"Marquis Xuanyang, if you spare the lives of our offspring, name your price!"
The cold wind howled, and heavy snow fell.
This group of elders, all carrying thorns, knelt outside the gate of the Chen family's courtyard and shouted loudly.
However, there was no response from within the Chen family's courtyard.
Because Chen Jiuyang had not killed Zhou Wushuang and Jiang Xingjin, these aristocratic families had immediately betrayed their agreement with Hong Jiangjin, the champion of the Longjing Martial Rankings. They had directly defeated Hong Jiangjin. They could no longer find a way through Hong Jiangjin to enter the Chen mansion via Gong Liexian, nor could they have the Zhennan Princess visit Chen Jiuyang again.
There was no other way; they had offended the Shu Mountain faction too severely before.
However, the Chen family's courtyard was not quiet.
A young monk stood before Chen Jiuyang and said, "Amitabha, Marquis Xuanyang, my master, Master Puhui, sent me to convey a message. If any person from Shaolin Temple can enter the top ten of the Martial Rankings, or join the national team for the Martial Rankings, Shaolin Temple will cease its pursuit of him."
Shaolin Temple had contributed very little during the War of National Destiny sixty years ago. In recent years, it had been suppressed by the Long Kingdom and the entire martial arts world, making life very difficult. However, Shaolin Temple was extremely powerful, with one temple capable of matching the strength of a provincial martial arts world.
This time, they had also sent one person to participate in the Martial Rankings, but he was eliminated in the second round. It seemed they also wanted to contribute to the Long Kingdom and atone for the mistakes of sixty years ago.
Chen Jiuyang looked at him, his eyes flickering, and after a long period of contemplation, he said:
"I owe Puhui a great favor. If Master Du had not seen me this time, I would not have been able to participate in the Martial Rankings. However, the matter of the Martial Rankings is not something I decide. I cannot make this decision. I will repay his favor another day."
"Amitabha! This humble monk understands and will now go and reply to my master!" The young monk then left.
Afterward, Elder Han and Qiu Yihan came before Chen Jiuyang. Elder Han found it difficult to speak, so Qiu Yihan said, "Jiuyang, Shi Zhenyao, a genius from our demonic path, was eliminated in the second round of the competition. Our sect leader sent me to convey a message: if the Saintess's Dao Companion can help our demonic path's prodigy enter the top ten of the Martial Rankings, they will be granted one entry into our True Demon Secret Realm."
"The True Demon Sect's secret realm is guarded by hidden masters above the Venerable Realm. If you agree to this, Jiuyang, your martial arts can advance by leaps and bounds, allowing you to reach the Heavenly Realm and be crowned King sooner!"
"Heh," the Shu Mountain Sect Master sneered, "The True Demon Sect has calculated well. When Jiuyang was being intercepted, they sat by and watched the show. Now they're hatching good ideas. The True Demon Sect has a secret realm, and so do we in Shu Mountain. Although Tiannan is in the top ten, if Jiuyang makes a move, he has a chance to enter the top five." The Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Spear was indeed too powerful, otherwise Ye Tiannan would have surely entered the top five.
If Ye Tiannan could enter the top five, Shu Mountain would have two Kings at once. Which martial arts faction could compare?
What immense honor!
The Chen family patriarch also spoke at the opportune moment, "Jiuyang, you must not agree to the matters of the demonic path. You are originally from our Shu Mountain. Even if you didn't have to agree to Tiannan's matter, we would still let you enter our Shu Mountain secret realm to improve your strength."
"The Martial Rankings of a city are for the Profound Realm. The Martial Rankings of a province are for the Earth Realm. The top five, or even the top ten, of the Long Kingdom's Martial Rankings should participate in the Martial Rankings World Competition in the Heavenly Realm for better results. Therefore, the Martial Rankings have the blessing of luck, which can help people break through to the Heavenly Realm."
"Those who reach the top ten of the Martial Rankings are all martial arts geniuses. With the blessing of luck, the top five will definitely break through to the Heavenly Realm, while the latter five will depend on their opportunities."
Chen Jiuyang nodded and looked apologetically at Qiu Yihan, "Yihan, I cannot agree to this matter."
Qiu Yihan giggled, "I am only conveying a message; I never expected you to agree."
"This time, various factions are desperately vying for the top ten spots in the Martial Rankings, not just for the title of King, but also for the blessing of luck. Whichever province or faction contributes more will be able to unseal the secret realm faster and allow their experts above the Heavenly Realm to emerge. This is a matter of racing against time. Our Long Kingdom's secret realms have been sealed for hundreds of years. Even if those experts try their best to extend their lives, their lives are almost at their end. Only by unsealing the secret realms and returning to the present world will they have a chance to break through to higher realms and survive." Elder Han explained.
Chen Jiuyang's heart tensed. He had never heard of such secrets before, but he never expected the Martial Rankings to involve so many things.
"Jiuyang, your combat power is almost unmatched among your peers, and you have gained considerable fame in the Martial Rankings. Killing one person creates one more empty spot, and this empty spot is very valuable."
Chen Jiuyang's expression became serious.
Just then.
"Rumble!"
The sound of a helicopter suddenly roared above the sky of the Chen family's courtyard, startling everyone.
Many people's expressions changed drastically upon recognizing the emblem on the helicopter: "This is!"
"The Third King, Zhou Fangzun!"
"Buzz!"
A figure jumped down from the sky and landed in the Chen family's courtyard. The slightest leakage of his aura caused Chen Jiuyang's Yan Sheng Saber, Qiu Yihan's Han Ling Sword, and Ye Tiannan's Spirit Sword to vibrate, as if they were facing an extremely powerful threat.
The Chen family patriarch and others immediately had complex expressions: "Jiuyang, it seems the Third King has come to see you..."
Last night, a visiting notice from the Third King Zhou Fangzun had already been delivered.
As the Chen family patriarch's voice fell, the Third King Zhou Fangzun's voice rang out, "Marquis Xuanyang, please come out for a chat and a cup of tea."
"I will meet him. Coincidentally, I also have some matters to ask him," Chen Jiuyang said calmly, appeasing the spirit saber in his hand, and then slowly walked out of the hall into the courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, it was snowing heavily, but inside the courtyard, it instantly became as warm as spring, with no signs of the harsh winter. The piled-up snow instantly melted away.
The methods of a Heavenly Realm King, even a slight display, were astonishing.
The Third King looked at Chen Jiuyang, his expression still impassive, but his eyes were no longer as indifferent. He was wearing a python robe with black patterns and gold threads, exuding immense majesty.
The Third King looked at Chen Jiuyang with a hint of complexity in his eyes: "Sit."
"Alright," Chen Jiuyang calmly sat down in front of the Third King.
"This is premium Da Hong Pao tea planted within the red walls for three hundred years. I only have an annual quota of two liang, and its taste is exceptionally good." The Third King flicked his finger, and a cup of fragrant hot tea floated to Chen Jiuyang.
Chen Jiuyang slowly took the cup of tea, took a sip, his eyes lit up, and he sighed, "Good tea."
The Third King raised his teacup and gestured to Chen Jiuyang before drinking it all: "I toast you with this cup of tea."
The Third King Zhou Fangzun's visit caused countless people to be shaken. Many wanted to observe the every move of the two.
"Swish!"
Suddenly, an old man in a black robe holding an ancient long sword appeared. This old man was the Sword Wielder of Longjing. Upon seeing the two sitting and drinking tea, he frowned slightly and stood outside the courtyard without entering.
In his eyes, it was naturally good for the Third King and the future new King to resolve their conflict peacefully.
So he would give them a quiet environment.
The Sword Wielder of Longjing inserted his long sword into the ground, and a ball of purple-gold energy immediately enveloped the Chen family's courtyard, preventing outsiders from investigating its appearance.
Chen Jiuyang looked at the Third King, his eyes shining brightly, and said:
"Third King, I have only one question: why did you target the Yao family and set up the Nine Yin Sun Devouring Array?"
This question had been weighing on his mind for a long time. Perhaps today he could get an answer, and also know if the shocking conspiracy in Fengcheng was related to Zhou Fangzun.