Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

Lifting it was already extremely difficult, but what was even harder was holding the great cauldron steady once it was over his head.

The moment the Copper Cauldron left the ground, Xiao Yi’s face flushed a deep crimson.

Veins bulged on his forehead and neck like writhing worms. The muscles in his arms swelled to their absolute limit, and his joints turned a bloodless white from the excessive strain.

He clenched his jaw so tightly his cheeks seemed stretched thin. His features twisted and contorted under the immense load. Each breath was like air being squeezed from his lungs, accompanied by a hissing sound.

On the other side, Chen Cheng also appeared to be straining to lift the heavy object. His arm muscles were similarly knotted and bulging, but his face was only slightly flushed, and his breathing wasn’t ragged. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, he deliberately started panting heavily.

’How can this be?!’

Xiao Yi’s eyes shifted with great difficulty toward Chen Cheng, his gaze filled with incredulous horror.

Having received private instruction from Ye Yang, Xiao Yi had practiced this event long ago. His personal best had been holding for five breaths, but he had pushed himself to be able to steadily hold for six. He thought this round would be a sure win.

Yet now, six breaths had passed!

Although Chen Cheng also appeared exhausted, the great cauldron remained suspended steadily above his head.

Xiao Yi’s entire face contorted. His pupils shrank, and he nearly ground his teeth to dust. He kept trying to console himself. ’Chen Cheng can’t hold on any longer... Chen Cheng will let go any second... Chen Cheng... Chen Cheng, just fucking let go already!!’

Seven breaths... Eight breaths...

BOOM—!!

Xiao Yi could hold on no longer. With a sudden shove of his hands, he sent the Copper Cauldron crashing heavily to the ground.

The deafening crash sent shattered stones flying, and the entire floor of the Inner Hall seemed to tremble.

He staggered back several steps, his arms trembling violently and uncontrollably. A tearing pain shot through his muscles, and his vision swam with black spots.

He knew better than anyone that he had truly reached his limit. If he had held on for even a moment longer, his bones and tendons might have been crushed on the spot, leaving him dead or crippled.

THUD!

Almost at the same instant Xiao Yi lost his grip, Chen Cheng slowly bent his knees and steadily placed the cauldron back on the ground.

While it still made a considerable noise, the stone slabs where the cauldron’s feet landed were completely unharmed.

"...This!"

Wu Ziyu shot to her feet, her previously composed and magnanimous demeanor instantly shattering.

Yet her first reaction was not to blame Xiao Yi. Instead, her eyes widened as she meticulously sized up Chen Cheng from head to toe.

Chu Meng opened his eyes. He, along with the other distinguished guests who had paid Chen Cheng little mind and several other Inner Hall Disciples, all had the same surprising reaction as Wu Ziyu: they began to seriously re-evaluate Chen Cheng.

"Senior Brother Chen Cheng, lifted one thousand three hundred jin, endured for nine breaths—an all-time best! Rating: A+! Senior Brother Xiao Yi, lifted one thousand three hundred jin, endured for eight breaths! Rating: A!"

The recording disciple’s voice once again echoed through the Inner Hall.

The young man in white, seated in the main seat, couldn’t help but look over.

"Elder Cao, an A+ and an A rating, and both broke previous records! Your hall has produced a true prodigy!"

"You flatter me, Captain Xu."

Cao Miao chuckled, raising a hand to gently stroke his snow-white beard.

"He’s just a junior with Three Pillars of Blood Qi. He doesn’t even meet the threshold to see you... He still needs to be slowly tempered."

Xu Linyuan smiled and said no more.

His minimum standard for recruitment was indeed a Dark Force expert who had condensed Four Pillars of Blood Qi.

However, to be personally praised by him as "a true prodigy" was already a tremendous recognition and commendation for Chen Cheng.

In an instant, the importance everyone placed on Chen Cheng, including Cao Miao, skyrocketed.

"That last one was named Chen Cheng, right? He looks even younger than Xiao Yi, but his performance was superior..."

Zheng Nankun, the Chief Leader of the Inner City Changfeng Escort Agency, narrowed his eyes as if deliberately trying to hide his admiration. His voice was kept extremely low, almost as if he were talking to himself.

"His Blood Qi is deeper and more solid than Xiao Yi’s... The key is his extraordinary endurance... He’s no simple character!"

"Little Brother Chen!"

Wang Peng, the Manor Master of Jiuan Hunting Manor, wasn’t one for subtlety. The legs of his chair scraped the floor as he pushed back, his burly frame rising to its feet.

"If you wouldn’t mind, I am willing to offer you a resource sponsorship of no less than one hundred taels of silver per month!"

"Little Brother Chen!"

The moment Zheng Nankun saw the competition, he could no longer hold back. He also rose to his feet and made an offer.

"Little Brother Chen! My Changfeng Escort Agency is also willing to sponsor you with one hundred taels of silver per month! In addition, I have a vacant small residence in the An Nan District that I can make available for you to live in!"

"Song Che, from the Inner City Patrol Office!"

Song Che remained seated in his Grandmaster’s Chair. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried weight.

"Little Brother Chen, if you have any interest in serving the public sector, you can come talk to me at any time. The terms will certainly not be poor!"

Before his voice had even faded, several more people in the audience stood up and promised Chen Cheng sponsorships. The offers piled one on top of the other, rising like bids at an auction.

Chen Cheng thanked them one by one but didn’t actually accept any of their offers.

He wanted to first understand the backgrounds of these people before choosing a stable and reliable one to establish a sponsorship with.

This scene, witnessed by all, earned him many looks of approval for his steady Heart Nature.

"My lady."

A middle-aged guard from the Wu Family leaned down and said in a hushed voice.

"What were the intentions of the person who introduced you to Xiao Yi back then? The Dragon Mountain Middle Courtyard clearly has a more outstanding, true prodigy, someone far more worthy of cultivating and investing in!"

"...It’s fine. Xiao Yi is also a genius. I believe he won’t disappoint me."

On the surface, Wu Ziyu maintained her composed and magnanimous demeanor, and her words were very heartwarming to Xiao Yi.

But in truth, her heart was filled with regret. ’If only I had sponsored Chen Cheng back then instead of Xiao Yi... how wonderful would that have been?’

’A true prodigy!?’

When those three words—"a true prodigy"—came from Xu Linyuan’s mouth, they were like three muffled thunderclaps smashing into Xiao Yi’s Heart Spirit, shattering his Mental State to the point of collapse.

Now, those same three words came from the mouth of a Wu Family guard—a servant Xiao Yi previously wouldn’t have even deigned to look at. It felt like he had been struck three times across the face, a searing heat burning from his jaw to the tips of his ears.

What Xiao Yi found even more unacceptable was that he had been preparing for this assessment for a very long time. He had the full backing of the Wu Family, personal guidance from Ye Yang, his own superior natural talent, and his desperate efforts.

’But... what does Chen Cheng have?’

’What does he have!?’

Xiao Yi clenched his jaw, his face turning the color of cooked liver. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked, his nails digging deep into his palms.

In his mind, the one being praised as "a true prodigy" by Xu Linyuan, the one all the distinguished guests were fawning over, fighting to befriend and sponsor—that person should have been him, Xiao Yi!

’Why?!’

’Why was it that weed, who has nothing and doesn’t deserve to stand out, who stole all the glory that should have been his?!’

’Kill him!’

’I must kill him!!!’

Xiao Yi’s heart was roaring with madness.

A wicked flame mixed with jealousy, humiliation, and brutality was about to burn through his sanity.

The killing intent in his chest was boiling over. Though he did his best to hide it, those with keen senses could still detect the signs.

"Senior Brother Xiao..."

Chen Cheng glanced over and asked.

"Are you all right?"

"...I’m fine. Perfectly fine!"

Xiao Yi forced his usual smile onto his face, but he was secretly grinding his teeth, refusing to allow himself to appear weaker in spirit.

"I, on the other hand, saw that you expended quite a bit of energy lifting the cauldron just now, Junior Brother Chen. You should go and properly regulate your breathing and rest up. During the combat assessment later, I hope you can be in your best condition, lest others say that I, your senior brother, won unfairly!"

His words were half-competitive, half-confident.

’So what if my Power and endurance are a notch below his?’

He had Ye Yang personally sparring with him and giving him meticulous guidance, polishing every single detail of his practical combat skills to perfection!

’Real combat is a profound art. Experience and adaptability are the most important things, not something you can master through brute-force training!’

He was certain in his heart that in the upcoming combat assessment, he would win no matter what!

Not only would he win, but he would also kill Chen Cheng openly on the stage, completely eliminating the problem by the roots and preventing any future trouble!

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother."

Chen Cheng’s tone was calm, yet it carried a profound seriousness.

"I will definitely give it my all!"

——

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