Overlord of the Wilderness

Chapter 566: Chapter 539: Self-Created Saber Technique—Shadowless Blade

While regulating his breathing, Zhaang Ye drew the Broken Wave Saber.

The last exchange had been a pure contest of strength. The real battle was only just beginning.

BOOM!

Their auras collided. Having fallen behind in the contest of strength, Ba Xiongfei was now determined to establish his dominance. His aura surged toward Zhaang Ye like crashing ocean waves, one after another.

Zhaang Ye’s expression shifted. His physical strength might be unrivaled, but with his Cultivation only at the True Dao Fourth Layer, the aura he projected was far from a match for Ba Xiongfei’s. Still, with his opponent’s aura bearing down on him, all he could do was grit his teeth and resist.

WHUMPH! WHUMPH! WHUMPH!

Zhaang Ye activated Tornado, just barely managing to withstand Ba Xiongfei’s terrifying aura. He felt an immense weight crushing his entire body, as if his very soul was about to be forced out.

‘This is bad! Ba Xiongfei’s Cultivation Technique is incredibly tyrannical, and his aura is staggering. I’m completely outmatched. I have to strike first, or I’ll just fall further and further behind!’ As this thought flashed through Zhaang Ye’s mind, he prepared to launch a preemptive strike. But just then, he felt a tremor in his soul—his Spiritual Sense had suddenly doubled in power!

As it happened, when Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation advanced to the True Dao Fourth Layer, his Spiritual Sense had strengthened along with it. He had simply been too preoccupied with his battles to notice the change until this very clash of auras forced him to realize it.

RUMBLE!

With his newly empowered Spiritual Sense, Zhaang Ye’s aura exploded outward. Though Ba Xiongfei’s aura was immense, it now found itself slowly being pushed back by Zhaang Ye’s astonishing presence!

Ba Xiongfei’s expression faltered. ‘How is this possible?’ he thought. ‘My Spiritual Sense is already strong enough to manifest as phantasms. Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation and foundation are both shallow, so how can he possess such a startling aura?’

Ba Xiongfei gritted his teeth, and his aura surged once more.

CRACKLE! CRACKLE!

Two tyrannical auras swept across the arena, kicking up waves of Gang Qi. Within the darting gusts of Gang Wind, one could even see phantasmal threads, fine as hairs, flickering.

“GASP! Am I seeing things? Those phantasmal threads… could they be the manifestation of their incredibly condensed Spiritual Senses?”

Seeing these flickering threads, all the young experts below the stage gasped in unison, their eyes filled with a mixture of shock and fear.

Spiritual Sense is an evolution of Spiritual Power. It allows one to observe the slightest movements for dozens of miles around, but it can normally only be merged with one’s aura to indirectly affect an opponent. If the Spiritual Sense is further condensed until it becomes tangible, it can be used to attack an enemy directly. And if one trains in the corresponding Spirit Secret Skills, they can unleash a variety of techniques to kill without a trace!

A True Dao Grandmaster, for instance, can easily deploy a simple Spirit Secret Skill—the Spiritual Thorn. This technique can pierce an opponent’s mind, detonate their brain, and make their head explode.

Ba Xiongfei and Zhaang Ye were still far from the Grandmaster Realm, yet their Spiritual Senses were already condensed to an unbelievable degree, forming tangible phantasms. The young experts in the crowd found it hard to believe. Even the five True Dao Grandmasters by the side of the stage revealed looks of astonishment at the sight of those flickering forms.

Daoist Master Shuiyue remarked with a hint of surprise, “Ba Xiongfei and Zhaang Ye’s Spiritual Senses are quite impressive. For their Spiritual Sense to already be condensing into phantasms at such a low Cultivation level… At this rate, after another eight or ten years of training, their phantasms will become semi-corporeal, allowing them to practice Spirit Secret Skills.”

Master Qianjian was growing increasingly pleased with Zhaang Ye. He chuckled. “Ba Xiongfei’s Cultivation is approaching the True Dao Sixth Layer, so it’s not entirely surprising that he possesses such condensed Spiritual Sense. But Zhaang Ye is only at the True Dao Fourth Layer. For him to have it as well… now that is beyond this old man’s expectations! Hahaha!”

Seeing Master Qianjian’s gloating expression, the other Daoist Masters nearby were rendered speechless.

“Third Claw of the Lion King’s Nine Claws: Majesty for an Era! ROAR!”

Seeing that he couldn’t gain an advantage with his aura alone, Ba Xiongfei immediately launched his attack. His two dazzling golden Lion King’s Claws transformed into brilliant pillars of light and smashed forward, as he simultaneously unleashed the Ancient Lion Roar Skill, letting out a heaven-and-earth-shaking bellow!

RUMBLE!

The colossal roar was like thunder, seeping in from all directions. The terrifying sonic waves invaded Zhaang Ye’s body through his every orifice, his very pores. What was even more frightening was that Ba Xiongfei’s two Lion King’s Claws seemed to ride these waves of sound, arriving before Zhaang Ye with world-shaking power!

Zhaang Ye’s expression remained perfectly serene. His strengthened Spiritual Sense had sharpened his perceptions to a razor’s edge. Ba Xiongfei’s roar might seem impossible to defend against, but with his heightened awareness, Zhaang Ye could see right through it.

SWISH!

The Broken Wave Saber swung out in a light, deft arc. In a feat of using substance to shatter illusion, the blade literally cleaved the sound waves in two. Then, with a slight twist, it met the Lion King’s Claw head-on.

While Innate Combat Skills could unleash tremendous power, spontaneous reactions were even more crucial. With a single slash, Zhaang Ye had not only nullified Ba Xiongfei’s sonic attack but also defused the attack from the Lion King’s Claw, displaying his astonishing Comprehension and battle instincts.

BOOM!

Amidst the thunderous crash, Zhaang Ye and Ba Xiongfei were each forced back a step. But both were battle-hardened masters; they retreated only to advance again. Stepping forward in perfect sync, they launched attacks simultaneously.

Ba Xiongfei unleashed the Fourth Claw of the Lion King’s Nine Claws: Majestic and Overwhelming. Zhaang Ye countered with his own creation, the close-quarters combat skill, Mountain-Breaking Slash.

BOOM!

They collided once more, and the immense force sent them both staggering back a step. Neither could gain the upper hand.

Before he’d brought out the Lion King’s Claw, Ba Xiongfei had been supremely confident. But now, after unleashing two consecutive claw attacks without gaining the slightest advantage, his expression grew solemn. He was finally getting serious.

Powerful Qi coiled around Ba Xiongfei as he spoke slowly, “The Lion King’s Nine Claws has nine strikes. No one has ever withstood them all. When I defeated Taishu Gang, I only needed to use the third, fourth, and fifth. Zhaang Ye, let’s see just how many you can handle!”

Zhaang Ye gave a slight, wry smile and shook his head. “No matter how fearsome a Combat Skill is, you still need an opportunity to perform it. Against me, you won’t even get the chance to use your Lion King’s Claw.”

As he spoke, Zhaang Ye’s figure suddenly blurred. A flicker of alarm went through Ba Xiongfei as a fierce blade of light suddenly slashed toward his face.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Leveraging his Wind Realm, Zhaang Ye seized the initiative, unleashing a flurry of over four hundred and ninety slashes. Since reaching Minor Achievement in the Wind Realm, his blade speed was simply astonishing. Though these four hundred and ninety strikes involved no special Combat Skill, their speed only increased, forcing even a warrior of Ba Xiongfei’s unfathomable power to do nothing but parry, with no hope of counter-attacking.

ROAR!

Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique grew ever faster. Seeing the situation turn increasingly dire, Ba Xiongfei grew enraged. At the cost of consuming his Innate True Qi, he let out a sudden, mighty roar. The massive sonic wave actually managed to slightly slow Zhaang Ye’s Saber Force. Seizing this golden opportunity, Ba Xiongfei executed a profound strike with his Lion King’s Claw.

Ancient Combat Skill, the Fifth Claw of the Lion King’s Nine Claws—Hegemony Over the World!

BOOM!

Under this immensely powerful claw, Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique faltered, and he was forced to retreat several dozen feet. Having let out a great roar and desperately launched the fifth claw, Ba Xiongfei had consumed a massive amount of Innate True Qi; his body also staggered back several dozen feet.

Though forced back by Ba Xiongfei’s claw, Zhaang Ye’s face actually held a hint of delight. In the midst of that furious assault, his comprehension of the Wind Realm had deepened just a fraction more. He laughed heartily. “Brother Ba, quite a display! It looks like it’s time for me to get serious as well. Watch my blade!”

Zhaang Ye slashed out with his saber. This strike produced no Saber Gang, not even the slightest sound. In fact, the Broken Wave Saber in his hand seemed to vanish completely!

Shadowless Blade!

It was a technique Zhaang Ye had comprehended after reaching Minor Achievement in the Wind Realm. By moving the Broken Wave Saber at such high speed, it became a blur, seemingly without a shadow. The Saber Gang it released was concealed within the wind, invisible to the naked eye. Only an exceptionally keen Spiritual Sense had any hope of perceiving it!

CLANG!

The Shadowless Blade was as elusive as a phantom; only a highly condensed Spiritual Sense could track it. When Zhaang Ye struck, Ba Xiongfei sensed immense danger and threw up his Lion King’s Claws just in time to block a formless Saber Gang.

Hahahahaha!

Zhaang Ye let out a great peal of laughter. He merged his Wind Realm with his Body Technique, his entire form becoming as ephemeral as a shadow. He sent the Broken Wave Saber slashing out again and again, each strike traceless and utterly terrifying!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Against Zhaang Ye’s wind-like Body Technique and his bizarre, unpredictable Shadowless Blade, Ba Xiongfei was once again on the defensive. He swung his Lion King’s Claws, deflecting Zhaang Ye’s Saber Gang time after time, but he was completely unable to find an opening to counterattack.

“Gasp! What kind of Saber Technique is that?!”

“Such a terrifying Saber Technique!”

“This Zhaang Ye… his combat prowess is incredible!”

“I agree. Against his Saber Technique, Ba Xiongfei can’t even find an opportunity to use his Lion King’s Claw.”

Seeing the assault Zhaang Ye had unleashed, every one of the young experts below the stage stared with wide eyes. To suppress Ba Xiongfei so completely with Saber Technique alone… the skill Zhaang Ye was displaying was truly world-shaking. Though the young experts were a proud lot, they had no choice but to admit defeat in the face of such terrifying blade work.

Ba Xiongfei desperately swung his Lion King’s Claws to defend, searching for any opportunity to counterattack. But he soon realized a horrifying truth: the more he blocked, the more fluid Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique became. He was being pushed further and further onto the back foot!

Hah.

Ba Xiongfei let out a light sigh. “Zhaang Ye, you are strong. Truly, you are,” he said faintly. “I was saving my trump card for my challenge against Shui Daimai. I never imagined you would be the one to force my hand. In this battle, you may be proud in your defeat.”

An uproar erupted from the young experts below the stage. Who could have thought that after fighting for so long, Ba Xiongfei still had a hidden trump card! What in the world could it be?

The young experts’ hearts were filled with anticipation as they stared at Ba Xiongfei with unblinking eyes, eagerly awaiting his counterattack.

–

This is the first chapter of the day. If all goes well, there will be a second one tonight.

-(To be continued.