awakening

At the early hours of dawn, the sky was shrouded in a hazy mist over Xiushui City, Danning, as if veiled in a layer of blue fog. A waning moon hung on the horizon, emitting a faint silver glow.

Just as dawn was about to break, Chu Xisheng arrived at the gate of the Sìtōng Escort Agency with a convoy of twelve carriages.

At this moment, the many escorts and porters in the convoy felt a great relief, completely relaxing their spirits, as they chattered and laughed loudly, creating a cheerful atmosphere.

Chu Xisheng also exchanged a few words with his companions with a smile, but declined an invitation to go to the Baihua Tower for flower wine.

The others didn't mind, and an older escort even laughed and patted his shoulder, teasing, "Is little Chu shy? That won't do. I've already promised those girls at the Baihua Tower that I'll bring you along this time. They're all looking forward to tasting your 'head soup,' little brother Chu. With such a handsome young man, who knows who will be lucky today?"

Chu Xisheng suddenly felt embarrassed and apologized with clasped hands, "I really don't have time. Today is the inner gate martial arts trial at the Zhenyang Martial Arts Academy, and I really can't get away. Next time, when I have the chance, I'll accompany you guys for some fun."

When the escorts heard the words "Zhenyang Martial Arts Academy," they all showed understanding.

The older escort even slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Right, the martial arts trial! Little Chu, you're an outer disciple of the Zhenyang Martial Arts Academy. How could I forget about that? Hurry up and go, don't miss the time. This is your big day."

They then exchanged the goods, settled their wages, and to Chu Xisheng's delight, the deputy head of the escort handed him a piece of magic silver, which turned out to be six taels and two maces.

At this moment, the rising sun had dispelled the darkness, painting the clouds on the horizon with splendid and beautiful morning glow.

Warm rays of morning light descended from above, casting a golden hue over the entire Xiushui City.

However, Chu Xisheng felt a slight discomfort, sensing a tingling sensation on his skin under the sunlight, accompanied by waves of burning sensation.

This pain, far beyond the usual, made Chu Xisheng furrow his brow slightly, starting to worry about his physical condition.

He focused his gaze ahead, or more accurately, at the illusionary screen in his field of vision.

The screen was located in the upper right corner of Chu Xisheng's field of vision, and could be freely resized and magnified with his thoughts.

Character: Chu Xisheng Reputation: None Martial Arts: Remnant Style of Wind-chasing Blade Technique (First Level) Elemental Cultivation: Yuan Cultivation (First Level/Unranked) Martial Arts Points: None Talent: Quick Hands Status: Six Yin Resurrection Curse Lifespan: 17 daysIn the bottom right corner of this line, there is also a gray icon with the words "Martial Arts Treasury."

Three months ago, when Chu Xisheng first crossed into this world, this illusionary screen appeared in his field of vision. At first, he thought it was another system and was very excited. Chu Xisheng had read many online novels and knew that anyone with a system from crossing over must be extraordinary. Achieving immortality or becoming an emperor was like child's play, and killing gods and buddhas was nothing difficult.

With a system "dad," he believed he was on the path to success. However, the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

Chu Xisheng studied it for a long time but couldn't figure out anything. Over the past three months, he had tried various methods, diligently cultivated, practiced martial arts, and even fought monsters to level up. However, there was no significant change in the system panel.

The only thing that appeared in the martial arts section was the words "Yuan Cultivation (First Level)" and "Remnant Style of Wind-chasing Blade Technique (First Level)," but these were all results of his own efforts.

The character panel in the screen seemed to be just that, a character panel. It seemed to have only one function, allowing him to accurately assess his own status and lifespan.

After only a brief glance, Chu Xisheng felt the burning sensation inside and outside his body become even more pronounced, as if he were being engulfed in flames from within. He smiled bitterly as he glanced at the "Six Yin Resurrection Curse" and then opened the paper umbrella he carried with him, continuing to walk briskly towards the Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall.

The Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall was only three streets away from the Sitoong Escort Agency.Its area covers an expansive three thousand mu, occupying a full five streets. Outside, stands a towering two-zhang-high wall made of blue stones, stretching for miles, resembling a small city. The southern main gate is seven rooms wide, painted entirely in vermilion, with bronze-framed door lintels, and above, the four bold and upright characters "Zhengyang Martial Hall" are engraved.

On both sides of the gate, two majestic stone lions squat, imposing in demeanor. When Chu Xisheng arrived, it was already overcrowded. People from all directions continuously gathered, pouring into the martial hall. Inside the gate is a square stone field equivalent to six football fields, with temporary wooden sheds and over thirty wooden platforms erected.

Under the platforms, crowds of people gathered, not only including numerous youths participating in the internal martial trials but also many spectators coming to watch the excitement. Chu Xisheng crossed the threshold, scanning around, but his shoulder was heavily tapped.

"Little Chu, you're back?" A clear and hearty female voice spoke, though somewhat indistinct.

Chu Xisheng's eyebrows lifted slightly when he heard this familiar voice, and he turned around. It was Ye Zhiqu, the head instructor of the eastern courtyard of the martial hall. She wore a purple martial outfit, taller than the average woman, with phoenix-like eyebrows, a beautiful face, probably due to martial arts practice, her skin showing a healthy wheat color.

She lazily carried a heavy sword on her back, her bright eyes containing a hint of drowsiness. She spoke while nibbling on a meat bun, "Your escort team could have returned to Xiushui yesterday. Why the delay?"

Chu Xisheng was about to explain, but he saw Ye Zhiqu already stepping toward a secluded corner. Understanding, he silently followed, arriving at an empty alleyway.

Leaning casually against the wall, Ye Zhiqu beckoned to Chu Xisheng. "Did you bring it?"

Chu Xisheng hurriedly took out a money pouch from under his sleeve and handed it over. He felt a bit nervous but remained composed on the surface. "Instructor, this is a small token of respect. I hope Instructor will accept it."

Ye Zhiqu remained noncommittal. She took the money pouch and weighed it, her eyebrows furrowing suddenly. Even the meat bun in her mouth didn't taste good anymore. "Why is there so little?"

There were only about eighty taels of magic silver in the pouch. She felt a headache coming on. "You're making it difficult for me. You haven't fully learned the Wind Chasing Blade yet, so you can only go through the exemption route. But even with exemption, there are requirements. Your talent in blade techniques is okay, but your physical foundation is too weak. Moreover, there are only fifty exemption spots, and so many people from inside and outside Xiushui are eyeing them."

Chu Xisheng looked embarrassed, realizing his own shortcomings

Eighty taels of magic silver should have been enough to manage the martial arts hall, but a month ago, the Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall was promoted to an official martial arts hall of Xiushui County. From now on, all true disciples under the back door can directly obtain the eighth-grade military position in the Daning Army upon graduation.

The Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall itself is a branch of the Six Great Immortal Sects, the Unseen Divine Sect. The quota for inner disciples was already tight, but now, with the official status, the price for these exempted quotas has skyrocketed.

But now, with his purse feeling light, Chu Xisheng could only muster the courage to say, "It's a bit short. I'll go on a few more escort missions next month. Please, Master, and all the instructors, let's go to the Drunken Dragon Inn for a drink. For now, please, Master, consider my dedication to learning and show some leniency!"

"The Drunken Dragon Inn?" When Ye Zhichun heard these three words, it was as if she could smell the strong aroma of alcohol from the inn.

She clicked her tongue, feeling even more disgusted with the meat bun in her mouth.

Seeing Ye Zhichun hesitate, Chu Xisheng's spirits lifted slightly, knowing there was a chance.

Master Ye was known for being tough on the outside but soft on the inside, so he had to play the sympathy card next.

"Master, you know my family situation. My health is not good, and I have no one to rely on in Xiushui City. I still have a younger sister to support at home. For now, I can only gather this much. Please, Master, help me out! I promise to make a name for myself in the future and give Master some face!"

Hearing this, Ye Zhichun gritted her teeth and muttered, "Here we go again."She tossed the leftover meat bun to a nearby dog and then looked Chu Xisheng up and down.The young man, about fourteen or fifteen years old, was wearing a coarse white-washed coarse cloth gown. He had a tall figure, handsome features, and the most memorable were his narrow, phoenix-like eyes. Even when not smiling, there was a hint of a smile in his eyes.

But his skin was strangely pale, almost translucent, without a trace of color.Yet, this frail appearance only evoked more pity.Ye Zhichun couldn't help but reminisce, her eyes showing a hint of nostalgia. Chu Xisheng's face reminded her of her deceased younger brother.

She then thought that despite not having fully mastered his swordsmanship, this fellow had some talent in the way of the blade. With both siblings in poor health and struggling to survive in Xiushui City, Chu Xisheng must have dug deep into his family's savings to produce this money today.

Ye Zhichun then suppressed her emotions and turned to walk north towards the training ground."Alright, considering your usual competence and understanding of the rules, I'll help you this time. I'll front the money for now, and you can pay me back in a month. But don't forget about the Drunken Dragon Inn—"

Chu Xisheng chuckled and quickly followed behind her.Along the way, many commoners and disciples of the martial arts academy greeted and paid respects to Ye Zhichun, all with solemn expressions and respectful demeanor.Chu Xisheng wasn't surprised; Ye Zhichun had come from the Northern Army of Daning, retiring due to injury a year ago and joining the martial arts academy.

Having served as an instructor at the academy for over a year, Ye Zhichun had earned a reputation for fairness and kindness, which extended beyond the academy.Additionally, the Northern Army safeguarded the northern borders of Daning, known for its strict military discipline and formidable reputation. Under the protection of the Northern Army, the people of Xiushui City felt grateful and respectful towards Ye Zhichun, who had amassed considerable military achievements.

They soon arrived at the north side of the training ground, where a high platform constructed of blue stone lay ahead.Looking up, Chu Xisheng saw not only a group of martial artists dressed in silk robes on the platform, but also over ten military officers clad in armor, along with six civilian officials in blue robes seated among them.

At the center, there sat a man around his forties, with a square face and a neatly groomed beard.This man, seated confidently on a grand chair, had piercing eyes that surveyed the surroundings with authority."Wait here!" Ye Zhichun instructed before walking up to the platform, respectfully bowing to the man at the forefront."Master of the Academy! I wish to recommend someone for entry into the inner gates, requesting exemption from the test.""Exemption?" The master of the academy, named Lei Yuan, slightly narrowed his eyes. "Who is this person? What's the reason for the exemption?"

Ye Zhichun remained composed as he clasped his hands together. "Master of the Academy, this individual is named Chu Xisheng. He has excellent aptitude and intelligence for martial arts, but due to his young age and late start in training, he hasn't fully mastered the skills required for the external gate test. I don't want to miss out on such talent, hence I request your exemption."Master Lei Yuan listened but remained noncommittal. "Where is this person? Let him come up to the platform and show me."

At this moment, not only the martial artists and officials on the platform turned their gaze towards the area below, but even the disciples of the academy and the bystanders also looked over.Chu Xisheng gathered his composure and calmly walked up to the platform, bowing to Master Lei Yuan. "Disciple pays respects to the Master!"The master of the Academy, not only a top-tier martial artist in Xiushui County but also an official recognized by the imperial court, sat before them with authority.As the gaze of Master Lei Yuan swept over, Chu Xishi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if his body was being penetrated by scrutiny."Is it him?"

It took about three breaths before Lei Yuan withdrew his sharp gaze, looking at Ye Zhichun with suspicion. "You say he has excellent aptitude and extraordinary comprehension?"

Ye Zhichun remained composed, without changing his expression. "Master, I can vouch for his reputation! This young man shows exceptional comprehension in swordsmanship. Although he hasn't fully mastered the Wind-Chasing Blade, some of his techniques are of extremely high standard. Even martial artists below the ninth grade may not be able to match him. He indeed possesses remarkable talent and is worthy of cultivation."

With that said, Ye Zhichun glanced at Lei Yuan with a hint of suggestion in his eyes. "Master, over twenty martial artists in our Eastern Courtyard are willing to guide such a talented individual. I implore you to give your consent."Suddenly enlightened, Lei Yuan understood Ye Zhichun's implication—that his martial artists were all waiting for their share of the silver.

Chu Xishi felt a bit embarrassed.This praise seemed a bit excessive. He hadn't even fully learned the Wind-Chasing Blade, and they were talking about ninth-grade mastery.But he could understand. If Ye Zhichun didn't exaggerate his abilities, what reason would he have to recommend him?

Chu Xishi could keenly sense the disdain in Lei Yuan's eyes.Lei Yuan and Ye Zhichun exchanged glances in the air, their gazes colliding for a moment, before Lei Yuan reluctantly smiled. "This young man indeed has great talent. He is like a piece of unpolished jade. If properly nurtured, he will achieve extraordinary accomplishments. Teacher Ye, I hope you won't disappoint me."

The commoners and disciples of the martial arts hall below were all abuzz upon hearing this."Is the Wind-Chasing Blade already at the ninth-grade level? Isn't this kid barely fourteen? He's as thin as a stick, looks like he'd fall over with a gust of wind. Is it really true?""It should be true. Who is Teacher Ye? Would she lie? Since she says this kid is at the ninth-grade level, then he must be.""Teacher Ye was once a prestigious Sixth-Rank Zhao Wu Captain in the Northern Army, with remarkable military achievements. If she praises him like this, he must have exceptional talent.""That kid is quite handsome, but why is his complexion so pale? Could he be sick or something?"

They were quite sensitive about the 'exempted from examination' matter, but Teacher Ye was widely respected and trusted. Moreover, even Master Lei Yuan said this kid had great talent and would achieve extraordinary things in the future, so it must be true.Chu Xishi could discern some of the truth. Master Lei Yuan must have reluctantly accepted this matter while also making demands of Teacher Ye, insisting that she must achieve something and not 'disappoint' him.

At that moment, Chu Xishi's vision suddenly blurred, and a brilliant firework exploded in his field of view.He was stunned, quickly turning his gaze to the surreal screen in front of him.

What surprised Chu Xishi was that the system interface he had been studying for three months without success was undergoing a strange transformation at this moment.Character: Chu Xishi Reputation: Ninth Grade (Virtual) Martial Arts: Wind-Chasing Blade Technique (First Layer) Elemental Skill: Elemental Nourishment (First Layer/Not Yet Refined) Martial Arts Points: 5 Talent: Quick Hands Status: Six Yin Resurrection Curse Lifespan: 17 days

The reputation column, which originally displayed 'none,' now prominently showed 'ninth grade (virtual).' Chu Xishi was momentarily stunned, astonished beyond words. What further delighted him was that the martial arts points section below, previously marked 'none,' now read '5.' Even the greyed-out 'Martial Arts Treasury' in the bottom right corner suddenly became vibrant. The system was actually activated??Chu Xishi's heart pounded like a drum, overwhelmed with surprise. This darn system, no! The system, dad, finally showed some activity.

Chu Xishi's gaze scanned the text, and as he focused on the 'Martial Arts Treasury,' a screen resembling an online marketplace like Taobao suddenly appeared before his eyes. Inside were fourteen colorful product icons. Chu Xishi looked at the first two icons.There was the Newbie Special—Hawkeye, granting eagle-like sharp vision, enabling one to accurately spot enemies' weaknesses. Originally priced at 10 martial arts points for exchange, but now marked with a red ×, indicating it could be obtained for just 2 points.

Then there was the Newbie Special—First Stage of Wind Chasing and Lightning Pursuing Hand, enhancing one's hand speed and dexterity to twice that of an ordinary person. Originally priced at 20 martial arts points, now available for only 4 points.

Chu Xishi was astonished. He had exhausted all methods trying to figure out how to use this system. How could it suddenly change today? Could it be because of a single sentence uttered by Ye Zhiqu under the public eye?As Chu Xishi was pondering this with surprise, he suddenly heard a light laugh from behind: "Hold on!"With this voice, a martial artist in brocade robes, accompanied by a young man, emerged from the crowd."Master of the Manor, I have a more suitable candidate here, one a hundred times stronger than this lad," the man said.

Ye Zhiqu turned to see this person, his expression darkening instantly: "Shao Lingshan! I am using the recommendation quota from our East Court, unrelated to your West Court!"But Shao Lingshan just sneered: "The quotas bestowed by the Manor are meant for you to select talents for Daming, not for your personal use, to admit some wastrels and squander the national treasury."He pointed at Chu Xishi: "Teacher Ye, the criteria for our martial arts hall's exemption are at least above average intelligence and aptitude, possessing special talents, or having mastered at least two of the ten external arts. Look at this weakling, do you dare say he qualifies for exemption? Perhaps you've privately accepted his silver?"

Chu Xishi finally snapped out of it, his brows furrowing slightly, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.He also felt uneasy about holding onto this quota, but being accused of being a wastrel to his face made him extremely displeased.