Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”You... you can still keep going!?”

Ye Yang saw with his own eyes that more and more of the Thunder Pattern on the map was darkening, creeping relentlessly toward the tip of the Divine Thunder.

Having been through this himself, he knew full well how incredibly difficult it was to achieve such a feat on the very first try.

The so-called Crossing Thought Map.

Channeling Power into it was only the first step. Beneath the surface, a hidden network of patterns, intricate and fine as silk, lay in wait. The slightest deviation in the flow of Power, and one would be unable to advance...

...save for that one monster who just brute-forced his way through.

For a normal person, while channeling Power, it was far more important to discern the details of the hidden patterns, visualize the image’s transformations, contemplate the Power’s path, and meditate on the Hidden Dragon True Intent...

Only by mastering all four aspects of this concentration could one meticulously control their Power, ensuring a flawless and steady advance.

This process was an immense drain on both physical stamina and Heart Power.

Especially the Heart Power. A novice, not yet fully acclimated, would feel immense spiritual pressure in mere moments. Their Heart Spirit would then weaken, and their energy would be utterly depleted and overdrawn.

In mild cases, they would fall into a stupor. In severe cases, they would faint on the spot. In the worst-case scenarios, their Heart Spirit would shatter, causing them to descend into madness.

It was precisely because Ye Yang knew these dangers so intimately that he couldn’t conceal his astonishment.

’What I’m seeing goes far beyond what mere ”comprehension” can explain!’

But while Ye Yang was shaken, Chen Cheng’s heart was a sea of tranquility.

To him, this was all just the natural course of events.

His Health-Preserving Traits had nourished his Divine Marrow day by day, making his perception sharp enough to discern the position and detail of every hidden pattern. His Heart Power also far surpassed an ordinary person’s, more than enough to sustain him.

On top of that, with the boon of his Harmonious Attribute, his Heart Power consumption was reduced by another thirty percent.

But most importantly, this was a path he had walked before.

When he first created his Tai Chi Force, he had already discovered a method for controlling the flow of Power.

Although that method couldn’t be applied directly, the meticulous manipulation and control of Power it required could be adapted for this task.

’Through!’

Chen Cheng roared inwardly. The Power in his palm seemed to shatter a final barrier, surging into the map in an instant.

On the Celestial God Hidden Dragon Painting, the bolt of lightning darkened, starting from its base. The color rapidly spread to the very tip of every branching fork... then it erupted, surging violently outward.

The area of the eruption was less than a tenth of what Ye Yang could manage.

But it was, without a doubt, a true case of Powerful Penetration.

What had taken Zhuang Zhen half a month to accomplish, Chen Cheng had just achieved in mere moments.

”...”

Ye Yang stood frozen in place. He looked at Chen Cheng, then back at the Thunder Pattern on the map. He opened his mouth, but found himself at a loss for words.

”Master Ye! A disciple requests to see Master Ye!!!”

The small, red-lacquered door to the Inner Hall was being pounded on—BANG! BANG!—and the voice outside had grown hoarse from shouting.

”Xiao Yi... Xiao Yi, he’s...”

Zhuang Zhen was away, and the other Inner Hall Disciples were all out at a celebratory banquet. Chen Cheng was about to retract his Power and open the door when Ye Yang raised a hand to stop him.

”You keep going,” Ye Yang said. ”Focus on solidifying this state.”

With that, Ye Yang went and opened the door himself. His voice was heavy as he asked,

”It’s the middle of the night. Why isn’t Xiao Yi recuperating quietly? What kind of trouble is he stirring up now?”

’In my opinion,’ Ye Yang thought, ’Chen Cheng completely broke Xiao Yi’s spirit. This is probably just another one of his tantrums.’

”Master Ye...”

At the door stood Su Ziyang, a Silver Token hanging from his waist. His face was a mask of sheer terror as he spoke.

”He’s been murdered... Senior Brother Xiao Yi has been murdered! And Sun An, Dong Li, and Luo Boqing, who were taking care of him... They’re... they’re all dead!”

”How could this be!? When did this happen!?”

Ye Yang’s face turned ashen, and the temperature in the room seemed to plummet.

”I don’t know the details...”

Su Ziyang swallowed hard.

”Guo Chun and I went to stand watch as we’d arranged. We got there around midnight... The blood at the scene hadn’t even clotted, so they must have just died... Guo Chun has already gone to the Patrol Office to file a report. I... I came straight here to tell you...”

Ye Yang’s face was grim. After a moment of silence, he spoke in a chilling voice.

”Slaughtering four Middle Courtyard Disciples in one night! This is a complete disregard for me, Ye Yang! Take me there at once. I want to see for myself who would dare to be so audacious!”

”It was Chen Cheng!”

Su Ziyang blurted it out as if he’d been waiting for the cue, his tone one of absolute certainty.

”Earlier today, when we escorted Senior Brother Xiao Yi home, he gave us a specific warning... He said that if anything should happen to him, the killer would be none other than Chen Cheng!”

”Junior Brother...”

Just then, Chen Cheng calmly walked up to stand slightly behind Ye Yang, his gaze resting peacefully on Su Ziyang.

”I don’t think I heard you clearly,” he said. ”Who did you say the killer was?”

”Chen... You...”

Su Ziyang’s head snapped up. His eyes met Chen Cheng’s, and it was as if something was lodged in his throat, choking off the rest of his words.

”Insolent fool!”

Ye Yang’s roar cracked like thunder. His gaze was like a blade scraping across Su Ziyang’s face, his low voice barely suppressing a storm of rage.

”Around midnight, Chen Cheng was cultivating right under my nose! You have no evidence, yet you dare slander a senior brother from the Inner Hall! Go to the General Affairs Room and receive your punishment. For this month, all your Silver Token privileges are revoked!”

”But... I...”

Su Ziyang trembled from the rebuke, his face flushing and paling by turns. He felt utterly wronged, but didn’t dare utter a single word in his defense.

As he was about to retreat, his eyes fell upon the object in Chen Cheng’s hand: the True Strength Crossing Thought Map.

Su Ziyang’s pupils contracted violently.

He knew exactly what that map signified.

Among the disciples of the Central Courtyard Inner Hall, only the most valued geniuses, those whom Master Ye was determined to cultivate personally, were allowed to use this map. Xiao Yi’s position had been completely supplanted by Chen Cheng. It was even possible that after next year’s assessment, Chen Cheng would secure a firm place in the Inner City Upper Courtyard.

HISS—

Su Ziyang sucked in a sharp breath. His legs felt weak as he hastily turned to Chen Cheng, bowing low again and again.

”Senior Brother Chen, I am so sorry... I was only relaying Xiao Yi’s exact words! I never intended to slander you...”