Chapter 3 The Third King's Silence
The Third King remained silent for a long time, then looked at Chen Jiuyang and asked, "Do you know of the Nine Provinces Cauldrons?"
"The Nine Provinces Cauldrons?"
Chen Jiuyang frowned slightly and replied, "I have not heard of them."
"My Dragon Country has three fortunes: the Martial Ranking suppresses national fortune, the essence of all things represents earthly fortune, and the Nine Provinces Cauldrons represent human fortune."
"Thousands of years ago, our glorious Hua Xia was truly magnificent. However, the Nine Provinces Cauldrons were shattered into nine pieces, causing the human fortune of our Han Chinese Hua Xia to be broken. Martial arts began to decline from then on. Apart from those with special constitutions, only the Martial Ranking and national fortune could allow people to ascend to the Heavenly Realm and above."
"Marquis Xuanyang, I ask you, do you think there should be experts above the Heavenly Realm in the current Dragon Country's martial arts world?"
Chen Jiuyang's heart tightened. The same question had been asked of him by the residual true spirit of Xi Butui in Saint Ren Wang's illusion.
If it weren't for seeing more through Xi Butui's residual true spirit, Chen Jiuyang would not have changed his opinion of the Third King, nor would he have spared Zhou Wushuang's life.
Chen Jiuyang replied without hesitation, "If it is to serve the country, then experts above the Heavenly Realm should emerge. If they cannot serve the country, it is better for them to die old in the secret realms."
A flicker of surprise flashed in the Third King's eyes, and he then praised, "Well said."
"Martial arts flourish, and the common people suffer. Martial arts decline, and the common people also suffer. It was then that our Han Chinese sages nurtured the Martial Ranking to suppress national fortune, to protect our Hua Xia citizens."
"A single fragment of the Nine Provinces Cauldrons represents the human fortune condensed by countless people of Hua Xia. Tell me, what would be the outcome if such a fragment fell into the hands of a noble family or a sect?"
Chen Jiuyang's brow furrowed even deeper as he analyzed and said, "My Hua Xia's human fortune is greater than the national fortune of the Martial Ranking... If a noble family or sect obtained a fragment of the Nine Provinces Cauldrons and devoured the human fortune within, emerging with great power, the Dragon Country would fall into great chaos."
"Indeed."
The Third King's gaze, cold and profound, fell upon Chen Jiuyang. "Your woman, Yao Zixuan, her Yao family lineage is a bloodline family of an emperor from thousands of years ago, possibly related to the Nine Provinces Cauldrons."
"Decades ago, when I was traveling in Feng Province, I discovered that someone in Fengcheng was secretly gathering information related to the Nine Provinces Cauldrons and setting up a grand scheme. After I participated in the Martial Ranking and was crowned King, I consulted many ancient texts in Longjing, and thus deduced that a fragment of the Nine Provinces Cauldrons was in Fengcheng. Therefore, I dispatched Xi Butui to be stationed in Fengcheng."
"When you appeared, I thought those behind the scenes had discovered that the Nine Provinces Cauldrons might be related to the Yao family, so I had Xi Butui suppress you."
"Coupled with your close ties to Shushan and the Demonic Dao Han clan, I tacitly allowed Butui to act against you. In Su Hang, when you became the Dao Companion of the Demonic Dao Han clan's Saintess, it made me even more vigilant. Better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let one go!"
"The Yao family's bloodline is being gradually devoured by the Nine Yin Devouring Yang Array. Even if they discover the Yao family one day, the Yao family's bloodline fortune will be completely consumed, leaving them helpless. This is why I had to act against the Yao family."
"To this day, I have not dispelled my suspicions about you."
Chen Jiuyang fell silent. A person who was just an ordinary college student a year ago, and then a year later became a martial arts genius, rising like a meteor, connected to the Yao family, and also having close ties to the Chen family of Shushan and the Demonic Dao Han clan.
If he were in Zhou Fangzun's position, he would also think that the mastermind behind the scheme in Fengcheng had made their move after decades of observation.
Chen Jiuyang remained silent for a long time and said, "Then why are you telling me this frankly today, Third King?"
Zhou Fangzun's eyes were deep and serene as he replied, "You will soon be crowned King as well. Although your status will be equal to mine, you will still be restricted by the Sword Bearer. If you are indeed connected to them, there is no need for me to act; the Sword Bearer will move immediately. What harm is there in telling you?"
Chen Jiuyang chuckled, "That's true."
"Because of you, Butui is dead, and Fengcheng is in turmoil. Although I suggested that King Gong's confidant be stationed in Fengcheng, it is clear that those people are already becoming impatient."
"Wushuang will join the Zhenxi Army for tempering. Previously, I was too indulgent with him, but this time, he has gained a great opportunity through life and death, for which he should thank you."
"You are welcome," Chen Jiuyang said faintly. "The sins of the father are borne by the son? My glorious Hua Xia has no such principle."
"King of Zhennan, after I ascend to the Heavenly Realm, there will surely be a battle between us."
"I know," Zhou Fangzun said, showing no surprise, his expression calm. "Although I am the Third King and have privileges, I have done some extremely unclean deeds."
"In this world, karma cycles, and no one can escape it."
"The grievances and entanglements between you and me will eventually have a conclusion."
Chen Jiuyang smiled faintly, "You and Xi Butui are quite alike."
In Saint Ren Wang's illusion, Xi Butui was also this candid.
Zhou Fangzun looked at Chen Jiuyang with surprise and finally said, "I congratulate the new King in advance. I hope the new King will not disgrace the prestige of our Dragon Country in next year's Martial Ranking World Competition and carry on the blood prestige of our Dragon Country's ancestors."
"So it shall be," Chen Jiuyang nodded.
Then, Zhou Fangzun rose from the stone chair, pushed open the gate of the courtyard, and bowed slightly to the elder in black with a long sword. "Sir."
Zhou Fangzun, the esteemed Third King of the Dragon Country, bowed respectfully to this Sword Bearer of Longjing, calling him "Sir."
The elder Sword Bearer nodded slightly, then retracted the long sword inserted into the ground. The purple-gold light that enveloped the courtyard dissipated. Afterward, the Third King ascended into the air and left in a helicopter.
Following that, the elder Sword Bearer disappeared into the darkness, arriving without a trace and departing without a sound.
After these two disappeared, Chen Jiuyang sat in the courtyard, not moving for a long time, and no one disturbed him.
The meeting with the Third King today provided too much information for him to digest immediately. He hadn't expected that the Yao family behind Zixuan had such a secret, which perhaps even Yao Qianhe did not know.
Thinking again of the strange situation in Fengcheng, which was actually for the legendary Nine Provinces Cauldrons, his heart felt heavy.
The decline of martial arts in Feng Province, and the absence of large martial arts forces, were likely also related to this matter.
Furthermore, the fact that someone dared to harm the Prefect of Fengcheng meant that the forces behind it were not ordinary.
"But it doesn't matter. As long as I ascend to the Heavenly Realm, everything will be resolved. All sorts of schemes will crumble like paper in the face of absolute strength."
"The Yao family is a bloodline left in the world by some emperor. I should investigate which emperor's bloodline Zixuan's lineage belongs to from thousands of years ago."
Thousands of years ago, those who could be called Emperors were the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?
Chen Jiuyang suppressed the thoughts in his mind. After returning to his room, the Chen family head, Elder Han, and others eagerly asked what he had discussed with the Third King. Chen Jiuyang did not mention a single word.
Given the immense implications, Chen Jiuyang dared not reveal anything easily.
In the deep quiet of the night, outside the Chen family's courtyard, dozens of people still knelt there, begging for forgiveness.
Chen Jiuyang acted as if he heard nothing, holding the soft and fragrant jade in his arms, and slept soundly.