Feng Province is vast and home to many powerful factions, yet the prominent figures who emerge and fade are always the same few.
After his battle with Xi Butui, Chen Jiuyang was rumored to possess a naturally formed Dao foundation. His self-created martial arts at the Earth realm attracted significant attention, both overt and covert.
If Chen Jiuyang's path of martial arts were to be revealed, many would likely lose their peace of mind.
Chen Jiuyang sheathed his Yan Sheng Dao and asked Lu Shanhai, "The Ziyang County has ancient martial manor ruins. You've been exploring for nearly a decade, yet haven't found any trace?"
"..."
Lu Shanhai's face twitched. Chen Jiuyang had just killed their men, and now he was casually discussing ruins with them as if nothing had happened. Was this truly the embodiment of unity between knowledge and action, the Dao Integration realm?
Lu Shanhai replied, "In shallow waters, there are many turtles. A small Ziyang County has four clans and sixteen sects, effectively sealing off any clues to the ruins. However, they themselves don't know the location of the ruins. Marquis Xuanyang, you possess a naturally formed Dao foundation. Your divine soul power and true qi are far stronger than ordinary martial artists like us. If you were to join us in searching for clues to the ruins, you should be able to find them quickly."
At this moment, he could no longer utter the words he had intended to invite Chen Jiuyang to join the Heavenly King Alliance.
"Four sects and sixteen clans..." Chen Jiuyang bared eight teeth in a brilliant smile. "In the coming days, I will visit them one by one."
As for the misunderstanding about his naturally formed Dao foundation, he would let outsiders believe it. The secret of his naturally pure Yang body must never be exposed.
Chen Jiuyang's smile sent a chill down Lu Shanhai and the others' spines. They had no words for Chen Jiuyang's martial arts path, but they offered silent condolences to those who would suffer from his transgressions.
Lu Shanhai forced a smile. "Our purpose in visiting Marquis Xuanyang today has been achieved. Marquis Xuanyang, we shall take our leave now. When there are clues about the ruins, we will seek you out again."
"Alright," Chen Jiuyang nodded. "If your Heavenly King Alliance wishes to avenge the two individuals from earlier, feel free to come find me."
"Heh heh..." Lu Shanhai dared not respond and simply led his men away.
His previous words were intended to mislead Chen Jiuyang and shake his martial foundation. If successful, he would then invite Chen Jiuyang to join the Heavenly King Alliance.
However, his probing revealed that Chen Jiuyang's martial will was as firm as a rock, utterly unshakeable. This intention was thus extinguished.
The Heavenly King Alliance was merely a loose alliance of interests. They would not go mad and seek revenge against Chen Jiuyang for the death of one or two individuals, nor did they possess the strength to do so.
Chen Jiuyang had the third-rank official Lin Xianxing, his father-in-law, in the civil service, the Chen family of Shu Mountain as his backing in martial arts, and the trillion-dollar assets of the secular Yao family as his financial resources. Furthermore, Chen Jiuyang's master, Marquis Feng Han, possessed the Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pill. This Marquis Feng Han also doted on his precious disciple, transferring the production line of the Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pill to Chen Jiuyang in Ziyang County. Would Chen Jiuyang lack money?
Chen Jiuyang, as Marquis Xuanyang, already had the foundations of his power emerging. He was not a minor figure that a loose alliance like the Heavenly King Alliance could easily manipulate.
After the Heavenly King Alliance members left, those observing Chen Jiuyang from afar immediately relayed the news.
The head of the Chen family, with a dark expression, approached Chen Jiuyang. He had intended to reprimand him, but the words turned into, "Jiuyang, are you alright just now?"
Chen Jiuyang smiled and said, "Extremely comfortable."
The head of the Chen family asked, "Are you planning to take action against the four clans and sixteen sects of Ziyang County?"
"The words have been released. We'll see their reaction," Chen Jiuyang said. "After today, I will visit them one by one. I'll have Uncle Fang send out invitations later."
The head of the Chen family's eyelids twitched. He said, "Jiuyang, one cannot kill everyone. Lu Shanhai's words earlier had some sense. In shallow waters, there are many turtles."
"But having more can also be beneficial to you. Your talent is evident, and your promotion to the Heavenly realm and becoming a King is almost a certainty."
"When you become a King in the Dragon Country, you will govern and suppress one region, commanding an army. You will need to cultivate your own subordinates. Seventy percent of this army will be arranged by Longjing for you, and the remaining thirty percent must be cultivated by yourself."
"This is a matter of balance. The four clans and sixteen sects in Ziyang County have been rooted there for a long time, and perhaps they can become your future subordinates."
"Instead of them dying by your hand, it would be better to incorporate them for your own use, making them serve their purpose. Let them die on the battlefield defending the borders of the Dragon Country while bearing the burden of their past crimes."
The head of the Chen family spoke very clearly. Chen Jiuyang remained silent for a moment, then mused, "I will try my best."
"Patriarch, please do not interfere in this matter, as it would hinder my martial progress."
"..." The head of the Chen family was left speechless.
He even began to suspect if Chen Jiuyang was as rumored by the demonic path, that Chen Jiuyang had a penchant for slaughter.
Chen Jiuyang said, "Next month is the Dragon Country Martial Rankings. When you invited me back to the Shu Mountain Chen family, it was for the Dragon Country Martial Rankings and to bring fame to the Shu Mountain Chen family. Now that the rankings are approaching, I do not seek further martial advancement, only for my mind and spirit to be clear and for me to comprehend the true meaning of my soul.
"I wish to achieve a good result in the Dragon Country Martial Rankings."
The Dragon Country Martial Rankings gathered the top young talents from the entire Dragon Country. Chen Jiuyang had comprehended his own martial path and naturally wished to go further in his martial arts.
"...I understand," the head of the Chen family replied after much deliberation.
He had initially planned to send people to visit the four clans and sixteen sects of Ziyang County before Chen Jiuyang, to make these forces behave. But now, it seemed best to let it be.
Indeed, as Chen Jiuyang had said, his original intention was for Chen Jiuyang to achieve some results in the Dragon Country Martial Rankings. But with Chen Jiuyang's talent fully displayed, becoming a King was a certainty. The head of the Chen family felt as if his ancestors' graves were emitting a green aura, for the Chen family to have produced such a monstrous descendant. He wished for Chen Jiuyang to be safe and sound.
However, Chen Jiuyang's current situation was not something he could easily influence or command.
Chen Jiuyang walked home on foot and instructed Fang Bahua, "Uncle Fang, write out invitations and send them to the four clans and sixteen sects of Ziyang County. Tell them that I, Marquis Xuanyang, will be visiting them one by one and to be prepared."
"Yes, young master," Fang Bahua replied respectfully.
Then, Fang Bahua added, "Young master, many people have approached me, wanting to become your disciples, serving as guards or guest elders."
As a peerless genius who also controlled the Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pill, Chen Jiuyang lacked nothing in terms of martial arts techniques and elixirs needed by martial artists, attracting many admirers.
This matter was originally handled by Yao Zixuan, but some individuals still managed to find their way to Fang Bahua.
Chen Jiuyang pondered for a moment and said, "We do not lack techniques or elixirs. Even if their backgrounds are clean, we must be cautious. Have Deng Zun handle this. Let them meet Deng Zun, select those with good aptitude, clean family backgrounds, and not overly strong martial cultivation, and then cultivate them step by step."
Deng Zun, in his thirties, was still in the Yellow realm. Having Deng Zun screen them meant something different.
Deng Zun had been running his own martial arts school and teaching disciples for many years, giving him considerable experience in this regard.
"Yes, young master."
Immediately, Fang Bahua prepared twenty invitations and sent them out. Subsequently, Ziyang County was shaken, and Feng Province was in an uproar.
Many people wanted to witness the spectacle. It had only been a short time since Chen Jiuyang's fierce battle with Xi Butui, and he was already stirring up trouble again.