106: They're going all in!

As long as Li Qing and Qin Shuang could achieve good results in the Great Xia Martial Selection, win glory for Jinling City, and receive rewards from the Dynasty, he would have a chance to make a comeback!

Yes!

The Great Xia Martial Selection!

This was his only remaining bet now!

Thinking of this, a light rekindled in City Lord Bai's eyes.

He abruptly stood up, pushed open the study door, and gave an order to the Guard outside.

"Go! Summon Li Qing, Qin Shuang, and Zhao Cheng to me!"

"Tell them to prepare to depart for the Royal Capital!"

City Lord's Mansion, Council Hall.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

City Lord Bai sat in the host's seat, his face haggard, the bloodshot veins in his eyes clearly visible, his entire person exuding an inescapable weariness and gloom.

Below, Li Qing, Qin Shuang, and Zhao Cheng stood side by side.

Qin Shuang was still dressed in white, her aura cool and detached, yet a trace of gravity also touched her peerlessly beautiful face.

She had naturally witnessed the turmoil that had swept through Jinling City these past two weeks.

The theft of the City Lord's Mansion treasury, such a shocking major event, also made her feel a sliver of unease.

Zhao Cheng, on the other hand, seemed somewhat ill at ease. He was merely an ordinary Genius who had gotten his spot through good luck; in such a setting, he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

As for Li Qing, he was as calm as ever.

He lowered his head, looking at the tips of his own feet, as if utterly indifferent to everything around him.

In reality, he was calculating in his heart.

City Lord Bai summoning them this time was probably to discuss the Great Xia Martial Selection.

Judging by his expression—as if his parents had just died—he had likely completely given up on investigating the theft and was preparing to stake everything on the Martial Selection.

"Ahem."

City Lord Bai cleared his throat, his hoarse voice echoing through the hall.

"Presumably, you have all heard about the recent events in the city."

He did not specify, but the three present understood perfectly well.

The expressions of Qin Shuang and Zhao Cheng grew even more solemn.

"This City Lord failed in his oversight, allowing the mansion's treasury to be plundered clean by petty thieves."

City Lord Bai's voice was filled with pain and resentment.

"This is my, Zhuang Bai's, dereliction of duty, and also a tremendous loss for Jinling City."

Hearing the City Lord personally admit it, Zhao Cheng's body couldn't help but tremble.

That was the City Lord's Mansion treasury!

He didn't even dare to imagine just how many good things were stored inside.

Now, it was all gone?

Qin Shuang's brows furrowed even tighter.

She came from the Qin Family, one of Jinling City's Four Great Families, and understood the City Lord's Mansion's Foundation far better than Zhao Cheng.

The items in that treasury were the accumulation of Jinling City over hundreds of years, the Foundation upon which countless Martial Artists relied for survival and Breakthroughs.

Now, that Foundation had been dug up.

The impact on Jinling City's future would be utterly devastating.

Only Li Qing felt no ripples in his heart; he even felt a bit like laughing.

Seeing City Lord Bai's look of bitter remorse, he felt immensely pleased inside.

Serves you right for sending people to hunt down my Clone before. Now you're getting your comeuppance, aren't you?

"But!"

City Lord Bai suddenly slammed the table, his voice abruptly rising.

"Heaven never seals off all exits!"

"Although the treasury is gone, the hope of my Jinling City is not yet extinguished!"

His gaze swept intensely over the three people below, finally settling on Li Qing and Qin Shuang.

"Hope lies with you!"

"The Great Xia Martial Selection is our Jinling City's only chance!"

"As long as you can distinguish yourselves in the Martial Selection, enter the heavenly prodigy rankings, win glory for our Jinling City, and receive the Dynasty's generous rewards, we will have a chance to make up for these losses, even to reach greater heights!"

City Lord Bai's tone was filled with the madness of a desperate gambler.

He was now like a gambler who had lost all his capital, staking his final possessions and very life on this one bet.

Qin Shuang took a deep breath, her cool voice carrying a trace of resolve.

"Rest assured, City Lord. Qin Shuang will spare no effort to fight for Jinling City!"

She was not fighting solely for Jinling City, but also for herself and for the honor of the Qin Family behind her.

"Good!"

City Lord Bai nodded approvingly, then looked at Li Qing.

Li Qing raised his head, a look of "solemnity" on his face as he cupped his hands respectfully. "This Junior is the same, I will certainly not fail the City Lord's trust!"

When acting, one must see the performance through to the end.

Seeing both express their commitment, City Lord Bai's expression improved slightly.

He slowly stood up and walked before the three.

"I know empty words are useless."

"Although the treasury is empty, I, Zhuang Bai, still have some private reserves."

As he spoke, he took out three exquisite jade boxes from his robes.

"This is the last bit of resources I have prepared for you."

He opened the first jade box and presented it to Qin Shuang.

Inside the jade box lay a pill, its body entirely emerald green, exuding a refreshing and heart-soothing fragrance.

Even the surface of the pill had mysterious patterns flowing across it.

"This is a third-grade Medicinal Pill, the Azure Sea Tide-Birth Pill!"

Qin Shuang's breath hitched, a flash of shock crossing her eyes.

A third-grade Medicinal Pill!

This was a supreme treasure used by experts in the Spirit Transformation Realm for Breakthroughs!

Its value was even greater than the three condensing yuan pills City Lord Bai had given Li Qing combined!

"This pill can help you, in a short time, purify your Yuan Power by thirty percent and stabilize your Realm."

"You are already at the Peak of the Condensing Yuan Realm. Taking this pill may allow you to touch the threshold of the Meridian Opening Realm before the Martial Selection."

City Lord Bai said gravely.

A flicker of excitement and gratitude passed through Qin Shuang's eyes.

She knew this was absolutely one of City Lord Bai's most prized possessions.

"Many thanks, City Lord!"

This was a third-grade Medicinal Pill even her Qin Family did not possess!

She solemnly accepted the jade box and bowed respectfully.

Next, City Lord Bai opened the second jade box and handed it to Zhao Cheng.

Inside was a crimson-red pill.

"This is a top-tier second-grade Medicinal Pill, the Blood-Burning Pill."

"At a critical moment, it can burn your Qi and blood, allowing you to erupt with power surpassing your own Realm by one major level, lasting for the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

"But the side effects are severe; after use, you will be weakened for a month."

"Do not use it unless absolutely necessary."

Looking at this pill, Zhao Cheng's hands trembled slightly.

This was practically a life-saving trump card!

"Th-thank you, City Lord!"

He accepted the pill, overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

Finally, City Lord Bai picked up the third jade box and walked up to Li Qing.

His expression became unprecedentedly serious.

"Li Qing."

"City Lord."

Li Qing looked at him.

City Lord Bai looked deeply at him and slowly opened the jade box.

A blinding golden light burst forth from the jade box.

It was a fruit, the size of a fist, as if cast from pure gold.

The surface of the fruit was covered in Dragon-shaped patterns, emanating an indescribably domineering aura.

"This... this is... a dragon power fruit?!"

Qin Shuang, standing to the side, lost her composure and exclaimed in shock upon seeing this fruit, no longer able to maintain her calm.

Even Li Qing's eyes flickered slightly the instant he saw the fruit.

He could feel that within this fruit was contained an extremely pure and immense power.

This power was so vast!