113: The princess's invitation is fraught with hidden tensions!

Hearing this voice, all the survivors let out a long sigh of relief.

They slumped to the ground one by one, panting heavily, each bearing wounds of varying severity.

This was their qualification to advance, bought with blood and lives.

However, when their gazes inadvertently swept over the youth who had been sitting cross-legged in the corner from start to finish, his clothes spotless...

Complex expressions appeared on everyone's faces.

There was jealousy, there was resentment, but more than anything, there was awe.

Li Qing slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and patted the non-existent dust from his clothes.

He glanced at those disheveled 'prodigies', a barely perceptible curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he walked off the arena.

Every step Li Qing took down from the arena seemed to tread on everyone's heartstrings.

The noisy martial arena fell silent for a moment due to his departure.

Tens of thousands of gazes converged on his receding figure, filled with complex, inscrutable emotions.

It wasn't until his figure was about to disappear around the corner of the contestant passageway that everyone snapped out of their daze, erupting into even more intense discussion.

"He... he just left like that?"

"From beginning to end, he only threw one punch, then sat watching the show, and directly advanced?"

"Damn... that's just too cool!"

"This martial selection is going to be interesting!"

"A dark horse has emerged!"

A Genius from a certain major city said with great interest, his face full of meaning.

He had fought with all his might, sustaining serious injuries, just to barely remain on the arena.

Yet the other party seemed as relaxed and carefree as if he were on a picnic.

This immense sense of disparity made him feel like vomiting blood.

"Hmph, that's not entirely accurate," a person next to him sneered.

"Although he only threw one punch, that single punch already intimidated everyone."

"That in itself is a manifestation of strength."

"In the face of absolute power, any struggle is futile."

"What we should consider now is not how to defeat him, but how to avoid him as much as possible in the upcoming matches."

This viewpoint was immediately agreed upon by the majority.

Li Qing had already been automatically categorized by them into the 'cannot be opposed by force' column.

On the other side, Qin Shuang and Zhao Cheng also stepped down from the arena one after another.

Qin Shuang's white robes remained pristine, save for a few spots of crimson blood staining the hem, adding a touch of austere beauty to her aloof demeanor.

Her battle record was equally brilliant.

Without exception, everyone who crossed swords with her was defeated by a single stroke.

She had defended the honor of Jinling City's top Genius with her own sharp swordsmanship.

Many estimated her combat power to be on par with an ordinary Initial Stage Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artist!

But at this moment, there was not a trace of joy on her face.

Her gaze had been following the direction Li Qing left, her eyes filled with gravity and a hint of defeat.

She had originally thought the gap between herself and Li Qing, even if it existed, wouldn't be too large.

But she had overthought it.

That was no longer a gap.

It was a chasm.

A chasm that made her feel a touch of despair.

"Three moves..."

She recalled Li Qing's previous words to her, her mouth involuntarily twitching.

If only she could go back in time!

To sew her mouth shut back then!

Forget three moves.

Whether she could even withstand a single move from him was a question.

Zhao Cheng, meanwhile, followed behind, limping, his face a mix of lingering fear and relief.

He bore several wounds, looking utterly disheveled, but at least he had advanced.

He now worshipped Li Qing immensely.

"Too, too fierce!"

"A real man!"

He muttered to himself, staring at Li Qing's back.

"Young Master Li Qing, wait!"

Zhang Long quickly stepped forward to greet him, his face plastered with an obsequious smile, his attitude a hundred times more respectful than before.

"Young Master, your Divine Might shakes the world, truly an eye-opener for us all!"

"This is the healing Medicinal Pill and the key to the top-tier suite specially prepared for you by the Tiantian Garden's steward."

He respectfully presented a jade bottle and a golden key with both hands.

Li Qing glanced at them and said indifferently,

"I'm not injured."

Having said that, he took the pill and the key, then directly walked past him towards the direction of his lodgings.

"Uh..."

Zhang Long stood there frozen, his hands still raised, a look of embarrassment on his face.

Qin Shuang and Zhao Cheng walked past him. Qin Shuang gave him a cold glance without a word.

Zhao Cheng, filled with envy, followed.

A top-tier suite... That treatment was far better than what they, ordinary contestants, received... This was the treatment of a top-tier Genius!

Inside Li Qing's room at Tiantian Garden.

The moment he pushed the door open, he keenly sensed an extra person in the room.

A woman.

A woman with a powerful aura and a stern, cold countenance.

On the room's main seat, a woman dressed in luxurious palace attire, of stunning beauty and dignified grace, was leisurely sipping tea.

Behind her stood quietly the white-haired, youthful-faced elder he had seen on the viewing platform.

Seeing Li Qing enter, the woman put down her teacup, a look of intrigued amusement appearing on her face.

"You are Li Qing?"

Her voice was like an oriole leaving the valley, clear and melodious, yet carrying an innate nobility.

Li Qing's brow furrowed slightly.

He could sense that the woman before him possessed unfathomable strength, at least at the Peak Spirit Transformation Realm.

Moreover, the faint Dragon Qi emanating from her further revealed her extraordinary status.

A member of the imperial family.

"Who are you?"

Li Qing didn't answer her question but instead asked his own.

His tone remained flat, unchanged by the other's identity or power.

"How dare you!"

Elder Chen behind the woman flashed a cold light in his eyes, and a terrifying pressure instantly swept towards Li Qing.

"To be so disrespectful before Her Highness the Princess!"

However, the pressure, enough to make an ordinary Condensing Essence Realm Martial Artist kneel on the spot, fell upon Li Qing like a clay ox entering the sea, not stirring a single ripple.

Li Qing simply turned his head and looked calmly at Elder Chen.

"Hmm?"

A flicker of surprise passed through Elder Chen's eyes.

Although he had only used thirty percent of his power for this move, it wasn't something a junior at the Middle Stage of the Condensing Essence Realm should be able to withstand.

This kid was indeed strange!

"Elder Chen."

Grand Princess Xia Qingyue waved her hand, stopping Elder Chen.

She looked at Li Qing, the interest in her beautiful eyes growing stronger.

What an unyielding youth.

Quite interesting!

It made her feel even more favorable towards him!

"This princess is Xia Qingyue."

She slowly spoke, introducing herself.

"Today, I've come uninvited to discuss a transaction with you."

"A transaction?"

Li Qing raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed."

Xia Qingyue stood up and slowly walked to stand before Li Qing.

A faint, delicate fragrance wafted towards him.

"This princess has taken a liking to your talent and strength."