70: Those who understand the times are wise!

The dust gradually settled.

The main gate of the Iron Bone Martial Arts School, blasted into splinters, looked particularly jarring in the early morning breeze.

Inside the courtyard, only Xiao Chen, speechless from shock, and several trembling children remained.

Along with the youth who stood calmly in place, as if nothing had ever happened.

Li Qing.

He slowly withdrew his gaze.

City Lord went quickly, clearly in a rush to head back and handle the follow-up matters, or perhaps, in a hurry to prepare resources?

Li Qing frowned slightly.

Is this City Lord not playing by the rules?

Or perhaps there are no eternal enemies, only the extent of one's value.

It seemed he was about to be drawn into an even larger whirlpool.

However, it didn't matter anymore.

Only at the center of the storm could one achieve the fastest growth.

He needed power; he needed evolution value.

He needed to become the true overlord of the riverbed, or even the overlord of this world.

"Great Xia Martial Selection..."

Li Qing whispered softly.

A brand new stage was opening up to him.

He looked up at the rising sun on the horizon.

The sunlight spilled onto his face, reflecting his deep eyes.

In his eyes was a trace of helplessness.

He had originally intended to develop steadily in peace.

Now, he had come out into the open.

He wondered how his strength compared to the prodigies of his generation.

However.

This was an opportunity.

An opportunity for a larger platform.

Xiao Chen finally snapped out of his shock.

He rushed to Li Qing's side, his voice trembling with unbelievable excitement.

"Big Brother Li!"

"The City Lord, he actually personally invited you!"

"He even said he would provide you with resources and have you represent Jinling City in battle!"

Xiao Chen's face was filled with excitement and adoration.

"This is a massive opportunity, Big Brother Li!"

Li Qing turned his head and looked at Xiao Chen.

He knew that Xiao Chen was genuinely happy for him.

"Mhm."

He only gave a soft response, without much explanation.

To him, this was indeed an opportunity.

But it was also a transaction.

A transaction he had to win.

If he lost, City Lord would definitely settle accounts later.

If he won, things would be different!

"Big Brother Li, will you agree?"

Xiao Chen asked expectantly.

Li Qing didn't answer directly.

He looked at the shattered gate.

"Let's fix the gate first."

His tone was calm.

Xiao Chen was stunned for a moment, then nodded heavily.

"Yes! Big Brother Li!"

Although Li Qing hadn't agreed directly, he hadn't refused either.

This was enough.

Having lived alone for years,

his ability to read people's expressions was top-notch.

A great man should be able to adapt to circumstances.

No refusal meant agreement.

A surge of pride welled up in his heart.

Following in the footsteps of a Genius like Li Qing,

the Iron Bone Martial Arts School would eventually restore its glory!

Meanwhile, Li Qing was silently calculating in his mind.

He definitely had to participate.

After all, Jinling City was just a small city, a starting point for him.

His journey was destined to be the sea of stars... Early morning, south of the city, a narrow alley.

Outside the small courtyard Li Qing rented, the atmosphere was somewhat eerie.

The alley, usually deserted, was crowded today with neighbors peeking and prying.

They whispered among themselves, their gazes focused on the kneeling figure in front of the courtyard gate.

The man was bare-chested.

Tied to his back was a bundle of Iron Thorns as thick as a child's arm, covered in spikes that pierced deep into his flesh, the blood already coagulated into a dark red.

Master of the Jingtao Martial Arts School, Duan Tianba.

This Late Stage of Meridian Connecting Realm expert, who could make the ground shake with a single stomp in the southern district of Jinling City.

At this moment, he was kneeling respectfully in front of Li Qing's courtyard gate, his back straight.

His forehead was pressed against the cold bluestone slabs. The thorns on his back caused him agonizing pain, but the physical suffering was far less than his inner torment.

"Carrying thorns to plead for forgiveness?"

"Who is this lord? To actually make Master Duan kneel here?"

"I heard it's the young lad living inside named Li Qing. He beat up Master Duan a few days ago!"

"Hiss!"

"How old is that boy? Master Duan is in the Meridian Opening Realm!"

The discussions of the onlookers were like blunt knives cutting into Duan Tianba's face.

His face flushed red with shame and indignation, but he didn't dare move, much less stand up.

The news brought by Zhang Long had shattered his schemes.

City Lord, not only did not blame Li Qing, but instead intended to pour all resources into cultivating him so he could participate in the Great Xia Martial Selection!

What did this mean?

It meant Li Qing was about to soar to the heavens in a single bound and become an honored guest of the City Lord's Manor.

And for Duan Tianba, a petty man who attempted to use the City Lord's hand to eliminate Li Qing, his end could well be imagined.

Once Li Qing mentioned him to the City Lord, there would no longer be any place for Duan Tianba in Jinling City.

Even with just a look from Li Qing, the City Lord's Manor would crush him without hesitation.

He had to beg for forgiveness before Li Qing agreed to the City Lord's offer.

To this end, he did not hesitate to bankrupt himself.

The liquid capital of the Jingtao Martial Arts School was drained, and he even mortgaged several properties to barely scrape together seventeen Spirit Stones.

This was his entire net worth, and his only hope.

"Creak!"

The courtyard gate opened.

Li Qing walked out.

He had made up his mind; since he was going to agree,

he might as well go find City Lord early.

A wise man submits to circumstances.

Moreover, it was a win-win situation.

Seeing Duan Tianba kneeling at the door, Li Qing's footsteps paused, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

He had thought this old geezer would fight to the death after getting the news!

He hadn't expected him to come carrying thorns to plead for forgiveness.

This rhythm is different from what happens in novels!

It seems brainless people only appear in novels.

Duan Tianba's body trembled violently when he saw Li Qing, and he buried his head even lower.

He held a heavy sandalwood box with both hands, lifting it high above his head.

"Young Master Li!"

Duan Tianba's voice was hoarse and trembling, filled with fear and supplication.

"This Duan was blind to have offended your heavenly might, Young Master. Today, I have specifically come to carry thorns and plead for forgiveness!"

"This is a small token of my sincerity—seventeen Spirit Stones. Please, Young Master, you must accept them!"

"I only beg for your great magnanimity, Young Master, to forgive me this once!"

"Seventeen Spirit Stones!"

The surrounding neighbors immediately broke into an uproar upon hearing this number.

Although they didn't know exactly what Spirit Stones were, they could guess their immense value from Duan Tianba's tone and the quantity.

Li Qing's gaze fell calmly on the sandalwood box.

"Spirit Stones?" Li Qing's brow quirked as he asked softly.

"What are those?"

Duan Tianba's body stiffened abruptly upon hearing this.

He hadn't expected that the incredibly formidable youth before him wouldn't even know what Spirit Stones were.

A hint of suspicion flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

Indeed, such rare resources of heaven and earth can only be accessed and used by Martial Artists at or above the Meridian Opening Realm.

At Li Qing's age, no matter how high his talent, without a prominent background, it would indeed be difficult for him to know.

"Young Master Li might not be aware."

Duan Tianba ignored the stinging pain on his back and hurriedly explained, his voice tinged with flattery.

"Spirit Stones are formed from the condensation of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. They contain pure energy and are supreme treasures for Martial Artists to Cultivate and break through Realms."

"Compared to them, ordinary Medicinal Pills are simply not worth mentioning."