80: The competition for the spots is fierce!
Perhaps he is a descendant of some Hidden Family, or a Genius who Cultivated bitterly in the deep mountains and only recently emerged, coincidentally joining the Iron Bone Martial Arts School, and coincidentally also named "Li Qing."
Yes, it must be so!
"Father, you're right."
Chen Meng nodded slowly, as if clutching at a straw, and some color returned to her face.
"It must... it must just be a coincidence."
The father and daughter seemed to have reached some sort of consensus, no longer mentioning that name that made them feel uneasy.
But an inexplicable emotion, like a seed, was quietly planted in the depths of their hearts.
Chen Shui picked up the teapot and poured another cup of tea, but his hand was trembling slightly.
He forced himself to calm down and analyzed.
"This Li Qing, who was directly invited, must be at the Peak of Condensing Essence Realm."
"Or even... a peerless Genius of the Meridian Opening Realm!"
"He's definitely beyond our imagination."
"That kid from the Slum... hmph, what talent could he have? Grass is already growing on his grave by now!"
His tone carried a hint of deliberate contempt and disdain, as if only by doing so could he completely banish that absurd thought from his mind.
Chen Meng didn't speak, but silently lowered her head.
In her mind, the figure of that young man involuntarily surfaced.
Calm, indifferent, with eyes so deep they seemed bottomless.
Is it really... a coincidence?
Although her reason was frantically telling her "yes," deep in her heart, an indescribable feeling quietly grew, lingering and refusing to leave.
This night was destined to be a sleepless one for many people in Jinling City.
The name "Li Qing" spread through every street and alley of Jinling City overnight.
The announcement from the City Lord's Manor was like a thunderclap, exploding in the ears of all Martial Artists.
At first, there was shock and disbelief, followed by frantic inquiries and speculation.
"Have you heard? A peerless Genius named Li Qing appeared in the Iron Bone Martial Arts School on the west side of the city!"
"What Genius? How come I've never heard of him?"
"Who knows! It's said the City Lord personally went to invite him and directly reserved a spot for him in the Great Xia Martial Competition!"
"My god! Is it true? Then what the Hell are we fighting for!"
In tea houses, wine shops, streets, and alleys, discussions about this matter were everywhere.
And when more definite news arrived, the atmosphere of the entire martial arts world in Jinling City instantly became incomparably solemn and fanatical.
For this Great Xia Martial Competition, Jinling City only has a total of three spots!
Li Qing has already secured one of them.
This meant that all the remaining martial arts schools and all the long-famous young Prodigies would engage in an unprecedented bloody slaughter for the remaining two spots!
The difficulty of the competition instantly soared to Hell level!
"Outrageous! My Jingtao Martial Arts School's Senior Brother Duan Lang has Cultivated hard for many years and is already at the Late Stage of the Condensing Essence Realm. Why should a boy no one has ever heard of get a reserved spot?"
"Senior Brother Zhao Cheng of the Feiyun Martial Arts Hall has mastered the Cloud-Chasing Sword Technique to perfection. Could he be inferior to a Disciple from a dilapidated martial arts school?"
"Senior Brother Lei Dong of the Benlei Martial Arts Hall was born with a lightning-attribute Physique and has matchless combat power. This is too unfair of the City Lord's Manor!"
Disciples from various martial arts schools were filled with righteous indignation, speaking up for their own Prodigies.
But no matter how angry or unwilling they were, the City Lord's Manor's decision was set in stone and could not be changed.
The only thing they could do was to transform all this anger and unwillingness into motivation for Cultivation, preparing for a life-and-death struggle in the upcoming selection tournament.
Jinling City was surging with undercurrents... Inside Lingxiu Hall, the atmosphere was equally tense.
Chen Meng had only joined Lingxiu Hall for a short time, but she could already feel that since the news was announced, the atmosphere of the entire martial arts hall had changed.
The Senior Sisters Cultivated even more diligently, communication between them decreased, but the sense of competition grew stronger.
Everyone's hope was pinned on one person.
The Eldest Senior Sister of Lingxiu Hall—Qin Shuang.
Lingxiu Hall is famous for accepting female Disciples, and Qin Shuang is the most dazzling among them.
She is only nineteen, yet her cultivation has already reached the Peak of Condensing Essence Realm, only one step away from the Meridian Opening Realm.
She has a tall and straight figure, dressed in white, and enjoys extremely high popularity and prestige in Lingxiu Hall.
She is recognized as the Prodigy of Lingxiu Hall who is most likely and most qualified to compete for the remaining two spots.
At this moment, on the central training field of Lingxiu Hall, Qin Shuang was practicing her sword.
Her sword technique was like flowing clouds and moving water, yet also like a violent storm, the sword light flashing, bringing about bursts of air-piercing sounds.
With every thrust of the sword, it contained sharp Internal Energy, tearing the air apart.
Chen Meng and a group of Junior Sisters stood by the side of the field, watching quietly.
"Eldest Senior Sister's 'Falling Petals Sword Technique' is truly becoming more and more exquisite."
"Yes, look at that move 'Splendid Blossoms.' Under the shroud of sword light, who can resist?"
"In this selection tournament, Eldest Senior Sister will definitely get a spot!"
The Senior Sisters discussed in low voices, their eyes full of admiration and expectation.
Chen Meng also looked at the white-clad figure in the field, nodding inwardly.
Qin Shuang's strength was indeed far beyond all her peers she had seen, even a notch stronger than the Eldest Senior Brother of the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall back then.
"Speaking of which, what exactly is the background of that Li Qing who was directly invited by the City Lord?"
A Senior Sister suddenly mentioned that name again.
"Who knows." Lin Wei curled her lips, her tone carrying a hint of disdain and bitterness.
"To make the City Lord make such an exception, he must not be an ordinary person."
"I guess he's definitely a descendant of some hidden aristocratic family, or simply a junior of some big shot passing through Jinling City, who was discovered by the City Lord and wanted to use this to build a good relationship."
"Hmm, that makes sense. Otherwise, there's no way to explain it," another person echoed.
"How could a place like the Iron Bone Martial Arts School Cultivate such a monster? He must just be registered there in name only."
"Hmph, no matter what his background is."
"When we reach the stage of the Great Xia Martial Competition, whether he's a Dragon or a worm will naturally be revealed."
"I don't believe he can really be stronger than Eldest Senior Sister!"
Everyone discussed animatedly, generally agreeing with the "mysterious Genius" theory.
This seemed to be the only reasonable explanation they could accept.
Chen Meng listened quietly without joining in.
She also hoped it was so.
But... whenever the night was quiet, the figure of the young man who had looked at her calmly in the Slum would always uncontrollably surface in her mind.
Those eyes, as still as an ancient well, seemed to hide a bottomless ocean.
She shook her head and stopped thinking about it.
"I'm really crazy, how could I link them together."
She mocked herself in her heart.