Chen Jiuyang, having slain Lie Buhan, thought he could break through to the Earth Realm, but fate was just a sliver short of the required fortune.
Chen Jiuyang glanced at the fleeing Earth Realm Grandmaster, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "Apologies!"
He then lifted the Yan Sheng Saber, still stuck in the arena, and pursued the Grandmaster.
The Earth Realm Grandmaster was already terrified of Chen Jiuyang. What kind of monstrous prodigy was this, capable of instantly killing Lie Buhan without even reaching the Earth Realm?
He hadn't run far when he felt killing intent approaching from behind, sending chills down his spine.
Chen Jiuyang wasn't satisfied with just killing Lie Buhan and was now chasing him. Did this person possess such intense killing intent?
Or was it that Chen Jiuyang, fearing the Lie family, wanted to silence him after witnessing the killing of Lie Buhan?
Regardless of the reason, the Earth Realm Grandmaster knew he was no match for Chen Jiuyang and began to flee desperately. He then transmitted his voice loudly towards the sounds behind him, "Brother Chen, my name is Sheng Zhenghao. Spare me, and I swear I will not reveal that you killed Lie Buhan!"
An Earth Realm Grandmaster actually addressed a Profound Realm martial artist as "Brother Chen."
Was there no dignity left for an Earth Realm Grandmaster?
In the grand hall on the mountaintop, the elders of his sect twitched their faces.
Chen Jiuyang's voice echoed behind Sheng Zhenghao, "Esteemed brother, I need to borrow your life. Resign yourself to fate, and I will grant you a swift end."
Sheng Zhenghao's forehead beaded with cold sweat, "Brother Chen, I am willing to withdraw from the Saintess Selection Competition. I am willing to concede, just please spare my life."
"No need for further words. I only wish to kill one person right now! Your luck is unfortunate."
Upon hearing Chen Jiuyang's words, Sheng Zhenghao's face turned ashen. Chen Jiuyang intended to kill, but just how great was his bloodlust?
It was then that he suddenly realized. The corpses lying on the ground earlier were likely killed simply for encountering Chen Jiuyang. Chen Jiuyang had probably already passed the nine trials and refused to leave the Han family's forbidden grounds simply because he wanted to kill people?
At this thought, Chen Jiuyang's image in Sheng Zhenghao's mind became terrifyingly monstrous.
For the sake of killing, he was willing to forgo the top spot in the Dao Companion trial!
No, he had to survive and inform the other surviving Saint Friends. They would need to unite to contend with Chen Jiuyang.
Sheng Zhenghao ran with all his might, when suddenly he felt a scorching, terrifying true qi surge from behind him. His expression changed drastically.
This was Chen Jiuyang's Divine Intent technique!
Sheng Zhenghao, preferring self-injury to certain death, immediately changed direction to dodge Chen Jiuyang's attack.
Self-injury was terrible, but encountering this move from Chen Jiuyang meant certain death!
"This seventh trial is so difficult, it took me two days..."
An Earth Realm martial artist emerged from a pool of water and was immediately met by a fiery Divine Intent true qi. Before he could even react or defend, he was annihilated by the strike.
"???"
This was the last thought of the Earth Realm martial artist who had just passed the seventh trial.
Chen Jiuyang, who had killed this Earth Realm martial artist, felt a surge of fortune power entering his body. His soul filled the twelve major acupoints. His expression, initially joyous, suddenly changed, "I'm about to break through to the Earth Realm!"
Chen Jiuyang immediately stopped in his tracks, closed his eyes, circulated the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, and began to assault the Earth Realm!
After injuring himself to dodge Chen Jiuyang's Divine Intent technique, Sheng Zhenghao dared not linger and fled in panic. He had to survive and inform the other Saint Friends about Chen Jiuyang!
Martial artists first temper their physical bodies, purify their blood and qi. When blood and qi are abundant, true qi is generated, entering the Yellow Realm.
The Yellow Realm is still pure blood and qi, permeating the entire body. True qi can be externally released, advancing to the Profound Realm.
The Profound Realm involves opening the twelve major acupoints of the human body, awakening the soul. The soul then resides in the twelve major acupoints, opening the body's divine treasures.
Heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys!
The kidneys are the source of life.
After the soul enters the twelve major acupoints, the soul and true qi merge into one, thus entering the Earth Realm.
Opening the life divine treasure in the kidneys is the first layer of the Earth Realm.
And so on.
What is a divine treasure? Essence, qi, and spirit. The Yellow Realm refines essence, possessing internal qi. The Profound Realm cultivates qi, releasing true qi externally. The Earth Realm nourishes divine treasures, allowing one to control qi and use Divine Intent techniques.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Sounds of air explosions echoed, and a figure moved through the air, stepping on the void.
"Hahahaha!"
Laughter filled with carefree joy resounded in the vicinity.
Chen Jiuyang's aura had undergone a complete transformation, becoming profound, terrifying, and powerful. He had successfully broken through to the Earth Realm Grandmaster.
Now ranked among the Earth Realm Grandmasters, he could be enfeoffed as a Marquis upon returning to Fengcheng.
With the vastness of the world, his travels in the martial world now afforded him the power of self-preservation. From this day forward, when encountering enemies, the brave would win, rather than relying on cunning schemes and calculations.
After a period of exhilarating release, Chen Jiuyang sat cross-legged and began cultivating the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, stabilizing his realm and aura.
With his soul and true qi merged, he seemed to be able to control his internal true qi at will. A thought arose, and true qi emerged, allowing him to move freely and traverse the skies.
Upon entering the Earth Realm Grandmaster realm, Shun Mie immediately imparted three killing moves to Wu Dao.
"First move, Shun Mie!"
This move is an advanced technique of Shun Mang, compressing the soul and true qi. Once a thought is initiated, unlike in the Profound Realm where it requires considerable charging time, or even the inability to control the damage range when one's strength becomes immense.
"Second move, Zhan Hun!"
This move fully utilizes powerful soul force against the enemy, annihilating the enemy's soul, causing death without any physical injury!
Or, it can be used to attach the soul to an object a thousand miles away to injure someone!
"Third move, Yu Sui!"
This move allows Chen Jiuyang to burn his essence, blood, and soul, significantly enhancing all aspects of his strength within a short period, but with severe aftereffects.
Only when Chen Jiuyang is pushed to the brink of desperation can he use this move to kill enemies or escape.
After a long while, Chen Jiuyang emerged from his seclusion and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze complex. "My trip to Suhang this time has yielded immense gains. If I hadn't been brought to the demonic path by Qiu Yihan to participate in the Dao Companion trial, I might have gone mad and died while attempting to break through to the Earth Realm in Shushan."
"Upon breaking through to the Earth Realm, I also obtained a divine weapon, a demonic saber."
Many thoughts flashed through Chen Jiuyang's mind. The killing intent he had deliberately suppressed before now no longer needed to be restrained.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and figures appeared before him one by one!
"Now that the Earth Realm is established, this Dao Companion trial should also conclude."
Chen Jiuyang stood up, leaped lightly, and landed on a large tree. Then, with a gentle push off a leaf, he began to move through the air towards the direction of the ninth trial, leaving the Han family's forbidden grounds.
"It's Chen Jiuyang!"
From a great distance, another Earth Realm martial artist, also moving through the air, spotted Chen Jiuyang from afar. His face changed drastically, and he began to flee frantically.
Chen Jiuyang: "?"
What had happened?
Why was this person acting as if he had seen a ghost upon seeing him?