The winds of change blew.
The Jinxiu Ranking, the Shanhe Ranking, and the Tianxia Ranking had been updated countless times.
Chen Jiuyang was currently at the twelfth level of the Venerable Realm, having gathered the five great origins of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. He was only one step away from forging his furnace and ascending to the Imperial Path.
However, his current ranking on the Shanhe Ranking was outside the top hundred.
If not for the escalating righteous-demonic war, with increasingly frequent conflicts, the world would have almost forgotten Chen Jiuyang's existence.
Just as Chen Jiuyang was preparing to set off again for the Lesser Immortal Realm, embarking on the final city of the Human King's path,
Something compelled him to travel to the capital.
His last visit to Longjing was almost ten years ago.
At that time, he went to the capital to survive, to participate in the Dragon Country's Martial Ranking.
This time, however, it was because the Sword Bearer of Longjing was nearing his end. After nine years of absence, the old man, renowned in the previous era, was reaching the end of his life.
...
A hundred miles outside Longcheng was a city conventionally designated for the gathering of immortal and martial practitioners, where they were forbidden from disturbing mortals.
On one side stood rows of tall buildings, filled with airplanes and cars, while on the other side was something entirely different.
With the rise of the Guardian system, mortals were no longer easy prey for the immortal and martial transcendent beings.
The great waves washed away the sand, and the era sifted the people.
The Sword Bearer of Longjing was growing old, but the Half-Ancestor artifact he once wielded, representing the Sword Bearer system, the Human King Sword, had become the target of many.
Even before he had drawn his last breath, people were already coming to contend for it.
The Sword Bearer of Longjing was named Wu Mu. He hailed from a military family in the capital region, having served the nation for hundreds of years. After the Human King era passed, his family returned to this old residence to live a peaceful life.
"Hand over the Human King Sword, and your Wu family will remain unharmed."
Talents who had ascended the Jinxiu Ranking and the Shanhe Ranking arrived in groups.
"What utter nonsense! The moment the Forbidden City abandoned us, you dared to trouble our Wu family. If my grandfather were awake, would you dare to show yourselves?"
"Innocent possession is a crime. The Human King Sword is not something your Wu family can possess."
"Stubborn fool, attack, kill!"
Zhou Fangzun, Ye Bumei, and Huangfu Ruiqi, the three former Human Kings of Long Country, were currently residing near the Wu family, seeking warmth in unity and wishing to spend their remaining years peacefully.
But the times had changed, and they had no choice.
"Rumble!!!"
Powerful auras erupted, and blood mist exploded.
Zhou Fangzun stood at the main entrance, sword in hand, his expression solemn. "Brother Ye, Brother Huangfu, I will guard the main gate, you two guard the other areas."
"Then it is up to you."
"Very well."
The once illustrious Human Kings, due to the implementation of the Yan Emperor's Guardian plan, had now fallen to the mortal realm. In this era where strength reigned supreme, they were being surrounded and attacked by the emerging prodigies of the current wave.
"Old relics of the previous era, today you should be eliminated."
Mu Yunhai, holding a wine cup, said coldly with a sneer, "You may not be strong, but your words are quite bold."
Enfu Fuli floated in the air, her expression calm. "There's no need for this. Elder Wu has, after all, contributed his efforts to the great era."
Xia Daosheng scoffed coldly, "Fu Ben, don't be so soft-hearted. If we don't strive, we will sooner or later become nothing but bones and yellow sand."
"If this Human King Sword does not fall into our hands, perhaps in the future, someone will kill us with this sword!"
Enfu Ben frowned and remained silent. The great era had begun, with various factions vying for supremacy. Without reaching the Imperial Path, one could not even enter the fray.
The big fish ate the small fish, and the small fish ate the shrimp.
Mu Yunhai flicked his wine cup, and a golden light shot out.
Overbearing true liquid spiritual energy surged towards Zhou Fangzun.
Zhou Fangzun's divine might attack was like paper in the face of this casual move. It was shattered in an instant. The wine cup exploded, turning into dozens of fragments that pierced into Zhou Fangzun's body.
"Chit! Chit! Chit!"
In the blink of an eye, Zhou Fangzun suffered severe injuries, causing the Wu family members to change color in shock.
"Venerable Realm prodigy of the Shanhe Ranking!!"
"Zhou Fangzun, considering your past service to us, this move spares your life. Be sensible and retreat." Mu Yunhai said coldly.
Zhou Fangzun, bleeding, stood his ground and refused to retreat. His face contorted in pain, and his brows furrowed. "Are you mistaken about something? Even though I was a Human King, I served the people of Long Country, not the Five Great Sacred Lands."
"Now that the Five Great Sacred Lands are acting like this, are they not afraid of being branded as cruel, leading to widespread public resentment and the subversion of the Sacred Lands?"
"Seeking death!"
Mu Yunhai's expression darkened. He channeled his true liquid spiritual energy and raised his hand, about to unleash another attack.
How could he not know that the mention of widespread public resentment subverting the Sacred Lands referred to Chen Jiuyang?
The events of the past were now known to everyone, and there was nothing to hide.
A sonic wave, like a crane's cry, shot towards Zhou Fangzun.
"Boom!!!"
A Heavenly Dragon Silver Spear suddenly shot out from the residence, blocking the attack.
The former First King Gong Jingmeng and the Sword Bearer Gong Liexian appeared.
Gong Liexian, having recently ascended to the Venerable Realm, appeared and said, "Are you going too far?"
Upon seeing Gong Liexian's Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Spear, these prodigies thought of the Yan Emperor, the Guardians, and Chen Jiuyang.
Mu Yunhai, Xia Daosheng, Xia Yunzhui, Duan Longguang, Jin Gongque, Chen Rushen, and others all had grim expressions.
Although the Yan Emperor was now heavily injured, he had established the Guardian system, creating a tripartite balance of power within Long Country and restraining the influence of the Five Great Sacred Lands. The Five Great Sacred Lands desperately wanted the Yan Emperor dead, but he was not yet completely depleted, making it difficult to completely tear down the facade.
And this Gong King had a close relationship with the Yan Emperor, being related by marriage. Gong Liexian was even the Yan Emperor's niece.
If they were to kill her, it would likely lead to considerable trouble.
"Gong Jingmeng, Gong Liexian!"
Swish!
Mu Yunhai's true liquid spiritual energy surged, his eyes cold, revealing killing intent. "I advise you not to meddle, lest you damage the relationship between the Sacred Lands and the Guardians."
"This is where my father and uncles reside in their old age. Are you truly determined to make a move?"
Gong Liexian's expression was icy, her heart tense, and her true liquid spiritual energy also surged, but her brows were tightly furrowed.
Although she had ascended to the Venerable Realm and could barely be called a prodigy, facing these revived super prodigies of the Five Great Sacred Lands, she was truly insignificant.
"Since you are obstinate and court death, then you cannot blame me." Mu Yunhai said.
"It seems that with the Guardian system in place, you truly do not take the Sacred Lands seriously." Xia Daosheng said coldly, stepping forward slowly:
"Who dares to refuse what the Five Great Sacred Lands desire?"
"Do not think that because you are related to the Yan Emperor, we will not act."
"The Yan Emperor is also nearing his end. He cannot protect himself, let alone protect you?"
"Brother Xia speaks the truth." Mu Yunhai nodded slowly.
Xia Daosheng said slowly, "Do you kill her, or do I?"
"Since Brother Xia is willing, then this woman is yours to kill. It will not spoil Brother Xia's interest."
The two spoke as if they did not regard Gong Liexian or the others at all, making their expressions extremely unpleasant.
However, as Mu Yunhai's voice fell, a sentence drifted over with the wind:
"Stop arguing, I will kill her."
Everyone turned at the sound, and their expressions collectively changed.
How could it be him!