Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Come and Take It

"Someone beat us to it."

"Dammit, someone got here before us."

"Quick, get into the palace."

Everyone was shocked. They had already considered the great treasures inside this palace their own. How could they not be furious now that someone had beaten them to the punch?

With anxious faces and furious expressions, they rushed into the palace.

"What a magnificent palace. It’s even more impressive than it looked from the outside."

"That’s not important! Hurry up and find out where that person is."

The crowd’s eyes glinted coldly as they scanned the palace, rushing into one side hall after another. Seeing the empty shelves, their fury reached its peak.

"Damn it, the treasures here have all been taken."

"Damn it! Damn it all!!"

Just then, Qin Ya casually strolled out from one of the side halls. The crowd’s gazes immediately converged on him, their eyes filled with a chilling coldness.

"He wasn’t among the people who just came in."

"Hmph. Looks like he’s been here all along. The treasures must have been taken by him."

Gazing at the Martial Artists glaring at him, a faint, indifferent smile touched the corner of Qin Ya’s mouth as he murmured, "They got here pretty fast."

At this moment, a young man in a sea-blue robe stepped forward from the crowd. His face was somewhat cold as he said, "I am Lan Yu of the Vast Sea Divine Palace. I must ask you to hand over the treasures from this place. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise, what?" Qin Ya gave a cool smile, unconcerned.

"Are you implying that you intend to keep all the treasures here for yourself?" Lan Yu’s expression was icy, his tone laced with threat.

"And what if I am?" Qin Ya said coolly.

As soon as these words were spoken, they instantly provoked the hostility of everyone present.

"Damn you! Everyone who’s here gets a share. Hand them over!"

"A mere Earth Element Realm Martial Artist wants to take all the treasures for himself? Ridiculous."

A few people in the crowd, unlike the other indignant Martial Artists, looked at the white-robed young man in the center of the hall with complicated expressions.

These were the Martial Artists from the Yunxiao Empire.

"Teacher Qin really is the center of attention wherever he goes."

"He’s only been here for two days and has already obtained such a great treasure. Then look at us... We’ve suffered so much and haven’t gained a thing."

"Should we help Teacher Qin?" someone asked.

The Martial Artists from the Yunxiao Empire pondered for a moment, then shook their heads and sighed. "Of the three major powers that entered the Hidden Dragon Valley Secret Realm, our Yunxiao Empire is the weakest. Besides, there are several Celestial Essence Realm Martial Artists here. With our strength, we can’t offer Teacher Qin any real help at all."

One Martial Artist who held no particular fondness for Qin Ya said, "Hmph, why should we help him? He was always showing off back in the Imperial Capital, and now that he’s in the Hidden Dragon Valley Secret Realm, he still doesn’t know when to hold back. To be so greedy as to try and take all the treasures in this palace for himself... Does he really think the disciples of Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain and the Vast Sea Divine Palace are to be trifled with?"

"It seems Teacher Qin will have to fend for himself."

"If he’s willing to hand over the treasures from the palace, perhaps he can still be saved."

With this thought, the Martial Artists from the Yunxiao Empire all retreated to the side.

Besieged by the crowd, Qin Ya’s expression remained unchanged, still utterly indifferent. He said faintly, "You want the treasures? Then come and take them."

As soon as he said this, one Martial Artist could no longer bear it. He drew a massive war saber and suddenly chopped down hard at Qin Ya. Amidst the glint of the blade, Qin Ya just waved his hand indifferently. A tremendous force sent the man flying backward in an instant.

BOOM... The man slammed into a stone pillar, a thick layer of frost instantly forming on his body. He was knocked unconscious. The pupils of the onlookers constricted, and fear flickered in their eyes.

That man’s strength wasn’t weak; he was an Earth Element Realm Martial Artist. But compared to Qin Ya, he was far too lacking. Setting aside trump cards like the Cold Flame True Essence and the Solitary Yang Spear Technique, the difference in their Cultivation alone was enough for Qin Ya to crush him.

"Far too weak," Qin Ya said with an indifferent smile.

At this moment, Ouyang Lin, dressed in a purple robe, glanced at the frost on the body of the Martial Artist who had been sent flying. A chilling killing intent appeared in his eyes. He stared coldly at Qin Ya and said, "The Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain disciples outside... you killed them?"

Although it was phrased as a question, his tone held a note of certainty.

Hearing this, Qin Ya laughed coldly. "I did. So what?"

"Damn it! Brother Ouyang, you must avenge them!"

"You dare kill a disciple of my Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain? You must be tired of living, kid!"

The group of Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain disciples behind Ouyang Lin all wore murderous expressions.

"Just as I thought." Ouyang Lin waved his hand, stopping the furious junior brothers behind him. He looked at Qin Ya and said, "Where is your accomplice?"

"Accomplice? Sorry, it was just me."

Ouyang Lin was a little surprised, then said, "In that case, it seems you have a weapon. You used a weapon to kill Murong Hai, and then used an Ice-Attribute Martial Art containing the Ice’s Great Trend to kill the other Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain disciples, is that right?"

"Correct."

"Then... die!"

With a sudden shout, Ouyang Lin kicked off the ground and shot toward Qin Ya like a cannonball. His right hand was clenched into a fist, glowing with golden light and containing immense power. As he threw the punch, the very air rippled.

Qin Ya’s gaze sharpened. He executed the Chasing Wind and Shadow Technique, dodging Ouyang Lin’s attack with almost ghostly speed. BOOM! The stone pillar behind where Qin Ya had been standing suddenly exploded, a huge chunk blown out of it.

’What a tyrannical Fist Technique,’ Qin Ya thought, slightly surprised.

Despite his surprise, Qin Ya wouldn’t just wait to be killed. The True Essence in his body surged, and an extreme chill gathered in his right palm. He struck out, and it was as if all living things withered before it. This was the Earth-Level Top Palm Technique... Heavenly Cold Earth Freeze!

The air condensed into frost, freezing all creation!

Ouyang Lin sneered. "So this is the move you used to kill the disciples of my Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain. Watch how I break it!"

He clenched his fist, and a golden brilliance shone. Then, a tyrannical power blasted forth!

With a thunderous crash, frost scattered wildly as the Fist Force shook the entire area.

The expressions of the onlookers changed, and they scrambled to get out of the way.

"That guy, Ouyang Lin... his strength has improved again." The Vast Sea Divine Palace disciple, Lan Yu, watched the two combatants with an ugly expression, gritting his teeth. "Among all the people who entered the Hidden Dragon Valley Secret Realm this time, I’m afraid only Senior Brother Chu and Senior Sister Li can suppress Ouyang Lin."

The two forces collided. Qin Ya was forced back several steps, while Ouyang Lin only trembled slightly. In this exchange, Qin Ya had actually come out at a disadvantage.

Despite this, Qin Ya showed no fear. Instead, a smile played on his lips as he said, "Now this is the kind of strength a Celestial Essence Realm Martial Artist should have."

"Again!"

Qin Ya let out a light laugh. His figure blurred, and he rushed forward again, raising his palm to unleash another blast of extreme cold—a cold that was several degrees more intense than before!

Not to be outdone, Ouyang Lin threw another punch!

The shockwaves from their battle swept through the entire palace. Ouyang Lin was no Murong Hai; his combat prowess was so strong that he seemed to be on the verge of defeating Qin Ya. And yet, he was the one who was growing more and more alarmed, his eyes becoming increasingly solemn.