Chen Jiuyang's voice fell.
The momentum of this saber strike had reached its peak, embodying Chen Jiuyang's adherence to his precepts and the perfection of his Yuan Dao cultivation.
My precepts, Chen Jiuyang, are to guard the world within my heart and to cut down all who obstruct me.
Regardless of law, morality, or strength!
Once the saber is swung, there is no regret or remorse; life and death are secondary; let strength speak!
"Rumble!"
With a downward slash, the specially constructed arena was instantly split in two.
Pu Youcan, unable to even cry out, was reduced to shattered bones by this saber strike, perishing on the spot.
"..."
The entire stadium fell into a moment of deathly silence.
The power Chen Jiuyang had suddenly unleashed, instantly killing Pu Youcan, left their minds blank, struggling to process what had happened.
Even the referee was stunned for a moment. After checking Pu Youcan's body and confirming there was no hope of revival, he gestured for the stretcher bearers to carry the body away.
He then announced Chen Jiuyang as the winner.
Chen Jiuyang's brow furrowed, and he too was momentarily taken aback, a flicker of disappointment crossing his eyes.
Pu Youcan couldn't even withstand his second move. Chen Jiuyang himself was unsure of his current strength.
Were ordinary half-step Heavenly Realm experts no match for him? Could he contend with Heavenly Realm experts?
However, he couldn't find any Heavenly Realm experts to spar with. The only one nearby was the Venerable Realm ancestor, Han Peiling.
Moreover, Han Peiling, being a demonic path ancestor, was too powerful. If they sparred rashly, and he sustained a serious injury before the Martial Ranking World Championship, it would be disadvantageous.
Thus, Chen Jiuyang had not found a suitable sparring partner.
He had finally thought Pu Youcan might have the potential for a thrilling, all-out battle, allowing Chen Jiuyang to gauge his current combat power.
Alas, Pu Youcan was still a good-for-nothing.
Only after the referee announced Chen Jiuyang's victory did the deafening cheers of the crowd erupt.
Chen Jiuyang's display of terrifying power had conquered many spectators.
Many martial artists who were recuperating frowned, re-evaluating Chen Jiuyang's threat level several notches higher.
Concurrently.
Dragon Country's Feng Province and Shu Mountain received spiritual rain again, with Qingzhu Village and the Chen family experiencing particularly abundant blessings.
Dragon Country's fortune flourished slightly, and many martial artists felt the invisible shackles that had been pressing down on them subtly loosening.
Chen Biandao and Elder Han, far away in Longjing, also felt this loosening sensation. The two exchanged glances, and Elder Han said, "It seems Jiuyang has achieved good results in the Asian Martial Ranking World Championship. If he continues on this path and wins the individual ranking match, perhaps before the world championship concludes, we can break free from our half-step shackles and advance to the Heavenly Realm."
Chen Biandao said, "At that time, the era of Dragon Country's Heavenly Realm Kings will truly end, and many long-sealed forces will emerge."
"For the elusive path of eternal life... perhaps domestic strife will reignite..."
"After thousands of years of suppression and unification, with the nation's fortune supporting us, even they should not dare to be too rampant."
"When the sky falls, the tall will bear it. As long as the Five Great Sacred Lands have not made their move, the situation will not descend into chaos. Brother Chen need not worry too much."
"Indeed."
...
In the Tokyo Gymnasium.
The competition continued in full swing.
Chen Jiuyang sat in the waiting area, watching the matches with the Sword Wielder of Longjing.
The Sword Wielder of Longjing suddenly frowned and asked, "King Qian, are you intending to walk the path of a true king, transforming your mortal domain into a spiritual domain?"
Chen Jiuyang looked at him in surprise, "How did you know?"
The Sword Wielder of Longjing replied, "The two opponents you faced were both killed by you, which reminds me of what King Yan did sixty years ago."
"But he failed at the last moment... he didn't succeed... but he didn't fail either..."
Chen Jiuyang's expression was startled, "King Yan also attempted this path?"
The Sword Wielder of Longjing said, "King Yan was incredibly talented. He killed all those who opposed him back then, feeding back into the nation's fortune. However, at that time, our Dragon Country's fortune was not as prosperous as it is now, so he didn't succeed on this path. Instead, he forged a different one."
"Now that our Dragon Country's fortune is flourishing, perhaps you have the opportunity to succeed on this path and lead a formidable army for our Dragon Country."
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Is this path difficult?"
The Sword Wielder of Longjing sighed, "To break through the extreme realm, to tear apart the universal heavenly lock, how can it be that simple?"
"Universal heavenly lock?" Chen Jiuyang was taken aback.
"A long time ago, the heavens and earth underwent a great change, and the universal heavenly lock came into existence."
"When you reach the peak of the sixth level of the Earth Realm, you should be able to feel it completely," the Sword Wielder of Longjing said. "Judging by the time, after you finish the Asian Martial Ranking World Championship, it should be about time."
"I see that after just two matches, your aura has progressed from the early stage of the sixth level of the Earth Realm to the middle stage of the sixth level of the Earth Realm."
"With a few more matches, your strength should be pushed to the peak of the sixth level of the Earth Realm."
Chen Jiuyang felt that this Sword Wielder of Longjing was indeed not simple.
The Sword Wielder of Longjing spoke, "It's Hongming's turn to compete. His opponent in this round is not simple; it should force him to reveal some of his trump cards."
Yan Hongming's opponent in this round was a martial artist from the Indian Divine Kingdom.
The opponent was dressed like a monk, with golden skin. As soon as he entered the arena, he met Yan Hongming's Heavenly Dragon Shattering City Spear with his bare body, astonishing countless people!
The Sword Wielder of Longjing said sternly, "A bald donkey from the Little Thunderclap Temple!"
The monk's audacity in meeting Yan Hongming's spear with his body made Chen Jiuyang's eyebrows twitch.
Yan Hongming's spear techniques were also top-tier in combat power. To withstand his attacks with his bare body, Chen Jiuyang wondered how powerful that physique was.
This monk's physique was incredibly formidable. A single finger pointed at Yan Hongming's body drew a bead of blood, and the technique was strikingly similar to Chen Jiuyang's method of sealing bloodlines.
Chen Jiuyang couldn't help but feel a sense of shock:
"This monk has such a sinister offensive style!"
After suffering a disadvantage, Yan Hongming's expression turned grim and uncertain. At this moment, Yan Hongming was under immense pressure.
He chose to create distance from the monk, his long spear vibrating, and then a dragon's roar echoed through the arena, with a massive dragon phantom appearing behind Yan Hongming.
Following that, Yan Hongming thrust his spear, unleashing terrifying combat power. The opposing monk was not to be outdone, and a Buddha statue phantom appeared behind him.
"Clang!"
The two exchanged a divine intent technique, and Yan Hongming only managed to gain a slight advantage.
His spear thrust was unsuccessful, and Yan Hongming's expression turned grim. The opponent once again launched a fierce offensive against him.
Helpless, Yan Hongming resorted to using his spear intent, accompanied by a stern divine intent technique.
After a fierce battle lasting several minutes, a victor was finally determined. The monk was thrust out of the arena by Yan Hongming's "Return Horse Spear"!
Yan Hongming won! But this victory was hard-earned!
Chen Jiuyang could now somewhat understand the suppressed feeling Ye Tiannan had experienced earlier.
In the Asian Martial Ranking World Championship, there were no easy opponents!