Chen Jiuyang's shameless insult made Jiang Haoran tremble violently, his eyes bloodshot. He gritted his teeth but dared not utter a sound.
This was no longer like the past, when they had intercepted Chen Jiuyang a thousand miles in the Qinling Mountains and had to watch their expressions.
Now, they had to watch Chen Jiuyang's expression to survive.
Jiang Haoran gritted his teeth, his face changing several times before he suddenly knelt before Chen Jiuyang with a 'thump'. He cupped his hands and bowed his head, saying, "One man's actions, one man's responsibility. King Qian, I know you harbor resentment. Can my life alone appease your anger towards the Jiang family?"
For a dignified half-step Heavenly Realm expert, the head of a family, to kneel in front of hundreds of clan members was a complete loss of face, the ultimate humiliation.
"Not enough."
Chen Jiuyang's voice was icy.
Jiang Haoran's face turned ashen. He remained kneeling, head bowed, and said, "Then please, King Qian, speak plainly. How can your anger towards the Jiang family be appeased?"
Chen Jiuyang's gaze was indifferent. He looked down at Jiang Haoran, then swept his gaze over the hundreds of Jiang family members behind him, his voice chillingly cold:
"All those who participated in intercepting me before must commit suicide!"
Jiang Haoran's body trembled violently. He slowly raised his head to look at Chen Jiuyang's expression and eyes.
He had originally intended to beg for mercy, to ask Chen Jiuyang to be lenient. But seeing Chen Jiuyang's indifferent gaze, he knew this was Chen Jiuyang's bottom line. If he dared to speak.
Chen Jiuyang would likely have this old ancestor of the Chen family make a move, and at that time, the Jiang family of Dong Province would truly be drenched in blood.
Endure it! As long as they won the National Destiny Battle in half a year and the Dragon Country's destiny ascended, it would no longer be the era of Heavenly Realm Kings. The experts hidden in the secret realms of various sects and families could move freely.
Jiang Haoran's lips trembled. He closed his eyes in pain, then opened them again, slowly rising from the ground. He said, "Thank you, King Qian, for not pursuing us to the death!"
He then turned to face the hundreds of clan members behind him, pulling out all those who had participated in the interception of Chen Jiuyang. With a mournful cry, he said:
"The wronged have their heads, the debts have their owners. Such is karma. My lords, please accompany me on the road to the Yellow Springs."
Immediately, Jiang Haoran drank the poisoned wine that had been prepared for him. The wine cup fell, and blood flowed from his seven orifices. His life force was extinguished, and he died on the spot.
Hundreds of the Jiang family members gritted their teeth, tears streaming down their faces, but they dared not speak.
Then, the remaining people also took poison and committed suicide.
For a dignified half-step Heavenly Realm expert to be forced to commit suicide by poison, if Chen Jiuyang had come alone, there would have been a fierce battle. But with Chen Fengge, a Venerable Realm ancestor, by his side, daring to make a move would simply be sending themselves to their deaths, no matter how many came.
Chen Jiuyang's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end. Upon seeing Jiang Haoran and the others commit suicide, he merely said indifferently:
"They at least took responsibility for their actions. This matter is considered settled. I will not trouble the Jiang family of Dong Province again in the future."
"If you harbor resentment, this King welcomes you to seek revenge on me in the future."
With that, Chen Jiuyang turned and left.
The hundreds of people present gritted their teeth and dared not make a sound. They quietly held the funeral. Half a day later, the entire Jiang family of Dong Province was filled with the sounds of mourning.
The news of King Qian's visit to the Jiang family of Dong Province and the suicide of the Jiang family head and dozens of Jiang family members spread.
Many people fell silent.
...
After the Jiang family of Dong Province.
Chen Jiuyang made no effort to conceal his movements or direction.
He headed towards the Ruan family in Xijiang Province.
During the thousand-mile interception, Chen Jiuyang hated the old man Ruan Xiucheng of the Ruan family the most!
Three moves, fifty kilometers!
Chen Jiuyang remembered it clearly.
If not for the divine tree's leaves, such a miraculous healing medicine, Chen Jiuyang would truly have died at Ruan Xiucheng's hands.
The next day.
Chen Jiuyang arrived at the Ruan family in Xijiang Province.
Hundreds of people stood at the entrance of the Ruan family. Ruan Xiucheng waited in the wind and snow for Chen Jiuyang's arrival. Behind him stood dozens of members of the Ruan family.
These dozens of people had participated in the thousand-mile interception.
"Wuwuwu!"
Under the dark, snowy sky, a cold wind howled.
The incident at the Jiang family of Dong Province allowed them to gauge Chen Jiuyang's bottom line. The fact that eight half-step Heavenly Realm experts from the God of Slaughter Hall and the Longevity Alliance were killed with a single blow had made these families and sects abandon any thoughts of resisting King Qian, Chen Jiuyang.
With a Venerable Realm ancestor accompanying him on his travels, how many forces within the Dragon Country could contend with him?
In the wind and snow, Chen Jiuyang, accompanied by Chen Biandao and Chen Fengge, arrived at the Ruan family's entrance and saw Ruan Xiucheng and the dozens of people behind him.
Ruan Xiucheng cupped his fists towards Chen Jiuyang, his old face full of wrinkles, and said calmly, "Greetings, King Qian."
"Heh." Chen Jiuyang smiled lightly, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Is your Ruan family going to emulate the Jiang family and commit suicide before me to appease my anger?"
Ruan Xiucheng said, "I offended King Qian in the past, so my life and the lives of those who participated in this matter will appease King Qian's anger!"
"What an utterly shameless old man!"
Chen Jiuyang's brow furrowed, and he angrily cursed, "Intercepting me for a thousand miles, receiving three moves from you, and I walked fifty kilometers. Do you think suicide can appease my anger?"
"Then you are gravely mistaken!"
Ruan Xiucheng, this old man, had acted on his own initiative, wanting to emulate the Jiang family's actions. If it were all like this, where someone was brought out to take the blame to appease Chen Jiuyang's anger, then if it happened again, what would become of Chen Jiuyang's King Qian's authority?
Oh, I wronged you, and you don't want to apologize, so I'll pay with my life to protect my family and sect.
Ruan Xiucheng's expression was startled, his body trembled violently, and his expression was terrified. He knew he had been too clever for his own good. He trembled and said,
"Then how can my Ruan family appease King Qian's anger!"
"It's very simple."
Chen Jiuyang's voice was icy. "The rest will commit suicide, and you, old man, will receive three moves from me!"
Ruan Xiucheng's face turned pale with fright. He understood Chen Jiuyang's intention, and his body began to tremble. He cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, King Qian, for not pursuing us to the death. I shall receive King Qian's three moves to repay the karma of the past three moves."
As the words fell.
"Buzz!"
Chen Jiuyang drew his saber, and a cold glint flashed. He swung his saber.
"Chii—"
This saber strike landed on Ruan Xiucheng, but Ruan Xiucheng dared not circulate his true qi to resist. He let Chen Jiuyang's saber strike him, and one of his arms was immediately severed.
Blood spurted from Ruan Xiucheng's arm, and his severed arm fell to the ground. Ruan Xiucheng gritted his teeth, his body trembling violently, but he did not cry out in pain. After sealing his acupoints, he trembled and said,
"...Please, King Qian, deliver your second move."
Chen Jiuyang's eyes flashed with cold light. This old man, even on the verge of death, wanted to preserve his dignity and protect the Ruan family's reputation.
But Chen Jiuyang would not let him have his way.
"Ding ding ding!"
Over a hundred silver needles flew out from Chen Jiuyang's body. He said coldly, "The second move is called the Ten Thousand Insects Devouring Heart Needle!"
"Chii! Chii! Chii!"
The silver needles, infused with Chen Jiuyang's true qi, instantly flew out and pierced Ruan Xiucheng's flesh.
"Ah!"
Ruan Xiucheng fell to the ground, convulsing and emitting heart-wrenching screams.
This old man Ruan Xiucheng wanted to die heroically to preserve his reputation.
Then Chen Jiuyang would make sure he could not die and would experience all sorts of pain!