Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

The horse-drawn carriage brought Chen Cheng to an open-air Martial Arts Arena in the South Eleventh District.

Thick ropes marked the arena’s perimeter, and red cloth strips tied to them whipped about in the cold wind.

In the center of the arena was a three-foot-high wooden platform.

A large banner stood on each side of the platform. The one on the left, embroidered with a pattern of pavilions amidst the clouds, represented Cloud Platform Hall. The one on the right, embroidered with the Dragon Roaming Mountains and Seas Pattern, represented Dragon Mountain Hall.

Beneath the flagpoles, two groups of people were already seated. The division between them was clear as they stared at each other across the platform.

By this time, the area outside the arena was also packed with people.

There were common folk in thick padded jackets, stomping their feet and blowing on their hands, craning their necks to look inside.

Constables from the Patrol Office maintained order, standing at the very front with their hands on their hips.

And then there were the well-dressed individuals, likely spies from the various Inner City houses, scattered in twos and threes throughout the crowd, silently sizing up the situation on and off the platform.

On the Cloud Platform Hall side.

Han Chuo, Master of the Middle Courtyard, was seated in the main chair. Han Tianqi sat beside him, shooting cold, sideways glances at the members of Dragon Mountain Hall across the way. He was muttering something under his breath, a cold smirk curling his lips from time to time.

The five disciples set to compete were seated in order on either side, each one the most brilliant prodigy of their respective Realm within the Cloud Platform Middle Courtyard.

Behind them stood a dozen or so more young disciples. The very fact that they were qualified to attend and spectate today proved they were elites within the Cloud Platform Middle Courtyard, a force not to be underestimated.

On the Dragon Mountain Hall side.

Ye Yang sat in the main seat. He looked pale, likely because his injuries had yet to fully heal.

Cao Zhao and Ye Qiluo sat on his left and right, and beyond them, four more people were seated.

They were Shi Lei, Qiao Qiao, Lin Fengxiao, and the recently recovered Lu Changning.

Behind them also stood a dozen or so elite disciples from the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard who had come to watch.

The group conversed in low voices, but the atmosphere felt strangely oppressive. In terms of sheer presence, they already seemed a step behind Cloud Platform Hall.

Chen Cheng alighted from the carriage and walked toward the arena.

A constable maintaining order put out a hand to stop him, but upon seeing him flash the Golden Waist Token of the Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard, the constable cupped his fist and let him pass.

Chen Cheng walked over, greeted Ye Yang and the others one by one, then stepped back to stand with Zhu Mingyuan.

For the past month, Chen Cheng had been in seclusion at his residence in the Inner City, but he would still go to Fuchang Trading Company every few days to keep watch, and take the opportunity to spar with Zhu Mingyuan at the Middle Courtyard.

Zhu Mingyuan’s initial injuries hadn’t been severe, and he had long since recovered.

Given how fierce and unpredictable Chen Cheng’s attacks were, Zhu Mingyuan was eager to spar with him daily to improve his own defensive abilities.

As a result, Zhu Mingyuan became the person who best understood just how much progress Chen Cheng had made during this time.

"Why haven’t they started yet?"

Chen Cheng asked casually.

"On my way here, I thought I was going to be late."

"They’re waiting for the two witnesses... here they come!"

Just as Zhu Mingyuan was speaking, the crowd in the distance suddenly parted to form a path.

Two elderly men, both with white hair and beards, were seen walking side-by-side into the arena.

The one on the right was quite thin, wrapped tightly in a large, gray fur coat. He had a kind face and a faint smile at the corners of his lips, looking like a wealthy old gentleman attending a banquet.

The one on the left had a more robust build, with broad shoulders and a thick back. He wore a black brocade robe with a Jade Belt at his waist. Though his hair was also white, his gait still carried the imposing air of a military commander.

The two of them walked to the front of the platform and took their seats in the two Grandmaster’s Chairs that had been set out for them.

In an instant, it was as if two great mountains had settled into place. The surrounding noise died down immediately, and those who had been stomping their feet and blowing on their hands all unconsciously straightened their posture.

Zhu Mingyuan explained in a low voice.

"The one on the right is the old head of the Inner City South District Commerce Association, Wu Shannan. In the Inner City, you’ll find the Commerce Association’s influence behind any business that makes money. He’s been in charge of the South District Commerce Association for decades, has always had an excellent reputation, and is highly respected."

He paused for a moment before adding,

"In this world, commerce and martial arts are inseparable. Every year, the Commerce Association recruits a large number of Martial Artists. Public competitions like today’s are mostly organized and funded by the Commerce Association..."

"Even the underground betting pools are controlled by the Commerce Association... The interests of the commerce and martial sectors are so deeply intertwined, you can’t have one without the other."

Seeing that Chen Cheng didn’t respond, Zhu Mingyuan continued,

"The one on the left is the former Chief Director of the South District’s Martial Guard Department, Pang Shixun. When he was in office, all the Martial Arts Halls in the South District were under his jurisdiction. He also presided over the South District’s annual Martial Selection. A genuine Military Officer with real power."

At this point, Zhu Mingyuan lowered his voice even more.

"Though he’s retired now, his influence in the South District’s martial arts scene is something you absolutely can’t ignore! There isn’t a single major Martial Arts Hall in the South District that dares to disrespect him."

Chen Cheng listened silently, and couldn’t help but take another look at the two old men.

’The Inner City is truly full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons! You never know what kind of terrifying background some random rich old man on the street might have!’

"The hour has come."

Han Tianqi stood up and cupped his fist in a salute to the two elders. After they nodded in approval, he raised his voice and announced loudly,

"Elder Pang and Elder Wu have both graced us with their presence, so the competition will now officially begin! First to fight are the disciples at the One Pillar of Blood Qi realm from both halls."

As soon as his voice fell, a person from the Cloud Platform Hall side stood up.

He was a powerfully built young man with broad shoulders and bulging chest muscles that strained against his green martial arts uniform, looking as if it might burst.

He took a large step forward, bent his knees slightly, and then pushed off forcefully, launching himself onto the platform. When his feet landed, the entire high platform trembled.

He stood up straight, held his head high, and swept his gaze over the crowd below, an undisguised look of provocation and arrogance at the corners of his mouth.

Right on cue, Han Tianqi spoke.

"This is the most outstanding of our Cloud Platform Middle Courtyard’s disciples at the One Pillar of Blood Qi Realm. A Top Three A+ from the Outer Hall’s annual assessment, Fang Haokun!"

After he finished speaking, the powerfully built young man cupped his fist in salute to the surroundings, then his gaze swept like lightning toward the Dragon Mountain Hall side.

On the Dragon Mountain Hall side, just as Cao Zhao was about to name their fighter, Han Tianqi deliberately interrupted.

"Before we begin, let me reiterate the rules. This is a real combat match, not a friendly spar! A winner is decided only when one person falls off the platform or actively concedes!"

"Such a load of bullshit!"

A roguish voice suddenly spoke up—not loud, not soft, but just right for everyone present to hear it clearly.

In an instant, nearly every gaze turned in unison toward the Dragon Mountain Hall side.

The smile on Han Tianqi’s face froze instantly, and his expression darkened. The corner of his mouth twitched twice, and his suddenly cold gaze swept like two daggers toward the source of the voice.

’He had to see for himself just who it was that dared to be so outrageous!’

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