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

After about an hour, other outer sect disciples in blue robes began to arrive, walking in groups toward the entrance of the Internal Affairs Hall.

Two groups came, one led by a man and the other by a woman. Each was surrounded by a cluster of outer sect disciples in blue robes—one group of four or five, the other of six or seven—their cheerful chatter filling the air.

The leading man and woman stood tall and straight, their auras stable and profound. They were clearly also at the Peak of Transformation cultivation and were, in fact, the other two outer sect disciples from Lingxi Peak participating in the Dragon Gate Martial Trial.

The people with them were presumably close friends who had come along to cheer them on and offer support.

Yang Jing slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping coolly over the groups before he gently closed them again, his expression remaining placid.

The two groups also noticed Yang Jing sitting cross-legged in the corner. A hint of surprise flickered in their eyes as they exchanged glances.

’This disciple is sitting here all alone. He’s wearing a blue robe, so he doesn’t look like an Inner Sect Disciple coming here to practice. But if he was here on business, he shouldn’t just be sitting silently. Could he also be a disciple participating in the Dragon Gate Martial Trial?’

Though their minds were full of questions, they didn’t probe any further and simply gathered to the side to chat among themselves.

A few moments later, the great doors of the Internal Affairs Hall slowly swung open, and three Stewards walked out side by side.

The elderly man leading in the center had a square face and sharp eyes, his aura steady and restrained.

To his left was another elder, this one with salt-and-pepper hair and an amiable face, appearing quite gentle.

The middle-aged man on the right had a stern, unsmiling expression, and he exuded an air of authority.

Hearing the noise, Yang Jing quickly stood up. His gaze fell upon the three Stewards, and when he saw Steward Zheng leading in the middle, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

’He hadn’t expected the one leading the group to be Steward Zheng, the very man who had instructed him on the Mountain-Shattering Fist during a lecture.’

The other outer sect disciples nearby also stopped what they were doing, hurried forward, and bowed to the three Stewards, calling out in unison, ”Greetings, Stewards!”

Steward Zheng stood between the other two. His gaze slowly swept over the crowd, and he gave a slight nod. In a steady voice, he began, reading out three names in succession: ”Yang Jing, Zhou Bohao, Shen Yue. Are you three present?”

The three whose names were called immediately took a step forward.

Yang Jing stood on the left, the burly Zhou Bohao in the middle, and the fine-featured Shen Yue on the right. All three nodded in affirmation.

It was confirmed that the three outer sect disciples from Lingxi Peak participating in the Dragon Gate Martial Trial had all gathered.

Seeing this, Steward Zheng waved his hand and declared in a deep voice, ”It is time. Let’s depart.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Steward Zheng led the way down the peak, with Steward Li and Steward Wang following close behind.

Yang Jing, Zhou Bohao, and Shen Yue walked side by side behind them. The other outer sect disciples who had come to see them off trailed at a distance, the entire procession heading toward the Main Peak.

Along the way, Steward Zheng’s gaze drifted over Yang Jing, intentionally or not, and a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.

’Of course he remembered Yang Jing. During the previous lecture, this disciple had listened with exceptional focus and had even approached him afterward to ask about the difficulties of cultivating the Mountain-Shattering Fist. His attitude was humble and sincere, leaving a rather good impression.’

’He just hadn’t expected the disciple to reach the Peak of Transformation so quickly and even apply for the Dragon Gate Martial Trial. That was certainly fast progress. He just wondered if the boy was fully prepared for this assessment and whether he could pass.’

...

The group descended Lingxi Peak at a brisk pace, following the well-laid bluestone path on Fushan Island.

Their companions were all Martial Artists of considerable cultivation. With strong bodies and light feet, they traveled at great speed. Their steps produced soft thuds on the bluestone path as the trees and grass along the way rushed backward.

In the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, the group arrived at the base of the Xuanzhen Sect’s Main Peak.

At the foot of the Main Peak stood an extremely spacious plaza. Its surface was paved with massive bluestone slabs, polished smooth by the passage of time yet retaining a sense of weight and history. The edges were carved with ancient patterns, exuding a solemn and majestic aura.

This was Dragon Gate Plaza, named so because all of the Xuanzhen Sect’s Dragon Gate Martial Trials for outer sect disciples were held here. A high platform stood in the center of the plaza, flanked by numerous weapons and dozens of large, square objects covered in black cloth.

From the looks of it, all the preparations for the Dragon Gate Martial Trial were complete, quietly awaiting the arrival of the participating disciples from the various peaks.

By this time, Dragon Gate Plaza was already teeming with disciples, a bustling and lively crowd.

The vast majority were outer sect disciples from the various peaks, dressed in blue robes, but there were also some Inner Sect Disciples in white robes mixed in. They stood scattered across the plaza, looking around and occasionally murmuring to one another.

”The people from Lingxi Peak are here!” someone at the edge of the plaza suddenly shouted, their voice carrying clearly across the area.

As the voice fell, the disciples scattered around the plaza all turned their heads, their gazes locking onto Yang Jing’s group in unison.

Steward Zheng’s expression was calm, completely unaffected by the surrounding stares. He, along with Steward Li and Steward Wang, led Yang Jing, Zhou Bohao, and Shen Yue straight toward the high platform in the center of Dragon Gate Plaza.

Seeing them approach, the disciples from the other peaks parted to either side, clearing a wide path. After all, with three Stewards—all sect elders—leading the way, the ordinary disciples dared not show any disrespect.

Walking within the group, Yang Jing casually scanned the plaza and suddenly caught sight of a few familiar faces. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

In the crowd on the left side of the plaza, Sun Ningxiang, dressed in the blue robes of Yunxi Peak, was standing on her toes and peering in their direction. The moment she saw Yang Jing, a delighted smile bloomed on her face, and she waved vigorously. Though a hint of worry was visible in her eyes, she was clearly cheering him on.

Not far away, Liu Rou was also standing in the crowd. When she saw Yang Jing look her way, she gave a slight nod, a gentle smile on her face.

What surprised him even more was seeing Jia Yuliang, whom he hadn’t been in contact with for a long time. He, too, was wearing the blue robes of Lingxi Peak. Standing in the crowd, he immediately smiled, raised a hand, and called out a greeting with great enthusiasm.

In the next moment, Yang Jing realized that Jia Yuliang’s enthusiasm wasn’t just for him. As Jia Yuliang’s gaze swept over Zhou Bohao and Shen Yue, he greeted them with the same smiling wave, his tone so familiar it was as if they had known each other for a long time.

’This Senior Brother Jia really is a born social butterfly,’ Yang Jing mused. ’His network is vast, and his judgment is sharp. He’s so warm and considerate to everyone... a true master of networking. No wonder he’s so popular among the outer sect disciples of Lingxi Peak.’