The Dragon Country Martial Rankings entered its third round of competition.
Ten people remained.
These ten individuals had either fought and honed their skills step by step from within their local families, or even from military legions, eventually becoming champions of city-level and then provincial-level martial rankings before participating in the Dragon Country Martial Rankings.
These ten people could be considered the core members of the Dragon Country's national martial arts team for the upcoming year. They were undoubtedly the cream of the crop among the younger generation in the current Dragon Country martial arts world.
But why were they only considered "basic" members?
Because some of them were destined to die under Chen Jiuyang's blade!
The moment the match-ups for the third round were announced.
"Buzz buzz buzz!"
The Yan Sheng Saber in Chen Jiuyang's hand suddenly let out a crisp humming sound that echoed throughout the entire venue, causing many faces to change.
Chen Jiuyang's figure flickered as he darted onto the stage.
The referee's eyelids twitched. Why was Chen Jiuyang's killing intent so surging?
Only those who knew the inside story understood that Jiang Xingjin was the great-grandson of Jiang Haoran, who had previously severely injured Chen Jiuyang.
After the referee announced the match-ups for the five bouts of the third round, he stated, "Following the third round of matches, there will be the King's Throne contention ranking matches."
"The national martial arts team will be selected separately after the Martial Rankings conclude."
Normally, reaching the top ten would essentially secure a spot on the national team. However, the situation was different this year, as some of the top ten might perish.
As the announcement fell.
The third round of matches officially commenced.
Jiang Xingjin leaped onto the stage, wielding a great saber. His vital energy was robust, his upper body bare, exuding a rugged and ferocious aura.
Chen Jiuyang's gaze was like ice, his voice chilling as he projected to all directions, "Are you ready for your coffin?"
Jiang Xingjin let out a sinister laugh and sneered, "Chen Jiuyang, where do you get the confidence to kill me?"
Chen Jiuyang was undeniably strong, but Jiang Xingjin's participation in the third round of the Martial Rankings proved he was no weakling either!
Even if he couldn't defeat Chen Jiuyang, he could still jump off the stage and surrender.
However, in the next moment, his expression drastically changed.
Chen Jiuyang slowly nodded, his indifferent voice resonating throughout the venue:
"Having confidence is a good thing, but if I, Chen Jiuyang, say I will kill you, then I will kill you. No matter who comes—"
"They won't be able to stop me."
"Chh—"
Chen Jiuyang plunged the Yan Sheng Saber in his hand into the ground:
"Yuan Dao—Breakthrough!"
Rumble!
Chen Jiuyang's body was instantly engulfed in a pale golden vital energy, the terrifying waves of energy burning and blowing, but that wasn't important. What was important was—
The entire arena was enveloped by a colossal phantom image of the Yan Sheng Saber, trapping Jiang Xingjin and Chen Jiuyang within.
"It's over!"
Jiang Haoran's face suddenly turned pale, and those closely related to him felt their hearts sink to the bottom.
No one had anticipated that Chen Jiuyang would use his nascent divine ability to seal off the entire arena.
This nascent divine ability of Chen Jiuyang's could withstand the simultaneous attacks of hundreds of martial artists without collapsing or shattering, its power having been verified by many!
Jiang Xingjin's face still held a sinister grin, "So this is why you think you can kill me? I'd like to see how strong your nascent divine ability is, as we are both Earth realm martial artists."
"Bang!"
Immediately, the great saber in Jiang Xingjin's hand erupted with black saber energy, and he fiercely slashed towards the phantom saber image of the Yan Sheng Saber that enveloped the edge of the arena.
"Clang—"
The sound of metal striking metal, piercing the eardrums, erupted.
After Jiang Xingjin's single strike, the phantom image of the Yan Sheng Saber remained utterly unmoved.
Instead, Jiang Xingjin was repelled two steps back after unleashing his attack.
Even the tiger's mouth on Jiang Xingjin's hand, where he gripped the saber, felt somewhat numb.
At this moment, the sinister grin on Jiang Xingjin's face froze, replaced by a heart sinking to the abyss. He slowly turned to look at Chen Jiuyang, who stood on the other side of the arena, his entire being enveloped by an invisible gloom.
Immediately, Jiang Xingjin looked towards the referee and roared, "I want to—"
Mid-sentence, Jiang Xingjin was unable to utter any sound.
Countless people in the audience had their eyelids twitching violently. They watched as Chen Jiuyang lightly pointed at Jiang Xingjin from a distance, using some unknown method to silence him.
It was rather sinister.
However, those who had specifically studied Chen Jiuyang's profile knew that not only was Chen Jiuyang exceptionally talented in martial arts, but even before his martial arts fame, he was known for using various unorthodox and sinister methods to harm others.
Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Jiang Xingjin wanted to surrender, but Chen Jiuyang didn't even give him the chance to surrender, clearly intending to beat Jiang Xingjin to death on the stage.
Many shivered!
Chen Jiuyang, who held grudges and sought vengeance... Unless Jiang Xingjin could comprehend a nascent divine ability like Zhou Wushuang did earlier, impressing Chen Jiuyang, then...
Jiang Xingjin's neck stiffened as he slowly turned to look at Chen Jiuyang, fear appearing in his eyes for the first time.
Chen Jiuyang's gaze was like ice, his voice calm:
"Previously, your family patriarch, Jiang Haoran, escorted me for a hundred kilometers with three moves."
"That act that day is etched in my memory."
"Today, I will repay it in full. Jiang Xingjin, if you can withstand three of my moves, what's to stop me from sparing your life?"
"Chen! Jiu! Yang!" Jiang Haoran, disheveled and with a ferocious expression, roared at Chen Jiuyang from below the arena, his face flushed a deep crimson with humiliation.
Although they had anticipated Chen Jiuyang's revenge, they never expected him to retaliate in such a humiliating manner.
They had already become a laughingstock for many, and with Chen Jiuyang's actions, their dignity would be thoroughly trampled into the dirt.
Chen Jiuyang remained oblivious, as if he hadn't heard Jiang Haoran's furious roar. He looked at Jiang Xingjin and said with a half-smile,
"Heh heh... Are you ready?"
Jiang Xingjin, unable to speak, had veins bulging on his forehead, his expression shifting from green to white.
"First move…"
Chen Jiuyang's calm figure resonated, but his aura was heart-stopping. A magnificent fist shadow suddenly rose and, with no possibility of evasion or avoidance, Chen Jiuyang unleashed a punch towards Jiang Xingjin.
"Rumble!"
The pale golden fist shadow stirred up terrifying waves of energy, charging towards Jiang Xingjin.
Jiang Xingjin's expression changed drastically. He immediately injected his soul and vital energy into his great saber, using a divine technique to resist Chen Jiuyang's strike.
Jiang Xingjin's face contorted, veins bulging all over his body, as he unleashed a full-powered saber strike!
Its power was immense, appearing exceptionally extraordinary.
As the fist and saber met and collided, in a moment, the saber energy was torn apart like dry weeds by Chen Jiuyang's fist shadow.
The fist shadow then reached Jiang Xingjin. Jiang Xingjin activated his protective energy shield and used the tip of his saber to block the golden fist shadow.
Then.
"Bang—"
With a loud crash, Jiang Xingjin's figure was sent smashing to the ground, leaving a shocking bloody gash on the arena floor.
Jiang Xingjin's back was a bloody mess, and he lay there, barely alive, spitting blood.
The entire martial ranking arena fell silent.
A master who could break into the top ten of the Dragon Country Martial Rankings was rendered almost useless by a single punch from Chen Jiuyang.
Such a terrifying disparity in strength left countless people's minds blank.