Chen Jiuyang returned to the sect, and the moment he stepped through the sect gate, all eyes fell upon him.
Tens of thousands of people stood there, utterly silent, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
Su Jinglun's indifferent, resonant voice rang out:
"Holy Son Qanyang, this seat has heard you are interested in the position of Sect Master?"
All eyes turned to Chen Jiuyang, awaiting his answer.
Chen Jiuyang's expression was calm, clad in ceremonial robes, with a peculiar mark between his brows.
He scanned the crowd, looked at Sect Master Su Jinglun, and replied calmly:
"Yes."
"Why?" Su Jinglun's face was impassive, his voice icy, "Holy Son Qanyang, you are of the Han clan. The position of Sect Master of our True Sacred Sect has always rotated among the nine lineage families. The time has not yet come; after sixty years, it will automatically be passed to you. Why do you seek the position of Sect Master now?"
"Do you believe this seat leads the sect without competence, or that I am incapable of holding this position?"
This was the point of contention.
Su Jinglun questioned Chen Jiuyang in front of the entire sect.
Most people dared not breathe heavily, watching this scene intently.
Chen Jiuyang's expression remained calm as he said:
"Replying to the Sect Master, neither is true."
"I am merely doing it for the 'Great Dao'!"
"The path of cultivation is inherently a struggle against the current. The cicada's song lasts but a season; time flies, and years are fleeting. Not long ago, this seat ascended to the Venerable realm and attained enlightenment. This action is solely to spar with the Sect Master on the Great Dao, to follow my heart."
His words caused an immediate uproar. Holy Son Qanyang, Chen Jiuyang, had indeed ascended to the Venerable realm.
This gave him the confidence and strength to contend with the Sect Master.
Furthermore, Chen Jiuyang's answer was flawless, earning nods from the elder generation of True Demon Sect elders.
"As expected of our Sacred Sect's Holy Son, his Dao heart is pure, unlike the false paths."
"Well said. Our Sacred Sect should pursue the Great Dao, not covet external things."
"It is fortunate that our Sacred Sect's younger generation has such a prodigy as an example."
Chen Jiuyang continued, "Furthermore, this seat bears a deep enmity with the five great false dao lands. The position of Holy Son is too low; only the position of Sect Master will allow this seat to act without restraint and avenge this deep enmity."
"With this answer, is the Sect Master satisfied?"
"Very good." Su Jinglun nodded slowly, his expression unchanged, "Since ancient times, our Sacred Dao and the false dao have been irreconcilable. The war between the Sacred and the False will erupt again sooner or later. Since you have such resolve, this seat shall grant your request today."
"Battle this seat. If you win, you shall succeed as the Sect Master of the True Sacred Sect. If you lose, you shall die."
Chen Jiuyang's expression was serene. He cupped his fists and bowed,
"To hear the Dao in the morning, and to die in the evening would be without regret. I only seek the Sect Master to let me experience the Great Dao."
"Excellent."
Su Jinglun nodded slowly, then unleashed a surging aura that shot skyward, enveloped by dense black mist. His icy voice boomed,
"Come, fight!"
"Good."
Chen Jiuyang responded immediately.
"Rumble!!!"
Chen Jiuyang's aura surged. The Pure Lotus Sacred Fire appeared, engulfing him in golden flames as he shot into the sky to confront Su Jinglun.
"This aura..."
"How long has Holy Son Qanyang been in the Venerable realm? This aura is comparable to that of elder Venerable realm martial artists."
"It is a great fortune for our Sacred Sect to have such a prodigy."
Chen Jiuyang ascended into the sky, facing Su Jinglun, and said,
"Sect Master, this battle today is for this seat to seek and prove the Dao. Therefore, I shall use only one move to prove my Dao heart."
"Whoosh!!!"
The tens of thousands below heard Chen Jiuyang's words and erupted in a clamor.
Chen Jiuyang would use only one move against Su Jinglun.
This was too arrogant.
If he couldn't defeat Su Jinglun with one move, wouldn't he be waiting for death?
The elder generation of True Demon Sect elders, upon hearing this, had their eyes shining brightly:
"Well said! To seek and prove the Dao, one move is enough!"
"How many years has it been since our True Sacred Sect produced such a prodigy!"
Hearing this, Su Jinglun's indifferent expression shifted to one of seriousness. He slowly extended his hand, making a gesture of invitation:
"Please!"
"My path has always been intertwined with fire."
"I comprehended a divine ability during the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation of the Venerable realm."
"It is called Zhu Rong."
"Please, Sect Master, test this move."
As Chen Jiuyang's voice fell, the essence and spiritual energy in the sky became violent.
"Rumble!!!"
The peculiar mark between Chen Jiuyang's brows instantly unleashed its power.
"My heart is like a demon, its rage is fire, transforming into Zhu Rong, burning the heavens with fury!"
"Zhu Rong!!!"
"Rumble!!!"
A colossal, terrifying, ferocious, and enraged figure of Zhu Rong rose from Chen Jiuyang.
His body flowed with fire like magma, his phantom radiating immense heat, evaporating the air. Within a thousand meters, the sky became cloudless.
The Zhu Rong figure was a hundred meters tall, lifelike, as if a true ancient god or demon had been resurrected. He was wreathed in fire, terrifying beyond measure.
"Clang!!!"
The moment this figure appeared, the air and spiritual energy in the heavens and earth were squeezed out, creating 'clang' sounds like the clash of metal. It further agitated the spiritual and essence energy between heaven and earth.
What kind of terrifying divine ability was this?
Was this the divine ability Holy Son Qanyang had comprehended during his Heavenly Tribulation?
Such talent... truly monstrous.
This colossal Zhu Rong phantom, a hundred meters high, seemed capable of incinerating all things, causing ripples in space and creating mirages.
Upon witnessing this terrifying divine ability, the crowd was momentarily dazed, just like the Han clan members that day.
"This divine ability is extraordinary; it seems to contain origin essence. This old man even smells a trace of the power of rules."
"Your senses are not mistaken; this old man also perceives it."
"Our Sacred Sect has truly produced an outstanding prodigy and monster."
The moment Chen Jiuyang's divine ability manifested, the tens of thousands below fell silent.
Su Jinglun, confronting Chen Jiuyang in the sky, saw this Zhu Rong divine ability and his expression suddenly turned grave.
This divine ability gave him a heart-pounding feeling; an instinctive premonition surged within him.
"Hoo."
Chen Jiuyang slowly exhaled a breath of white mist and then looked at Su Jinglun, "Please, Sect Master, test this move!!!"
As his voice fell.
"Boom!!!"
The vast and terrifying Zhu Rong phantom immediately hurled a punch towards Su Jinglun.
In an instant, the heavens and earth changed color, and all things lost their brilliance!
The terrifying fiery fist, carrying the power of the Heavenly Tribulation, the origin essence of fire, and the rules of fire, struck towards Su Jinglun.
"Tribulation power! Origin essence! Law!!!"
Only then could Su Jinglun no longer maintain his composure. His face paled dramatically, and he hastily unleashed his trump card: "Three-Nine Profound Pure Supreme Armor!!!"
Damn it...
What kind of monstrous anomaly was this Holy Son within his sect? His divine ability and moves even contained the power of Heavenly Tribulation; had he swallowed the tribulation itself?
An ancient, verdant phantom of battle armor instantly enveloped Su Jinglun, appearing majestic and awe-inspiring.
The next moment.
"Boom!!!"
A terrifying explosion echoed!
Su Jinglun's figure was sent flying backward, engulfed in flames.
"..."
Everyone was dumbfounded.