Chapter 1051: The Imperial Palace

After hearing the young eunuch's intelligence report, Li Qing stroked his chin, then waved his hand, dismissing the eunuch, who left as if he had been granted a royal pardon.

"So it's all imperial relatives and nobles. Even the princes are willing to compete personally for the Black Iron Token. It seems the temptation of the Xuantian Secret Treasure is far greater than I imagined."

"However, I don't need to worry about these princes and grandsons. It's the cultivators recommended by the other two princes that deserve my caution."

After all, he had only recently reached the Void Refinement Realm and was still at the early stage. Even with his various trump cards, he couldn't afford to be careless against late-stage Void Refinement cultivators.

Before entering the palace, he had already quietly investigated. The Great Yu Kingdom's imperial clan was a royal family blessed by a True Spirit and held some of the Qilin's inheritance.

The Great Yu Kingdom's enduring stability on the Azure Profound Continent was not only due to the true spirit's favor but also because its Grand Ancestor Emperor was still alive—a reclusive Great Ascension Realm cultivator who had not appeared in the world for many years.

With these two factors, the Great Yu Kingdom's position was as steady as a mountain.

After learning who his competitors would be the next day, Li Qing stopped his wandering thoughts and began to meditate and regulate his breath.

Within the deep palace, he dared not wander freely, fearing he might inadvertently trigger some taboo and bring death upon himself.

The next morning, a piercing eagle's cry echoed through the air, startling Li Qing from his meditative slumber.

He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his pupils, and slowly rose to his feet.

Soon, a eunuch arrived at his cave abode to escort him. It wasn't the same eunuch who had been favored by the Ninth Prince the day before, but a different one. However, all these eunuchs had such smooth, pale skin and delicate features that it was easy to confuse them.

"Senior, the Grand Competition is about to begin. Please follow me to the Dao Discussion Arena," the eunuch said in a low voice.

Li Qing casually tossed him a mid-grade spirit stone and said, "Thank you for your trouble. Please lead the way."

Thus, he followed the eunuch's guidance, passing through yet another series of palace courtyards.

Finally, a vast Dao Platform appeared before their eyes. This was the Dao Discussion Platform within the Imperial Palace.

High-tier restrictions were arrayed all around it, and even the entire platform was forged from several types of spirit gold, making it indestructible.

With several high-cultivation ministers and princes suppressing the area, even a battle at the Void Refinement Realm could be contained here without affecting the surrounding territories.

As soon as Li Qing arrived, he saw Prince Ning of the Ning Dynasty, clad in a purple python robe, beckoning him over.

Naturally, Li Qing didn't dare be negligent. He walked forward, cupped his fists, and said, "This junior greets Senior Prince Ning!"

Prince Ning clasped his hands behind his back and chuckled. "Hmm. You've prepared for dozens of days. Do you have the confidence to win that Black Iron Small Shield?"

"If you lose in the end, don't you dare say this Prince deceived you."

Li Qing lowered his head slightly. "How would this junior dare! Senior Prince Ning is overthinking it."

Before Prince Ning could speak, a young man who looked to be about his age slowly walked over from the side.

Li Qing was startled when he looked. This person was actually wearing a golden robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon!

He instinctively assumed this was the Emperor of the Great Yu Kingdom, but the man's next words made him even more shocked.

"Heh heh, nephew, is this the one you recommended? He doesn't look like much," the young man in the golden robe chuckled softly.

"Uncle Huai, my subordinates aren't as numerous or talented as yours. Finding someone at the Void Refinement Realm is already quite a feat," Prince Ning said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Prince Huai!

The third son of the current Great Yu Kingdom's Emperor, he had been granted a fief and the title of Prince Huai after advancing to the Body Integration Realm. He now garrisoned the vast southeastern territories of the Great Yu Kingdom.

Li Qing's eyelids twitched, but he quickly suppressed his astonishment.

The Great Yu Dynasty revered the Qilin. A dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon did not symbolize the imperial throne.

As long as it wasn't a Qilin, it meant nothing.

"Nephew, you joke. Your Jianglin and Danyang Prefectures are blessed with abundant talent and spiritual energy. I heard you recently hunted a great serpent in Danyang. I was wondering if I could borrow some of its essence blood to use as a medicinal catalyst. Once the pill is finished, I can give you one as payment."

Prince Ning shook his head. "Third Uncle, if you asked for the great serpent's essence blood, I should have presented it with both hands. How could I dare ask for payment? Unfortunately, I used all of it to temper my body recently. There isn't a single drop left."

"Third Uncle, if you don't mind, could I cut my wrist and give you some of my own blood to use for your medicine instead?"

At these words, Prince Huai's expression stiffened slightly, a flash of coldness crossing his eyes. He said slowly, "Heh, one's body, hair, and skin are received from one's parents. How could I dare let my nephew slit his own wrist to draw blood?"

"Oh, I forgot. My imperial brother passed away early. But even so, nephew, you should still cherish your own body."

Prince Ning remained impassive, neither provoked nor angered by these words. He lowered his eyelids and said word by word, "Thank you for your concern, Third Uncle."

When words no longer serve a purpose, it's best to say nothing. Prince Huai sneered, said no more, and turned to leave immediately.

As for Li Qing, who was standing to the side, he wished he could stuff cotton in his ears and pretend he hadn't heard a thing.

All imperial royalty with extraordinary bloodlines, yet their hidden struggles are so fierce.

If this were an ordinary imperial dynasty, it would be one thing. But the Great Yu Dynasty was exceptionally powerful, and these princes were all Body Integration Realm experts. In the future, they might even have a chance to inherit the throne.

"Phew... This Prince didn't have much of an obsession with that Black Iron Small Shield before, but now I find myself wanting to seize it."

"Little Friend Limitless, if you encounter the candidate my Third Uncle recommends after you make your debut, you are only allowed to win, not lose."

Prince Ning let out a long breath, then produced a blood-red medicinal pill from his hand and secretly pressed it into Li Qing's palm.

Feeling the smooth object in his palm, Li Qing's expression tightened. "Senior Prince Ning, what is this?"

Prince Ning didn't look at Li Qing, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. "The Blood Boiling Pill. It's refined using the true blood of several ferocious beasts as a medicinal catalyst. Once consumed, it will send your qi and blood into a berserk state, multiplying your physical strength."

"I've observed that your physical cultivation is quite impressive. This pill should be of considerable help."

"Though it will have some side effects afterward, I believe that's nothing compared to that Black Iron Token."

A pill that temporarily boosts one's strength, Li Qing thought, his lips twitching slightly. He asked, "Senior Prince Ning, isn't it improper to use such a pill?"

"Are there no rules at all for this Dao Discussion competition?"

Prince Ning stared straight ahead. "Rules? Those are meant to restrain the weak. When the time comes, just insist it's a secret technique from your own cultivation. I will vouch for you. Who would dare say anything?"

Li Qing broke into a cold sweat. I'll try to avoid using it if I can, he thought. If I anger the Emperor, I'm afraid Prince Ning won't be able to protect me.

As if reading Li Qing's thoughts, Prince Ning said solemnly, "Rest assured, His Majesty will not attend the ceremony. He is deeply immersed in his Dao cultivation; how could he possibly pay attention to such matters?"