Chapter 2: Martial Arts Ban

He didn't know how long had passed, but Jiang Cheng finally figured out the current situation.

He had transmigrated, apparently to a future world 100,000 years ahead.

In those 100,000 years, the technology of Blue Star advanced rapidly, mastering hyperspace navigation and even being able to establish spatial portals between planets separated by several thousand light‑years.

Yet compared with technology, what was more shocking was the terrifying combat power of the human race on Blue Star, or rather, the Yan Nation.

More than a hundred thousand years ago, the ancestors of the Yan Nation discovered the existence of the universe and believed that everything in it could not be separated from the universal Force.

From tiny particles to celestial motions, from wind, rain, thunder and lightning to mental consciousness, the Force was everywhere.

If the human body could absorb the Force, it would have limitless possibilities, even becoming a deity.

After another millennium, this path finally emerged.

The pioneers created Secret Martial Arts; after cultivation, they could unlock sealed human acupoints to absorb the Force. The more acupoints opened, the more Force absorbed, until all 129,600 acupoints of the body were opened, allowing a mortal body to traverse the universe and ignite a star with a single thought.

Thus, the Yan Nation, wielding the power of a single country, entered an era of overwhelming dominance over the myriad star tribes.

Whether star‑spanning giant ships, ancient colossal beasts, or primeval evil gods, before the Force‑wielding humans they were as tiny as dust.

In less than a hundred years, the name of the Yan Nation spread throughout the entire galaxy.

For the next 100,000 years, every alien race in the galaxy studied Yan language, delved into the Yan people's cultivation methods, and regarded the Yan Nation as their teacher.

Yet, its rise was swift, and its fall sudden.

A hundred years ago, the Yan Nation was no longer satisfied with its galactic map and sought to expand further, but met fierce resistance from the Hound Star System beyond the galaxy. The myriad star tribes pretended to cooperate while secretly undermining, contributing no effort, causing many Yan elites to fall, and both the Yan Nation and the Hound Star System suffered mutual defeat, forcing a withdrawal from the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the myriad star tribes seized the opportunity, declared resistance against Yan oppression, and began backstabbing one another; after a hundred years, the star domain occupied by humans shrank to less than one percent of its former size.

A great number of Yan people could not evacuate in time and became wanderers.

Either they perished under alien slaughter, or fell into slavery and were sold at markets, or lived like ants, constantly fearing for their lives.

Just as the original self's ancestors brought their family to this planet named Morning Star, originally possessing thousands of acres of good fields and living without worry for food and clothing.

Until a hundred years ago, when the Yan Nation suffered a great defeat, only a handful managed to board a spaceship and leave in time; the majority had to stay behind, isolated and helpless, anxious, not knowing what fate awaited them.

Shortly after, the people on Morning Star learned that the Yan Nation's former ally, the Horned People Clan, was willing to help more than ten nearby Yan planets, including Morning Star, to repel possible invaders.

In fact, after learning that the Jiao Tribe intervened, several other races abandoned the place.

The planet's inhabitants breathed a sigh of relief, but gradually realized that events were inching toward an unfavorable direction.

First, a large amount of private land was reclaimed; then everyone was forced to gather in designated zones, paying high prices for housing—those who could afford could live in the city proper, while the penniless could only settle in ordinary districts or the Poor District.

Soon after, the Martial Arts Ban was issued; Yan people on the planet were prohibited from cultivating Secret Martial Arts, and anyone caught faced light punishment of imprisonment or severe punishment of ruin and enslavement, and later even firearms were forbidden.

Only then did people realize that the Horned People were also harboring ill intent; their talk of unity and cooperation was merely an excuse to avoid resistance by paying a price.

However, by the time they understood, it was already too late.

Perhaps the Governor's Office, Planetary Defense Force, Enforcement Squad, and others had already sided with the Horned People, as later evidence confirmed.

The original self's parents died early, so they grew up living with Grandma in the Poor District, making a living by selling roasted sweet potatoes.

The money earned first had to pay Protection Fee and Stall Fee; only the remainder was truly theirs, not counting occasional extortion by thugs.

Just two days ago, the original self, already overworked, was hit by a sudden temperature drop and developed a high fever; even after being taken to a clinic for IV drips and medication, it could not save their life.

He took a deep breath.

Jiang Cheng looked at the two people before him, smiled faintly and said, "Grandma, Chen Sao, I feel much better, just a little dizzy in the head."

Before the transmigration, he never had a chance to properly repay Grandma for her upbringing.

Now that he has transmigrated, heaven has given him a chance, and he will definitely seize it tightly.

Only, he didn't know what would become of his parents after his disappearance… he sighed inwardly.

"Dizziness is normal; the high fever just subsided," Chen Sao said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, Xiao Cheng, are you hungry? Grandma will cook some porridge for you," Jiang Nainai asked.

If he hadn't spoken, it would have been fine, but once he said it, Jiang Cheng's stomach started growling.

Jiang Nainai smiled, her brows deeply furrowed, and got up to cook the porridge.

Chen Sao also left amid the two's words of thanks; before departing, she pushed the tricycle parked outside into the house for the elderly.

Jiang Cheng sat on the bed and began to survey the entire room.

The room wasn't large, about thirty to forty square meters; the east side held a stove, a table stood in the middle, two beds were on the west side, and a small partition in the north corner served as a bathroom—overall it was fairly clean.

There was no electric light in the room, only candles; there was neither electricity nor running water, and each household had dug a well at the doorway for washing, cooking, and flushing the toilet.

The conditions were tolerable; if not for the gang that collected Protection Fees and the roaming thugs, one could still survive.

Unfortunately, there is no if.

In this Poor District, a fist is law.

Got bullied? Go find the Enforcement Squad?

They wouldn't even pay attention to you. Of course, if you cultivated Secret Martial Arts, violated the Martial Arts Ban, or illegally possessed firearms and the news leaked, the Enforcement Squad would intervene, even sealing off the entire area and trampling lives.

"No god‑mode cheat?"

The thought flashed through Jiang Cheng's mind.

He wasn't stupid.

What of the Martial Arts Ban?

Without great personal strength, one can only be perpetually bullied in this Poor District, never rising above a lifetime of oppression.

Let alone the Horned People Clan.

Dignity exists only on the blade's edge; anything unattainable on the battlefield should not be expected at the negotiating table.

But after muttering in his mind for a long while, no system or the like appeared.

Jiang Cheng's expression grew solemn.

A system is supposed to be standard equipment for a transmigrator, yet he didn't have one?

Or perhaps it exists, but the conditions to trigger it haven't been met?

While pondering, Jiang Nainai held a steaming bowl of rice porridge and carefully walked over.

At the same time, she also held a boiled egg in her hand.

Jiang Cheng hurriedly got out of bed and took it.

"Xiao Cheng?"

Concern flashed in Jiang Nainai's eyes.

"It's okay, Grandma, I feel much better."

Jiang Cheng smiled, sat down beside the table, and smelling the aroma of the rice porridge, his heart steadied considerably.

However, a pressing question lay before him.

Jiang Cheng blew out steam and asked, "Grandma, they spent a lot of money at home to treat my illness, didn't they?"

(End of chapter)