Overlord of the Wilderness

In the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall, the Great Hall Master Ling Dahuang and the Second Hall Master were seated on cloud beds. A middle-aged man at the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Layer was reporting to the two Hall Masters, trembling in fear.

This middle-aged man, with a cultivation at the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Layer, was none other than Ling Dahuang’s third disciple, Lingyun Sword.

Listening to Lingyun Sword’s report, Great Hall Master Ling Dahuang was stunned. "What? Yu’Er was actually captured by Zhaang Ye?" he exclaimed. "How could Zhaang Ye’s combat power be so immense that even four Half-step True Dao Experts couldn’t kill him? Lingyun Sword, are you sure you saw that correctly? Tell me exactly what happened, in detail!"

The Second Hall Master also wore a look of disbelief. He said coldly, "Lingyun Sword, recount the battle from start to finish. I want to see just how Zhaang Ye managed to defeat four Half-step True Dao Experts."

Lingyun Sword felt the overwhelming killing intent radiating from the two Hall Masters and prostrated himself tightly against the floor in terror. It was a long moment before his Heart Spirit settled and he could speak, recounting the details of the battle.

After describing the battle, Lingyun Sword trailed off, looking hesitant to continue.

Ling Dahuang frowned. "What else is there? Spit it out! What’s with all the hemming and hawing?"

Lingyun Sword had no choice but to brace himself and say, "After the battle, not only did Senior Brother Ling fall into Zhaang Ye’s hands, but the other three did as well. Before he left, Zhaang Ye sent a message. If the True Hall wants to ransom the four of them, we must trade a Broken Blade from an Ancient Strong Person for them. Otherwise... he’s going to take the four senior brothers to the Ping Mountain Black Market to be auctioned off... to rich noblewomen..."

CRACK!

Before Lingyun Sword could finish, the Second Hall Master, his eyes practically green with rage, slammed his palm down on a jade table, shattering it into dust.

Killing intent boiled off the Second Hall Master. The incredibly dense aura pressed outward in waves, making the entire hall feel as if it would collapse. He said in a frigid voice, "That Zhaang Ye... what audacity! He dares to take our disciples to the Ping Mountain Black Market to be auctioned? This is a provocation against the dignity of the True Hall!"

Great Hall Master Ling Dahuang’s face was a mask of calm, but the sharp glint that flashed in his eyes revealed the murderous rage churning within. He waved a hand, dismissing Lingyun Sword, then said slowly, "Second Brother, Yu’Er is now in Zhaang Ye’s hands. If he’s truly taken to the Ping Mountain Black Market and auctioned off, we will lose all face. What do you think we should do?"

The Second Hall Master’s expression was grim. He said slowly, "Zhaang Ye is still five days away from the Ping Mountain Black Market. We can use this time to intercept and kill him again, and rescue our disciples in the process. Big Brother, this time, we can have the Dark Hall make a move. They are of the same generation as Zhaang Ye."

The Dark Hall!

Upon hearing the Second Hall Master mention those two words, a sharp glint erupted in Great Hall Master Ling Dahuang’s eyes. After a long moment, he slowly nodded. "That’s a good idea. Zhaang Ye is, after all, a junior. If we were to act ourselves, we would be breaking the rules and face punishment from the Sect. Having the Dark Hall take action is the most suitable course. Second Brother, I’ll leave the arrangements to you. I hope they can complete the mission successfully and not disappoint me."

The Second Hall Master nodded.

Ling Dahuang then added, "Oh, and you can discuss this with the other three True Halls. Their people also fell into Zhaang Ye’s hands. You must ensure they also dispatch men to help intercept and kill Zhaang Ye."

The Second Hall Master gave a slight nod, and his figure slowly faded from the great hall.

...

「Night.」

Zhaang Ye sat cross-legged atop a stone cliff, silently regulating his breath. Before him, the four genius experts—Ling Huangyu, Yangx Dashuang, Helian Mumu, and Chu Gaotian—lay on the ground like four dead fish. They were already severely injured, and Zhaang Ye had given them no opportunity for Healing. After being exposed to the northwestern wind for days, they were like wind-dried fish, their bodies stiff and rigid, without even the strength to speak.

In front of the five of them loomed a mountain that soared into the clouds. The entire mountain glowed a bloody red, and its foul, coppery stench could be smelled from a hundred li away.

This mountain was called Bloody Mountain. It spanned several hundred thousand square li, and it was densely covered with Vampire Bats. These Vampire Bats rested by day and hunted by night. Vicious by nature, they preyed on the blood of Martial Artists and Fierce Beasts. Even Half-step True Dao Experts were unwilling to provoke them.

It was precisely because he didn’t want to attract the attention of these Vampire Bats that Zhaang Ye had stopped before Bloody Mountain. He planned to rest for the night and continue his journey to the Ping Mountain Black Market the next day.

"WHOOSH—"

Just as Zhaang Ye was silently focused on his Cultivation, his ears suddenly picked up a faint sound of something slicing through the air. Zhaang Ye’s Spiritual Power instantly flared out, and he sensed a disturbance in the distant Heaven and Earth Essence Qi as a vast black shadow suddenly flew toward him!

The black shadow moved with incredible speed. In just the span of a few blinks, it crossed several dozen li and dove straight for Zhaang Ye.

’Hm? Vampire Bats? Aren’t they supposed to stay on Bloody Mountain? What are they doing here?’ Zhaang Ye was momentarily stunned, and he abruptly shot his palms out.

"BOOM!"

Two dazzling golden lights shot toward the sky. Drawn by the golden lights, an endless amount of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi surged upward with them. The moment the Vampire Bats touched the golden light, they let out piercing shrieks and fell from the sky like rain.

The death cries of the Vampire Bats instantly attracted more of their kind. In just a few blinks of an eye, the sky above Zhaang Ye became a roiling black mass, completely blotting out the stars!

Zhaang Ye’s brow furrowed slightly. The Celestial River Righteous Qi within him suddenly circulated, and a terrifying aura erupted toward the heavens. Zhaang Ye’s Celestial River Righteous Qi was formed from Ancient Dragon Power, Ancient Elephant Power, and Ancient Phoenix Power, and it contained the aura of these three Ancient Powers. Sensing the presence of the three Ancient Powers, the Vampire Bats let out panicked shrieks and desperately fled into the distance.

Ancient Dragon Power, Ancient Elephant Power, and Ancient Phoenix Power were the powers of Overlords from the Ancient Wilderness. When the Vampire Bats sensed this power, they didn’t even have the courage to face it.

"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"

As the Vampire Bats fled in a panic, four enormous Vampire Bats fell from the sky. Each of these four Vampire Bats weighed a hundred jin, and their bodies were pitch-black, with only two crimson fangs protruding from their mouths.

Zhaang Ye was quite curious about these Vampire Bats. As one fell to within five zhang of his head, he reached out a hand, preparing to grab it for a closer look.

Just then, the unexpected happened.

Two pitch-black figures suddenly shot out from behind the Vampire Bats, pouncing toward Zhaang Ye like phantoms!

The two were dressed entirely in black, and even their faces were smeared with black paint. Their four eyes glinted with an unnatural, bloody light in the dark night. Not only were the figures black, but the swords in their hands were also pitch-black. Black clothes, black figures, black swords—it created an indescribably bizarre and eerie sight.

Zhaang Ye’s heart jolted in surprise. ’My Spiritual Power is immense; not even an ant can crawl within five li of me without my knowledge. I never imagined someone could evade my Spiritual Power and get within five zhang of me!’

The two men in black swung their Long Swords in unison. The narrow blades were like two incredibly nimble snakes. The moment they struck, Zhaang Ye distinctly felt a sinister wind rise around him, plunging his entire body into a bone-deep chill.

Even more terrifying, under the propulsion of their Innate True Qi, the black swords in their hands unleashed rings of pitch-black Sword Gang. This bizarre, black Sword Gang was so sharp that just looking at it from a distance made one feel uncomfortable, as if a single glance could slice one’s eyes. It was the very pinnacle of sharpness!

"Hmph!"

Zhaang Ye looked up, his eyes filled with a golden light. Within that golden light was a chilling, ice-cold killing intent.

"SWOOSH!"

The Mysterious Blade Tip suddenly appeared in Zhaang Ye’s hand. With a swift wave of his arm, a brilliant golden Celestial River materialized in the night sky, sweeping toward the two men in black.

What Zhaang Ye had just unleashed was his self-created Combat Skill—Cloud-Breaking Slash. After a long period of refinement, and being revised time and again on Xuli Mountain, Cloud-Breaking Slash had already reached the Great Success Realm.

Cloud-Breaking Slash was a Combat Skill comprehended from Ancient Sword Intent, emphasizing victory through overwhelming force. Against this vast and immensely domineering Saber Technique, there was no room for any other moves or Combat Skills to maneuver; the only option was a head-on clash with Zhaang Ye!

"CLANG! CLANG!!"

The golden Celestial River formed by the Mysterious Blade Tip struck the tips of the two black-clad men’s swords at lightning speed. Although the two men were Half-Step True Dao Experts, they were powerless against Zhaang Ye’s mighty and domineering Celestial River Righteous Qi. The moment their sword tips were hit, both men felt as if their chests had been struck by a giant hammer, and their bodies were sent flying backward uncontrollably!

Zhaang Ye sent the two flying with a single slash and was about to finish them off in one go when the unexpected happened yet again. From beneath the ground three zhang away from Zhaang Ye, another pitch-black figure suddenly leaped out. This dark figure was like a bolt of lightning erupting from the earth, crossing the three-zhang distance in a single step!

"SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!"

Before the figure arrived, three pitch-black Flying Blades tore through the air, aimed at Zhaang Ye’s eyes, throat, and Dantian. The instant the Flying Blades were thrown, a dark gleam of saber light flashed from the figure’s body. The light instantly locked down the area within ten zhang, then carried an incomparably terrifying Sword Gang as it slashed straight at Zhaang Ye.

This expert, who had been lying in ambush underground, was wearing some unknown Treasure Armor that had actually allowed him to evade Zhaang Ye’s Spiritual Power and lurk just beyond five zhang away. He had then seized the moment Zhaang Ye attacked to launch his own fierce assault, using both Flying Blades and a long saber in concert, instantly pushing Zhaang Ye to the brink of death!

Danger!

An extreme sense of danger rose from the bottom of Zhaang Ye’s heart. But even in such a perilous situation, his eyes remained perfectly calm. His mouth suddenly flew open, and he let out a world-shaking roar: "ROAR!!!"

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