The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

High above the grand hall, Ming Yue and the others watched as Qin Ya was challenged one after another. Ming Yue sighed helplessly and asked, "Everyone, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Xu Zhenhong replied helplessly, "Ever since Elder Qin arrived at Kunyun Palace, he’s been a constant source of trouble, big and small. Even competing for a Void quota is this dramatic."

Another Elder added, "But then again, the Rules for the challenge don’t forbid multiple people from challenging a single person. So, there’s really nothing to be done about it."

"Still, Elder Qin’s strength is truly astonishing. His Cultivation is only at the Celestial Human Realm, but his combat power is comparable to that of a King. He’s a true prodigy."

"Heh, let’s just wait and see how he overcomes this crisis. Oh, wait, that’s not right. Given his strength, this can hardly be called a crisis."

In the distance, Luox Xinyu and the others glanced at their own deserted arenas, then over at the incredibly fiery battle taking place at Qin Ya’s. They couldn’t help but feel a sense of resignation.

Luox Xinyu no longer lingered on her arena. With a flash, she appeared directly before Leng Qiushan. He had faint scars on his body and his face was a bit pale, but his sharp aura hadn’t diminished in the slightest. In fact, it had grown even keener.

"Heh, congratulations on securing a spot, Brother Leng."

"Purely a matter of luck," Leng Qiushan said with a faint smile, then looked toward Qin Ya. "Brother Qin has already been through eighteen... no, nineteen battles. Not a single Martial Artist who took the stage could withstand one move from him. It’s truly terrifying."

Luox Xinyu nodded. "Indeed. After so many fights, not only has Brother Qin’s True Essence not diminished, his War Intent has actually grown stronger!"

Not far away, the other prodigies who were also candidates for the quotas had a peculiar light in their eyes. They were extremely wary of Qin Ya, yet at the same time, filled with a sense of admiration.

BOOM...

A deafening roar erupted in the void. Amid flashing streaks of Thunder, a Martial Artist was instantly sent flying backward. This was already the twenty-first battle!

"Come on. Who’s next?"

Qin Ya stood proudly on the arena, beckoning with a finger. He spoke in an indifferent tone, his expression a mask of utter contempt that enraged the crowd.

This young man was simply too arrogant, daring to openly provoke the entire crowd and fight hundreds by himself.

"Hmph, that guy is far too arrogant."

"Damn it! Even without the promise of an Elixir, I’m going up there to give him a beating."

"We’ve already submitted our challenges; it’s too late to back out now. Even if we’re no match for him, we have to bite the bullet and go up there to knock that kid flat!"

"We have to teach that kid a lesson."

"Next! Hurry up! Who’s next? If no one’s going, then I will!"

Within the crowd, Feng Ba said coldly, "We are all prodigies of Kunyun Palace! We have our pride! How can we tolerate Qin Ya looking down on us like this?"

"We can’t!"

"As the saying goes, this isn’t about the prize, it’s a matter of pride!"

Watching the riled-up crowd, Feng Ba grew even more smug.

「Time slowly passed.」

Luox Xinyu and the others silently counted the battles. Watching as Qin Ya blasted a Martial Artist off the arena in two moves, Leng Qiushan’s voice was tinged with shock. "This is the one hundred and ninth battle. To think he still has so much True Essence!"

"His True Essence reserves are so vast, at least several times that of other Celestial Humans. It’s completely unexpected. But I remember that Brother Qin is also a Pill King. He must have plenty of Elixirs to restore his True Essence on him. Heh, taking that into account, it seems the plan to wear down his True Essence with sheer numbers is not going to work."

"Heh, indeed."

By now, the crowd had also begun to understand. They were getting a rough idea of Qin Ya’s stamina and True Essence reserves, and they were utterly dumbfounded. To be unafraid of consuming True Essence... that level of combat endurance was just monstrous.

Just as the crowd reeled in shock, the situation on the arena changed.

Another Martial Artist stepped onto the arena. He was clad in Armor and wielded a massive War Axe. Before Qin Ya could even act, the man threw twelve white beads into the air. The beads suddenly burst with a dazzling white light.

The light formed a barrier, enveloping both Qin Ya and the Armored Martial Artist. Instantly, a restraining power emanated from the white beads, sealing the True Essence within Qin Ya’s body. But the Armored Martial Artist also trembled—he was caught in the effect as well.

Qin Ya frowned slightly. ’This kind of trick again,’ he thought.

Sealing True Essence was a common restrictive tactic used in battles between Martial Artists. Qin Ya had encountered it several times throughout his journey. The black Poisonous Fog he had developed himself also possessed this ability, and it was something that not even a King could completely withstand.

"Gasp! If I’m not mistaken, those are the twelve Element Locking Beads!"

"That’s right! It’s the Restriction Device, the Element Locking Beads!"

"They’re said to have been created through Refining by a supreme expert in the Sect! They contain a Sealing Power that can lock down the True Essence of any Martial Artist below the King Realm!"

"On the Golden List, those cost twelve thousand Points to redeem! I can’t believe this Armored Martial Artist actually has something like that."

"However, unlike Spiritual Artifacts, the Element Locking Beads lack Spirituality. They don’t distinguish between friend and foe. Anyone within their effective range, including their master, will be restricted."

The Armored Martial Artist looked at the frowning Qin Ya and sneered, "You’re finished now! Once I defeat you, I’ll get three Spirit Pills and ten Pseudo-Spiritual Pills. With those, I can even attempt to break through to the King Realm!"

To defeat Qin Ya, he had spent ten years of accumulated Points to redeem this set of Element Locking Beads from the Law Enforcement Hall. The cost was excruciating, but as long as he defeated Qin Ya and obtained the Spirit Pills and Pseudo-Spiritual Pills, it would all be worth it.

"Your True Essence is sealed as well, isn’t it?" Qin Ya asked.

"Do you really think you can defeat me like this?"

The Armored Martial Artist chuckled. "That’s why I wore this suit of Armor! Qin Ya, behold the gift I prepared just for you!"

As he spoke, his figure shot forward like a cannonball. He threw a punch that sent ripples through the void, its power great enough to kill an Extraordinary Martial Artist!

Qin Ya could tell that the Armored Martial Artist was radiating a powerful energy fluctuation. Despite having no True Essence, his strength and speed were comparable to an Extraordinary Martial Artist’s. Against any other Celestial Human Martial Artist in a situation where both their True Essences were sealed, he would be virtually invincible.

"Haha, Qin Ya is sure to lose this time!"

"Indeed. With his True Essence sealed, what can he possibly do?"

"It’s not a sure thing. Maybe he has a trump card of his own."

"No, no, no. In this situation, his defeat is certain."

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, the majority believing that Qin Ya was bound to lose. Among them, Zhao Tieshan, Feng Ba, and their cohorts even had looks of undisguised glee.

"Unfortunately for you, you ran into me!"

But then, Qin Ya gave an indifferent smile and clenched his hand into a fist. The Blood Qi throughout his body surged and converged, and an irrepressible, tyrannical power erupted from him!

He threw a punch!

Its speed was so fast, its power so immense, that the Armored Martial Artist’s pupils instantly constricted!

BOOM! The punch landed squarely on his chest.

With a tremendous CRASH, the Armor caved in. His True Essence sealed, the man was sent flying hundreds of feet by a colossal force, landing far outside the arena.