Overlord of the Wilderness

The vibrant Heaven and Earth Essence Qi flowed into Zhaang Ye’s body like rain on parched earth, even producing a SIZZLING sound. He could distinctly feel a flicker of life emerge within his dried and broken Meridians, and sensation slowly returned to his body.

As more and more Heaven and Earth Essence Qi descended, fresh flesh and blood began to grow within Zhaang Ye’s body. The layer of muscle that had been scorched by lightning sloughed off at a speed visible to the naked eye, replaced by a tougher, more formidable musculature.

Nourished by the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, Zhaang Ye’s fractured bones and tendons mended. His charred muscles regenerated, and his injuries soon healed completely.

Zhaang Ye then seized the opportunity, focusing all his effort on absorbing the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. A ceaseless stream of Heaven and Earth Essence flowed through every pore of his body and into his Meridians. As the Essence Qi was replenished, the Celestial River Righteous Qi within him went from being depleted to abundant, and from abundant to vast and powerful.

BOOM!

The vast Celestial River Righteous Qi triggered a breakthrough. Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation advanced from the Early-stage Third Layer of the True Dao to the Mid-stage Third Layer.

Perhaps the heavens were compensating him, as the descending Heaven and Earth Essence was exceptionally dense and plentiful. After Zhaang Ye advanced to the Mid-stage Third Layer of the True Dao, his Cultivation continued to climb. The Heaven and Earth Essence Qi only began to dissipate when he was on the very cusp of reaching the Late-stage Third Layer.

”Excellent! Excellent! Facing a Celestial Tribulation is incredibly dangerous, but the rewards for overcoming it are unbelievably generous. ’To go from the First Layer of the True Dao to the Mid-stage Third Layer in just one short year… It’s simply unimaginable!’”

When Zhaang Ye had left the Green Cloud Sect, his Cultivation was only at the Mid-stage First Layer of the True Dao. In the short span of a year, he had leaped over the entire Second Realm and reached the Mid-stage Third Layer. Even Zhaang Ye himself found this rate of Cultivation unbelievable.

Just then, a powerful fluctuation of energy erupted beside Zhaang Ye. He looked over to see the Fire Spirit completely enveloped in a blazing fire. The roaring flame resembled an egg, as if it were incubating something within.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

The fire burned with increasing intensity, its color gradually shifting from yellow to pale cyan. The blaze radiated such immense heat that even with Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation, he dared not approach and could only retreat to a safe distance.

Seeing the raging inferno, two words suddenly surfaced in Zhaang Ye’s mind: ”Phoenix Nirvana.”

A Phoenix is born with the innate ability to control fire. Upon its death, its entire body erupts in a blazing conflagration. This inferno incinerates the Phoenix’s body, yet it also grants the Phoenix new life. In a sense, every death a Phoenix experiences is a rebirth. This is Phoenix Nirvana.

Throughout its life, a Phoenix can undergo Nirvana as many as nine times. This means a Phoenix possesses a total of nine lives. As long as it isn’t killed instantly, it can be reborn through Nirvana. Moreover, with each Nirvana, its power increases substantially.

’Is the Fire Spirit undergoing Phoenix Nirvana right now? If it really can, its power will surely increase dramatically. I might not even be its match anymore!’ Zhaang Ye stared intently at the sphere of fire, waiting with bated breath.

The flames raged on, burning for three full days and nights.

On the fourth day, Zhaang Ye suddenly heard an exquisitely clear and beautiful cry. Following the cry, he saw innumerable birds flying in from all over the mountains and plains.

Birds of all sizes flew to the mountain peak and stood silently beside the fire. They were a diverse lot; some were small birds that ate only grass and fruit, while others were massive, monstrous birds of prey that hunted Barbaric Beasts. Normally, these species would erupt into a fight to the death upon sight, but now, they stood there docilely, with no hint of aggression.

’Hm? What is going on? Could this be the legendary ”A Hundred Birds Pay Homage to the Phoenix?”’ Zhaang Ye surveyed the placid assembly of birds, his heart filled with astonishment and uncertainty.

Just then, another clear cry echoed from within the flames. With this cry, a bird with a fiery-red body and a long, trailing tail suddenly burst from the fire, soaring high into the air.

Upon seeing the fiery-red bird, all the birds on the ground lowered their heads, like commoners bowing in reverence before their king.

Zhaang Ye sensed a familiar yet suppressive aura coming from the fiery-red bird. ”Fire Spirit, is that you?” he called out.

The Fire Spirit’s voice rang in Zhaang Ye’s mind, bubbling with excitement. ”Hee hee, it’s me! I passed the Celestial Tribulation and inherited most of the Phoenix’s legacy, so I changed into this form. What do you think? Am I beautiful now?”

Zhaang Ye praised, ”Very beautiful. Have you turned into a Phoenix now?”

The Fire Spirit replied, ”No. I am merely a life form created from Phoenix Blood. Although I’ve received a large part of the Phoenix’s legacy, I am not a true Phoenix. Right now, I’m something like a combination of a Phoenix and fire. My Fire Control Technique should be no weaker than a Phoenix’s. Anyway, let me send these birds away first. Then, I have something I want to discuss with you.”

The Fire Spirit let out a clear cry and gave a sharp flap of its fiery-red wings. At its call, the birds on the peak seemed to snap out of a trance. They all spread their wings and took flight. In just a few breaths, all the birds had vanished from the mountain, as if they had never been there at all.

After sending the birds away, the Fire Spirit’s form suddenly shifted, transforming into a little girl of about seven or eight dressed in red. The girl’s skin was as white as snow, her eyes like dots of polished lacquer, and her long hair cascaded down to her waist. She looked utterly adorable.

Zhaang Ye had long since learned from ancient texts that extraordinary beings could assume human form after overcoming a Celestial Tribulation. Thus, he wasn’t particularly surprised to see the Fire Spirit become a little girl. ”Fire Spirit, you look very beautiful in this form,” he said. ”By the way, you mentioned you had something to discuss with me. What is it? Go ahead and tell me.”

The Fire Spirit’s face lit up at Zhaang Ye’s praise. She said happily, ”Master, there are several Phoenix Trees inside the Little World. These Phoenix Trees are very important to me. I want to use the Essence Qi from the Barbaric Beast Cores to get the Little World fully operational. Then I can plant these Phoenix Trees inside it. Of course, Master, you can also find Spirit Elixirs and plant them in the Little World too.”

Zhaang Ye had long wanted his Little World to become fully operational, but he had spent all his time recently cultivating and fighting, giving him no spare moment to attend to it. Hearing the Fire Spirit’s request, Zhaang Ye agreed without a second thought. ”Excellent. Go ahead.”

Zhaang Ye and the Fire Spirit entered the Little World together.

With a wave of her small, pale hand, the Fire Spirit sent more than two hundred and fifty Barbaric Beast Cores flying into the air. They then cracked open in the void, releasing thick streams of Essence Qi.

A single Barbaric Beast Core was equivalent to over fifty thousand Low-grade Essence Stones. This meant that more than two hundred and fifty Barbaric Beast Cores were equivalent to over thirteen million Low-grade Essence Stones. The moment the Barbaric Beast Cores shattered, Zhaang Ye’s thousand-zhang-radius Little World was instantly saturated with incredibly dense Essence Qi, so thick it condensed into liquid droplets.

HUMMMMM!

As the Essence Qi diffused, the entire Little World began to tremble gently. It was as if the world itself had come alive, brimming with vigorous Life Power. The branches of the dozen or so Phoenix Trees, which had sat dormant for so long, slowly began to unfurl, and tender new leaves started to sprout from their twigs.

The Phoenix Trees had been reborn, and wildflowers began to grow with even greater speed. As if spring had arrived, they eagerly pushed up from the soil, their leaves unfurling one by one. Their color shifted from tender yellow to pale cyan, then from pale cyan to a lush, vibrant green.

Amidst the grass, wildflowers began to bloom, seemingly out of nowhere. The small blossoms were like clusters of fire, joyfully displaying their vibrant Life Power and dotting the meadow with a kaleidoscope of color.

Zhaang Ye stared, dumbfounded, at the Transformation within his Little World. A sense of flourishing joy welled up from the depths of his heart. He couldn’t help but ask, ”Fire Spirit, is the Little World fully operational now?”

The Fire Spirit giggled. ”Not yet. For the work to be truly complete, the Little World needs to connect with the Barbaric World outside. Okay, I’ll connect it to the Barbaric World now.”

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

The Fire Spirit’s small hands began to move, forming a series of strange postures. Upon closer inspection, these bizarre gestures possessed an indescribable beauty. Zhaang Ye stood to the side, observing carefully, and a realization dawned on him. ’These gestures must be a type of Hand Seal from the Ancient Phoenix Clan, containing the Supreme Truth of Heaven and Earth. Hmph. After inheriting the Phoenix’s legacy, even I can no longer see through this little one.’

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

As the Fire Spirit executed the Hand Seals, the entire Little World shuddered. The next moment, Zhaang Ye felt a fresh surge of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi appear within it. His Little World was like a living, breathing entity, now continuously drawing Heaven and Earth Essence Qi from the Barbaric World!

Zhaang Ye’s heart leaped with joy. He knew his Little World was now completely operational. From now on, whenever he found a Spirit Grass or a Spirit Elixir, he could confidently transplant it here to be cultivated!

Just as he thought this, the Fire Spirit’s voice rang out. ”There, the Little World is now fully operational. From now on, it can continuously absorb Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, so you can plant all sorts of Spirit Elixirs in here. Oh, and in these early stages, any Spirit Elixir planted here should grow about three times faster.”

”Three times the speed is fantastic,” Zhaang Ye said, delighted. ”Fire Spirit, since you were the one who brought this Little World to life, let’s call it the Fire Spirit Realm from now on!”

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