The next morning.
Officials from the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, and Ministry of Revenue arrived.
"Enfeoffed as Prince Qian."
"Commander of a legion of thirty thousand troops."
"..."
The grand mansion of Chen Jiuyang was also renamed Prince Qian's Manor.
Many people gathered outside the manor. The Dragon Country had not enfeoffed a prince for twenty years.
After receiving the enfeoffment, the half-dragon scale phantom in Chen Jiuyang's mind transformed into a complete golden dragon scale phantom.
An invisible purple-gold aura enveloped Chen Jiuyang and those related to him.
The head of the Chen family was filled with soaring spirits, as if he had become ten years younger.
The luck from Chen Jiuyang becoming the top scholar of the Martial Rankings and being enfeoffed as a prince was immediately shared with the Chen family of Mount Shu. Those closely related to Chen Jiuyang all benefited to varying degrees.
The head of the Chen family was extremely excited. Bringing Chen Jiuyang back to Mount Shu to acknowledge his ancestors was precisely for the sake of this influx of luck!
With the distribution of luck, the Chen family could produce more talents, and the Chen family's long-sealed secret realms could finally reveal a crack!
Benefits from all directions arrived instantly. The hard work, energy, and connections invested in cultivating talents had finally yielded results.
Even Elder Han looked ten to twenty years younger, appearing to be in his forties.
After the joy, it was time to handle related matters.
The head of the Chen family said, "Jiuyang, do not interfere with the legion matters for now."
"Indeed, Jiuyang, your cultivation has not reached the Heavenly Realm, so you do not need to officially take office as the Sixth Prince. Moreover, with your talent, your future achievements will surely not be limited to the Heavenly Realm," Elder Han said. "After next year's National Destiny Battle, you might need to abdicate the position of the Sixth Prince, which would be more beneficial to your martial cultivation."
"Abdicate the Sixth Prince?" Chen Jiuyang was stunned. He had just been enfeoffed as the Sixth Prince, and Elder Han and the head of the Chen family were already thinking of having him abdicate in a year?
"This matter... we'll discuss it later..." The head of the Chen family said, "The most important things from the Martial Rankings are luck and enfeoffment as a prince. The luck from both arriving together is enough to allow you to advance to the Heavenly Realm without any hindrance. However, if you do not abdicate the royal title, your cultivation will be limited to the Heavenly Realm for life. The Heavenly Realm is a threshold. If our Dragon Country wins the National Destiny Battle next year, and the Dragon Country's luck soars, the royal title of the Dragon Country will instead become an obstacle for you..."
Chen Jiuyang frowned slightly and said, "I understand. Currently, our Dragon Country has accumulated luck for decades. Being enfeoffed as a prince allows me to advance to the Heavenly Realm. However, the Dragon Country's luck can at most reach the level of enfeoffment as a prince. But in next year's National Destiny Battle, if the Dragon Country wins decisively, the threshold of the Heavenly Realm will be lowered and relaxed, allowing the Dragon Country to produce martial cultivators above the Heavenly Realm."
"Exactly, that's the reason. So you don't need to manage this legion."
"The National Destiny Battle will begin in May next year. Now that the enfeoffment is successful, Jiuyang, you must consider yourself and break through your cultivation to advance to the Heavenly Realm as soon as possible."
"Furthermore, the purpose of letting you command this legion is likely to have you sweep through the local noble families. You have made too many enemies, which is also extremely unfavorable to you."
"As long as you contribute to the National Destiny Battle next year, you don't need to concern yourself with these matters."
After much thought, Chen Jiuyang said, "Understood. These matters will be handled by you."
"Heh heh, of course. We old fellows will help you handle the trivial matters, and you just need to focus on your martial cultivation," the head of the Chen family said. "Actually, the people in power here have also given you a choice. The newly enfeoffed five princes must contribute to the National Destiny Battle next year, and they cannot burden you with too many complicated affairs. Therefore, they have also given you the identity of a deputy sword-wielder in your region, granting you more authority and opportunities."
Chen Jiuyang frowned and said, "With such great effort and roundabout methods, why not just give the royal title directly without the legion and authority?"
"..." The head of the Chen family was silent for a moment and said, "Jiuyang, not everyone has your excellent talent."
"If your talent only reached the Heavenly Realm, we would help you manage things properly and secure the position of Prince Qian."
"But your achievements should be more than this. The Heavenly Realm is not the end of your martial path."
Chen Jiuyang thought for a long time, knowing that the head of the Chen family and the others genuinely cared for him.
Entering the Martial Rankings, competing for positions, and receiving luck and support from the National Destiny and the Martial Rankings means that, in return, you must either dutifully be a prince or bring glory to the country in the National Destiny Battle. Either path requires you to diligently repay the country's cultivation and nurturing.
By choosing the path of the National Destiny Battle, you can repay the country and the Martial Rankings in the fastest way, and then abdicate the royal title. How carefree would that be?
At this moment, Gong Luo Que and Gong Lie Xian arrived. Gong Luo Que said, "Prince Qian, are you ready?"
Yesterday, Chen Jiuyang's royal title was not yet decided, and they could still call him Brother Chen. Today, with the official documents from the Ministry of War, Ministry of Rites, and Ministry of Revenue, Chen Jiuyang's royal title was confirmed, and their address to Chen Jiuyang immediately changed.
Chen Jiuyang nodded and said, "I can go with you now."
Chen Jiuyang said to Yao Zixuan, Lin Yue Xian, Ji Leng Yue, Qiu Yi Han, and the others, "You all return to Fengcheng today. I need to accompany Brother Gong to the west to treat Prince Gong. I will return to Fengcheng after I finish."
The head of the Chen family said, "Good, go early and return early."
Now that Chen Jiuyang had been enfeoffed as the Sixth Prince, Prince Qian, of the Dragon Country, and with his combat strength, who would dare to attack Chen Jiuyang?
Therefore, the head of the Chen family did not need to worry about Chen Jiuyang getting injured while traveling.
"Rumble!!!"
An armed helicopter, bearing the mark of the First Prince, hovered in mid-air. Chen Jiuyang, Gong Luo Que, and Gong Lie Xian leaped onto the helicopter with their qi and headed west.
They departed in the early morning and arrived at the border city of the Dragon Country's western region, City 318, by dusk.
City 318 was a city built with the lives of soldiers. It was initially a defensive outpost. Later, when foreign enemies invaded, the First Prince led his soldiers to defend it. Gradually, from a few thousand people, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, over decades, the population here has grown to millions.
With soldiers, tourism, and foreign trade, the city's facilities are complete. The renowned Zhenxi Army is stationed here. City 318 is also a sacred place in the hearts of many patriots, considered a must-visit destination in a lifetime.
Twenty years ago, the Prince of Zhenxi was severely injured in a border battle and has been in a coma ever since. However, City 318 remains as solid as a rock, with no one daring to offend it for twenty years.
Gong Luo Que, revealing his identity as the Crown Prince of Prince Gong, entered City 318 without any obstruction and proceeded to Prince Gong's manor.
Heavy snow fell, but Prince Gong's manor was like spring. This was because the guards protecting the manor, with their vigorous qi and blood, melted the falling snow.
As soon as Chen Jiuyang disembarked from the helicopter, a dignified middle-aged woman in luxurious attire appeared. Gong Luo Que and Gong Lie Xian bowed respectfully upon seeing her and called out, "Mother Consort!"
"Mm," the Princess Consort of Prince Gong nodded slightly, her gaze falling on Chen Jiuyang. She bowed and said, "The First Princess Consort of Prince Gong greets Prince Qian."
"Greetings, Princess Consort Gong," Chen Jiuyang said, cupping his fists.
The Princess Consort Gong before him was no ordinary person. She and her own sister married the First Prince and the Second Prince of the Dragon Country respectively, establishing a familial tie between the two princes.
Prince Gong had been in a coma for twenty years and was unable to guide Gong Luo Que and Gong Lie Xian. However, these two had grown into great talents, which spoke volumes about the Princess Consort Gong's capabilities.
The Princess Consort Gong bowed again and said solemnly, "My husband has been in a coma for twenty years. I have heard that Prince Qian's medical skills are profound and unparalleled in ancient and modern times. Everything is entrusted to Prince Qian!"
Prince Gong had been injured for decades, and countless renowned physicians in the world had been sought, all to no avail.