The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

「A day passed.」

Qin Ya condensed the energies of thunder and fire in his palms. With a low shout, he struck out with both hands, one forward and one back. Two massive rolling boulders instantly exploded. From within the shattered stone, countless strands of Sword Qi erupted, filling the air with immense power. Unflustered, Qin Ya brandished his spear, unleashing a dense flurry of afterimages!

The spear’s afterimages fell like a torrential downpour, each strike powerful enough to kill an ordinary Extraordinary Martial Artist. The Sword Qi that had burst from the boulders was no match for them. Within the space of a breath, it was utterly obliterated. When the dust settled, the tunnel was left in shambles. Qin Ya noted the scene with a faint smile, and his figure flickered away.

The Hundred Acupoints Peak was a complex maze. Qin Ya had wandered for a full day without finding the Ninth-Grade Sword Artifact Xu Zhenhong had told him about. Instead, he had run into numerous traps and Fierce Beasts. He was already used to scenes like the one before. Soon after, Qin Ya suddenly spotted a light in the distance and quickly darted toward it.

’A door? There’s actually a door in here?’

Before Qin Ya stood a towering, pale green Bronze Iron Gate. The door, however, was already open. A faint light emanated from within, accompanied by the indistinct sounds of a fight.

Qin Ya walked inside and saw two figures, one in black and one in red, locked in combat. Not far from them, a pale green Ancient Sword hovered in the air. Qin Ya’s eyes lit up. ’Could this green longsword be the Sword Artifact Xu Zhenhong mentioned?’

’This has to be it. Why else would it be hidden behind this iron gate?’

These two Martial Artists were clearly fighting over the longsword.

The two had comparable Cultivation, both at the Sky-Controlling Perfection Realm. Their techniques were vicious, with every move aimed for a fatal blow. Seeing his chance, Qin Ya’s figure suddenly shot forward. In the blink of an eye, he sped past them and snatched the green longsword.

Sensing this, the two fighters immediately stopped.

"It’s him!"

"Qin Ya!"

Everyone here was a Trialist from the Kunn Mountain Convention, so they naturally knew how formidable Qin Ya was. The speed he had displayed during the first trial was enough to make everyone take him seriously. The two exchanged a look and immediately guarded the gate.

They knew that with Qin Ya’s speed, it would be incredibly difficult to stop him if he decided to leave. Their only choice was to set aside their grudge and team up against him.

"Heh. A wise choice."

Qin Ya chuckled, completely unfazed by their alliance.

’If I want to leave, how could these two possibly stop me?’

"Qin Ya, hand over the Sword Artifact."

"Then come and take it," Qin Ya said with a smile.

Hearing this, the two exchanged a glance. The black-robed figure instantly charged forward, his longsword trembling and its Sword Aura dazzling. In an instant, dozens of majestic streams of Sword Qi surged toward Qin Ya like a torrential rain, each one powerful enough to slay a Sky-Controlling Martial Artist!

Clearly, this man knew Qin Ya was no ordinary opponent and was already using his full strength.

’Still too weak.’

Qin Ya gave an indifferent smile. His movements were unpredictable, like a ghost dancing through the storm of Sword Qi. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before the black-robed figure. He sent out a deceptively light palm strike that carried the force of mountains and seas, sending the man flying.

Seeing this, the other man’s pupils contracted violently!

’He never imagined that the opponent he had been struggling with for so long—an opponent who seemed incredibly powerful in his eyes—would be so easily defeated by Qin Ya. He couldn’t even withstand a single blow.’

After sending the black-robed figure flying, Qin Ya moved like a streak of light, instantly appearing before the other man. The corners of his lips curled into a disdainful smirk as he raised his palm again.

Instantly, before the man’s horrified eyes, the palm landed on his body. A majestic force washed over him, and like a fallen leaf in a gale, he was sent flying, powerless to resist.

"Gentlemen, I’ll be taking this sword."

Qin Ya smiled faintly and left the area.

The two men Qin Ya had defeated exchanged a glance, each seeing the bitterness in the other’s eyes. They were both at the Sky-Controlling Perfection Realm, yet the disparity in their strength was so immense.

’So this is the Ninth-Grade Sword Artifact?’

Qin Ya smiled faintly, gazing at the green Sword Artifact in his hand. He circulated his True Essence and channeled it into the longsword. WHOOSH! The blade emitted a clear, ringing hum, and its tip suddenly pointed toward a fork in the path ahead.

’So this is how the Sword Artifact provides guidance.’

Following the Sword Artifact’s guidance, Qin Ya navigated the maze for about half a day. He encountered more and more people along the way, most of them Martial Artists also holding green Sword Artifacts.

’All these Sword Artifacts are pointing to the same destination.’

A flash of realization crossed Qin Ya’s eyes.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before Qin Ya. The newcomer also held a green longsword. Dressed in black combat gear, he exuded a sharp aura and had a piercing gaze.

The moment he saw Qin Ya, a flash of War Intent ignited in his eyes.

"This trial has no restrictions on killing. Let’s have a battle."

Before Qin Ya could say a word, the black-clothed youth stored the green longsword in his Storage Ring. In a reverse grip, he drew another Sword Artifact, three-foot-seven in length and glinting with a cold light. Without waiting for a response, he waved his hand, sending a blast of Sharp Sword Qi slashing toward Qin Ya!

’Attacking already?’

Qin Ya was taken aback for a moment, but his body was already in motion. He easily dodged the Sword Qi, then moved with a speed so Fast it was impossible to react to, appearing before the black-clothed youth in the blink of an eye. He casually sent out a blast of Palm Qi. An ordinary Sky-Controlling Martial Artist would never have been able to react in time and would have been sent flying by the blow.

But the black-clothed youth was clearly no ordinary opponent. Relying on powerful combat instincts, he sidestepped slightly to dodge the palm. A Sword Light flashed, and his longsword, moving as Fast as lightning, slashed directly at Qin Ya’s waist. This slash was incredibly profound; its timing, angle, and even the battle-hardened momentum it carried were all impeccable.

Never mind someone at Sky-Controlling Perfection; even an expert in the Celestial Human Realm could be slain by this slash. The black-clothed youth was extraordinary, but Qin Ya was no easy foe. The corners of his lips curled up as he flipped in mid-air, dodging the longsword with incredible speed. Simultaneously, a long spear appeared in his right hand, and he instantly thrust it forward!

BOOM! A dense flurry of spear afterimages, like a torrential rain, blasted out. The black-clothed youth’s pupils shrank. With a low shout, his True Essence erupted. His longsword unleashed a dazzling, jet-black Sword Light which he then swept forward, creating a majestic Sword Curtain. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! The sounds echoed as, in an instant, spear and sword clashed over a hundred times.

With a final, explosive crash, both were knocked back a step.

Qin Ya stared at the youth before him, a hint of surprise in his eyes. ’Celestial Human Realm.’

An ordinary expert at the Celestial Human Realm wouldn’t have been able to put up any fight against Qin Ya. Although their exchange had been brief, it was enough for Qin Ya to tell that this youth’s combat prowess far surpassed that of a typical expert at the Celestial Human Realm. He could actually contend with him.

But if Qin Ya was merely surprised, then the black-clothed youth was utterly stunned. He was a Celestial Human Martial Artist who had mastered a powerful Sword Intent, yet he couldn’t gain the upper hand against Qin Ya. In fact, he was even being slightly suppressed. ’How can Qin Ya’s combat strength be this powerful?’

His mind was in turmoil, but the shock in his eyes gradually faded. He let out a long roar, and Sword Qi exploded around him, blotting out the sky. Even the cavern walls, embedded with hard minerals, were instantly covered in a dense web of countless sword marks.