The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

"How is Gongsun Jing?" Li Peiyi asked with concern.

Qin Ya smiled and said, "Don’t worry. Gongsun Jing’s injuries were serious, but she’ll be fine after taking my elixir. The others are even better off, so you have nothing to worry about."

After a moment’s pause, Qin Ya added slowly, "Also, this whole incident happened because of me. I wanted to apologize."

"’Because of you...?’" Li Peiyi was puzzled, but being quick-witted, she immediately had a guess. "Lu Chen?"

When Qin Ya nodded, Li Peiyi gave a cold smile and said, "It seems this is about what happened at the arena last time. Hmph. To think someone so narrow-minded could be called one of the Academy’s greatest prodigies. It’s laughable."

"Heh, the man’s a Martial Artist in the Earth Element Realm. You’re only in the Profound Origin Realm, and you have the gall to talk about him like that?"

"Hmph, so what if he’s in the Earth Element Realm? One day, I’ll definitely surpass him, and then I’m coming to challenge you." Li Peiyi’s eyes flashed with a burning war intent, which couldn’t help but give Qin Ya a headache.

’This girl... why is she so obsessed with challenging me?!’

"And here I thought I was saving you for nothing," Qin Ya said resignedly.

Just then, Gongsun Jing walked in, supported by Zhang Fengg. She looked at Li Peiyi on the bed, her eyes red and glistening with tears. "Sister Li, I’m so sorry. I dragged you all into this... I’m so sorry..."

"Ajing, don’t say that. This wasn’t your fault. You must have suffered a lot, too. It’s Sister Li who failed to protect you," Li Peiyi said, stroking Gongsun Jing’s hair.

Looking at Li Peiyi, Qin Ya gave a faint smile and said, "I’ll be taking my leave, then. I’ll bring the antidote elixir over once I’ve finished refining it."

"Mm..."

...

After leaving the Freshman Inn, Qin Ya didn’t go to Ningxiang Pavilion first. Instead, he headed to another location within the Academy: Purple Cloud Peak.

Purple Cloud Peak, one of the tallest mountains in the Academy, was also where Mansion Master Huaa Que resided. In less than an hour, Qin Ya reached the summit and saw Huaa Que drinking tea.

Walking up, Qin Ya snatched the teacup and said, "Forget the tea, old man. I need you to do something for me."

Huaa Que was about to get angry, but his interest was piqued by Qin Ya’s words. He laughed, "Heh, you actually need my help with something? How strange. Did the sun rise from the west today?"

"Cut the crap. Are you going to help me or not?"

"You’ll have to tell me what it is first."

After explaining Li Peiyi’s situation to Huaa Que, Qin Ya said coolly, "So? Are you going to help me with this or not?"

"There’s no proof. What do you expect me to do? We’re talking about the Lu Family, not just some random nobodies."

Huaa Que said, looking troubled.

"Tch. Li Peiyi is just a freshman. Do you really think the Lu Family would make an enemy out of a pillar of the Empire like you over someone they see as an insignificant nobody? Don’t be ridiculous."

Qin Ya said with a scoff. Lu Chen might be the Lu Family’s prodigy, but he doesn’t represent the entire clan. The Lu Family would never offend Huaa Que, the Mansion Master of Mingxin Academy, over one person’s private grudge.

"Fine, then. But you have to do something for me in return."

"I knew you wouldn’t do it for free. Spit it out."

"Hehe. Refine a batch of Sixth-Grade Elixirs for me."

"Fine. But you’ll have to gather the materials first."

"You can actually refine them?" Huaa Que exclaimed in disbelief. ’Those are Sixth-Grade Elixirs! There might not be a single Alchemist in the entire Yunxiao Empire capable of refining them, yet Qin Ya can actually do it?!’

"What do you think?"

"Deal."

...

「Two days later.」

Qin Ya had refined a batch of Sixth-Grade Elixirs for Huaa Que and had also cured the poison in Li Peiyi’s system. At the same time, word that he had crippled the Celestial Star Squad spread throughout the Academy.

"Good heavens, that Advanced Academy Teacher is stirring up trouble again."

"As an Advanced Academy Teacher, Qin Ya openly assaulted students."

"How on earth did the Celestial Star Squad manage to provoke a guy like that?"

"The Celestial Star Squad! My god, they’re one of the top ten squads in the Academy based on points, and they got wiped out by Teacher Qin all by himself."

"I heard it was all over a freshman named Li Peiyi?"

"A freshman? He wiped out the entire Celestial Star Squad for a freshman? Teacher Qin is a fucking badass!"

"It’s outrageous! An Advanced Academy Teacher beating up students, and so viciously, too. It’s despicable!"

"Heh, you’ve got to be kidding. Sure, Qin Ya’s a teacher, but his age and cultivation level are about the same as ours. The only difference is his title. Why shouldn’t he be able to fight?"

"Things are certainly more lively at the Academy with a teacher like him around."

On a path within the Academy, Muu Xue listened to the surrounding chatter and couldn’t help but shake her head with a wry smile. She said to Feng Ling, "Teacher Qin really knows how to cause a stir. I never thought he’d go and dismantle the entire Celestial Star Squad."

"Now that’s what I call domineering! Out of all the teachers in this Academy, he’s the one I respect the most," Feng Ling said excitedly, pumping her fist.

"Knowing Lu Yuwei’s personality, she won’t let this go. I wonder what she’ll do next. I heard she’s gotten very close with Liuu Bin, and he’s one of the Academy’s teachers."

"Heh, a student seducing a teacher... how shameless. And that Liuu Bin actually went for it." A flash of contempt crossed Feng Ling’s eyes.

"Lu Yuwei is from the Lu Family, and Liuu Bin is an Academy teacher. There’s a lot they can do with a connection like that."

...

SLAP!

A red palm print instantly appeared on Lu Yuwei’s face. But for all her usual pride and arrogance, she didn’t dare make a single move. Her delicate frame trembled as she stammered, "Young Master Lu, I’m so sorry... We never expected things to turn out like this."

"Hmph. I told you to take care of that bitch Li Peiyi, and instead, you provoked Qin Ya. He wiped out the entire Celestial Star Squad by himself. You’ve disappointed me greatly," Lu Chen said, his face dark and his eyes filled with violent rage.

"Damn it! Two days ago, the clan Elders actually told me to stop provoking Qin Ya and his friends. I didn’t understand it at first—why were they so afraid of a nobody like Qin Ya? It was only after I pressed them for an answer that I found out... that bastard actually has Huaa Que backing him."

Lu Yuwei’s head snapped up at his words, her eyes wide with disbelief. ’Huaa Que? He’s a legendary figure in the entire Yunxiao Empire! And someone like that would personally negotiate with the Lu Family... all for a boy who’s only in the Spiritual Element Realm?’

’Good heavens... just who in the world had they provoked?’

"Damn that Qin Ya... I’m not going to let this go."

Lu Chen said viciously. ’To think that I, the proud prodigy of the Lu Family, a young expert of the Earth Element Realm, have been brought to such a pathetic state by some brat who just entered the Spiritual Element Realm... It’s utterly humiliating!’