The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

On the surface of Thousand Fish Lake, a small boat drifted like a fallen leaf, slowly gliding toward the Lake Tower. Seated in the boat were Qin Ya and an elegant young man.

Qin Ya could tell that this elegant young man’s cultivation was formidable—at least at the Earth Element Realm or higher. He spoke up and asked, "May I ask your name?"

"Heh, I am Su Chang."

Hearing this, Qin Ya’s pupils constricted slightly, a flicker of astonishment on his face. His mind couldn’t help but flash back to what Hua Wuchang had told him about the seven great prodigies of the Imperial Capital.

One of them was named... Su Chang!

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brother Su. I am Qin Ya," Qin Ya said with a faint smile.

Su Chang didn’t seem surprised to hear this, as if he had known all along. He said, "Brother Qin, your reputation in the Imperial Capital has been like the midday sun recently. I’ve heard much about you."

"You flatter me."

Qin Ya offered another faint smile and said no more. The two soon arrived at the Lake Tower, disembarked, and headed directly for the Martial Tower. At the entrance of the Martial Tower stood two Guardians, both elderly men in green robes. The two approached and took out their invitations.

"Ah, it’s Master Qin!"

After seeing Qin Ya’s invitation, a look of shock appeared on one of the green-robed elder’s faces. He then said with utmost respect, "Master Qin, your presence brings honor to our tower. Please, come in."

Qin Ya nodded slightly and entered with Su Chang.

"Heh, that ’Master Qin’ title is quite useful."

"It’s merely an empty title," Qin Ya replied with a faint smile, showing not a hint of pride.

Inside the Martial Tower, numerous prodigies had already gathered, drinking wine and enjoying the dancers. In the lake at the center of the tower, a prominently placed arena constructed from bluestone was the most eye-catching feature. This was likely the main event of today’s gathering—the Martial Arts Arena.

Among the crowd, a heroic-looking man in a black peony-patterned robe with a black hairband drew everyone’s attention. This was the Master of the Lake Tower, one of the few Extraordinary Strong Persons in the Imperial Capital, Yao Qingming.

Flanking Yao Qingming stood two Guardians—one wearing a white fox mask, the other a conical hat. These were the two great Celestial Essence Realm masters of the Lake Tower.

As Yao Qingming was drinking, he suddenly caught sight of Qin Ya out of the corner of his eye. He looked a little surprised. Although he had sent Qin Ya an invitation, for someone of Qin Ya’s current status to actually attend was somewhat unexpected.

"Haha, Master Qin, your presence truly brings honor to our tower." Yao Qingming didn’t dare show the slightest neglect. He immediately put down his wine cup, stood up, and walked over.

Qin Ya was a bit taken aback. ’Why does that phrase sound so familiar?’

"A pleasure to meet you, Master Yao," Qin Ya said with a faint smile.

When the crowd saw Yao Qingming acting so complimentary toward a young man, they were all surprised. After they learned Qin Ya’s identity, their expressions turned to shock.

"So it’s him—the Young National Hero, Qin Ya."

"Heh, a Seventh-Grade Alchemist. No wonder Yao Qingming is acting this way."

Then Yao Qingming noticed Su Chang standing to the side and said in surprise, "Young Master Su, you’re here as well! This is quite a surprise. Every time I’ve invited you in the past, it’s been to no avail. I never expected you to actually come today."

"Heh, I haven’t been out and about for several years. As soon as I emerged, I received your esteemed tower’s invitation. I was thinking about all the young talents in the Imperial Capital, so I decided to come and take a look. I didn’t expect to run into Brother Qin on the way," Su Chang said with a light smile.

Compared to Qin Ya, Su Chang, a prodigy of the Imperial Capital who had long remained out of the public eye, was not particularly noticeable. However, to be regarded so highly by Yao Qingming, he couldn’t be an ordinary person. After some inquiries, the crowd learned Su Chang’s identity.

"The hidden prodigy of the Su Family. I wonder just how capable he is."

"Heh, this Martial Tower Banquet just got interesting. The Young National Hero, Qin Ya, and the Su Family’s number one prodigy, Su Chang. I’d really love to cross swords with them."

"Just how powerful have those two become?"

.........

"You two, please take the head seats." Yao Qingming smiled faintly and arranged for Qin Ya and Su Chang to sit in the positions closest to him, signifying the importance he placed on them.

At this moment, a slender young woman in a colorful phoenix-and-gold brocade robe entered, surrounded by a crowd of people. Upon seeing her, everyone’s faces lit up with adoration.

"It’s Princess Luox Yu! She’s here too."

"The annual Martial Tower Banquet is a gathering for all the young talents of the Imperial Capital, so it’s not surprising that Princess Luox Yu would attend. If any talent here performs exceptionally well and catches the princess’s eye, you could say their future would be set."

"Heh, the princess’s standards are incredibly high. How could an ordinary person possibly catch her eye? Don’t you see all the suitors around her? Every single one of them has an extraordinary background, yet none have managed to win her favor."

After entering the tower, Nangong Luoyu walked up to Yao Qingming and said, "Luox Yu greets Master Yao." Although Nangong Luoyu’s status was noble, she still held a measure of respect for the few Extraordinary Strong Persons in the Imperial Capital.

Yao Qingming smiled faintly and said, "Princess, please, take your seat."

Following her, more prominent young talents arrived, including Lu Chen, Muu Xue, Muu Yao, the number one on the Hidden Dragon List, Su Ming, and even Li Peiyi. Soon, the entire Martial Tower was filled to capacity, with not an empty seat in sight.

When it was time for the banquet to begin, Yao Qingming stood up and said, "First, I would like to thank you all for coming. You are all the finest young talents of the Imperial Capital, dragons among men. It is my honor to have you here. To show my respect, I will drink first."

After speaking, Yao Qingming drained the wine in his cup.

"The Martial Tower Banquet begins now!"

As Yao Qingming’s words fell, serving maids began to walk out carrying all sorts of fine wines and delicacies.

"Peiyi, I didn’t expect you to receive an invitation from the Lake Tower too."

Qin Ya asked Li Peiyi, who was beside him, with some curiosity. The Martial Tower Banquet invited only the famous prodigies of the Imperial Capital. Li Peiyi had been in the city for less than half a year, yet she had already reached such a level. It was truly astonishing.

Li Peiyi smiled faintly. "What, you don’t believe it?"

"No, it’s not that. I’m just a little surprised."

"Heh, while you’ve been advancing by leaps and bounds, I certainly wasn’t going to be left standing still."

Li Peiyi chuckled softly, and Muu Xue, who was beside her, added, "Teacher Qin, you have no idea. Peiyi is incredible! After breaking through to the Spiritual Element Realm, she constantly sought out masters within the Academy to challenge. She’s fought almost every master on the Hidden Dragon List. She’s ranked seventh on the list now!"

Qin Ya was rather surprised. Others might not have known, but how could he not? Li Peiyi had only broken through to the Spiritual Element Realm a few days ago. To achieve such a combat record in such a short time... no wonder the Lake Tower had invited her.

’What a battle-hungry girl,’ Qin Ya mused to himself.

"Oh, this young lady has quite the spirit," Su Chang said with a laugh, a peculiar glint in his eyes. He could see that Li Peiyi was only at the Spiritual Element Second Grade. To defeat so many masters on the Hidden Dragon List and rank seventh with such a cultivation was truly astonishing. "I am Su Chang. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Muu, Miss Li."

Muu Xue nodded and smiled. "I’ve heard much about you."

Her status was no lower than anyone else’s, so she knew more than most. She had heard some rumors about a Top Level prodigy from the Imperial Capital like Su Chang.

Li Peiyi, however, did not know who he was. She only sensed instinctively that Su Chang’s power was formidable—stronger than her current self, at the very least. But she felt not the slightest bit of apprehension; on the contrary, her eyes lit up with War Intent.

"You... are worthy of a fight!"