The forest was silent, the cold wind whistling.
Chen Jiuyang sat alone under a tree, facing over twenty martial artists with strong auras. As soon as Chen Jiuyang spoke, these dozens of martial artists drew their weapons.
Chen Jiuyang remained calm, showing no fear, and said lightly, "I am the Xuan Yang Marquis, enfeoffed by the Dragon Kingdom. Are you sure you want to make a move against me?"
The group before him did not know Chen Jiuyang's background and pointed their swords and sabers at him.
A martial artist at the forefront, with a sinister expression, said coldly, "Who cares what damn Marquis you are, enfeoffed by the Dragon Kingdom? Anyone who dares to help Monk Puhui is our enemy, seeking their own death!"
"Heh heh, that's right. This Qinling mountain range is wild and desolate, and the Six Doors are guarding the outside. Even if you, Marquis Xuan Yang, die here, rot into bones, no one in the outside world will ever know."
Chen Jiuyang slowly nodded and said, "Well said. Then, make your move."
Monk Puhui's surprise attack was indeed well-timed. These people didn't know Chen Jiuyang's true capabilities.
In Feng Province, which martial artist would dare to speak to him like this?
Using these people to hone his martial arts was indeed a good idea.
"Then, I'll send you on your way!"
The leading martial artist's aura erupted, his blood energy thick, revealing he was at the peak of the Profound Realm. He held a large saber with both hands, raised it, and a formidable saber qi split towards Chen Jiuyang.
These twenty-odd martial artists watched Chen Jiuyang with ferocious sneers, while Chen Jiuyang sat there motionless, as if stunned.
Immediately, the saber qi unleashed by the martial artist dissipated into nothingness when it was still a meter away from Chen Jiuyang, like a small stone tossed into the sea, causing not even a ripple.
The sneers on the martial artists' faces froze slightly.
At this moment, they had no idea who they were facing.
Someone spoke to the leading martial artist:
"Hey, did you go easy on him?"
The saber qi dissipating halfway meant the martial artist's skill was insufficient, unable to properly control and condense his true qi.
The leading martial artist's face flushed red with embarrassment and anger. "All of you, shut up! Watch me cut down this pretty boy!"
With that, the martial artist charged forward with his saber, swinging it fiercely towards Chen Jiuyang's head.
However, facing this attack, Chen Jiuyang slowly extended his hand, flicking out two fingers, and caught the saber's edge.
The martial artist was shocked, but no matter how hard he tried, his saber could not move forward an inch.
At this, the sneers on the faces of the other martial artists completely solidified.
Chen Jiuyang glanced at him and said, "Hey, with this much strength, you think you can kill me?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"This little bit of strength is only good for killing chickens back home."
Being mocked by his enemy like this, the martial artist's face turned red, his eyes burning with a desire to kill Chen Jiuyang.
"Clang!"
Chen Jiuyang flicked his finger, sending the martial artist's saber flying. The man had gripped the saber too tightly, and caught off guard, he felt as if he had been hit by a large truck. He was sent flying backward, saber and all, crashing onto the ground.
"This kid is strange! Everyone, attack together and kill him!"
A martial artist roared, and then nineteen martial artists charged at Chen Jiuyang in unison.
"Clang!"
"Zheng!"
Various flashy techniques rained down on Chen Jiuyang, but Chen Jiuyang, hovering in mid-air, simply clenched his hand against their incoming attacks.
Instantly, they dissipated into nothingness, without even the sound of air exploding.
This move by Chen Jiuyang was the 'Qi' of the ancient martial artists from the 'Invincible Path of Divine Abilities', which he had comprehended and used before in the Weiguang Forest of Ziyang County.
At this, the nineteen martial artists were filled with immense shock, knowing they had run into serious trouble.
"Escape!"
Someone roared.
Immediately, the group of martial artists tried to flee.
Chen Jiuyang's eyes turned cold. "You attacked me, the Dragon Kingdom's enfeoffed Marquis Xuan Yang, and you still want to escape?"
"All of you, stay here."
"Rumble!"
Chen Jiuyang's body suddenly erupted with a terrifying aura, like a volcanic eruption, with waves of heat rolling in. His domineering presence instantly pressed down on the nineteen martial artists as if they were under a mountain, rendering them unable to move. Each of their feet sank about two centimeters into the soil.
"This... how is this possible..."
"Who exactly is this Marquis Xuan Yang? His strength is so terrifying."
These martial artists, suppressed by his power, were filled with dread, a storm of shock raging within them.
"Hmm?" Chen Jiuyang frowned slightly, looking at a martial artist who had already fled into the distance. This was the martial artist he had sent flying with a finger flick earlier. "Never mind, letting one person escape to report will also be fine."
"As for you all, stay here honestly. You attacked this Marquis, but I am not a bloodthirsty person. Your lives can be spared, but you cannot escape punishment."
Then, Chen Jiuyang flicked his fingers, sending dozens of streams of true qi to seal the acupoints of these people, instantly reducing them to ordinary individuals, unable to exert their martial artist strength.
Chen Jiuyang said lightly, "I have now sealed your acupoints. Stay here, and I can spare your lives. Anyone who dares to have wicked thoughts, I will kill."
Some martial artists roared, "Marquis Xuan Yang, with your actions, are you not afraid of our dozens of forces ganging up on you?"
The latter said lightly, "My martial arts are not yet refined, and I happen to be in need of whetstones. Let them come."
His words carried unparalleled domineering confidence and calmness, striking fear into their hearts.
Where did this damn Marquis Xuan Yang come from, this ruthless individual?
Chen Jiuyang had not yet understood the situation within the Qinling region and asked these people:
"How many people were there to capture Monk Puhui?"
"Let's be clear from the start, cooperate with me honestly, and you'll suffer less."
"..." The group remained silent for a long time. Seeing that Chen Jiuyang did not kill anyone, someone spoke:
"There are thirty-six families in total. Each of our families has set up a stronghold, making a total of thirty-six strongholds. We are the patrol team on the outskirts."
"Thirty-six families, thirty-six strongholds..." Chen Jiuyang savored the words. "Indeed, a rather large force. Just how valuable is what Monk Puhui is holding in his hands?"
Having so many martial artists within the Qinling region was enough to form a legion.
Yet, these martial artists did not serve the country. No wonder the military viewed these aristocratic families as tumors.
With so many martial artists within the Dragon Kingdom, if they were all united, would the Dragon Kingdom's national strength still be so weak?
Cultivation techniques, elixirs, medicinal herbs...
These were mountains weighing down every martial artist.
Chen Jiuyang said, "Lead the way. Take me to your family's stronghold."
"What are you going to do?"
Chen Jiuyang slowly stood up, gazing into the distance. "To broaden my horizons, to see how strong you are."
"Whether you can stop me from rescuing Puhui."
These Profound Realm martial artists felt a chill in their hearts. This Marquis Xuan Yang was truly a madman.