Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

”Both of you need to rest and recover.”

Ye Yang said gravely.

”After the endurance test, there must be at least a one-hour break before the combat assessment begins. Withdraw for now.”

”Yes.”

Chen Cheng cupped his fist and immediately retreated.

Xiao Yi had intended to use a few choice words to regain some momentum, but he saw Chen Cheng’s utterly nonchalant reaction. It was as if, from the very beginning, Chen Cheng had never considered him an opponent worth taking seriously.

At the thought, the vicious, pent-up rage in Xiao Yi’s heart erupted. Killing intent blazed within his chest like fire poured on boiling oil, searing him until his eyes turned a faint red and he nearly lost control.

”Xiao Yi?”

Ye Yang shot him a sidelong glance, having clearly noticed Xiao Yi’s emotional turmoil.

”...Yes. I will withdraw now.”

Xiao Yi jolted, forcibly suppressing all his emotions. He bowed and retreated, his steps slightly hurried. His gaze subconsciously flickered to Xu Linyuan in the main seat; to his relief, the man wasn’t looking their way.

”Change the hides.”

Ye Yang ordered.

Disciples immediately came forward to remove all the Iron Skin wrapped around the wooden posts, replacing it with a different type of thick hide—one that was darker, denser, and tougher.

However, there were far fewer layers of this new hide—only nine.

”Everyone...”

Ye Yang turned to the honored guests watching the ceremony and announced in a clear voice.

”As Lu Changning, ranked fifth in the Inner Hall, was seriously injured during the punitive expedition against Red Moon Nunnery and is currently recuperating at home, the assessment for disciples with Four Pillars of Blood Qi is canceled.”

Ye Yang paused briefly, his gaze turning to the other side of the field.

”Next up are the disciples who have condensed Five Pillars of Blood Qi, for the Dark Force assessment. Ye Qiluo, Zhu Mingyuan, which of you will go first?”

”...Junior Sister Qiluo, you first?”

Zhu Mingyuan smiled and glanced to the side. Seeing that Ye Qiluo was reluctant, he graciously amended his offer.

”Master Ye, then allow me to go first.”

”Very well.”

Ye Yang nodded, signaling him to step forward and prepare.

”Junior Brother Chen.”

Just then, Cao Zhao approached Chen Cheng. He had a tall, straight posture and his features radiated an easygoing heartiness. He spoke with a warm laugh.

”I’m Cao Zhao. I suppose this is our first formal introduction. Your performance today was truly stunning, Junior Brother...”

”I remember when Senior Sister Zhuang Zhen held the record for the Bright Force assessment. I was the one who later set the cauldron-lifting record for Three Pillars of Blood Qi. To think that in just a few moments, you, Junior Brother Chen, would break both of them. You’re a true genius, no doubt about it!”

”You’re too kind, Senior Brother Cao. It was just a stroke of luck...”

Chen Cheng cupped his fist in salute, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

”But Senior Sister Zhuang is ranked sixth, and you, Senior Brother Cao, are ranked fourth. So why do you call her ’Senior Sister’?”

”Oh, about that...”

Cao Zhao hesitated, his smile taking on a secretive air.

”It’s all old history. Without Senior Sister Zhuang’s permission... I can’t really say much.”

He changed the subject, returning to the present, his tone growing more serious.

”Junior Brother, in the combat assessment later, if you receive another A+ rating, you’ll be the second person in the last decade, after Senior Sister Zhuang, to achieve Three A+s in the Bright Force stage of the annual assessment!”

”...How is the combat assessment graded?” Chen Cheng took the opportunity to ask.

”It’s simple.”

Cao Zhao explained.

”For combat between those at the same level, a swift, uninjured victory earns an A+. But that’s very hard to do...”

”You know as well as I do that no one in the Inner Hall is a slouch. Besides, that Junior Brother Xiao has been making quite a name for himself lately. He’s bound to be fully prepared!”

”Senior Brother Xiao is indeed remarkable. I’ll be careful.”

Chen Cheng cupped his fist again.

”Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother Cao.”

”THUD!”

While the two were talking, Zhu Mingyuan’s fist had already landed on the wooden post wrapped in nine layers of the newly replaced thick hide.

The sound wasn’t loud, and the post didn’t even tremble. The outermost layer of thick hide was completely undamaged, leaving only a faint fist print.

After Zhu Mingyuan retracted his fist and stepped back, a disciple immediately came forward, peeled off the thick hides, and displayed them to the crowd.

The first layer was completely intact, but the surface of the second layer bulged outward strangely.

By the third layer, the hide was completely disintegrated and ruptured.

”This is Dark Force. The force penetrates the surface and erupts within. If it hits a person, their internal organs and bone marrow are injured first, while their skin remains unharmed.”

Cao Zhao offered a casual explanation, but he saw that Chen Cheng’s expression remained unchanged, as if he already knew. ’Master Ye must have already taught him,’ Cao Zhao figured, so he didn’t elaborate.

Next, it was Ye Qiluo’s turn.

With her punch, the Dark Force penetrated all the way to the fourth layer of thick hide before erupting. It was clearly a notch more refined and penetrating than Zhu Mingyuan’s Dark Force.

”Senior Sister Ye: Dark Force penetration, four layers of Copper Skin. Rating: A-! Senior Brother Zhu: Dark Force penetration, three layers of Copper Skin. Rating: C+!”

Their results were quickly announced.

The honored guests remained relatively calm. It seemed they had anticipated the pair’s progress over the past year, so this result was merely a confirmation, nothing stunning. It caused no great stir. Their previous sponsors would maintain the relationship, while those who hadn’t sponsored them before saw no reason to change their minds.

Ye Yang’s gaze immediately fell upon Xu Linyuan in the main seat. Seeing the Captain’s utter lack of interest, Ye Yang knew. ’My daughter’s abilities, in the end, failed to catch his eye.’

However, this result was within Ye Yang’s expectations.

If not for Xiao Yi’s emergence this year, with the Wu Family and the Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard building momentum for him, this young Captain of special status would never have personally attended an assessment at the Outer City’s Middle Courtyard. His standards were simply far higher.

The next to take the stage were Cao Zhao and Chu Meng.

Both had condensed Six Pillars of Blood Qi, and their final results were identical: Dark Force penetration of six layers of Copper Skin, for a rating of A.

However, Cao Zhao was two years younger than Chu Meng, so his potential was more highly anticipated. Coupled with the backing of the Cao Family, his prospects were considered brighter.