The Chen family patriarch carefully observed Chen Jiuyang, his pupils contracting slightly.
In the patriarch's perception, Chen Jiuyang had initially been like a drawn sword, deadly to the touch, then his sharpness had been sheathed, like a bomb about to explode, and then he had become detached and indifferent, content with his lot, but beneath his calm exterior, his heart harbored a terrifying, volcanic power.
The current Chen Jiuyang, however, gave him a vague sense of danger.
At what level was his martial arts, and at what level was Chen Jiuyang's martial arts?
The Chen family patriarch felt a pang of alarm. Chen Jiuyang had likely made significant progress in his martial arts.
He knew very little about the path of divine abilities, and he couldn't discern Chen Jiuyang's depth at the moment.
Judging solely by his demeanor, Chen Jiuyang seemed to have no martial arts cultivation, like an ordinary person.
But his flowing hair, handsome features, robust physique, and outstanding temperament were like fireflies in the dark night, captivating everyone's attention.
The Chen family patriarch said, "The hidden dangers in Ziyang County have been eliminated. What do you plan to do with your time now?"
Chen Jiuyang smiled and replied, "There isn't much time left until the Dragon Country Martial Rankings. I'll just stay home and practice martial arts to improve my path."
"Good!" the Chen family patriarch blurted out, clapping his hands and laughing heartily. "I am very pleased that you have this intention."
He was genuinely afraid that Chen Jiuyang would cause trouble every now and then.
"Your current focus should indeed be on improving your martial arts cultivation and preparing for the Dragon Country Martial Rankings. Jiuyang, the champions from other provinces want to challenge you. Our Shushan lineage has gone to great lengths to shield you from these troubles. Don't let our efforts be in vain," the patriarch sighed. "It would be a great boon if your martial arts cultivation could advance further in this short period."
As the Chen family patriarch finished speaking.
"Crack—"
A faint sound echoed from within Chen Jiuyang's body. He then took a deep breath, like a whale swallowing the sea, absorbing all the surrounding vital energy.
Although the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was depleted, vital energy still existed in the world. All things possessed vital energy. Thus, with the decline of immortal cultivation, martial arts rose.
"This is a technique from the third layer of the Earth Realm, refining vital energy into essence..." The Chen family patriarch was stunned. Chen Jiuyang had only been at the second layer of the Earth Realm moments ago, and now he had broken through to the third layer right before his eyes.
The Chen family patriarch stared blankly at Chen Jiuyang.
The latter merely replied calmly and dismissively, "I had a sudden insight and broke through."
As a martial artist's cultivation level increases, ordinary medicinal herbs and food can no longer satisfy their need for nutritional essence. Therefore, at the third layer of the Earth Realm, the spleen's divine repository can absorb nearby vital energy to replenish its own consumption.
This is also why some Earth Realm martial artists, despite being the same age, look different. Some appear middle-aged, while others look elderly, depending on the age at which they broke through to the third layer of the Earth Realm.
Consequently, many Earth Realm martial artists and even aristocratic families establish their residences in scenic mountain areas. The closer they are to pristine nature, the denser the vital energy becomes, facilitating the cultivation and seclusion of Earth Realm martial artists.
As the patriarch of the Shushan Chen family, he had seen his fair share of storms in his life, but he had never encountered someone like Chen Jiuyang who could break through to the third layer of the Earth Realm with a single breath.
He himself had to exert considerable effort to break through back then. People were truly different.
The Chen family patriarch remained stunned for a while before recovering, his voice still slightly faltering, "You've broken through to the third layer of the Earth Realm... This is truly a cause for celebration... a continuous stream of good fortune..."
With so many people present, Chen Jiuyang naturally wouldn't reveal that he possessed the "Yan Sheng Fa" (Life-Aversion Method) and that the "Yan Sheng Dao" (Life-Aversion Saber) also had the miraculous ability to devour life force. If this were exposed, Chen Jiuyang would be digging his own grave.
The reason Chen Jiuyang always carried the Yan Sheng Dao was because his Yuan Dao was based on the Yan Sheng Fa. Moreover, the Yan Sheng Dao was effective and aligned with his martial dao will.
A single saber strike cleaves open the path between life and death.
The Chen family patriarch asked, "How should the martial arts factions in Ziyang County be dealt with?"
Chen Jiuyang replied, "Let them be. The rotten roots have been removed by me. Whether they sprout anew and grow strong or decay and return to the earth is their own destiny."
"Good," the Chen family patriarch nodded slowly. "I will select some promising individuals for you later and incorporate them into your guard team."
Not far away, Liu Hanguang hurried over. He hadn't expected the battle between Chen Jiuyang and the remaining three clans and sixteen sects to end so quickly. A large group of people were about to surrender themselves to the Six Doors, and he personally led a squad of Six Doors constables.
Liu Hanguang approached Chen Jiuyang, his hearty laughter ringing out, "Marquis Xuanyang, your methods are truly thunderous! In just one day, you've eliminated the tumor that has plagued Ziyang County for centuries."
"I don't know how to thank you enough."
Chen Jiuyang smiled and said, "Constable Liu, as a Marquis Xuanyang enfeoffed by the Dragon Country, it is my duty to protect the local populace and eliminate threats. What thanks are there to speak of?"
"Well said!" Liu Hanguang laughed heartily. "You are a true man, not one to be coy."
"I'll take these people back to the Six Doors for individual interrogation and record-taking. After I'm done, I'll visit Marquis Xuanyang for a cup of tea."
Chen Jiuyang smiled and said, "Constable Liu is always welcome."
With that, Liu Hanguang majestically led his men away.
"Brother Chen, you are truly astonishing." Not far away, a group of female martial artists dressed in goose-white gowns and carrying long swords slowly approached. Leading them was Zhang Qingran, the current senior disciple of the Emei Mountain Sect within the Shushan lineage.
Two months ago, when Chen Jiuyang returned to Shushan, he had exchanged a move with Zhang Qingran. Two months later, Zhang Qingran had also broken through from the peak of the Profound Realm to the Earth Realm.
Zhang Qingran, breaking through to the Earth Realm at the age of twenty-eight or twenty-nine, was truly worthy of being the contemporary senior disciple of Emei Mountain.
Among the female martial artists from Emei Mountain, Ji Lengyue was also present.
Through the Chen family's connections, Ji Lengyue was sent to Emei Mountain and became a personal disciple of the Emei Mountain Sect Leader. Ji Lengyue had undergone two transformations, her physique now possessing ice-like skin and jade-like bones. With the advanced cultivation techniques taught by Chen Jiuyang, she had reached the Yellow Realm within a month of joining Emei Mountain.
Chen Jiuyang smiled and cupped his fists in a salute to Zhang Qingran, "Senior Sister Zhang, long time no see."
"Your addressing me as Senior Sister makes it a bit difficult for me to accept, Brother Chen." Zhang Qingran looked at Chen Jiuyang with complex emotions. In just two months, Chen Jiuyang had advanced from the Profound Realm to the Earth Realm and had accomplished several major feats. Although Chen Jiuyang was not physically present in Shushan, his reputation, amplified by the Chen family's propaganda, had already overshadowed the contemporary disciples of the sixteen families of Shushan.
"Hahahaha, you flatter me." Chen Jiuyang laughed heartily. "Lengyue has been well taken care of by you all at Emei Mountain."
Zhang Qingran raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled playfully, "Lengyue has excellent talent, and she is our junior sister. As fellow disciples, we naturally take good care of her. Lengyue, we'll go rest now. Spend some time with your beloved."
After speaking, Zhang Qingran led the other disciples from Emei Mountain away, leaving Ji Lengyue and Chen Jiuyang alone.