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

Chapter 50: Chapter 36: Breakthrough to Hidden Strength (Part 2)

Mingjin is like chopping wood—the result is clear with a single swing of the axe.

But Dark Energy is like embroidery. It allows one to twist power into a fine thread, guiding it with the precision of threading a needle to exactly where it needs to go.

Just like that phantom strike from before, it seemed casual, but it was actually Inner Strength condensed at the fingertips and projected through the air—something Mingjin could never achieve.

When he threw another punch, his fist cut through the air with much less of a whistle. But when it landed on the old locust tree, it wasn’t a jarring impact that shook the trunk. Instead, a subtle tremor ran through the entire tree from its roots, as if a force had silently burrowed down the trunk and deep into the earth.

Under the moonlight, Yang Jing stood still, his eyes slightly closed, breathing slowly and rhythmically.

He knew he had crossed the great mountain that trapped countless Martial Artists. It wasn’t through a forceful, reckless charge—the kind that would leave him severely weakened if he failed. Instead, like a stream flowing over pebbles, he had naturally reached the Dark Energy Realm.

”Finally... I’m in the Dark Energy Realm.”

Yang Jing slowly opened his eyes, feeling an indescribable sense of exhilaration wash over him, as if all the pent-up impurities in his body had been completely purged.

An unprecedented sense of power radiated from every inch of his body, and an irrepressible excitement surged up from the bottom of his heart.

He tilted his head back, gazed at the bright moon hanging high in the sky, and couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.

All the suppression and vigilance of the past days vanished into thin air at this moment.

’The Yiqi Gang? They just have two members at the Peak of Mingjin, that’s all.’

Now that he had stepped into the Dark Energy Realm, dealing with the Yiqi Gang wouldn’t take much effort at all. If he really had to make a move, wiping them out wouldn’t be difficult.

’It’ll be fine if they just keep to themselves. But if they dare come looking for trouble with me...’ A cold glint flashed in Yang Jing’s eyes.

The huge weight on his mind crashed to the ground, and his entire body felt much lighter.

He turned, drew a bucket of well water, and took a refreshing bath, washing away the sweat and fatigue.

After changing into clean clothes and lying down on his bed, he felt a comfortable ease seep into every part of his body.

Moonlight from outside streamed through the window lattice, illuminating the edge of his bed.

Yang Jing closed his eyes. The tension and vigilance of the past were gone. His mind was no longer filled with boxing techniques or the shadow of the Yiqi Gang, only the solid, peaceful feeling that came with breaking through to the Dark Energy Realm.

’Finally, I can get a good night’s sleep.’

「...」

「The next morning.」

「Wazi Town, Ning Family Estate, Study.」

The scent of sandalwood smoke curled in the air.

The Ning Family Patriarch, Ning Xuezhi, sat behind a pearwood desk, flipping through account books.

”Master! Master! Great news!”

The steward Li Zhong’s voice, filled with irrepressible excitement, arrived before he even entered the room.

Behind him followed a panting servant boy, the personal attendant of the Ning Family’s Second Young Master, Ning Wenbo.

Ning Xuezhi put down the account book and looked up. ”What’s all the fuss about?”

Before Steward Li could speak, the servant boy rushed forward, bowed, and said excitedly, ”Reporting to the Master! The Second Young Master... the Second Young Master broke through yesterday! He has successfully become an Entry-level Martial Artist and is now a Mingjin Martial Artist!”

”What?!” Ning Xuezhi shot to his feet, the account book in his hand falling onto the desk with a THUD.

He strode quickly to the servant boy, his voice trembling slightly. ”Say that again? Wenbo... he’s become an Entry-level Martial Artist?”

”It’s absolutely true!” the servant boy said hastily. ”Hall Master Wang of the Weiyuan Martial Arts Hall said it himself. The Young Master has now developed Inner Strength and has become a true Mingjin Martial Artist!”

”The Second Young Master really made us proud. To succeed on his third attempt to break through was quite a close call,” Li Zhong said happily. ”Master, the effort you put into sending the Second Young Master to the Martial Arts Hall in the city all these years has certainly paid off.”

Generally, when one studies at a Martial Arts Hall, there’s a rule that any disciple who fails to become an Entry-level Martial Artist within half a year or a year must leave on their own.

But there were exceptions, like the Ning Family’s Second Young Master, Ning Wenbo, who had already been at the Weiyuan Martial Arts Hall for two or three years. This was partly because the Ning Family did not lack silver coins, and partly because Ning Xuezhi had pulled many strings.

Hearing the words of Steward Li Zhong and the servant boy, the wrinkles on Ning Xuezhi’s face instantly smoothed out. An indescribable sense of relief and excitement welled up in his heart.

He slapped his thigh heavily. ”Good! Excellent! My son has made me proud, truly proud!”

In the Martial Dao, Root Bone is the foundation.

Among the next generation of the Ning Family, only his second son, Ning Wenbo, was tested and found to have a Lower-Grade Root Bone. Although it wasn’t exceptional, it was the Ning Family’s only hope.

Over the years, he had specifically sent his son to the Weiyuan Martial Arts Hall in the city, spent a fortune hiring famous masters for guidance, and continuously supplied him with nourishing medicinal herbs, all in the hope that his son could become an Entry-level Martial Artist. Now, his wish had finally come true.

He knew better than anyone what a Mingjin Martial Artist meant to a gentry family like his.

It was the foundation for protecting their family and business, the capital needed to secure their footing in the town.

Previously, when Yang Jing from Yang Family Village became an Entry-level Martial Artist, it had given him a scare. But now, learning that his own son had also become a Mingjin Martial Artist, the gloom in his heart instantly vanished.

’In the end, that Yang Jing is just from a farming family. So what if he became an Entry-level Martial Artist? My Wenbo has the guidance of famous masters at Weiyuan Martial Arts Hall and the endless resources of the Ning Family to polish his Martial Dao. He’s simply not comparable to some farm boy.’

”Prepare some lavish gifts and have them sent to Hall Master Wang at the Weiyuan Martial Arts Hall.” Ning Xuezhi sat back down, picking up his teacup, but his hand was still trembling slightly. ”Then, go to the accounting office and withdraw twenty taels of silver. Get Wenbo some fine materials for new clothes. And while you’re at it... take out that thirty-year-old mountain ginseng from the storeroom and have it sent to the Martial Arts Hall for him to replenish his body.”

”Yes, sir!” the steward replied, leading the servant boy out of the study.

The study fell silent once more. Ning Xuezhi held his teacup, gazing at the rising sun outside the window, and let out a long sigh of relief.

With a Mingjin master of their own, the Ning Family could stand even taller in Wazi Town from now on.

As for that Yang Jing, he had already been cast to the back of his mind.

「...」

「Yuhe County Seat, Tongyi Square.」

Yang Jing woke up just as the sky was beginning to brighten.

After a good night’s sleep, the Dark Energy within his body flowed freely, leaving him feeling exceptionally refreshed.

He went to the kitchen, sliced off a piece of bear meat, and put it in a pot. He boiled it in plain water with a simple sprinkle of salt, and the rich, meaty aroma soon filled the small courtyard.

As the large chunks of bear meat went down, a warm energy slid down his throat and mingled with the Dark Energy in his body, creating a pleasant, cozy warmth.

He tidied up, pushed open the door, and set off for Sun’s Martial Arts Hall with a light step, his mood exceptionally buoyant.

Now that he had entered the Dark Energy Realm, he could continue practicing the subsequent techniques of the Mountain-Shattering Fist. However, he needed to go ask his master, Sun Yong, for them and, at the same time, inform him of his breakthrough.

According to tradition, after breaking through to the Dark Energy Realm, his master would give him a reward, which also served as a bonus for becoming one of his master’s Core Disciples.

A Dark Energy Martial Artist was a rare expert in all of Yuhe County. His master, Sun Yong, would take this very seriously. After all, whether these Dark Energy disciples started their own ventures or joined other factions, they could almost always attain important positions. In the future, they would all become valuable connections.

While Yang Jing was thinking about meeting his master, he took a slight detour, passing through Guang’an Square.

Arriving at Guang’an Square, Yang Jing deliberately slowed his pace.

In the past, whenever he passed through here, he would always lower his head and hurry along. Although he was gathering information, he was also afraid of being noticed by members of the Yiqi Gang.

But today, Yang Jing was in no hurry. He raised his eyes and swept his gaze over the men gathered in twos and threes at the street corner, his expression calm and unwavering.

Their waists were bulging, and their expressions were arrogant—they were members of the Yiqi Gang.

He stood by a tea stall at the corner, pretending to wait for someone, and listened to the idle chatter of a few vendors at the next table, occasionally catching snippets of discussion about the Yiqi Gang.

There wasn’t a trace of nervousness left in his heart. Instead, there was a solid sense of finality. Even though he had only just broken through to the Dark Energy Realm, the Yiqi Gang was no match for him.

After a moment, Yang Jing withdrew his gaze, turned, and continued walking toward the Martial Arts Hall.

Sunlight passed through the archway of the square, casting a steady shadow at his feet. The Dark Energy coursed silently within him, bringing with it a sense of calm and complete control.

After Yang Jing’s figure disappeared around the corner, a man in a crooked hat at the tea stall slowly stood up.

He had been pretending to drink tea, but the corner of his eye had been secretly watching Yang Jing the whole time. Only when Yang Jing was far away did he lift the brim of his hat, a sharp glint flashing in his narrow, triangular eyes.

「...」