Dominating Martial King

"I'm back."

Chu Yunyun's voice was as crisp as an oriole, her skin so pale it seemed almost bloodless, as if she too was averse to light. Lifting her hands to shield herself, she slowly stepped from the sunlight into the house.

The girl appeared about the same age as Chu Xisheng, with a classic oval face and arched eyebrows. Despite looking very frail, her eyes gleamed with a sharp and resilient energy. Her black hair was simply tied back with a red string, and even though she wore an extremely plain white cloth dress, it couldn't conceal her ethereal grace.

Chu Xisheng gazed at the girl before him, his expression slightly bewildered.

His transmigration experience was surely the most bizarre of all transmigrators.

So much so that, thinking back, he felt it was absurd, as if it were all a dream.

Three months ago, when Chu Xisheng awoke in this world, he found himself buried together with this girl in an elaborately luxurious royal tomb.

The two of them had resurrected from death through a strange spell, returning their souls to the mortal world, and took refuge in Xiushui City by concealing their identities.

Neither wanted to acknowledge the absurd forced marriage arranged by others and, because of the spell, their lives were intertwined; thus, they temporarily called each other siblings.

The entire process was even more fantastical than the tales in "Arabian Nights."

After entering, Chu Yunyun first adjusted the curtains to block all the sunlight sneaking through the door edges before she turned around.

Seeing Chu Xisheng leaning on the kitchen doorway, staring intently this way, she couldn't help but blush, her eyelashes fluttering as she uncomfortably averted her gaze, "Are you steaming fish? I could smell the aroma from afar. Are you feeling generous today because you got the Inner Sect spot at the academy?"

"Indeed, I haven't let you down," Chu Xisheng came back to his senses, appearing slightly awkward, as he fished out his newly acquired Inner Sect token from his pocket and casually tossed it over.

The token was made of wood, engraved with Chu Xisheng's name and framed in copper, and also featured several unique rune inscriptions.

He gave a wry smile and shoved the chopped wood into the furnace. "For this piece, we've exhausted ourselves for three whole months and even owe favors."

However, a look of satisfaction appeared in Chu Yunyun's eyes, and she calmly said, "It can't be helped, this is the fastest route for you to enter the Inner Sect. Your comprehension is just slightly better than an average person's. Normally, it would take at least six months to master the entire Chasing Wind Saber Technique. Whether you can pass the assessment in six months will ultimately depend on the examiner's mood."

After a quick glance at the token, she paused, slightly stunned, "Why is there a Silver Leaf on this?"

Below Chu Xisheng's name, a silver bamboo leaf was engraved.

This was a mark of Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy, representing the hierarchy among Inner Sect Disciples.

Within the academy, Inner Sect Disciples were classified from no leaf to three leaves.

The more leaves one has, the higher their status, bringing them closer to the true secret teachings.

They have access to superior instruction, better treatment, and better resources in the academy.

Disciples who have just passed the martial examination generally start with no leaf; only those who rank among the top in both performance and talent, and are under the age of fourteen, can become one-leaf disciples.

"This is a long story; go wash your hands first," Chu Xisheng lifted the lid off the pot, releasing a burst of steam, and a rich, enticing fragrance instantly filled the room.

Chu Yunyun's gaze was drawn to the steaming bass in the pot, causing her to involuntarily gulp down her saliva.

Fifteen minutes later, the siblings sat opposite each other at a square table with two dishes spread before them—one with bass and the other with boiled hollow vegetables.

With her back as straight as a javelin, Chu Yunyun sat poised, handling her bowl with a gracefulness and order that was almost ceremonial.

Chu Xisheng wasn't particular about the rules of not speaking while eating; while eating, he recounted the morning's events.

When only fishbones were left on the dish, Chu Yunyun lifted her eyelids.

"A Bloodline Awakening right before a battle? These incidents do happen quite often. However, the Long Family's second son is also proficient in the fast sword. The fact that you countered his speed and managed to injure his hand before he could draw his sword shows that your Bloodline Talent is exceptional. If I'm not mistaken, you must have awakened the Chasing Wind and Lightning Hand—it's the perfect talent for mastering the Chasing Wind Saber Technique!"

Her eyes displayed a trace of excitement, and she put down her chopsticks. "Now try to strike me with a slash."

Chu Xisheng was somewhat helpless, but he still drew his sword without hesitation from his waist.

It was still the Draw Sword Style 'Wind Blade' from the Chasing Wind Saber Technique, his sword light flashing towards Chu Yunyun's throat like a strip of white silk.

Due to switching to a 'Hundred-refined Light Steel Saber', he felt that his sword speed was about 20% faster than it had been in the morning.

However, what happended next surprised him, as Chu Yunyun extended two delicate fingers and easily pinched his sword.

Her fingers were soft, yet the strength was like iron pliers, immobilizing his blade completely.

Chu Xisheng wasn't surprised at all, knowing the significant background of the woman across from him.

If it weren't for Chu Yunyun currently being severely injured, ensnared by Curse Poison, her True Yuan sealed, and her Martial Arts almost entirely wasted, she would still be one of the most prominent figures in the entire Daning Dynasty.

"Indeed, very fast!"

Chu Yunyun's eyes shone with light, "I'm even more confident now! With your talent, combined with the things hidden in Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy, you can enter the Formless Divine Sect in the shortest time possible."

Her pale blue eyes were calm and clear, filled with an indescribable spirit that seemed unwearable through the ages.

Chu Xisheng listened thoughtfully. He had always known that being an 'Inner Sect Disciple' was just the beginning.

Chu Yunyun's plan was to start with the Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy and step by step take back everything that was hers.

His goal was to survive and to live freely and comfortably in this world.

"Tomorrow is very crucial. According to the customs of Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy, all newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples must enter the academy's 'Scripture Storage Tower' for two days to study the martial arts classics and select the martial arts formulas they will train in the future.

Once you enter the tower, first memorize the visualization picture and secret medicine of the Nourishing Essence Skill, then go to the east corner of the sixth floor of the Scripture Storage Tower and memorize the totem painted with the fierce beast 'Vengeance,' memorize as much as you can."

Chu Yunyun's expression turned grave, "This is your only chance to reach the Seventh Rank before your cultivation progresses, as Inner Sect Disciples of your academy aren't usually qualified to enter the sixth floor of the Scripture Storage Tower. It's only on the first day that the rules differ. The Formless Divine Sect has always had a tradition of testing disciples' opportunities and will open up the first to the sixth floors of the Scripture Storage Tower for you, so you must seize it."

Chu Xisheng couldn't help but be curious, "Why memorize this 'Vengeance Map'? What's so unusual about this picture?"

"I will tell you the reason later," she replied.

Chu Yunyun was extremely stern, "Remember, you must memorize that picture. It's crucial for both of us, a matter of life and death! Don't bother with the other martial arts formulas in the tower; I know all the Ten External Skills of the Formless Divine Sect and can teach them to you."

Chu Xisheng could only suppress the doubts in his heart.

In the area of martial arts, Chu Yunyun was the authority. Following her advice was never a mistake.

Their relationship was not equal; whatever Chu Yunyun said, he could only listen.

But he trusted Chu Yunyun.

If she wanted to harm him, she had at least a thousand ways to do so, and he would be unable to defend himself.

At least for now, they were in the same boat, dependent on each other for life and death, even closer than siblings since they had even shared the same coffin.

Chu Yunyun wanted to say something more but noticed that Chu Xisheng had also put down his chopsticks.

Chu Yunyun hurriedly got up to clear the tableware, "I'll wash the dishes today."

Her gaze was heavy, her movements careful as if she were handling some unparalleled treasure.

But as she was taking the dishes to the kitchen, one of the ceramic bowls in her hand shattered with a 'crack,' and the fragments scattered all over the floor.

Chu Xisheng watched the scene speechlessly.

His adoptive sister once had martial arts knowledge that was unrivaled in the seven states of the Daning North Border, but now, due to her injuries and the curse poison in her body, only her physical strength remained.

And whenever she was nervous, she couldn't control her strength, which always left a mess whenever she did household chores.

Chu Xisheng sighed and went to the corner to get a broom, "Let me do it. You just sit. The price of pottery has gone up recently — one bowl costs sixty cents now."

Chu Yunyun was slightly annoyed and not willing to just sit back, yet she had no choice but to step aside.

She didn't feel right just sitting idly by without helping, so she turned around to get her luggage.

"You want to do the laundry?" Chu Xisheng seemed alarmed, his gaze filled with caution as he stared at Chu Yunyun, "In these three months, you've washed clothes three times but ended up tearing nine pieces. Go, just put your laundry in the wooden tub, and later when we move to the academy, I'll help you wash them."

He continued to sweep the floor while lamenting,

"Who would have thought? I, Chu Xisheng, a former department manager of a listed company, have now been reduced to a mere househusband."

"I want to try again," Chu Yunyun bit her lip, her hands nervously clasped together, her cheeks flushing all the way to her neck.

Among those clothes were her undergarments.

She then noticed Chu Xisheng's last remark, "Moving to the academy? Why move? It's nice living here."

"The rent here is five taels of Demon Silver a month, enough to buy two bottles of Yanghe Powder."

Chu Xisheng shook his head, "Ye Zhiqiu gave us the keys to that cluttered yard in the Eastern Courtyard, saying there are two empty rooms there. It has a backyard where I can practice martial arts. After we move there, you can help me adjust my sword-drawing posture; I felt something was off with my movements this morning."

Ye Zhiqiu always thought he had great comprehension, far beyond ordinary people.

But he didn't know that he had a martial arts grandmaster by his side, teaching him the most profound martial arts mysteries and the essentials of sword skills.

Chu Yunyun's eyes lit up slightly; she felt that she wasn't so useless after all.