Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

The two quickly exited the alley and stepped onto the main street of An Nan District.

The sun was now sinking in the west, and its golden-red afterglow spilled across the bluestone path, stretching their shadows out long.

”Cheng, when did you notice me?”

The young man, built like an iron tower with a face like red copper, was none other than Wang Chuang.

At this moment, his eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.

”When you were about thirty feet from the gate,” Chen Cheng answered casually.

”Th-that far? And in such a noisy environment… Cheng, don’t tell me…”

Wang Chuang swallowed and took a deep breath.

”You broke through again?”

”Yes, just yesterday.”

Chen Cheng nodded.

Wang Chuang sucked in a sharp, cold breath, so long and deep it seemed he was trying to drain the entire street of its air.

”My god, it’s only been a little over a month… Your breakthrough speed is simply insane!”

He paused, then quickly lowered his voice as if afraid of startling passersby.

”For an ordinary Martial Artist, condensing the Sixth Pillar of Blood Qi is harder than the first five combined!”

”But for you, it’s like every pillar is the same. One breakthrough a month, without slowing down even a bit!”

Chen Cheng just smiled and didn’t reply.

In truth, he’d already broken through ten days ago; he had deliberately understated his progress.

Otherwise, he couldn’t imagine how shocked Wang Chuang would be.

[Thunder Treading Skill]: Minor Achievement (522/1000), Traits (Thunder Stepping), Limit-Breaking (No)

Thunder Stepping: When using the Thunder Treading Skill, speed is increased by an additional 10%.

[Endless Moon Breath]: Great Success (133/3000), Traits (Hidden Mechanism, Iron Lung), Limit-Breaking (No)

Iron Lung: All lung functions are boosted by 30%.

Over the past month, Chen Cheng had stopped practicing the Hidden Dragon Fist, instead using the Thunder Treading Skill to nourish and strengthen his Blood Qi.

Because the Thunder Treading Skill caused too much of a commotion, he had to practice it together with the Endless Moon Breath.

As a result, his progress in Endless Moon Breath had also increased.

Based on his current progress, Chen Cheng estimated that in about another month, he would be able to condense the Seventh Pillar of Blood Qi and join the ranks of the great masters of the Transforming Force realm.

However, he had already used up all the auxiliary medicines on hand that boosted his cultivation efficiency.

If he didn’t replenish them soon, a month would be far from enough time to condense the Seventh Pillar of Blood Qi; it would take double the time, or even more.

The trouble was, the further one went with Blood Qi condensation, the more difficult it became. Ordinary auxiliary medicines were no longer effective for Chen Cheng.

He needed something at least on the level of the Red Jade Blood-Nourishing Pill, and the Three Treasures Nourishing Essence Pill would be even better, of course.

However, auxiliary medicines of this grade were hard to buy even if one had the money.

The Red Jade Blood-Nourishing Pill was supplied exclusively by the Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard, and Chen Cheng could only receive one every two months.

The Three Treasures Nourishing Essence Pill was supplied exclusively by the official families, and Chen Cheng had absolutely no way of obtaining it.

He had asked Cao Zhao before if any of the Martial Artists in the Captain’s Mansion were willing to trade their Three Treasures Nourishing Essence Pills for money.

The answer, predictably, was no.

Martial Artists who could secure a position in the Captain’s Mansion usually had stable financial backing. They didn’t lack money; on the contrary, what they lacked were resources.

Of course, Chen Cheng hadn’t just been waiting around idly.

A few days ago, when Wu Ziyu and Wang Chuang had each come to deliver this month’s financial support, Chen Cheng had asked them to help him find a way to buy some high-level auxiliary medicines.

He hadn’t heard back from Wu Ziyu yet, mainly because he had been in seclusion and hadn’t seen her.

That left Wang Chuang.

”Brother Chuanzi,” Chen Cheng asked, ”have you found any leads on that matter I asked you to look into?”

”I asked around. No one’s selling.”

Wang Chuang shook his head and said, ”When we see my uncle in a bit, we can have him think of something for you… Or, you could join the Captain’s Mansion the next time they leave the city to exterminate bandits. You can exchange merit points for Three Treasures Nourishing Essence Pills.”

”Exterminate bandits… Right, how’s your injury?”

Chen Cheng glanced at Wang Chuang’s left shoulder.

”It still hurts a little…”

Wang Chuang said with a frown, ”That arrow was coated in poison. Without the right antidote, it just won’t heal properly…”

A month ago, Wang Chuang had also participated in the Captain’s Mansion’s operation to eliminate the Bai Family.

He had taken an arrow to the left shoulder, and it still hadn’t healed after a month.

It wasn’t just him. Zhou Ping and Zhou An went too. The older brother, Zhou Ping, took a blade for his younger brother, Zhou An… According to Zhuang Zhen, he was so badly injured that he almost didn’t make it.

’This business of exterminating bandits, while highly profitable, is inevitably accompanied by high risks. I want no part of it, not even on the fringes. Without resources, it just means my cultivation efficiency will be lower and condensing the Seventh Pillar of Blood Qi will be slower. I have the Vertical Eye Mark as a safety net; success is just a matter of time. Faster is certainly better, but a bit slower is also acceptable. In any case, it’s better than getting injured or even killed. For people like Wang Chuang and Zhou An, no matter how good the resources they obtained were, it ultimately wasn’t worth the cost.’

”Cheng, let’s just wait here. My uncle should be here soon.”

The two arrived at the entrance to An Nan Square South Street, and Wang Chuang motioned for Chen Cheng to walk toward an empty spot on the side of the road.

”Brother Chuanzi.”

Chen Cheng stopped, tilted his head, and asked, ”What exactly is the gift Manor Master Wang prepared for me? You can finally tell me now, right?”

”Alright, I’ll tell you. My uncle’s about to deliver it in person anyway.”

Wang Chuang said with a chuckle, ”It’s a ’Treasure Bow’ forged by a master craftsman in the Prefecture City. It has a Profound Iron frame and an Exotic Beast Sinew for a string. It’s also a Thousand-Pound Bow, but its power is at least double that of your Tiger Sinew Heavy Bow!”

He gestured, tracing an arc in the air with his hand.

”And this bow has many clever mechanisms. I heard several parts can be detached to be used as weapons, and it can even be straightened out and used as a long spear. I’ve never seen it myself… but it should be pretty cool.”

Wang Chuang paused, his smile gaining a different quality.

”Early this year, when my uncle went to the Prefecture City, he fell in love with this Treasure Bow. He yearned for it for a long time, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to buy it.”