The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

The Wang Family...

"Thirteen Elders at the Earth Element Realm have died, forty disciples at the Spiritual Element Realm have died, and one hundred twenty-one disciples at the Profound Origin Realm have died..."

Listening to the report of the Wang Family’s casualties, Wang Mingxiu felt as if his heart were bleeding. His resentment for Qin Ya had reached an irreconcilable point. In this great battle, it wasn’t just the younger disciples who had died; even his wife, Wang Yuanhong, was killed in the rear courtyard. His wife and son—both dead at Qin Ya’s hand.

"I was in seclusion for ten years. The moment I emerge, you cause this kind of mess! Wang Mingxiu, kneel!" A tyrannical killing intent filled the air. The gray-haired old man sitting in the main seat of the hall had a face as cold as ice.

He was the true pillar of the Wang Family, the Old Ancestor... Wang Yu’ang!

At the old man’s shout, Wang Mingxiu immediately knelt, lowering his head without a word. At this moment, he had none of the bearing of the Wang Family’s Patriarch or an Extraordinary Strong Person. He was like a child who had done something wrong, simply waiting for his elder’s punishment.

"Old Ancestor, it was I who managed the family poorly! I request punishment!"

"Hmph. What good would punishing you do? Will it bring back the dead members of the Wang Family?" Wang Yu’ang’s expression darkened, and he continued coldly, "To think that while I was in seclusion for ten years, such a monstrous genius would appear in the Imperial Capital. A Seventh-Grade Alchemist and a Young National Hero... It truly surprises me."

He, too, had been shocked when he first heard of Qin Ya’s deeds. He had become an Extraordinary Strong Person and had been a renowned prodigy in the Imperial Capital back in his day. But compared to the Qin Ya of today, he fell short by a great deal.

’Mingxin Academy... the Royal Family... What a formidable background.’ Wang Yu’ang gritted his teeth. Even as a powerhouse at the Sky-Controlling Middle-Rank Realm, he felt somewhat helpless in the face of these two great powers.

"From now on, I will personally take charge of the Wang Family. Wang Mingxiu, you will go to the ancestral hall and face the wall in reflection for three months," Wang Yu’ang said coldly.

"Then... are we just going to let our grudge go?"

Wang Yu’ang was silent for a moment before saying, "We will wait and see how things develop!"

.........

The news that the Black Market killers had come out in full force, and that the Wang Family had suffered a bloody massacre late at night, spread throughout the great noble families of the Imperial Capital. With just a little investigation, it was clear that Qin Ya was the one behind it.

The various noble families all fell silent. They quickly added Qin Ya to their list of people who must never be provoked. It was terrifying—a single kill order had grievously wounded the Wang Family, a renowned clan in the Imperial Capital. This gave them all a much deeper understanding of Qin Ya.

His talent was astounding, and he was both vengeful and decisive.

"Sigh, so this is the influence a Seventh-Grade Alchemist can command. A single kill order brought such a great catastrophe upon the entire Wang Family. It’s truly terrifying."

"The Wang Family has some truly rotten luck, provoking a person like that. I heard Qin Ya went to their estate two days ago to confront them, accusing them of hiring assassins to kill him. It seems that was most likely the truth. In that case, they deserved what they got."

"This world has always been a place where the strong are revered and the weak are prey. Since the Wang Family provoked Qin Ya, they should have been prepared to face retaliation. They just never expected his revenge to be so ferocious."

........

Seven days had passed since the great battle at the Wang Family estate. Aside from their Old Ancestor emerging from seclusion and successfully breaking through to the Sky-Controlling Middle-Rank Realm, the Wang Family had made no other moves.

"Tsk, tsk. That old fossil from the Wang Family actually broke through to the Sky-Controlling Middle Rank. How surprising. But so what if he broke through? He still doesn’t dare to do anything to Qin Ya. The Wang Family has no choice but to swallow this loss."

"Forget the Wang Family. Who in the entire Imperial Capital dares to lay a finger on that Young National Hero now? Be careful, or he might issue a kill order for you, too. Besides, he has the Royal Family and Mingxin Academy backing him now. Even the Commander of the Red Flame Army owes him his life! Several of the Empire’s most powerful factions are protecting him. In a situation like this, who the hell would dare to provoke him?!"

"Damn it, where did this freak of a kid come from?"

Mingxin Academy, Ningxiang Pavilion, by the lake.

A pill furnace hovered in the air, releasing waves of medicinal fragrance. Qin Ya’s hands were a blur of afterimages as he continuously tossed various medicinal ingredients into it. Beside him, Muu Xue watched with rapt attention, not even blinking, afraid of missing a single step. Before long, the elixir was complete.

"Muu Xue, did you get a clear look at the refining of this batch of Fourth-Grade Jingyang Pills?"

"Although it was obscure, I think I’ve grasped the gist of its mysteries," Muu Xue replied with a faint smile, a hint of joy in her expression.

"Not bad." Qin Ya smiled slightly, then tossed the newly refined elixir to Hua Wuchang, who was eating snacks nearby. "This is the last batch of elixirs," he said. "That should cover the full payment for all the Black Market killers, right?"

Over the past few days, Qin Ya had been refining the elixirs requested by the assassins who had completed their missions, based on a list provided by Hua Wuchang. He had also used this opportunity to give Muu Xue, who was passionate about the Alchemy Dao, some special training.

Under his tutelage, Muu Xue’s skill in the Alchemy Dao was now approaching the Fourth Grade. This was an extremely significant improvement. Other than Qin Ya himself, Muu Xue was likely the only Fourth-Grade Alchemist of her age in the entire Yunxiao Empire.

"Heh. Refining so many elixirs in just a few days... In the entire Yunxiao Empire, I’m afraid there’s no one else but you, Teacher Qin." Hua Wuchang accepted the elixir with a seductive and captivating smile.

But Qin Ya knew this beauty was far from harmless. During the battle at the Wang Family estate, she had used her superb Disguise Skill to trick and kill thirty-one Wang Family members, including the Patriarch’s wife, Wang Yuanhong.

After taking the elixir, Hua Wuchang left.

That afternoon, someone delivered an invitation embossed with gold stripes. ’Oh, the martial banquet at the Lake Tower. So it’s for that.’

Qin Ya remembered the Lake Tower.

It was a famous structure in the Imperial Capital, built in the center of Thousand Fish Lake. It was divided into three sections: the Brothel, the Restaurant, and the Martial Tower. The Martial Tower was said to host an annual banquet, inviting all the prodigies of the Imperial Capital to gather, spar, and exchange pointers.

’The Lake Tower... interesting. I’ll go take a look.’

The date on the invitation was for three days later. Since Qin Yuxiang and Leng Ningshuang were still in seclusion and wouldn’t be out in three days, a resigned Qin Ya could only go alone.

A thin mist veiled the surface of Thousand Fish Lake like a layer of fine gauze. From within the fog, the gentle and pleasant songs of boatwomen could occasionally be heard, sparking the imagination. Just like his last visit, the scenery of Thousand Fish Lake was as beautiful and boundless as ever.

Qin Ya hailed a boatwoman. Just as he was about to step onto the boat, a voice suddenly called out from behind him, "Please wait, brother."

Qin Ya turned around to see an elegant, scholarly youth who had called out to him. The young man was handsome with a high-bridged nose, wore a white silk headscarf, and exuded an air of erudition.

"Is there something I can help you with, brother?"

The scholarly youth said, "Brother, might I share this boat with you?"

Qin Ya glanced at the somewhat empty lakeshore and nodded slightly.

"My thanks, brother."