Chapter 323: Chapter 322: Entering the Palace
Within Ningxiang Pavilion, by the lakeside...
"Brother Qin, your mastery of Frost is simply divine."
Leng Ningshuang sighed with sincere admiration, gazing at the magnificent ice rose slowly blooming in Qin Ya’s hand. Qin Ya smiled faintly. With a clench of his fist, the ice rose abruptly shattered into sparkling fragments that fell upon the lake’s surface, transforming into a lake full of ice lotuses...
The ice lotuses, formed entirely from ice and crystal clear, swayed upon the lake’s surface. They were incomparably magnificent, a breathtaking sight. Upon seeing this, the look of amazement on Leng Ningshuang’s face deepened, and she gazed at the lake full of ice lotuses, utterly mesmerized.
"Ningshuang, you possess the Profound Yin Bloodline, which gives you a natural mastery over cold energy," Qin Ya said with a smile. "If you cultivate diligently, your control over Frost will one day surely surpass my own. Even now, your control of Frost is not inferior to some Extraordinary Martial Artists; you just lack experience."
"Really?" Leng Ningshuang asked hopefully.
"Of course," Qin Ya said. "Over the next few days, I will teach you my methods and pass on my experience in controlling Frost. You must practice diligently."
"Mhm, I definitely won’t let Brother Qin down."
"Ha! In that case, Ningshuang, you’d better study hard." A long laugh drifted over. It was Huaa Que, his injuries now healed and his spirits high.
"Grandfather, you’re here."
Leng Ningshuang said, pleasantly surprised, and walked over to link arms with Huaa Que.
"Heh, I’m here to see this little rascal."
Huaa Que lovingly stroked Leng Ningshuang’s head, then turned to Qin Ya and said gruffly, "You’re really something, you brat. You ran off to the Vast Sea Divine Palace without a word and were gone for over half a year. You nearly made my granddaughter lovesick."
A blush immediately bloomed on Leng Ningshuang’s cheeks.
"Brother Qin, don’t listen to Grandfather’s nonsense. He’s exaggerating."
"You silly girl, always siding with your Brother Qin."
"Grandfather, you...! Hmph!"
Her face bright red, Leng Ningshuang let out an indignant huff and ran inside.
"A grown daughter won’t stay," Huaa Que sighed.
"Out with it. What did you come to see me for?" Qin Ya said calmly.
"Come with me to the Imperial Palace. His Majesty and the others are waiting for you."
Qin Ya nodded, then spoke for a moment with Yuu Xiang and the other young woman.
「Inside the Imperial Palace...」
Muui Yunlie, Nangong Wen, and the others were all gathered together.
Soon, Qin Ya and Huaa Que arrived together.
When they saw Qin Ya, even though Nangong Wen and the others had already heard the news, they couldn’t help but be utterly shocked. After all, since the founding of the Yunxiao Empire, an Extraordinary Martial Artist this young had never appeared before!
No, forget the Yunxiao Empire.
There were likely only a handful in the entire Azure Sky Realm.
"Teacher Qin, it’s been over half a year. I trust you’ve been well."
Nangong Wen personally rose and walked up to Qin Ya, offering a faint smile.
His attitude clearly showed that he now regarded Qin Ya as an equal.
He hadn’t shown such an attitude even when he had named Qin Ya the Young National Hero, but times had changed. Not only had Qin Ya reached Extraordinary Cultivation, but the Empire was also in peril. They desperately needed a warrior of his caliber. More than that, Qin Ya wasn’t just an Extraordinary Martial Artist; he was also an Alchemist, making him undeniably vital to the Empire’s current situation.
In the current Empire, thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Martial Artists had lost their lives in the fight against the Black Market and the Noble Family Alliance Army simply because they could not be treated in time.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Qin Ya nodded slightly, his tone neither servile nor arrogant.
Had it been anyone else with such an attitude, a crowd would have already stepped forward with criticisms and accusations. Yet now, not a single person spoke up; in fact, they even felt this was perfectly normal.
"I have already prepared a banquet. Teacher Qin, please join us."
"Alright."
Given Qin Ya’s current status, he was seated in the position closest to Nangong Wen—a privilege not even granted to the Royal Family’s own prodigy, Nangong Xinzhi.
Gazing at the young man who was once his rival but had now become someone completely beyond his reach, Nangong Xinzhi felt a complex, indescribable bitterness.
Meanwhile, another young woman felt similarly ashamed of her own inadequacy.
The young woman’s name was Nangong Luox Yu. She was a princess once admired by thousands and pursued by the scions of every great Noble Family in the Imperial Capital. In her pride, she had once declared that Qin Ya was hers for the taking. But now, as she looked at him, she felt so ashamed she wished the ground would swallow her whole.
In terms of Cultivation, she was only at the Earth Element Perfection realm.
In terms of appearance, while she was not unattractive, there were countless beauties in the world. As an Extraordinary Martial Artist, why would Qin Ya care for something as trivial as a pretty face?
’So, that boy from back then has already reached such heights.’
’His radiance is so dazzling it makes everyone else pale in comparison.’
"Teacher Qin, my master told me that you killed nine Extraordinary Martial Artists at once while he was in seclusion. A feat like that is unparalleled in the entire Empire."
"It was nothing. Just something that had to be done."
Qin Ya gave a faint smile, and they chatted for a while longer.
Just as Qin Ya was beginning to feel rather bored, Nangong Wen suddenly spoke. "Teacher Qin, I have a bold request to make, and I hope that you might agree to it."
’Finally, we’re getting to the point.’
Qin Ya slowly set down his wine cup. "Your Majesty, please speak freely."
"Teacher Qin, you must have seen the current situation in the Imperial Capital. The major Noble Families and the Black Market have joined forces, led by a so-called Venerable Lord, to oppose the Royal Academy."
"And unfortunately, we are at a disadvantage."
"We are outnumbered in terms of Extraordinary Martial Artists, and even my master is no match for that Venerable Lord. We are, you could say, at our wit’s end."
"We implore you, Teacher Qin, to lend us your strength."
"With your combat prowess, Teacher Qin, you could completely nullify the disparity in the number of Extraordinary Martial Artists. If my master and I join forces, we can also stand against that Venerable Lord!"
"That way, we won’t constantly be on the back foot!"
After he finished speaking, Nangong Wen’s eyes were fixed on Qin Ya. Muui Yunlie, Nangong Xinzhi, and the others also watched him, their faces filled with hope.
Qin Ya fell silent for a moment, pondering.
’Truth be told, I don’t have a particularly deep attachment to the Yunxiao Empire. But Huaa Que, Leng Ningshuang, Yuu Xiang, and the others grew up here. If I just ignore this, they will inevitably be hurt...’
"I... agree."
Qin Ya said with a faint smile.
Upon hearing his words, Nangong Wen and the others were overjoyed.
"Haha, I knew Teacher Qin wouldn’t stand idly by! He’s the one who saved my life, after all." Muui Yunlie laughed heartily, rising to his feet. He raised his cup to Qin Ya in a toast and then drained it in one gulp.
"You exaggerate, Marshal Muu," Qin Ya said with a smile.
"Brother Qin, I am... utterly convinced."
The royal prodigy, Nangong Xinzhi, stood up and toasted him as well.
The others followed suit.
Qin Ya returned their toasts with a smile, then turned to Nangong Wen. "Your Majesty, the great Noble Families have resided in the Imperial Capital for many years, and things have always been peaceful—due, in part, to the Academy’s deterrence, I’m sure. But now, just because some Venerable Lord has appeared, they dare to openly rebel? Furthermore, none of these Noble Families are to be underestimated. Frankly, do you really believe a single person at the Celestial Human Realm could unite them all?"
After hearing this, Nangong Wen exchanged a glance with Huaa Que, then said, "As for that matter, we do know a thing or two."
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