Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Chapter 352: Chapter 171: Mountain and Sea 3

The window shutters closed softly behind him without a sound.

A night breeze swept by, but the guards outside the courtyard walls were completely oblivious. They continued along their fixed patrol route, their footsteps receding into the distance.

「Some time later.」

A large number of Patrol Office Constables arrived at the scene and quickly began their investigation.

A sea of torches lit up the entire area.

In the distance, a large crowd of onlookers had already gathered.

Most of them were nearby residents. Some were still in their sleepwear, some were wrapped in thin blankets, and some had thrown on an outer coat. They huddled together in small groups, whispering and pointing.

The commotion had been too loud. How could anyone sleep without knowing what had happened?

Many guests from Futong Inn also came to watch. Chen Cheng naturally followed along, his face showing a perfect blend of shock and curiosity.

“Sir, I found this!”

A Constable, holding an egg-sized Iron Lump with an uneven surface, hurried forward to report.

“…This is, the Immortal Bone Sect’s Profound Phoenix Egg!?”

The lead Imperial Guard Official’s pupils constricted. He snatched the Iron Lump with one hand. With the other, he grabbed the corner of the Constable’s tunic and used it to wipe the blood and grime off the object’s scorched surface.

“Fuck, it’s a fake… scared the hell out of me!”

“Sir…”

A young Imperial Guard beside him asked in a low voice:

“What is a Profound Phoenix Egg?”

“The Immortal Bone Sect’s totem, the ‘Bird God,’ is named the ‘Immortal Bone Profound Phoenix.’ The eggs that thing lays are called Profound Phoenix Eggs.”

The Imperial Guard Official curled his lip, his tone shifting as he said:

“However, Profound Phoenix Eggs only exist in legends. No one has ever seen a real one… But the Immortal Bone Sect insists on using Profound Phoenix Eggs as ritual implements for every major ceremony.”

“Since they can’t produce the real thing, they can only use these fakes forged from Profound Iron to put on a show and fool their believers.”

“I understand.”

The young Imperial Guard nodded.

In the distance, Chen Cheng also gave an almost imperceptible nod.

…

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, six carriages passed through the city gates and headed east.

The blame for last night’s explosion was firmly pinned on the Immortal Bone Sect.

When their carriages left the city, they were only briefly questioned before being allowed to pass.

Chen Cheng sat in his own carriage, not wasting a single second as he hammered his Four Gods Profound Body. Whenever he felt hungry, he would eat a piece of Golden-backed Exotic Bear Dried Meat, and he would instantly feel fully charged.

「In the afternoon.」

The carriage rounded the last bend on the mountain road, and the view suddenly opened up.

At the coachman’s reminder, Chen Cheng lifted the carriage curtain.

Ahead, nestled among the mountains, a vast, boundless marsh stretched to the horizon. Its waters were a pale, misty expanse of smoke and waves.

Above the marsh, the mist never dispersed year-round. Clusters of buildings could be faintly seen, seemingly floating on the water’s surface.

Pavilions, covered bridges, and spires were all supported by enormous wooden stakes and stone pillars, looking as if they had grown right out of the water.

Farther still, to the east of the great marsh, a major peak shot up from the ground and pierced the heavens, its upper half disappearing into the clouds.

At the foot of the mountain, a continuous stretch of rooftops and winding stone steps looked like a giant, grayish-white python coiled around the mountain’s base.

The Mountain and Sea Sect.

Half on water, half on the mountain.

Flying bridges connected the water and the mountain, looking from afar like rainbows resting on the waves—a testament to exquisite craftsmanship.

However, the road to the Mountain and Sea Academy was strictly off-limits to outsiders.

Chen Cheng’s convoy stopped at the foot of a mountain, still several miles from the great marsh.

Here, there was a stone terrace built against the mountainside.

On the terrace stood a few rows of low stone houses. At its entrance was a massive archway with a plaque hanging high above. On it were inscribed four large, powerful words in gold lacquer: Mountain and Sea Gate.

At this moment, more than a dozen carriages were already parked on one side of the stone terrace.

In front of one of the stone houses over there, a dozen or so young men and women were lined up. It seemed they were also Martial Artists who wished to join the Mountain and Sea Sect.

When Chen Cheng got out of the carriage, Ning Chong, Su Bing, and Huang Jiao were already standing on the terrace.

Ning Chong, as brash as ever, strode toward the young men and women lined up over there.

“Brother Chen.”

Su Bing took a couple of steps toward him and explained:

“This is where the Mountain and Sea Sect receives outside guests and tests their Root Bone. Outsiders are strictly forbidden from setting foot in the Sect’s true heartland.”

As soon as she finished speaking,

the two luxurious carriages from their party drove straight across the stone terrace and headed toward the Mountain and Sea Sect’s heartland.

On the way, two disciples from the Mountain Courtyard in green martial attire stepped forward to block them.

The little maidservant went forward and said a few words. Not only did the two disciples immediately let them pass, but they also bowed respectfully as they watched them go.

“Tsk, now that’s a true noble…”

Su Bing couldn’t help but sigh softly, her eyes full of curiosity as she asked:

“Brother Chen, do you have any idea who that noble person in the carriage is?”

“I don’t know.”

Chen Cheng shook his head.

‘Even though their paths had crossed on this journey, he didn’t know the person’s identity, let alone their name.’

‘He’d only learned the little maidservant’s name, Qing Chan, yesterday when she delivered the head.’

“Younger Brother Chen! Over here! Hurry up—!”

In the distance, Ning Chong shouted while waving his hand:

“The line for the Root Bone test is over here! Come on! I’ll let you get in front of me!”

With that, Chen Cheng, Su Bing, and Huang Jiao walked over together.

Huang Jiao and Su Bing both got in line at the back.

But Chen Cheng didn’t join them.

“Brother Chen, come get in line! Where are you going?” Su Bing looked puzzled.

“You guys go ahead and wait in line. I’ll be right back.”

Chen Cheng gave a casual reply and walked toward another stone house with an open door.

“What’s with him?”

Ning Chong watched Chen Cheng’s back, his eyes full of confusion:

“He’s not going to take a piss, is he? Shit! I kinda have to go too…”

Huang Jiao shot Ning Chong a harsh glare, then snorted coldly and said indifferently:

“Chen Cheng’s Root Bone is even worse than mine. He’s probably trying to pull some clever trick. Hmph. This is the Mountain and Sea Sect, not a farmers’ market. If being clever was enough, the whole world would’ve already mobbed this place. What makes him think he has a shot?”

“Brother Chen isn’t that kind of person.”

Su Bing said in a low voice:

“Maybe… Brother Chen knows someone in the Mountain and Sea Sect.”

“Him?”

Huang Jiao snorted coldly again, turned her head away, and stopped paying attention to Chen Cheng’s situation.

Ning Chong and Su Bing also reined in their Heart Spirits.

This was because, from the front of the line, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out, carrying waves of pressure that they could feel.

“Lu Shang! Tendon and Muscle: superior grade. Skin, Bone, and Viscera: medium grade. In past years, I wouldn’t have even bothered to look at a Root Bone like this! This year… ugh… Scram to the side and wait!”

“Zhang Ziran, one superior… What is this garbage? You have the gall to come here for a Root Bone test? Do you think my Mountain and Sea Sect is that desperate for people? Scram! I’ll count to three!”