Chapter 154: Chapter 154: 1 Finger to Sever the Soul
A lone figure in white traveled through the mountain forest as the scene before him gradually overlapped with his memories. Qin Ya was overcome with emotion, murmuring to himself, "The Dragon Emperor Hall, once renowned throughout the Azure Sky Realm, is now nothing but ruins."
In his past life, Qin Ya was the esteemed Pill Venerable and was on good terms with many factions in the Azure Sky Realm, the Dragon Emperor Hall being one of them. Its lord had even been indebted to Qin Ya on several occasions. To think that ten thousand years later, the Dragon Emperor Hall was now just a memory.
And he himself had been reborn in another’s body, now witnessing the world ten thousand years later.
’I remember the Seventh Elder’s cultivation palace should be just ahead. I’ll go take a look.’ Shaking off his nostalgia, Qin Ya’s figure vanished on the spot, reappearing dozens of yards away in the next instant.
Amidst the swirling sand stood crumbling walls and shattered ramparts, suffused with an ancient and profound air.
Judging by the ruins, it wasn’t hard to imagine the site’s former splendor, making its current state all the more lamentable. Qin Ya sighed, "The Seventh Elder’s cultivation palace... It’s already been reduced to this. It looks like it’s been looted."
For over a hundred years, Mingxin Academy, Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain, and the Vast Sea Divine Palace—the three great powers of the Southern Domain—had sent who knows how many disciples here. It was no surprise that the Seventh Elder’s cultivation palace had been discovered. ’I wonder if *that* is still there?’
"Heh heh, I hear the Seventh Elder of the Dragon Emperor Hall was an Array Grandmaster. His true core cultivation area was protected by an array year-round. That’s one of the most important locations in the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm! We brought the Array-Breaking Bell this time, so we’ll definitely be able to find the Seventh Elder’s core Cultivation Room."
Just then, voices drifted over. Seven young Martial Artists approached, all wearing purple robes with a purple cloud embroidered on the chest. The leader wore an arrogant expression and held a head-sized, remarkably strange Cyan Copper Bell.
"That’s right. For this trip into the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm, I pored over every record our Sect has on the Dragon Emperor Hall. That’s how I finally uncovered the true secret of the Seventh Elder’s cultivation palace."
"To get into the Seventh Elder’s core Cultivation Room, I spent a massive amount of Sect Points to acquire this Eighth-Grade Profound Soldier, the Array-Breaking Bell. It’s guaranteed to get us inside." A smile touched the lips of the arrogant young man.
Hearing this, the others immediately showered him with praise.
"I heard the Seventh Elder was a real fiend for treasure, always collecting all sorts of Exotic Treasures. His Cultivation Room must be piled high with valuables! There might even be legendary Spiritual Artifacts and Divine Materials. If there are, we’ll have struck it rich!"
"Indeed. And it’s all thanks to Brother Murong."
Listening to their flattery, Brother Murong looked even more pleased with himself.
"Huh? There’s someone else here."
’I’m surprised someone actually managed to find out about the Seventh Elder’s true core Cultivation Room,’ Qin Ya thought with a soft chuckle. His eyes then sharpened as he spoke aloud, "But it’s pure fantasy to think you’ll be the ones to claim the treasure."
Upon hearing this, their expressions darkened, and their gazes toward Qin Ya turned cold. One of them said, "I didn’t expect anyone else to find their way to this ruined palace. It seems we’ll have to do some killing today."
Brother Murong glanced at Qin Ya, a mocking light in his eyes. "Judging by his attire, he’s not from the Vast Sea Divine Palace. That means he must be from the Yunxiao Empire... probably from that so-called Mingxin Academy."
"Hah, so he’s from some backwater place."
"The Yunxiao Empire... heh. The faction that holds one of the three entrances to the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm. They’re the weakest of the three great powers. Didn’t expect to run into one of their people here."
"Earth Element Realm Perfection? That’s decent, I guess. A pity he’s still leagues below Brother Murong. After all, Brother Murong is one of the top prodigies of our Inner Sect. How could someone from a minor academy possibly compare?"
Their faces filled with scorn and disdain, they completely dismissed Qin Ya.
Qin Ya simply smiled faintly as he observed them, thinking to himself, ’Purple robes, a purple cloud emblem... They must be from Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain, one of the top sects in the Southern Domain.’
Suddenly, Qin Ya’s gaze fixed on the Cyan Copper Bell in Brother Murong’s hand, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. ’Is that... the Spiritual Artifact, the Array-Breaking Bell?’
Then, realization dawned on Qin Ya. He said, "It’s not the real Array-Breaking Bell, just a replica. At best, it’s equivalent to an Eighth-Grade Profound Soldier. They say Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain is home to many skilled in Artifact Refining. It seems their reputation is well-deserved."
’There aren’t many Spiritual Artifacts in the entire Azure Sky Realm, and the true Array-Breaking Bell was a Spiritual Artifact lost ten thousand years ago. To be able to refine a replica... the Artifact Refining skill of Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain is truly remarkable.’
"Oh? You’ve got a good eye, being able to recognize this is a replica of the Array-Breaking Bell. But you’re fated to die here today. You have only yourself to blame for hearing what you shouldn’t have," Brother Murong said, a vicious glint in his eyes.
’He had spent so much effort to learn this secret about the Dragon Emperor Hall’s Seventh Elder; he absolutely couldn’t allow anything to go wrong. So, even though Qin Ya’s cultivation was beneath his notice, he had to kill him.’
’Only then could he be absolutely certain of success!’
"Take your own life," Brother Murong said arrogantly.
The others also watched him with mocking amusement.
Qin Ya gave an indifferent smile, a cold light gathering in his eyes. "What a joke. You want me to take my own life? You people have some nerve."
’Although he was only at Earth Element Realm Perfection, with the trump cards up his sleeve, his combat strength could rival even a warrior at Celestial Essence Realm Perfection.’
’A single Celestial Essence Warrior with a few followers at Earth Element Realm Perfection wants *him* to commit suicide?’
’What a... joke!’
Brother Murong’s eyes turned cold. "It seems you’ve chosen the hard way."
With an indifferent wave of his hand, several Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain disciples stepped forward, sneering. "Tough luck running into us, kid," one said to Qin Ya. "Now we’re going to have to ask you to die."
With that, one of them drew his longsword, its Sword Aura flaring as he thrust it at Qin Ya!
"Too slow," Qin Ya said dismissively.
He channeled his True Essence into his fingertip and moved in a sudden blur. Like a meteor streaking across the sky, he vanished in a flash. The Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain disciple had no idea what was happening; Qin Ya’s figure had simply disappeared from before his eyes.
In his bewilderment, the disciple suddenly felt a sharp sting on his neck.
He instinctively reached up to touch his neck. ’This is... blood!’
Terror flooded his eyes. ’Blood... Why is there blood? Why is my neck bleeding?!’
PSHH... A spray of fresh blood suddenly erupted from the disciple’s neck.
It was like a morbidly beautiful flower blooming in the air.
The others’ pupils constricted as they stared at Qin Ya, their faces filled with utter disbelief.
That disciple was a Martial Artist at Earth Element Realm Perfection, the same as Qin Ya, yet he had been defeated—killed by a single finger—in one move!
"Such terrifying speed... A speed like that shouldn’t be possible for someone in the Earth Element Realm," Brother Murong said, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes.
