The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

Dark clouds roiled across the sky, shot through with flashing Thunder. A golden Spirit Pill spun rapidly in the air, emitting waves of delicate fragrance. Under the bombardment of Thunder, the Spirit Pill used the energy to purify its medicinal power; its volume shrank drastically, but its potency grew ever more pure.

Qin Ya silently counted the bolts of Thunder. There had been thirty-five already.

Based on his past Alchemy experience, there was one final bolt of Thunder to go.

Within the dark clouds, a purple bolt of Thunder was brewing. As if it knew it was about to face the strongest strike of the Thunder Tribulation, the Spirit Pill burst forth with boundless golden light. Instead of retreating, it advanced, shooting straight for the Nine Heavens like a cannonball. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

BOOM! BOOM!

As if enraged, the thundercloud unleashed a final, purple column of lightning. The massive pillar, like a heaven-swallowing, day-eclipsing purple dragon baring its fangs and claws, lunged for the Golden Core. In an instant, the purple and gold lights collided, erupting with an earth-shattering sound and kicking up a tidal wave of qi in the sky.

Everyone held their breath in anticipation, their eyes fixed on the sky without blinking.

The qi waves dissipated, and the Golden Core floated proudly. The medicinal power emanating from it was now even more profound. The fragrance that had filled the sky vanished in a flash, as if it had been retracted. Then, the Golden Core wobbled twice in the air and suddenly shot into the distance, attempting to flee.

A faint smile touched Qin Ya’s lips; he wasn’t the least bit surprised.

His figure flickered. With the Mysterious Speed empowering his Chasing Wind and Shadow Technique, he caught up to the Spirit Pill in the blink of an eye and snatched it from the air. Even after being caught, the Spirit Pill continued to struggle, but its strength was insufficient to break free from Qin Ya’s grasp.

"Kid, quick! Throw me into that thundercloud!"

Suddenly, the Sword Spirit of the Ting Xiao Sword at Qin Ya’s waist shouted. Qin Ya didn’t doubt him for a second. He drew Ting Xiao, channeled his True Essence, and with a flick of his wrist, hurled it toward the center of the dissipating thundercloud. With a SWISH, Ting Xiao shot upward like an arrow aimed at the heavens.

In the blink of an eye, the Ting Xiao Sword reached the thundercloud. Its blade trembled slightly and erupted with a dazzling light. A majestic power suddenly burst forth. As if stimulated by Ting Xiao’s aura, the thundercloud, which had been about to dissipate, actually began to reconverge.

Streaks of lightning flashed, surging toward the Ting Xiao Sword.

"Haha, bring it on!"

The Ting Xiao Sword’s Sword Spirit laughed heartily. A strange Exotic Beast with the head of a dragon and the body of a tiger flew out from the sword’s blade. It opened its cavernous maw and actually swallowed the bolts of Thunder. Seemingly unsatisfied, the Thunder Beast shook its head and lunged at the thundercloud. With a great inhale, it swallowed the cloud and all its remaining lightning.

"Truly worthy of being a Spiritual Artifact," the Ancient King remarked with emotion.

After Ting Xiao absorbed the thundercloud, its blade became even sharper. The massive Thunder Beast roared, transformed into a streak of purple light, and vanished back into the sword. The weapon then flew back into Qin Ya’s hand like a beam of Flowing Light. The moment he grasped it, Ting Xiao’s excited voice echoed in his mind, "Haha, I’ve finally recovered some of my power!"

"A Thunder Beast, a beast that commands thunder. This Spiritual Artifact of yours, tempered with the blood essence of a Thunder Beast, is truly extraordinary," Qin Ya said, not hiding his admiration in the slightest.

"Of course," Ting Xiao replied, a hint of pride in its tone.

In the distance, beyond Liubo Island, the numerous Martial Artists hovering over the sea were also stunned.

The appearance of the Spirit Pill had already sent shockwaves through their minds. Now, seeing a Spiritual Artifact’s Sword Spirit display its divine might, devouring a thundercloud, left them even more breathless.

"A Spiritual Artifact... Is that a Spiritual Artifact?"

"I must get my hands on it. I must."

"With this Spiritual Artifact, my family would have nothing to worry about."

For a moment, everyone’s desire for the Spiritual Artifact intensified. Meanwhile, Bo Wen, sitting on the back of the Kun, frowned and murmured, "A Pill King... To think another Pill King has appeared among the Human Race. This is a major event."

"Pill Kings of the Human Race hold a respected status. It wasn’t easy for this Master Yur to break through his years of stagnation and become a Pill King. It seems I’ll have to visit Liubo Island more often in the future," Bo Wen said with a faint smile, taking a sip of wine.

On Liubo Island, Qin Ya retracted his Primordial Heaven Qi Furnace. Holding the golden Spirit Pill, he walked over to the Ancient King’s group of three, handed it to the Ancient King, and said calmly, "Let this Spirit Pill serve as repayment for the Spiritual Artifact."

The Ancient King stared at the Spirit Pill, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes.

There was excitement, shock, hesitation...

Then, he said faintly, "Do you know the value of a Spirit Pill?"

"One hundred and fifty years ago, a Quasi-Pill King in the Southern Domain refined a half-finished Spirit Pill. Someone offered ten million pounds of Primordial Stones to buy it but was rejected with a single word. And that’s to say nothing of yours, which is a complete Spirit Pill."

"Its value is unimaginably great."

"Are you certain you want to give it to me?" the Ancient King asked in a low voice.

Lin Yuan also looked at Qin Ya with curiosity. Compared to the value of the Spirit Pill, he was more interested in Qin Ya, the one who had refined it.

"I said it’s yours."

Qin Ya spoke indifferently, tossing the Spirit Pill in his hand to Yur Piaoyun. Yur Piaoyun scrambled to catch it, the corner of his mouth twitching. Any other Alchemist who obtained a Spirit Pill would treat it like a supreme treasure; none would be as crude as Qin Ya.

Then, he looked at the Spirit Pill in his hand, his eyes burning with fervor.

A Spirit Pill... who knew how many Alchemists went their entire lives without ever seeing one.

Lin Yuan walked up, bowed respectfully to Qin Ya, and said, "Young Friend Qin... no, Qin Pill King, I never thought another Pill King could be born in the Southern Domain."

At that moment, Qin Ya’s status in his eyes had undergone an earth-shattering change. A young, extraordinarily talented genius who had reached the level of an Extraordinary Martial Artist was certainly worth the Association’s investment. However, a Pill King was someone the Association would actively try to curry favor with. Building a good relationship with a Pill King meant a continuous stream of wealth.

Facing Lin Yuan’s change in attitude, Qin Ya simply nodded, not finding it strange at all. "Now that this matter is settled, I will head back to rest."

... ... ... ... ... ...

「Two days later.」

Lin Yuan walked out of Qin Ya’s room, his face glowing with delight.

This was because, just a moment ago, he had finally reached an agreement with Qin Ya. Whenever Qin Ya needed medicinal herbs, he could go to the Worldwide Business Association to get them at any time. In return, half of the elixirs he refined would be given to the Worldwide Business Association to handle as they saw fit.

This agreement was an absolutely massive benefit for the Worldwide Business Association. As long as it wasn’t a Spirit Pill, a Pill King had an extremely high success rate with elixirs of other grades. A single portion of medicinal herbs, when processed and refined into an elixir by a Pill King, would increase in value by at least tenfold. Even if they only took half, the profits were still immense.

’This trip to Liubo Island was definitely the right call.’

Lin Yuan was overjoyed. Even his steps felt much lighter as he walked. When he arrived at the Ancient King’s Palace, he happened to find the Ancient King and Yur Piaoyun playing chess. He walked over and suddenly noticed that the Ancient King seemed different.

If the previous Ancient King was imposing and domineering, the current Ancient King had an added layer of calm and restraint to his domineering aura. His entire Essence, Qi, and Spirit felt as vast as mountains and rivers—majestic and imposing, yet indestructible.

’It seems the Ancient King has improved again.’

At this thought, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but marvel at the miraculous effects of the Spirit Pill. In just two short days, it had caused such a noticeable change in a Martial Arts King.

"Oh, it’s Vice President Lin."

"I’ve disturbed you for too long. I’ve come this time to bid farewell."