"Ultimately, a former acquaintance."
Chen Jiuyang raised a finger, and immense immortal light erupted, enveloping Gong Liexian's body.
"Your martial path has reached its end, why not switch to immortal cultivation earlier?"
"It seems you didn't heed my words back then."
The spiritual energy in the heavens and earth suddenly surged, pouring into Gong Liexian's body.
"This is..." The scholar of Jixia Academy's pupils contracted sharply: "Forcibly transitioning an ancestor from martial to immortal, what kind of heaven-defying method is this..."
"What is this person's cultivation?" The current guardian envoy was equally shocked.
Immediately, the two exchanged glances, seeing a hint of relief. It seemed this Chen Jiuyang harbored no ill will and had a good relationship with their ancestor, Gong Liexian.
Chen Jiuyang was a peerless prodigy, cultivating with all his might in the Crippled Elder Village for eight thousand nine hundred years. Guess what stage his cultivation had reached?
Chen Jiuyang said to the scholar and the guardian envoy, "It will take a little longer, please have a seat."
The guardian envoy cupped his fists and bowed, "Thank you, Mr. Chen, for saving our guardian envoy ancestor."
Chen Jiuyang said lightly, "It's nothing. I had good relations with the first and second generation guardian envoys back then."
The guardian envoy said, "Sir is a man of great talent, are you willing to serve as a national pillar of Huaxia?"
A smile played on Chen Jiuyang's lips, "You junior, your audacity to set your sights on me is quite considerable."
The scholar said with a smile, "From your words and the ancestor's description of you, Sir is also a patriotic person, so it is natural to inquire."
Chen Jiuyang slowly shook his head, "I merely wish to find a quiet corner and live a peaceful life."
"As for the national pillar level, won't there be one once Gong Liexian awakens?"
"Those who do not share a karmic connection with me are not to disturb, otherwise, they shall be killed."
"Do you understand?"
As his words fell, space tore open.
Chen Jiuyang stepped into it and vanished.
The guardian envoy and the scholar looked at each other.
"This... is quite troublesome, what should we do?"
"Maintain the combat power information at the national pillar level, set his attitude to neutral, and do not provoke him."
The scholar nodded slowly, picked up a pen and paper, and wrote: "Chen Jiuyang, peerless prodigy of the previous era, with a deep connection to ancestor Gong Liexian, has lived for ten thousand years, combat power unknown, not to be provoked."
Thus, Chen Jiuyang's file was locked.
Chen Jiuyang traversed the spatial rift and returned to the old district of Qingzhu City.
Inside the martial arts school.
Several apprentices were practicing martial arts.
Yunei Zhu looked at Chen Jiuyang, "Master, where did you go just now?"
Chen Jiuyang lay by the entrance, smiling, "Just went for a stroll."
"Oh."
Yunei Zhu asked Chen Jiuyang, "Master Chen, can you take me as a disciple?"
This girl was very smart. She knew that after connecting with Chen Jiuyang, she could even skip the college entrance examination and attend a top-tier advanced institution in the imperial capital. From another perspective, if she could become Chen Jiuyang's disciple, her future achievements would be even greater.
Chen Jiuyang slowly said, "No."
Yunei Zhu's eyes widened as she asked, "Why?"
Chen Jiuyang rolled over, turning his back to Yunei Zhu, "My path cannot be passed down to just anyone; those without great destiny cannot become my disciples."
Yunei Zhu: "???"
Back in the golden age, the later Holy Lord of Chongming Sea was only a disciple of Chen Jiuyang. Apart from arranging a suitable marriage for Zhu Zhaoming, Chen Jiuyang taught him nothing.
Chen Jiuyang actually wanted to take a disciple, but the conditions were strict: a special divine body and great destiny were required.
Chen Jiuyang said, "Don't you have school to attend?"
Yunei Zhu replied, "I have already been admitted to a prestigious institution in the imperial capital."
"Before school starts in September, I will practice martial arts and learn from you diligently."
"Alright," Chen Jiuyang said, "As long as you pay the tuition, you can stay as long as you want."
Yunei Zhu had a strange feeling. Were all martial arts experts who had lived for ten thousand years like this, lazily lying around like salted fish?
Suddenly, Yunei Zhu's phone received a text message, and her expression changed slightly:
"There is a foreign deity in Qingzhu City. The guardian envoy department is already handling it. Citizens of Qingzhu City are advised to stay indoors after 6 PM!"
"Master, there's a deity in Qingzhu City, it's a bit frightening. Do you want to help out?"
"Oh." Chen Jiuyang scratched his back with one hand, flipping over in his lying position, much like a salted fish.
...
If humanity was the embodiment of the Great Dao, capable of stepping into various traditions.
Then the power of the demon race had multiple ways of utilization. For instance, by following the Buddhist path, they could absorb the power of incense and cultivate deities.
After the dark tribulation of the previous era, except for Huaxia, the populations of countries in other regions had almost died out by ninety percent. Coincidentally, Emperor Fu Zhao had sealed Princess 'Shile', shattered the dream realm, allowing the demon race to return their aura to the mortal world, occupying most of the other territories. They then engaged in years of conflict with the guardian envoy system but gained little benefit.
This led to the cultivation of foreign humans, aiming to hollow out the power of the guardian envoys from within.
The Qingzhu City Guardian Envoy Department was bustling with activity, everyone moving with haste.
Nan Kong, the guardian envoy of Qingzhu City, fully armored, his face grim, stood before Daoist priests, Buddhist monks, and Confucian scholars. He asked, "What is the current situation?"
"Over six hundred civilians have been infected and contaminated by the Western deity and have been sent to the purification room beneath Qingzhu City Academy for care."
Nan Kong said sternly, "Six hundred! This deity has been lurking in Qingzhu City for at least half a year, and you failed to detect it? Are you all useless?"
His voice boomed like thunder, and the subordinates before him all lowered their heads, obediently accepting the scolding.
The atmosphere was now heavy and oppressive.
Ten minutes later, an old monk walked in and said, "Guardian Envoy Nan, the whereabouts of the Western deity have been divined. When shall we act?"
"We will act after dark. Once the civilians finish work, notify everyone. Qingzhu City will be under curfew after 6 PM, and civilians are to stay at home."
"The Internal Security Department will dispatch personnel to prevent the Western deity from making a desperate move with any hidden cards."
"Everyone mobilize, set up a net, and after 6 PM tonight, kill the deity!"
"Yes!"
...
Thus, the entire Qingzhu City was in great motion.
Police cars guarded every street, and all personnel from the various agencies under the guardian envoy department were deployed.
Yunei Zhu's father called her, "Nei Zhu, come home."
Yunei Zhu glanced at Chen Jiuyang, who was still lying there like a salted fish, and said with some uncertainty, "I feel... safer here with Master Chen..."
"..." Yu Cong'an was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, you can come home after it's over." With the ancient monster Chen Jiuyang, who had lived for ten thousand years, he was at ease.
Chen Jiuyang, lying in his salted fish posture, was still cultivating, though others could not perceive it.
Suddenly, two fluctuations of destiny caught his attention: "Those with great destiny... and so-called deities..."
After a glance, he closed his eyes again, changing his position to continue cultivating.