The cold wind howled, and waves of energy rolled, rustling the black and gold patterned python robe and ceremonial attire of Chen Jiuyang.
On the martial arts stage, he stood alone, holding his saber, looking down at the martial artists on the South Goryeo martial rankings and the Eastern Isles martial rankings. His eyes were cold and calm, and an unparalleled domineering aura emanated from him.
"King Qian."
Donghe King He Wuji, Fengqiu King Zhao Liyu, Luoyang King Jiang Lihuo, Bei Yan King Yan Hongming, Xing Hongzhuo, Zai Hanzao, Wu Xiuyuan, Han Lixuan, Ye Tiannan.
The nine martial artists on the Dragon Country's martial rankings looked at the person on the stage with varying expressions.
He caught divine might with one hand, formed gold with a finger, and split a half-step Heavenly Realm with his saber.
As Chen Jiuyang appeared, people gradually began to take their seats in the vast audience stands.
"Is this the number one on the Dragon Country's martial rankings?" Jin Bucheng narrowed his eyes and said, "I also specialize in the saber. Thus..."
Jin Bucheng raised his saber and leaped onto the stage, declaring, "Jin Bucheng, tenth on the South Goryeo martial rankings, requests guidance from Chen Jiuyang, number one on the Dragon Country's martial rankings!"
At this moment, the Sword Keeper of Longjing ascended the high platform, and a indifferent voice rang out, "This is not an official martial ranking. The martial artists of the two countries are sparring, and no lives are to be taken."
Strictly speaking, the martial artists of South Goryeo and the Eastern Isles were nominally in Longjing to exchange martial arts culture, but in reality, they were here to probe their strengths.
The martial artists of South Goryeo and the Eastern Isles were both puzzled as to why the Sword Keeper of Longjing had added the condition of not taking lives.
However, only those familiar with Chen Jiuyang knew that this lord might directly slaughter the twenty-odd foreign martial artists if he unleashed his power, which would cause great trouble.
Chen Jiuyang did not reply to the Sword Keeper of Longjing. He merely looked at Jin Bucheng, his gaze indifferent, his voice calm yet domineering, "Foreign martial artists from small nations have come to my Dragon Country. I should indeed fulfill my duty as a host, to showcase the beauty of the Han family's etiquette and culture."
"Since you wish for me to bestow guidance, I shall send you one saber strike."
"Rumble!"
A saber strike, utmost yang and utmost hardness, was instantly unleashed. A vast and terrifying saber-shaped phantom instantly slashed towards Jin Bucheng.
"This saber strike!"
Jin Bucheng's expression drastically changed. He quickly raised his saber, pouring all his true qi into it, intending to block this strike.
"Creak!"
"Bang—"
Jin Bucheng's face instantly turned red, as if a great mountain was pressing down on him. His bones began to creak.
His legs sank directly into the stage floor.
Jin Bucheng had no power to resist or counter.
"Can this saber strike satisfy the request for guidance from the martial artists of those small nations?"
Chen Jiuyang's calm voice echoed, a hint of coldness in his eyes. He slowly sheathed his long saber.
However, the saber-shaped phantom in mid-air did not dissipate.
A bizarre scene unfolded: Chen Jiuyang calmly stood on the stage, watching Jin Bucheng exert all his strength to resist his seemingly ordinary saber strike.
"This saber strike..."
The remaining martial artists from South Goryeo and the Eastern Isles wore solemn expressions, their eyes flickering.
"King Qian's progress in martial arts is truly terrifying," the elder in red ceremonial robes remarked.
Enfu Ben narrowed his eyes and said, "His combat power has reached a new level."
"Not only has his cultivation surged and his martial arts advanced in such a short time, but I wonder what he has comprehended."
The elder in red ceremonial robes stroked his beard and smiled, "No matter what he has comprehended, it is a good thing. With King Qian being so strong, the national destiny battle will have a certain advantage."
...
"Is Dragon Country truly going to produce a second King Yan?"
"This is not good news."
The martial artists from South Goryeo and the Eastern Isles exchanged hushed whispers.
On the stage.
"Pfft—"
Jin Bucheng coughed up blood, more than half of his body sunken into the stage floor, nearing unconsciousness.
"A mere weakling, daring to provoke my Dragon Country, how dare you say that the younger generation of martial artists in my Dragon Country is lacking?" Chen Jiuyang said coldly. He waved a hand gently, and the terrifying, vast saber-shaped phantom instantly dissipated.
The logistics team of South Goryeo's martial artists immediately rushed forward, carrying Jin Bucheng off for treatment.
"Who's next?"
Chen Jiuyang's icy gaze fell upon the nineteen individuals, his indifferent voice inquiring.
Before the nineteen could reply, Yan Hongming and Ye Tiannan surged onto the stage. Yan Hongming twirled his gilded spear and said softly,
"Brother Chen, have you forgotten about us? Besides you, there are nine of us on the Dragon Country's martial rankings."
"Although King Qian is strong, we are not famous for nothing."
"I've endured these bastards for so long, and finally, I can vent today."
Regardless of their backgrounds, at this moment, they were all part of the Dragon Country's national martial arts team, a united front, and they had to work together.
Chen Jiuyang's expression was slightly taken aback for a moment, then a smile played on his lips:
"Then let's fight to our heart's content today."
Seeing the ten martial artists of the Dragon Country's martial rankings erupt with power, the leading Venerable Realm martial artists from South Goryeo and the Eastern Isles exchanged glances. They flashed to the high platform and had a brief conversation with the Sword Keeper of Longjing.
A moment later, the voice of the Sword Keeper of Longjing rang out:
"Today, a friendly cultural exchange competition will be held."
"Participants, please await the match-up information."
"Due to time and participant limitations, only ten matches will be held."
Chen Jiuyang and the others frowned immediately.
They were poised and ready to unleash their power, only to have their momentum forcibly interrupted by such tactics, which made them feel uncomfortable.
"These fools from Dragon Country, it's not an official martial ranking competition now. Do they even understand that this is just to probe each other's strengths?
"If they go all out and fight fiercely here, won't their trump cards be completely exposed? If they suffer serious injuries, how can they participate in the World Martial Rankings as scheduled?"
The match-up information for the ten matches was soon released.
Dragon Country had four matches against Eastern Isles martial artists and three matches against South Goryeo martial artists. The remaining three matches were between South Goryeo and the Eastern Isles.
And among these, there was no information about Chen Jiuyang participating.
This was in line with everyone's expectations.
King Qian Chen Jiuyang's combat power was already unquestionable. The martial artists of South Goryeo and the Eastern Isles also needed to conceal their strength and trump cards.
They would just go through the motions and fulfill the orders of those behind them.
Even the Sword Keeper of Longjing, considering Chen Jiuyang might be displeased, personally came to appease him, saying, "King Qian, your combat prowess should be displayed in the official martial ranking competition."
In recent days, everyone had been urging him to head north to Longjing. Now that Chen Jiuyang had arrived, he couldn't exert his strength, feeling a sense of futility.
The martial artists from the Eastern Isles and South Goryeo, having abandoned their previous boastful demeanor, became calm instead, which was somewhat unsettling.
"Their strength doesn't seem that great, but they have quite a few of these messy tactics."
Someone scoffed, mocking the martial artists from South Goryeo and the Eastern Isles.
Everyone had gathered their strength, ready to teach them a lesson. However, after Chen Jiuyang appeared, all their pent-up energy seemed to have hit air, causing frustration and annoyance.
Even the Sword Keeper of Longjing had told them to conceal some of their strength and not to engage in serious life-or-death battles yet.