The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

Ku Mountain, Xing Peak.

The eight great prodigies of the Imperial Capital gathered to draw lots for their matches.

Qin Ya was pitted against Nangong Xinzhi, the number one expert of the Royal Family’s younger generation.

"Qin Ya, follow me!" Nangong Xinzhi said coolly, then his figure leaped, streaking into the distance like a Flowing Light.

"A change of venue?" Qin Ya chuckled softly and followed.

Watching the two leave, Su Chang and the others exchanged glances. Their opponents, having drawn matching lots, also sped off to find their own battlegrounds. The remaining three pairs were Lu Yin and Su Chang, Xiao Yunchen and Su Ming, and Mo Fengyu and Gong Cang.

...

Two figures streaked through a dense forest.

A short while later, the two arrived atop a cliff.

"Qin Ya, before we begin our duel, I want to ask you a question." Nangong Xinzhi turned around, staring intently at Qin Ya as a domineering aura emanated from him.

Qin Ya’s brow furrowed. "What is it?"

"What do you think of my sister, Nangong Luoyu?" Nangong Xinzhi asked coldly, a frigid glint flashing in his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a pair of daggers.

’So that’s why,’ Qin Ya realized. ’No wonder Nangong Xinzhi was so hostile. This is the reason.’ He spoke calmly, "Princess Luox Yu is of noble birth, a precious daughter of the Royal Family. She is, of course, one of the rarest women in the world."

"Is she beautiful?"

"Her beauty would make fish sink and geese fall from the sky."

"And what of her Talent?"

"She is exceptionally gifted, far beyond the ordinary."

Hearing this, Nangong Xinzhi said coldly, "Of noble birth, breathtakingly beautiful, and talent far beyond the ordinary. You hold my sister in very high regard."

"I am merely speaking the truth," Qin Ya said coolly. ’And it was the truth. Nangong Luoyu was worthy of such praise. If she weren’t, she wouldn’t have so many young talents in the Imperial Capital fawning over her.’

"Then... why did you reject her!"

The moment he spoke, an incomparably domineering aura erupted from him. Sensing this power, all the birds and beasts in the vicinity fled in a blind panic.

Facing this formidable aura, Qin Ya’s expression remained unchanged as he stated coolly, "There are no feelings between the Princess and myself. Therefore, a relationship between us is impossible."

"Feelings?" Nangong Xinzhi let out a cold laugh. "My sister gets whatever she wants. As for feelings? What use are they?"

This response made Qin Ya’s brow twitch in annoyance. "There’s no need for us to discuss this further. Let the duel begin!"

BOOM...

As soon as Qin Ya spoke, a tremendous crash echoed from the distance, sending dust into the air and snapping trees. Qin Ya gave a faint smile. "It seems the others have already started. We shouldn’t fall behind, should we, Brother Nangong?"

With that, a black light flashed, and the Coiling Dragon Spear was suddenly in his hand.

"Then let’s begin!" Nangong Xinzhi said coldly.

WHOOSH...

Qin Ya’s spear shot out instantly, like a Flowing Light. Its speed startled Nangong Xinzhi, who thought, ’Such a fast thrust.’

In a flash, Nangong Xinzhi dodged the spear. He raised his right hand and sent a heavy, domineering palm strike toward Qin Ya, its power great enough to shatter mountains and split the earth.

"Chasing Wind and Shadow!"

Qin Ya smiled faintly and executed his Body Technique. After his first palm missed, Nangong Xinzhi’s Palm Technique abruptly changed, becoming as swift as a raging tempest. A storm of palm afterimages rushed toward Qin Ya.

Using exquisite footwork, Qin Ya was like a lone skiff in a stormy sea, in constant danger of being capsized by the giant waves. The sight was perilous and breathtaking.

’Excellent Palm Technique,’ Qin Ya praised inwardly as he pulled back to retreat.

"Wind-Splitting!"

With a cold cry, Qin Ya’s comprehension of the Wind’s Great Trend surged to its absolute peak. A small whirlwind coiled around the pitch-black, ice-cold spearhead. He thrust the spear, and with a tearing sound, a roar erupted in the air. The wind itself seemed to have been ripped asunder.

This single thrust was enough to kill an ordinary Celestial Essence Realm Martial Artist!

A sharp glint flashed in Nangong Xinzhi’s eyes. "Absolute Domination... First Form!"

With a deep shout, a formidable aura erupted from Nangong Xinzhi. Surging True Essence flowed from him like a great river. A faint, phantom fist materialized from thin air, rushing forward with a Realm intent on destroying everything, an intent of absolute domination over the world.

The spearhead and phantom fist collided, and an unrivaled Qi Force roiled the clouds.

The spreading True Essence radiated out like a wave, destroying all the surrounding trees and plants.

As the smoke and dust settled, Qin Ya stared at the golden-robed youth before him, a blazing War Intent igniting in his eyes. "What a domineering Great Trend."

"You are destined to lose!" Nangong Xinzhi stated coldly.

"We’ll see about that. Come on."

Spear in hand, Qin Ya charged forward again, seeking to engage in close-quarters combat.

His incomparably exquisite Spear Technique flowed like water, but Nangong Xinzhi relied on his own masterful Body Technique to dodge, handling the assault with relative ease.

"Is dodging all you know how to do?" Qin Ya taunted coldly. ’With a personality as arrogant and domineering as Nangong Xinzhi’s,’ he believed, ’he’ll definitely rise to the bait.’

"Hmph. Arrogant!"

Just as he’d predicted, Nangong Xinzhi’s brow furrowed, and anger flashed in his eyes.

No longer dodging, Nangong Xinzhi’s attacks became grand and sweeping, much like his own personality: domineering and arrogant, yet seemingly without weakness.

’So this is what it means for pure power to overwhelm technique.’

Qin Ya gave a cold smile. He pushed his Spear Technique to its absolute limit, abandoning all flashy, superfluous moves. Every thrust was a brutally sharp attack. As domineering as Nangong Xinzhi was, he couldn’t help but appear outmatched by such profound spearmanship. For a moment, it even seemed as if Qin Ya was beginning to suppress him.

"What’s wrong? Running out of steam?" Qin Ya provoked him again.

"Hmph! Get back!"

Nangong Xinzhi suddenly grabbed Qin Ya’s spear. A torrent of violent True Essence erupted, blasting Qin Ya back. A brilliant light then blossomed in his eyes.

"Absolute Domination... Second Form!"

The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi suddenly grew turbulent. A domineering presence rose from Nangong Xinzhi, making him seem like an inviolable Emperor Ruling the World.

A phantom fist appeared, far more solid than the last. Its supremely domineering aura made even Qin Ya feel a sliver of pressure. This punch was several times more powerful than the last; even a Martial Artist at Celestial Essence Realm Perfection would have to face it with extreme caution.

"Excellent timing!"

Qin Ya stabbed his spear into the ground and mobilized his Cold Flame True Essence. An intensely frigid chill erupted from him. His Frost Great Trend, which had reached the Great Success Level, combined with his True Essence to turn the area ten zhang around him into a world of ice.

Suddenly raising a palm, Qin Ya shouted coldly, "Heavenly Cold Earth Freeze!"

Ever since he had comprehended the Frost Great Trend to the level of Great Success, the Earth-Level Top Palm Technique, Heavenly Cold Earth Freeze, could finally unleash its ultimate might. A massive, pale blue Palm Seal materialized, radiating a Realm of absolute cold.

Its frosty qi caused all the surrounding plants and trees to wither instantly.

The collision between the ultimate cold and the supreme dominance made the world fall silent. The very air seemed to freeze. The cliff where the two stood began to tremble violently, threatening to collapse at any moment.

"Come on!"

"You will be defeated!"

The impact of the Palm Seal and the phantom fist erupted in an earth-shattering shockwave.