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

He took a thread-bound booklet from under the counter. Its cover read: ”Lingxi Peak Dragon Gate Martial Trials Assessment Registry.” Picking up a nearby brush and dipping it in ink, he looked up and asked, ”What is your name? Which courtyard are you from?”

”This disciple, Yang Jing, resides in the Outer Sect Ninth Courtyard at the foot of the peak,” Yang Jing answered truthfully. His gaze fell upon the booklet, where he saw pages densely packed with names, courtyards, and assessment times—all information belonging to Outer Sect disciples who had previously applied for the Dragon Gate Martial Trials.

The old man’s wrist flickered, and the brush flew across the paper. He neatly wrote down Yang Jing’s name and courtyard, then added a simple note in the remarks column: the three words ”Peak of Transformation.”

After he finished writing, he checked it over carefully. Once he confirmed there were no errors, he placed the brush on its stand, closed the booklet, and said, ”Today is April sixteenth. Your Dragon Gate Martial Trial is scheduled for four days from now, on the twentieth of this month. Do not be late. Being late counts as a failure.”

”This disciple understands. Thank you, Steward.” Yang Jing nodded solemnly, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. ’In just four days, I can take the assessment.’

The Steward nodded slightly, then changed the subject. ”Four days from now, two other Outer Sect disciples will be taking the Dragon Gate Martial Trial alongside you. Prepare yourself well over the next few days. I hope we don’t have a total wipeout this time.”

His words carried a note of both resignation and hope.

Yang Jing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. At the same time, his heart tightened. The sense of ease he felt from reaching the Peak of Transformation largely vanished, and he grew even more serious about the Dragon Gate Martial Trial.

Although he was confident, he also knew the Dragon Gate Martial Trial was extremely difficult and by no means easy to pass.

The Steward’s words clearly implied that most Lingxi Peak disciples who had previously attempted the Dragon Gate Martial Trial had returned in defeat.

He understood. ’To make scheduling more convenient and conserve assessment resources, the sect often arranges for disciples who apply during the same period to take the trial at the same time.’

However, the Dragon Gate Martial Trial was a rigorous ordeal that posed a great test of a disciple’s strength, character, and adaptability. Consequently, it wasn’t uncommon for every single participant to be eliminated, with no one passing. This was the origin of the ”total wipeout” the Steward had mentioned.

Yang Jing pushed his thoughts aside and bowed to the old man again. ”Thank you for the reminder, Steward,” he said respectfully. ”I will be sure to prepare well.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the Internal Affairs Hall with steady steps.

Just as Yang Jing stepped through the vermilion wooden doors of the Internal Affairs Hall, he came face-to-face with a familiar figure walking toward him.

The newcomer was Liu Rou. She was accompanied by three male Outer Sect disciples in green robes. Chatting and laughing, the group approached the Internal Affairs Hall with light, cheerful steps.

Liu Rou wore a crisp green robe today, its hem swaying gently with each step and outlining her curvaceous, well-proportioned figure. She had sweet, delicate features and a relaxed smile on her face, which made her already stunning looks seem even more vibrant. She had always been popular among the Outer Sect disciples, and the words of the young men beside her were laced with an obvious attempt to flatter her.

Liu Rou looked up and saw Yang Jing standing by the door. Her steps faltered slightly, and a clear trace of surprise flashed in her eyes.

’Yang Jing has always been a quiet, dedicated cultivator,’ she thought. His daily routine was incredibly simple, consisting of little more than shuttling between the Training Room and his quarters. He rarely visited places like the Internal Affairs Hall, which were always bustling with disciples, so seeing him here now was naturally a surprise.

She was the first to stop. Giving Yang Jing a gentle smile, she raised a hand and nodded lightly in greeting. ”Junior Brother Yang, are you here to run an errand at the Internal Affairs Hall too?”

Seeing this, Yang Jing also stopped. He bowed slightly in return and replied in a calm voice, ”Senior Sister Liu.”

Liu Rou turned to the male disciples beside her and smiled. ”Why don’t you go on in and report the mission?” she said softly. ”I’m just going to have a quick word with Junior Brother Yang. I’ll be right in.”

The male disciples nodded, but their gazes toward Yang Jing held a faint trace of hostility and wariness.

Yang Jing had an imposing stature, strikingly handsome features, and a composed, reserved temperament, which made him stand out to begin with.

Coupled with the fact that Liu Rou had specifically stopped to speak with him so warmly and familiarly, the other disciples couldn’t help but grow suspicious. They assumed Yang Jing was just another of the many Outer Sect disciples pursuing her and secretly marked him as a potential rival.

The disciples said no more and walked quickly into the Internal Affairs Hall. As one of the younger men passed Yang Jing, he deliberately jutted out his chin in a show of arrogance.

Once the others had entered the Internal Affairs Hall, Liu Rou looked back to Yang Jing and said with a smile, ”I just finished my guard duty on the Outer Island, so I came back to report in and collect my reward. Are you here to pick up a mission today too, Junior Brother Yang?”

Guard duty on the Outer Island was a common Outer Sect mission on Lingxi Peak. It wasn’t dangerous, but it was time-consuming. She had spent most of the day finishing it, and a hint of fatigue still lingered on her face.

Yang Jing shook his head, his gaze calm. ”I’m not here to pick up a mission. I came today to register for the Dragon Gate Martial Trial.”

His expression remained nonchalant, as if he had just mentioned something completely ordinary.

At his words, Liu Rou’s pupils contracted slightly. She froze, completely stunned.

She never imagined that Yang Jing had come to the Internal Affairs Hall today to register for the Dragon Gate Martial Trial.

That was the one assessment that countless Outer Sect disciples dreamed of, yet were too intimidated to attempt due to its immense difficulty.

After a long, stunned moment, Liu Rou finally came to her senses. ”Junior Brother Yang,” she asked, ”you... you’ve already reached the Peak of Transformation?”