Journey Through the Heavens: Starting with Chinese Martial Arts!

After finishing his sentence, Second Uncle Chen Xun left with a package, intending to dispose of the bronze artifacts he was holding.

Chen Jueshang put his things away and went out. He was still wearing a coarse linen coat, and he looked out of place in the crowd, but he didn't care.

People around glanced at it and then looked away.

Perhaps because the Xuanhuang Guard of Tianhuang City was about to recruit people, Chen Jueshang met all sorts of people, each of whom was reserved and mysterious.

Shouts and calls rose and fell.

Just as Chen Jueshang continued his casual stroll, a chaotic commotion arose nearby, and someone shouted, "Miss Chen is here! Run!"

Immediately, the surrounding crowd erupted in chaos and scattered, while the outsiders, including Chen Jueshang, were unaware of what was happening. Soon, only a dozen or so people remained on the road.

"What's going on?" A cold-looking young man with a black scabbard on his back looked at the fleeing crowd with a slightly puzzled expression.

Is Miss Chen some kind of powerful monster? Why did she all run away?

Everyone else was also puzzled, but Chen Jueshang, seeing that things were not going well, was the first to walk to a distance to observe.

Although it was his first time in the city, since everyone feared this Miss Chen like a tiger, he figured she must have a terrible personality. If he didn't want to cause trouble, he would naturally stay far away.

At the same time, it was also to avoid causing trouble for Chen Family Village, since he was not alone and also had parents and clansmen.

So let's leave this "protagonist" treatment to someone else.

Just as they hesitated, a rapid and powerful thud sounded, and the dozen or so men saw a dark figure running towards them in the distance. With their eyesight, they could easily see what the dark figure was.

A black horse galloped in, carrying a woman in a red brocade robe. Her eyebrows and eyes were cold and beautiful, her red lips were like flames, and her ponytail was tied behind her head, swaying as the black horse ran. Her slender, fair hands held a riding whip, and she wore gold-embroidered flying cloud shoes.

In an instant, they finally understood why everyone had distanced themselves.

Chen Jueshang was slightly surprised to see the cold and beautiful woman in brocade riding a horse. How dare this young lady of the Chen family and the Chen family ride a horse in Tianhuang City? Aren't they afraid of offending the city lord?

"Get out of my way, all of you!" shouted the elegant and aloof Miss Chen. Seeing her horse bumping into people, she immediately raised her whip and lashed out at one of the dozen or so women in the crowd.

The woman frowned, drew her long sword from her waist, the bones cracking as she cleaved the whip in two with a single, cold stroke, and fled using her footwork.

Clearly, she understood how difficult the women in her family were to deal with, so she didn't hesitate much and chose to run away.

Seeing this, the others realized something was wrong and immediately used their own methods to escape, giving Miss Chen no chance to cause trouble.

Chen Jueshang turned and left.

Miss Chen, who remained seated on her horse looking at the broken whip, had a chilling look on her usually cold and beautiful face.

……

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Today is the day the Xuanhuang Guard is recruiting. Chen Jueshang is holding a bronze halberd and wearing bronze armor underneath. His original coarse linen clothes have been replaced with a proper black robe. His eyes are bright and his black hair is cascading down his shoulders. He looks heroic and handsome.

"Not bad at all. This makeover makes you look a bit like those young masters from wealthy families. If you could bring back a few young ladies from those families, your parents would be very happy," said Uncle Chen Xun with satisfaction, a smile spreading across his狰狞 (zhengning - ferocious/hideous) face.

"Second Uncle, it's about to start, I'm leaving now." With that, Chen Jueshang left the inn.

Over the past few days, although he couldn't say he completely understood Tianhuang City, he was close enough. The Chen family young lady he met last time was from the only major clan in Tianhuang City.

Besides, the Chen family has three smaller clans: the Lin family, the Yang family, and the Zhao family. All three families struggle to survive under the Chen family's thumb.

As for the city lord, he was transferred down from above and has some say in Tianhuang City, forming a rival to the Chen family.

Moreover, I've heard that the head of the Chen family is very strong, at least at the second level of Refining Divine Mechanism, or at the third level of Manifesting Divine Power.

If a conflict breaks out between the two sides, at least a thousand miles around will be reduced to ruins. Therefore, the city lord will not push too hard, and the head of the Chen family will not be too lenient.

Of course, this indulgence refers to preventing people from dying.

Chen Jueshang walked through the streets and alleys for a short time before arriving at the gate of the Xuanhuang Division, where he found a long line of people waiting to register.

Two Xuanhuang Guards stood on either side of the gate, their eyes glaring menacingly, as if they would immediately rush forward to arrest anyone who caused any conflict or dispute.

Chen Jueshang stood in line silently.

……

"Miss, we have identified the person you asked us to find," an elderly man in a green robe said respectfully.

Miss Chen sat by the window, looking down at the long queue below, her expression leisurely. Upon hearing the old man's words, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, but she calmly asked, "Oh? Who is it?"

"That person is called Gongsun Luan, a rogue cultivator from out of town. His strength is probably at the peak of the fifth stage of physical transformation. As for the people present, their names are... There is one more person. I wonder if we should explain this to Miss?" the old man reported calmly.

"Speak," Chen Yuyuan said calmly, taking a sip of tea.

Without hesitation, the old man continued, "According to my inquiries, someone was watching from a short distance away when the young lady clashed with those dozen or so people."

"Who is it?" A ripple finally appeared in Chen Yuyuan's almond-shaped eyes, and a chill suddenly rose around them, even making the old man's hair stand on end.

"I don't know the exact surname, but I've bought the person's information and characteristics and found a professional painter to make a copy." The old man in the green robe handed over a scroll of painting: "This is a portrait of that person."

Chen Yuyuan took the portrait and unfolded it. The portrait immediately revealed the appearance of the person: black hair flowing down his shoulders, eyes like torches, eyebrows high and noble, wearing a coarse linen robe.

"What a magnificent and imposing appearance! But I wonder if it's all show and no substance, or..." She narrowed her eyes and smiled, "...truly capable and talented."

The old man in the green robe remained calm, or rather, he was used to it. Everyone knew about the young lady's promiscuous private life, but no one dared to mention it.

Chen Yuyuan rolled up the portrait again and said to the old man in the green robe beside him, "Keep an eye on the person in the portrait for me and see if he has also come to the Xuanhuang Division to register. If he has, bring him to see me. If he hasn't, then use people to investigate him."

"Yes!" The old man in the green robe turned and left.

……

As Chen Jueshang was queuing, he suddenly felt a sudden urge, and a chill ran up from his tailbone, making his scalp tingle and his hair stand on end.

"Someone has ill intentions towards me... But I haven't done anything, so why would I suddenly have such a whim? Could it be that young lady from the Chen family? If it is her, then..." Chen Jueshang lowered his eyes, making it impossible to see the change in his expression.

However, he was not given much time to think. Soon it was his turn. Xuanhuang Wei, who was sitting in a solid wood armchair, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and asked, "Name, place of origin, age, strength."

"Chen Jueshang, Chen Family Village, Longhu Mountain, thirteen, fourth physical transformation." Chen Jueshang came back to his senses and quickly answered. The three were easy to answer, but he hesitated slightly when it came to his age.

According to his real age, plus one year in the martial arts world, he should be thirteen years old, but only a moment has passed in the main world, so he is still twelve years old.

But to ensure there was no risk, I simply registered at the maximum age.

The Xuanhuang Guard glanced at the young man before him, and seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, he immediately registered him and waved his hand: "Go wait over there. Someone will examine your bones in a little while, and then you'll all participate in the trial together."

Chen Jueshang nodded, then walked to a corner of the gathered crowd. Also standing in the corner was the woman who had clashed with Miss Chen a few days ago.