The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

On Demon Trapping Island, massive waves rose and fell, the sea churning in a violent frenzy. The roaring tide crashed as if the Sea God were enraged. Four Reversing Needles had plunged deep into the seabed, disrupting the ocean currents and, in turn, affecting the Demon Trapping Array laid by Zong Ji, the Supreme Elder of the Vast Sea Divine Palace.

Deep beneath the waves, directly under Demon Trapping Island.

An eerie blue light flickered, revealing four massive iron chains connected to the island’s underside. Etched upon these chains were intricate Array Patterns.

The four Reversing Needles were driven into the seabed not far from the chains, radiating a divine glow. They churned the ocean currents, forming underwater whirlpools visible to the naked eye. Influenced by the Reversing Needles, the Array Patterns on the chains flared with brilliant light, attempting to resist the needles’ power.

On Demon Trapping Island, Qin Ya retreated hundreds of yards away.

As he gazed toward the Female Demon’s location, a torrent of Demonic Qi that seemed to span heaven and earth suddenly converged and erupted, forming a colossal pillar that shot straight into the Nine Heavens.

’What terrifying Demonic Qi!!’

Qin Ya’s pupils contracted. He had never witnessed Demonic Qi of this magnitude. From within it, he could feel a Realm that seemed capable of utter Destruction.

’This Demonic Qi is far beyond what any ordinary member of the Demon Race could possess!’

"Wasn’t she just implanted with a Demon Seed? Even the purest, most elite member of the Demon Race might not possess this kind of Demonic Qi," Qin Ya exclaimed in shock.

A person implanted with a Demon Seed could temporarily gain the power of the Demon Race.

’But a Demon Seed is just a Demon Seed. How could it possibly compare to a pure member of the Demon Race? Take Ying San from just a moment ago—he was nowhere near this powerful.’

HUM...

Suddenly, a humming sound filled Qin Ya’s head. His Qi and Blood surged, a faint crimson glow tinged his eyes, and a violent impulse sparked in his mind.

By steeling his mind, Qin Ya slowly regained his composure.

’What’s happening? This feeling...’

Qin Ya clutched his head, feeling dazed. ’Why did that happen to me?’

"Haha! Demonic Qi! It’s the Lord Emperor’s Demonic Qi! So powerful!"

Above Demon Trapping Island, Ying San gazed at the towering pillar of Demonic Qi, his face a mask of utter fanaticism as he absorbed some of the energy dissipating from it.

Just a taste of the dispersing Demonic Qi was enough to leave Ying San feeling intoxicated.

’As expected of the Lord Emperor. The purity of this Demonic Qi is something I’ve never seen, not even in the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons. If I could possess just one-tenth of this power, I would die without regret.’

"Then you can go and die!!"

At that moment, an ice-cold voice echoed from the void. A young man with blue hair appeared, striding through the air. With a single wave of his hand, the raging storm around him fell completely calm!

"The Supreme Elder of the Vast Sea Divine Palace. You’re certainly quick."

Ying San smirked, his gaze meeting Zong Ji’s without a trace of fear.

"A mere cultivator at Sky-Controlling Perfection dares to be so insolent in my presence," Zong Ji’s gaze hardened as he spoke, his voice chilling. "First, I will kill you. Then, I will suppress the Female Demon!"

As he finished speaking, he thrust out a finger. In that instant, it was as if the power of the entire ocean converged, ready to devour everything.

In a flash, Ying San’s body was obliterated by that single finger strike!

"Ant," Zong Ji stated with indifference.

He then turned his gaze to Demon Trapping Island, a grave expression forming on his face.

’This Demonic Qi... it’s even stronger than it was sixteen years ago!’

’Sixteen years of imprisonment, and her power hasn’t diminished in the slightest.’

’If this power gets out, the entire Azure Sky Realm will suffer. I knew it... I never should have been so soft-hearted back then.’ 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

A flicker of regret crossed Zong Ji’s eyes.

SWOOSH, SWOOSH...

Dozens of figures arrived, every one of them with a Cultivation level at or above the Extraordinary Realm.

It was none other than the various Island Masters and Elders of the Vast Sea Divine Palace.

"Supreme Elder, what’s going on?"

Shangguan Feiying stepped forward to ask, his eyes filled with anxiety. His wife, Lin Yu, also wore a sorrowful expression.

"Feiying, neither Second Brother nor Third Brother is here this time. With my strength alone, I fear I won’t be able to suppress her. When the time comes, my only option will be to kill her. After all, she is far too dangerous."

Zong Ji sighed.

"What!!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Feiying looked as if he had been struck by lightning. His figure, hovering in the air, faltered.

Seeing this, Lin Yu hurried forward to support him. "You have suffered so much all these years," she said, her voice full of pain for him. "Today, it’s time to put an end to it."

"Put an end to it? By killing her?"

"I’m the one who failed her. I’m the one who wronged her. How could I possibly bring myself to do it?"

Zong Ji spoke coldly, "Feiying, you are the master of this palace. How can you be so indecisive? If we let her go today, and that Female Demon brings calamity to the world tomorrow, none of us can escape the blame. How would the Vast Sea Divine Palace ever be able to show its face again?"

"But..."

Shangguan Feiying’s expression wavered. He was in agony, unable to make a choice.

"You don’t have to be the one to do it. We will," Zong Ji said with a sigh. He then addressed the other Extraordinary experts. "This will be no ordinary battle. We are likely facing a demon whose strength has reached the King Realm. But we must hold our ground, because this is the Vast Sea Divine Palace—our very foundation!"

The King Realm!?

Upon hearing this, the faces of the crowd paled.

They had long heard that the Female Demon on Demon Trapping Island was incredibly powerful, but they had never imagined she had reached such a level. After all, there were very few Martial Arts Kings in the entire Azure Sky Realm, and their might was beyond imagination.

"I pledge to follow the Supreme Elder and slay this demon!"

The cry came from Yun Loxi, the Island Master of Luoyun Island, who shouted at the top of his lungs.

His expression was solemn, and his eyes blazed with a towering rage.

’The Demon Race... The Demon Race killed Master Qin!’

’A star that shone so brightly on the Alchemy Dao, fallen so cruelly.’

’He hated it. He couldn’t accept it. He was furious. He was filled with indignation!’

Now, he transferred all the rage and hatred from that event onto the Female Demon about to break free before them. He had to... he had to avenge Master Qin.

"We pledge to follow the Supreme Elder and slay the demon..."

"We pledge to follow the Supreme Elder and slay the demon..."

Following Yun Loxi’s lead, the other Island Masters began to voice their assent.

"Good!"

Zong Ji shouted in a low voice.

BOOM...

At that instant, the Demonic Qi surged violently once more!

Within a cave on Demon Trapping Island, the corners of the peerlessly beautiful Female Demon’s mouth curled upward. A flicker of delight passed through her eyes as she whispered, "I... am about to be free!"

The overwhelming Demonic Qi erupting from her body filled the entire cave, traveling down the iron chains to the seabed. The Array Patterns on the four chains, already weakened by the power of the Reversing Needles, were now saturated by the potent Demonic Qi, making a dire situation even worse.

Within a few breaths, the Array Patterns began to disintegrate one after another.

"Hah!"

With a low shout, the iron chains that had imprisoned the Female Demon for sixteen years instantly disintegrated into dust.

Immediately following, the entire Demon Trapping Island began to transform violently.

The ground split apart and mountains crumbled. Earth and stone flew everywhere as panicked beasts and birds scattered in terror.

"She’s out."

Qin Ya’s eyes narrowed slightly. He gazed in the direction of the Female Demon and whispered softly.

He then sighed, executed his Chasing Wind and Shadow Technique, and departed from Demon Trapping Island.

The landscape convulsed, and the furious waves surged.

Demon Trapping Island was torn asunder, and an overwhelming Demonic Qi permeated the space between heaven and earth.

From within the dark and terrifying Demonic Qi, a graceful figure slowly emerged. She wore a long black robe, her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her beauty was beyond compare.

Seeing this figure, everyone went on high alert, not daring to let down their guard for even a moment.

"Haha! Congratulations, Lord Emperor, on regaining your freedom!" At that moment, the Demonic Qi coalesced, and Ying San—who had been obliterated by Zong Ji’s finger strike just moments before—reappeared. He bowed deeply to the Female Demon as if paying homage to the god he revered most.

The Female Demon gave Ying San an indifferent glance before turning her gaze toward Zong Ji and the others.

Lifting her gaze, the Female Demon’s lips curled into a slight smile that was part disdain, part contemptuous superiority.

"It’s been sixteen years. We meet again."