Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Chapter 340: Chapter 167: New Medicine (3)

Of course, the most important standard for auxiliary resources should be how much they boost one’s cultivation efficiency.

Chen Cheng calmed himself, took out the Dapeng Soaring Cloud Painting, and began the True Strength Crossing Thought technique.

A full cycle concluded.

Chen Cheng could clearly feel that during the process, the Blood Qi circulating throughout his body was at least three times faster than before, and the infusion of Power was also far smoother.

Crucially, the amount of newly generated Blood Qi was also three times greater.

Even the increase in his tempering progress on the status panel was threefold.

‘This feels incredible… So this is what a Sect’s resources are like? This is just too good…’

Chen Cheng let out a long, slow breath, his eyes shining with an unprecedented excitement.

‘If I’d gotten my hands on these Nine Altars Blood-Nourishing Pills sooner, I would’ve formed the Eighth Pillar of Blood Qi long ago. Killing Qin Zhao would have been as easy as slaughtering a chicken!’

‘Still, it’s not too late. In another seven or eight days, I can form the Eighth Pillar of Blood Qi…’

‘By then, I should have five Nine Altars Blood-Nourishing Pills left. Assuming the effects last for fifteen days, I can get at least halfway to forming the Ninth Pillar of Blood Qi.’

As Chen Cheng silently pondered, his eyes suddenly widened, and he muttered to himself,

“Those people born into Martial Arts Sects… The ones who’ve enjoyed this level of resources since childhood… Just how powerful must they be by the time they reach my age?!”

“Wouldn’t the so-called geniuses of the secular world… be instantly put in their place in front of people like that?!”

This thought gave Chen Cheng a completely new perspective on the Sects.

Establishing a foothold in the Northern Sect would be no easy feat!

…

For the next five days, Chen Cheng didn’t set foot outside.

The bustling Prefecture City held no appeal for him, and he politely rejected every one of Du Wenshun’s several invitations to various banquets.

Bolstered by the Nine Altars Blood-Nourishing Pills, he became completely immersed in his cultivation, unable to pull himself away.

By day, he tempered his Four Gods Profound Body and practiced Inner Strength Tai Chi. At night, he trained using True Strength Crossing Thought, and in the dead of night, he honed the Secret Cloud Peng Leg Technique.

He would regularly intersperse these sessions with Health Tai Chi to relax and recover.

To maximize the use of every last bit of the pills’ medicinal power, he barely slept at all during those five days.

He relied entirely on the Iron Bone Crocodile Eel Essence Dried Meat to make up for the physical deficit and exhaustion.

His Gastric Strength allowed his physique to absorb nutrients at an incredible rate, quickly making up for any exhaustion or depletion.

By eating as he trained, he remained full of energy despite being sleepless and constantly active.

The only problem was that he consumed the dried meat extremely quickly—about three times faster than usual.

Chen Cheng had arrived with three large wooden chests, but today, he was leaving with only two. The one he left behind, he had eaten empty.

At this moment, Chen Cheng had already loaded both large chests onto the carriage. Beside them were several bundles of various sizes.

Over the past five days, Li Family had also barely left the house.

She rose early every day and stayed up late into the night, all to hastily make a few more garments and another two pairs of cloth shoes for Chen Cheng.

These things could all be bought outside, but she insisted on making them with her own hands.

She knew his size and made everything with care. Her stitches were particularly fine and dense; her son had personally praised how comfortable they were to wear, and she had remembered that.

This time, her son was leaving on a long journey.

The journey would be long and far, and she didn’t know when he would return.

She knew full well that she had no special talents; this was all she could do for her son.

For that very reason, she insisted on making them herself, holding her breath with determination, striving to do her absolute best.

It was as if she believed that if only the stitches were sewn tightly and strongly enough, the clothes and shoes could accompany her son in her stead, block an extra gust of wind, and carry him an extra mile on his journey.

“Mother, I’m leaving. I will be back within three years, I promise! You must take good care of yourself!”

After earnestly saying his piece, Chen Cheng slowly lowered the carriage curtain.

The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage quickly exited the alley, merging with the Du Family merchant caravan traveling along the main street.

Li Family chased after him to the mouth of the alley.

She watched from afar, just watching…

The caravan moved farther and farther away until her son’s carriage finally vanished at the end of the long street.

In that instant, her eyes turned completely red.

Her lips trembled, wanting to shout her son’s name, but in the end, no sound came out.

Only two streams of hot tears flowed silently down her cheeks.

She raised her sleeve to wipe them away, then wiped again, but she couldn’t seem to dry her tears.

…

「Noon.」

The sun climbed to its zenith, a white-hot orb hanging in the sky, baking the yellow earth of the official road until it was scorching.

The caravan had been traveling for half a day, and both men and horses were weary. Big Pot Head Old Ma spotted a crooked old tree by the roadside in the distance, raised the long whip in his hand, and bellowed to the procession behind him.

“Tiiime toooo reeeest!”

The drawn-out call echoed all the way down the line.

As if they understood, the mules and horses noticeably slowed their pace.

The caravan slowly veered off the official road.

This area was a hollow between two low hills. Sheltered from the wind and with a clear stream flowing through it, it was a perfect place to rest.

Following closely, the few other carriages traveling with the caravan also slowly pulled over.

Chen Cheng climbed down from the third carriage, stretching his arms and back to loosen his stiff joints.

People began to dismount from the other carriages as well, one after another.

Every one of them was a young man or woman with an impressive bearing. Simply by standing there, they all exuded the intimidating pressure of a Martial Artist to some degree.

The caravan members all gave them a wide berth.

Even Big Pot Head Old Ma always bowed his head in their presence, a fawning smile plastered on his face, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

“And how should I address you, brother?”

Just then, a young man in a brocade robe walked straight up to Chen Cheng, a warm smile on his face.