114: Dragon-Tiger Golden Body Elixir!

"As long as you are willing to serve me, I can guarantee that you will place at least in the top ten in this Great Xia Martial Selection!"

"Not only that, I can also provide you with endless cultivation resources—Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, Spirit Stones—you name it, I have it."

"I can even promise you a Marquis title, allowing you to bring glory to your ancestors, honor your wife, and secure a future for your children!"

The terms she offered were undeniably generous.

Any ambitious young Martial Artist hearing these words would likely immediately kneel and pledge their loyalty.

However, the expression on Li Qing's face remained as calm and unperturbed as ever.

Looking at the breathtakingly beautiful face before him—one that could drive any man wild—he calmly uttered a few words.

"Not interested."

His Clone was silently developing in the Great River of Jinling City.

Although the next evolution was still a long way off.

It was only a matter of time.

Besides, he came to the Capital to see if there were better channels for acquiring resources.

Not to sell himself into servitude!

To lose freedom for the sake of temporary resources...

How could that be acceptable!

Life is precious, love is priceless; but for the sake of freedom, both can be forsaken!

The air instantly froze.

The smile on Xia Qingyue's face stiffened.

The Elder Chen behind her widened his eyes, thinking he had misheard.

Not interested?

He actually said 'not interested'?

Is this kid insane?

This is an olive branch personally extended by Her Highness the Grand Princess!

An opportunity countless people dream of, a chance to rise to the heavens in a single step!

And he just rejected it so casually and indifferently?

"W-what did you say?"

Xia Qingyue looked at Li Qing with disbelief.

This was the first time someone had rejected her so bluntly.

"I said, not interested."

Li Qing repeated, his tone still flat.

"Titles and military ranks hold no meaning for me."

"As for cultivation resources..."

He paused, a faint, almost imperceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"I will obtain them myself."

He said this lightly, as if it were nothing.

But to Xia Qingyue and Elder Chen, it was no less shocking than a thunderclap.

Obtain them himself?

What audacity!

In all the world, what resources could be more abundant than what the Royal Family can provide?

"Do you know what refusing me means?"

Xia Qingyue's expression gradually turned cold.

A chilling aura emanated from her, dropping the room's temperature by several degrees.

"It means you will become everyone's common enemy in the upcoming matches."

"With just one word from me, I can have all forces affiliated with the Royal Family spare no effort to eliminate you."

"No matter how strong you are, can you fight one against a hundred, or one against a thousand?"

This was a naked threat!

However, Li Qing acted as if he hadn't heard it, simply looking at her calmly.

"I thank the Princess for her great favor, but Li Qing has no such intention for now!"

Calm. Composed.

But he simply refused to give a direct answer!

Xia Qingyue's chest heaved with emotion.

She laughed in anger.

This was the first time she had encountered someone so arrogant, so ungrateful.

"Good, very good!"

Her anger peaked, and she laughed.

"Li Qing, I will remember you."

"I want to see just how far you can go in this Martial Selection without my protection!"

Having said that, she abruptly flicked her sleeve and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Li Qing suddenly spoke up, stopping her.

Xia Qingyue's steps halted. She turned back, looking at him coldly, thinking he had changed his mind.

"What else is there?"

Li Qing pointed to the chair she had just sat in and the teacup from which she had only taken one sip.

"Please take your teacup with you, Princess."

"Pfft..."

Elder Chen, standing behind the Grand Princess, couldn't hold back and nearly burst out laughing.

But he quickly forced it back, his old face turning crimson, his shoulders shaking.

Xia Qingyue's face instantly shifted from icy cold to ashen, then from ashen to flushed red.

Her beautiful Phoenix Eyes seemed almost ready to spit fire.

She, the esteemed Grand Princess of Great Xia, a golden branch and jade leaf, a favored daughter of heaven—who had ever seen her without showing reverence and treating her like a deity since childhood?

Today, she was actually looked down upon by a brat from some backwater?

And he wanted her to take her own teacup away?

This was simply a humiliating insult!

"You...!"

Trembling with rage, she pointed at Li Qing, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long moment.

Li Qing, however, acted as if he didn't see her murderous expression, simply watching her calmly.

In the end, Xia Qingyue still couldn't lash out.

This was Tiantian Garden, a place watched by countless eyes.

If she made a scene with a contestant here, it would greatly damage her reputation if word got out.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging fury in her heart.

Then, she turned, walked to the table, and grabbed the teacup she had used.

Due to excessive force, the fine white jade teacup made a creaking sound, as if it might shatter at any moment.

Staring fixedly at Li Qing, she spoke word by word.

"Li Qing, you are something else."

"I hope your bones are as hard as your mouth."

With that, she turned and left without looking back, walking away quickly.

Only after her figure had completely disappeared did Elder Chen finally fail to restrain himself, stroking his beard and chuckling softly.

He glanced at Li Qing, his eyes filled with appreciation.

"Kid, you've got guts."

After saying this, he also turned and followed her.

The room returned to silence once more.

Li Qing looked at the empty tea table and shook his head.

He wasn't actually genuinely disgusted.

He simply disliked trouble.

This Grand Princess was clearly a woman with an extremely strong desire for power.

Getting involved with her would inevitably drag him into endless royal power struggles.

He didn't have time for that.

He just wanted to quietly and peacefully acquire resources and evolve his Clone.

As for threats?

Nonexistent.

Soldiers will be blocked, water will be dammed.

If he really couldn't win a fight, he'd just find a place to hide, develop slowly.

And settle the score later!

...News that Grand Princess Xia Qingyue had stormed out of Li Qing's room in a rage soon spread far and wide.

Although no one knew the specifics of their conversation.

Everyone could tell the two had fallen out.

Immediately afterwards, an even more explosive piece of news spread like wildfire among all the contestants.

"Have you heard? That Li Qing from Jinling City offended Her Highness the Grand Princess!"

"More than just offended! I heard he confronted her directly and angered the Princess into leaving!"

"My heavens, is this kid crazy? He dares to provoke the Princess?"

"He's done for now! The Princess has already put out the word: whoever can eliminate him in the upcoming matches and thoroughly humiliate him,"

"will gain the Princess's favor and receive a Third-Grade Treasure Pill, the 'dragon tiger golden body pill,' as a reward!"