The spear shot from Hou Yi's bow pierced through the dragon's left eye and exited through its forehead, killing the dragon instantly.
The dragon knight fell to the ground along with the dragon. With the dragon cushioning his fall, he was not in mortal danger, but he was seriously injured and immediately lost consciousness.
After their initial shock, the onlookers erupted in thunderous cheers.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, deep within the palace, the emperor's great-grandfather, an old man over 170 years old, looked up to the sky and sighed, "Just as I predicted... It's truly unbelievable!"
After the battle at the imperial palace, Chen Nan became famous throughout the Chu Kingdom. Soon, the news spread rapidly across the continent, and most cultivators knew that there was a young man in the Chu Kingdom who could shoot down a dragon with a bow. Chen Nan became famous overnight.
For the past few days, people have been coming and going from Qishi Mansion. Military officers from the court and experts from the army have all come to pay their respects to Chen Nan, and there have even been many people who have come to propose marriage.
After Chen Nan's great victory over Long Qishi, the status of Qishi Mansion was elevated once again, and every Qishi was highly respected, which greatly boosted the cultivation trend in Chu Kingdom.
Inside the Chu Kingdom's royal palace, Emperor Chu Han and his eldest princess Chu Yue were having a secret meeting.
Chu Han asked, "Have those three dragon knights returned to Tianyang Kingdom?"
Chu Yue said, "Yes, we are on our way back."
Chu Han sighed, "These three are all outstanding young talents, rare gems. It's a pity they are not from my Chu Kingdom, so we must not let them leave. Otherwise, Tianyang Kingdom may have three more outstanding experts in twenty years."
Chu Yue smiled and said, "Father's concerns are very valid. I have already sent a message by carrier pigeon. When they return to the border of Tianyang Kingdom, that will be the day they die."
Chu Han nodded and said, "They are all seriously injured, so this matter is easy to handle. However, Chen Nan's matter is more troublesome!"
Chu Yue frowned slightly and said, "Father, isn't it a bit hasty of us to betroth Nalan Ruoshui to Sima Lingkong on the eve of the birthday banquet? Chen Nanruo will definitely feel resentful after he finds out about this."
Chu Han said, "I thought he could only draw Hou Yi's bow. Who would have thought he was also a level three martial artist who had reached the realm of sword qi projection?"
Chu Han sighed, "In a few days it will be Sima Lingkong's wedding day. If Chen Nan can't withstand the blow, it will be really bad! He might rebel against our Great Chu and defect to another country. If that happens, our Chu will not only lose a genius, but will also be ridiculed by other countries."
Chu Yue said, "Why don't we quickly retrieve Hou Yi's bow now? If he really rebels against our Chu Kingdom and takes Hou Yi's bow away, that would be terrible."
Chu Han sighed, "If we do that, it would be tantamount to forcing him to rebel against Chu. Let's wait until this storm passes before making any decisions; I don't expect anything unexpected to happen."
Chu Yue thought for a moment and said, "Father's decision is actually not wrong at all. Although he has excellent potential, he is ultimately just a cultivator, and he can never compare with a powerful family."
Soon after, the Emperor of Chu sent envoys to the Qishi Mansion to bestow upon Chen Nan a reward of 50,000 gold coins, 100 bolts of silk, and the title of Protector of the Nation. This was an immense honor; the title of Qishi was already prestigious, but with the addition of the title of Protector of the Nation, his status became even more esteemed.
All the extraordinary individuals congratulated Chen Nan, and the old poison master joked, "Young man, you're really something! One spear, one staff, one arrow, and you've earned the title of 'Guardian of the Nation.' Truly remarkable!"
The old witch pushed through the crowd and said to Chen Nan, "Young man, I must remind you, if you ever go to the Western Continent, be very careful. The black dragon you shot and killed in the Imperial Palace's training ground was the mount of Jason, the Western Dragon Knight. Jason is a loner, doesn't like to socialize, and has few friends, but he cherishes that black dragon like his own life. Now that you've killed it, that old devil will come after you sooner or later."
Chen Nan nodded; he had already guessed that the black dragon was not the dragon knight's mount.
For the past few days, Chen Nan had been enjoying immense success, which fueled the jealousy and resentment of the heavily injured Sima Lingkong. Although he had also received a substantial reward, it was still less than what Chen Nan had earned. In the end, in a fit of anger, he moved out of the Qishi Mansion and went home to recuperate.
Five days after the battle at the palace, a shocking piece of news echoed in Chen Nan's ears.
"The Emperor has bestowed a marriage upon Sima Lingkong and Nalan Ruoshui, with the wedding date set for five days from now."
When Chen Nan heard this news from the old poison master, his expression changed drastically. Ruoshui was ultimately going to fall into a pit of fire. He had originally thought that even if the emperor did not bestow a marriage upon Nalan Ruoshui to him, he would not bestow her upon Sima Lingkong in the short term, and would definitely postpone the marriage for a while before making a decision.
However, this is not the case.
He had rendered such great service to the royal family, yet the royal family had disregarded his feelings in the slightest and made a decision so quickly. He never expected such an outcome. Chen Nan's eyes flashed, and a hint of violentness appeared on his face.
The old poison master was startled and asked, "Boy, what's wrong with you...?"
"Ah!" Chen Nan roared, the sound waves echoing like rolling thunder across the Qishi Mansion, heard by everyone within a ten-mile radius. Chen Nan's hair stood on end in fury, his face contorted in a ferocious expression, his body radiating golden light, the golden radiance surging around him burning like raging flames.
The old poison monster was so frightened that he ran from Chen Nan's house to the yard.
A golden sword aura pierced through the roof.
Countless sword energies burst forth from the walls of the house, their light dazzling and surging, flashing in the air like lightning. With a rumbling sound, the entire house collapsed.
Chen Nan stood on the rubble, remaining silent for a long time.
The old poison master cautiously approached and asked, "Chen Nan... are you alright?"
Chen Nan calmed his anger, and his complexion gradually returned to normal.
"Alas, it would be a lie to say nothing happened. I never expected the Emperor to treat me like this. It's truly disheartening."
The old poisoner said, "Five days ago, the Emperor bestowed upon you the title of Protector of the Nation, but he did not mention Nalan Ruoshui at all. His intention was quite obvious."
Just then, the extraordinary individuals from the Qishi Mansion arrived at Chen Nan's courtyard. Seeing the rubble scattered everywhere, they were not surprised, knowing why Chen Nan was angry. They already knew about the affair between Chen Nan, Nalan Ruoshui, and Sima Lingkong, and now, hearing that the emperor had bestowed a marriage upon Sima Lingkong and Nalan Ruoshui, they all felt indignant on Chen Nan's behalf.
"Alas, Chen Nan has just rendered great service to the Chu Kingdom, but unexpectedly..."
Life is full of disappointments...
"Young man, try to think more positively."
...
Everyone offered words of comfort to Chen Nan.
Chu Yue had also received the report. She frowned and said, "I hope he doesn't cause any trouble."
Three more days passed in the blink of an eye, and in two more days it would be the wedding day of Sima Lingkong and Nalan Ruoshui. Sima Lingkong's injuries had now fully healed, and although he hadn't been as glamorous as Chen Nan these past few days, he would eventually win the heart of his beauty. He assumed Chen Nan also loved Nalan Ruoshui, and guessed that the other must be filled with grief and indignation at this moment. Thinking of this, a smile appeared on his lips, and he decided to go to the Qishi Mansion to see him.
Sima Lingkong was in high spirits and greeted everyone he saw. He turned left and right and came to Chen Nan's courtyard. Just then, Chen Nan came out and met him face to face.
"Isn't this the Heroic Protector of the Nation? Where are you going? I was just about to pay my respects to the Heroic Protector of the Nation." Sima Lingkong emphasized the words "Heroic Protector of the Nation" each time, his face full of mockery.
Chen Nan was filled with rage, his eyes flashing with cold light. Although he did not love Nalan Ruo at the moment, he had developed feelings for her, and she had taken a liking to him. He could not tolerate this extraordinary woman who had been kind to him suffering misfortune.
"Sima Lingkong, don't be so smug. Although the emperor has arranged a marriage for you, he doesn't value you. He values your father and your family. You're nothing but a spoiled brat!"
Sima Lingkong sneered, "No matter what you say, one thing remains unchanged: Ruoshui will marry me in two days, and the groom will not be you, hehe."
"Sima Lingkong, get out of here! I don't want to see you."
"Alright, since the esteemed Protector of the Nation has spoken, I shall take my leave. But you must come to my wedding in two days! Hmm, you can come and make a ruckus in the bridal chamber then, hehe."
Chen Nan's face was ashen as he watched Sima Lingkong walk away. He then smashed the door behind him with a single palm strike.
When Chen Nan appeared in front of the old poison monster, the old man was startled.
"Hey kid, you look terrible. Are you sick?"
"You perverted old man, tell me, where does Ruoshui live?"
"What...what are you going to do? Kid, don't do anything reckless. If you're thinking of stealing the bride, I advise you to forget it. These past two days, the eldest princess has sent a large number of highly skilled warriors to the Left Prime Minister's residence to protect Nalan Ruoshui. You have absolutely no chance."
Chen Nan's expression changed, and he secretly sighed that the eldest princess was indeed remarkable, having actually foreseen the actions he might take.
The night was as still as water, and all was silent; it was destined to be a sleepless night.
Chen Nan tossed and turned, pondering repeatedly, "What should I do? Should I just watch Ruoshui marry that bastard?" Finally, his eyes shone brightly as he muttered to himself, "Ruoshui has done me a great favor, and she has a trace of me in her heart. I can't give her any promises, but I absolutely cannot watch her jump into a fire pit. I must stop this wedding; I cannot leave any regrets!"
Although he had made the decision, he still felt somewhat uneasy.
"So many unexpected things have happened in less than three months. I must leave here as soon as possible after I resolve this matter." He finally fell asleep.
Early in the morning, Chen Nan ran to the old poison monster's courtyard.
Seeing his beaming smile, the old poison master was suspicious and said, "Kid, you've had a gloomy look on your face for days. How come you've suddenly brightened up?"
Chen Nan said, "Let's talk inside."
After entering the house, he quickly pressed more than a dozen acupoints on the old poison monster's body. Although the old poison monster was not bad, he was only barely considered good and could not compare with a master of a certain level at all.
"What are you doing, kid? You..."
"Shh, don't shout. I just want to have a proper talk with you."
"If you want to talk to me, you don't need to use pressure points, do you?"
"Because what I want to talk to you about is too shocking, I was afraid you wouldn't want to talk to me, so I resorted to this tactic."
"Speak, what is it?"
"I know your poison skills are unparalleled in the Chu Kingdom. I'd like to ask you for a prescription."
"It will not harm a person's life; taking it will only temporarily reduce one's cultivation to nothing."
Upon hearing this, the old poison master immediately cried out in alarm, "Boy, what are you trying to do? Are you really going to cause a scene?"
"Yes, do you have that kind of medicine?"
Upon hearing this, the old poison master broke out in a cold sweat and said, "Chen Nan, don't be ridiculous. There are so many experts in the capital; you can't possibly succeed."
Chen Nan looked into the old poison monster's eyes and said, "There are many experts, but I have the Houyi Bow, and no one can stop me."
The old poison monster said in a trembling voice, "If you cause a ruckus in the capital, even if you manage to escape, you will still attract endless pursuit from the Chu Kingdom."
"The world is so vast, and I possess considerable martial arts skills. Escaping the pursuit of the Chu Kingdom should be easy for me. You perverted old man, do you even have that kind of medicine?"
"No...no."
"You're lying. I can tell from your expression that you're not telling the truth. Given our friendship, I don't think you'd be so reluctant to part with it, would you?"
"It's not that I'm reluctant, I just can't bear to see you jump into the fire."
"I already told you it's none of your business, I'm absolutely safe, just give me that medicine."
The old poison master said with a bitter face, "You're not in danger, but I definitely am. If something happens and you just run away, what am I supposed to do? They'll definitely trace it back to me!"
Chen Nan thought for a moment and said, "It's okay. After you give me the medicine, I'll knock you out, and then you can say that I took it by force."
"No way." The old poison monster glared repeatedly and said, "This method is too clumsy. If we do it this way, once we're found out, I won't be able to escape even if I want to."
Chen Nan said, "Then what should we do? Tomorrow is Ruoshui's wedding day. If I can't rescue her at the wedding, her life will be ruined."
"Do you really have to take this risk? Can't you just..." He wanted to say "give up," but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say it. Looking at Chen Nan's resolute expression, he finally sighed and said, "Fine, I'll go all out. You once gave me a book on poison, which is an immense favor to me. Even if it costs me my life, I will give it to you. Today, I will repay you with my life."
Chen Nan looked at the old poison monster with a half-smile and said, "You really want to repay me with your life? Fine, I'll kill you after you give me the medicine, so you won't suffer when you're being tortured."
The old poisoner yelled, "You brat, you're really ruthless, you have no compassion at all. Alas, it seems I can't stay in the capital any longer. After I give you the medicine, I'll leave the capital immediately and head to another country."
After the old poison master's pressure points were released, he asked, "What exactly are your plans?"
Chen Nan said, "I plan to make my move at tomorrow's wedding."
"You...you're insane! General Sima Changfeng and Prime Minister Nalan Wencheng are both important ministers of the Chu Kingdom. Their children are betrothed, and they will definitely invite the Emperor to the wedding. At that time, the Sima residence will be as impregnable as a fortress. You chose to make your move at that time, which is simply...simply courting death. You might as well just go to the Prime Minister's residence now and kidnap him."
"Heh heh..." Chen Nan sneered, "Since we're going to make a scene, let's make a huge one! I'm not only going to rescue Ruoshui, but I'm going to cause a ruckus in front of the emperor and all the civil and military officials. I'm going to make the Chu Kingdom lose face completely. What the three dragon knights of the Tianyang Kingdom couldn't do, I'll do for them. I'm going to slap the Chu Kingdom hard across the face!"
The old poison master was dumbfounded, muttering, "Madman! Madman! If this gets out to other countries, it will cause Chu to lose face, and you will face a mad revenge. You are simply a madman!"
Chen Nan sneered, "That day, I fought two Dragon Warriors in the palace. It seemed easy, but it was actually extremely dangerous. I risked my life to preserve the dignity of the Chu Kingdom, but what was the result?"
The old poisoner said, "The Emperor did not handle this matter well. At the time when you had made great contributions, he bestowed Nalan Ruoshui upon someone else in marriage. This is truly disheartening."
Chen Nan snorted and said, "Among the experts in the capital, the ones I'm most worried about are the cultivators in the Qishi Mansion who have reached the rank of rank. If I can prevent these people from making a move for the time being, my pressure will be much less."
The old poison master said, "When you first entered the Qishi Mansion, you seemed so well-behaved. I never expected that in just a few days, you would become such a different person. Not only did you suddenly acquire terrifying cultivation, but you also became so insane. What bad luck! How did I end up running into you?" He sighed and continued, "To repay your favor, I'll add some 'ingredients' to the kitchen today so that they will take effect at noon tomorrow."
"Thank you so much, you perverted old man."
"Sigh, I've lived in the capital for several years now, and I really hate to leave. What are your plans, kid? After causing such a ruckus at the Sima residence, where do you plan to take Nalan Ruoshui?"
"I don't know either, as long as we escape from the State of Chu, that's fine."
"You foolish boy! Even if you escape to a vassal state of Chu, you'll still meet a dead end. Let me show you a way out. Have you heard of the City of Freedom?"
Chen Nan felt a sense of familiarity. After thinking carefully, he remembered that he had read countless books in the Royal Library over the past month. Although his understanding of the continent's topography was not very precise, he had a general idea.
When the Immortal Continent and the Magical Continent were connected, a continuous mountain range rose at their border, leaving hundreds of thousands of miles uninhabited. In these vast mountains, although human footprints were rare, ferocious birds and beasts could be found everywhere. There were not only dragons from the West and giants left over from ancient times, but also many powerful monsters that had never been heard of before, and even legendary spirits.
Later, as the connection between East and West grew closer, people overcame numerous obstacles and finally carved out a road connecting the two sides through the mountains. Unfortunately, not long afterward, a large-scale war broke out between the East and the West, and this road became a road of war, where rivers of blood flowed, countless bones lay scattered, and countless heroic souls perished.
After the wars between East and West, this road was abandoned for a long time before it was slowly reopened. Due to the long and arduous journey, inns gradually appeared along the way, providing lodging and supplies for travelers. Later, as exchanges between East and West became more frequent, villages gradually formed in some places. After thousands of years of development, a prosperous city emerged along this road—the City of Freedom.
The City of Freedom does not belong to any country; it is an independent city. Due to its special geographical location, it is the most important hub city connecting the east and west, so its prosperity is no less than that of Pingyang, the capital of the Chu Kingdom.
The City of Freedom, also known as the City of Sin, is an independent city, not controlled by any nation. Many wanted criminals from across the continent have fled here, making it a melting pot of all sorts. However, those who escape here dare not act recklessly anymore, because the city is home to many powerful figures who deter those who are restless. Therefore, although the City of Freedom is called the City of Sin, crime is rare, and its residents must abide by its rules.
Although the City of Sin is merely a single city, it is home to many powerful cultivators, making the cultivation atmosphere in the City of Freedom very strong. Furthermore, it is home to the renowned Divine Wind Academy, which, like the City of Freedom, boasts a long history dating back over a thousand years. Only a handful of academies on the continent can rival it, and the Divine Wind Academy produces unparalleled masters generation after generation.
For all these reasons, the City of Freedom became famous throughout the continent, becoming a shining pearl among the continent's famous cities.
In a flash, Chen Nan understood what the City of Freedom truly was.
"I know this famous city is indeed a good place."
The old poisoner said, "More than that, it's practically paradise. You have no idea how prosperous it is there, with casinos, brothels... It's something I really miss. I haven't set foot there for ten years."
Chen Nan said, "You old lecher, your beard is all white, and you still have all sorts of random thoughts in your head."
"Because of my young heart, hehe..." the old poison monster laughed smugly, "You know what? Freedom is a goldmine. As long as you are skilled, you can make money very quickly. You can hunt powerful magical beasts in the nearby mountains and exchange the precious magic crystal cores inside the beasts for huge fortunes; you can also become a free hunter to capture wanted criminals and earn high rewards... But if you escape there, it's better to keep a low profile, after all, you are also a fugitive yourself."
Chen Nan knew that magical beasts were creatures from the original magical continent, born with the ability to cast spells. Lower-level magical beasts could only cast simple spells; for example, snow rabbits could only breathe ice arrows, and fire foxes could only breathe fire. Only higher-level magical beasts could cast powerful spells, such as the lightning released by thunder beasts. Each magical beast possessed a magic crystal core within its body. The higher the level of the magical beast, the more precious its magic crystal core. Magic crystal cores were invaluable materials for mages researching magic, making them extremely expensive.
Old Poison Monster, with a lecherous look on his face, said, "The City of Freedom is full of beauties, especially the girls from the Divine Wind Academy, who are the best of the best."
Chen Nan muttered under his breath, "You perverted old man, you're really indecent."
The old poison master spoke eloquently, saying, "Very few students can enter the Divine Wind Academy because its requirements are very strict. Only young powerhouses who have reached a certain level can enter. But there are many non-regular students because the Divine Wind Academy is famous throughout the continent. Many royal families and nobles from various countries rely on connections to send their children into the Divine Wind Academy. It's quite normal to meet a prince or princess there. Just think how exciting that is! So many princesses, noble ladies, and daughters of noble families. If you could get in, you would be incredibly happy."
Chen Nan gave the old poison monster a hard knock on the head and said, "You old fool, hurry up and think about what's in front of you."
The old poison monster deflated like a punctured balloon, immediately drooping and saying with a gloomy face, "Alright, I'll add some 'seasoning' in the kitchen later, and then I'll escape from the capital tonight. I won't say goodbye when I leave. I hope to see you in the City of Freedom."
"Thank you, you perverted old man!" Chen Nan turned and walked out.
As night fell, the old poison monster fled the capital.
A bright moon hung high in the sky, and under its gentle light, Chen Nan felt a sense of peace. He was ready for a great battle.