Overlord of the Wilderness

At the bottom of the river.

Zhaang Ye stood firm on a massive boulder, completely surrounded by a dense throng of Fierce Beasts.

Each of these Fierce Beasts was more formidable than an ordinary Half-Step True Dao Expert, and each possessed its own strange abilities. They now closed in tightly around Zhaang Ye, launching a simultaneous assault with their sharp claws, gaping maws, and thick tails powerful enough to level mountains.

Zhaang Ye had been causing a commotion on the riverbed for so long that he had thoroughly provoked the Fierce Beasts. They rushed over in droves from dozens of miles around, furiously attacking him.

”Mountain-Breaking Slash!”

”Mountain-Breaking Slash!!”

”Cloud-Breaking Slash!”

”Cloud-Breaking Slash!!”

At a time like this, Zhaang Ye no longer dared to hold back. The Celestial River Righteous Qi within him surged relentlessly as streams of golden Sword Gang erupted from his Mysterious Blade Tip. The Sword Gangs carved vacuums through the water, and the sound of them tearing through the river echoed incessantly!

”SHUNK! SHUNK! SHUNK! SHUNK—”

Zhaang Ye’s Sword Gang was so condensed it was nearly tangible, its destructive power terrifying. Wherever the golden Sword Gang passed, Fierce Beasts’ claws were severed, their tails were sliced off, and their heads were sent flying. The river bottom turned blood-red, littered with the entrails, heads, claws, and tails of the beasts. The chaos was absolute!

The Fierce Beasts on the riverbed were thrown into a panic by this round of slaughter. Zhaang Ye had cut down more than a hundred of them in a single rampage. No matter how ferocious these underwater beasts were, their resolve began to waver.

”ROOOOAR, ROOOOAR-OOOOOH!”

Just as the Fierce Beasts were about to flee, nine strange cries suddenly echoed from the far end of the riverbed. The calls were loud and majestic, causing the river to churn and the riverbed itself to tremble violently. Upon hearing this commanding sound, the eyes of the would-be escapees turned crimson, and they renewed their frenzied assault on Zhaang Ye.

”Hm?”

Zhaang Ye was slightly startled. ’I wonder what kind of beast made that sound?’ he thought. ’There’s a subtle majesty to it, like a king’s command. It must be the overlord of this river!’

Though inwardly alarmed, Zhaang Ye didn’t budge an inch. He swung the Mysterious Blade Tip again and again, the formidable Sword Gang slicing viciously and killing the attacking Fierce Beasts one by one.

”ROOOOAR, ROOOOAR-OOOOOH”

The strange cry rang out once more. Zhaang Ye felt the riverbed suddenly fall silent as all the Fierce Beasts retreated to the side. The next moment, a terrifying, jade-green beast five hundred feet in length suddenly appeared. An almost tangible pressure locked firmly onto Zhaang Ye, and an icy cold sensation enveloped him.

Zhaang Ye’s Spiritual Power flared, and his eyes widened. He muttered two words: ”Exotic Python!”

As it turned out, this new arrival was a massive python! Its body was only five hundred feet long, but it had nine heads, and the aura it emanated was even more terrifying than that of the thousand-foot Giant Python from the Python Marsh!

Ten feet makes a snake, a hundred feet a python, a thousand feet a Flood Dragon, and ten thousand feet a dragon.

Although this python’s body was only five hundred feet long, it was a mutated Nine-headed Python with strength comparable to a Flood Dragon!

A newly-advanced Flood Dragon is equivalent to a True Dao Expert. In other words, the Nine-headed Python before Zhaang Ye was absolutely no weaker than a True Dao Expert!

’Heavens! I just came to the riverbed to kill a few beasts, how did I lure out such a terrifying monster? This river is only eight hundred feet wide, how can it house something so horrifying?’ A chill went down Zhaang Ye’s spine. The Ancient Dragon Power that had been temporarily sealed within him suddenly surged forth, and the unique Suppression of an Ancient Giant Dragon erupted from him.

”ROOOOAR? ROOOOAR-OOOOOH?”

The Nine-headed Python was about to attack when it suddenly sensed the Giant Dragon Aura radiating from Zhaang Ye. Its nine heads immediately lowered in fright, a look of confusion appearing in their cold eyes. The nine heads let out low cries, as if questioning one another.

Zhaang Ye was secretly delighted. He began to move slowly, making his way toward the river’s surface. ’This Nine-headed Python is a natural-born exotic beast, with strength rivaling a True Dao Expert. With my current power, I’m no match for it at all. The wisest choice is to slip away while it’s still intimidated.’

Zhaang Ye’s plan was sound, but he had underestimated the Nine-headed Python. When he had ascended thirty feet, the beast suddenly snapped out of its stupor. The mouths on its nine heads opened simultaneously, letting out nine tremendous roars: ”ROOOOAR, ROOOOAR-OOOOOH!!!”

Following the nine roars, Zhaang Ye felt a profound power sweep over him. Under the influence of this power, the water around him instantly congealed. The flowing river suddenly stilled, the once-soft water becoming as heavy as a mountain and as sharp as a blade!

Zhaang Ye’s expression changed drastically. He cried out inwardly, ’The Water Control Technique! This is the Water Control Technique! This Nine-headed Python’s Water Control Technique is ten times stronger than mine! Fighting it underwater is suicide!’

Horrified, Zhaang Ye unleashed the millions of pounds of force in his body. He shot straight toward the surface like a Flood Dragon!

”ROOOOAR, ROOOOAR-OOOOOH!!!”

A look of excitement appeared in the Nine-headed Python’s eyes. Its massive body shot forward like an arrow, heading straight for Zhaang Ye. Although the Ancient Dragon Power had a powerful intimidating effect on the giant python, the trace on Zhaang Ye was too weak to truly suppress the ferocious beast.

The Nine-headed Python feared the Ancient Dragon Power, but it also coveted it with immense desire. It was a descendant of Giant Dragons; if it could obtain Zhaang Ye’s Ancient Dragon Power, its rate of advancement and its overall strength would increase dramatically. It now saw Zhaang Ye as prey and had no intention of letting him escape!

”ROOOOAR, ROOOOAR-OOOOOH!!!”

Waves of profound power emanated from the Nine-headed Python. This power increased its speed even further, while the water around Zhaang Ye grew harder and heavier. He felt as if he were trapped in solid rock; even with millions of pounds of strength, he couldn’t move quickly.

Three hundred feet!

Two hundred feet!

One hundred feet!

The Nine-headed Python rapidly closed the distance, about to reach Zhaang Ye’s side. At that moment, Zhaang Ye, who had been struggling desperately in the crushing water, suddenly had his eyes light up. A flicker of joy flashed in his gaze.

Joy?

That’s right, joy! Zhaang Ye had been striving to comprehend the mysteries of water. After obtaining the Ancient Dragon Power and exchanging ideas with Xuli Qiqi for a month, his understanding had deepened considerably. However, his time in Cultivation had been too short, and there were many concepts he hadn’t fully integrated. For instance, he had yet to completely master the Tolerance Power that Qiqi had comprehended.

Now, in its attempt to devour him, the Nine-headed Python was emitting a wondrous power that firmly controlled the river’s currents. Zhaang Ye’s Comprehension was exceptionally high, and his insight into water was already profound. The moment the python unleashed its Water Control Power, Zhaang Ye immediately began to grasp the manifold mysteries of water contained within it!

”Hahahaha! Split for me!” Having grasped the mysteries of water, Zhaang Ye’s ability to manipulate it instantly became a hundred times more powerful. He swept his hands above his head, and a profound power shot out. The river water above him was suddenly parted by this wondrous force, revealing a patch of blue sky!

”SWOOSH!”

Zhaang Ye executed his Thunderbolt Body Technique at full speed. Just before the Nine-headed Python could reach him, he leaped out of the river. Then, executing Cloud-Breaking Slash, he became like a blade flying through the void, landing far away on the bank.

”ROOOOAR, ROOOOAR-OOOOOH!!!”

Seeing Zhaang Ye escape to the shore, the Nine-headed Python let out a series of frustrated roars but did not pursue him. It seemed wary of something, not even daring to approach the bank, merely patrolling back and forth on the water’s surface.

Seeing that the Nine-headed Python did not pursue him, Zhaang Ye breathed a sigh of relief. He focused on his recent enlightenment, his eyes filled with excitement. ’I’ve finally comprehended the Tolerance Power of water. Water’s Tolerance Power is omnipresent. The human body has bones, sinews, and flesh; it is blood that binds them together to form a wondrous cycle. A tree has roots, a trunk, branches, bark, fruits, and flowers; it is the Tolerance Power of water that binds these parts into a perfect whole. Now that I’ve grasped this, I can surely fuse the Ancient Dragon Power, Ancient Elephant Power, and Ancient Phoenix Power within me to create a force that is truly my own!’

Zhaang Ye eagerly sat down cross-legged. A wondrous power quickly began to fuse the Ancient Dragon Power, Ancient Elephant Power, and Ancient Phoenix Power within him. The Celestial River Righteous Qi in his body grew increasingly formidable!

Seventy-nine percent!

Eighty percent!

Eighty-one percent!

...

Ninety percent!

Ninety-five percent!

Finally, Zhaang Ye’s body trembled. He slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze shot out like two Sword Gangs, shattering a boulder ten feet away.

Zhaang Ye leaped to his feet and laughed heartily. ”Excellent! The three Ancient Powers have actually fused to ninety-five percent! Once I integrate the remaining five percent, I’ll break through to the True Dao! With my current strength, I have nothing to fear, no matter how formidable the opponent!”

”ROOOOAR, ROOOOAR-OOOOOH!!!”

Nine strange cries erupted from the river. Zhaang Ye looked over and saw that the terrifying Nine-headed Python was still patrolling the surface, having not left. A smirk touched Zhaang Ye’s lips as he watched the imposing beast. He raised his Mysterious Blade Tip and swung it toward the river!

SLASH!

A thousand-foot-long golden Sword Gang tore through the air and slammed down on the Nine-headed Python! The beast never imagined Zhaang Ye could unleash such a terrifying attack. Caught completely off guard, it was struck hard by the Sword Gang. Crying out in pain, its nine heads let out a series of strangled croaks as it rapidly sank back to the riverbed.

Watching the Nine-headed Python flee in a sorry state, Zhaang Ye couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

”BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

As Zhaang Ye’s laughter faded, three deep, powerful drumbeats echoed from the horizon.

The Green Cloud Sect’s entrance competition was about to begin!

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To thank all my dear readers for the monthly tickets yesterday, I had originally planned to release three Chapters today. But I ran into a... ball-achingly frustrating problem. And that is... my butt hurts! The diarrhea was so bad that my rear end is acting up, and it’s so frustrating it’s killing me.

With my butt in this state, I can’t sit down to write. Typing while standing is super slow, so I can only manage two Chapters today. My sincerest apologies! Tomorrow, August 10th, I will definitely release three Chapters!!! Thank you for your support!!! Pleading for a monthly ticket!

——————————————————————————————(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)