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

The night was as black as ink, shrouding the Xuanzhen Sect’s Main Peak.

Inside the rear hall of the Main Peak’s grand palace, candlelight blazed brightly, the flickering flames stretching the shadows of those within.

At the head of the hall, a wide Agarwood Grandmaster’s Chair was placed, upon which sat Cao Zhen, the Sect Leader of Xuanzhen Sect, leaning back against it.

He looked to be no more than an elegant, middle-aged man in his fifties. His features were handsome, and he wore a moon-white long robe with faint Profound Cloud Patterns embroidered on the cuffs. His aura was calm and peaceful.

But a closer look would reveal a startlingly majestic presence in the brief moments he raised his eyes—an air cultivated only through years of holding a high position, combined with profound Cultivation.

In the guest seat beside him sat an old man with a full head of white hair and a matching beard. This was none other than the Xuanzhen Sect’s Chief Elder, Ouyang Jingxuan.

The old man wore a plain Daoist robe. His face was gaunt, his eyes holding the profound vicissitudes of time, and his aura was as steady as an abyss.

The hall was silent, save for the faint crackling of the burning candles.

After a long silence, Cao Zhen slowly opened his half-closed eyes and said, ”The Elder Hall has prepared a draft for the key disciple development program. We’ll discuss it with the Peak Masters tomorrow, iron out the details, and then finalize it to be announced to the entire sect.”

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Jingxuan’s brow furrowed tightly.

He sat up straight and spoke in a deep voice, his tone tinged with apprehension. ”Sect Leader, in my humble opinion, are the rewards proposed in this program not a bit too generous?

”That Yunqiao Jade Marrow is incredibly precious. It can nourish the acupoints and advance the Cultivation of even Pill Realm Cultivators like us. The sect hasn’t amassed a large reserve over the years. To simply give it away as a reward for young disciples... isn’t that too wasteful?”

At these words, Cao Zhen slowly opened his eyes.

A startlingly sharp light flashed in his once-peaceful eyes. He sat up straight, his expression instantly turning grave. The gentle air around him dissipated, replaced by an imposing majesty.

”Wasteful?” Cao Zhen began slowly, his voice soft but every word clear. ”Elder Ouyang, you are mistaken. If we don’t invest our finest Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, how can we possibly cultivate true prodigies? The long-term prosperity of the Xuanzhen Sect has never depended on us old fossils who are approaching the end of our days. It depends on the vibrant youth!”

Ouyang Jingxuan was taken aback for a moment. Then, he nodded silently, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Cao Zhen’s gaze drifted toward the deep darkness outside the hall, his tone filled with emotion. ”We must place more importance on our young disciples. Just look—right now, in all of Jintai Prefecture, the only young disciples of our Xuanzhen Sect who have made a name for themselves are those in the top ten of the Profound Truth List. They are mostly the head disciples of their respective peaks, the result of the sect pouring immense resources into their development.”

He paused, his voice growing heavy. ”As for the next generation of disciples, looking across the entire sect, only Chu Yunhai can be considered a piece of uncut jade. The rest are merely mediocre, incapable of bearing great responsibility. If this continues, our future is in peril!”

Cao Zhen turned to Ouyang Jingxuan, his expression growing even more solemn as he slowly shook his head. ”Elder Jingxuan, one day, our generation will grow old. Our vitality will decline, we will fall from our peak, and we will eventually return to dust.”

”When that time comes, the sky of the Xuanzhen Sect will need to be held up by these young disciples,” Cao Zhen said gravely. ”If we don’t value them enough now, if we are unwilling to invest our resources in them, then in the future, the Xuanzhen Sect will inevitably decline, step by step, until we become a laughingstock for others!”

Hearing this, Ouyang Jingxuan nodded slightly. ”It’s just that the Yunqiao Jade Marrow is so very precious...”

Cao Zhen hummed in agreement, his tone softening. ”The Yunqiao Jade Marrow is indeed precious. However, the amount we’re offering this time isn’t large. It’s only enough to reward a select few, so it won’t have a major impact on the sect’s treasury.”

Ouyang Jingxuan nodded. He picked up the Cyan Porcelain Tea Cup at his side and took a sip of the warm tea. The rising steam blurred the thoughts in his eyes.

Cao Zhen’s gaze returned to Ouyang Jingxuan, his tone growing serious again. ”Elder Ouyang, our Xuanzhen Sect must cultivate a True Dragon among the next generation of disciples—one who can carry the entire sect. You know as well as I do that for the last three Jintai Grand Competitions, not a single one of our disciples has broken into the top five.”

He paused, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest of his Grandmaster’s Chair. His voice carried a trace of melancholy. ”The entire Jintai Prefecture has its eyes on the Jintai Grand Competition. The major powers all use the rankings from that event to judge the strength and influence of us Five Great Sects.

”In recent years, the Xuanzhen Sect’s influence in Jintai Prefecture has been declining at a visible rate. If this continues, the very foundation of our sect will be shaken.”

As he spoke, Cao Zhen couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, and an unconcealable look of worry surfaced on his usually dignified face.

Ouyang Jingxuan set down his teacup. Seeing the worry etched on the Sect Leader’s brow, he offered some comfort. ”Sect Leader, you needn’t worry too much. During the last Jintai Grand Competition, disciples like Xiao Nu and Zhao Wenju had not yet fully matured. Their Cultivation was still shallow.

”Four years have passed since then. They have been immersed in the Qi Absorption Realm for a long time, honing their skills to perfection. Their strength has improved by leaps and bounds. In the Jintai Grand Competition a year from now, they will surely make a name for themselves. Breaking into the top five won’t be difficult at all.”

At these words, the figures of Xiao Nu and Zhao Wenju appeared in Cao Zhen’s mind, and the look of worry on his face lessened considerably.