Sometimes one wishes to get drunk and forget all their troubles.
But he possessed the Pure Yang physique, immune to all poisons, and would never get drunk no matter how much he drank.
How his relationship with Hu Qijie became so good was during their first gathering when they were in college. Hu Qijie's family was wealthy and treated everyone to food and drinks. However, he discovered Chen Jiuyang's astonishing tolerance for alcohol and once remarked that Chen Jiuyang was wasting his talent for drinking by studying medicine. If he had pursued finance and obtained a master's degree, his annual salary after graduation would easily reach a million.
After waking from his dream in the middle of the night, Chen Jiuyang did not fall back asleep. He went into the courtyard and began to practice his boxing slowly.
Gradually clearing his mind of distractions, his blood and qi surged like a torrent. He was like a dragon, and any move he made would unleash waves of heat, imbued with formidable killing power.
He practiced until dawn, and Chen Jiuyang felt no fatigue at all. This was one of the benefits of the Invincible Divine Path; as long as he didn't use the nascent form of his divine abilities or consume his soul, his combat power and endurance far surpassed those of his peers.
As the roosters crowed and dawn broke, Yao Zixuan got up to wash herself. The Chen family patriarch also appeared and found Chen Jiuyang, saying, "Jiuyang, you need to accompany me to the Six Gates in Fengcheng today."
"For what reason?" Chen Jiuyang asked.
"The Martial Rankings are approaching, and you need to go to the Six Gates to obtain your identity number plate for registration. This will make it more convenient for you to enter and exit Longjing afterward," the Chen family patriarch said. "Also, the Sword Holder of Feng Province wishes to meet you."
"Sword Holder?" Chen Jiuyang's expression faltered, wondering why the old gentleman wanted to see him.
Soon, the two of them got into a car and set off. Despite being the patriarch of the Shu Mountain Chen family, he was not qualified to purchase or use a helicopter; even he had to abide by this rule.
On the way, the Chen family patriarch said, "Jiuyang, do you know why the city and provincial martial ranking competitions restrict the strength of martial artists to the Xuan realm?"
Chen Jiuyang pondered for a moment and slowly shook his head.
There were quite a few Xuan realm martial artists in the martial world, and even more in the Di and Ren realms. However, the city and provincial martial rankings only allowed Xuan realm martial artists to participate, which was peculiar. He had not inquired about it carefully before.
"To bear the destiny," the Chen family patriarch said solemnly.
"After you become the champion of the Feng Province Martial Rankings, you should feel a force protecting you from the unseen, right?"
Chen Jiuyang nodded, "Indeed."
In his sea of consciousness, there was currently a phantom image of half a golden dragon scale.
The Chen family patriarch continued, "The destiny of the martial rankings in a city or province is not enough to support a martial artist's path to the heavens; at most, it can plant a seed for their path to the heavens."
"Do you know that all five current Kings of our Dragon Country are champions from past martial rankings?"
Chen Jiuyang's expression was surprised, "I truly didn't know that."
"Becoming a King is not as simple as ascending to the Heavenly realm and receiving a royal title. You will understand when the time comes. With your current status as a Marquis, and by walking the Invincible Divine Path, you have simultaneously mastered two paths to ascending to the Heavenly realm."
"For this Dragon Country Martial Rankings, your most important task is to ensure your own safety. You don't necessarily have to fight for first place, understand?"
"There are dozens of provinces in our Dragon Country, and anyone who wins a provincial martial ranking championship this year is extraordinary. Their supporting forces will inevitably significantly enhance their combat power."
"Originally, my Chen family had also prepared relevant matters for you, but you are walking the path of the divine child's invincibility. Alas..."
Hearing the Chen family patriarch's words, Chen Jiuyang finally understood why the Marquis of Feng Han could not attempt to reach the Heavenly realm King.
The martial rankings restrict participants to those under fifty years old. This means that to walk the path of divine might like a prison, one must succeed in ascending to the Heavenly realm and becoming a Heavenly King before the age of fifty, with the support of a Marquis title and the martial rankings.
"This..." Chen Jiuyang wanted to speak and confirm his conjecture with the Chen family patriarch, but an unseen force, the phantom image of the golden dragon scale in his mind, trembled slightly, warning Chen Jiuyang not to reveal the truth, lest great disaster befall him.
But the Chen family patriarch chuckled, "It seems you already know. This is why it is so difficult to ascend to the Heavenly realm King, and why organizations like the Heavenly King Alliance exist in such numbers."
Chen Jiuyang slowly nodded. The numerous conditions limited martial artists, no wonder...
Then, his heart stirred, "Patriarch, do you mean that our Dragon Country has quite a few Heavenly realm experts, but very few ennobled as Kings?"
The Chen family patriarch replied, "Indeed. I cannot tell you the secrets of the Heavenly realm, but the foundation of our Dragon Country is far beyond the five visible Heavenly Kings. Great aristocratic families like my Chen family have Heavenly realm experts, and even Venerable realm experts. As I mentioned before, because the national destiny battle that occurs every sixty years has not yet begun, experts of this level cannot reveal themselves, otherwise, it would cause great chaos in the world."
As they spoke, they had already arrived at the entrance of the Six Gates in Fengcheng.
When Chen Jiuyang set foot inside the Six Gates again, a ripple stirred in his heart.
Upon entering the Six Gates and arriving at the exclusive office for the Martial Rankings, the old martial ranking elder who had previously protected Chen Jiuyang was sitting in the office. Seeing Chen Jiuyang arrive, he smiled and flicked his finger. A small wooden plaque shot out from the desk and landed in Chen Jiuyang's hand.
"Marquis Xuanyang, you are very good. Take good care of this wooden plaque. It is your credential to travel to Longjing next month to participate in the Dragon Country Martial Rankings."
Chen Jiuyang accepted the plaque. The Chen family patriarch cupped his hands towards the elder and said, "Brother Gongsun, until we meet again."
"Walk slowly, no need to see you off. The Sword Holder is waiting for you upstairs. Go ahead," the old martial ranking elder said.
Leaving the exclusive office for the Martial Rankings, the Chen family patriarch said, "Jiuyang, you have served in the Sharp Blade Legion and the Apocalypse Legion. Do you know about our Dragon Country's three major legions? You know two of them, do you know the third legion?"
"I do not know," Chen Jiuyang replied. He had emerged from the Sharp Blade Legion and had only recently stepped into the martial world, so his knowledge of various matters was limited.
As the Chen family patriarch led Chen Jiuyang along, he said, "Our Dragon Country's most powerful legion is the 'Sword Holders'!"
"!!!" Chen Jiuyang's heart leaped in surprise. "The Sword Holders are a legion?"
"Indeed," the Chen family patriarch stated. "The selection requirements for the Sword Holder Legion are extremely rigorous. Even I do not know the criteria for selecting Sword Holders."
Subsequently, the two arrived at the top floor of the Six Gates building.
There were dense crowds of people coming and going. The Sword Holder of Feng Province was seated in a position, his gaze fixed on a list.
Chen Jiuyang's attention was also drawn to this list.
It was none other than the 'Hidden King Ranking'!
Ninety-nine people were recorded on the list, and Chen Jiuyang's name was third from the bottom, ranking ninety-sixth on the Hidden King Ranking.
Chen Jiuyang's expression changed slightly, his eyes shining with a faint light.
The Chen family patriarch explained, "This is a list compiled by the Six Gates internally, issued by the Longjing Six Gates, and data integrated by the various regional Six Gates."
Then, the Chen family patriarch cupped his hands and bowed to the Sword Holder, saying, "Brother Nan, long time no see."
The Sword Holder of Feng Province nodded slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile, "Bian Dao, your Chen family has produced a fine descendant."