The wind rose and clouds surged, and heavy snow fell, yet a brilliant winter sun rose.
At eight in the morning, hundreds of thousands of people gathered inside and outside the Martial Ranking arena, with constables from the Dragon Capital's Six Gates maintaining order.
The crowd was like a sea, yet calm and undisturbed, orderly, with no one causing trouble.
In the wind and snow, a tall figure, dressed in a magnificent ice-blue robe, with a long sword at his waist and hair like a waterfall, led dozens of people.
Within ten meters of him, not a single snowflake fell; beyond ten meters, they were incinerated by the pure yang blood energy emanating from him.
Such vast blood energy made countless martial artists envious, but no one dared to approach him. In the entire Martial Ranking competition, only Chen Jiuyang, the champion of the Feng Province Martial Ranking, possessed such immense blood energy.
As Chen Jiuyang and his entourage passed, people spontaneously made way, looking at Chen Jiuyang's figure with a hint of reverence.
With his Earth Realm cultivation, he could force a Princess Consort to bow her head. In the entire Dragon Kingdom, only Chen Jiuyang could achieve this.
Stepping into the Martial Ranking arena, they found their designated seats, exclusive to the Shu Mountain sect.
The various factions had already gathered, and the Dragon Capital's Sword Bearer stood on a high platform, holding the Martial Ranking bamboo scroll.
The referees ascended the combat stage.
Luo Tianchen and Gu Suzhen stepped onto the stage for their match.
Yesterday, they had been instructed by their backers to postpone the fight until today.
Whichever of them won would secure a spot in the top ten of this Martial Ranking, qualifying for the Dragon Kingdom's national martial arts team.
As for the top five, that would depend on fate.
Luo Tianchen and Gu Suzhen fought fiercely, neither hiding their strength.
The Chen family patriarch spoke, commenting, "Jiuyang, securing one of the Five Kings should be no problem for you."
"If possible, I want you to contend for the top scholar position!"
The champion of Fengcheng Martial Ranking, the champion of Feng Province Martial Ranking, and the champion of Dragon Kingdom Martial Ranking – achieving all three would make him the top scholar!
If Chen Jiuyang could attain the top scholar position, then be enfeoffed as a king, and subsequently enter the Dragon Kingdom's national martial arts team, how glorious would that be? It would be a great event to bring glory to the family and honor the ancestors!
The investment made by the Chen family of Shu Mountain in Chen Jiuyang was finally about to pay off.
Chen Jiuyang smiled slightly and said, "I will try my best to contend for it."
In the battle before them, Gu Suzhen emerged victorious, both sides heavily wounded, having unleashed their full strength.
The next match...
Following this, Chen Jiuyang slowly rose, and with a flash of his figure, he appeared from the seats onto the stage.
"Zhou Wushuang versus Chen Jiuyang!" the referee announced.
"..."
The referee stated, "If Zhou Wushuang does not arrive within five minutes, this match will be won by Chen Jiuyang."
Chen Jiuyang stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.
Hundreds of thousands of people inside and outside the arena watched the young figure on the stage, their eyes filled with complex emotions.
The outcome of yesterday's negotiations had been that Zhou Wushuang would forfeit the Martial Ranking to preserve his life.
Chen Jiuyang's combat prowess was unmatched among his peers; those who could contend with him should be top prodigies like Yan Hongming and Ye Tiannan.
Time ticked by, and just as the five minutes were about to expire, and the referee was preparing to declare Chen Jiuyang the winner—
"I will not surrender!"
A roar filled with unwillingness echoed throughout the Martial Ranking arena, and then Zhou Wushuang, with disheveled hair and wearing a magnificent robe adorned with black and gold intricate patterns, rushed into the arena and landed on the stage.
"Boom!"
Countless people gasped in astonishment at Zhou Wushuang's actions. Yesterday, even the Princess Consort of Zhennan had bowed her head to Chen Jiuyang, yet Zhou Wushuang had defied her wishes and participated in the Martial Ranking.
Furthermore, Zhou Wushuang knew that Chen Jiuyang intended to kill him, and yet he still came to the stage under such circumstances.
The crowd's feelings were complex, and then a strong voice shouted:
"Good!"
Someone cheered, and then more people's eyes lit up. The atmosphere became lively.
This was a true martial artist!
As martial artists, why should we fear a fight?
Knowing that it might cost him his life, Zhou Wushuang still came, solely to uphold the prestige of the Third Prince, Zhou Fangzun.
"...Wushuang, my son..."
The Princess Consort of Zhennan sat in the Zhennan King's mansion, tears streaming down her face.
Zhou Fangzun, aboard a warship in the South China Sea, watched Zhou Wushuang ascend the Martial Ranking stage through the screen. His expression could no longer remain indifferent; his eyes reddened slightly, and his fists clenched.
"Good!"
"Well done for coming!"
Zhou Wushuang's courage was commendable, earning him praise from many.
Chen Jiuyang looked at him, nodded slightly, a hint of admiration in his eyes, "Your daring to ascend the stage does earn my respect."
"On this Martial Ranking stage, I wonder if you still have a way to feign death and escape."
Zhou Wushuang's hair was disheveled, his tone filled with a determined resolve, "Between you and me, only life and death can be determined; there is no need for further words."
Chen Jiuyang nodded, "It seems you intend to use your life to protect Zhou Fangzun's reputation."
"So what!" Zhou Wushuang stared directly at Chen Jiuyang, "My father is the Third Prince of the Dragon Kingdom, Zhou Fangzun. I am his son, how can I, Zhou Wushuang, be a coward and tarnish my father's prestige!"
"Hahahaha!"
Chen Jiuyang let out a hearty laugh, his battle intent erupting with immense power, his domineering voice suddenly echoing throughout the entire venue, "Since that is the case—"
"Then let us fight!"
"Rumble!"
Both sides unleashed powerful blood energy and then engaged.
"Zhennan Martial Dao—General's Saber!"
A torrent of true qi and divine soul condensed into a divine intent technique, an undeniable aura of dominance sweeping outwards, as if the roars of clashing weapons and horses could be heard!
Then, dozens of phantom figures of soldiers wearing metal armor appeared, their aura imposing and murderous, filled with killing intent!
Countless people were instantly moved.
"Prototype of Divine Might!"
"Well done, Zhou Wushuang! In a single night, having comprehended life and death, you have, like Chen Jiuyang, grasped the prototype of divine might in the Earth Realm!"
"The Zhennan King has a worthy successor! Zhou Wushuang truly does not tarnish his reputation!"
"Alas, compared to Chen Jiuyang, he is still a notch weaker..."
"Aye, that's true. To make such rapid progress in a single night, yet he will still die at Chen Jiuyang's hands."
Seeing this, the Princess Consort of Zhennan trembled violently, stumbled out of the Zhennan King's mansion, and rushed towards the Martial Ranking arena.
Zhou Fangzun, seeing this from the warship in the South China Sea, could not help but have his eyes glisten with tears. He lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly, "Immediately contact the Dragon Capital's Sword Bearer and ask Chen Jiuyang to show mercy. Afterwards, I, Zhou Fangzun, will give Chen Jiuyang an explanation... as long as my son can survive..."
Even a tiger does not eat its cubs. This matter arose because of him. Although he was the Third Prince of the Dragon Kingdom, he was also a father.
The father's mistakes are borne by the son with his life; in the vastness of China, such a principle does not exist.
On the Martial Ranking arena.
Chen Jiuyang, seeing Zhou Wushuang comprehend the prototype of divine might, a glint flashed in his eyes, and his smile deepened, "Good, good, good!"
"Zhou Wushuang, you have given me a surprise. Since that is the case, you are qualified to receive one of my strikes."
"Primal Dao—Instant Light!"
In an instant, two streams of energy, one white and one gold, erupted on the Martial Ranking stage, engulfing the entire arena!
Fearless of death, only striving for victory and bringing glory to the nation, this is the charm of the Martial Ranking.
It is the conviction forged by the blood of generations of ancestors!