Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Within his physique, it felt as if something had been incinerated by a blazing fire, only to be reborn from the ashes in Nirvana.

It was also as if a thin membrane had been silently pierced, ceasing to exist from that moment on.

That was...

The limits of his physique—shattered, then rebuilt!

Chen Cheng slowly opened his eyes, an unprecedented light bursting from their depths. His lips parted, and he exhaled a puff of white air that shot out ten feet, lingering long before dissipating.

’Rearing a god...’

Chen Cheng lowered his gaze, staring thoughtfully at his hands.

The improvements, imperceptible to the naked eye yet subtle and distinct, allowed him to more profoundly grasp the True Intent of "rearing a god."

’Blood Qi is the deity; the body is its congregation!’

’The congregation offers incense to nourish the deity. When the divine image solidifies, it bestows blessings, nourishing the congregation in return!’

’The stronger the congregation, the more abundant the incense; the more abundant the incense, the deeper the blessings!’

’To put it bluntly, it’s a perfect, self-reinforcing loop where the physique and Blood Qi strengthen one another.’

’Every time the Cultivation Technique completes one Grand Circulation, the four initial wisps of Blood Qi grow stronger, and the body’s physical limits are raised slightly.’

’Over the months and years, the four initial wisps of Blood Qi will become exceptionally solid and dense, and my physical limits will be continuously raised until my body attains a profound state.’

’The only problem is that after each cultivation session, my body is left in a massive deficit.’

’I must use more and better resources to replenish and solidify my foundation.’

’Otherwise, no matter how high I raise my physical limits, it will be nothing but a castle in the air—unsustainable.’

’Right now, the supplementary cultivation medicines I have on hand are enough to last for over a month.’

Chen Cheng collected his thoughts and silently calculated.

’But for resources to replenish my body, I only have that small box of Treasure Snake Dried Meat from Senior Brother Fang. If I focus on cultivating the Four Gods Profound Body, I’ll probably finish it in seven or eight days...’

’After that, just relying on the standard meals from the small kitchen won’t be nearly enough... I need to find another way... Treasure Snakes are hard to find; even the Jiuan Hunting Manor can’t acquire them easily.’

’As for Treasure Fish... it seems I can’t avoid the Wu Family.’

As Chen Cheng mulled this over, he tucked the beast-skin scroll into his Money Bag.

Right now, his Money Bag still held thirty Golden Blade Coins, plus a dozen or so silver.

’If I really can’t get any Treasure Fish or Treasure Snakes, I can buy some choice tiger and leopard meat to tide me over. That should help me last a while longer.’

’But if I do that, my plan to rent a place in a better part of the Inner City will have to be put on hold again.’

Chen Cheng didn’t dwell on it for long.

After composing his Heart Spirit, he resumed tempering his Four Gods Profound Body.

...

In the afternoon, the sun began to dip westward, and grayish-white clouds piled up on the horizon.

Chen Cheng headed to the Fuchang Trading Company to continue his surveillance as usual.

However, just as he rounded the final street corner, he stopped short from a distance.

At this moment, the entire Fuchang Trading Company was surrounded.

Dense rows of Mansion Soldiers from the Captain’s Mansion had formed a watertight cordon around the area. They stood in formation, holding long spears and wearing Leather Armor.

A solemn, murderous pressure radiated from them, palpable even from half a street away.

A few bold idlers tried craning their necks for a look from afar, but they were so intimidated by the sheer presence of the soldiers that they all shrank back, not daring to watch any longer.

Chen Cheng stood still in the distance.

His face was expressionless, but his gaze swept slowly over the dense ranks of Mansion Soldiers, an imperceptible glint flashing in the depths of his eyes.

’Normally, when an incident occurs in the city, it should be handled by the Constables from the Patrol Office.’

’For the Captain’s Mansion and its soldiers to take full command, there are usually only two possibilities.’

’Bandit extermination.’

’Or quelling a rebellion.’

’The former was obviously the more likely scenario.’

Just as Chen Cheng was thinking this, the chatter from the surrounding crowd provided corroborating evidence.

"The Fuchang Trading Company has some nerve! Daring to collude with that heartless second-in-command from Grass Head Mountain!"

A middle-aged man in roughspun clothes spat fiercely on the ground, his face a mask of righteous indignation.

"How did this get exposed?"

A young man next to him leaned in, his voice hushed.

"I heard that second-in-command is more cunning than a ghost. The Captain’s Mansion and the Patrol Office have been chasing him for seven or eight years and haven’t even caught a glimpse of him! How did he slip up this time? Don’t tell me one of his own people turned him in?"

"You’re right! It was a Tributor Martial Artist sponsored by the Fuchang Trading Company who reported it under his own name yesterday!"

The middle-aged man’s eyes lit up, and he spoke with such conviction it was as if he had witnessed it himself.

"Apparently, that group of fierce bandits was disguised as a normal family, hiding out in some private residence. When that Martial Artist went to deliver something, he happened to recognize one of them and went straight to the Captain’s Mansion in the Inner City to report it that same day!"

"The Lord Captain is a brilliant strategist. After making thorough preparations, his forces moved on both locations simultaneously. The Fuchang Trading Company was caught completely off guard, which means the bandits won’t have time to escape either!"

"Excellent!"

The young man clenched his fists, his face alight with excitement.

"I hope they get them all in one fell swoop!"

"In one fell swoop?"

An old woman nearby, carrying a basket, couldn’t help but chime in.

"If they really do, I’ll be the first to sing the Lord Captain’s praises! And as for the master Martial Artist who reported them, his good deed is immeasurable!"

"Goes without saying!"

The middle-aged man grinned, his gaze burning with an unusual intensity.

Chen Cheng’s gaze lingered on the middle-aged man for a moment. He could faintly sense the fluctuation of Blood Qi in the man’s body... ’Considering that, and what he just said...’

’If I’m not mistaken, this man must be a... plainclothes agent from the Captain’s Mansion.’

Pulling his gaze away, Chen Cheng didn’t linger any longer. He quickened his pace and headed toward the large residence in the Lunan District.

Having already familiarized himself with the area yesterday, Chen Cheng navigated the streets with ease and soon arrived at his destination.

The situation at the scene was just as the middle-aged man had described.

The large residence was likewise surrounded by the troops of the Captain’s Mansion. Beyond the forest of Armored Warriors, there were also archers and crossbowmen in formation, their arrows nocked and ready to fly.

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