The Chen family patriarch closed Chen Jiuyang's profile with a blank expression. After observing everyone's reactions below, he spoke:
"Since Chen Jiuyang possesses excellent character and is a gifted genius, he may participate in the upcoming Young Master selection competition after his ancestral recognition."
"Tomorrow, all the elite geniuses of our Chen family will return to the ancestral home."
With that, the Chen family patriarch looked at Granny Zeng, his voice softening, "Sister-in-law, you brought this child back. I'll trouble you to look after Chen Jiuyang. Our Chen family's younger generation currently lacks anyone capable of leading. Having another seed is an excellent development."
Granny Zeng replied, "Yes, Patriarch."
The Chen family patriarch continued, "The meeting to assess Chen Jiuyang's ancestral recognition is now concluded. Everyone, go and prepare for the Young Master selection. Disperse."
Although the Chen family was large, its capacity to support people was limited. With Chen Jiuyang's sudden, forceful return and his exceptional talent, many within the family would have their resources encroached upon by him. To prevent discontent and unrest, the Chen family patriarch had specifically convened this meeting and arranged for Chen Jianbai to take Chen Jiuyang to the Chen family's martial arts arena. By defeating the internal geniuses of the Chen family, Chen Jiuyang would silence any gossip or clandestine actions against him or his family.
After the meeting dispersed, Chen Gaoming said to Granny Zeng, "Granny Zeng, do you think Jiuyang has a good chance of becoming the Young Master?"
Granny Zeng replied, "I don't know. The Chen family has many geniuses traveling abroad, some of whom have been deliberately hidden and cultivated since childhood. If Jiuyang wants to secure more resources, he must contend for this Young Master position."
"However, since the meeting has approved it, you should send Jiuyang his rightful resources later today."
Chen Gaoming was taken aback. "Granny Zeng, Jiuyang hasn't formally recognized his ancestors yet. Sending resources beforehand seems a bit against the rules."
Granny Zeng chuckled, "If you don't give him a taste of sweetness now, how will he know the goodness of our Chen family? How will he be willing to truly compete for the Young Master position?"
"You are right," Chen Gaoming nodded. "I'll go now."
In the martial arts hall, after Chen Jiuyang had subdued a group of Chen family geniuses, he even lectured them on how to treat internal injuries and smooth their true qi, earning the favor of the assembled geniuses.
At least in the eyes of these Chen family geniuses, Chen Jiuyang's martial arts attainments were impressive. Not only were they inferior in skill, but they were also outmatched in all aspects. Even if Chen Jiuyang occupied their resources, they could accept it.
For Chen Jiuyang, the Chen family was a support. He naturally wouldn't completely alienate these geniuses. A combination of strictness and kindness was the way to win hearts, a tactic Chen Jiuyang understood well.
Leaving the martial arts hall, Chen Jianbai led Chen Jiuyang back to the villa arranged by the Chen family. The resources prepared by the Chen family for Chen Jiuyang, including many high-year medicinal herbs, had already been delivered. Chen Jiuyang was immediately moved. This batch of medicinal herbs alone was enough for him to open another acupoint tonight. This trip was not in vain. If he could secure the Young Master position, wouldn't the resources be even more abundant?
Chen Jiuyang was somewhat tempted by the Chen family's Young Master position.
In the evening, Granny Zeng visited to have dinner with Chen Jiuyang's family. After the meal, Granny Zeng told Chen Jiuyang, "Jiuyang, if you can secure the Young Master position, the Chen family's resources will be yours to command."
Chen Jiuyang pondered, "This deviates somewhat from my purpose in coming to the Chen family. If I become the Young Master, what responsibilities will I have to bear?"
Granny Zeng truthfully explained, "If you can secure the Young Master position, you will become the spokesperson for the Chen family in the outside world and will need to handle some important matters."
"I know you follow the path of becoming a Marquis. You will certainly not be appointed as the Chen family patriarch in the future. After you participate in this year's Martial Ranking competition, depending on your ranking, if you achieve an excellent position and qualify for the national team to represent the country in the national destiny struggle, then you can hold the Chen family's Young Master position until you reach the Heavenly Realm King."
"If you wish to conceal your strength and focus on cultivation, you can relinquish the Chen family's Young Master position after the Martial Ranking and proceed to become a Marquis."
Granny Zeng's insight was sharp. Chen Jiuyang had only four acupoint cultivations when he sparred with Chen Gaoming, but now he had six. Chen Jiuyang was by no means ordinary. Their ancestor, Chen Chunyang, had ascended to immortality from an ordinary person in a hundred years, demonstrating incredible cultivation speed.
"I understand," Chen Jiuyang's eyes flickered. "It sounds like a good trade."
By taking the Young Master position, Chen Jiuyang could freely use the Chen family's resources. This would make him not only a disciple of Marquis Feng Han but also the Young Master of the Chen family. With these two identities, the stronger Chen Jiuyang became, the more benefits the Chen family would receive.
Furthermore, having used the Chen family's resources, Chen Jiuyang would inevitably have to revitalize the family's reputation and handle related affairs.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "What tasks are required of me as the Chen family's Young Master?"
Granny Zeng calmly replied, "The position of the Chen family's Young Master requires passing five trials. Whoever achieves the best results will legitimately claim the position. The lowest level required is the Profound Realm, and some Earth Realm elites will also participate. To serve as the Chen family's Young Master, comprehensive abilities are needed; mere cultivation strength is not enough. Therefore, some geniuses within the Chen family have been sent out for trials and cultivation since childhood, kept hidden until this Young Master competition when they return to the ancestral home."
Chen Jiuyang's eyes flashed. "I understand."
Granny Zeng continued, "Tomorrow morning, after your ancestral recognition, you can participate in the five trials for the Young Master position alongside our Chen family's elite geniuses."
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Granny Zeng, why do you have such high hopes for me?"
"Because you are the most likely person in hundreds of years to ascend to the Heavenly Realm. If you can secure the Young Master position, the Chen family's resources will be a great aid to you. This is a mutually beneficial matter," Granny Zeng stated frankly.
Chen Jiuyang frowned. "Granny Zeng, why am I the most likely person to ascend to the Heavenly Realm? What is the secret behind this ascension to the Heavenly Realm?"
Granny Zeng replied, "I cannot say. When your cultivation reaches the peak of the Earth Realm, you will naturally understand."
"I can only tell you indirectly that the Dragon Country's destiny has been re-condensing for over eighty years. In these eighty years, our Dragon Country has had five publicly known Heavenly Realm Kings. Each Heavenly Realm King's province possesses immense strength and receives special attention from the Dragon Country's court."
"Longjing gave birth to the first Heavenly Realm King, thus Longjing became the center of the Dragon Country's court. Southeast Province gave birth to the second Heavenly Realm King, leading to our Dragon Country's rapid economic growth. Modu, the third Heavenly Realm King, caused countless talents to scramble to settle and establish themselves in Modu."
"Information about the fourth and fifth Kings is still relatively confidential. It is only known that they respectively guard the southwestern border and the southernmost region of the Dragon Country."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jiuyang frowned. Granny Zeng spoke in riddles about these secrets, and he couldn't grasp them immediately.