Chen Jiuyang asked, "What new trouble are they stirring up that got them beaten?"
Barren mountains and harsh waters breed wicked people; otherwise, why would there be sky-high bride prices that prevent many from marrying?
Deng Zun said on the phone, "Marquis, it's like this. I took your maternal grandmother and the others home as you instructed. When we passed through the urban area of Ziyang County, your maternal grandmother and the others said they wanted to return items at the mall, to get their money back..."
"But some of the clothes had already had their tags removed and had been worn dirty by them. The mall refused to refund the money. Your maternal grandmother and the others threw a tantrum, and the people at the mall got angry. They accidentally pushed your maternal grandmother, and then both sides started fighting."
Chen Jiuyang lit a cigarette, exhaled a smoke ring, and felt a sense of satisfaction. "What's the situation now?"
Deng Zun replied, "The situation is under control. The mall staff have sent your maternal grandmother and the others to the hospital for examination. If there's anything wrong with their health, they will compensate them and cover their hospitalization. However, the mall will not accept the returns."
Chen Jiuyang suddenly had an epiphany and nodded solemnly, "That is only right. There is the law of the land; we should handle things according to the law and regulations."
As the Marquis of Xuanyang, he would not bully ordinary people with his influence. If someone like Chen Jiuyang's maternal grandmother caused trouble, things would be handled as they should be, and he wouldn't even show his face.
After hanging up the phone, Chen Jiuyang felt a sense of relief.
Evil deeds will eventually be repaid; it's not that retribution doesn't come, but the time has not yet arrived.
Practicing martial arts should first align with one's inner feelings before talking about moving forward.
In the hustle and bustle of the mortal world, one should follow their inner feelings.
Chen Jiuyang stood in the courtyard, his gaze lost and vacant, remaining in that state for several hours.
Zhang Xiuzhen prepared the meal and called Chen Jiuyang to eat. Chen Jiuyang showed no reaction. Zhang Xiuzhen panicked and quickly called Yao Zixuan. Although Yao Zixuan was a martial artist, her cultivation period was short, and she didn't know what had happened to Chen Jiuyang. She hurried to the adjacent Lin Family Manor to invite the Chen Family Patriarch.
The Chen Family Patriarch was startled to see Yao Zixuan rushing over, and he quickly went to Chen Jiuyang's house. His expression of tension disappeared, and then his face lit up with joy, sighing, "This kid's talent and comprehension are truly unparalleled..."
Yao Zixuan asked nervously, "Patriarch, what's happening with Jiuyang?"
The Chen Family Patriarch chuckled, "No need to worry. Jiuyang is having an epiphany regarding his martial path. This is something many martial artists dream of..."
"I don't know what happened to this kid to cause him to start having a martial path epiphany right at the doorstep of his home..."
"I will watch over Jiuyang. You should eat your meal and go to sleep; don't let it delay your tasks."
"Alright..." Whether in the eyes of Yao Zixuan, Chen Jianmin, or Zhang Xiuzhen, the Chen Family Patriarch was a symbol of authority.
Since the Chen Family Patriarch had said so, they all felt reassured.
The Chen Family Patriarch had people bring over a tea table, set up a pot of tea and a chessboard, and called Lin Buwen down to play chess.
Chen Jiuyang had now been enfeoffed as a Marquis, allowing him to marry seven wives. His four already betrothed wives were Yao Zixuan, Lin Yuexian, Ji Lengyue, and Qiu Yihan.
Lin Buwen, as Lin Yuexian's grandfather and the father of a high-ranking official in the Dragon Country, naturally had to maintain close ties with the Lin and Yao families while the Chen Family Patriarch remained in Feng Province.
Lin Buwen was a Huang realm martial artist. Although advanced in years, his vitality and spirit were quite robust, which was the benefit of ordinary people practicing martial arts.
Time ticked by, and by the next morning, a sliver of fish-belly white appeared in the sky, followed by the slow rise of the fiery red sun.
Chen Jiuyang's body suddenly moved slightly, and then his eyes regained their focus. His aura also shifted.
The Chen Family Patriarch's eyelids twitched. The Chen Jiuyang before him was like a dormant volcano, with an astonishingly terrifying power hidden beneath his calm exterior.
Chen Jiuyang cupped his fists and bowed, "Thank you, Patriarch, for keeping watch all night."
When Chen Jiuyang fell into his epiphany, he could perceive everything happening outside, but his mind was still processing.
"It is my duty," the Chen Family Patriarch said with a smile. "If your kid could be this peaceful every day, what's the harm in me watching over you every day?"
Chen Jiuyang was destined to advance to the Heavenly Realm and be crowned a King. His talent and comprehension were unparalleled in this era. After Chen Jiuyang left Mount Shu, the Chen Family Patriarch truly found that Chen Jiuyang was too prone to causing trouble, always making him feel anxious. If he could cultivate peacefully like this and have martial path epiphanies, it would be wonderful.
Chen Jiuyang slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, "This epiphany has clarified my direction. Today, I must verify whether my actions and my heart are in alignment."
"Unity of knowledge and action," the Chen Family Patriarch nodded. "This is indeed the standard for creating a martial path."
"I am curious about what your martial path is, Jiuyang."
The single word 'Yuan' made it truly impossible to guess the nature of Chen Jiuyang's martial path.
Chen Jiuyang did not answer directly, merely saying lightly, "Patriarch, you will know soon enough."
The Chen Family Patriarch had a premonition of something unfavorable.
Before long, the eight people from the Heavenly King Alliance who had come to find Chen Jiuyang yesterday slowly appeared near the Chen residence. Chen Jiuyang stood up and walked, following these people to the riverside. The Chen Family Patriarch, feeling uneasy, followed behind them.
The middle-aged martial artist at the forefront spoke directly, "Marquis of Xuanyang, I presume you already know the origin of our Heavenly King Alliance."
"Indeed," Chen Jiuyang replied.
"My name is Lu Shan Hai. I am an overseer of the Heavenly King Alliance. We have been in Ziyang County for over ten years. Within Ziyang County, there is an ancient ruin and cave dwelling from the middle or even ancient ages."
"Oh?" Chen Jiuyang expressed some curiosity.
"One of Confucius's three thousand disciples hailed from Ziyang County. A direct descendant of the Ming Dynasty sage Zhu Xi also has a lineage in Ziyang County."
"Before discussing the ruin and cave dwelling, Marquis of Xuanyang, do you know that the 'Dao Foundation' has five methods, and the path of cultivation is divided into ancient, middle, and recent eras?"
Chen Jiuyang said, "I am eager to hear the details."
"Before the great unification of the ancient era, there were immortals. During the Qin Dynasty of the ancient era, there were still Qi-refining cultivators. It was only in the middle ages that martial arts began to rise, with the first Martial Saint, Guan Yu. However, the world still possessed spiritual energy at that time. By the recent era, spiritual energy had almost completely depleted, leading to our current cultivation methods: Huang, Xuan, Di, Tian, Zun, Huang, Di, Xian, Dao! A total of nine major cultivation realms. However, due to various reasons, our Dragon Country currently only has the Heavenly Realm openly, and people of the Dragon Country can only cultivate to the Heavenly Realm."
"However, the restrictions on the cultivation realms of our Dragon Country's martial artists will soon disappear."
"The current method of cultivation in the martial arts world follows the path of middle-aged martial artists. After entering the Earth Realm, one then connects with ancient Qi-refining methods, primarily focusing on the power of the divine soul."
"But this method of cultivation can only be achieved through becoming a King, blocking the path for us rogue martial artists. We can only be confined to the Earth Realm for our entire lives."
"So, you wish to follow the pure martial path of the middle ages?"
"It's not just that; we simply wish to find a way to ascend to higher vistas."
"I understand."
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly, then drew the Yan Sheng Saber, his gaze chilling as he looked at these members of the Heavenly King Alliance. "Next, it is time to let you verify the martial path in my heart."
The Chen Family Patriarch's eyelids twitched. What new trouble was Chen Jiuyang about to stir up? They were talking civilly, and he suddenly wanted to make a move?