After cupping his fists, Chen Gaoming did not immediately attack Chen Jiuyang, but looked at Chen Jiuyang with the eyes of an elder, lamenting, "To open four apertures in the Profound Realm at the age of twenty-three, it's truly a pity you didn't join my Misty Rain Sect."
"Otherwise, with the full cultivation of our Misty Rain Sect, it might not be impossible for you to become a Heavenly Realm King of Feng Province."
Chen Jiuyang: "A year ago, I was severely injured and rescued by the Sharp Blade Legion. I am destined not to join any martial factions."
Chen Gaoming's expression froze for a moment: "So this is the reason why you refused martial sects back then."
"Indeed."
Chen Gaoming slowly nodded: "Good, a good child with loyalty and righteousness."
"Do you know why I said these words to you?"
Chen Jiuyang shook his head: "I do not."
Chen Gaoming said: "I checked the family tree. Four generations back, we are related."
This time, it was Chen Jiuyang's turn to be stunned: "Is there such a relationship?"
"Heh heh." Chen Gaoming chuckled: "Otherwise, do you think our Misty Rain Sect was the first to contact you and offer a hundred billion in resources to cultivate you?"
Chen Jiuyang chuckled speechlessly: "So that's how it is."
Chen Gaoming said: "After this Feng Province Martial Ranking, we should visit each other more."
Chen Jiuyang nodded: "Alright." He could see that Chen Gaoming and the Misty Rain Sect behind him indeed harbored goodwill towards him, otherwise, they wouldn't have said such things at such a critical juncture.
It also indirectly explained why Chen Gaoming had not appeared before; it was all for today's Martial Ranking competition!
After speaking, Chen Gaoming assumed a stance, his true qi surging: "Come, let us have a match!"
Chen Jiuyang shot out a silver needle, aiming for Chen Gaoming's face.
Chen Gaoming's protective qi had not yet manifested. He drew a metal serrated long sword from his waist and easily deflected Chen Jiuyang's silver needle.
The next moment, Chen Jiuyang rushed in front of Chen Gaoming and delivered a fierce palm strike.
"Clang!"
Both were enveloped in true qi, emitting a sound like colliding metal.
Chen Gaoming's eyes lit up: "Such profound true qi, excellent!"
Chen Gaoming slashed upwards with his sword, intending to force Chen Jiuyang back. All the contestants knew that Chen Jiuyang possessed a peculiar, unorthodox technique that could instantly incapacitate someone.
Therefore, Chen Jiuyang must not be allowed to get close, lest he suffer the same fate as He Feiyu.
Facing Chen Gaoming's sword, Chen Jiuyang, holding a silver needle, blocked his attack.
"Boom!" The true qi exploded.
This made many in the audience's eyes light up: "This Chen Jiuyang cultivates both blood and body, I didn't realize it before!"
The Eight-Nine Arcane Art was a cultivation technique left by the Pure Yang Medical Immortal for Chen Jiuyang. From the moment he entered the realm, he cultivated spirit, body, and blood qi simultaneously. Coupled with Chen Jiuyang's inherent Nine-Nine Pure Yang physique, it remained inconspicuous.
In the Profound Realm, each opened aperture increased the amount of true qi and strengthened the body's power!
Immediately after, Chen Jiuyang, with dazzling speed, suppressed Chen Gaoming with his rapid attacks!
"Whoosh!"
The crowd was even more astonished, their eyes bulging.
What were they seeing?
A Profound Realm Grandmaster who had only opened four apertures was actually suppressing an old, established Profound Realm Grandmaster who had opened twelve apertures long ago!
This was an unprecedented event, not just in history, but in recent decades.
"Clang clang clang!"
In close-quarters combat, Chen Jiuyang pressed his advantage, forcing Chen Gaoming to retreat step by step, daring not to let Chen Jiuyang get close.
Many were immediately amazed: "This Chen Jiuyang is truly a genius of our Feng Province! His reputation is well-deserved!"
"Marquis Feng Han has indeed found an unparalleled disciple."
"Alas, if only this Chen Jiuyang were born twenty years earlier, no, even ten years earlier, he would surely have secured the championship of the Martial Ranking today!"
Beside Qiu Yihan stood a limping old man and a middle-aged maid.
The middle-aged maid smiled: "This kid is quite good, truly worthy of cultivation."
"He indeed has the potential to become a candidate for the Saintess's Dao companion, provided he wins the Martial Ranking today. Otherwise, no matter how great his talent, he is still useless," the limping old man said.
Hearing this, Qiu Yihan glanced at him. The arrogant, limping old man's face turned pale, and he lowered his head: "Your subordinate admits his mistake."
Qiu Yihan's beautiful eyes flickered with light, her voice seductive yet carrying a distant, indifferent chill: "You have not said anything wrong. If he can truly win the Feng Province Martial Ranking with his four-aperture cultivation, defeating opponents across two or even three realms, he will be qualified for our Holy Cult's cultivation."
As the Saintess of the Demonic Cult, Qiu Yihan, after awakening her divine soul, held the power of life and death, and no one could guess her thoughts.
For Qiu Yihan, Chen Jiuyang was her fated trial. Initially, she was merely toying with him. If he were an ordinary mortal, she would have killed him under the pretext of the Martial Ranking.
If Chen Jiuyang were indeed to win the Feng Province Martial Ranking, he would then be qualified as a candidate for her Dao companion.
The middle-aged maid said: "If Chen Jiuyang wins the Feng Province Martial Ranking, our Holy Cult can invest resources in him to help him grow rapidly."
Qiu Yihan watched the battle in the arena with a playful gaze: "Then let us see his fate."
Chen Gaoming no longer had the demeanor of an elder guiding a junior. His expression was grave, and he responded with some fatigue to Chen Jiuyang's tempestuous and thunderous onslaught.
The previous intelligence was inaccurate. They had assumed Chen Jiuyang specialized only in true qi to become a Profound Realm Grandmaster at his age, and that his unorthodox technique used to defeat He Feiyu last time was his final trump card.
But now, it seemed that was entirely mistaken.
Chen Jiuyang had not used his full strength in his previous encounter, but had hidden his power, appearing weak, and was now revealing his true strength.
Coupled with Chen Jiuyang's peculiar unorthodox techniques, Chen Gaoming felt a chill. This young man hid his depths better than anyone.
Chen Jiuyang knew he was inferior to those with twelve apertures in terms of true qi volume and could not defeat a Profound Realm Grandmaster with twelve apertures head-on. He could only rely on his skills to force Chen Gaoming to retreat repeatedly.
As Chen Gaoming was about to step to the edge of the arena,
Chen Jiuyang's true qi surged, and he shouted: "Tide Surge!"
"Rumble!"
Chen Jiuyang's true qi, like a blazing sun, surged out like a tide, engulfing Chen Gaoming.
"Bang!"
Chen Gaoming was directly blasted off the stage by Chen Jiuyang's Pure Yang true qi.
"..."
Chen Jiuyang wins!
Chen Gaoming stood below the stage, still in a daze, unable to react.
The arena was silent for a moment, then erupted in a series of incredulous exclamations.
"What was that?"
"Was there light on him just now?"
"Be quiet! How could that be light!"
"That's true qi refined to purity, possessing an attribute!"
"Pure Yang True Qi?!"
Even Qiu Yihan was somewhat unsettled at this moment.
The limping old man muttered: "Damn it, did we find a treasure in a pile of garbage?"