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

Chapter 371: Chapter 143: Promotion to the Inner Sect

Yang Jing paid this no mind, calmly following behind Steward Zheng. Before long, he had arrived with the three of them at the Internal Affairs Hall of Lingxi Peak.

He stepped through the doors of the Internal Affairs Hall.

The few disciples on duty inside the hall all rose and bowed to the three Stewards.

The other two Stewards didn’t linger. After a brief word with Steward Zheng, they departed, leaving him to lead Yang Jing toward a room deep within the Internal Affairs Hall.

Upon entering the room, he saw the furnishings weren’t luxurious, but the space was exceptionally wide and bright.

Sunlight streamed through the latticed window, casting faint patterns of light and shadow on the floor.

In the center of the room stood a heavy, solid wood table with a smoothly polished, clean top. A wooden chair sat on either side. In the corner were two storage shelves, neatly stacked with scrolls and registers.

Steward Zheng walked directly behind the wooden table and sat down. He gestured for Yang Jing to sit in the chair opposite him. The stern expression he’d worn at the assessment grounds was gone, replaced by a warm smile and a clear look of admiration in his eyes.

He had always valued disciples who were practical and diligent. Yang Jing had previously sought his guidance on the Mountain-Shattering Fist on several occasions, his attitude humble and focused.

He had taken a liking to the composed and reserved disciple back then, and now, Yang Jing’s performance in the Dragon Gate Martial Trial had been nothing short of brilliant. He had dominated the competition to smoothly advance into the Inner Sect.

Such strength and character only made Steward Zheng’s estimation of him grow.

Steward Zheng leaned over and retrieved a small, yellowed booklet from a drawer in the wooden table. He then picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and recorded Yang Jing’s name, place of origin, date of entry, and the results of his Dragon Gate Martial Trial in the register.

Once the registration was complete, he took a black wooden tablet, about the size of his palm, from the drawer. The tablet was hard with a smooth surface, and its edges were carved with a simple cloud pattern.

Steward Zheng applied a bit of pressure with his fingertip. A faint trace of Inner Qi suffused his body as he used his finger like a blade, steadily carving the two words "Yang Jing" into the face of the tablet. The script was vigorous and powerful, cutting deep into the wood. In a matter of moments, the carving was complete.

Steward Zheng passed the wooden tablet to Yang Jing. "This is your identification token as an Inner Sect Disciple," he said with a smile. "Keep it on you at all times. Don’t lose it.

"Later, you can take this token to the Steward Main Hall on the Main Peak and exchange it for a Contribution Points Jade Token, which is exclusive to Inner Sect Disciples.

"With this jade token, whether you’re purchasing Cultivation Materials, weapons, and Elixirs from the sect, or using resources like the sect’s Cultivation Chambers and the Scripture Pavilion, the contribution point cost will be thirty percent cheaper than it is for outer sect disciples. This is a benefit exclusive to Inner Sect Disciples."

Yang Jing quickly stood up and accepted the wooden tablet with both hands. The cool touch of the wood gave him a solid, reassuring feeling. He bowed to Steward Zheng and said, "Thank you, Steward."

Steward Zheng nodded with a smile and stood up. "Wait here a moment. I’m going to get something."

With that, he left the room. He returned shortly after, carrying two neatly folded white robes.

The white robes were made of a soft material, with light blue embroidery on the collar and cuffs, giving them a simple yet elegant look. They were the exclusive attire of the Inner Sect Disciples.

"These are the standard-issue robes for Inner Sect Disciples," Steward Zheng said gently, handing them to Yang Jing. "Your current clothes are badly damaged, so change into these when you get back. In the future, your attire will also serve as a symbol of your status as you move about the sect."

Yang Jing quickly accepted the robes with both hands. They felt soft and comfortable, and he could clearly feel the high quality of the fabric. He bowed to Steward Zheng once more. "Thank you for your trouble, Steward."

Steward Zheng waved his hand dismissively. "The outer sect disciples live in courtyards at the foot of Lingxi Peak, with many sharing one residence. The conditions are rather basic. Now that you’re an Inner Sect Disciple, you no longer need to live there. You can move to the Inner Sect Disciple living area on the mountainside.

"All Inner Sect Disciples get their own private house and courtyard. I remember Qing No. 4 Courtyard has a nice environment—it’s clean and close to the Training Room. I’ve already registered it for you.

"You should go check it out later. If it’s not to your liking, come back and see me, and I’ll arrange for a different one. If you’re satisfied, pack your belongings and move in today."

Hearing that he would have his own private courtyard, Yang Jing was overjoyed. ’This will be so much more convenient than before, both for daily life and for my cultivation.’ He immediately responded with deference, "Yes, this disciple understands."

Steward Zheng nodded and added a few more instructions. "If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come find me at the Internal Affairs Hall anytime. According to sect rules, all newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples must personally pay their respects to the Peak Master. After you’ve met the Peak Master, he will have the Senior Sister of Lingxi Peak take you to select your subsequent martial arts to focus on. These are Cultivation Resources that only Inner Sect Disciples can enjoy. Someone should come to notify you tomorrow and take you to see the Peak Master."

Yang Jing listened attentively and nodded. "This disciple understands. Thank you for the information, Steward."

Seeing his humble and courteous demeanor, Steward Zheng grew even more pleased. "There’s nothing else, then," he said with a smile. "Go and pack your things. In the future, if you have any questions about your cultivation or run into any difficulties in your daily life, you can also come to me."

’Yang Jing was deeply grateful. He hadn’t actually had much contact with Steward Zheng, yet the man had meticulously taken care of every detail for him. Even though they weren’t well-acquainted, this kindness felt exceptionally genuine.’

He thanked Steward Zheng respectfully one more time, then gave a deep bow. He rose, turned toward the doorway, gently pushed the door open, and walked out with a steady gait.

Yang Jing followed the corridor of the Internal Affairs Hall and soon stepped out through its main doors.