Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”Junior Brother, is that... Martial Arts you’re practicing?” Zhuang Zhen asked curiously.

”It looks soft and slow, but there’s a core of strength within it—gentle yet firm... It’s just that you haven’t activated your Blood Qi, so it doesn’t quite seem like Martial Arts...”

”Just a little routine for Nourishing Life,” Chen Cheng said placidly.

”Senior Sister, are you interested? I can teach you a thing or two.”

”I’m interested, but I just don’t have the time...” Zhuang Zhen gave a helpless smile.

”Right now, I don’t even have enough time every day to practice the Four Gods Profound Body and Hidden Dragon Fist. If I want to learn this routine of yours, it will have to wait.”

She paused, her smile vanishing, and said,

”Junior Brother, have you heard about the Qin Family?”

”What about them?” Chen Cheng asked in return.

Zhuang Zhen said,

”Yesterday at noon, Qin Xiangyun and Zhan Mubai were killed with Flying Needles. Even Qin Zhao was contaminated by poisoned blood. They say his injuries are serious, and he might even miss the Martial Selection.”

”...Something like that happened?”

A look of surprise appeared on Chen Cheng’s face, and it wasn’t an act.

He had retreated too quickly yesterday and didn’t know that Qin Zhao had been injured by the poisoned blood.

’Hearing about it now was definitely an unexpected bonus.’

”I could hardly believe it when I first heard, either...”

Zhuang Zhen said,

”It’s been many years since something like a public murder has happened in the Inner City. And in broad daylight, right under the noses of the Cloud Platform Hall Master and Lord Hong... That killer’s audacity is simply boundless.”

”What’s more, the killer’s technique is incredible. A Flying Needle Piercing Skull—the needle went in through the exact center of one temple and came out the exact center of the other. That kind of skill takes at least a decade of painstaking practice!”

She paused for a moment, then added,

”I heard from my uncle that yesterday, the Patrol Office surrounded several Workshops in Zuojin. They even alarmed a certain high-ranking official at the Inspectorate Headquarters.”

”They then launched a carpet search, but couldn’t find any clues... It’s clear that the killer is no ordinary expert!”

”...Indeed.”

Chen Cheng nodded, his expression placid, but inwardly he was feeling a little smug.

However, he didn’t want to continue this topic.

”How are things at the Upper Courtyard?”

”Not good...”

Zhuang Zhen lowered her voice.

”The Hall Master hasn’t woken up, and Master Cao’s injuries haven’t improved... The two Master Suns, from Transmission of Skills and General Affairs, have both taken long leaves of absence. They said they were going home to visit family, but they’re actually afraid the Red Moon Remnants will target them.”

”Right now, the Upper Courtyard is effectively being held up by the heavily injured Master Cao and Master Zhang, who manages the various businesses... If those two fall, Dragon Mountain Hall is finished.”

”Fortunately, the Red Moon leader who ambushed the Hall Master hasn’t struck again, so the Upper Courtyard has stabilized for now... But with a sword hanging over our heads, the fear is actually worse.”

Zhuang Zhen paused, her tone growing heavier.

”In just one day, panic has completely spread... Many disciples from the Upper and Middle Courtyards have already taken leave to go home... Some have even switched to other Martial Arts Halls...”

”On top of that, many factions have started dismissing Dragon Mountain Hall disciples from their affiliated positions... A lot of disciples have also had their funding cut off directly, and I’m no exception...”

”And then there are Dragon Mountain Hall’s many businesses, which a lot of major powers are already eyeing. The moment the Upper Courtyard can’t hold on, those powers will pounce...”

At this point, a hint of despair had crept into Zhuang Zhen’s voice.

The tide was turning against them. She could see it clearly, but was ultimately powerless to stop it.

”Cheng! Miss Zhuang! The food’s ready, come and eat.”

Aunt Li’s voice called out.

Zhuang Zhen suppressed her emotions and adjusted her tone, ”Okay, we’re coming!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she took a book wrapped in coarse cloth from within her robes.

”Three days ago, when my uncle attacked Cangying Hunting Manor, he found this on a member of the Bai Family’s Direct Lineage.”

As she spoke, she pushed the book into Chen Cheng’s hands.

”Is it a Martial Arts manual?” Chen Cheng asked.

”No.”

Zhuang Zhen said,

”My uncle and I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, but with your Comprehension, you might be able to figure it out. Take it for now and study it later. Don’t keep Aunt Li waiting.”

”I can’t accept a reward I haven’t earned...”

Chen Cheng was about to politely refuse when Zhuang Zhen shot him a look of mock annoyance.

”Didn’t we agree on an unlimited supply of Treasure Fish? Are you trying to go back on your word?”

”...Of course not.”

Chen Cheng smiled and put the book away.

At the dining table.

Aunt Li had placed the Cyan Silver Dragon Soup and the Cyan Ink Treasure Snake Medicinal Cuisine right in front of Zhuang Zhen. Worried she might be too shy, Aunt Li took the ladle and kept adding more soup and meat to her bowl.

”Aunt Li, please, you don’t have to...”

Seeing her bowl nearly overflowing with Treasure Fish Meat and soup, Zhuang Zhen quickly tried to stop her,

”This Cyan Silver Dragon Meat is incredibly nourishing. If I eat too much, my body won’t be able to handle it. I don’t even dare to eat everything that’s already in my bowl...”

”That’s no problem. Whatever you can’t finish, just give it to Cheng.”

Aunt Li said casually with a chuckle. Zhuang Zhen’s face instantly turned bright red. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Aunt Li, let alone Chen Cheng.

「After lunch.」

Zhuang Zhen chatted with Chen Cheng for a while longer, and somehow the conversation turned to sparring.

She had been planning to go home, but she changed her mind and followed Chen Cheng back to the inner courtyard.

”Junior Brother, come at me with your full strength.”

Zhuang Zhen took her position on one side of the inner courtyard, faced Chen Cheng, and slowly opened one palm.

Immediately, the Blood Qi in her body surged, and she gathered a protective layer of Dark Force in her palm.

”I won’t use Transforming Force. Let me get a good look at your true strength.”

”Alright.”

Chen Cheng nodded. As he slowly stepped forward, he fully activated the Blood Qi in his body, then used the Force Manipulation method of the Hidden Dragon Fist to build up Hidden Strength in his right arm.

He advanced.

He punched.

”BANG—!”