Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Chapter 347: Chapter 170: Military Merit

“Younger Brother Chen, to be perfectly honest, Dongping, Su Bing, and I have formed a small alliance.”

Fang Lang said with a warm smile,

“I’d like to invite you to join us. In the future, the four of us can share resources, support one another, and stick together. I’m certain we’ll be able to establish a firm foothold here in Yunlei Mansion…”

“Thank you for the invitation. Allow me some time to consider it.”

Chen Cheng had no intention of joining, so he used a delaying tactic to avoid offending him.

“Alright. Let me know whenever you’ve made up your mind.”

Fang Lang’s warm smile never faltered.

Watching this unfold, Huang Jiao and Ning Chong, who stood a short distance away, instinctively exchanged a glance. Their expressions were incredibly complex.

The two of them had always wanted to ally with Fang Lang, Dongping, and Su Bing, but their advances had been rejected every time.

But now, Fang Lang was personally inviting Chen Cheng.

In Huang Jiao’s eyes, she was far stronger than Chen Cheng. This left a sour taste in her mouth.

Ning Chong, however, saw Chen Cheng as an extraordinary genius. He resolved to do his best to get on good terms with him.

“Young Master Chen, may I have a word with you in private?”

A young maidservant walked over, looking at Chen Cheng with a bright smile.

Chen Cheng nodded and followed her to the other side of his carriage.

“Young Master Chen, Zhao Ye adored your Treasure Fish Dried Meat. It’s all gone.”

The young maidservant said,

“My master would like to trade for more. The ratio will be the same as before. We’ll take as much as you have.”

“All gone?”

Chen Cheng was taken aback.

‘Two hundred pieces of Iron Bone Crocodile Eel Essence Dried Meat in seven days? All eaten by a single cat?’

‘That appetite was almost on par with his own.’

“Zhao Ye isn’t an ordinary kitten, you know,” the young maidservant said with a smile, leaving it at that.

“I have a thousand pieces on hand. Can you take it all?” Chen Cheng got straight to the point.

“Of course.”

The young maidservant smiled and added,

“According to the exchange ratio, I will bring you five hundred pieces of Golden-backed Exotic Bear Dried Meat.”

“Furthermore, as per my master’s instructions, I will give you an additional one hundred pieces.”

“Why is that?”

Chen Cheng was taken aback. He hadn’t expected such a pleasant surprise.

‘A hundred pieces of Golden-backed Exotic Bear Dried Meat was no small amount. In terms of restorative effects, it was equivalent to a full three hundred pieces of Iron Bone Crocodile Eel Dried Meat.’

“My master has always enjoyed befriending talented individuals. She was very impressed with your performance earlier, so she is sending a small gift as a token of goodwill, to establish a friendly connection.”

After speaking, the young maidservant gave a bright smile, then immediately turned and walked away.

A moment later.

Four strong servants heaved over a massive wooden crate.

The moment the crate was placed on Chen Cheng’s carriage, the chassis sank several centimeters. The wheels let out a grating creak, like an agonized groan under the immense weight.

“All six hundred pieces of Golden-backed Exotic Bear Dried Meat are inside. Young Master Chen, feel free to inspect the contents,” the young maidservant said.

“There’s no need. Your master is forthright, and I won’t be difficult.”

Chen Cheng raised his hand and pointed.

“You can take that large crate over directly. There should be a little over a thousand pieces of Iron Bone Crocodile Eel Dried Meat inside. I haven’t counted them precisely. Consider the extra my return gift.”

“You are very generous, Young Master Chen. I will be sure to inform my master.”

The young maidservant gave a slight bow and waved for the four servants to carry the crate away.

A moment later.

The caravan set off once more.

The guards who had fallen in battle were buried on the spot.

The heads of the three bandit leaders were hung from a flagpole as a warning to anyone else along the route.

For a long stretch of the journey afterward, not only did bandits dare not approach the caravan, but even refugees kept their distance, not daring to come near to beg for food.

When they stopped to rest for the night.

Big Pot Head, Old Ma, personally brought over some wine and meat.

“Young Master Chen, you killed one of the bandit leaders with your own hands. You protected the caravan and avenged our fallen brothers…”

“This wine and meat is just a small token of gratitude from the entire escort team. I hope you won’t find it lacking.”

“Alright, I accept.”

Chen Cheng took the wine jug and the large platter of roasted meat, casually setting them on the large wooden crate beside him.

Old Ma grinned and added,

“Once we get to the city, I’ll give that head back to you. You should take it to the Patrol Office and ask about it. He might be a wanted man, and you could get a decent bounty for it.”

“Alright. Thank you for the reminder, Ma Daguo.”

If he hadn’t mentioned it, Chen Cheng wouldn’t have even considered the possibility of a bounty.

The two then chatted for a while longer.

This Ma Daguo was very familiar with the Northern Territory, and through their casual conversation, Chen Cheng learned a great deal more about it.

From then on, whenever the caravan stopped to rest, Chen Cheng would take the initiative to chat with Ma Daguo and the other veterans who had traveled this trade route for years. In terms of information, his gains were substantial.

「On the carriage.」

Chen Cheng checked the updated information on his panel.

[Cloud Peng Leg Technique – Secret Chapter]: Minor Achievement (6/1000), Traits (Fuyao), Limit-Breaking (No)

[Fuyao: Increases flexibility by ten percent when using this Leg Technique.]

[Four Gods Profound Body – Taming God Chapter]: Great Success (89/3000), Traits (Four Gods, Profound Body), Limit-Breaking (No)

[Profound Body: Increases physical strength by thirty percent at the points where the first four Blood Fragrance Divine Shadows have condensed, and protects vital areas.]

Since he had spent nearly all his time recently cultivating in the carriage,

Chen Cheng could only rely on the Dapeng Soaring Cloud Painting and the Four Gods Profound Body to generate and strengthen his Blood Qi.

Because of this, his training progress in other Martial Arts Skills had come to a complete halt.

Fortunately, by using High Level Resources, he had successfully condensed his Eighth Pillar of Blood Qi within seven days and unlocked two new Traits.

He still had enough Golden-backed Exotic Bear Dried Meat to last for a long time.

However, his supply of Nine Altars Blood-Nourishing Pills was running low. They would be gone in about ten days, and his cultivation speed would drop.

If he wanted to quickly condense his Ninth Pillar of Blood Qi, he had to find a way to obtain more Same Tier Sect Auxiliary Cultivation Resources as soon as possible.