89: Aftermath and New Challengers
His hand gripped the armrest so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
He had imagined that Li Qing's talent was immense, but he never dreamed that Li Qing could be strong to such an extent!
What kind of method was this?
It wasn't Internal Energy, nor was it Protective Aura.
It was pure... strength!
Condensing strength to the extreme, detonating the air from a distance to form a devastating blow!
Was this something an ordinary person could achieve?
Only those with exceptional Innate Divine Strength could do such a thing.
City Lord Zhuang Bai was overjoyed.
It was settled.
Jinling City's position in this martial arts competition was secure!
His own path to promotion was also secure!
On the arena stage, Qin Shuang's eternally icy and beautiful face was now filled with shock.
For the first time, cold sweat seeped from the hand she held her sword hilt with.
She asked herself, and the answer was that she absolutely could not have blocked that punch just now.
She wouldn't have even had time to react.
As for Chen Meng, she was completely dumbfounded.
Her mouth hung open as she stared blankly at that cloud of blood mist, then looked at the youth on the viewing platform who had retracted his fist and sat back down, as if he had merely crushed an ant.
A chill originating from the depths of her Soul made her entire body feel ice-cold.
So... this was his true strength?
The gap between them had actually reached such a point... she was utterly fragile.
Li Qing had said just now that Duan Lang wasn't qualified.
Now, everyone understood the meaning behind those words.
It wasn't arrogance.
It was simply stating a cold and cruel fact.
One punch, from fifty meters away, had obliterated a Peak Condensing Essence Realm Genius!
The impact of this scene was devastating.
After a full minute of deathly silence, the entire Martial Arena erupted like a vat of oil into which explosives had been thrown!
“Heavens! What did I just see!”
“One punch, and Duan Lang is just gone?!”
“What kind of martial art was that? Some immortal technique?”
“Too terrifying!”
“This Li Qing isn't human at all; he's a monster!”
Shocking!
Those young Martial Artists who had previously harbored resentment toward Li Qing were now ashen-faced and as quiet as cicadas in winter.
They felt lucky they hadn't jumped out like Duan Lang just now.
Otherwise, they would have been part of that blood mist on the arena stage.
Furthermore, the Li Qing before them was far too brutal.
Duan Lang might have been a bit arrogant.
But his crime didn't warrant death!
On the viewing platform, the Head of the Baizhang Martial Arts School had completely slumped into his seat, his eyes vacant as he muttered to himself, clearly having suffered a mental breakdown.
He was finished.
The Baizhang Martial Arts School was also finished.
He had originally thought that even if he offended the City Lord,
as long as Duan Lang could demonstrate his strength,
and prove his value,
combined with the school coming down to offer apologies,
the City Lord might not punish them too severely for the sake of the bigger picture.
He never expected Duan Lang to be killed with a single punch!
City Lord Zhuang Bai's face was now flushed crimson.
While stormy waves were also churning in his heart, what he felt more was a sense of wild joy!
He had bet correctly!
He had made the right gamble!
This Li Qing was a hundred times more of a Prodigy than he had imagined!
This was a true Prodigy!
A Qilin child capable of stirring up storms even within the Great Xia Dynasty!
As long as he could build a good relationship with him, Jinling City's future status would be limitless!
He himself could use this opportunity to seek a higher Breakthrough!
Thinking of this, the look of appreciation in Zhuang Bai's eyes as he looked at Li Qing was almost overflowing.
He cleared his throat, his voice infused with Internal Energy, instantly suppressing the noise of the entire venue.
“The competition continues!”
“Duan Lang's open provocation made his death well-deserved!”
“The Baizhang Martial Arts School has failed in its teaching. Effective immediately, its qualification to teach martial arts in Jinling City is revoked, and all its properties are to be seized!”
Zhuang Bai's voice was cold and decisive, instantly settling the matter.
This was both a punishment and a gesture of goodwill toward Li Qing.
No one dared to object.
Soon, Guards from the City Lord's Mansion stepped forward to drag away the terrified Head of the Baizhang Martial Arts School and sent others to clean the bloodstains from the arena.
The disturbance seemed to have settled.
But everyone knew that some things had changed forever.
From this day on, the name Li Qing would become a symbol of brutality in the hearts of all Martial Artists in Jinling City.
The drawing of lots continued.
However, the subsequent matches became dull and uninteresting.
A hint of distraction was visible on the faces of all the contestants.
Li Qing's punch had already crushed their Battle Intent and pride.
In the face of such overwhelming combat power, how ridiculous did the Martial Artist Ranks and Martial Skills they were so proud of seem?
They were fighting to the death here for a single slot.
Yet that person only needed one punch to decide their life or death.
This massive sense of disparity left everyone feeling powerless.
Only a Genius of this caliber could truly shine in the martial arts competition!
The competition proceeded in an orderly fashion, with people constantly being eliminated and others advancing.
Zhao Cheng of the Feiyun Martial Arts Hall successfully advanced to the next round, relying on his eerie movement techniques and ruthless Moves.
But there wasn't a trace of joy on his face; instead, he frequently stole glances at Li Qing on the viewing platform with a look of terror.
He was now incredibly grateful that he hadn't followed along when Duan Lang went to cause trouble.
Finally, the last match of the first round began.
The two sides facing off were Qin Shuang of Lingxiu Hall and a staff-wielding expert from the Wang Clan Martial Arts School.
That expert was also a Late-stage Condensing Essence Realm powerhouse with impressive strength.
But when facing Qin Shuang, he couldn't even muster the courage to attack.
Though Late-stage and Peak Condensing Essence Realm were only one Realm apart,
in terms of technique mastery and the application of Internal Energy,
he was far inferior to Qin Shuang!
“The match begins!”
As the referee gave the order, the expert let out a roar to bolster his courage. The long staff in his hand danced with a fierce wind, turning into a sky full of shadows that crashed down.
Facing this storm-like attack, Qin Shuang just stood there quietly.
It wasn't until the moment before the staff shadows reached her that she finally moved.
“Clang—”
A clear, high-pitched sword hum rang out.
No one saw how she drew her sword.
They only saw a white streak of light, fast to the extreme, flash through the air.
In the next second, the sky full of staff shadows vanished into thin air.
The expert stood frozen in place, maintaining his staff-swinging posture, motionless.
A thin line of blood appeared between his eyebrows.
Meanwhile, Qin Shuang had already sheathed her sword, as if she had never moved.
“Thud.”
The expert fell straight over, already dead.
An instant kill!
Another clean and efficient instant kill!
If Li Qing's instant kill was about dominance, destruction, and instilling fear,
then Qin Shuang's instant kill was about elegance, precision, and leaving people in awe.
The entire venue erupted into enthusiastic cheers once again.
“Fairy Qin Shuang! Well done!”
“Too strong! This is the true demeanor of our Jinling City's number one Genius!”
In martial arts duels,
blades and swords have no eyes.
Death and disability are the norm!
After experiencing the terrifying oppression brought by Li Qing, Qin Shuang's stunning performance gave everyone an outlet for their emotions.