Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”I’m not saying this entirely to favor Xiao Yi. In a way, it’s also for your own good.”

Before Chen Cheng could speak, Ye Yang continued in a grave voice.

”You have no chance of winning this assessment. If you insist on getting in his way, you’ll only make Xiao Yi resent you and create a feud for no reason. It will do you a world of harm and not a shred of good down the line.”

”Is that the only reason?”

Chen Cheng’s expression was calm, but in his heart, he knew with perfect clarity that the feud between him and Xiao Yi was already irreconcilable.

The only reason it hadn’t erupted yet was because the Middle Courtyard assessment was imminent.

Once this was over, Xiao Yi would surely strike ruthlessly, just as he had when he injured Qian Baolu and Lin Fengxiao. He would absolutely not let things rest.

”And that’s not enough?”

Ye Yang’s brow furrowed slightly as he said sternly,

”Xiao Yi’s strength is far greater than yours. Moreover, he has a powerful patron from the Inner City funding him. The amount of resources he’s consumed these past few days is on a scale you can’t even imagine!”

”Competing against him is just asking for humiliation... You’ll make a fool of yourself and suffer a miserable defeat in front of the Upper Courtyard masters and the many nobles from the Inner City. It will be a huge blow to both your reputation and your future!”

”Thank you for your guidance, Master Ye.”

Chen Cheng listened in silence, then offered a cupped-fist salute and said,

”A friend of mine once said that one shouldn’t just weigh the pros and cons of every matter, but should also seek a clear conscience. I... deeply agree with that.”

”’A clear... conscience?’”

Ye Yang repeated the three words, mulling them over. As he savored them, he found they held a connotation of open fearlessness, one that even faintly resonated with the Mental State required for the Martial Arts—to forge ahead unflinchingly and advance with valor.

However, just as a ripple of appreciation began to form, Ye Yang quickly came to his senses.

”You...”

His eyes, hidden in shadow, suddenly sharpened. As his gaze fell on Chen Cheng, it was clearly tinged with the displeasure and disappointment of someone who was failing to live up to his potential.

”Fine. Since you refuse to consider the consequences, we’ll just say I’ve wasted my breath... Go. Have Zhuang Zhen get you settled.”

”Yes. I will take my leave.”

Chen Cheng offered another cupped-fist salute, respectfully backed out of the room, and gently pulled the door shut.

Outside in the corridor, Zhuang Zhen saw Chen Cheng emerge and stepped forward to meet him.

”Senior Sister, I’ll have to trouble you to help me with the arrangements.”

”Follow me.”

The two of them retraced their steps along the long corridor, arriving at the door of a side room in the Inner Hall’s southwest corner.

”Junior Brother Chen, you’ll be staying in this room from now on. My room is to the left, and Fifth Senior Brother Lu Changning’s is to the right... However, he was seriously injured during the mission to clear out the Red Moon Nunnery and is still recuperating at home.”

As Zhuang Zhen spoke, she took out a key she had prepared, opened the door, and lit a bright oil lamp on the table before continuing.

”The pillow, bedding, and sheets have all been freshly changed. I’ve also checked the desk, chair, wardrobe, and bedframe; nothing is damaged or missing. Settle in for now. If you find you’re missing anything, or if something isn’t right, just let me know.”

”Thank you, Senior Sister.”

After thanking her, Chen Cheng’s gaze finally swept carefully over his new quarters.

This room was a good four or five times larger than his narrow, cramped one in the Outer Hall. The window was large, meaning the ventilation and light would surely be much better.

All the furniture was made of high-quality hardwood with a beautiful grain and a faint, pleasant scent.

The bedding on the bed looked thick and soft. Chen Cheng walked over and gently stroked it with one hand; it was filled with real cotton.

In this day and age, cotton was not cheap.

Back when he lived in the slums, his quilts and jackets were stuffed with straw and hemp fibers. They were hard and heavy, and always carried the pungent, musty smell of dampness.

Even later, when he moved into the Outer Hall’s quarters, the pillow and bedding he received were only filled with fabric scraps and low-quality, grayish-black cotton batting.

Compared to his current situation, it was a world of difference.

This one small detail alone was enough to show the real, tangible benefits that came with climbing higher.

No wonder all the Outer Hall Disciples were desperate to enter the Inner Hall, and all the young Martial Artists saw participating in the Martial Selection to win Military Merit as their ultimate goal.

Thinking of the past and looking at the present, Chen Cheng couldn’t help but recall a saying from his past life, though he couldn’t remember who said it...

’Either fight your way to the top of the food chain, or fall to the bottom of the excretion chain.’

’Not compete?’

’What a joke!’

”Besides the living quarters, there are many other benefits to entering the Inner Hall.”

Zhuang Zhen spoke again, her voice soft.

”Starting tomorrow morning, you’ll take your meals in the Inner Hall’s small kitchen. There will be venison at all three meals, and with breakfast, you’ll receive an additional portion of a medicated meal made with Fierce Beast Essence Meat...”

”Every month, you’ll receive three Blood-Nourishing Pills. Their effect far surpasses that of the Blood Nourishing Powder. On the market, they sell for ten taels of silver each.”

”Your monthly gift, however, will still be five taels of silver. This payment symbolizes the rules of Dragon Mountain Hall and the etiquette of the master-disciple relationship, so it cannot be waived.”

”Understood.”

Chen Cheng replied flatly.

Compared to the tangible benefits he was receiving, five taels of silver was indeed nothing.

As for whether Dragon Mountain Hall was taking a loss, the answer was obviously no.

An Inner Hall Disciple was a Martial Artist who had, at minimum, condensed the Three Pillars of Blood Qi. They were already at a level where they could be recruited by major powers or even sponsored by great families...

The network of connections, exchange of favors, and potential alliances this involved could no longer be measured simply in silver coins.

Moreover, Inner Hall Disciples had the chance to enter the Inner City Upper Courtyard, or even obtain an official position. Once they succeeded, the benefits and influence they could leverage would be far beyond comparison to this initial investment.

From a long-term perspective, the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard’s practice of funneling resources to its Inner Hall Disciples was by no means simple patronage. It was a surefire, profitable long-term investment with an eye toward the future.

Today’s millet seeds the towering trees of tomorrow.

No matter how many of them ultimately succeeded, the one who planted the trees would always reap the rewards.

The math was perfectly clear.

”Furthermore, you’ll also have access to better job placements, or receive sponsorships from some of the great families and major powers... That part will depend on your performance in the annual assessment.”

Zhuang Zhen continued,

”Also, whenever Master Ye is free, you can go to him for instruction... Just, don’t go recently. He’s busy giving Junior Brother Xiao Yi his final coaching before the annual assessment.”

”I understand...”

Chen Cheng nodded slightly and took the opportunity to ask,

”By the way, Senior Sister, Xiao Yi... Senior Brother Xiao Yi, what is his current strength like?”

”...He condensed his Third Pillar of Blood Qi not long ago.”

Zhuang Zhen let out a soft sigh.

”But a genius is still a genius. His Root Bone and innate talent are undeniable, and with the resources piled on by his patron, he managed to tame his Blood Qi and stabilize his Realm in just two days...”

”On top of that, Master Ye is personally sparring with him, guiding him meticulously, and passing on his own insights and experience... His progress has been incredibly fast...”

Zhuang Zhen paused. After a slight hesitation, she still couldn’t help but add a tactful reminder.

”Against other Martial Artists who have also just condensed their Third Pillar of Blood Qi, Junior Brother Xiao Yi could probably take on two at once, maybe even three.”