Chapter 2: The Martial Ban
Chapter 2: The Martial Ban
An unknown amount of time had passed before Jiang Cheng finally grasped the situation at hand.
He had time-traveled, seemingly ten million years into the future.
In this future, Blue Star's technology had advanced rapidly, mastering hyperspace travel and even establishing space portals between planets thousands of light-years apart.
However, what was even more astonishing than the technological progress was the terrifying combat power of the Yan Nation's people, or rather, the Yan Nation's understanding of Cosmic Energy.
Over ten million years ago, the ancestors of the Yan Nation discovered the existence of the universe and believed that everything within it was connected to the Cosmic Energy.
From the tiniest particles to the movement of celestial bodies, from wind, rain, thunder, and lightning to consciousness, Cosmic Energy was everywhere.
If the human body could absorb this energy, it would possess infinite potential, even to the point of becoming a deity.
After another ten thousand years, this path was finally discovered.
The pioneers of Secret Martial Arts found that by opening the sealed meridians in the human body, one could absorb Cosmic Energy. The more meridians opened, the more energy one could absorb, until all 129,600 meridians were unlocked, allowing one to traverse the universe in their physical body and destroy stars with a single thought.
Thus, the era of the Yan Nation's dominance over the myriad races of the stars arrived.
Whether it was starships, ancient beasts, or ancient demons, all seemed insignificant as dust before those who mastered Cosmic Energy.
Within a century, the name of the Yan Nation spread throughout the entire galaxy.
In the following ten million years, every alien race in the Milky Way Galaxy studied the Yan Nation's language and researched their cultivation methods, regarding the Yan Nation as their teachers.
However, as quickly as it rose, its fall was sudden.
A hundred years ago, the Yan Nation, no longer content with its territory in the Milky Way, sought to expand its influence further. They encountered fierce resistance from the Hound Galaxy, while the races within the Milky Way secretly defied them, leading to heavy losses for the Yan Nation and a stalemate with the Hound Galaxy, forcing them to retreat from the battlefield.
Seizing the opportunity, the races within the Milky Way declared their resistance against the Yan Nation's oppression and began to revolt. A hundred years passed, and the territory held by the Yan Nation had shrunk to less than one percent of its former size.
Countless Yan Nation citizens were unable to evacuate in time and became wanderers.
Some perished under the blades of alien races, others were enslaved and sold in markets, and still, others lived in constant fear like ants, awaiting their fate.
Just like the original body's ancestor, who brought his family to a planet named Morning Star, they once owned thousands of acres of fertile land and lived without worry.
But a hundred years ago, after the Yan Nation's defeat, only a handful of people managed to escape on spaceships in time. Most were left behind, isolated and anxious, uncertain of their future.
Soon after, the people of Morning Star received news that the Yan Nation's former ally, the Horned People, were willing to help defend Morning Star and over a dozen other Yan Nation planets against potential invaders.
In fact, after the Horned People's intervention, other races abandoned this place.
The people of Morning Star breathed a sigh of relief, but gradually, they discovered that things were taking a turn for the worse.
First, large amounts of private land were reclaimed, forcing all residents to gather in designated areas. Those who could afford it moved into the city center, while the less fortunate settled in the suburbs or slums.
Then, the Martial Ban was announced, prohibiting the practice of Secret Martial Arts on Morning Star. Violators faced imprisonment or the loss of all their possessions, becoming slaves. Eventually, even the possession of firearms was banned.
It was then that the people realized the Horned People had ulterior motives. Their talk of unity and cooperation was merely a pretense to avoid resistance and the cost of confrontation.
However, by the time he realized this, it was already too late.
Perhaps the Governor's Mansion, the Planetary Defense Force, and the Enforcement Squad had already sided with the Horned People, as later events proved.
The original body's parents passed away early, and he grew up in the slums with his grandmother, relying on selling roasted sweet potatoes for a living.
The money he earned had to be paid first as protection and stall fees, and only what was left could be considered his own, not to mention the occasional extortion by thugs.
Just two days ago, the original body was already overworked, and with the sudden change in temperature, he developed a high fever. Even after being sent to the clinic, receiving IV drips and medication, his life couldn't be saved.
Taking a deep breath.
Jiang Cheng looked at the two people in front of him and smiled slightly, "Grandma, Chen Sao, I feel much better, just a little dizzy."
Before his transmigration, he never had the chance to properly repay his grandmother for raising him.
Now that he has crossed over, heaven has given him an opportunity, and he must seize it.
However, he wondered what would happen to his parents after his disappearance...
He sighed in his heart.
"It's normal to feel dizzy after a fever," Chen Sao said with a smile.
"Yes, yes, Xiao Cheng, are you hungry? Grandma will cook some porridge for you?" Jiang Grandma asked.
It was fine until she mentioned it, and Xiao Cheng's stomach started to rumble.
Jiang Grandma smiled, revealing deep wrinkles on her forehead, and got up to cook porridge.
Chen Sao also left amidst their words of gratitude. Before departing, she pushed the tricycle parked outside into the house for the elder.
Jiang Cheng sat on the bed, observing the entire house.
The house wasn't big, probably around 30 to 40 square meters. In the east was a stove, a table was placed in the middle, two beds were in the west, and a small partition was left in the north, serving as a toilet. Overall, the house was relatively clean.
There were no electric lights in the house, only candles were lit. There was no electricity or running water here. Every household had dug a well at their doorstep for washing, cooking, and flushing the toilet.
The living conditions were bearable. If it weren't for the protection fees charged by the gangs and the roaming thugs, they could survive.
Unfortunately, there was no 'if'.
In the slums, fists were the only law.
If you were bullied, would the Enforcement Squad help?
They wouldn't even give you the time of day. Of course, if you practiced secret martial arts, violated the martial arts ban, or illegally possessed firearms, and the news leaked out, the Enforcement Squad would take action, even going as far as blockading the entire area and disregarding lives.
"Is there no golden finger?"
This thought crossed Jiang Cheng's mind.
He wasn't stupid.
So what if there was a martial arts ban?
Without personal strength, one could only be bullied forever in the slums and never amount to anything in their lifetime.
Not to mention the existence of the Horned People.
Dignity lies at the tip of the sword. What you can't get on the battlefield, you won't get at the negotiation table.
However, after silently reciting this in his heart for half a day, no system-like entity appeared.
Jiang Cheng's expression turned solemn.
A system was the standard equipment for transmigrators, yet he didn't have one?
Or did he have one, but hadn't met the conditions to trigger it?
As he was pondering, Jiang Grandma carefully carried a bowl of steaming hot porridge and walked over.
At the same time, she also held a boiled egg in her hand.
Jiang Cheng quickly got out of bed and took it from her.
"Xiao Cheng?"
Concern showed in Jiang Grandma's eyes.
"It's nothing, Grandma. I feel much better."
Jiang Cheng smiled and sat by the table, the fragrance of the porridge calming his heart.
However, a pressing issue was before him.
Jiang Cheng blew on the hot porridge and asked, "Grandma, did you spend a lot of money on my treatment?"
(End of Chapter)
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