Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”Fine, you can go first.”

A flicker of displeasure, nearly imperceptible, flashed through Ye Yang’s eyes. He raised a finger toward a wooden post standing to the side of the field. It was wrapped in more than ten layers of cowhide that had a faint metallic sheen. He said,

”This is wrapped in ’Iron Skin’. Its creation method and materials are far more high-level than the Outer Hall’s ’Stone Skin’. It’s about three times tougher and harder!”

”The Inner Hall’s Bright Force assessment is judged by the number of Iron Skin layers pierced. In previous years, the best result was breaking through three layers of Iron Skin in one strike, which is equivalent to nine layers of Stone Skin.”

Ye Yang explained in great detail, mainly so the distinguished guests could first understand the specific standards of the Inner Hall assessment.

The moment his voice fell, Xiao Yi was already in position before the wooden post.

He took a deep breath, his body sinking slightly. He tucked his waist and hips, bent his shoulders and elbows to gather power, and his entire presence instantly tensed.

Then, holding his breath, he forcefully circulated the Three Pillars of Blood Qi in his body. He did everything he could to squeeze, twist, and condense all his Power into a single, coiled burst of Hidden Strength.

The bones and tendons throughout his body hummed without cease. The skin on his fist even took on a faint, dark red hue, suffused with Blood Qi.

”HRAH—!”

Along with a short exhalation like a Dragon’s Roar, Xiao Yi mobilized every bone, tendon, and even internal organ in his body, focusing their combined force to unleash a single, maximally penetrating Dragon-Splitting Drill.

”BOOM!!!”

The massive sound was like a clap of muffled thunder.

All eyes instantly focused on the point of impact.

The outermost layer of the special Iron Skin—three times tougher than the Outer Hall’s Stone Skin—could be seen clearly. It had been blasted inward, shattering into more than ten pieces.

”Huuu...”

Xiao Yi let out a long breath and slowly withdrew his fist. After briefly regulating his breathing, he immediately clasped his fist in salute to the young man in white and said, ”A humble display.”

As for Ye Yang, who was in the middle of the field, it was as if Xiao Yi had completely forgotten him, leaving him hanging with no acknowledgment whatsoever.

Immediately, two young disciples hurried forward. They removed the pierced layers of Iron Skin one by one and held them up to show the distinguished guests.

Everyone praised him without exception.

But the one person Xiao Yi cared about most, the young man in white, didn’t even lift an eyelid from beginning to end. He simply continued to discuss something with Cao Miao beside him.

Xiao Yi’s eyes dimmed for a moment, then he shot a glance at Chen Cheng on the sidelines.

’A flower needs green leaves as a foil to appear even more brilliant and dazzling!’

The corners of Xiao Yi’s mouth lifted, and he deliberately raised his voice.

”Junior Brother Chen, it’s your turn!”

”Master Ye?”

Chen Cheng didn’t respond to Xiao Yi. Instead, he turned to the other side and asked respectfully.

”May I begin?”

”Wait.”

Ye Yang calmly uttered the single word.

When he looked at Chen Cheng, a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

Xiao Yi’s previous disrespectful slight only served to highlight Chen Cheng’s impeccable etiquette in asking for permission first, showing his respect for his master and the Martial Arts.

’In the eyes of outsiders, isn’t this a reflection of my, Ye Yang’s, excellent teaching?’

At this thought, an indescribably complex feeling flickered in Ye Yang’s eyes...

He was well aware that he had never taught Chen Cheng anything. In fact, they had only ever met once, and it had been a brief and unpleasant encounter...

Chen Cheng’s current attitude made a certain amount of shame well up in his heart.

He had taught Chen Cheng nothing, but Chen Cheng had taught him that a Martial Artist must seek a clear and unobstructed mind...

Shame slowly turned into mortification...

Ye Yang’s mind... became even more obstructed!

”Master Ye? Master Ye...”

The young disciple displaying the Iron Skin called out softly twice before Ye Yang finally came back to his senses and looked over.

”One layer, two layers, three layers...”

Ye Yang suppressed his emotions, his voice low and solemn as he spoke.

”Four... The fourth layer isn’t completely pierced, but it shows clear cracks. This level of Power can be considered the best result in years!”

As soon as he said this, Xiao Yi once again became the center of attention, and sounds of admiration rose one after another.

”Senior Brother Xiao Yi, Power breaks through three and a half layers of Iron Skin, the best in years! Grade: A+!”

The disciple in charge of recording announced loudly.

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow. He said nothing, but the disdain in his eyes clearly said, ’I’ve already broken the record. What else would it be but A+? You still have to announce it? What a waste of breath!’

At that moment, no one at all noticed the complex, shifting emotions in Ye Yang’s eyes.

On one hand, Xiao Yi had broken the previous record. As his master, Ye Yang naturally gained face, and the credit for his excellent guidance went without saying.

But on the other hand, he was extremely displeased with Xiao Yi’s attitude—one could even say disgusted.

In his view, this boy had been meek and subservient when he was insignificant, fawning over his superiors in every possible way. But the moment he made a little progress or found a higher branch to cling to, his rebellious nature would immediately show. In the future, he would most likely turn out to be an ungrateful, backstabbing wolf.

However, seeing through him was one thing.

Not only would Ye Yang not expose him, but he would even give him a push in the right direction.

In the end, he still needed to use Xiao Yi as a stepping stone to build his own prestige, connect with a wider network of people, and seize more benefits.

Tearing down Xiao Yi’s stage was the same as tearing down his own. How could he do something so foolish?

”Very good! Xiao Yi, you truly have not disappointed me!”

Ye Yang narrowed his eyes, revealing an extremely rare, gentle smile.

”Keep up the good work. If you can achieve Three A+, I will certainly reward you handsomely!”

”Thank you, Master Ye.”

Xiao Yi smiled, then his gaze swept over the young man in white. Seeing that he still had no reaction, he immediately looked back at Chen Cheng, his smile growing wider.

”Junior Brother Chen, you’re the most hardworking person in our Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard! Do your best, and don’t tarnish the Middle Courtyard’s reputation!”

Chen Cheng remained silent, simply waiting for Ye Yang to speak.

”Alright.”

Ye Yang looked at Chen Cheng and said calmly.

”You may begin. Perform well. If you can manage a C-grade, I will also have a reward for you.”

”Yes, thank you, Master Ye!”

Chen Cheng gave Ye Yang a fist-and-palm salute and walked, unhurried, toward another wooden post with its Iron Skin completely intact.

At this moment, most of the distinguished guests were discussing Xiao Yi’s previous punch, not even giving Chen Cheng a proper look.

More than half of them had come specifically for Xiao Yi. Before today, they had never even heard of a character like Chen Cheng in the Inner Hall. They just assumed he was a foil for Xiao Yi, someone not worth watching.

It wasn’t just the distinguished guests; even the other few Inner Hall Disciples were completely unconcerned with Chen Cheng’s performance.

Senior Brother Chu Meng stood quietly to the side, his eyes half-closed and his breathing deep and slow, as if all the surrounding clamor had nothing to do with him, his Heart Spirit already turned inward.

Zhu Mingyuan, Ye Qiluo, and Cao Zhao were gathered together, quietly discussing how their own Bright Force had indeed been a notch below Xiao Yi’s back when they had condensed their Third Pillar of Blood Qi.

Zhuang Zhen stood quietly not far away. She seemed to be listening to their conversation, but in reality, her beautiful eyes kept drifting unconsciously toward Chen Cheng.

She knew Chen Cheng’s Root Bone was poor, but she knew even better that he was the most diligent person in the entire Outer Hall—bar none!

At some unknown point, a sliver of illogical hope had sprouted in her heart. ’Perhaps... Root Bone isn’t the sole foundation on the path of Martial Arts!’

「Before the wooden post.」

Chen Cheng simply took his stance. With no extra preparation, he directly threw a Dragon-Splitting Drill, identical in form to Xiao Yi’s.

However, Chen Cheng’s overall state was far more relaxed.

There was no holding his breath to forcefully circulate his Blood Qi, no humming of bones and tendons with a magnificent aura, no Dragon’s Roar to mobilize his entire body, and he didn’t even use his trump card, the Tai Chi Force. He even deliberately held back twenty percent of his strength.

”BOOM!!!”

The instant his fist made solid contact, the enormous sound exploded like muffled thunder, shaking the Inner Hall disciples so much that they all turned to look. Even many in the Outer Hall heard it and looked over in astonishment.

Chen Cheng withdrew his fist and stepped back, his expression normal and his breathing steady, as if he had just casually stretched his muscles.

The area instantly fell silent.

The disciple in charge of inspections stared blankly for a few breaths before hurriedly jogging forward. He unwrapped the Iron Skin layer by layer to show the crowd.

The first layer was completely pierced, the hide curled inward.

The second and third layers were also penetrated, though the tears grew successively smaller. The fourth layer...

All eyes, especially Xiao Yi’s—which had suddenly widened, filled with disbelief—were glued to the fourth layer of Iron Skin... Murmurs of dispute began to rise.

”Master Ye, this... how should this be scored?”

The young disciple holding the fourth layer of Iron Skin looked at Ye Yang, somewhat troubled.