The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

The meat target was slapped to the ground, shuddering uncontrollably, his eyes filled with utter despair. At the thought of the inhuman treatment he had suffered at the hands of the Wang Family, the grief and indignation that had been suppressed for so long finally erupted into a blaze of fury in the face of death.

The meat target staggered to his feet, his eyes shot with blood. His lowered face was a mask of ferocity. He suddenly threw his head back and lunged at Wang Zilu.

"Wang Zilu, just die!"

Watching the meat target lunge toward him, Wang Zilu was momentarily startled before a cruel smile spread across his face. "Courting death," he said coldly.

The meat target’s Cultivation was only at the Human Element Realm. Even if he was determined to die fighting, how could he possibly be a match for a Spiritual Element Realm Martial Artist like Wang Zilu?

Wang Zilu simply lifted his right foot and kicked.

The meat target was instantly sent flying over a hundred feet, spitting up blood and convulsing on the ground. The other young disciples of the Wang Family all looked on as if watching a good show.

"Hah! A mere meat target dares to fight the Young Master? He’s courting death."

"A meat target should act like one. They’re born to be beaten. To dare defy a superior... how unbelievably arrogant."

"How do you guys think this meat target will die? Will the Young Master kill him with a single palm strike, or will he make him fight a Fierce Beast, like last time?"

......

Meat targets were slaves purchased from the Black Market by the disciples of Martial Arts Families for their own amusement. Their masters held the power of life and death over them, and they lived a life worse than dogs.

Among them were displaced commoners, disciples from ruined Noble Families, and even slaves from nations vanquished in war.

"On what grounds? On what grounds?! We haven’t done anything wrong, so why are we here just for your amusement, for you to toy with? I won’t accept this!" The meat target struggled to his feet, letting out a shrill, defiant roar, only to be met with the scornful laughter of Wang Zilu and his cronies.

"On what grounds? On the grounds that you’re slaves."

"Hah! A lowly slave from a vanquished nation dares to be so insolent."

"I bought you, so you should do everything in your power to please us."

......

"Heh, fine." After he finished laughing, Wang Zilu suddenly spoke. "I can give you a chance. If you can take one palm strike from me, I’ll let you go. How about it?"

Hearing this, a hint of conflict flickered in the meat target’s eyes.

’I know I can’t possibly withstand a palm strike from Wang Zilu,’ he thought. ’But I’ll die whether I agree or not, so I might as well take the gamble!’

"Fine! I accept!"

It was as if some kind of transformation had occurred. A look of resolve gradually appeared in his eyes. His body stopped trembling, and he raised his hands before him, on full alert. Even if there was only a sliver of hope, he would use every ounce of his strength to seize it.

’I have to survive! I have to live!’

He roared in his heart. The other meat targets watched him, their eyes murky and devoid of light. To them, this was just another one of Wang Zilu’s ploys to torment the man. Similar things had happened before.

In the end, death was inevitable. They had long since grown numb to it.

Seeing this, the surrounding Wang Family disciples all curled their lips in mockery.

This was merely a bit of spice to liven up their otherwise tedious cultivation lives.

"Are you ready?"

Wang Zilu asked with a flippant smile.

"Bring it on!" the meat target said in a low voice.

Suddenly, a blurry afterimage flashed before his eyes. A heavy force slammed into his chest, and excruciating pain shot through his body, nearly making him pass out. He was sent flying backward, landing in a heap on the ground, unable to move.

"Haha, looks like he really was killed in one strike."

"Truly courting death. How dare a mere Human Element Realm Martial Artist try to block the Young Master’s Divine Palm? He got what he deserved."

"Huh? Did he just move?"

Wang Zilu scoffed, but just as he was reveling in his triumph, he saw the supposedly dead meat target twitch. Then, like a dog, the man began to slowly crawl toward the main gate. This stunned Wang Zilu. ’He survived?’

’Even though I didn’t use my full strength, that strike wasn’t something a mere Human Element Realm meat target could withstand. I can’t believe he actually survived.’

"Interesting. This makes it more fun."

Wang Zilu waved a hand, stopping his clansmen who were about to drag the meat target back. He smiled indifferently. "Since he survived, I should honor my promise and let him leave."

The others were all stunned when they heard this.

Was he really going to let the man leave just like that? But then they saw the smile on Wang Zilu’s face, and as they exchanged glances, a look of understanding passed between them.

"Hehe, looks like the Young Master is up to no good again."

"Yeah! Letting him crawl all the way to the gate, thinking he’s about to escape, and then killing him... completely crushing his hope. How great would that be!"

......

The meat target struggled, crawling toward the main gate. ’I survived the strike,’ he thought. ’I can leave. I can finally leave this place...’

Overcome with joy, he failed to notice the strange behavior of Wang Zilu and his cronies behind him. His eyes were fixed on one thing only: the main gate of the Wang Family estate. If he could just cross that threshold, he could leave this place and live in the light once more.

Almost there...

Almost there... Just a few more steps.

"Time for this farce to end." Wang Zilu let out a sinister laugh, slowly walking up to the meat target. He reached down, grabbed the man by his hair, and yanked his head up. "Kid, I paid good money for you. Whether you live or die is my decision. And I’ve decided to go back on my word."

The meat target seemed not to hear Wang Zilu, breaking free from his grasp and continuing to crawl stubbornly toward the gate.

"Heh, looks like he’s been beaten stupid. Can’t even understand words anymore."

Watching the meat target still crawling, Wang Zilu’s lips twisted into a sneer.

"Die."

Wang Zilu suddenly struck out with his palm, aiming for the meat target’s head.

But just as his palm was about to connect with the meat target’s head, another hand shot out, striking Wang Zilu’s chest before his own blow could land. Wang Zilu coughed up a spray of blood and was sent flying backward, tumbling across the ground.

The meat target’s hand suddenly grabbed onto a foot. Looking up, he saw a young man in white robes standing impassively at the gate. He knew, instinctively, that this was the person who had sent Wang Zilu flying and saved his life.

"Hm?" Qin Ya looked down with some surprise at the meat target on the ground clutching his foot. He slowly crouched, taking the man’s scar-covered arm and infusing a stream of True Essence into him. A flicker of astonishment crossed Qin Ya’s eyes.

The meat target only felt the incredible warmth of the young man’s hand. A gentle current of energy flowed into his body, spreading a pleasant warmth throughout and greatly diminishing his pain.

Qin Ya smiled faintly and asked, "What’s your name?"

"My name... is Nanle."