The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

Inside Qin Ya’s Inspectorate...

Thunder surged and dark clouds churned. A blood-red Elixir shot high into the sky, unleashing a boundless crimson glow as streaks of Thunder crashed down upon it, as if to temper it.

A moment later, the Thunder dissipated. The Blood Essence Spirit Pill... was complete!

Just as Qin Ya was about to collect it, a hand as fair as jade suddenly reached out from the void, snatching the Blood Essence Pill a split second before he could.

Following the jade-like hand with his eyes, he saw a graceful figure in red seated high upon a throne. It was none other than Qin Ya’s direct superior... Meiying Venerable.

She stared at the trembling Blood Essence Pill in her hand, her gaze hardening.

"You... you can refine Spirit Pills!!"

Meiying Venerable tossed the Blood Essence Pill back to Qin Ya, her voice laced with astonishment. Clearly, she too was stunned by Qin Ya’s dual mastery of both Alchemy and combat.

Qin Ya caught the Elixir and nodded. "Yes."

He glanced at the surrounding mist and immediately understood that Meiying Venerable had sealed off the area to prevent anyone from spying on him as he refined the Spirit Pill.

Meiying Venerable fell silent for a moment before asking, "Qin Ya, let me ask you. Have you seen a woman somewhere who looks exactly like me?"

Uh...

Qin Ya hadn’t expected Meiying Venerable to change the subject so quickly and abruptly. He calmly replied, "Yes, I have. In Qingkong City."

Bi Xiaoyu, who was standing nearby, was somewhat surprised.

’A woman who looks just like Meiying Venerable?’

’And in Qingkong City, of all places? How did I not know about this?’

"And... is that woman doing well?"

Meiying Venerable’s tone seemed slightly unnatural as she asked.

Qin Ya was confused. ’Doesn’t Meiying Venerable despise her? Why would she care how she’s doing? Women are impossible to figure out.’

"She’s doing quite well," Qin Ya said with a faint smile.

"Hmph. With those seductive wiles of hers, she can thrive anywhere she goes."

Meiying Venerable’s tone suddenly turned sharp as she spoke coldly.

Qin Ya couldn’t help his curiosity. "Forgive my presumption, Venerable Lord, but what is your relationship with her? You seem to hold a great deal of resentment toward her."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Meiying Venerable said, "That is not for you to know."

Abruptly, she said to Qin Ya with a cool tone, "Qin Ya, since you can refine Spirit Pills, I have a business proposition for you. From now on, I will provide the medicinal ingredients for your Alchemy. In return, we split the successfully refined Elixirs fifty-fifty!!"

"Very well. I accept your terms, Venerable Lord."

"Excellent. As it happens, I have a Pill Formula right here. Take a look."

As she spoke, a streak of golden light shot from her hand, materializing into a sheet of golden paper.

"This is... the Demon-Entering Heavenly Slaughter Pill!!"

Qin Ya’s eyes narrowed in focus upon seeing the Pill Formula, a hint of surprise on his face.

"Oh? You recognize this Elixir." Meiying Venerable was rather surprised. She had shown this Pill Formula to numerous Alchemists, even a Pill King, but not a single one had been able to discern the Elixir’s Mysterious properties. They knew neither its name nor its Refining Technique, let alone how to actually refine it for her.

’To think that acting on a whim today would yield such a result.’

Qin Ya nodded. "This is considered one of the more difficult Spirit Pills to create. Not only are the ingredients precious and rare, but it requires Celestial Evil Qi as the fuel for the refining flame to achieve Perfection. However, Celestial Evil Qi is incredibly fearsome. Using it for Alchemy affects the Alchemist’s mind, and the slightest lapse in concentration will result in failure."

In his previous life, this was one of the few Elixirs he’d found troublesome to make. On the rare occasions he was forced to refine it, he first had to concoct a batch of Clear Heart and Desireless Pills to stabilize his mind and prevent it from being corrupted by the Celestial Evil Qi.

"Can you refine it?"

"I can." Qin Ya paused in thought before continuing, "The Demon-Entering Heavenly Slaughter Pill is used by those who cultivate malevolent arts to either enhance their Evil Qi or to comprehend its Mysteries. Since you, Venerable Lord, are comprehending the Celestial Evil Mysteries, I presume you seek it for the latter purpose. Correct?"

"Indeed."

Meiying Venerable had obtained this Pill Formula while exploring an ancient ruin long ago. The very Celestial Evil Mysteries she was now comprehending had also come from that same place.

For hundreds of years, she had longed to refine this Elixir. She had even tried to study the Alchemy Dao, but her aptitude was limited, and she eventually had no choice but to give up.

"Can you refine it right now?" Meiying Venerable asked.

"I can."

Qin Ya answered calmly. In his past life, he had needed the Clear Heart and Desireless Pill because his Cultivation was low—he hadn’t even reached the Extraordinary realm and was unable to resist the corrosive power of the Celestial Evil Qi.

But now, he was far beyond what he once was; there would be no problem.

"Good. Wait here a moment."

With a flicker of her Divine Thought, she sent out a beam of pale red light.

Far away in the Venerable Mansion, Jii Xingyue was in the middle of processing various official scrolls when she suddenly sensed something. She rose and went to the door. "This subordinate greets the Venerable Lord."

The beam of light arrived, coalescing into the form of Meiying Venerable.

"Xingyue, prepare some medicinal ingredients for me. The faster, the better."

She then recited the names of the ingredients, and her projected figure dissipated.

Jii Xingyue’s brow furrowed slightly as she contemplated the Venerable Lord’s intentions. Then, with a wave of her sleeve, the stacks of official Jade Scrolls floated into the air and vanished behind a decorative screen. With a flicker of movement, she was gone to prepare the ingredients.

Back in the Inspectorate...

Meiying Venerable said coolly, "The ingredients will be here shortly."

"Good."

Not long after, Jii Xingyue arrived outside Qin Ya’s Inspectorate with the ingredients.

Gazing at the thick, swirling mist, she flew straight in without hesitation. The expressions of the powerful experts spying from the perimeter flickered thoughtfully. One of them, a Half-Venerable, straightened his robes and slowly walked toward the mist.

"I, Dongmen Tang, patriarch of the Dongmen Family, request an audience with Inspector Qin."

After a long moment, there was no response.

Dongmen Tang hesitated for a moment before his figure flickered, and he flew into the mist.

The eyes of the onlookers lit up as they eagerly watched to see what would happen next.

BOOM... At that moment, the mist violently churned.

A moment later, a rather pathetic figure was sent flying out backward. He staggered upon landing, stumbling back more than a dozen steps. It was none other than Dongmen Tang.

"Get out!"

"Those who enter without my permission... will suffer the consequences!"

The voice was laced with a terrifying, baleful aura that struck fear into the hearts of all who heard it. The faces of the powerful experts spying from the perimeter changed. That voice... it was Meiying Venerable!

Instantly, this sparked endless speculation among the onlookers.

"The Venerable Lord really is in there. But what in the world is she doing?"

"It’s bizarre. And she’s intentionally using a Divine Technique to block everyone’s sight."

"Is there some huge secret inside? What could it be?"

Dongmen Tang’s face flushed red with shame and anger. Despite this, he still bowed toward the mist with cupped fists and said, "This humble one was unaware of the Venerable Lord’s presence. I beg your forgiveness for the offense."

No response came. Dongmen Tang’s gaze flickered, and he turned to leave.

Meanwhile, inside the Inspectorate.

Jii Xingyue took out a Storage Ring and handed it to Meiying Venerable.

"Venerable Lord, the ingredients you requested."

"Good." She took the ring and tossed it directly to Qin Ya.

"Begin the Refining. When you need the Celestial Evil Qi, let me know."