Zhu Yanyan looked at the young man before her, dressed in a suit with long, black, waterfall-like hair, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
The young man had a strange mark between his brows and a calm demeanor, appearing as ordinary as any mortal.
When she first met him a few years ago, he was an unknown individual whose profound medical skills had brought him into contact with her Zhu family.
She had once harbored feelings for him, but at the time, she was proud and unwilling to make the first move, wanting Chen Jiuyang to approach her.
However, circumstances had changed rapidly. His growth speed and the events that transpired in the interim caused her Zhu family to cease contact with Chen Jiuyang, and her affection for him was thus buried deep in her heart.
In just a few years, his reputation had spread far and wide, and he was now a prominent figure in the demonic path, his every action capable of stirring up trouble.
Though she resided in Fengcheng, she often heard news about him.
After several years without seeing each other, he had come to see her.
A moment later, Zhu Yanyan smiled and said, "I apologize for my rudeness just now. It's been a long time, Brother Chen."
Chen Jiuyang smiled slightly and replied, "It's been a few years, Miss Zhu. You remain as radiant and captivating as ever."
Zhu Yanyan's lips curved upward slightly. "Brother Chen is truly a flatterer. Are not all of Brother Chen's many confidantes beauties of unparalleled allure?"
"Hahaha." Chen Jiuyang, much like an ordinary person whose ticklish spot had been found, burst into laughter, then said, "Thank you for your kind words, Miss Zhu."
Seeing the myriad of forces spread across the mountainside, and knowing that the person before her was a powerful figure of the demonic path, Zhu Yanyan inquired, "Brother Chen, have you come for the遗迹洞府 (yíjì dòngfǔ -遗迹洞府) of the Imperial Realm expert?"
Chen Jiuyang glanced at the crowds streaming in from all directions and replied, "Yes and no. I will not interfere with the Imperial Realm遗迹洞府, but my sect's disciples may venture in."
Zhu Yanyan observed that she had indeed seen elders from the True Demon Sect leading some disciples into the遗迹洞府 earlier.
She then asked, "Then, Brother Chen, what brings you here?"
Chen Jiuyang smiled faintly and said, "I cannot tell you for now, Miss Zhu. Let us consider this a meeting between old acquaintances."
Zhu Yanyan gazed deeply at Chen Jiuyang, a sense of unease stirring within her. With his current esteemed status, if he wasn't here for the遗迹洞府, then it must be for something else.
What could possibly warrant his personal visit?
She suppressed her anxious speculation and said softly, "Alright."
It would be opportune to gather some information from him.
Although the Zhu family had become active again, she knew little about the upper echelms of the Immortal and Martial realms.
She began to ask, "Brother Chen, in your opinion, what are the major powers in the current Dragon Country, and who are the experts and prodigies?"
Chen Jiuyang spoke eloquently, "The major powers in the Dragon Country are divided into several tiers."
"In my eyes, there are three."
"The third tier comprises the ancient families and sects scattered across various regions, each occupying their own corner."
"The second tier consists of families that are affiliated with the Five Great Sacred Lands or our Demonic Path."
"The first tier includes the Five Great Sacred Lands, our Demonic Path sects, the Nine Forbidden Zones, and their associated taboo families."
"In the current era, experts are also divided into three classes."
"The third class includes those below the Martial Dao Venerable Realm and the Immortal Dao Harmonization Stage. Without reaching the Venerable Realm in Martial Dao, it is difficult to establish oneself."
"The second class is like myself."
"The first class consists of beings like the Yan Emperor and the rulers of the Five Great Sacred Lands."
Chen Jiuyang concisely provided a general classification of the current powers in the Dragon Country.
Zhu Yanyan was inwardly shaken. Someone of Chen Jiuyang's caliber was merely second-rate in the current Dragon Country?
Was he speaking the truth, or was it modesty?
Chen Jiuyang took in her reaction. The Zhu family's foundation was ultimately too shallow. Although they had investors, their vision was still insufficient. He explained, "It is not my modesty; it is indeed the truth."
"However, I heard that the Jixia Academy, by utilizing the Confucian Ancestral Artifact, is about to release three rankings, encompassing all the powers in the Dragon Country."
"You will know soon enough."
Before the current great era, the Six Gates had established the潛龍榜 (qiánlóng bǎng -潛龍榜) based on their intelligence.
Now, they were to release the 錦繡榜 (jǐnxiù bǎng -錦繡榜), the 山河榜 (shānhé bǎng -山河榜), and the 天下榜 (tiānxià bǎng -天下榜).
The 錦繡榜 would encompass the most outstanding individuals at the Heavenly Realm and below.
The 山河榜 would include those at the Martial Dao Venerable Realm and the Immortal Dao Harmonization Stage and below.
The 天下榜 would be for first-rate experts starting from the Martial Dao Imperial Realm and the Immortal Dao Harmonization Stage and above.
The hidden secrets of Earth were no less than those of the Northern Dipper Star in the Minor Immortal Realm. With the advent of the Golden Age, prodigies like him were striving to enter the Imperial Realm, as were the various powers on Earth and in the Minor Immortal Realm.
Earth was the starting point of the Human Emperor's path. In the future, Earth would be like it was in the distant past, with prodigies from myriad races descending to contend for the Emperor's path.
Listening to Chen Jiuyang's explanations of various secrets and information, Zhu Yanyan was profoundly shocked. Such information was beyond the current reach of the Zhu family.
It was only because she had a past connection with Chen Jiuyang that she could learn of it through his words.
After processing the information, Zhu Yanyan felt that while her younger brother's talent was a good thing in the short term, over a longer timeline, the Zhu family's lack of foundation would be a disadvantage and a weakness.
She tentatively asked Chen Jiuyang, "Brother Chen, my brother, Zhu Zhaoming, is a Martial Dao prodigy... but he has no power to rely on... I have thought long and hard, and I wish for my brother to apprentice himself to a certain power. In Brother Chen's view, how should he make this choice?"
Just like Chen Jiuyang back then, once he became famous in a short period, many powers sought him out. However, her Zhu family was, after all, a military family. At the current stage, no one dared to force her Zhu family, and she had politely declined their offers to consider.
Chen Jiuyang chuckled, "You are quite adept at using a situation to your advantage."
Her thoughts exposed by Chen Jiuyang, Zhu Yanyan's pretty face flushed slightly. "Brother Chen, please forgive me. If Brother Chen is unwilling to say, I will not press further."
Indeed, she had been too bold. Given Chen Jiuyang's current status, how many dared to take advantage of him?
Even when Chen Jiuyang was in the Earth Realm, he wouldn't dare to question a Venerable Realm expert in such a manner.
Chen Jiuyang said meaningfully, "After this matter is concluded, bring me to meet your grandfather."
Zhu Yanyan was first stunned, then her expression lit up with joy. "Brother Chen, do you mean it?"
Chen Jiuyang's words led her to believe that her brother had caught Chen Jiuyang's eye. If the discussion went well, her brother Zhu Zhaoming might be able to apprentice himself to Chen Jiuyang.
Chen Jiuyang replied, "Of course, I mean it. However, it will depend on your brother's performance."
He intended to observe the reactions of the Five Great Sacred Lands first. If they made any moves, he would certainly intervene.
There were too many prodigies, even within the Demonic Path, with the resurgence of various sequential prodigies and thousands of true disciples.
Like Chen Jiuyang, the Five Great Sacred Lands had sent many people, but they remained on standby, awaiting news from the遗迹洞府.
With the Five Great Sacred Lands and the Demonic Path forces present, other powers also behaved themselves, not daring to stir up trouble.