"A grave insult!"
"Once I step into the Imperial Path, this Holy Son will surely flay alive that Chen Jiuyang!!!"
In the stream of light rushing back to the capital, Xia Daosheng, Mu Yunhai, Xia Yunzhui, Duan Longguang, Jin Gongque, and Chen Rushen all wore extremely grim expressions.
Five years ago, they were suppressed by Chen Jiuyang. Five years later, they were once again forcefully suppressed by him.
This time, they hadn't even exchanged blows!
For prodigies like them, who were accustomed to being at the top, this was an indelible disgrace.
En Fuben, who was healing, had her expression return to calm, but her heart was still uneasy. She spoke to them, "From now on, do not make things difficult for those retired Human Kings, especially those connected to Qianyang."
"A man's wealth is his own ruin, why should we let them off?" Xia Daosheng said with a cold face.
En Fuben raised an eyebrow and said, "Holy Son can challenge Qianyang himself, and then deal with those retired Human Kings and Sword Bearers."
"He held back when he fought me just now, letting us go was his way of telling us not to trouble those Human Kings anymore, not to involve innocent people."
"Otherwise, do you Holy Sons truly believe he couldn't have kept us?"
"Five years have passed. He is at the twelfth layer of the Venerable Realm, a supreme mighty figure, not the seventh layer of the Venerable Realm from back then."
"Given his nature, if you continue to trouble those retired Human Kings, I will not intervene to help you again."
"Do you think I don't know what you're saying?" Xia Daosheng's expression grew colder. He was simply unwilling to accept it.
Why should a rebel from humble origins be able to defeat his superiors?
"We will step into the Imperial Path soon and then settle this karma."
The others fell silent. After a long while, Chen Rushen spoke, "Then, as Fuben said, let those retired Human Kings live out their remaining years in peace."
Xia Daosheng glared at Chen Rushen, but ultimately, he uttered not a single word.
...
Wu Family Residence.
The great battle vanished, and the heavens and earth returned to peace. The vast snow began to fall again.
Chen Jiuyang sheathed his saber and slowly walked to the entrance of the mansion, smiling, "Is the tea ready?"
Zhou Fangzun smiled, "It is just right."
"Hahahaha!" Chen Jiuyang let out a hearty laugh.
Past grievances were smoothed over with a cup of tea.
Having not seen these old friends for a long time, they sat down for tea and reminisced.
The five of the six renowned Human Kings of the former Dragon Kingdom were reunited here. If only Emperor Yan were present, they would have celebrated heartily.
Gong Liexian put down his spear, changed into a qipao and ancient attire, and sat to the side, playing a graceful guqin melody.
With Chen Jiuyang present, what ordinary forces would dare to provoke them?
It allowed their recently taut nerves to finally relax.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Does Emperor Yan truly not care about you?"
King Gong sighed, "Brother Yan is severely injured. Firstly, he has to prevent the demons of the Fallen Immortal Cliff from wreaking havoc in the mortal world, and secondly, the five great sacred lands are like thorns in his side. He is preoccupied with his own affairs, how can he possibly attend to us?"
Chen Jiuyang had been focused on breaking through his cultivation for the past five years, only spending his free time with his family.
Chen Jiuyang couldn't help but sigh, "This situation cannot continue. How is Old Master Wu?"
Huangfu Ruisheng shook his head, "He is at his last breath, only experiencing a final surge of vitality. He is currently in a coma."
Previously, Old Master Wu still had some strength. As a Venerable Realm expert, wielding the Human King Sword, a semi-ancestral artifact, he could protect them. But now, he could not.
Chen Jiuyang said, "After Old Master Wu passes away, you should relocate to a distant place and find a small settlement to live in seclusion."
With the current conflict between righteous and demonic forces, if Chen Jiuyang took them in and protected them, it would only cause trouble.
Moreover, these individuals were all proud and unyielding. How could they accept such charity from Chen Jiuyang? This would be like breaking their spirit.
Just like Chen Jiuyang in his humble beginnings, no matter how difficult the circumstances, he always stood tall and lived on.
Without the backing of a major power, one had to drift like duckweed, or find a secluded corner and stay out of the great world's conflicts.
King Gong said, "We were thinking the same. We wanted to find a place to break through to the Venerable Realm, but alas... alas..."
The dignified King Gong showed a hint of helplessness and embarrassment.
The higher one climbed, the more one needed wealth, companions, methods, and a suitable environment.
"This is simple," Chen Jiuyang said with a smile. "I have a pharmaceutical company in Feng Province. It has been of no use to me all these years, so I will gift it to you."
"You can also gather your former subordinates. There are no major powers in Feng Province, and it is far from the five great sacred lands. It is quite suitable for you now."
"Fengcheng, then." Zhou Fangzun pondered, "That might work."
He still had some unresolved questions in his heart that remained in Fengcheng.
Huangfu Ruisheng and Ye Bumei cupped their fists and bowed, "In that case, we will trouble King Qian..."
The title "King Qian"...
Only these few people, who had a connection with him, could address him as such.
Chen Jiuyang said, "The great era has arrived. You should cultivate diligently. First, strive with all your might in martial arts. If martial arts do not suffice, then switch to immortal cultivation. In any case, it is an additional opportunity."
At this moment, a young disciple of the Wu family came out and said, "The old master has woken up and wishes to see everyone."
"A final surge of vitality... everyone, please make haste..."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions became complex.
The heroes of yesteryear, the Sword Bearers of Longjing, were renowned, guarding the capital for sixty years. After the revival of the great era, they could have chosen to transition from martial arts to immortal cultivation, but Old Master Wu did not wish to.
They could understand Old Master Wu's intentions, but even so, their hearts felt a pang of sadness.
The five stood up and headed to Old Master Wu's bedroom.
Old Master Wu did not look like an old man on the verge of death. He was not lying in bed but was dressed and sitting in a grand armchair, holding a cup of tea.
Seeing Chen Jiuyang, Gong Jingmeng, Zhou Fangzun, Ye Bumei, and Huangfu Ruisheng enter, a smile appeared on his weathered old face, and his eyes held a look of relief:
"You're here. Please, take a seat."
The group sat down again. They could all see that Old Master Wu was truly in the final stage of his final surge of vitality.
"I have no regrets in my life. I rose with the winds, moved with the winds, and settled the mountains and rivers with the winds. I was fortunate enough to personally witness the revival of the great era and the prosperity of the nation. I couldn't hold on a few years ago, but I couldn't pass until I saw the Wind and Cloud Envoys protect the common people."
"The Guardian system has successfully replaced the King and Sword Bearer systems, and it can better restrain the five great sacred lands, ensuring the common people are not affected by immortal martial transcendents. I feel as though all the shackles on my body have been removed."
"I summoned you here because I want to see you one last time, and to decide the ownership of the Human King Sword in my hand."
"This is an item passed down by the Human Kings since the establishment of the King and Sword Bearer systems. For tens of thousands of years, it has been revered by successive Human Kings and Sword Bearers. It is a semi-ancestral artifact."
"This sword carries great significance. If, one day, the five great sacred lands cease to exist, and the Guardian system ceases to exist, this sword alone can be used to rebuild the King and Sword Bearer systems."
Hiss.
Even Chen Jiuyang couldn't help but gasp. The others were even more astonished.
The might of a semi-ancestral artifact sword was so astonishing?
No wonder the five great sacred lands were willing to fight for it without regard for their reputation.
"This sword is passed down personally by each generation of Sword Bearers; otherwise, no one can wield it."
"This is the last thing I must do before I die."