166: Your Majesty's interest!
On the Viewing Platform.
"Pfft—"
Crown Prince Xia Yuan couldn't help himself; the mouthful of tea he had just taken sprayed right out.
While coughing, he looked at Li Qing on the arena stage with a gaze as if looking at a monster, his face a mix of laughter and tears.
This Li Qing!
He really knows how to stir things up.
He had originally prepared a whole speech to argue about the fairness of the rules in court against his dear sister and those old foxes.
But looking at it now, it was completely unnecessary.
The main person involved didn't take this seriously at all.
In fact, he even looked down on his opponents for being too weak, not enough for him to fight alone.
"Your Highness, this Marquis Wuan is truly a man of character."
Beside him, Elder Xuan couldn't help but twitch his face violently.
He had lived for over a hundred years and had never seen such an absurd scene.
On the other side, Grand Princess Xia Qingyue's beautiful face, which had been carrying a hint of smugness because her plan had succeeded, could no longer maintain its composure!
She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, yet she remained oblivious to the pain.
She felt as if a giant boulder was blocking her chest; a mouthful of blood was stuck, making her feel as if she might explode on the spot!
"Aaaaah!!"
She screamed frantically in her heart.
That bastard!
That piece of trash!
How dare he!
How dare he say such a thing!
Who is he trying to humiliate?
Whose face is he trying to slap?
He's treating Xia Qingyue and the scheme she spent so much effort setting up as a joke!
A colossal joke!
"Good! Good! Good!"
She squeezed out three words through gritted teeth, her cold phoenix eyes filled with unprecedented malice and killing intent.
"Li Qing! Today, this Palace wants you dead! You must die without a place for burial!"
Just as the entire scene was about to spiral completely out of control.
"Hahahahahaha!"
A burst of hearty, loud laughter filled with endless majesty suddenly echoed across the entire Martial Arena from the dragon throne!
The Emperor of Great Xia, the supreme sovereign, was currently clapping and laughing so hard he was doubled over, with tears nearly flowing from his eyes.
As he laughed, he pointed at Li Qing on the stage, his gaze filled with undisguised admiration and fondness!
"Good! What a fine 'come at me all at once, I'm in a hurry'!"
"What a fine young madman!"
"A Genius should have the arrogance of a Genius!"
"I like this wild energy of yours!"
"Pass down my imperial edict!"
The Emperor of Great Xia suddenly stood up, and a supreme imperial majesty erupted, instantly suppressing all the clamor in the arena!
"Since Li Qing has such heroic spirit, then I shall fulfill your wish!"
"The rules remain unchanged!"
"Today, this arena is Li Qing's stage alone!"
"I want to see what kind of brilliant light you can radiate upon this stage!"
"Men! Bring me a seat! Set it right below the arena!"
"Today, I want to witness with my own eyes how my Great Xia's Qilin son suppresses an entire generation of prodigies alone!"
The Emperor's words were like an imperial edict, completely defining the nature of this farce!
Everyone was stunned.
Your Majesty, why are you joining in on the nonsense!
Crown Prince Xia Yuan also had a face full of helplessness.
His Royal Father really didn't mind making things bigger for the sake of excitement.
However, since things had come to this, it was useless for him to say more.
He could only silently pray for Li Qing in his heart.
Li Qing, oh Li Qing, you must hold on!
You've boasted to the heavens; if you lose, you'll truly become the world's biggest joke.
But right now, regardless of success, this is already a grand legend!
Li Qing's legend will surely spread far and wide throughout Great Xia!
Soon, eunuchs and palace maids brought over an incredibly luxurious dragon throne and respectfully placed it directly below the arena.
The Emperor of Great Xia actually walked down from the Viewing Platform under the shocked gazes of the princes and officials and sat down boldly right by the arena!
At this moment, everyone understood.
Did His Majesty want to watch from a closer distance, or...?
Was he taking a stand, wanting to protect this Li Qing??
No!
Regardless of the outcome.
His Majesty was elevating him!
He was putting Li Qing on a pedestal!
As long as Li Qing could stand until the end today.
Then he would become the undisputed number one of the younger generation in the entire Great Xia Dynasty!
His prestige would reach its peak!
Realizing this, Grand Princess Xia Qingyue's expression became even uglier.
She stared fixedly at her excited Royal Father sitting below the arena, and for the first time, a sense of powerlessness arose in her heart.
And those prodigies who had been clamoring to attack all at once also calmed down now.
They looked at each other, and every one of them saw a hint of hesitation in the others' eyes.
What a joke!
Now that the Emperor himself had come down to watch, it was clear he favored Li Qing.
If they still dared to swarm him now, wouldn't they be openly going against the Emperor?
Moreover, although Li Qing's words just now were arrogant, they had indeed intimidated them.
That aura of regarding the world's heroes as nothing made them feel a hint of fear from the bottom of their hearts.
For a time, the scene fell into an awkward stalemate again.
Among the prodigies in the preparation area, not a single person dared to be the first to go up and challenge him.
Just then, a voice full of greed and determination broke the silence.
"I'll do it!"
A thin young man with sinister eyes, holding two poison-coated short blades, emerged from the crowd and leaped onto the arena.
That young man with the poisoned blades was named 'Gui Ying,' a death soldier trained by a second-rate assassin Family in the capital.
He had cultivated bitterly for twenty years to reach the Initial Stage of Meridian Connecting Realm.
He had participated in this Martial Selection with a resolve to die, wanting to fight for a future for his Family.
He knew very well that his strength was at the bottom among these hundred prodigies.
In a normal competition, he might not even pass the first round.
But now, the opportunity had come!
An arena defense battle!
A gauntlet!
As long as he could be the first to go up and even just open a tiny wound on Li Qing to let the poison on the blades take effect.
Then he would have performed a great service!
The rewards promised by the Grand Princess and the full recommendation of the Residence of the Vice Minister of Personnel would all be his!
Fortune is found in danger!
"I am Gui Ying, Initial Stage of Meridian Connecting Realm. I ask for Marquis Wuan's guidance!"
Gui Ying cupped his fists toward Li Qing, his voice cold and his eyes flashing with a snake-like icy light.
Without any nonsense, the moment his words fell, he turned into a blurry black shadow like a phantom, silently shooting toward Li Qing's vital back heart!