165: That was a perfect display of swagger, I give it full marks!

“I refuse to accept this!”

A burly man, holding a Heavy Sword, suddenly stood up from his seat. His face was flushed, his eyes were wide, and he stared intently at Li Qing on the stage.

“I don't accept it either!”

“Why?!”

“We worked hard, fighting all the way from the preliminaries to get here, not just to be a foil for one person!”

“Exactly! We are also Prodigies! We also have our pride! Why should he be the only one to steal all the spotlight?”

“The Stage Defense Battle? How is this a competition? This is clearly a solo performance by Li Qing!”

Previously, during the Top 100 Competition, Li Qing already stole the show by fighting one against a hundred.

They were already green with envy, and now he’s pulling this stunt again??

Dream on!!!

A single stone stirred up a thousand waves!

Following the lead of the first person, the entire Contestant Waiting Area erupted!

Which of these Prodigies who managed to enter the Top 100 wasn't ambitious, arrogant, and looking down on others?

Why did they come to participate in the Martial Selection?

To establish their fame and reputation!

To gain the appreciation of the Imperial Family!

For the chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step!

But now?

Regardless of the outcome.

Li Qing fighting one against a hundred, especially during the finals.

Will definitely leave a name in history!

This ridiculous rule, changed on the spot, directly turned all of them into stepping stones for Li Qing!

They became the backdrop for his personal display of heroism!

Could they accept this?

Could they be content with this?

No!

In an instant, the crowd was enraged!

“Protest! We demand the restoration of the original rules!”

“We demand fairness! We want one-on-one duels!”

“It’s fine if he defends the stage! But why is he the only one allowed to defend? We want to defend too!”

“Exactly! Whoever wins gets to defend the stage! That is the true battle of the strong!”

The opposition from these Prodigies was slightly surprising to Xia Qingyue on the Viewing Platform.

However, this did not affect her plan.

In fact, this made her plan even more justifiable.

See, Imperial Father.

It's not that I want to target him.

Everyone is dissatisfied with him!

It is the will of the people!

On the dragon throne, the Emperor of Great Xia looked at the nearly out-of-control scene below, and a smile of interest appeared on his face.

Interesting.

Truly interesting.

He did not look at the noisy Geniuses, nor did he look at his son and daughter.

His gaze passed through the dense crowd and landed on the Black-clothed Youth who stood in the center of the stage from beginning to end, like an outsider.

He slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly spreading to every corner of the entire Martial Arena.

“Li Qing.”

“They, are all dissatisfied.”

“What is your view?”

Swish—!

Everyone’s gaze focused once again on Li Qing.

The entire world seemed to quiet down at this moment.

Everyone wanted to know how this Prodigy would respond to these unfair rules and the opposition from everyone.

Would it be anger?

Or unwillingness?

Or arguing based on reason?

Under the gaze of hundreds of thousands of eyes.

Li Qing finally, slowly, raised his head.

He glanced at the important figures on the Viewing Platform, and then swept his gaze over the indignant Geniuses below the stage.

His face still held that expression of an ancient well—calm and undisturbed.

He spoke slowly, his voice flat, yet seemingly carrying an undeniable magic.

“I have no objection.”

What?!

Everyone thought they had misheard!

No objection?

Facing a rule that was clearly bullying him, he actually said he had no objection?

Just as everyone was shocked, Li Qing's next sentence plunged the entire world into complete stupefaction.

“However!”

He paused, his calm gaze sweeping over the astonished faces below the stage.

“Coming one by one is too slow.”

“All of you, just come at me together.”

“I am in a hurry.”

“I am in a hurry.”

Four simple words.

Were spoken casually by Li Qing.

However, these four words were like a Divine Thunder from the Nine Heavens carrying billions of volts of electricity, fiercely striking the crown of every person present!

“...”

The entire Central Martial Arena fell into an eerie, deathly silence.

So quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Damn it!

I need to report this to the officials—someone is showing off!

Time, at this moment, seemed to have been paused.

The hundreds of thousands of spectators all had wide-open mouths and bulging eyes, their expressions frozen in an inexpressible stupefaction.

In the Contestant Waiting Area, the Prodigies who had just been indignant and clamoring for fairness were now like ducks whose necks had been strangled.

Each one stretched out their neck, their expressions changing from anger to astonishment, and then to extreme disbelief.

Even the Princes and Ministers, and Family Sect Masters on the Viewing Platform, who were used to great storms, were now dumbfounded, as if they were encountering this world for the first time.

What did they just hear?

Was it an illusion?

It must be!

One person, telling nearly a hundred Geniuses of the same rank to come at him all at once because he was in a hurry?

Arrogant!

Insolent!

How utterly dismissive of others was this?!

Madman!

This guy named Li Qing is definitely a lunatic!

After a brief, deathly silence.

“Boom—!!!”

The entire Martial Arena completely exploded!

The towering roar was fiercer than any previous one, nearly punching a hole through the sky above the entire Royal Capital!

“Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! Did I hear that right? He told everyone to come at him together?”

“Mad! Too mad! I’ve never met anyone so arrogant in my life!”

“This flex, I’d call it an unparalleled classic! Unprecedented and never to be repeated!”

“Awesome! Too awesome! Just for that sentence, I’m his fan for life!”

“Who does he think he is? A mighty figure in the Divine Power Realm? Challenging nearly a hundred Geniuses alone? How dare he!”

The spectators went wild.

They were all flushed with excitement, screaming madly at the top of their lungs, as if witnessing a Miracle descend.

In the Contestant Waiting Area, the Prodigies, after a brief period of stupor, all turned the color of pig liver!

Insult!

A naked, undisguised insult!

What did he mean by 'come at me together, I am in a hurry'?

What did he take them for?

Stray cats and dogs on the roadside?

Ants that could be crushed with a flick of the wrist?

“Preposterous!”

“Arrogant fool! You are courting death!”

“Brothers! Stop wasting words with him! Since he is seeking death himself, we shall grant his wish!”

“Exactly! All together! Kill him!”

“Today, we will make him understand the immensity of the world!”

At this moment, all the Prodigies were completely ignited with fury by Li Qing's words!

The slight unwillingness and jealousy in their hearts were instantly replaced by boundless rage!

Their eyes red with fury, they stared intently at Li Qing on the stage, their gazes wishing to devour him alive!