Overlord of the Wilderness

Zhaang Ye had challenged the previous class of Inner Sect Disciples, defeating several in a row. The news quickly spread throughout the Inner Sect, and everyone came to know that even though Zhaang Ye had just advanced to the True Dao, his strength was exceptionally formidable. Disciples like Xia Changye, Bao Jinglei, and Pang Dashuang had all fallen to him.

After circulating within the Inner Sect for a few days, the news soon reached the Outer Sect. Tens of thousands of Outer Disciples, and even the servant disciples, all heard of Zhaang Ye.

While the world outside was abuzz with the news, Zhaang Ye had already returned to Rising Sun Peak to begin condensing the Top Three Flowers.

Atop a jade bed, piece after piece of Essence Stone transformed into dense Essence Qi. So dense it was almost tangible, the Essence Qi enveloped Zhaang Ye, continuously pouring into his body.

The Celestial River Righteous Qi inside Zhaang Ye’s body roared to life, compressing frantically. It slowly formed a thumb-sized golden sphere, which radiated an intense Suppression that made the entire Chaoyang Hall tremble.

「Day after day passed.」

The golden sphere inside Zhaang Ye grew more and more condensed, as if it were a solid object. As the Celestial River Righteous Qi reached a high level of concentration, a quantitative change triggered a qualitative one. A mysterious, obscure, and supremely powerful aura began to radiate from the golden sphere, and the Suppression emanating from Zhaang Ye intensified along with it.

「On the ninth day.」

A series of strange sounds suddenly echoed from within Zhaang Ye’s body. Dense Essence Qi surged into him in an endless stream, and the entirety of Rising Sun Peak was thrown into turmoil as winds howled and whipped up sand and stones!

POOF!

As the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi poured in, a pristine white flower bud suddenly appeared above Zhaang Ye’s head. It was the size of a fist, as pure as ice and jade, and it spun slowly, emitting waves of a destructive aura.

WHOOSH!

A wisp of azure wind suddenly materialized from the void and slowly merged into the flower bud. With the arrival of this wind, the bud above Zhaang Ye’s head slowly bloomed, revealing a single, pale azure petal. Wisps of a gentle breeze coiled around it, and the destructive aura grew even stronger.

Furthermore, this destructive aura spread out in all directions on the gentle wind. This terrifying presence could be felt even from a thousand li away. It immediately caught the attention of certain observant individuals, and for a moment, gazes from all over turned toward Rising Sun Peak.

”Hmm?”

On a certain mountain peak, a flash of surprise crossed the eyes of a young man toying with a Nine-headed Serpent. He tossed the serpent aside and muttered, ”When an ordinary person condenses the Top Three Flowers, their aura doesn’t extend beyond a hundred li. But Zhaang Ye’s can be felt from a thousand li away. It looks like the kid has definitely comprehended a Realm. Hmm, and it seems to be the Wind Realm.”

The young man’s expression grew grave. Once a cultivator comprehended a Realm, their combat prowess would increase dramatically, allowing them to fight far above their level. Zhaang Ye’s Celestial River Righteous Qi was already formidable; after comprehending the Wind Realm, his combat strength would likely rival that of a True Dao Third Layer expert. Even someone like him had to take this seriously.

On another peak, Lan Heying was meditating cross-legged beneath a waterfall. When she felt that destructive aura, a look of astonishment crossed her face as she muttered, ”The Wind Realm... It really is the Wind Realm! No wonder he could defeat me right after he broke through to the True Dao!”

At this, Lan Heying glanced at her wrist. A faint pink line was still visible on her fair skin—the mark left by Zhaang Ye’s Long Whip.

Seeing the mark and recalling the sensation of being struck by the whip, a blush flashed across Lan Heying’s face. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a surge of killing intent. ”That damn brat, to think he’d use that kind of whip on me! I hope Brother Galaxy gets back to the Sect soon and teaches Zhaang Ye a lesson for me!”

On a peak lush with flowers and grass, the eyes of a black-robed youth glinted as he murmured, ”Comprehending the Wind Realm so soon after reaching the True Dao... That Zhaang Ye kid’s Comprehension is terrifying. It looks like he’ll soon be noticed by the Sect and designated as a disciple for priority training.”

...

Within a palace, a middle-aged man with a black beard sat cross-legged, silently engaged in his Cultivation. Sensing the destructive aura, he was visibly moved. He slowly opened his eyes and called out to the space beyond the palace, ”Who resides on Rising Sun Peak?”

Someone outside the palace answered respectfully, ”Chief Steward, Rising Sun Peak is Zhaang Ye’s place of Cultivation. He was the first-place winner in the recent entrance tournament and only just broke through to the True Dao.”

A flicker of surprise crossed the Chief Steward’s eyes. ”Excellent, excellent. To think a disciple who just reached the True Dao could comprehend the Wind Realm. Pass down my orders: add Zhaang Ye to the list of disciples for priority training. During his protection period as a new disciple, he is to be allocated 10,000 Low-grade Essence Stones and one hundred low-grade Yuan Gathering True Pills per month. Furthermore, grant him access to the 1st and 2nd Layer of the Inner Sect Library Pavilion.”

The person outside the palace replied respectfully, ”Understood! We will make the arrangements immediately.”

As everyone’s attention was fixed on Rising Sun Peak, Zhaang Ye took a long, deep breath. It was like a great whale swallowing the sea; all of the surrounding Essence Qi was instantly drawn into his body. As it poured inside him, the flower bud above his head burst with a brilliant light, seeming to come alive.

SWOOSH!

The brilliance flared for an instant before retracting, all of its aura absorbed back into the flower bud. Having just bloomed a single petal, the bud spun slowly above Zhaang Ye’s head, looking exceptionally profound.

”Hahahahaha!”

Zhaang Ye let out a long laugh. With a slight extension of his arm, the bud with its single bloomed petal slowly descended onto his fingertip. He examined it with satisfaction, a feeling of elation welling up in his heart as he laughed aloud. ”Excellent! After spending over a hundred thousand Low-grade Essence Stones, I’ve finally formed the first petal!”

When a True Dao Expert condenses the Top Three Flowers, they can release them in battle to control the surrounding Heaven and Earth Essence Qi with their full power. The Top Three Flowers also contain immense power themselves; releasing them allows an expert to unleash their strength to its absolute peak.

When facing an overwhelming foe, they can even cause the Top Three Flowers to self-destruct, releasing world-shaking power in an instant to take the enemy down with them. Of course, this is a move of last resort.

Zhaang Ye retracted the flower bud into his body and flew directly toward the west side of Rising Sun Peak, intending to test his new combat strength. As he was flying, the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi stirred, and a clear voice reached him. ”Daoist Master Zhaangye, I am Feng Zhonghe, the Seventh Steward of the Green Cloud Sect’s Inner Sect. I request an audience.”

With a mere thought from Zhaang Ye, the Mountain Protection Array opened. Like a gentle breeze, Feng Zhonghe drifted up from the foot of the mountain, arriving at Zhaang Ye’s side in an instant.

Feng Zhonghe sized up Zhaang Ye, sensing the faint wisps of wind that swirled around him. These threads of air gently supported Zhaang Ye’s body, allowing him to hover in the air without using any Innate True Qi—a truly miraculous sight.

A trace of envy and astonishment flashed in Feng Zhonghe’s eyes as he said admiringly, ”The Wind Realm. It truly is the Wind Realm! Daoist Master Zhaang, for you to comprehend the Wind Realm right after breaking through to the True Dao is incredible. Your future is boundless! In the past thousand years, only the talent of Galaxy True Man could compare to yours!”

Zhaang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. He asked, ”Galaxy True Man? Are you referring to the previous master of Rising Sun Peak?”

Feng Zhonghe nodded. ”Galaxy True Man was the Inner Sect Senior Brother of the previous generation, the undisputed number one disciple of the Inner Sect. He advanced to the True Dao and comprehended a Realm just two months after joining the Sect. He was a true once-in-a-millennium genius of the Green Cloud Sect. It’s a pity he disappeared eighteen years ago. The Sect has tried every possible method, but no one has been able to find him.”

Zhaang Ye couldn’t help but be moved. His own Comprehension was extremely high, and it was only by witnessing Space Storms on multiple occasions that he was able to grasp the Wind Realm. ’To think this Galaxy person also comprehended a Realm so early on... His Comprehension must be utterly terrifying.’

At that moment, Feng Zhonghe’s expression became serious. ”Daoist Master Zhaangye, I came here today to confirm whether or not you had comprehended a Realm. It now seems you have indeed grasped the Wind Realm. From this day forward, you are one of the Sect’s disciples designated for priority training.

”As part of the benefits for a priority disciple, during your protection period as a new disciple, you will receive 10,000 Low-grade Essence Stones and one hundred low-grade Yuan Gathering True Pills each month. In addition, you may use your Identity Recognition Jade Token to freely enter the 1st and 2nd Layers of the Inner Sect Library Pavilion and peruse the True Dao Secret Manuals and cultivation materials inside.”

Zhaang Ye was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. ”Thank you for your consideration, Seventh Steward, and thank you to the Sect for its great favor.”

The monthly stipend of 10,000 Low-grade Essence Stones and one hundred low-grade Yuan Gathering True Pills didn’t mean much to Zhaang Ye. What he truly cared about was the permission to freely enter the Inner Sect Library Pavilion.

To deduce the subsequent levels of his Celestial River Righteous Qi Cultivation Technique, Zhaang Ye needed to immerse himself in and reference all kinds of True Dao scriptures. With unrestricted access to the Library Pavilion, he could browse its collection at will. These texts would save him an immense amount of time that would otherwise be spent on trial and error.

Feng Zhonghe smiled. ”You’ve earned it. The Sect has always prioritized the cultivation of outstanding geniuses. As long as your strength and Cultivation speed surpass your peers, or if you make significant contributions to the Sect, you will be highly regarded. The benefits you enjoy will naturally be greater than those of an ordinary disciple.”

Feng Zhonghe had arrived as quickly as he departed. After answering a few of Zhaang Ye’s questions, he left. Zhaang Ye didn’t try to detain him; he decided to use this time to first consolidate his Realm, then make good use of the remaining two years or so to focus on his Cultivation.

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