Overlord of the Wilderness

ROAR!

CROAK!

CHIRP!

Just as the two were secretly rejoicing, several more strange cries of Barbaric Beasts echoed from the distance. The ground began to shake violently again. Clearly, another wave of Barbaric Beasts had caught the scent of blood and was now rushing over at full speed.

Hearing the roars of the Barbaric Beasts, the Fourth Hall Master’s expression changed slightly. The successive battles had already consumed over forty percent of his Innate True Qi. Furthermore, he had sustained minor injuries from the beasts’ attacks, greatly reducing his combat effectiveness. Under these circumstances, he no longer had the confidence to face a second wave of Barbaric Beasts!

The Fourth Hall Master said urgently, ”Zhaang Ye, I need to find a place to restore my Innate True Qi and treat my injuries, so I won’t be able to coordinate with you. This wave of Barbaric Beasts is likely even larger than the first. You should hide for now. We can resume the hunt after I’ve recovered!”

A glint of excitement flashed in Zhaang Ye’s eyes. He shook his head slightly and said, ”There’s no need. After that last battle, I have a good grasp of the Barbaric Beasts’ combat strength. I want to use them to hone the power within my body, as well as my Saber Technique and Body Technique.”

Zhaang Ye’s body was far more robust than that of an ordinary True Dao Expert. Although he had just killed six Barbaric Beasts in a row, he had only used up twenty percent of his Celestial River Righteous Qi and was completely unharmed. Moreover, his comprehension of the Wind Realm allowed him to appear and disappear without a trace. He could not only launch surprise attacks but also escape with ease if things went south. Therefore, as long as the approaching beasts weren’t Middle-Rank Barbaric Beasts, Zhaang Ye had nothing to fear.

The Fourth Hall Master shook his head slightly, about to offer a couple more words of caution, when a long, thin black shadow suddenly shot over from the distance, coiling toward Zhaang Ye like a rope!

HISSSSS!

This long, thin black shadow was actually a snake, as thick as a man’s arm. It was pitch-black from head to tail, with a triangular head and scales that shimmered with a faint, dark light. Though only arm-sized in girth, it was astonishingly long—a full thirty-three zhang—making it look like a long strand of iron wire!

The Fourth Hall Master noticed the snake, and his face instantly paled. ”Get back!” he shouted urgently. ”That’s a Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent! It’s a late-stage Lower Rank Barbaric Beast, as fast as lightning and stronger than a giant elephant! If it wraps around you, it will crush you into dozens of pieces!”

Although Zhaang Ye’s Spiritual Sense was not as sharp as the Fourth Hall Master’s, it was far superior to that of an ordinary Second Layer True Dao Expert. He sensed the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent the moment it appeared. As it coiled toward him, Zhaang Ye abruptly transformed into a light breeze and vanished, causing the serpent’s attack to miss completely.

HISSSSS!

The Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent let out a bloodcurdling screech. Relying on some profound, mysterious sense, it instantly pinpointed Zhaang Ye’s location. Its long, thin body shot up like lightning and whipped straight at him!

BOOM!

The combat power of this Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent was truly terrifying. Its slender tail lashed through the air at a speed ten times faster than Zhaang Ye’s Body Technique. The friction between its tail and the ferocious aura it generated actually created a pillar of fire that shot into the sky, accompanied by a thunderous boom. The display of power was utterly horrifying!

’Hm? What a fearsome snake! Even after I used the Wind Realm, it can still sense my position. It truly lives up to its name as a late-stage Lower Rank Barbaric Beast!’

Zhaang Ye’s expression couldn’t help but shift as he watched the tail whip toward him. Ever since he had comprehended the Wind Realm, not even someone as formidable as Jiangqian Mountain had been able to sense his location. Yet now, this small Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent could actually feel his presence. Its ability was truly extraordinary!

But Zhaang Ye was a battle-hardened warrior. Despite his astonishment, his reaction was not the least bit slow. Seeing the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent’s tail lashing out, he abruptly swung the Punishment Whip in his hand, striking viciously at the beast.

CRACK!

The moment his whip struck, Zhaang Ye knew something was wrong. His invincible Punishment Long Whip hit the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent’s tail but felt soft and limp, as if he couldn’t put any force into it. The heaven-shaking power contained within the Punishment Long Whip was completely useless!

”Be careful!” The Fourth Hall Master’s heart leaped in alarm when he saw Zhaang Ye striking the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent with his whip. He had dealt with these creatures before and knew their bodies were incredibly pliable. They excelled at using softness to overcome hardness, rendering even the fiercest attacks useless. By striking it with a whip, Zhaang Ye wouldn’t be able to kill it and would instead give it an opening to attack!

And sure enough, just as the words left the Fourth Hall Master’s mouth, the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent’s body went limp like a rope that couldn’t be held, coiling toward Zhaang Ye with lightning speed. As its body wrapped around him, its head shot toward Zhaang Ye as well. Its maw gaped wide, emitting a sinister, foul-smelling wind, a clear sign of a terrifying poison!

’It’s over, it’s over! The Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent is at close range now. This time, even if Zhaang Ye doesn’t die, he’ll be severely injured!’ The Fourth Hall Master’s heart sank as he watched the serpent’s attack unfold.

This Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent had a very small body, moved as fast as lightning, and possessed a variety of attack methods. Its combat power was terrifying. Even the Fourth Hall Master wouldn’t dare face such a fearsome snake alone. It would take two or three Hall Masters working together to have any confidence in killing it.

Now, Zhaang Ye was facing it alone and had been put at a disadvantage in an instant. The situation was perilous!

Zhaang Ye was indeed in extreme danger. Since the beginning of his journey, he had never encountered an opponent with such terrifying speed. The Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent’s attacks were even slightly faster than his own. This extreme speed, combined with its formidable strength, startled even Zhaang Ye, forcing him to focus his entire Heart Spirit on the fight!

”Hmph!”

Zhaang Ye let out a sharp grunt, and a faint Suppression suddenly erupted from his body. This faint pressure was like the sun in the sky, like a god in the heavens—noble and filled with infinite power. It was as if a supreme king was looking down coldly, causing all of heaven and earth to tremble!

Dragon’s Might!

When Zhaang Ye fought the Flood Dragon, he had gotten a taste of Dragon’s Might. Relying on his terrifying Comprehension and the Ancient Dragon Power he had already fused with, Zhaang Ye had actually succeeded in unleashing it. His entire being became like a True Dragon from Ancient Times, and the Suppression he emitted instantly enveloped the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent!

Although the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent was exceptionally gifted, it was, in the end, just an offshoot of the Dragon Race. The moment Zhaang Ye’s Dragon’s Might bore down on it, its lightning-fast speed immediately slowed!

For an expert like Zhaang Ye, he could accomplish a great deal in the time it took an ordinary person to blink. As the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent’s movements slowed, Zhaang Ye’s hands shot out. His right hand seized its head while his left hand gripped its body. Then, with both hands, he pulled!

HISSSSSSS!

Zhaang Ye’s pull contained at least thirty million jin of force. The Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent felt an excruciating pain as Zhaang Ye tore at it and couldn’t help but shriek. An immense power erupted from its thin body as it thrashed wildly, trying to break free from his grasp.

But Zhaang Ye had gone to great lengths to capture it; he wasn’t about to let go so easily. He let out a great roar as the muscles on his body bulged. A heaven-shaking power erupted from his arms as he pulled, and then pulled again!

SNAP!

Under the immense force of Zhaang Ye’s pull, even a body as tough as the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent’s couldn’t withstand such terrifying power. With a crisp snap, Zhaang Ye ripped the serpent in two!

Even in death, the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent was not still. Its body continued to coil toward Zhaang Ye. But without the head to control it, the body posed no threat. With a flick of his palm, Zhaang Ye flung the serpent’s body far away. It landed on the ground and thrashed about like a living snake, whipping the earth so violently that it left deep gouges and made the ground tremble.

After tossing the body aside, Zhaang Ye saw that the serpent’s head was still alive. He suddenly squeezed his palm, crushing the head to pieces and retrieving the Inner Core from within.

The Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent was a late-stage Lower Rank Barbaric Beast, equivalent to a late-stage Third Layer True Dao Expert. Its Inner Core was slightly larger than the Flood Dragon’s, and the power it contained was even more abundant. What satisfied Zhaang Ye even more was that the Dragon Power within this Inner Core was much purer than the Flood Dragon’s. Absorbing this Dragon Power would significantly advance his Cultivation.

WHOOSH!

Just moments before, the Fourth Hall Master had seen Zhaang Ye in danger and was desperately using his Body Technique to rush to his aid. But just as he moved, he saw Zhaang Ye rip the Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent in two with his bare hands. Even a veteran of countless battles like the Fourth Hall Master couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath at such a clean, yet utterly savage, technique.

The Fourth Hall Master stared at the serpent’s head in Zhaang Ye’s hand and exclaimed in amazement, ”Good heavens, kid! The combat power of this Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent is two or three times greater than that Purple-backed Iron-horned Beast. Its strength is no less than that beast’s, either. I never imagined you could actually rip it in two!”

Zhaang Ye chuckled. ”My body has been tempered by several Ancient Powers. Even I don’t know the full extent of my own strength. Once this Ghost Wind Iron Wire Serpent fell into my hands, its fate was sealed.”

ROAR!

CROAK!

As they spoke, all sorts of strange cries echoed from the distance. The second wave of Barbaric Beasts was clearly getting closer. The Fourth Hall Master’s expression changed, and he quickly darted away to recover his True Qi. Zhaang Ye, however, simply stood there quietly, awaiting the arrival of the second wave.

The Celestial Tribulation was only half a year away. To survive it, Zhaang Ye needed to acquire more Inner Cores and raise his Cultivation as much as possible. Therefore, he would not let a single Barbaric Beast escape!

————

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