Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”...A Secret Martial Artist.”

Chen Cheng silently mulled over the words.

Zhuang Zhen couldn’t help but sigh softly.

”It’s a shame the latter half of the Four Gods Profound Body’s Secret Techniques are missing. Otherwise, with your Comprehension, Junior Brother, you could have surely reached the Entry Level and become a true Secret Martial Artist.”

”Just how strong is a Secret Martial Artist?” Chen Cheng asked.

”That’s hard to describe accurately...”

Zhuang Zhen thought for a moment before saying,

”In a few days, there will be a ’Young Qilin Association’ gathering. Given your age, you’re eligible to participate. You’ll understand once you go and see for yourself.”

”...Young Qilin?”

A thought struck Chen Cheng.

’Senior Brother Zhou mentioned something about this last month. This must be it. I’ll head back to the Upper Courtyard tomorrow morning and ask Master Cao to find out for sure.’

”Yes, you should go back.”

Zhuang Zhen said,

”Tell Master Cao the news that you’ve condensed your Sixth Pillar of Blood Qi. He’ll definitely be thrilled. Who knows, he might even give you some extra cultivation resources.”

”That would be great.”

Chen Cheng smiled.

”WHOOSH—!”

As they spoke, another signal arrow soared into the sky in the distance.

Zhuang Zhen’s smile vanished instantly.

”Junior Brother, stay close! I’ll slow down a bit, but I can’t completely accommodate you. This is a matter of life and death!”

”Let’s go.”

Chen Cheng didn’t waste a word.

He instantly activated his Silent Thunder Treading Skill. His figure shot forward like a silent, human-shaped bolt of lightning, rocketing ahead.

’...This Body Technique? It’s... it’s too fast...’

Zhuang Zhen’s beautiful eyes were wide with astonishment. She froze on the spot, stunned for two full breaths.

Then she took off, her long legs moving at full speed as she chased after Chen Cheng.

...

「The next morning.」

After finishing a large bowl of medicinal stew made with Golden-tailed Eel, Chen Cheng practiced the Celestial God Hidden Dragon Painting for a while.

When the sun was high in the sky, he tidied up a bit and headed out of the courtyard.

Before leaving, he made a point to tell his mother,

”Mother, I’m heading out for a bit. Also, Senior Sister Zhuang is coming over at noon, so please make some nice dishes and have her stay for lunch.”

”Miss Zhuang is coming? You child... why didn’t you say so sooner?”

His mother, who was busy in the kitchen, immediately ran out, hastily wiping her hands on her apron before hurrying toward her room.

”If I had known Miss Zhuang was coming, I would have gone out to buy groceries earlier! At this hour, how can I possibly make a few proper dishes? This is so rude... so rude...”

”...Mother, don’t get so worked up. She’ll probably be coming over often from now on.”

Chen Cheng’s brow furrowed slightly. He knew exactly what his mother was thinking. He quickly reminded her,

”Senior Sister Zhuang is a Martial Artist, too. Stewing a Treasure Fish for her would be better than any number of other dishes you could buy.”

”A Treasure Fish? Oh, that’s a great idea...”

His mother paused.

”Those Wave-Resistant Carp you brought back last time were quite good. They were delicious when stewed. There are still three left in the tank, right? I’ll cook them all!”

”...Mother, you... well, do as you please.”

Chen Cheng was amused. He waved his hand and walked straight out the gate.

Those Wave-Resistant Carp were relatively small and not particularly valuable. Three of them were only worth about one hundred and fifty taels of silver.

The money he got from looting the corpses last night was more than that.

Chen Cheng didn’t want to argue with his mother over such a small matter. He was happy to let her do as she pleased.

...

「Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard.」

After entering, Chen Cheng first walked over to the large, green-stone tank in the middle of the courtyard to look at the two Golden-Scaled Strange Fish swimming slowly inside.

He hadn’t paid them much attention during his last visit. He only learned later, after asking Wu Ziyu, that they were called ’Zhen Yuan’ and ’Ding Lan’.

They were a type of Treasure Fish that evolved in pairs, and their appearance was exceedingly rare.

According to Wu Ziyu, these two Treasure Fish didn’t have any particularly significant nourishing effects, but they could alter feng shui, protect the residence, and ward off evil.

However, Wu Ziyu had also said that there was no way to actually verify such mysterious rumors. They were just something to be heard for amusement, and keeping them at home was mostly for show.

”Cheng!”

Just as Chen Cheng was looking closely, a tall, burly, mountain-like figure emerged from Courtyard No. 8.

As he passed through the small, vermilion-lacquered door, it looked as if the doorframe was about to burst from his size.

”Senior Brother Fang!”

Chen Cheng turned around, a warm smile spreading across his face.

”It’s been a while. You look like you’ve gotten a lot fatter...”

”Tell me about it!”

Fatty Fang grinned and said,

”And you, kid, you’re taller, stronger, and even more handsome! This skin... it’s more delicate than a newborn baby’s! I almost didn’t recognize you for a second!”

As he spoke, Fatty Fang strode closer, unable to stop himself from clicking his tongue in amazement.

”Other Martial Artists get rougher skin and thicker hides the more they train. But you, you just get fairer and more delicate... Fess up, did you use some kind of powerful tonic?”

Chen Cheng just smiled and didn’t respond to the question.

Fatty Fang’s words were nearly identical to what Zhuang Zhen had said last night.

Since they both believed his transformation was due to some powerful tonic, Chen Cheng decided to just go along with it.

The real reason behind it was Health Tai Chi.

Nourishing Life as one, eternal Harmony, Unceasing vitality, Returning to Truth.

These were all secrets Chen Cheng could never reveal.

Besides, even if Chen Cheng were willing to tell Zhuang Zhen and Fatty Fang, they would never be able to understand.

After all, they didn’t have a cheat system.

”Senior Brother Fang, were you heading out for something?” Chen Cheng casually changed the subject.

”Hah, I was supposed to spar with Cao Zhao, but the sun’s already high in the sky and he’s still not out...”

Fatty Fang pouted.

”I’m bored out of my mind, so I was thinking of going for a stroll.”

”Not cultivating?” Chen Cheng asked.

”Sigh... I’ve hit a bottleneck with my Blood Qi recently...”

Fatty Fang sighed.

”No matter how much effort I put in or how many resources I pour into it, my Blood Qi just won’t grow one bit... Training is useless. My only option is to spar with people, improve my combat skills, and look for an opportunity to break through my bottleneck in a real fight...”

”...A bottleneck?”

Chen Cheng also sighed softly. ’That’s something I’ve never really had...’

”Senior Brother Fang, how about I spar a few rounds with you?”