Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Song Yingzhi remained silent, her eyes downcast, her expression unreadable.

”That bastard, that son of a bitch! I’ll...”

Wang Hengyu supported Wang Chuang as they walked back, cursing up a storm as spit flew from his mouth. The racket gave Wang Chuang a headache, so he raised a large, bronze-colored hand and clamped it over Wang Hengyu’s mouth.

”Huh? Where’s Cheng?”

Wang Chuang suddenly realized someone was missing. He slowly turned his head, and his pupils contracted.

”What’s wrong?”

Wang Hengyu pried his hand away. When he turned to look, his eyes went wide.

”I am Chen Cheng, a Martial Artist sponsored by Jiuan Hunting Manor. I am sixteen years old, at the Peak of Three Pillars of Blood Qi. I ask for your guidance, Young Master Yan!”

In the center of the field, Chen Cheng was already standing firmly before Yan Huaiqing.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment.

Then, whispers rippled through the crowd like waves.

”Challenging someone above his tier? Is he joking?”

”Sixteen years old and at the Peak of Three Pillars of Blood Qi is quite impressive, but the gap in their strength is just too big...”

”The kid’s just trying to make a name for himself. After all, an opportunity like this is rare.”

”True. Getting this many people to remember him makes it worth it, no matter how he loses.”

”That kid...”

Wu Ziyu and Gu Lan’an looked over at the same time, their expressions extremely complicated.

Song Che and Song Yingzhi exchanged a look.

”Wasn’t it just half a month ago that he formed his Three Pillars of Blood Qi?”

Wang Peng, Cao Zhao, Ji Hongshan, Wang Chuang, and Wang Hengyu all showed varying degrees of surprise on their faces.

”Young man...”

Yan Huaiqing raised an eyebrow, his gaze filled with obvious disdain.

”You’ve had your moment in the spotlight, now get down. Are you just going to stand there? You don’t really expect me to make a move, do you? Our bouts are supposed to stop at the first touch, but I’m afraid you won’t even be able to handle a light tap from me.”

”Young Master Yan, please!”

Chen Cheng didn’t waste any more words, immediately taking up the stance of the Hidden Dragon Fist.

”Fine...”

A cold glint flashed in Yan Huaiqing’s eyes. ’You asked for this,’ he cursed inwardly. He then pushed off the tips of his toes, darting toward Chen Cheng and aiming a sweeping kick at his left ribs.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Yan Huaiqing didn’t dare to get serious. He held back a considerable amount of his strength and didn’t use any Dark Force. He only intended to use his speed advantage and Bright Force to make Chen Cheng give up in pain.

THUD.

A muffled sound rang out.

Yan Huaiqing’s leg was blocked, parried firmly by Chen Cheng’s raised left arm.

Chen Cheng’s feet hadn’t moved an inch. His arm was as steady as a rock, and he didn’t even furrow his brow.

Yan Huaiqing, on the other hand, felt a rebounding Bright Force penetrate his muscles. An unbearable, numbing ache spread across a large patch of his outer calf.

He abruptly pulled his leg back and took half a step back, the coldness in his eyes turning to shocked suspicion.

”Good, good, good! This young man really has some skill! Again!”

Yan Huaiqing composed himself and circulated his Blood Qi further, increasing his speed and power.

In an instant, his kicks descended on Chen Cheng like a violent storm, so fast they were a blur to the naked eye, leaving afterimages in the air.

Every kick was aimed at a vital point, seeking a quick victory.

However, Yan Huaiqing still had his reservations and didn’t dare use Dark Force. After all, Chen Cheng was representing Jiuan Hunting Manor, and it wouldn’t be wise to go too far on their home turf.

’Just inflicting a minor injury should be enough!’

With this in mind, Yan Huaiqing’s attacks grew even fiercer.

However, Chen Cheng remained firmly planted in place with his Hidden Dragon Pile Skill. He used the moves of the Hidden Dragon Fist with practiced ease—blocking, deflecting, and countering—maintaining an impenetrable defense.

Even when Yan Huaiqing secretly circulated more Blood Qi, he still couldn’t break through Chen Cheng’s guard. Every blow was steadily blocked, and a few times, the impact sent a stinging pain through his leg bones, nearly causing him to lose his footing.

The crowd at the edge of the field gradually fell silent.

The sharper-eyed guests had already noticed something was amiss.

”This young man is no simple character! His Blood Qi is clearly much denser and more solid than an ordinary person’s! And his Hidden Dragon Fist has reached the Transformation Realm!”

”I remember now! That genius from the Inner Hall Top Three of the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard from half a month ago! That’s him! Chen Cheng!”

”Not only that, his Bright Force is unusual too! It’s far more refined and pure than others of the same tier! Could it be...”

Everyone’s gazes simultaneously swiveled toward Cao Zhao.

”That’s right.”

A faint smile played on Cao Zhao’s lips.

”Junior Brother Chen was taught the Celestial God Hidden Dragon Painting by Master Ye and can now achieve Powerful Penetration!”

The moment he said this, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar.

This was especially true for the guests who had deep connections with Dragon Mountain Hall, who began to praise him endlessly.

”He only just formed his Three Pillars of Blood Qi half a month ago, and now he can already achieve Powerful Penetration... Such divine speed in his progress has already caught up to that female genius from the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard back in the day!”

”Powerful Penetration in just half a month! After all these years, the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard has produced another True Dragon!”

BOOM—

Amidst the crowd’s exclamations, a muffled bang, different from the previous ones, suddenly sounded from the field.

Yan Huaiqing staggered backward, his face a mask of astonishment.

He looked down at his own leg, then back up at Chen Cheng, his pupils constricting slightly. His lips moved, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

The next instant.

All eyes turned to look.

Chen Cheng stood in his original spot, his left arm still in its blocking posture, not having moved an inch. But a barely perceptible, unusual light flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Deep within his Heart Spirit, a strange vision appeared.

[Hidden Dragon Fist]: Great Success (0/3000), Traits (Penetrating Armor, Thunder Burst)

[Health Tai Chi]: Limit-Breaking (Ready)