Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Chen Cheng turned his head.

Only then did he realize the voice sounded strange because it was actually two people speaking in near-perfect, synchronized unison.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers Zhou."

Chen Cheng cupped his fist in a salute.

He saw two young men, who looked as if they were carved from the same mold, walking toward him side by side.

It was Zhou Ping and Zhou An.

The twin brothers didn't just look, sound, and dress alike—even their movements as they walked were like a mirror image.

After their last meeting, Chen Cheng had worried if he would be able to tell them apart the next time they met.

Now that he had truly run into them... Chen Cheng took a closer look.

He really couldn't tell the difference.

However, the two brothers had always been good-natured and wouldn't get hung up on such a small detail. They walked over with a cheerful smile and returned his salute.

After a simple exchange of pleasantries.

When they learned Chen Cheng was here to report for duty, they took the initiative to lead him toward the Upper Courtyard's main gate.

After they knocked, the gatekeeper recognized the two brothers and immediately bowed in salute.

They gave a brief introduction, and the gatekeeper committed Chen Cheng to memory, also giving him a respectful salute.

Stepping over the threshold.

The front courtyard was spacious. The accumulated snow had been swept clean, and the ground was paved with a kind of grayish-blue stone tile, polished until it gleamed.

In the center of the courtyard stood a large bluestone vat. Despite the heavy snowfall of the past few days, the water within had not frozen. Two Golden-Scaled Strange Fish were still swimming slowly inside.

Around the courtyard grew some exotic flowers and strange plants, their leaves still green and flowers red beneath the snow, vibrant with life.

Chen Cheng's eyes swept over the scene.

This wasn't a training ground for martial arts, but more like the courtyard of a wealthy, prominent family.

At the head of the courtyard was a central hall five bays wide, with upturned eaves and ornate brackets. It was solemn and dignified, exuding an intangible aura of its own.

Along the walls on either side were long corridors. At regular intervals under the eaves of the corridors were small, vermilion-lacquered doors leading to eight separate courtyards.

At the end of the long corridors were two slightly larger archways that led to the rear courtyard.

"Brother, you go knock and announce us."

Zhou An called out, and Zhou Ping headed toward the end of the long corridor.

Zhou An then turned back to Chen Cheng and began to explain.

"There are eight separate courtyards on either side of the front courtyard for the Upper Courtyard Disciples to live in. Each courtyard can house four people, but in reality, the Upper Courtyard only has twenty-one disciples, and more than half of them live at home, so these courtyards are never full."

"Junior Brother Chen, if you like a lively atmosphere, you can come to courtyard number seven and keep my brother and me company. If you prefer peace and quiet, you can choose number three or number nine. Both of those are empty."

As he spoke, Zhou An walked over and pushed open the small door to courtyard number three.

Chen Cheng followed the small path behind the door with his eyes. The layout inside was somewhat similar to the Central Courtyard Inner Hall, only the overall scale was much smaller.

In the center was a square training ground, surrounded by several side rooms.

It was just right for four people to live together.

But for one person alone, it would indeed be quiet and comfortable.

While they were talking, the archway to the rear courtyard was opened. Chen Cheng looked from a distance and saw it was another familiar face.

Chen Cheng followed Zhou An over and saw that the young man who had opened the gate was none other than Gu Kaishen.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Gu."

Chen Cheng cupped his fist in greeting.

Gu Kaishen, however, just gave a lukewarm "mhm" in acknowledgment before turning and walking away.

The layout of this inner courtyard was also quite similar to the front courtyard.

A square courtyard, with two vermilion-lacquered doors on each side leading to four separate courtyards. At the front was another gate, leading to an even deeper inner courtyard.

"Junior Brother Chen... remember this carefully."

Zhou An lowered his voice again, as if afraid of disturbing someone.

"The two courtyards on the left belong to Masters Sun and Cao. They are mainly responsible for the Transmission of Skills and guidance for the Upper Courtyard Disciples. If you encounter any problems in your training, you can ask them for help."

"The two on the right belong to Masters Sun and Zhang. They manage the daily affairs of Dragon Mountain Hall, as well as all its subsidiary businesses. You'll need to go to them to receive your cultivation resources."

"The inner courtyard further in is where the Hall Master resides. Without being summoned, you must not take a single step inside."

"Understood."

Chen Cheng nodded and cupped his fist in thanks.

Immediately after, Zhou An and Zhou Quan withdrew. Chen Cheng, meanwhile, walked toward the second side door on the left. A small lantern hung on the lintel, its paper casting a soft yellow glow, with the character "Cao" written on it.

Chen Cheng pushed the door open and walked in. He passed through a deep, secluded path lined with exotic flowers and strange plants before officially entering the courtyard proper.

It was utterly silent here.

Cao Miao was sitting cross-legged on a cattail cushion in the middle of the courtyard.

His white hair was loose, and his long beard hung down to his chest. He was perfectly still.

If not for the barely perceptible rise and fall of his chest, one might have mistaken him for a stone statue.

A gentle breeze swept by.

It was not a natural wind, but a prolonged, powerful gust formed from his own breathing.

The hem of his snow-white robes fluttered gently, like a cloud unfurling, before slowly settling back down. His white hair lifted slightly with it, then returned to stillness.

With each breath, his respiration was drawn out to its absolute limit.

The air in a three-foot radius around him seemed to shimmer with faint, subtle ripples. The fluctuations were so faint that one could not perceive them without focusing their senses completely.

A moment later, his long beard trembled slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was placid, yet as deep as an abyss.

"Disciple Chen Cheng, paying respects to Master Cao."

Chen Cheng spoke at the opportune moment, cupping his fist and bowing in a solemn salute.

"You're here?"

Cao Miao smiled and slowly rose to his feet.

His movements were extremely slow, yet showed not the slightest hint of stiffness. His white hair swayed slightly with the motion, and the hem of his robe fell back into its smooth, straight drape.

"Cao Zhao already told me about your match the other day. That was a beautifully fought battle! Very inspiring! Even the Hall Master himself didn't hesitate to offer a few words of praise!"

'The Hall Master?'

Chen Cheng's heart stirred.

'It was a little surprising, but on second thought, it wasn't strange at all.'

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