Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Chapter 342: Chapter 168: Yun Lei

“Brother Chen, you are a man of fine character!”

Su Bing smiled faintly and praised him generously:

“In this day and age, someone as frank, genuine, and unpretentious as you, Brother Chen, is definitely worth befriending!”

Chen Cheng’s heart stirred. A subtle, peculiar glint appeared in his eyes as he looked at Su Bing.

‘She really does know about my Root Bone.’

‘It seems her information-gathering abilities are truly extraordinary.’

‘If we could truly become friends, it would be a good thing.’

“Subpar Root Bone? That’s going to be trouble…”

Fang Lang glanced at Chen Cheng, then at Su Bing, the smile on his face fading.

“Martial Arts Sects prioritize Root Bone above all else when recruiting… I have supreme-grade sinew, flesh, and skin—all three—and even I’m not certain I’ll be chosen by the Mountain and Sea Sect.”

“Brother Fang, haven’t the Mountain and Sea Sect’s recruitment standards been lowered?”

Zhao Dongping’s brows knitted together.

“If you have no confidence with three supreme-grades, what are we with two supposed to do?”

At these words, Huang Jiao’s expression turned even colder.

Her Root Bone was apparently even worse than two supreme-grades, making her chances of joining the Mountain and Sea Sect lower than Zhao Dongping’s.

“The Mountain and Sea Sect is a major sect in Yunlei Mansion. No matter how much they lower their standards, the threshold is still incredibly high…”

Fang Lang sighed.

“I’ve already thought it through. If I really can’t get into the Mountain and Sea Sect, I’ll settle for second best and try my luck at the Purple Bamboo Sect or Divine Weapon Valley. If that doesn’t work out, my only choice will be to look for opportunities in a third-rate sect…”

“Count me in when the time comes!” Zhao Dongping sighed as well.

Even Huang Jiao couldn’t help but speak up, asking, “Brother Fang, when that time comes, could you bring me along as well?”

“Of course, of course.”

Fang Lang agreed casually, but deep down, he was secretly weighing the pros and cons.

“Younger Brother Chen…”

Ning Chong turned his head and asked in a low voice:

“It seems to me you’re not the least bit worried about not being able to join the Mountain and Sea Sect… Have you already figured out a backup plan?”

“…”

Chen Cheng opened his mouth but said nothing.

‘Sorry, but I’ve got connections.’

“Brother Chen.”

Su Bing spoke again:

“You’re still young. It’s no big deal if it doesn’t work out this time. Go back, cultivate diligently, and once you break through to the Divine Storage Realm with your Entry Level secret arts, joining a sect will be a matter of course.”

Chen Cheng nodded without offering any explanation.

Afterward, the group chatted for a while longer before separating to get lunch.

Fang Lang, Zhao Dongping, and Su Bing were all from the Prefecture City and gathered together during the meal, discussing something among themselves.

Huang Jiao was cold and preferred to be alone.

For some reason, Ning Chong insisted on getting close to her. He wasn’t annoyed by her cold shoulder and even tried every way he could to start a conversation.

Chen Cheng returned to his carriage alone and took out some Iron Bone Crocodile Eel Essence Dried Meat to eat.

Suddenly, two meows sounded from outside the carriage.

Immediately after, a white cat with two different-colored eyes slipped in through a corner of the carriage curtain.

The cat was pure white from head to tail without a single stray hair, as if it had just rolled out of a snowdrift.

It had mismatched eyes—the left amber gold, the right ice-lake blue—so clear that Chen Cheng could see his own reflection in them.

It stood before Chen Cheng, its tail held high with the tip slightly curled, its posture as composed as if it were inspecting its own territory.

Then, its gaze fell upon the dried meat in Chen Cheng’s hand. It didn’t meow or rub against him, but acted like a proud and coy little girl, its chin slightly raised, its eyes a mixture of anticipation and reserve.

“Zhao Ye, Zhao Ye…”

Just then, a young girl who looked like a maidservant walked over, gently lifted the carriage curtain, picked up the white cat, and said apologetically:

“My apologies, Young Master. Zhao Ye doesn’t usually run off like this… I don’t know what’s gotten into it today…”

As the maidservant spoke, her gaze fell on the dried meat in Chen Cheng’s hand, and she smiled.

“It probably wants some dried fish.”

Chen Cheng nodded without replying, merely indicating with his eyes that he didn’t mind and that she could leave.

The maidservant was good at reading people. Cradling the cat, she gave a slight bow and retreated.

But a moment later, she returned, gently lifting a corner of the curtain again.

“Young Master, my master would like to buy some of your dried fish.”

“Not for sale.”

Chen Cheng said in a calm tone:

“This isn’t just some dried fish. It’s a cultivation resource, and I don’t even have enough for myself.”

“My apologies, I certainly didn’t mean to belittle your resource, Young Master…”

The maidservant bowed hastily and explained:

“Zhao Ye normally only eats Treasure Fish. When we serve it, we’re just used to calling it ‘little fish’ or ‘dried fish,’ so it slipped out. I hope you can forgive me, Young Master.”

Chen Cheng remained silent, once again giving her a look that said, ‘You can go now.’

“Young Master, you may not be short on money right now, but once you enter a sect, money will flow out like water…”

the maidservant said.

“My master doesn’t usually haggle. If you’re willing to part with some of your Treasure Fish Dried Meat, feel free to name a high price. This is a rare opportunity to make money.”

“Of course, if you really don’t want money, my master can also trade for it with dried Golden-backed Strange Bear meat. That’s a resource only Sect Disciples get to enjoy.”

“What’s the exchange rate?”

The moment he heard the words “sect resource,” Chen Cheng was instantly wide awake.

“Rest assured, Young Master. My master has always been generous. If you would, please tell me, how much of this Treasure Fish Dried Meat do you have?”

the maidservant asked.

“A hundred pieces? Do you have that many?”

“I do.”

Chen Cheng changed the subject and asked in return:

“But how do I know what the quality of this ‘sect resource’ you speak of really is?”

“I happen to have a small piece right here. You can try it first, Young Master.”

The maidservant seemed to have come prepared. She unfolded a handkerchief she held in her palm. In the center lay a piece of dried meat, the size of a fingernail, shimmering with a faint golden luster.

Chen Cheng reached out, took it, and weighed it in his palm.