Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

"I see it."

Song Yingzhi nodded, a rare flash of admiration in her eyes.

"Although I haven’t seen the Chen Cheng my cousin mentioned, discovering a talent like this has made the trip worthwhile. I’ll go back and talk to my cousin—the Song Family will be the one to sponsor this person!"

Meanwhile, under the Shen Family’s pavilion.

Shen Chongnian nearly shot to his feet, his face a mixture of excitement and frustration as he sighed again and again.

"Such a rare talent! A pity... what a pity... If my third branch were still in the Inner City, I would stop at nothing to recruit a talent like this!"

"Father, we have to try and recruit him no matter what!"

Shen Xingguo was just as frustrated.

"I’m willing to offer a monthly stipend of five taels, plus a regular monthly supplement of Blood Nourishing Powder... Even if we fail, he must know the sincerity of the Shen Family’s third branch!"

"Fifth Sister."

Beside them, Shen Xingwen teased with a smirk on his face.

"How does that Grand Tributor of yours, the one who takes seven taels of silver a month, compare to this Copper Word Token holder with two A+ ratings right here?"

"That..."

Shen Mi was taken aback. She composed herself and said seriously,

"I haven’t seen Tributor Chen these past few days, so I don’t know how he’s prepared. But I believe his assessment results will certainly not be poor..."

"Enough about him. It’s just depressing!"

Shen Chongnian said grimly.

"Xiaowu, you go and try later. See if you can recruit this double A+ talent before us."

"As for that boy, Chen Cheng, tell him to find patronage elsewhere! Your savings weren’t just blown in by the wind. I absolutely cannot stand by and watch you dig yourself into a deeper hole!"

"...First Uncle, how could I do that?"

Shen Mi’s heart tightened, and she scrambled to argue her case.

"This is final!"

Shen Chongnian gave her no room to speak, slamming his palm heavily on the armrest of his chair.

"This is an order I’m giving you in my capacity as the Steward and clan elder of the third branch! This matter is not up for discussion!"

Further away.

Lin Fengxiao quietly retreated to the rest area and was immediately surrounded by a large crowd of disciples offering their congratulations. Even the two Tutors from the Lower Courtyards of the East and West Outer Cities came over personally to congratulate him.

"Junior Brother Lin, one more push and you’ll get Three A+ ratings! A brilliant future is truly ahead of you!"

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lin! When you’ve made it big, don’t forget us White Character Token brothers who suffered through the hard times with you!"

"Junior Brother Lin, congratulations! When you have time, come to the East Outer City, and we’ll have a proper get-together!"

"Thank you, everyone."

Lin Fengxiao responded to each of them, but a cold detachment was hidden deep in his eyes.

Only when his gaze unintentionally swept toward the Inner Hall did an irrepressible light shine in his eyes.

He always remembered, and he was always certain.

He owed his current success entirely to one person.

No matter how warm and brilliant the smiles before him were now, no matter how sincere and pleasant their words sounded, they could never compare to the silent, tangible, life-changing debt of gratitude he owed!

...

Back in the Inner Hall, there was a side door leading to the main street. As the last honored guest, personally escorted by a master from the Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard, entered at an unhurried pace, the Inner Hall assessment was finally set to truly begin.

But before that, Ye Yang, along with the other guests who had arrived earlier, all rose from their seats. They went forward to greet the last arrival—a young man in white robes—with utmost courtesy.

"Third Senior Sister, who is that?"

Xiao Yi asked Ye Qiluo, who was standing beside him, in a low voice. His eyes glinted with a calculating, probing look.

"...I don’t recognize him either."

Ye Qiluo shook her head gently and whispered,

"However, for Master Cao from the Upper Courtyard to personally escort him, he must either be a noble from a major Inner City clan or a high-ranking Inner City official with real power."

"Tsk, he doesn’t look that old, but his status is clearly extraordinary."

Xiao Yi stared intently at the white-robed youth who had taken the seat of honor and was now surrounded like the moon by stars. His eyes visibly brightened, the desire to curry favor written all over his face.

The old man sitting to the white-robed youth’s left was none other than Cao Miao, one of the Tutors from the Dragon Mountain Upper Courtyard.

After the dozen or so other honored guests had greeted the white-robed youth in turn, they finally returned to the Grandmaster’s Chairs arranged around the courtyard.

Among them, Wu Ziyu, the young lady from the Inner City’s Wu Family who wore a black sable fur collar, was seated closest to the seat of honor, her status naturally a cut above the other guests.

In contrast, Song Che, dressed in the green robes of an Imperial Guard Official, was seated far in the back, almost at the very end. Xiao Yi didn’t even spare a second glance for an ’honored guest’ like him.

From a position slightly farther away, Chen Cheng was silently observing each of the honored guests.

Zhuang Zhen stood beside him, providing simple introductions in a very low voice at opportune moments.

Chen Cheng’s expression remained calm and untroubled. He showed no particular preference regarding their high or low statuses, nor did he have any of Xiao Yi’s desperate desire to climb the social ladder.

Ultimately, with the Vertical Eye Mark in his possession, Chen Cheng’s mentality was different from that of an ordinary person.

For him, stability was always the top priority.

The higher an unstable branch, the more likely one was to be shattered to pieces by rashly climbing it.

It was never wrong to plan before making a move.

Ye Yang returned to the center of the Inner Hall, spoke a few pleasantries aloud, and then turned his gaze to the seven Inner Hall Disciples standing solemnly at the side of the field.

First Senior Brother Chu Meng, Second Senior Brother Zhu Mingyuan, Third Senior Sister Ye Qiluo, Fourth Senior Brother Cao Zhao, Sixth Senior Sister Zhuang Zhen, Seventh Brother Xiao Yi, and Eighth Brother Chen Cheng.

"According to the old rules, the assessment begins with the disciples who have Three Pillars of Blood Qi... Xiao Yi, Chen Cheng, which of you will go first?"

"I will go first!"

Xiao Yi rushed to speak, his voice loud and resonant, betraying an irrepressible desire to show off.

Chen Cheng, however, remained impassive, unconcerned with who went first.

Without waiting for Ye Yang’s approval, Xiao Yi had already strode forward. His back was ramrod straight, and his burning gaze swept across the high-ranking guests, deliberately lingering on the young man in white.

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