Overlord of the Wilderness

"The sword was stolen?" Zhaang Ye’s brow furrowed. ’How strange.’

Feng Tongming was an expert at the peak of the Martial Arts Seventh Layer, while he himself was a master of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer. His Spiritual Power was exceptionally sharp; not even a tiny ant could escape his notice. For Feng Tongming’s Long Sword to have been stolen so stealthily under these circumstances immediately put Zhaang Ye on high alert.

Zhaang Ye said in a low voice, "Junior Sister Feng, it’s just a sword. Let it go."

Feng Tongming said anxiously as she gave chase, "I can’t! This sword is a family heirloom. If it’s stolen, how will I ever face my family?"

As she spoke, her figure had already darted through the city gate, vanishing from sight.

A glint flashed in Zhaang Ye’s eyes. He turned to Fang Caiying, Xuli Long, and Wei Jingtian and said, "You three head back. I’m going to check on the situation!" With that, Zhaang Ye took a sudden step, his body shooting forward like lightning in pursuit.

Once outside the city gates, Zhaang Ye’s gaze swept forward. He saw a tall, thin figure running frantically about half a mile away. The man’s speed was like a shooting star, comparable to that of a Martial Arts Ninth Layer master, and he covered a great distance in the blink of an eye.

’This person... he seems familiar!’ Zhaang Ye was slightly startled. He immediately executed his Tornado Body Technique, pursuing the tall, thin figure with a thunderous RUMBLE.

Zhaang Ye’s speed was incredible. In the time it took to take a dozen breaths, he had already flown several miles and was hovering above the tall, thin man. Sweeping his Spiritual Power downward, Zhaang Ye sneered, "Jiang Pingchuan. It’s you!"

As he spoke, Zhaang Ye’s figure swooped down like a great mountain, the wind from his descent roaring like muffled thunder!

Zhaang Ye held no goodwill for anyone from the Jiang Family. This same Jiang Pingchuan had tried to snatch his map back at the Ping Mountain Black Market. So, the moment Zhaang Ye recognized him, he didn’t waste a second thought, deciding to kill him first and deal with the consequences later.

A year ago, Zhaang Ye might have been able to escape from Jiang Pingchuan, but he was no match for him in a real fight. After a year of Cultivation, however, Zhaang Ye’s own Cultivation had not only reached the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, but he had also faintly comprehended Ancient Fist Intent and Ancient Sword Intent. His power was far greater than it had been a year prior.

Now, a simple aerial strike from Zhaang Ye carried boundless might, like an ancient goshawk diving for its prey. As Zhaang Ye swooped down, Jiang Pingchuan suddenly discovered that the space in a radius of several dozen yards had been sealed tight. Even with his late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer Cultivation, he found it difficult to take a single step!

’This Zhaang Ye brat... his power is terrifying!’ Jiang Pingchuan thought, alarmed. He hastily drew Feng Tongming’s Long Sword, and it transformed into a hundred-foot-long bolt of light that slashed up toward Zhaang Ye.

BOOM!

Zhaang Ye slammed a palm down hard onto the Long Sword. Jiang Pingchuan’s body shuddered, the bones throughout his body creaking audibly. A terrifyingly immense force drove his legs deep into the earth!

HISS!

Jiang Pingchuan’s expression finally changed. He could sense that after just one day of Cultivation in the Spiritual Spring, Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation had risen yet again. Despite his own late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer strength, he had been put at a disadvantage in a single move. ’Against such a terrifying opponent,’ he thought, ’if I don’t go all out, I’ll be dead by his hands before the Second Young Master even has a chance to arrive!’

"AHHH—"

Jiang Pingchuan pulled his feet from the earth and let out a long, sharp cry.

Jiang Pingchuan’s plan had been to lure Zhaang Ye out of Great Rong City, leading him dozens of miles away before striking. But the power Zhaang Ye displayed was simply too terrifying. Jiang Pingchuan had no choice but to send the signal prematurely, hoping the Second Young Master could arrive in time to kill Zhaang Ye.

"Hmm?"

Zhaang Ye was momentarily taken aback by Jiang Pingchuan’s cry, but then he sneered. "Old man, calling for backup? Let me tell you, you’re a dead man today! It doesn’t matter who comes for you!"

Jiang Pingchuan felt much more composed after letting out the long cry. Hearing Zhaang Ye’s murderous words, he gave a cold, grim laugh. "Zhaang Ye, you truly don’t realize you’re at death’s door! Let me tell you, the one who dies here today won’t be me, Jiang Pingchuan. It will be you, Zhaang Ye! Do you understand? You’re dead!"

Zhaang Ye’s power was terrifying, but Jiang Pingchuan refused to believe that with his own late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer Cultivation and his potent Profound Ice True Qi, he couldn’t hold on for the time it takes a tenth of an incense stick to burn.

As long as he could hold out for that long, the Second Young Master would arrive from dozens of miles away. When that happened, even ten Zhaang Yes would be doomed!

It was with this assurance that Jiang Pingchuan dared to declare Zhaang Ye a dead man.

Zhaang Ye didn’t know what Jiang Pingchuan was planning, but he understood one thing clearly: the sooner he killed him, the better, lest some new complication arise. He wasted no more words. Bringing his palms together, he executed the Mountain-Breaking Slash.

Mountain-Breaking Slash was the most powerful of Zhaang Ye’s self-created Combat Skills. After comprehending the Ancient Fist Intent and Ancient Sword Intent from the Blade Tip and witnessing Du Hong’s Cloud-Breaking Scattering Hand, his Mountain-Breaking Slash had grown even stronger. During the Six Nations’ Newcomer Warm-up Tournament, he had relied on this very technique to fight the Ninth Elder of the Moon Country’s True Hall to a standstill in close combat.

As Zhaang Ye unleashed the Mountain-Breaking Slash now, his vertical palm was like a heaven-cleaving giant axe. The sweep of his arm was like the sudden appearance of a Space Storm. A tangible Tornado accompanied the technique, locking onto Jiang Pingchuan, and the Devouring Power within the attack threatened to swallow him whole!

"AAAAHHH!" Jiang Pingchuan could never have imagined Zhaang Ye’s combat prowess would be this terrifying. He was instantly filled with mortal regret for having provoked him so recklessly.

’I’ll risk it all!’ Jiang Pingchuan knew he was at the brink of life and death. He frantically circulated the Profound Ice Qi in his body, freezing an area hundreds of yards across in a layer of frost. All the plants withered under his chilling aura, and even the hardest stones were frozen by his Profound Ice Qi until they shattered.

Profound Ice Qi was refined from ordinary cold qi; a tiny speck of Profound Ice could freeze a whole barrel of water. As Jiang Pingchuan unleashed his Cultivation Technique with all his might, frost covered the ground for hundreds of yards, and it felt as if the dead of winter had descended for nearly two miles around!

’What potent Profound Ice Qi!’ Zhaang Ye’s expression changed slightly, but his palm strike didn’t falter in the least. He continued to slash straight down at Jiang Pingchuan, willing to suffer frostbite from the Profound Ice Qi to kill his opponent in one fell swoop.

BOOM!

Zhaang Ye’s palm once again clashed with the Long Sword. The erupting Profound Ice Qi was like a flash flood, surging out in all directions. Zhaang Ye felt an intensely cold aura abruptly surge into his body, nearly freezing his blood solid. The qi within him stagnated, and his movements grew sluggish.

Fortunately, Zhaang Ye’s body had been tempered by Ancient Elephant Power and Ancient Dragon Power, making it far stronger than an ordinary person’s. The Dragon Elephant Power within him flared to life, and in a tenth of the blink of an eye, he had already forced the invading Profound Ice Qi from his body. His True Qi and blood flow returned to normal.

RUMBLE!

Having instantly expelled the Profound Ice Qi, Zhaang Ye attacked once more. It was the same move, the Mountain-Breaking Slash, aimed straight for Jiang Pingchuan’s head with the intent to kill.

Jiang Pingchuan’s legs were still buried in the earth from their previous clash, rendering him immobile. He had assumed it would take Zhaang Ye some time to expel the Profound Ice Qi, but who could have known that Zhaang Ye would force it out in the blink of an eye and immediately launch another attack?

"AAAAHHH—"

The immense shadow of death loomed over Jiang Pingchuan. In his absolute terror, he let out a series of sharp cries while frantically swinging the Long Sword in his hand.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH—

Profound Ice Qi surged out wildly, streams of it dozens of yards long cascading through the air like waterfalls. Faced with such terrifying Profound Ice Qi, Zhaang Ye didn’t dare be careless. He swung his palms like great sabers, chopping straight ahead. With a series of crisp *PFFT* sounds, the streams of Profound Ice Qi that Jiang Pingchuan had unleashed were instantly sliced apart!

"Old man, die!"

Zhaang Ye let out a sharp cry, lunged forward several steps, and raised one palm high. For the third time, he unleashed the Mountain-Breaking Slash, bringing it straight down on Jiang Pingchuan!

Several miles away, a figure in white was flying rapidly through the air. He glanced over from the distance and saw that Jiang Pingchuan was in mortal danger. He immediately roared, "Stop!"

This person’s Cultivation had clearly reached an unfathomable level. The moment he opened his mouth, the word "Stop!" arrived at Zhaang Ye’s ears, exploding like a clap of thunder.

Hearing this voice, Zhaang Ye’s expression changed slightly.

Jiang Pingchuan’s expression also changed, twisting into one of wild joy. He swung the Long Sword in his hand frantically and cackled, "Zhaang Ye, you’re dead! You’re dead! HAHAHAHA—"

He hadn’t even finished speaking when Zhaang Ye’s palm chopped down with the force of a great mountain.

CRACK!

The Long Sword in Jiang Pingchuan’s hand was sent flying by Zhaang Ye’s vicious strike. His palm then cleaved Jiang Pingchuan’s arm in two before slicing diagonally through his shoulder, cutting his entire body in half.

WHOOSH!

Just as Zhaang Ye slew Jiang Pingchuan, a young man in white descended from the sky. He glanced at Jiang Pingchuan’s grisly remains, and a grim killing intent shot from his almond-shaped eyes. "I told you to stop, yet you still killed him! Very well. I will strike you down this instant and let you accompany Jiang Pingchuan in death."

----------------