Rise in the Martial Chaos: Starting From a Martial Arts School

Yang Jing pushed the door and entered. With a creak, the wooden door slowly opened.

The room was not large, but it was kept extremely tidy. A large desk was placed by the window.

Steward Zheng was sitting behind the desk, flipping through a scroll in his hands. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice and fell upon him, making the few silver strands at his temples particularly noticeable.

"Greetings, Steward!" Yang Jing quickly walked forward and bowed to Steward Zheng, his posture respectful.

Hearing the voice, Steward Zheng put down the scroll in his hand and looked up at Yang Jing.

When he saw who it was, a kind smile immediately appeared on his face. He put down his brush, pointed to a nearby chair, and said, "Ah, Yang Jing. Have a seat. What brings you here?"

He had an excellent impression of Yang Jing. During the Dragon Gate martial trial, Yang Jing’s performance had been outstanding. His composure and strength had far surpassed those of the other disciples.

Later, when handling the paperwork for the Inner Sect, Yang Jing had been humble and polite. He had even asked for advice on the finer points of cultivating the Mountain-Shattering Fist. His clear and organized manner of speaking had left a very good impression on the steward, who had even briefly considered taking him as a disciple.

However, he later learned that when Yang Jing went to see the Peak Master, he had been personally received by Si Jiawen, the Senior Sister of Lingxi Peak. This knowledge extinguished that thought.

Being personally guided by Si Jiawen was enough to show how much the Peak Master valued Yang Jing. Perhaps the Peak Master already intended to take him as a disciple, so it would naturally be inappropriate for him to get involved.

Even so, he still held Yang Jing in high regard. Seeing him arrive now, his attitude was particularly amiable.

Yang Jing did not take a seat. He remained standing with a slight bow and said, "Reporting to the Steward, this disciple came today to register for the Cyan Qilin Battle."

"The Cyan Qilin Battle?" Hearing this, Steward Zheng was taken aback. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, and he blurted out, "So soon?"

He knew that Yang Jing had only been in the Inner Sect for a few days; he might not have even fully adapted to the pace of cultivation there yet.

Although Yang Jing had shown considerable strength during the Dragon Gate martial trial, the Cyan Qilin Battle brought together the top Inner Strength Disciples from every peak. The competition was far more intense.

Logically, Yang Jing should have spent some time settling in and honing his skills. It wouldn’t be too late to consider entering the Cyan Qilin Battle after that.

Seemingly sensing Steward Zheng’s confusion, Yang Jing quickly explained, "This disciple has only just entered the Inner Sect, and I am keenly aware of my many shortcomings. I hope to use the Cyan Qilin Battle as an opportunity to gain experience, broaden my horizons, and more quickly identify my weaknesses."

Steward Zheng considered this for a moment, then slowly nodded.

He stroked the short beard on his chin and smiled. "You have a point. The Cyan Qilin Battle is overseen by the stewards from each peak and the Main Peak Elders. They will ensure things don’t get out of hand during the matches and won’t let disciples deal fatal blows, so there isn’t much real danger. Gaining more experience will indeed help you grow faster."

He looked at Yang Jing, his eyes filled with approval. "A young man ought to have this kind of drive! This is your first time, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Don’t worry about having to achieve a certain rank. Just think of it as a chance to gain experience and get used to the pace of the competition. With your talent, you’ll surely place in the top three one day."

Yang Jing quickly bowed and replied, "This disciple understands. Thank you for your guidance, Steward!"

Steward Zheng smiled and said no more. He pulled open a desk drawer and took out a thin registration book and a writing brush.

He opened the registration book to a blank page, lifted the brush, and asked, "Name, Yang Jing. Date of entry to the Inner Sect... the twentieth of the fourth month. Is that correct?"

Yang Jing nodded quickly. "Yes, Steward, that’s correct."

Steward Zheng’s brush paused for a moment before he fluidly recorded all the information in the register. At the end, he added the notations "Lingxi Peak" and "First-time Participant." His movements were crisp and efficient.

After finishing the registration, he put down his brush, looked up at Yang Jing, and instructed, "Go back and prepare well. This month’s Cyan Qilin Battle will be held on the last two days of the month. Come to the Internal Affairs Hall on the morning of the twenty-ninth, and I will take you all to the Cyan Qilin Platform on the Main Peak."

"Yes! This disciple will remember!" Yang Jing bowed again, his tone solemn.

"Alright, if there’s nothing else, you may go." Steward Zheng waved his hand, a smile on his face.

"This disciple takes his leave!" Yang Jing gave Steward Zheng a deep bow, then turned and quietly exited the room, gently pulling the wooden door shut behind him.

Yang Jing turned, walked through the front hall, and exited the Internal Affairs Hall.

The wind at the peak carried a slight chill. It blew against his face, cooling his slightly feverish thoughts from the successful registration.

He began to calculate in his mind. ’I can use the next two days to go to the Level C Training Room and polish my cultivation technique. I’ll strive to become more proficient with the Mountain-Breaking Seal before the Cyan Qilin Battle begins.’

The thought had barely formed when a clear voice called out from nearby, "Junior Brother Yang! Wait up!"

The voice sounded familiar to Yang Jing. He stopped and turned to see who was calling.

He saw Lin Ziheng striding toward him. Lin Ziheng had a slender build and a characteristically bright smile. He casually waved a folding fan in his hand, giving off an air of dashing nonchalance.

"Oh, it’s Senior Brother Lin." Yang Jing smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

Lin Ziheng closed the distance in a few quick strides, chuckled, and clapped him on the shoulder. "I thought that was you! I was right!"

Lin Ziheng was also an Inner Sect Disciple of Lingxi Peak. His residence was in Qing No. 2 Courtyard, very close to Yang Jing’s Qing No. 4 Courtyard, making them neighbors.

A couple of days earlier, Lin Ziheng had made a special trip to visit, saying he wanted to meet his new neighbor so they could look out for each other in the future.