Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Inside the water tank swam a Treasure Fish, its body pure silver-white. Its back shimmered with a cold, cyan light, and its slightly raised forehead resembled an unsheathed shortsword.

It darted left and right through the water, flipping and leaping. The smacking of its thrashing tail sent splashes flying out of the tank, which sizzled into puffs of white steam as they hit the deck.

'Such power, such ferocity… Its life force is truly astounding.'

"Miss Wu."

Chen Cheng gave the newcomer a slight nod before his gaze returned to the Treasure Fish.

It leaped again, slamming against the tank wall with a dull THUD.

"This is a Cyan Silver Dragon."

Wu Ziyu adjusted the Ink Fox Fur scarf around her neck. Its fur was a lustrous, glossy black, making her cheeks seem all the more fair and delicate by comparison.

"Don't let its size fool you—it's only about a foot long. But in the water, it's as strong as a grown man."

"They also have violent temperaments and are extremely aggressive, even toward their own kind. That's why we can only keep one in this massive tank."

"The Jade Bone Carp in the next tank, for example, are far more docile, so we can fit more of them in a single tank. But they're still incredibly rare. We've only managed to catch three in the past half-month."

She paused, lifting her gaze to slowly scan the boats moored on either side of the pier.

"A fleet of this size may look impressive, but a single round trip only brings thirty or forty Treasure Fish back to Zhao City. They're usually all claimed before we even make it ashore."

"How much does a Cyan Silver Dragon usually cost?"

Chen Cheng asked casually.

"To outsiders, it's five hundred taels of silver."

Wu Ziyu smiled, her tone shifting as she said,

"But if Brother Chen would like one, I am happy to offer it to you, free of charge."

The moment she said this,

before Chen Cheng could even respond,

the surrounding workers reacted as if they'd been stung.

Their hands froze mid-task.

Then, one by one, their gazes fell upon Chen Cheng.

Their expressions were a mixture of shock, envy, and confusion.

Several of the younger workers' faces flushed red with indignation.

'They glared at Chen Cheng, this clean-cut, seventeen-year-old young master who was just standing there, doing absolutely nothing! He hasn't lifted a single finger!'

'Why?!'

'They toiled from dawn to dusk in the freezing cold, working themselves to the bone for a whole month, and they couldn't even earn a single tael of silver.'

'So why did this young master, who'd done absolutely nothing, get to walk away with five hundred taels?'

'On what grounds?!'

Of course, unlike the inexperienced youths, the older, middle-aged workers who had been on the job for years understood the situation perfectly.

Normally, an affiliated Martial Artist escorting the fleet would receive one Treasure Fish worth two hundred taels for a single trip.

But for this clean-cut youth to receive a Cyan Silver Dragon worth five hundred taels *in addition* to his regular share…

There was only one possibility.

The young man was a Martial Arts genius with limitless potential, and he had clearly won Wu Ziyu's favor.

The younger such a prodigy was, the greater their talent and the faster their growth. Their future prospects were immeasurable, which meant they were someone you absolutely could not afford to offend!

A few of the young workers were still muttering curses under their breath.

Before long, a foreman with a grizzled beard rushed over, slapped each of them across the face, and then kicked and shoved them away. He proceeded to scold them one by one, jabbing a finger at their noses.

How could the remaining workers fail to understand the situation?

They quickly averted their gazes, no longer daring to even glance in Chen Cheng's direction. They returned to their tasks, their hands moving even faster than before.

If anyone's gaze strayed and accidentally brushed against the hem of Chen Cheng's robes or the tips of his shoes, their eyes held nothing but pure, unadulterated reverence.

However,

at that very moment,

inside a ship's cabin, the expressions of two men sipping tea were dark and stormy.

Both were dressed in martial attire and possessed powerful auras; they, too, were Martial Artists affiliated with the Wu Family.

The older one, in his forties, was named Zhang Dun. The younger, in his early thirties, was Li Kuangyi.

On the journey over, they had been polite to Chen Cheng, chatting and laughing with him. They both understood and practiced the principle that it's always better to make a friend than an enemy when you're away from home.

But now, having heard the commotion outside, the displeasure in their eyes was unmistakable.

Li Kuangyi stood up, shut the cabin door, and immediately lowered his voice.

"Brother Zhang, did you hear that? A Cyan Silver Dragon, free of charge!"

His jaw tightened, his voice growing colder.

"We've been affiliated with the Wu's Fishing Village for over a decade! Even if we haven't made great contributions, we've certainly put in the toil! But when have we ever gotten that kind of treatment?"

Zhang Dun remained silent, staring coldly at the foam floating in his teacup.

When Zhang Dun didn't respond, Li Kuangyi took half a step closer.

"What bullshit genius! He's just condensed Five Pillars of Blood Qi! We both have Six Pillars of Blood Qi, so why should we be treated as his inferiors?"

"No! It's not just being treated as inferiors! This is like being dragged through the fucking mud beneath her feet!"

"Brother Zhang, say something, will you?"

"What can I say?"

Zhang Dun looked up and slammed his teacup down on the small table.

"If there's anyone to blame, it's ourselves for having exhausted our potential! Our Cultivation can't advance any further! If we could just take that next step, condense Seven Pillars of Blood Qi and manifest Transforming Force, do you think we'd have to worry about not getting this kind of treatment?"

"You… *Sigh*…"

Li Kuangyi froze. His face flushed red then paled. After a long moment, he stubbornly stuck his neck out and said resentfully,

"If I could condense the seventh pillar, you think I'd still be stuck in this godforsaken place? Taking orders from a little twit like Wu Ziyu? I'd make *her* polish *my* shoes!"

"Alright, alright. It's fine to complain in front of me."

Zhang Dun said, his brow deeply furrowed.

"But when they come back, you put on a smile and act polite. That kid genuinely has a bright future. As long as he doesn't meet an untimely end, he's guaranteed to become an important figure. Getting on his good side now can only help us."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!