"Feng Xiangming didn't even use three moves and died at Chen Jiuyang's hands?"
"...We severely underestimated Chen Jiuyang's strength."
"Feng Xiangming could rank among the top three in our ranks, yet such a master of the spear path couldn't last three moves against Chen Jiuyang."
"Can we truly stop Chen Jiuyang?"
"Even if martial artists like us tried to intercept and kill Chen Jiuyang, it would only be sending ourselves to our deaths. Everyone, what should we do?"
"There's no other way, we can only report it to the higher-ups and see how those big figures make their decisions."
Longjing.
A siheyuan, this was the property arranged by the Chen family of Shu Mountain in Longjing. The Chen family head lived here with Chen Jiuyang's parents and his several women.
Upon receiving the news that Chen Jiuyang had fought his way through the guards and no one dared to step forward to stop him, Chen Jiuyang laughed heartily, his eyes filled with relief:
"My cherished son has finally grown up."
Within this siheyuan were also people from the fifteen families of Shu Mountain and the Han family from Suzhou and Hangzhou.
This year's Dragon Country Martial Ranking was particularly important, attracting the attention of the entire Dragon Country martial arts world. Which martial force within the Four Seas didn't want to witness the fierce competition of this year's Martial Ranking?
With twenty days left until the Dragon Country Martial Ranking convened, Longjing was already abuzz, with martial artists and forces from all directions arriving in the capital in advance.
Elder Han's eyes shone with excitement: "Jiuyang has gone through several life-and-death tribulations and stepped onto the path of invincible divine abilities, unrivaled among those of the Earth realm of the same cultivation level."
The Shu Mountain faction had two outstanding figures this time, Ye Tiannan and Chen Jiuyang, but in terms of achievements, Chen Jiuyang surpassed Ye Tiannan. Many eyes were focused on Chen Jiuyang.
Originally, the Chen family of Shu Mountain had been at the bottom for hundreds of years, with no young generation rising. Chen Jiuyang's emergence had brought pride to the Chen family. If he could achieve brilliant results in the Dragon Country Martial Ranking this time, it would further bring glory to the Chen family's lineage.
Chen Jiuyang had traveled four hundred kilometers in five days, and Longjing was still more than four hundred kilometers away.
It was currently December 4th. Snow was already falling heavily in the north, creating a serene and beautiful snowy landscape.
On this day, Chen Jiuyang was walking in the direction of Longjing when Ming Huatong of the Lotus Sect reappeared, standing before him.
Ming Huatong looked at him with her large, watery eyes: "Young Master Chen, your strength is truly formidable. You killed Feng Xiangming with one strike, and the Third King and those who made things difficult for you have not dared to appear for five days. This makes this Saintess even more infatuated with you."
"This Saintess has heard that there are still two vacant positions for your seven wives. This Saintess is willing to marry you, what do you think?"
Chen Jiuyang heard her words, his expression calm, without any ripple, he simply said faintly: "What else do you want from me? Just tell me the truth."
Ming Huatong, seeing that Chen Jiuyang was not moved by her at all, was a little annoyed, her voice slightly cold: "Your current strength can almost be said to be the best among the contemporary Earth realm Grandmasters, but the Dragon Country martial arts world is vast and immense. Your true fatal tribulation is coming."
Chen Jiuyang's heart stirred slightly. As he walked forward, he asked: "Where did you hear this news?"
Ming Huatong's watery eyes narrowed slightly: "If you promise to share the ultimate pleasure with this Saintess once, I will tell you the news."
Chen Jiuyang heard this and directly said: "No thanks."
Just as Ming Huatong was about to speak, her expression suddenly changed, and she fled into the distance.
"Ming Huatong, I don't believe you can escape today!" From a distance, a delicate shout sounded, followed by a golden spear, imbued with unparalleled ferocity, shooting out and directly piercing the spot where Ming Huatong had just stood.
A moment later, Gong Liexian, clad in dragon-patterned golden feather armor, arrived, came to Chen Jiuyang's side, pulled out the golden spear, and pursued Ming Huatong in the direction she had fled.
"..." Chen Jiuyang.
Was this little princess of the Gong family truly so persistent about people from the Lotus Sect? Then, a general of the Zhenxi Army, clad in black steel feather armor, came before Chen Jiuyang and cupped his fists in salute: "Marquis Xuanyang, from now on, you must be cautious and prioritize the bigger picture."
Then, this general followed Gong Liexian's retreating figure.
It seemed that, apart from what he didn't know, many people had received the news, and his fatal tribulation was indeed coming.
Not long after Chen Jiuyang walked away, his expression shifted slightly, and he said: "Two, you've been following me for so long, why choose to appear today?"
Then, En Fuben and the elder in the red brocade robe appeared before Chen Jiuyang.
En Fuben's expression was arrogant, and she said to Chen Jiuyang: "Chen Jiuyang, your tribulation is imminent. I see that your talent is indeed excellent, and I want to help you."
Chen Jiuyang's expression stirred slightly: "There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world. Miss En, please state your conditions first."
En Fuben said: "Your cultivation technique is top-notch. I want to learn your martial arts cultivation technique."
Yuan Dao was the foundation of Chen Jiuyang's standing, and it involved some secrets. How could Chen Jiuyang expose it?
Chen Jiuyang shook his head and said: "Forget it."
The elder in the red brocade robe smiled and said: "Marquis Xuanyang, my granddaughter is extremely picky about martial arts cultivation techniques. Since she fancies your cultivation technique, you can seriously consider it. This way, I can guarantee your safe passage to Longjing."
Chen Jiuyang refused without thinking: "If I sell my cultivation technique to exchange for temporary peace, then what's the point of me practicing martial arts?"
"I practice martial arts precisely to protect myself with these fists. I appreciate your kind intentions, but I decline."
Seeing Chen Jiuyang's thorough refusal, the elder in the red brocade robe showed a look of disappointment and said: "Good granddaughter, as you can see, shouldn't we return to Longjing now?"
En Fuben showed a hint of anger: "You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Since that's the case, then you can bear it yourself."
"Let's go."
En Fuben and the elder in the red brocade robe left.
Chen Jiuyang walked another fifty kilometers alone and saw the scene before him, his eyelids twitching: "What a grand display."
Hundreds of martial artists stood before him, and a middle-aged man with an elegant demeanor sat in the middle, drinking tea.
The hundreds of martial artists did not give him a sense of crisis. Those with inferior strength, if one came, he would kill them with a single saber. Even if these hundred martial artists attacked him together, Chen Jiuyang was not afraid.
What truly gave him a sense of crisis was the middle-aged man sitting and drinking tea before him.
This middle-aged man did not have a fierce aura; he seemed like an ordinary person, but every move he made carried a sense of pressure.
He had only seen this feeling on the leaders of the sixteen families of Shu Mountain and the great figures of the demonic path.
In other words, this middle-aged man with an elegant demeanor sitting and drinking tea was not of Earth realm cultivation, but of half-step Heaven realm cultivation.
"I am Jiang Haoran, the head of the Jiang family in the Eastern Province. Marquis Xuanyang, would you like to join me for a cup of tea?" Jiang Haoran spoke to Chen Jiuyang.
Chen Jiuyang remained still, standing in place, his expression calm as he asked: "There's no need for tea. May I ask what is the intention behind such a grand display, Patriarch Jiang?"
"What intention?" Jiang Haoran said faintly, looking at Chen Jiuyang:
"That depends on whether you choose to live or die."
With a single glance, terrifying pressure fell upon Chen Jiuyang, causing his expression to change drastically.