Seven or eight martial artists were in front of him, four of whom were Grandmasters of the Earth Realm, the remaining three were of the Profound Realm, and one was an ordinary person.
How could there be so many Grandmasters of the Earth Realm in such a small Ziyang County?
Chen Jiuyang narrowed his eyes as he looked at the martial artists before him.
The martial artists of the Dragon Country were divided into several types: one was the legion and the enfeoffed marquis lineage, the second was the martial arts sects, aristocratic families, and wealthy clans, and the third was the lone practitioners without any backing.
Chen Jiuyang said, "Who are you?"
The leader was a middle-aged martial artist with a dignified demeanor. He smiled, cupped his fists, and said, "Marquis Xuanyang, we are from the Heavenly King Alliance."
"Heavenly King Alliance?" Chen Jiuyang's eyes narrowed. "A martial arts sect? I don't recall hearing of a Heavenly King Alliance in Feng Province."
"It's normal for Marquis Xuanyang, who came from humble beginnings and later returned to the Chen family of Shu Mountain, not to know of our Heavenly King Alliance. We are here today to meet Marquis Xuanyang and get acquainted."
"If Marquis Xuanyang wishes to comprehend the divine intent of martial arts, or even advance to the Heaven Realm sooner, we have a way. Therefore, Marquis Xuanyang, we will see you again tomorrow."
With that, the seven or eight people turned and left, appearing somewhat mysterious and eerie.
These people knew that Chen Jiuyang had the Chen family of Shu Mountain behind him. Their ability to find out about the Heavenly King Alliance and these individuals was a way to test how determined Chen Jiuyang was in his pursuit of martial arts.
Was it waiting for a rabbit to bump into a tree, or was it Jiang Taigong fishing?
With so many martial artists active in the small Ziyang County, Chen Jiuyang realized that his previous understanding of the martial arts world was too narrow.
How laughable it was that the four insignificant Profound Realm cultivators in Fengcheng had dared to call themselves the Four Grandmasters of Fengcheng.
The Dragon Country was vast and rich, with people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens.
Who in the Dragon Country had the most comprehensive understanding of the domestic martial arts world?
It was the Six Doors!
After watching the people from the Heavenly King Alliance leave, Chen Jiuyang went alone to the Six Doors in Ziyang County.
Compared to the Six Doors in Fengcheng, the Six Doors in Ziyang County was not as overbearing or imposing, but it still had a multi-story building filled with busy Six Doors constables.
As soon as Chen Jiuyang entered the Six Doors in Ziyang County, the Chief Constable of Ziyang County's Six Doors, Liu Hanguang, came out to greet him. Liu Hanguang was a middle-aged man with a full beard. Upon seeing Chen Jiuyang, he laughed heartily:
"Hahahaha, I was wondering when you, Marquis Xuanyang, would come to visit me. I didn't expect you to be so restless so soon."
"Are you here to clear out the martial arts forces in Ziyang County?"
Chen Jiuyang had fought a deadly battle with Xi Butui yesterday, and today he was visiting the Six Doors, clearly with a purpose.
Chen Jiuyang smiled and said, "Do you have tea?"
"Of course." Liu Hanguang's smile grew wider.
As the Chief Constable of Ziyang County's Six Doors, and Chen Jiuyang being a renowned figure in Feng Province and even the entire Dragon Country's martial arts world, many people, both openly and secretly, were paying attention to Chen Jiuyang's movements. The actions of Chen Jiuyang at the Good Fortune Tea House had been reported to Liu Hanguang immediately.
Liu Hanguang was a martial artist at the Half-step Earth Realm. However, due to his position as the Chief Constable of Ziyang County's Six Doors and the added power of national destiny, he could barely fly using his Qi in his daily life.
After pouring Chen Jiuyang a cup of tea, the two sat cross-legged.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Chief Constable Liu, I have a question."
"Marquis Xuanyang, please ask directly. I will tell you everything I know." Liu Hanguang greatly admired Chen Jiuyang and identified with men like him. Before Chen Jiuyang was enfeoffed as a marquis, he already had very detailed information on him.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "How many martial arts sects and forces are there in Ziyang County?"
Liu Hanguang pondered for a moment and said, "Ziyang County is a major grain-producing county in Feng Province, with a population of 400,000... A population of 400,000 is enough for the county to be upgraded to a city... Within Ziyang County, there are four clans and sixteen sects. Because of these four clans and sixteen sects, Ziyang County's development has always been hindered."
"These four clans and sixteen sects are like tumors in Ziyang County. They do not reveal their presence normally, but their people are everywhere."
Chen Jiuyang frowned. "A small Ziyang County has four clans and sixteen sects. That makes sense. A county town with a permanent population of 400,000, yet economically underdeveloped. It seems intentional to hinder development and prevent people from noticing this place."
"Indeed," Liu Hanguang said. "These four clans and sixteen sects are all guarded by Grandmasters of the Earth Realm. They operate both legally and illegally, their crimes are heinous, and their records are stained..."
As he spoke, Liu Hanguang produced a thick stack of documents regarding the four clans and sixteen sects of Ziyang County and handed them to Chen Jiuyang.
Chen Jiuyang took the documents and his expression grew colder as he read. He said sternly, "These four clans and sixteen sects are all like pigs and dogs. They deserve to be killed!"
"Constable Liu, why haven't you reported this to the Feng Province Six Doors over the years, allowing the provincial-level Six Doors to take action?"
Liu Hanguang gave a wry smile. "Marquis Xuanyang, Xi Butui has been stationed in Feng Province for thirty years. These four clans and sixteen sects in Ziyang County colluded with him. I repeatedly reported to the Feng Province Six Doors, but received no support. I was once at the same cultivation level as Marquis Xuanyang, but I was forced to regress to the Half-step Earth Realm."
Chen Jiuyang's brow furrowed. "Such audacity! I am aware of this matter. I will take these documents back, and I will visit them one by one in the near future."
Liu Hanguang chuckled and produced another stack of documents. "These are the files of the individuals who met with Marquis Xuanyang today, though they are not entirely complete."
Chen Jiuyang's expression froze, and he chuckled wryly. "Constable Liu, you were prepared for this."
"I, Liu, came from the military. Although I have the will to kill the enemy, I lack the strength. You, Marquis Xuanyang, have risen like a meteor. If I don't entrust this to you, who else can I entrust it to?"
Both of them came from the military. Liu Hanguang had calculated Chen Jiuyang's temperament.
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly. "Alright, I will accept these files. I also came here to ask Constable Liu for information about the Heavenly King Alliance behind these people."
"Heavenly King Alliance?" Liu Hanguang's brow furrowed slightly. "I have only vaguely heard of the Heavenly King Alliance and do not know the specific details. The group that came to see you in Ziyang County today has been here for over ten years. They are mysteriously searching for ancient martial arts ruins, and have killed many martial artists during this time. However, their power is formidable, so I have not made a move against them."
"Alright." Although Chen Jiuyang did not gain the information he desired from this trip, he gained other things.
Upon returning home, Chen Jiuyang found the Chen family patriarch. "Patriarch, do you know of the Heavenly King Alliance?"
"Heavenly King Alliance?" The Chen family patriarch frowned. "...It's only natural. With your talent, and having created your own martial arts, yet not yet seeing divine intent, it's normal for these people to seek you out."
"The Heavenly King Alliance is an alliance formed by martial artists of the Earth Realm who are exploring ways to advance to the Heaven Realm."
"In ancient and medieval times, there were not a few martial artists of the Heaven Realm in our Dragon Country. However, in recent ancient times, martial arts declined. Currently, there is only one way to advance to the Heaven Realm..." At this point, the Chen family patriarch did not elaborate further and changed the subject.
"However, people within the Heavenly King Alliance want to explore ancient and medieval ruins to find other methods of advancing to the Heaven Realm."
"The Heavenly King Alliance is a mixed bag of all sorts of people. While it is beneficial for you to interact with them, be careful of them plotting against you."