June 12th.
Ye Tiannan of the Dragon Kingdom won the World Championship of the Martial Ranking, bringing universal celebration and nationwide excitement.
On this very day, the Dragon Kingdom's Ten Kings became the Nine Kings.
King Qian, Chen Jiuyang, abdicated his title, personally destroyed his royal residence, and moved his family into a simple bungalow.
"I can't even protect my wife and children, so I am unworthy of the throne."
When the news reached the relevant parties, countless people reacted in different ways.
This day was one of universal celebration, with the joyous news of the Dragon Kingdom's Martial Ranking victory spreading everywhere.
The news of Chen Jiuyang's abdication did not cause even a ripple. Even with official announcements and communiques, there was no significant attention.
The phantom image of the dragon scale in Chen Jiuyang's mind vanished with a mournful cry.
The highly anticipated Dragon Kingdom Martial Ranking team was already en route back to the Dragon Kingdom by plane.
On the plane.
Moments before, everyone was immersed in the joy of winning the championship.
Then, the news of Chen Jiuyang's abdication arrived.
The faces of everyone turned grim, the atmosphere instantly became heavy, and the sense of joy vanished.
A trace of King Yan's aura leaked out, nearly causing the plane to disintegrate. He looked calmly and indifferently at the Sword Wielder of Longjing, "Your and my actions have chilled his heart. With what face will you and I see him again?"
The Sword Wielder of Longjing gritted his teeth and said, "Prioritize the bigger picture!!"
"Has the Six Doors truly found no clues at all?"
"This old man doesn't believe it!!"
King Yan looked at him, "What is the point of you saying all this now?"
"Even if Duan Qilong found something, he wouldn't dare to report it and has already returned to the Sacred Land of the Forbidden City. Without an imperial decree, can you force your way into the Sacred Land to interrogate him?"
"This matter will remain an unsolved case. Do you think, with Jiuyang's personality, he would swallow his pride and suffer in silence?"
The Sword Wielder of Longjing couldn't help but change his expression, murmuring, "Who exactly did this?"
They knew they had completely lost Chen Jiuyang.
From now on, whether they met as friends or enemies was uncertain.
When Chen Jiuyang was in the Profound Realm, he dared to challenge Xi Butui while still a commoner for the death of a brother, and dared to provoke the then-dominant King Zhennan, Zhou Fangzun, in the Earth Realm.
Now, Chen Jiuyang was the uncrowned king among the younger generation of martial artists. His wife's family was annihilated, and his pregnant wife disappeared.
What kind of madness and revenge would he unleash, and who could bear it?
No one dared to think about it.
Although this was a period of great change and abundant spiritual energy,
Chen Jiuyang, as the master of the Green Bamboo Spirit Domain, with ten spots each month, had now abdicated. With the backing of the Chen family of Shu Mountain and the Mo Dao Han clan, he could, in a short period, gather a formidable force without relying on other powers and act in his own way.
Coupled with Chen Jiuyang's innate talent...
Longjing would have no access to the Green Bamboo Spirit Domain.
The Sword Wielder of Longjing gritted his teeth. Who was it that did this, and who was it that made Duan Qilong return to the Sacred Land and chilled Chen Jiuyang's heart!
The situation was unpredictable, and no one could see through it.
...
Qingzhu Town.
A simple bungalow at the foot of Qingzhu Mountain.
With dim lights, several women of noble status were helping Zhang Xiuzhen and Chen Jianmin clean and move into this small home.
In the main hall, there were three bedrooms.
Zhang Xiuzhen and Chen Jianmin slept in one room.
Lin Yuexian, Ji Lengyue, and Qiu Yihan took turns sleeping in another room. As for Chen Jiuyang's room, they did not enter.
The interior decoration, furnishings, and furniture were all acquired with money from Yao Zixuan.
The three women had agreed to take turns sleeping there, while the other two would reside in the Lin family's manor not far away.
Outside the small bungalow stood hundreds of people.
Among them were Fang Bahua and Deng Zun at the forefront, followed by the Forty-Six Marquises of Feng Province and Marquis Feng Han.
Further back were those Deng Zun had vetted to follow Chen Jiuyang in recent times.
Gathered here, they were all waiting for Chen Jiuyang's command to act.
With Chen Jiuyang's return, they had a leader. His abdication also indicated his stance.
Regardless of the outside world, at least within the Green Bamboo Spirit Domain, Chen Jiuyang was invincible.
Chen Fengge and Han Peiling were conversing.
"The old ancestors of my Shu Mountain Chen family have all awakened."
"My Han clan has as well."
"..."
"Brother Chen, it seems our thoughts are the same, wanting to bring Jiuyang back to our respective clans."
"Brother Han, this matter depends on Jiuyang's own choice."
"We will ask him when the time is right. Where is Jiuyang?"
"Jiuyang is in the mountains, waiting for him to be alone and quiet. He needs to figure out his path forward himself."
Deep within Qingzhu Mountain.
A crystal-clear, emerald-green bamboo emitted a dense spiritual energy. Chen Jiuyang stood before this spiritual bamboo, and a faint maiden figure materialized from the bamboo: "Greetings, Master."
This was the Green Bamboo Spirit Immortal. She was the greatest beneficiary of the spiritual rain, and her current power was comparable to the Heavenly Realm. As time passed, she would only grow stronger.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "On the day of the incident, did you monitor who made the move? Before and after the incident, did anyone scout or make arrangements within the Green Bamboo Spirit Domain?"
Within the Green Bamboo Domain, the Green Bamboo Spirit Immortal could sense all movements.
The Green Bamboo Spirit Immortal shook her head and said, "Master, there were no anomalies within the Spirit Domain before or after the incident. On the day of the incident, this servant monitored nothing."
"What was the Sword Wielder doing at the time?"
"When the killer made their move, he sensed it, but he was too late."
Chen Jiuyang's face was pale, his eyes filled with extreme darkness.
The killer who could deceive the Green Bamboo Spirit Immortal must have a strength above the Heavenly Realm, or possess treasures that could shield them.
Chen Jiuyang's last hope of finding the killer lay with the Green Bamboo Spirit Immortal, and now...
That hope was extinguished.
This was a premeditated murder.
Untraceable, flawless.
It truly plunged Chen Jiuyang into a state of despair.
Chen Jiuyang walked heavily towards his home, where hundreds of people awaited his decision.
Chen Jiuyang looked at them and said, "What the Six Doors' Divine Constables could not accomplish, you cannot either."
"I will avenge my own grievances. I will find my wife and children myself."
"You all have families. The Yao family's assets belonged to my wife's parents. Zixuan invested heavily in many industries here. I have no other requests."
"Many will think that I, Chen Jiuyang, have abdicated and am just a mere farmer, that I am weakened and abandoned. Many will come to test me, and even dare to lay hands on my wife's family's industries."
"I only hope you can protect the industries and assets, and not let them be seized by others."
Chen Jiuyang's words surprised them. They hadn't expected Chen Jiuyang to focus on the Yao family's assets in Ziyang City.
They had thought Chen Jiuyang would rally them and build a force.
But since Chen Jiuyang had spoken, they obeyed his orders and then dispersed.
Han Peiling and Chen Fengge approached Chen Jiuyang.
"Jiuyang, move back to Shu Mountain. With your talent, you can enter the Sacred Land. The power of the Shu Mountain Sacred Land will surely wash away your humiliation and help you find your wife and children."
Chen Jiuyang was, after all, a descendant of the Pure Yang Medical Immortal. Moving back to Shu Mountain, acknowledging his ancestors, and requesting the Sacred Land's intervention was only natural.
Han Peiling said:
"Jiuyang, as the Taoist companion of the Saintly Dao True Demon lineage's Han clan Saintess, the Saintly Dao is your best destination."