The Chen family patriarch and others immediately frowned. Although Chen Jiuyang's martial arts cultivation had reached the Half-step Earth Realm, he was still not truly in the Earth Realm.
To face an Earth Realm expert with only Half-step Earth Realm cultivation, was he testing his own mettle? Or did he have some other purpose?
Some demonic path powerhouses sneered, "This Chen Jiuyang truly doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. Does he think that with his Half-step Earth Realm cultivation and the Yan Sheng Saber, he can deal with our Sacred Path's chosen elites?"
The Chen family patriarch's heart sank slightly.
The Earth Realm Grandmasters within this Han family forbidden area were considered top-tier among the demonic path's Earth Realm experts. After all, they had passed the preliminary selections and managed to progress from the first to the eighth trial within a few days, reaching the ninth trial.
The Earth Realm Grandmaster facing Chen Jiuyang was by no means an ordinary person!
The Earth Realm Grandmaster sized up Chen Jiuyang and slowly said, "What are the rules?"
Chen Jiuyang, with a calm expression, lied, "This trial is a substitute trial. If you defeat me, you can leave the Han family forbidden area. If you lose, you will stay to guard this arena until the next challenger arrives. Once you defeat them, you can leave the Han family forbidden area."
The Earth Realm Grandmaster's expression faltered, "In other words, someone has already left the Han family forbidden area and become the Han family's Saintess's Dao Companion?"
Chen Jiuyang stated seriously, "Indeed."
"Alas, what a pity." The Earth Realm Grandmaster sighed. "Today, I, Feng Yuxiu, truly realize that our Sacred Path's elite prodigies are indeed surpassed by others, and there are always greater talents beyond what one can imagine. I didn't expect someone to be faster than me."
Everyone in the mountain peak hall: "..."
Feng Yuxiu's elders from his sect roared at the screen, "You idiot, fool! He's lying! Don't believe him!"
However, no matter how much this person roared, Feng Yuxiu, far away in the forbidden forest, could not hear him.
But logically, no one would have suspected Chen Jiuyang of lying. After all, one could only know the location of the next trial after breaking through the eighth trial.
Feng Yuxiu looked at Chen Jiuyang, "How shall we compete?"
Chen Jiuyang, with a poker face, said, "Three moves to decide the victor."
Immediately, Chen Jiuyang took out a bottle of pills from his pocket and tossed it to Feng Yuxiu. "These are pills to restore True Qi. I won't take advantage of you. Please swallow a few to recover, and then we can compete."
"Good!" Feng Yuxiu took the pill bottle and opened it. A rich medicinal fragrance emanated from within; it was not poison. He looked at Chen Jiuyang with a hint of admiration, "As expected of our Sacred Path's elite prodigy, acting with such uprightness and not taking advantage of others. With an elite prodigy like you in our Sacred Path, I'm sure you will shine brightly on the future Dragon Kingdom Martial Rankings."
The people in the mountain peak hall were silent: "..."
Feng Yuxiu's elders were going crazy, "Fool, fool! He's not even our Sacred Path disciple!"
Chen Jiuyang's reputation was only known within the Xuan Realm, not in Earth Realm competitions. Only Lie Ba Han knew him.
Therefore, this person mistook Chen Jiuyang for a demonic path disciple.
"However, Chen Jiuyang's disposition is indeed excellent. He faces our Sacred Path's prodigy with only Half-step Earth Realm cultivation and even provides our Sacred Path's prodigy with high-grade pills to restore True Qi," the True Demon Sect Master commented with praise.
As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Yuxiu, after consuming the pills given by Chen Jiuyang, began to bleed from all seven orifices and convulsed, looking at Chen Jiuyang with disbelief, "What's going on?"
Chen Jiuyang said indifferently, "I didn't poison you. It's just that your cultivation is insufficient, and you cannot handle the benefits."
The Three Revolutions Pure Yang Pill was a potent tonic, but only Chen Jiuyang could consume it. For anyone else, it was a deadly poison.
As the words fell, Chen Jiuyang drew the Yan Sheng Saber!
A cold light flashed, and a terrifying black flame saber aura cleaved towards Feng Yuxiu.
Having consumed Chen Jiuyang's Three Revolutions Pure Yang Pill, Feng Yuxiu's meridians were broken, and he had no strength to withstand Chen Jiuyang's strike.
"Crack—"
With one saber strike, Feng Yuxiu, this elite prodigy of the demonic path, was decapitated and lost his life.
"Chen Jiuyang!!!" Feng Yuxiu's elders' eyes turned red, and they roared at the screen.
Other demonic path powerhouses looked at the True Demon Sect Master with playful expressions.
Is this the excellent disposition you were talking about?
The True Demon Sect Master: "..."
"Cough, cough..." The True Demon Sect Master said expressionlessly, "Good, good. This Chen Jiuyang has the demeanor of our sect's founding ancestor."
"Chen Jiuyang is originally the tribulation tester for the Han family's Saintess. These participants in the trial can be considered to have a grudge against Chen Jiuyang over the Saintess. Such actions are normal."
Saying this, the True Demon Sect Master looked at the Chen family patriarch, "Patriarch Chen, your Shu Mountain Chen family's family upbringing is excellent."
The Chen family patriarch's face darkened: "..."
He did not want to take responsibility for this.
On the arena, Chen Jiuyang sheathed his saber, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. Ten minutes later, his aura surged slightly. Chen Jiuyang slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of clear air, "Not bad. Killing an Earth Realm Grandmaster directly increased my cultivation by one acupoint. My divine soul has now entered the sixth acupoint."
The people in the mountain peak hall also noticed something unusual about Chen Jiuyang.
"Has Chen Jiuyang's cultivation increased?"
"Indeed. What kind of cultivation technique is this? Killing people increases cultivation?"
"Is this Chen Jiuyang truly the young patriarch of the Shu Mountain Chen family?"
"Damn it, killing people to increase cultivation? This is even more demonic than our demonic path!"
"..." The Chen family patriarch explained, "My Shu Mountain Chen family would never have such a cultivation technique. Everyone, please speak with caution. Furthermore, my Chen family's young master possesses the most yang and rigid aura, and has never cultivated any crooked path techniques."
"My Chen family's young master has peerless talent. He was able to cultivate True Qi with attributes even in the Xuan Realm and comprehend the nascent stage of divine intent techniques. It is very normal for him to gain insight and increase his cultivation after his first challenge against an Earth Realm Grandmaster and defeating his opponent."
The demonic path powerhouses were speechless: "..."
But the Chen family patriarch's words were impeccable. A peerless genius like Chen Jiuyang was extremely rare. If he truly gained insight and increased his cultivation, it was indeed possible.
After all, they had no experience in cultivating peerless geniuses.
Another half a day passed, and it was evening.
The second Earth Realm martial artist who had passed the eighth trial arrived before Chen Jiuyang. Seeing Feng Yuxiu's dismembered corpse on the ground, this Earth Realm martial artist's eyelids twitched. He looked at Chen Jiuyang with a solemn expression and cupped his fists slightly, "What are the rules for this ninth trial?"
Chen Jiuyang repeated the same words he had told Feng Yuxiu, then tossed a bottle of pills over, "I won't bully you either. Please take the pills to recover your strength. Feng Yuxiu's strength was不堪 (unbearable/weak), and I killed him with one saber strike. Don't be like Feng Yuxiu."
The Earth Realm martial artist's expression became even more solemn. He was completely unfamiliar with the person before him. His aura was that of Half-step Earth Realm, but he had killed Feng Yuxiu with one saber strike. He was likely a Xuan Realm martial artist who had obtained some fortuitous encounter.
Taking Chen Jiuyang's pills, he cautiously examined them. He even took out a pill, crushed it into powder, and after confirming it was not poison, he felt relieved. He cupped his fists at Chen Jiuyang, "Fellow Saint, your magnanimity and openness are admirable. If I am defeated by you, I will have no regrets."
The people on the mountain peak: "..."
The elders of this Earth Realm Grandmaster's sect immediately went mad, "Don't eat that pill! It's poisonous!"