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

But along the way, Si Jiawen always stayed a step ahead of Yang Jing. Whether intentionally or not, she maintained a small distance between them, seemingly unwilling to get too close.

Yang Jing was puzzled at first. But after a moment’s thought, he lowered his head and sniffed himself. Feeling the sticky impurities coating his skin, his expression immediately darkened.

He finally understood. ’This Senior Sister, with her love for cleanliness, must think I stink!’

...

The two traveled swiftly and soon arrived outside the Talent Pavilion on the Main Peak.

The Talent Pavilion was one of the sect’s most important locations. Its vermilion gate was imposing and heavy. A black plaque with gold characters hung above the door, its calligraphy powerful and exuding a solemn air.

Behind a long table just inside the gate, a middle-aged cultivator in a blue Deacon’s Robe was bent over a desk, organizing texts. When he looked up and saw Si Jiawen approaching, he immediately put down his brush and ink, hurried to his feet, and clasped his hands in a respectful salute. ”Greetings, Senior Sister of Lingxi Peak,” he said politely.

Si Jiawen gave a slight nod and got straight to the point. ”This is Yang Jing, an Inner Sect Disciple from our Lingxi Peak. He just broke through to the Qi Eating Realm today and has come to collect the subsequent techniques for the Mountain-Breaking Seal. My master has already given the order, permitting him to take all of the follow-up techniques at once. The sect’s official notice should reach the Talent Pavilion by tomorrow.”

The Steward’s expression turned to one of surprise, his eyes quickly scanning Yang Jing.

At first, he had assumed Yang Jing was just an ordinary disciple accompanying Si Jiawen. But now, focusing his senses, he could indeed detect the aura of the Qi Eating Realm emanating from him. Startled, he quickly offered a respectful salute to Yang Jing. ”So, Junior Brother Yang has already broken through. It seems I was blind.”

In the Xuanzhen Sect, the difference in status between an Inner Sect Disciple in the Qi Eating Realm and an ordinary disciple in the Inner Strength Realm was like that of heaven and earth.

The former were considered elite disciples of the sect. Leaving aside their potential, they were already formidable masters in their own right, with a status nearly equal to that of a Steward.

The latter, however, were still struggling at the very threshold of the Martial Dao.

Moreover, Yang Jing was a rising genius whose victory in the Cyan Qilin Battle had long been the talk of the sect. A figure like that was worthy of his serious consideration.

The Steward’s attitude toward Yang Jing instantly became even more respectful.

Although he hadn’t seen the Cyan Qilin Battle himself, he had learned Yang Jing’s name from the daily chatter of the disciples who came and went while he was on duty at the Talent Pavilion.

He had also heard that Gao Yang of Zhenyue Peak and Xu Ziqiang of Fen Yang Peak had spread word that they intended to teach Yang Jing a lesson at the next Cyan Qilin Battle.

But now, their threats seemed like the laughable antics of buffoons.

After all, the peak of the Inner Strength Realm was still just the Inner Strength Realm.

Now that Yang Jing had entered the Qi Eating Realm, a heavenly chasm separated them. He probably hadn’t given Gao Yang and Xu Ziqiang a second thought.

Although making an exception to allow someone to take all the subsequent techniques at once went against the Talent Pavilion’s rules, he didn’t hesitate in the slightest. Not only did he have the personal endorsement of Si Jiawen, the Senior Sister of Lingxi Peak, but the Steward himself was also extremely optimistic about Yang Jing’s future.

He turned and entered the pavilion, returning shortly with a neatly bound stack of manuals. He presented them to Yang Jing with both hands. ”Junior Brother Yang, here are all the subsequent manuals for the Mountain-Breaking Seal. Keep them safe, and do not share them with anyone.”

Yang Jing accepted the manuals. They felt heavy in his hands, and his heart filled with joy. He quickly thanked the Steward, ”Thank you for making an exception for me, Steward.”

He carefully tucked the manuals inside his robes, keeping them close, before turning to leave the Talent Pavilion with Si Jiawen.

...

Yang Jing and Si Jiawen walked one after the other up the mountain path of Lingxi Peak. The evening breeze, carrying the coolness of the forest, washed over them, dispelling the sweltering heat of the day.

The sky had grown dark. The last of the sunset’s afterglow disappeared behind the rolling mountains, and specks of light began to twinkle among the peaks.

At this hour, there was obviously no time left to go to the Grade B Training Room to cultivate.

Yang Jing felt the heavy manuals tucked in his robes and became acutely aware of how uncomfortably sticky his entire body was. He decided to head straight back to Qing No. 4 Courtyard for a good, hot bath to wash away all the impurities.

The two soon reached the Inner Sect disciples’ living area halfway up the peak. The path ahead forked, leading toward their respective courtyards.

Yang Jing stopped and gave Si Jiawen a solemn salute. ”Thank you so much for your help today, Senior Sister,” he said, his voice full of gratitude. ”If you hadn’t stepped in, there’s no way I could have gotten the subsequent techniques for the Mountain-Breaking Seal ahead of schedule.”

Si Jiawen waved her hand dismissively, but her gaze drifted unintentionally toward a nearby willow tree.

She gestured with her chin toward Yang Jing. ”Looks like someone’s here for you,” she said lightly. ”I’ll be heading back.”

With that, Si Jiawen turned and walked away, her light steps quickly carrying her out of sight down the night-shrouded path.

Yang Jing looked in the direction Si Jiawen had indicated and saw a slender figure standing beneath a willow tree, its branches like a thousand hanging silk ribbons.

The dim moonlight cast down, outlining the delicate, refined contours of a young woman’s face. It was Sun Ningxiang.

She stood there, her eyes fixed on Yang Jing, her expression somewhat complicated.

Yang Jing’s heart stirred. He quickly walked over, a smile spreading across his face as he called out cheerfully, ”Senior Sister, what are you doing here?”

Sun Ningxiang met his gaze and pressed her lips together lightly. ”The Peak Master is away on business today, so things were quiet on the peak. I came to Lingxi Peak to find you.”

Yang Jing smiled and nodded. Just as he was about to ask how she’d been, he saw Sun Ningxiang hesitate. Her eyes flickered unconsciously in the direction Si Jiawen had gone. ”Junior Brother,” she asked softly, ”who was that beautiful woman from just now?”

Yang Jing was taken aback for a moment before realizing she meant Si Jiawen. He couldn’t help but smile. ”That’s the Senior Sister of our Lingxi Peak,” he explained. ”Thanks to her, I was able to make a trip to the Talent Pavilion today and pick up the next techniques I need for my cultivation.”

Hearing this, Sun Ningxiang quietly let out a sigh of relief. The subtle trace of unease in her eyes vanished.

The woman’s figure had seemed somewhat familiar. ’So it was the famous Senior Sister of Lingxi Peak,’ she thought. ’They must have been taking care of official business.’

A moment later, as if she’d suddenly remembered something, Sun Ningxiang looked up at Yang Jing in confusion. ”Oh, right, Junior Brother, why did you need to get your subsequent techniques? I heard you can only get the next part of a Cultivation Technique after you break through to the Qi Eating Realm, right?”

At her words, the smile on Yang Jing’s face grew wider.

He took a step closer, lowered his voice, and said to Sun Ningxiang, ”That’s right, Senior Sister. I broke through to the Qi Eating Realm.”

Yang Jing’s voice was soft, but to Sun Ningxiang’s ears, it was like a sudden clap of thunder.

Sun Ningxiang’s eyes went wide, the expression on her face freezing instantly.

She stared blankly at Yang Jing, her mouth falling slightly open. She was so stunned she couldn’t utter a single word.

”Junior Brother, you—” Sun Ningxiang opened her mouth, but she was so shocked by the news that for a moment, she couldn’t form a complete sentence.