Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

This time, he didn’t launch a surprise attack like he had when sparring with Elder Wen. Instead, he took two steps back, stood firm, and cupped his fists, performing a formal bow.

Zhu Mingyuan’s smile vanished as he cupped his fists and returned the bow.

The next instant.

Chen Cheng exploded forward, his body shooting out like an arrow, erasing the distance between them in an instant.

He bent his arm to gather power and advanced with an elbow strike.

The force of the blow tore through the air with a low whistle.

Zhu Mingyuan neither dodged nor evaded. He turned slightly to the side as his left palm shot up, pressing firmly against the right of Chen Cheng’s elbow. With a smooth push, he diverted the thunderous strike off-target. It grazed past his lapels, the rushing wind making his robes billow.

His first move having failed, Chen Cheng immediately twisted at the waist, spinning to change his attack. His right arm swept out, transforming the straightforward Dragon-Splitting Drill into a horizontal, swinging drill aimed straight at Zhu Mingyuan’s temple.

Before the drilling strike even landed, the pressurizing wind made Zhu Mingyuan’s skin tighten. Yet he remained completely calm, raising his right arm in an upward block and using the Dragon Scale Shirt technique to parry and deflect the force.

He had long since mastered this Dragon Scale Shirt technique to perfection. With a single block and deflection, he was able to neutralize seventy percent of Chen Cheng’s power. Then, with a rebounding push, he sent Chen Cheng’s right arm recoiling back.

Chen Cheng was startled inwardly, but he quickly steadied his Heart Spirit.

His right leg swept up from below, kicking straight for Zhu Mingyuan’s chin. The kick howled through the air, creating a sharp, piercing sound.

The angle of this kick was extremely tricky and its speed was astonishingly fast. It perfectly exploited a blind spot in Zhu Mingyuan’s vision, making it seemingly impossible to defend against.

However, in the next instant, Zhu Mingyuan simply tilted his head, the movement judged to perfection.

The force of the kick brushed past his ear, whipping his hair back. It looked like a hair’s breadth escape, extremely dangerous, but in reality, it posed no threat to him at all.

Chen Cheng’s reaction was incredibly fast. He abruptly halted the momentum of the missed kick in mid-air, then used the strength of his core to bring it crashing down like an axe, smashing ferociously toward Zhu Mingyuan’s shoulder and neck.

Zhu Mingyuan remained unhurried, his expression not changing in the slightest.

He instantly bent his knees, sinking down and crossing his arms to block.

Leg and arms collided. Once again, Zhu Mingyuan deflected seventy percent of Chen Cheng’s force. Then, with a reverse push of his arms, he sent Chen Cheng stumbling back several steps.

”Senior Brother, your defensive skills... did you train them specifically?”

Chen Cheng looked at Zhu Mingyuan, who stood rooted to the spot like a boulder, and unconcealable surprise filled his eyes.

In their brief exchange, Chen Cheng could clearly feel that Zhu Mingyuan’s defense was vastly different from that of an ordinary person.

Setting aside his advantage in Realm for a moment, his defensive awareness, his reactions, and his application of defensive techniques were all far superior to the average person’s.

”Junior Brother has a sharp eye. I have indeed spent a great deal of effort researching and honing my practical combat defense.”

Zhu Mingyuan smiled, his breathing as steady as ever.

”I’m a rather conservative person. In all things, I consider defeat before I consider victory. To ensure I cannot be defeated, I must have a solid defense.”

”Only... defense...”

Something stirred in Chen Cheng’s heart. He immediately recalled what Elder Wen had taught him: in real combat, there is only the intent to kill.

A quick kill means a quick victory, ensuring you can’t be defeated.

But if one could achieve the ultimate defense, it seemed one could also become invincible.

Neither philosophy was wrong. The key was in choosing which to use in the heat of battle.

In his heart, Chen Cheng still leaned more towards decisive, lethal action.

But when facing a powerful enemy, when it was not about killing but being killed, a strong defense could be a life-saving trump card.

’Looks like I’ll have to spar with Zhu Mingyuan more often in the future.’

’I need to learn through practice and make his strengths completely my own.’

”Senior Brother, let’s continue!”

Chen Cheng once again took his stance.

”Alright...”

Zhu Mingyuan’s smile faded, and he spoke in a low voice.

”However, I have a rough idea of your strength now. From here on, I won’t be just defending.”

The spar continued.

Chen Cheng’s attacks were like a torrential waterfall: fists, elbows, legs, chops, and drills... Each strike flowed into the next without the slightest pause. Under the moonlight, a series of afterimages could be seen circling Zhu Mingyuan in a nearly impenetrable storm of attacks.

Zhu Mingyuan remained rooted to the spot, his body seemingly covered in eyes. Deflecting, blocking, guiding, jarring, repelling, neutralizing... No matter how fast and fierce Chen Cheng’s attacks were, no matter how tricky and varied, he was able to defend against them all with unshakable stability.

And while maintaining his flawless defense, he would occasionally find an opportunity to land one or two decisive blows, easily defeating Chen Cheng.

Before they knew it, the sky had grown completely dark. A lone moon hung between the clouds, and not a star was in sight.

Chen Cheng and Zhu Mingyuan had both had their fill of sparring. They returned to the covered walkway, sitting side by side to rest and chat idly.

”Senior Brother... can you be straight with me?”

After a bit of small talk, Chen Cheng suddenly grew serious and asked in a low voice.

”Right now, what exactly is your Realm?”

”You’re a sharp one.”

Zhu Mingyuan smiled.

”To be honest with you, I condensed my Sixth Pillar of Blood Qi half a year ago. I tested it at home with some Copper Skin, and my strength should be no less than Senior Brother Cao’s or Senior Brother Chu’s...”

”I knew it!”

Chen Cheng let out a long breath, as if expelling something that had been weighing on his mind.

After sparring for so long and being at a complete disadvantage, he understood now. Besides Zhu Mingyuan’s exceptional defensive ability, the gap of two full Pillars of Blood Qi was also a major reason.

”Senior Brother...”

Chen Cheng chose his words carefully, then followed up on the topic.

”You’re deliberately hiding your strength and not entering the Upper Courtyard... is it for Senior Sister Ye?”

”You kid!”

Zhu Mingyuan’s expression stiffened, and a faint blush actually appeared on his cheeks. He lowered his gaze, which was as good as an admission.

’Looking at him, Chen Cheng was suddenly reminded of the so-called ’nice guys’ from his previous life. That was a derogatory term, wasn’t it...?’

”Senior Brother, I’ve heard people say that most women are attracted to strength.”

Chen Cheng said it casually, but he was actually trying to give him a hint.