hundred pounds in the Land of Divine Abandonment would weigh five thousand pounds here. Martial Artists with a Cultivation below the Martial Arts Ninth Layer wouldn’t even dare to leave the Land of Divine Abandonment; otherwise, the gravity would crush their internal organs, killing them.”

Zhaang Ye, possessing memories of a past life, was well aware of the terrifying effects of gravity. Hearing the middle-aged man’s explanation, he nodded slightly. A person’s internal organs are their most fragile parts. A Martial Artist below the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, if suddenly subjected to such immense gravity, would undoubtedly die from their organs rupturing.

The gray-robed man continued, ”Now you understand why only a True Dao Expert can perform Qi Manipulation Flight, don’t you? Heh, under such terrifying gravity, even a Half-Step True Dao Expert cannot fly in the sky. Only True Dao Experts who have reached the Innate Realm can fly for extended periods in the air.”

After explaining the situation, the gray-robed man waved to the five of them and used his Body Technique to head toward a magnificent palace. Zhaang Ye looked into the distance and saw two large words inscribed above the palace entrance: ”Guiding Hall.” Without needing an introduction from the middle-aged man, Zhaang Ye knew that this ”Guiding Hall” was used to receive new disciples.

As they followed the gray-robed man to the front of the Guiding Hall, Zhaang Ye discovered that over a hundred young people had already gathered there. The weakest among them had a Cultivation of at least the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage. Seven of them had even reached the Half-step True Dao, and they exuded a thick killing intent, looking like people who were not to be trifled with.

Zhaang Ye asked, ”Are all these people elites of the Younger Generation from various regions? Are they all new disciples of the Sect?”

The gray-robed middle-aged man nodded. ”Exactly. They are all elites from various regions, the cream of the crop of the Younger Generation. The lowest Cultivation among them is the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage. Some of the exceptionally talented experts with profound fortuitous encounters have already cultivated over ninety percent Innate True Qi and are only a hair’s breadth away from the True Dao.”

At this point, the gray-robed man glanced at the five of them and said with a sly chuckle, ”They are also your competitors. In three months, there will be an entrance tournament. More than three thousand talented disciples will engage in fierce battles. You’d better start thinking about how to improve your combat strength.”

The expressions of Du Hong, Zhou Lihuo, and Yin Chenyun changed drastically. Their Cultivation was only at the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage; they were practically nothing compared to these people.

Zhaang Ye and Yang Guyuan, however, remained calm. They had both managed to cultivate formidable strength in the Land of Divine Abandonment, where Heaven and Earth Essence Qi was scarce. Now that they were in the Sect, where the Essence Qi was dozens of times richer, ’three months should be more than enough time to improve our strength.’

The gray-robed man led the five of them quickly into the Guiding Hall and approached a one-armed middle-aged man. ”I have completed my guidance mission,” he said. ”I have brought the five talented experts from the Land of Divine Abandonment. Martial Uncle, please register them.”

A peculiar glint flashed in the one-armed man’s eyes before he nodded slightly and began to record the five’s information. Zhaang Ye had been watching this man closely and noticed that when the man was recording his information, a cold, sinister look appeared in his eyes.

After recording their information, the one-armed man took out five Jade Tokens and tossed them to the group. ”These are your Identity Recognition Jade Tokens for the Sect,” he said. ”They record your name, status, residence, and assets. Using them is simple; just drip a drop of your blood onto it, and you’ll understand.”

Seeing that Zhaang Ye’s group had received their Jade Tokens, the gray-robed man clapped Zhaang Ye on the shoulder. ”Your residences have been arranged and are listed in the Jade Tokens. Just follow the addresses to find them. I have completed my mission and must go debrief, so I won’t accompany you any further.”

With that, the gray-robed man strode away.

Zhaang Ye said respectfully, ”Farewell, Senior Brother.”

After saying this, he also strode out of the Guiding Hall. Meanwhile, Yang Guyuan, Du Hong, Zhou Lihuo, and Yin Chenyun were already long gone.

The one-armed man watched Zhaang Ye leave the Guiding Hall. He quickly took out a thin piece of Beast Hide and wrote on it: ”Zhaang Ye has arrived at the Sect. His residence has been arranged near the disciples of the Jiang Family.”

After writing this sentence, a strange smile touched the corners of the one-armed man’s lips. With practiced ease, he tied the Beast Hide to the leg of a small gray bird. The bird immediately spread its wings and flew off in a specific direction. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com and vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)