The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

Chapter 279: Chapter 278: Just a Fluke

The stone door slowly opened, and the old man looked over in anticipation. A figure in white slowly walked out. His ink-black hair fell to his waist, casually draped over his shoulders. He wore a set of long white robes embroidered with a landscape ink painting. A white sash was tied around his waist, from which hung an ancient long sword. He had a slender build and eyes that shone like stars.

He was a young man with a somewhat scholarly air.

Qin Ya stepped out and looked at the old man opposite him with some surprise. He remembered Ahong telling him that the Martial Artist before him was the Tower Master of this Heaven-Reaching Tower. He hadn’t expected to meet the man right after coming out—what a coincidence. However, he now noticed that the Tower Master’s expression looked a little strange.

Lin Liyu’s expression was a whirlwind of emotions—shock, astonishment, disappointment, and curiosity. His gaze, fixed on Qin Ya, held a hint of inquiry. He had expected some Celestial Human Martial Artist, not an unfamiliar young man he had never seen before.

’This is the thirty-sixth floor! A Cultivation Room that only a Celestial Human should be able to use.’

With a thought, his powerful, liquid-like Divine Thought instantly swept over Qin Ya. But this probe only made Lin Liyu’s expression grow stranger. ’I can’t see through him!’

He couldn’t see through the other’s Cultivation in the slightest. It was as if his opponent’s Cultivation was shrouded in a layer of mist that blocked his Divine Thought. He could, however, discern the young man’s age—he was just a boy of sixteen or seventeen, which matched his appearance. ’But how could a boy like this have reached the thirty-sixth floor?’

’Perhaps he’s a disciple from some hidden, great power.’

"Hello there, young man."

Lin Liyu spoke with a smile, not looking down on Qin Ya because of his age. After all, anyone who could reach the thirty-sixth floor was by definition extraordinary.

Qin Ya nodded and replied with a faint smile, "Greetings, Tower Master Lin."

Lin Liyu wasn’t particularly surprised that Qin Ya knew who he was. After all, his fame in Lieyang City was such that almost everyone knew of him. He just didn’t expect that the only reason Qin Ya knew was because Ahong had mentioned him.

"Mm. Which family’s disciple are you?" Lin Liyu asked with a smile.

"I am Qin Ya, merely a Loose Cultivator."

’A Loose Cultivator? How could a Loose Cultivator get up here?’ Lin Liyu’s confusion deepened. He then asked curiously, "Young Friend Qin, how were you able to stay on the thirty-sixth floor?"

"I needed a quiet place for my Cultivation, so I came to the Heaven-Reaching Tower. As for why I could come to the thirty-sixth floor, it’s because of this, I suppose." Qin Ya smiled faintly, took out a purple-gold card, and let Lin Liyu have a look.

HISS! In that instant, Lin Liyu sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

’A Three-Star Level VIP Card! This boy’s background is immense!’

As the Tower Master of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, Lin Liyu’s understanding of this Three-Star Level VIP Card was far deeper than the likes of Steward Liu. It could be said that throughout the entire Southern Domain, the number of Martial Artists who possessed such a card could be counted on one hand. Any one of them was an existence at the very pinnacle of the pyramid. With a mere wave of their hand, any one of them could annihilate the likes of Lieyang City’s Shangguan Family dozens of times over.

"So it is an honored guest who has arrived. This old man has been neglectful."

Lin Liyu took a deep breath, no longer daring to speculate on Qin Ya’s identity. He took a few steps forward, clasped his hands in a bow toward Qin Ya, and said with a smile, his gaze now holding a new level of solemnity and reverence. ’To think such a personage has come to Lieyang City.’

"Tower Master, you are being too polite."

Qin Ya hadn’t expected the VIP Card that Lin Yuan gave him to hold so much sway. ’To think it could make a Celestial Human Realm Martial Artist this deferential.’

"May I ask what plans Young Friend Qin has here?" Lin Liyu asked.

"I will only be staying for a few days before I leave. By the way, do you know where I can purchase medicinal materials from the Worldwide Business Association?" Qin Ya asked after a moment of thought.

"There is a branch of the World Medicine Association right here in Lieyang City. If Young Friend Qin requires it, this old man can certainly take you there," Lin Liyu said with a slight smile.

"Then I shall trouble you."

The two of them descended from the thirty-sixth floor and arrived in the main hall. As it happened, Steward Liu and Ahong were both there. Upon seeing Qin Ya and Lin Liyu, they immediately walked over and bowed respectfully. Steward Liu then stepped before Lin Liyu and said, "Tower Master, you’ve finally come out of seclusion. I presume you now have some understanding of this young master’s identity, so I will not say more."

"Mm." Lin Liyu nodded, then said coolly to Steward Liu, "I was in closed-door cultivation these past few days. Did any of you neglect our honored guest?"

"We wouldn’t dare! The young master is an esteemed guest of our Heaven-Reaching Tower; we would naturally not dare to show the slightest neglect." As he spoke, beads of cold sweat had already formed on his forehead.

At the same time, his heart was pounding with immense trepidation. ’He must remember how disrespectful I was to him before. If he says even a casual word about it, not only will I lose my position here, I might not even be able to keep my life.’

But he was overthinking things. Qin Ya hadn’t given him a second thought.

Instead, Qin Ya looked toward Ahong and said with a faint smile, "You’re looking well. Your True Essence is much stronger than it was a couple of days ago. Your Cultivation has broken through. Congratulations."

Ahong was both surprised and flattered. "Thank you, Young Master," she said.

Lin Liyu gave Ahong a long, deep look, as if committing her face to memory. He then turned back to Qin Ya with a slight smile. "Young Friend Qin, shall we be on our way?"

After the pair left, the onlookers’ gazes turned to Ahong, full of envy. Even Steward Liu felt a pang of jealousy. But then he remembered his own past actions and was immediately filled with endless regret. On second thought, however, the fact that he had done such a thing and still emerged unscathed made him feel incredibly fortunate.

Ahong also knew just how much Qin Ya’s seemingly casual greeting had helped her. Her pretty face flushed crimson with excitement.

"Ahong, you’ve really made it now."

"Yeah, it looks like you’ll be promoted to Steward before long."

"Congratulations, really."

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

"So, Young Friend Qin knows that young woman from before," Lin Liyu asked casually.

"Mm, she’s quite good. Very patient." When Qin Ya had first arrived at the Heaven-Reaching Tower, claiming he was in the Extraordinary Realm and wanted to go to the thirty-sixth floor, everyone else had been disdainful and scornful. Although Ahong hadn’t believed him either, she had remained patient, unlike Steward Liu, who had wanted to chase him away from the very beginning.

"Heh, that is quite good indeed," Lin Liyu said with a faint smile. He decided that when he got back, he would find the right time to properly promote Ahong. ’To be able to leave a good impression on someone of Qin Ya’s status... She has truly brought honor to my Heaven-Reaching Tower.’

"The World Medicine Association is about twenty li from here. It would take some time to walk. How about this old man gives Young Friend Qin a ride?"

"There’s no need."

The corners of Qin Ya’s mouth lifted slightly. His body began to float, and within a few breaths, he was already twenty zhang in the air. Looking down at the utterly stunned Lin Liyu, he said, "Tower Master Lin, please lead the way!"

It took a moment for Lin Liyu to snap out of it. He too used Sky-Controlling to fly up beside Qin Ya, his tone filled with irrepressible admiration. "Young Friend Qin, to have already reached Extraordinary Cultivation at only sixteen or seventeen... it truly makes this old man feel ashamed."

"It was just a stroke of luck," Qin Ya said with a smile, his expression showing not a hint of complacency.

Lin Liyu was rendered speechless by his words. ’A stroke of luck? If one could reach the Extraordinary Realm through sheer luck, then Extraordinary Martial Artists would not hold such a transcendent status.’

With that, the two of them transformed into two streaks of flowing light and shot off toward the horizon.