107: Qin Shuang: Young man, you have caught my attention!
"Excellent."
City Lord's voice carried a slight tremor, a mixture of reluctance and anticipation.
"It is indeed the dragon power fruit."
"A top-tier third-grade Heaven And Earth Treasure, said to contain a trace of True Dragon Power. When a Martial Artist consumes it, it can greatly temper the Physical Body and increase strength."
"Your talent lies in your Physical Body. This item is the most compatible with you."
"I originally intended to use it to temper my own body when I attempted to break through to the Peak Spirit Transformation Realm, seeking a sliver of hope..."
City Lord gave a bitter laugh.
"But now, I can't afford to consider that anymore."
"Li Qing, I entrust it to you. I have only one request."
He stared intently at Li Qing, enunciating each word.
"At the Great Xia Martial Selection, fight!"
"Use your fists to knock down everyone who looks down on our Jinling City!"
"Make the entire Great Xia Dynasty remember your name, Li Qing, and remember our Jinling City!"
His voice was filled with a frenzied anticipation.
Li Qing looked at the dragon power fruit before him, then at City Lord's distorted face, his heart calm.
He knew this fruit was City Lord's final, and greatest, gamble.
He had placed all his hopes on Li Qing.
What a pity... you will never know that your greatest hope is also your greatest enemy.
"Rest assured, City Lord."
Li Qing reached out and took the heavy jade box.
I never expected this old fellow to have such a Medicinal Pill!
"This Junior will not fail the mission."
His voice was calm yet powerful, as if carrying a convincing magic.
City Lord looked at him, his tense body finally relaxing.
He nodded, waved his hand, his voice weary.
"Alright, all of you, go and prepare."
"In three days, Zhang Long will escort you as you set off for the Royal Capital."
"Yes."
The three of them responded in unison, bowed, and retreated from the hall.
Stepping out of the hall, the sunlight outside was somewhat dazzling.
Qin Shuang glanced at Li Qing walking ahead, her expression complex.
dragon power fruit.
That was a treasure even she coveted and found heart-pounding.
And the City Lord had just given it to Li Qing, just like that.
It was evident that in the City Lord's heart, his expectations for Li Qing far surpassed those for her.
A competitive spirit involuntarily rose within her.
She wanted to see for herself what earth-shattering abilities this mysterious youth, upon whom the City Lord pinned such high hopes, truly possessed.
"Li Qing."
She suddenly spoke, calling him to a halt.
Li Qing stopped and turned to look at her.
"At the Great Xia Martial Selection, I look forward to battling you."
Battle Intent surged in Qin Shuang's eyes.
This was the second time she had issued him a challenge.
Li Qing looked at her and gave a faint smile.
"Alright."
"However, you might need to work hard first to ensure you can even stand before me."
After saying this, he paid no further attention to Qin Shuang's stunned expression, turned, and strode away.
Qin Shuang stood frozen for a moment, then the corner of her mouth curled into a cold, faint arc.
Such big talk.
Young man, you have caught my attention!
We'll see about that... Returning to his own guest room, Li Qing closed the door and immediately submerged his consciousness into the riverbed.
Deep within the Qiu River, in a massive cave.
A Deep Sea Dragon Turtle over ten meters in length lay lazily.
Around it were twenty Vicious Beasts of varying sizes, each exuding a powerful aura.
These were its newly subjugated twenty "generals".
With a thought, Li Qing sent the dragon power fruit before his Clone.
Without the slightest hesitation, the Deep Sea Dragon Turtle opened its massive maw and swallowed the dragon power fruit in one gulp.
[Ding! Devoured top-tier third-grade Heaven And Earth Treasure 'dragon power fruit', containing special Dragon Clan Origin, evolution value +1000!]
[Ding! Absorbing Dragon Clan Origin, talent 'Dragon Elephant Power' is undergoing transformation...]
[Ding! Talent 'Dragon Elephant Power' has upgraded to 'True Dragon Power'!]
[True Dragon Power: Passive talent. Your Physical Body contains a trace of True Dragon Bloodline. Strength, defense, and recovery are enhanced epically. Current Physical Body base strength increased to four hundred thousand jin!]
Boom!
A terrifyingly vast energy, several times greater than during previous evolutions, instantly erupted from within the Clone's body, feeding back into Li Qing's main body!
Li Qing felt as if his body had been thrown into a great furnace.
Every cell was cheering, rejoicing!
His cultivation base, originally at the peak of the Middle Stage Condensing Yuan Realm, instantly broke through the Bottleneck under the impact of this immense energy!
Late-stage Condensing Yuan Realm!
Terrifying indeed!
Li Qing abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of sharp light disappearing within them.
He could feel the power within his body was much stronger than before!
"True Dragon Power?"
His strength directly increased by a hundred thousand jin!
Simply frightening!
Li Qing clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"This is truly... too thrilling."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked towards the direction of the City Lord's manor.
"Setting off for the Royal Capital in three days?"
"Perfect. It's time to see for myself what the heart of this Great Xia Dynasty is truly like."
Three days later, early morning.
At the gates of Jinling City, an opulent carriage pulled by four magnificent "Wind-chasing Horses" stood quietly.
Beside the carriage stood several figures.
They were precisely Li Qing, Qin Shuang, and Zhao Cheng, the three representatives of Jinling City about to set off for the Great Xia Martial Selection.
City Lord personally came to see them off.
After three days of recuperation, his complexion had improved somewhat, but the gloom between his brows remained.
"The journey to the Royal Capital is long. Be careful along the way."
City Lord looked at the three of them, earnestly advising.
His gaze rested mainly on Li Qing and Qin Shuang.
As for Zhao Cheng, he was essentially treated as filler.
"Zhang Long will escort you to the Royal Capital and arrange everything. Once there, don't stir up trouble. Focus entirely on the Martial Selection."
"Yes, City Lord."
Qin Shuang and Zhao Cheng responded in unison.
Li Qing also nodded.
To the side, Chief Steward Zhang Long, dressed in black martial attire with an iron hook replacing his severed arm, stood expressionless.
Ever since Li Qing shattered his arm with a single palm strike, he had been filled with awe and a trace of resentment towards Li Qing.
Now, having to escort this jinx, he was a hundred times unwilling in his heart.
But he dared not disobey the City Lord's orders.
"Alright, it's getting late. Set off."
City Lord waved his hand.
"I wish you a victorious start and a triumphant return!"
"We thank the City Lord for his auspicious words!"
The three bowed once more, then boarded the carriage one by one.
Zhang Long, with a cold face, barked at the coachman, "Depart!"
"Hyah!"
The coachman raised his whip. The four Wind-chasing Horses neighed, broke into a gallop, and pulled the carriage speeding down the Official Road.
City Lord stood at the city gates, watching the carriage depart until it disappeared from sight.
He slowly clenched his fist.
"Li Qing, Qin Shuang... My future rests entirely on you!"