December twenty-second.
The Martial Rankings Five Kings elimination matches began.
On this day, heavy snow continued to fall, and the cold wind howled.
After waking up and washing, Chen Jiuyang ate some breakfast, with him at the head, followed by dozens of people.
"Creak—"
The gate of the courtyard was pushed open.
Outside the gate knelt dozens of elderly martial artists, carrying branches and begging for forgiveness.
When they saw Chen Jiuyang appear, they immediately prostrated themselves and kowtowed, saying sincerely, "Marquis Xuanyang, we come with branches and beg for your forgiveness. We hope you will give us a way to live!"
"As long as you spare the lives of our descendants, you can set any conditions, Marquis Xuanyang!"
Chen Jiuyang clasped his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, his eyes calm. He looked down at them from above and his voice was indifferent:
"I give you a way to live?"
"When have you ever given this Marquis a way to live?"
"On the Martial Rankings arena, if you want to contend for the throne of king, then come with your lives."
"Let's see whose life is harder."
Those kneeling on the ground gritted their teeth but dared not threaten Chen Jiuyang, fearing that their descendants would suffer the same fate as Jiang Xingjin, being brutally killed on the Martial Rankings arena. Their entire families would become a laughingstock. Jiang Haoran's family had already become a disgrace and a joke in the Dragon Country martial arts world.
"Since you dare not contend with your lives, then get out of my way—"
"Scram!"
As Chen Jiuyang uttered the last word, rolling thunder sounded in the surrounding void. The reprimand made these people's faces flush red, their eyes filled with humiliation, but they did not dare to make any move. They could only obediently clear a path.
Today was one of the elimination matches for the top five in the Martial Rankings. The positions of the Five Kings were highly coveted. Who wouldn't desire them?
Who in the Dragon Country didn't want to be crowned king?
Chen Jiuyang, accompanied by his entourage, headed towards the Martial Rankings arena.
On this day of the elimination matches, more martial artists rushed from all over the country.
Five new kings were about to be born in the Dragon Country. Who these five kings would be, countless people were anticipating!
But everyone knew that Chen Jiuyang was bound to be one of the new kings. News had spread that the Ministry of Rites in Longjing was already discussing Chen Jiuyang's royal title.
As he walked, Chen Jiuyang even saw some acquaintances, Li Can, whom he had met again that day, and Shi Dang.
Several Grandmasters who had been enfeoffed as Marquises from Fengcheng, as well as his master, Marquis Feng Han, had also arrived in Longjing.
"Master, why are you here?" Chen Jiuyang was somewhat surprised to see Marquis Feng Han.
"Jiuyang, I asked Master to come," Yao Zixuan said from behind Chen Jiuyang.
"Hahahaha!" Marquis Feng Han's face was ruddy, and his gums smiled brilliantly. "My disciple is about to be crowned king, I must come to witness this moment!"
To this day, many people in Feng Province regretted it immensely. If they had known Chen Jiuyang was such a prodigy, rising like a meteor and reaching the step of being crowned king in such a short time, they should have taken Chen Jiuyang as their disciple before Marquis Feng Han at the riverside in Qingzhu Village.
Their disciple was to be a new king of the Dragon Country. For Grandmasters who were Marquises like them, what greater honor could there be?
"I may be a Marquis, but my disciple is a new king of the Dragon Country. How dare you provoke me?"
Marquis Feng Han had a lifetime of bragging rights.
"Hahahaha!" Chen Jiuyang also laughed heartily. "Good, then Master, please accompany me. Your disciple is determined to obtain the royal decree today!"
The Royal Decree of Enfeoffment signified that a Grandmaster who had been enfeoffed as a Marquis was qualified to attempt to reach the Heavenly Realm. This was reported to the Dragon Country. However, the probability of a Grandmaster reaching the Heavenly Realm was extremely low due to various restrictions, and speaking of it was forbidden, lest they be subject to national sanctions.
Entering the Martial Rankings arena, it was already crowded with people, all anticipating and anxious.
Only Chen Jiuyang remained calm, his heart like still water, without any ripples.
Seeing Chen Jiuyang enter the arena, hundreds of thousands of people roared in unison:
"Crowned King Today!"
"Crowned King Today!"
Hundreds of thousands of people roared in unison, as if to shatter the heavens, making everyone's blood boil and roar.
Being crowned king not only represented personal elevation but also a strengthening of the Dragon Country.
The last time the Dragon Country crowned a king was twenty years ago, the fifth King Zhenhai!
In twenty years, the Dragon Country's national fortune had soared. This time, five kings could be crowned!
From commoners to high officials and nobles, everyone was extremely concerned. With each new king, the martial arts strength of the Dragon Country increased by one point.
A nation's strength was formed by the unity of countless citizens. A nation's strength was also built through the struggle of every citizen, thus making the nation strong.
This was also national confidence, enhancing the Dragon Country's position in the world!
"This is the Martial Rankings arena..." Marquis Feng Han's face was flushed with excitement, and a sparkle appeared in the corner of his eyes.
"Achieving triple success, the position of Zhuangyuan, perhaps it is today!" The Patriarch of the Chen family also excitedly anticipated.
Triple success, the position of Zhuangyuan, being crowned king, and then entering the Dragon Country Martial Rankings team – a series of glories that brought honor to ancestors were almost within reach!
No one related to Chen Jiuyang could remain calm.
Yao Zixuan was also very excited, her face flushed. Once Chen Jiuyang was crowned king, she would be the first royal consort of the new king!
Lin Yuexian, Ji Lengyue, Qiu Yihan, and the other women, although they had their own rivalries and were not convinced in private, Yao Zixuan knew Chen Jiuyang the earliest. When Chen Jiuyang rose to prominence, the Yao family had also provided him with the greatest assistance. Even if they were unwilling, Yao Zixuan becoming the first royal consort was an undisputed matter.
Marquises had seven legitimate wives, and kings had seven royal consorts. However, everyone knew that the royal consort ranked first was the true royal consort, the one most favored by the king.
The referee stood on the arena and announced, "Today, the elimination matches for the top five positions begin. The five contestants may choose their opponents themselves."
As the voice fell.
"Boom!"
As if dragon roars and gunshots sounded, a Phoenix-Winged Flowing Gold Dragon-Patterned Spear was inserted into the arena. Then, a tall figure in dark brocade robes ascended the arena, pulled out the Phoenix-Winged Flowing Gold Dragon-Patterned Spear, and flicked a spear flower. Yan Hongming, the Crown Prince of the Yan King, the second king of the Dragon Country, looked at Chen Jiuyang with burning eyes and surging fighting spirit:
"Brother Chen, you and I should have a battle to determine the victor."
"Boom!"
Countless people were immediately in an uproar, and then their eyes became eager.
Many had discussed this countless times. Among the younger generation of this year, Chen Jiuyang's reputation was the most prominent. The few who could contend with him were few, but as the Martial Rankings battles eliminated others, only Yan Hongming remained!
This battle of prodigies should be extremely exciting!
Would the rising Chen Jiuyang be stronger, or would the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Spear Technique prevail?
This battle was anticipated by countless people.
"Buzz!"
After the spear's hum, came Chen Jiuyang's clear and resonant saber hum!
Chen Jiuyang laughed heartily, his blood and qi surged, and he looked at Yan Hongming with equally fervent fighting spirit. He lightly drew the Yan Sheng Saber, then his figure shot towards the arena, his fighting spirit soaring, and his indifferent voice echoed throughout the venue:
"Brother Yan is right, you and I should have a battle. Since that is the case, then let us fight!"
"Let's decide a victor!"
In the next instant, the blood and qi of both sides surged into the sky, their momentum vast and mighty!