Longjing.
Chen family courtyard.
The Chen family patriarch's expression changed drastically upon hearing that Jiang Haoran had entered the fray. He prepared to rush to Chen Jiuyang's side, but as he stepped out, dozens of family heads from various factions stood outside, surrounding him and blocking his exit.
"Patriarch Chen, please return. Wait for news in your residence."
Patriarch Chen roared in anger, "You wish to harm my Chen family's prodigy and expect me to wait for news? Have you gone too far?"
"Patriarch Chen misunderstands our intentions. We have no desire to take the life of Marquis Xuanyang."
Patriarch Chen's expression shifted several times. He quickly understood the reason behind their actions and, with a slight tremor, cursed, "Do you have any shame?!"
"To disregard the rules and make a move for the sake of ranking on the Dragon Country Martial Ranking, all to drag down and suppress my Chen family's prodigy!"
If Jiang Haoran, a master at the half-step Heavenly Realm, were to kill Chen Jiuyang, both the Shu Mountain sect and the Sword Bearers would not stand idly by.
Therefore, Jiang Haoran's appearance in the fray was intended to delay and harm Chen Jiuyang.
Those who wished to harm Chen Jiuyang realized that their own strength was insufficient to kill Chen Jiuyang. Thus, they resorted to having powers like Jiang Haoran, who were at the family head level, take action. The people blocking the courtyard in Longjing were there to prevent Patriarch Chen and others from going to Chen Jiuyang's aid.
These individuals remained silent, merely smiling at Patriarch Chen.
"Shameless, all of you are shameless!"
"After this, regardless of the outcome, my Shu Mountain faction will not let you off lightly!"
...
On the other side.
"Then it depends on whether you choose life or death," Jiang Haoran said, looking at Chen Jiuyang.
Chen Jiuyang's expression changed drastically. He quickly understood the situation and sneered, "I choose life or death?"
"May I ask if Patriarch Jiang dares to kill me?"
"Heh heh." Jiang Haoran chuckled, "If that's the case, then how about we make a deal."
"We are still four hundred kilometers away from Longjing, and there are more than a thousand people who wish to kill you. You shall withstand three of my moves, and I will block a hundred kilometers of enemies for you."
Chen Jiuyang's expression flickered as he stared at Jiang Haoran, sneering, "It seems you have shed your last shred of dignity."
"What an honor for this Marquis to attract the attention of a half-step Heavenly Realm expert to personally intervene."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Three moves, you say? Since it has come to this, what's wrong with this Marquis enduring your three moves."
"Very well, a wise person knows when to adapt," Jiang Haoran said, clapping his hands lightly.
The people below knew that they could not successfully kill Chen Jiuyang, but they also could not simply watch him enter Longjing. After reporting the situation, the higher-ups discussed and decided to have a half-step Heavenly Realm expert like Jiang Haoran take action personally.
Otherwise, their previous attempts to intercept would have been in vain. Since they had already thrown away their shame to try and kill Chen Jiuyang, they might as well go all out.
As long as their descendants or disciples could achieve a good ranking on the Dragon Country Martial Ranking, all their efforts would be worthwhile.
To break through to the Heavenly Realm on the path of "Divine Might Like an Imprisoned Prison," and even to enter the national team to represent the Dragon Country and participate in the National Fortune War.
Currently, almost every aristocratic family's greatest desire was to have a Heavenly Realm King emerge from their lineage. For this, they were willing to discard their dignity and resort to any means.
Jiang Haoran looked at Chen Jiuyang, "Since you have agreed to this deal, then receive my first move."
"Sunken Ship."
A mighty voice echoed, and then Jiang Haoran unleashed a terrifying aura. His divine might was evident as a colossal phantom of a white jade boat appeared. Chen Jiuyang felt as if he were drowning in water, and circulating his vital energy became extremely difficult.
He stood rooted to the spot, almost unable to move.
This was the power of "Divine Might Like an Imprisoned Prison." Although a half-step Heavenly Realm expert couldn't fully achieve the state of "Divine Might Like an Imprisoned Prison," they could certainly exert divine might.
With the sudden appearance of Jiang Haoran's move, Chen Jiuyang's heart sank to the bottom. A half-step Heavenly Realm expert, touched by the word "Heavenly," possessed a gap in strength that was worlds apart from the Earth Realm.
"Rumble!"
Chen Jiuyang felt as if he were drowning in water. The colossal white jade boat above him slowly descended, pressing down on him, making him almost suffocated.
The terrifying power of divine might instantly bore down on Chen Jiuyang. His entire physical frame creaked, as if his bones were about to snap. This move was incredibly potent.
Jiang Haoran unleashed this move specifically targeting Chen Jiuyang, leaving him unable to draw his saber.
If Chen Jiuyang were to unleash his full power and break through this move, Jiang Haoran would suffer an unexpected defeat, losing immense face.
As a half-step Heavenly Realm expert, he naturally intended to crush Chen Jiuyang, a martial artist at the third level of the Earth Realm, before the eyes of the world.
Chen Jiuyang's vast vital energy churned, roared, and burned within him. At most, it would slow his movements, allowing him to slowly draw his saber.
However, before his hand even touched the hilt of his saber, the phantom of the white jade boat had already descended upon him.
"Rumble!"
Dust flew, and a muffled groan was heard. Chen Jiuyang's legs were forced deep into the ground.
"Pfft—"
Chen Jiuyang spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale.
"This physical body is truly remarkable. After enduring one of my divine might moves, it has only sustained moderate injuries," Jiang Haoran remarked, a glint of sharpness in his eyes.
"If this Chen Jiuyang were to participate in the Martial Ranking unscathed, his combat power would truly be supreme among the Earth Realm, with no one able to withstand his might."
Chen Jiuyang, having endured a move from a half-step Heavenly Realm divine might, was not critically injured, which astonished the hundreds of martial artists present.
"Is this truly the strength of a martial artist at the third level of the Earth Realm?"
"You old dog..." Although Chen Jiuyang was coughing blood, he had already drawn his Yan Sheng Saber with one hand, his eyes filled with disgust. "Once this Marquis reaches the Heavenly Realm, I will be the first to seek you out!"
"Heh heh." Jiang Haoran was unfazed, merely smiling and saying, "I await you."
How difficult it was to achieve the Heavenly Realm!
"You have received the first move, now receive the second."
"Tidal Wave," Jiang Haoran's mighty voice suddenly boomed.
The suffocating sensation swept towards Chen Jiuyang once more, as if a vast ocean were engulfing him. Chen Jiuyang was submerged within it, pressure assailing him from all directions, making it difficult to breathe.
However, the situation was different. Chen Jiuyang now had his saber in hand. Facing Jiang Haoran's divine might, he would not passively accept his fate.
The first move in martial arts is to break.
Chen Jiuyang had been contemplating the second move of the Yuan Dao for the past few days.
Now, he had the answer: the first move is to break, and the second move is also to break!
It was merely a different method of breaking.
With mountains and rivers collapsing and tidal waves surging, one must break through the danger and protect oneself.
Chen Jiuyang faced a desperate situation. The greater the pressure, the calmer his heart became, and the more it stimulated his comprehension.
"The second move, I have it..."
"Yuan Dao—Breakthrough Realm!"
Chen Jiuyang suddenly roared, his pale golden vital energy burning. He plunged the Yan Sheng Saber into the ground. The phantom of the Yan Sheng Saber instantly enlarged, a tidal current surged, and the momentum of a person holding a saber and moving against the current erupted forth.