Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Cold Wind Valley
Qin Ya then killed Han Ling. As for the other disciples from the Vast Sea Divine Palace, they weren’t the masterminds, so Qin Ya left them to their fate. He then took Xiao Yunchen and Lu Yin away to find a place for them to heal.
Qin Ya was an Alchemist, so he naturally had no shortage of Healing Elixirs. However, Xiao Yunchen’s shattered bones were another matter. Ordinary elixirs had limited effect on such an injury, and it would take at least two months for him to recover.
But the Hidden Dragon Valley Secret Realm was only open for one month, making it impossible for Xiao Yunchen to wait for two. After some thought, Qin Ya took out a small amount of Ink Jade Divine Marrow. With its help, Xiao Yunchen’s shattered bones were as good as new in less than half a day.
"Teacher Qin truly lives up to his name as the Empire’s most top-level Alchemist. My injuries are almost completely healed." Xiao Yunchen hopped around a bit and swung his newly strengthened fists, expressing his gratitude to Qin Ya. "We have you to thank for this, Teacher Qin. We would have surely died otherwise. I am eternally grateful."
Lu Yin watched Qin Ya with a complex expression. Then, as if he had made a momentous decision, he said, "Thank you for what you did."
With that, Lu Yin took out an ancient, thread-bound book and handed it to Qin Ya. "This is the Earth-Level Top Martial Skill we found. You saved our lives, so it’s yours now."
Xiao Yunchen slapped his own forehead and also produced a Martial Skill manual. "That’s right, Teacher Qin. Please, accept these two Martial Skills."
Qin Ya didn’t even glance at them. He simply shook his head and said, "I didn’t save you for these two Martial Skills. This is your opportunity, and I have no desire to take it from you. You should put them away."
’An Earth-Level Top Martial Skill?’ ’While others might see it as an unparalleled treasure, to Qin Ya, it was nothing special.’
’After all, he had a whole trove of top-level Martial Skills stored in his mind.’
Of course, he would never say that out loud.
"But..."
Hearing this, the two exchanged a look, each seeing the surprise and dilemma in the other’s eyes. Xiao Yunchen said, "Teacher Qin, aside from these two Martial Skills, we have nothing else of value to repay you with."
Qin Ya’s brow twitched, and his tone held a hint of displeasure. "Do you take me for someone who demands repayment for every kindness?"
"That’s not what we meant, Teacher Qin."
Xiao Yunchen sighed. "Teacher Qin, you are a man of noble character. It was we who misjudged you. As for today, consider it a personal favor that I owe you. If you ever need anything in the future, Teacher Qin, you can always come to me."
"Me too," Lu Yin added.
Qin Ya then asked, "Do you know where the others are?"
They both shook their heads. "We don’t know where the others are now," Xiao Yunchen said, "but I did see Miss Li the day before yesterday."
"Peiyi?" Qin Ya’s eyes lit up.
"Yes." Xiao Yunchen smiled faintly. "I saw Miss Li two days ago on a mountain peak, locked in a fierce battle with a Celestial Essence Realm Fierce Beast."
"A Celestial Essence Realm Fierce Beast?" Qin Ya was taken aback for a moment, then smiled faintly. "It seems Peiyi has grown stronger these past few days."
Xiao Yunchen gave a wry smile. "Miss Li’s progress is incredibly fast. I’m afraid even I wouldn’t have a high chance of winning against her now. It’s quite embarrassing, really."
The three of them chatted for a little while longer before Qin Ya departed.
Staring at Qin Ya’s departing figure, Xiao Yunchen said, "It’s only been a few short days, yet Teacher Qin’s strength has progressed to such a degree. It’s terrifying."
Lu Yin said with self-derision, "And we call ourselves geniuses. How foolish and ignorant. This world is filled with people far more talented than us..."
This trip into Hidden Dragon Valley, seeing so many other geniuses, had greatly changed the temperaments of Lu Yin and Xiao Yunchen. Their horizons had broadened considerably, and they had shed their former arrogance, becoming much more composed.
It was, without a doubt, a tremendous gain for them.
After leaving them, Qin Ya continued his journey, tempering himself through countless battles. His Realm gradually stabilized, and his strength increased in a methodical fashion.
The speed of his progress was absolutely terrifying.
To think that in the short year since his rebirth, his strength had already reached such a level... it was truly unprecedented.
This was not only due to his astounding Leakless Body and his cultivation of a Holy-Level Technique like the Nine Heavens Spirit Technique, but also his invaluable cultivation experience from his past life.
In his past life, his cultivation had been at the Celestial Essence Realm. Recultivating it in this life was naturally a smooth process, and he had now recovered to his former Realm.
’Maintaining this pace of progress in the future, however, will likely not be so easy. After all, I’ve never experienced the realms beyond Celestial Essence.’
「Two days later.」
Qin Ya followed his memories to a perilous location.
This perilous place was known as Cold Wind Valley.
The wind howled, as sharp and biting as a blade.
An ordinary Martial Artist standing here would feel as if they were being assailed by a thousand blades. It wouldn’t be long before the Wind Blades sliced them into countless pieces. The danger was extreme.
This place was specifically used by the Dragon Emperor Hall for its disciples to train. It also served another purpose: to comprehend the Wind’s Great Trend.
A Great Trend was a peculiar power that existed in the world.
When a Martial Artist comprehended a Great Trend, their combat power would increase dramatically. Back then, it was by using his comprehension of the Wind’s Great Trend that Qin Ya had defeated Wang Yan, whose cultivation was far superior but who had failed to grasp any Great Trend. The boost to one’s power was clear to see.
It was precisely because Qin Ya now wielded four Great Trends—Speed, Wind, Ice, and Fire—that his combat power far surpassed that of countless other Martial Artists at the same Realm.
Of these, the first Great Trend Qin Ya had comprehended was that of Wind, which he had mastered to the Great Success Realm long ago. It had not progressed since. After he obtained the Cold Flame True Essence, his Great Trends of Ice and Fire gradually caught up.
And now, Qin Ya had come here to advance his Wind’s Great Trend even further!
He activated his Body Technique, positioning himself amidst the countless Wind Blades. Instead of activating the defense of Scenic Landscapes, he used his own body to feel and comprehend the wind...
Wind is formless, yet it seeps into everything.
When gentle, the wind is a soothing comfort. When violent, it sweeps across the land.
A hurricane often starts from the faintest stirrings. A single wisp of wind blows from the mountains, passing through valleys, over streams, and across the great sea... along the way, it gradually accumulates enough power to become a terrifying, world-ending storm...
As Qin Ya’s comprehension deepened, his previously stagnant Wind’s Great Trend began to rise once more. He remained in this state of enlightenment for three days.
BOOM...
As if the heavens themselves were enraged, a storm of bladed wind, far more terrifying than before, swept through Cold Wind Valley. It carved deep gashes into the cliff faces wherever it passed. This was the "wind tide" that occurred here periodically!
Caught in this tide, even a Martial Artist at Celestial Essence Realm Perfection would face certain death. Escape was impossible for anyone less than an Extraordinary Strong Person.
And just as this wind tide arrived, Qin Ya, at the final, critical moment of his comprehension, snapped open his eyes and charged straight into its heart!
