The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

"Good heavens, just how old is that guy?"

"Some geniuses just can’t be measured by common standards." Zhang Chuda sighed. "I heard that not long ago, a young man named Qin Ya was granted the title of National Hero, a rank equal to that of a Duke. They also say he’s a Seventh-Grade Alchemist!"

"Wait, Qin Ya!"

The group started in shock. Yujing covered her mouth, her face a mask of disbelief. "Captain, you don’t think... Brother Qin couldn’t possibly be that... National Hero, could he?"

The group exchanged glances. Zhang Chuda looked at Qin Ya with a complicated expression and said uncertainly, "I’m not sure. They say that Qin Ya was personally named a National Hero by His Majesty and became a Seventh-Grade Alchemist at a very young age. If that really is Brother Qin, then we’ve truly met a benefactor."

"It’s probably just a coincidence... someone with the same name," Li Yi said skeptically.

"No way. How could it be such a coincidence?" Yujing said. "His name is Qin Ya, he’s just as young, and he’s that powerful. I think it has to be him."

Zhang Chuda gazed at the Pill Bottle in his hand, his mind replaying Qin Ya’s earlier words. ’I have plenty of these Elixirs. A few bottles mean nothing to me.’

If it was true, then it was no wonder he had spoken so casually.

Putting away the Elixirs, Zhang Chuda gripped his greatsword and said to the others, "All of you, stay here. That Wild Boar King is more than you can handle."

With that, Zhang Chuda charged forward.

"Brother Qin, I’m here to help!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Zhang Chuda leaped high into the air, bringing his greatsword down violently on the Wild Boar King!

CLANG! The greatsword struck the Wild Boar King’s body, creating a deafening sound like metal on metal. The impact jolted Zhang Chuda’s hands, and he was thrown back from the recoil.

’What incredible defense,’ Zhang Chuda thought, alarmed.

The Wild Boar King stomped its two massive front hooves, let out a piercing squeal, and charged at Zhang Chuda. Despite its enormous body, its speed was anything but slow.

Its two massive tusks glinted with a sinister, cold light, a sight that would make anyone’s skin crawl.

"Hmph. Vile beast, you dare to act so brazenly in my presence!"

With a cold shout from Qin Ya, an intensely frigid aura spread from his feet, instantly freezing the ground. The charging Wild Boar King lost its balance and crashed heavily to the earth.

The others looked on and saw that the Wild Boar King’s hind hooves were frozen solid.

The fallen Wild Boar King thrashed and squealed, its mountain-like body kicking up clouds of dust with every struggle.

Yet, the ice showed no signs of cracking. Instead, it continued to creep up the Wild Boar King’s body.

"SQUEAL, SQUEAL..."

The Wild Boar King let out a series of desperate squeals.

The sounds gradually faded, leaving only an ice sculpture in the clearing!

Everyone gasped. The power of that cold was terrifying!

A Wild Boar King at Earth Element Realm Perfection had been rendered utterly helpless!

"Brother Zhang, you were right. Xing Peak is indeed dangerous. You all should leave quickly," Qin Ya said with a faint smile. Then, with a flicker of movement, he shot off toward the blood-red mountain peak.

As he watched Qin Ya depart, the shock in Zhang Chuda’s eyes had yet to fade.

...

After parting ways with Zhang Chuda and his group, Qin Ya made his way toward Xing Peak, soon finding himself deep within it. Xing Peak was so named because it was covered in blood-red apricot trees, making the entire mountain look like a peak of blood from a distance.

The rich, intoxicating fragrance of apricot blossoms filled the air, but beneath it, Qin Ya could still detect the faint scent of blood.

Looking closely, one could see numerous animal skeletons scattered beneath the apricot trees.

"HISSS..."

Suddenly, a blood-red shadow leaped at Qin Ya through a shower of falling petals.

"Heh." With a soft chuckle, Qin Ya stood his ground. A long spear materialized in his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, he thrust it forward, piercing straight through the blood-red shadow.

Impaled on the spear’s tip, a blood-red, lizard-like creature struggled. Qin Ya could see that its thumb-sized mouth was filled with rows of fine, sharp teeth. ’This is... a Blood Lizard!’

With a single shake of his arm, immense force traveled through the spear’s shaft, instantly blasting the creature into a bloody mist.

’Looks like there are quite a few more of these little guys around.’

"HISSS... HISSS..." "HISSS... HISSS..."

Sharp hisses echoed from all around, a sound that would make one’s skin crawl.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Hundreds, even thousands, of Blood Lizards shot through the air, lunging at Qin Ya.

With his long spear in hand and an indifferent look on his face, Qin Ya became a blur of motion. In the blink of an eye, dozens of Blood Lizards exploded into clouds of red mist. Then, he slammed the butt of his spear into the ground!

"Ice and Snow World!"

An extreme chill spread out, and the area within a twenty-zhang radius was hit by a passing frost, transforming into a world of ice. Countless Blood Lizards were frozen in an instant.

CLATTER... CLATTER... CLATTER...

One by one, the Blood Lizards were frozen solid before they could even reach Qin Ya, dropping to the ground.

From a distance, it looked as if a hailstorm were raining down around Qin Ya.

"To have comprehended the Frost Momentum to such a degree... Teacher Qin truly lives up to his reputation." At that moment, a young man in a luxurious purple robe slowly approached.

"And you are...?" Qin Ya asked.

"I am Gong Cang of the Gong Family. It is an honor to meet you, Teacher Qin."

A glint flashed in Qin Ya’s eyes. "One of the Seven Prodigies of the Imperial Capital. The strongest of the Gong Family’s younger generation... Gong Cang."

"The very same," Gong Cang said with a slight smile. "I’ve heard that my younger sister, Gong Yu, has received a great deal of your care, Teacher Qin. I thank you for that."

"It is simply my duty as a teacher. No thanks are necessary," Qin Ya said coolly.

"I came here today at Su Chang’s invitation for a gathering," Gong Cang said. "I never expected to run into you first, Teacher Qin. What a coincidence. Shall we proceed together?"

"Let’s go." Qin Ya nodded.

The Apricot Blossom Forest was vast, and there were even more Blood Lizards hidden within.

Qin Ya’s Ice and Snow World had a range of only fifty zhang, and the move consumed a great deal of True Essence. Naturally, he couldn’t use it for the entire journey.

"I imagine Brother Su must be getting impatient. Why don’t we pick up the pace?"

"A good idea," Gong Cang said with a smile.

Immediately, Qin Ya executed Chasing Wind and Shadow. He moved like a fleeting shadow, crossing a dozen zhang in the blink of an eye. Countless Blood Lizards lunged at him, only to be met by the blur of his spear, which turned them into exploding clouds of blood mist.

"Incredible Body Technique, and what a Spear Technique."

Gong Cang exclaimed in admiration. With a wave of his hand, a surge of True Essence turned an approaching swarm of Blood Lizards into mist. Then, his figure blurred as he caught up to Qin Ya.

Qin Ya’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of surprise in his gaze.

He saw that Gong Cang was enveloped in a layer of Qi Force that resembled Armor. The moment the Blood Lizards touched it, they were instantly sent flying.

It was a defensive Martial Skill.

Moreover, Qin Ya could feel the subtle fluctuations of a Great Trend within it.

’As expected. None of the Seven Prodigies of the Imperial Capital are to be underestimated.’

Qin Ya smiled coolly, now looking forward to this gathering of prodigies even more.

...

「Xing Peak. The Summit. Inside a Pavilion.」

Two men sat at a stone table, drinking together. One, dressed in spotless white robes and a white silk headdress, had a refined and scholarly air. The other wore bright yellow robes, a faint smile on his lips that gave him a warm and approachable feel.

These two were none other than the prodigy of the Su Family, Su Chang, and the prodigy of the Xiao Family, Xiao Yunchen.