The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

Looking out at the murmuring crowd, Ming Yue roared, "Silence!"

His voice boomed like thunder, the sound waves washing over the crowd and instantly stunning them into silence.

He announced loudly, "The tournament is temporarily concluded. However, in ten days, you may all assess your own strength and issue a challenge to those who have secured a spot. You will come to the Golden Summit Hall to compete once more. The victor will claim the spot."

"However, each person has only one opportunity to challenge. If you fail, you will lose your eligibility to contend for a spot. Consider your options carefully."

With that, Ming Yue turned and entered the Golden Summit Hall.

The crowd’s attention instantly converged on Qin Ya, Luox Xinyu, and the other victors. The searing gazes of several hundred top geniuses bore down on them, bringing immense pressure.

Leng Qiushan smiled faintly at Qin Ya and Luox Xinyu. "You two, your opponents have just multiplied into the hundreds. What are your thoughts?"

Hearing this, Qin Ya offered a cool smile, his tone dripping with disdain. "I’ll repeat what I’ve said before: anyone who comes to challenge me, I will grant them a defeat!"

"I may not enjoy conflict," Luox Xinyu began, "but I have no intention of simply handing this spot over. My music is not something one can listen to so easily."

Luox Xinyu smiled faintly, revealing the pride befitting a top prodigy.

Just then, a dark intent emanated from nearby, an aura that seemed capable of devouring everything. Though the sun burned brightly overhead, the world seemed to be cast in shadow.

The crowd turned toward the source of this fluctuation and saw Gu Lin cradling an Ancient Long Sword. His expression was cold, and pulses of Dark Sword Intent radiated from him.

Everyone who saw this was stunned.

’This guy is not someone to be trifled with!’

As the Dark Sword Intent flared, several other distinct auras erupted in response.

One was as searing as fire, another as wild as the wind, another as ethereal as a cloud...

Clearly, this display of power was a declaration.

If you want to fight, we’ll see it through to the end!

"Interesting. As expected of the elites who won the tournament."

"Say what you will, but for them to dare unleash such brazen auras while facing hundreds of us... that alone proves their mettle is extraordinary."

"Hah, who on earth should I choose to challenge?"

"Qin Ya, Gu Lin, Guu Qingyu... it’s a tough choice."

"We only get one chance. If we choose wrong, that’s it."

Qin Ya looked at Leng Qiushan and asked calmly, "I wonder, who does Brother Leng intend to choose?"

"I’d like to choose you."

The corner of Leng Qiushan’s mouth twitched upward, his eyes burning with intense War Intent. But it subsided just as quickly. "However, I’m well aware that if I choose to fight you, the only outcome is my own defeat. And then I wouldn’t be able to go to the Void Mausoleum."

"So, as much as I’d like to choose you, I can’t."

"Mm, a rational decision," Qin Ya said with a faint smile.

"Luox Xinyu and Gu Lin are both about as strong as I am. My chances of victory against either of them would be fifty-fifty at best, so I won’t choose them either."

"Tch, Peak Master, you’re making such a fuss over choosing an opponent."

Just then, Ling Zhan stepped forward and cracked his knuckles, radiating an air of wild arrogance. "Heh, I’m quite interested in this Gu Lin fellow who defeated the Peak Master. I think I’ll choose him. I can’t wait."

As if sensing Ling Zhan’s War Intent, Gu Lin turned and gave him a cold nod. Ling Zhan grinned back, his expression openly provocative.

Leng Qiushan sighed beside them. "Ling Zhan, I’ve told you before. Against him, I doubt you’d even last three moves. Why do you insist on choosing him?"

"Heh, it’s not like I can beat any of these ten people anyway, so it doesn’t matter who I pick. I’m just interested in this Gu Lin, and this is a good chance for a fight."

Since the challenges wouldn’t begin for another ten days, the crowd began to disperse. They could only return to rest, recuperate, and adjust their conditions in preparation for the coming battles.

When Qin Ya returned to the Thirty-Six Peaks, he saw Jing’er soaring through the air. She had made considerable progress these past few days, and her flight had become much smoother.

"Brother, you’re back."

Upon seeing Qin Ya, Jing’er immediately flew over to him. Qin Ya casually ruffled her hair. "You’re already an Extraordinary Level Martial Artist, yet you’re still so clingy. And don’t just spend all your time flying; remember your Cultivation."

"I know, Brother," Jing’er said, sticking out her tongue playfully.

"Where’s Elder Linx?" Qin Ya asked.

"He’s probably with Elder Mo Chou," Jing’er said after a moment’s thought.

With a flicker of movement, Qin Ya appeared before Lin Mochou’s solitary grave. He saw Linx Xiaoyun off to the side, sipping from a small flask of wine. Qin Ya produced his own flask, first raising it in a toast toward the grave before taking a large gulp. "I’ve secured a spot, for now."

"As expected." Linx Xiaoyun showed no surprise. "But the real test is next. We’ll see if you can hold on to that spot."

"You still don’t trust my strength?"

"I do. Of course, I do."

「Meanwhile, on an Elder Peak of the Upper Peaks.」

Inside a grand hall, a gray-robed elder with disheveled hair hovered in mid-air. His hands flew, forming one Spell after another and striking them into a massive Golden Cauldron before him.

Flames erupted within the Golden Cauldron. Amidst the licking tongues of fire, a golden Elixir slowly began to form. Soon, a rich Pill Fragrance filled the hall.

’The Pseudo-Spiritual Pill, Spiritual Awakening... It’s a success!’

A look of delight spread across the elder’s face. But at that very moment, the Golden Cauldron suddenly trembled. The Elixir within erupted, spraying endless Flames in all directions and scorching the surrounding area. The elder’s expression changed dramatically as he shot backward in retreat!

As he flew back, his True Essence surged, striking the hall’s walls. Countless mystical Runes emerged, forming a powerful Defensive Array that contained the Flames. Yet, the elder’s expression didn’t improve in the slightest; it only grew darker.

’Dammit, why did this happen?’

’I clearly added the Celestial Star Grass! Why did it still fail?’

’Dammit, this is the twelfth time this has happened.’

’If this keeps up, can I, Ou Tianlin, still call myself a Pill King?’

This man was none other than Ou Tianlin, the Pill King and Alchemy Elder of Kunyun Palace. Over a year ago, he had been utterly crushed by Qin Ya and had even coveted Qin Ya’s Spirit Pill.

Right now, his condition could hardly be called good.

In fact, it was utterly dreadful.

Ever since he’d witnessed Qin Ya successfully refining a Spirit Pill a year ago, becoming a Pill King, and being appointed as an Alchemy Elder, he had been consumed by imbalance. His hatred and jealousy toward Qin Ya had festered to an extreme. To reclaim his sense of superiority, he had decisively entered seclusion to master his Alchemy Skill. The results, however, were the exact opposite of what he’d intended.

For the past year, the image of Qin Ya had haunted his mind. His Talent, his power, his youth, his mastery of the Alchemy Dao—there was nothing about him that Ou Tianlin didn’t envy. Under this psychological burden, his own Alchemy Dao had stagnated. It had even begun to regress. Forget Spirit Pills; he couldn’t even succeed in refining a Pseudo-Spiritual Pill.

’Damn you, Qin Ya!’

’This is all your fault!’

’Why did you have to appear before me? Why?!’

’By what right is your Talent so good? It’s not fair!!’