I'm Afraid I'll Kill You With One Punch

The next day.

Apprenticeship Ceremony.

At this moment, it had been four days since he broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

After Zhou Cheng rose, he swallowed a Nine-Orifice Golden Pill.

Having reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, a single Nine-Orifice Golden Pill could boost his progress by about 20 percent. Combined with the Northern Dark Divine Technique's automatic cultivation, he could improve by a total of 27 percent per day.

Thus, once Zhou Cheng swallowed the Nine-Orifice Golden Pill, he immediately opened up his sixth meridian, the Yangwei Meridian, successfully breaking through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.

After opening the Yangwei Meridian, his internal energy surged and flowed endlessly through the Conception Vessel, Governing Vessel, Thrusting Vessel, Dai Meridian, Yin Wei Meridian, and Yangwei Meridian.

The Northern Dark Divine Technique was a divine-tier cultivation method; every moment, it devoured the purest spiritual energy of heaven and earth, continuously tempering Zhou Cheng's divine body and improving his entire being.

Furthermore, the Nine-Orifice Golden Pill was the finest pill for increasing internal energy in the Qi Refining realm, possessing numerous effects such as shedding one's mortal body and exchanging one's bones, consolidating the foundation, strengthening the physique, and fortifying blood and Qi.

Consequently, during these days, Zhou Cheng's Black Tortoise Divine Body and Indestructible Vajra Divine Body had also been continuously improving, both having reached 63 percent of their initial completion.

Once they reached 100 percent, the two great divine bodies would reach the minor completion stage.

Feeling the internal energy circulating incessantly through his six major meridians, Zhou Cheng stepped out of his courtyard. By now, he should be the number one person among the younger generation of the Great Feng Dynasty, right?

Before him, Nan Qinghe, the seventeen-year-old son of the Demonic Cult's Prince of Southern Ming, was at the tenth level of Qi Refining and was hailed as the top talent of the Great Feng Dynasty's younger generation. However, Zhou Cheng was confident that with his current strength, he could easily kill Nan Qinghe.

Zhou Cheng led Qin Meng and the others toward the main hall of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect.

Because today was the Apprenticeship Ceremony, the Ten Thousand Stars Sect was bustling with activity.

Along the way, disciples of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect and experts from various sects and factions could be seen everywhere.

Since the sect founder, Xing Yao, was taking a closing-door disciple, the Sun Moon Sword Sect, Shaolin, the Saber Sect, and other top-tier sects of the Great Feng Dynasty had all arrived.

Even the Emperor of Great Feng had sent envoys to offer congratulations.

The Sun Moon Sword Sect was led by their Sect Master, Chen Genfeng; Shaolin was led by Abbot Huineng; and the Saber Sect Master, Long Ye, had also arrived.

Zhou Cheng's elder brother, Zhou Li, accompanied his master, Chen Genfeng. Upon seeing his younger brother, he patted Zhou Cheng on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up.

As for Abbot Huineng of Shaolin, upon seeing Zhou Cheng, he pressed his palms together, chanted "Amitabha," and looked at him with a face full of regret, once again inviting Zhou Cheng to visit Shaolin in the future to listen to his Buddhist teachings.

Zhou Cheng respected Abbot Huineng and cupped his hands, promising that he would certainly visit.

Zhou Cheng stood beside Xing Yao, helping him receive Chen Genfeng, Huineng, Long Ye, and the others.

Soon, the seats arranged in the main hall of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect were completely filled.

Seeing that the time was right, Xing Yao stood up and said with a smile, "The time has come; let us proceed with the Apprenticeship Ceremony."

Next came the series of complex procedures for the apprenticeship.

Su Huang presided over the ceremony for Zhou Cheng.

After Su Huang finished reciting the Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules to Zhou Cheng, Zhou Cheng performed the three kowtows to Xing Yao and finally offered him tea.

After Xing Yao finished the tea, he laughed heartily, stood up personally, and helped Zhou Cheng to his feet. "Good disciple, rise quickly! The happiest thing in my life is being able to take you as my closing-door disciple!"

Everyone present could hear the affection Xing Yao held for Zhou Cheng.

Su Huang frowned slightly when he heard Xing Yao say that taking Zhou Cheng as his closing-door disciple was the happiest thing in his life.

After speaking, Xing Yao scanned the crowd and said with a smile, "I now announce that from this day forward, Zhou Cheng is an inner disciple of my Ten Thousand Stars Sect."

Chen Genfeng, Huineng, Long Ye, and the others stepped forward one after another to offer their congratulations.

After the guests had finished, Gao Yi, who was beside Su Huang, suddenly stepped forward, bowed to Xing Yao, and said, "Sect Founder, the rules of our Ten Thousand Stars Sect state that only those in the Qi Refining realm can become inner disciples."

"But as far as I know, the Junior Martial Uncle is only at the fourth level of Body Refining."

He then added, "I remember the Sect Founder once said that no one, regardless of who they are, may break the sect rules. This disciple feels that it is inappropriate for the Junior Martial Uncle to become an inner disciple of our Ten Thousand Stars Sect while only at the fourth level of Body Refining."

The main hall fell silent for a moment, and many people began to stir.

At this time, Gao Yi added, "According to our Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules, one at the fourth level of Body Refining can only become a chore disciple."

When he said "chore disciple," Gao Yi emphasized the words.

Thus, the term "chore disciple" rang out with particular clarity in everyone's ears.

Xing Yao glanced at Su Huang, Shi Fei, Wu Shuo, and the others, then turned to Gao Yi with a calm expression. "Are you saying that for your Junior Martial Uncle to become an inner disciple of my Ten Thousand Stars Sect, he must be at the first level of Qi Refining?"

"And if he is only at the fourth level of Body Refining, he can only become a chore disciple of my Ten Thousand Stars Sect, is that it?"

Gao Yi knelt halfway. "This disciple only feels that the rules of our Ten Thousand Stars Sect should not be broken for the sake of one person."

He then continued, "According to our sect rules, the Junior Martial Uncle must defeat the number one outer disciple of our Ten Thousand Stars Sect and break through to the Qi Refining realm before he can become an inner disciple."

"This disciple is doing this for the sake of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect."

Just as Gao Yi was about to continue his hypocritical speech, Zhou Cheng stepped forward and interrupted, "Who is the current number one outer disciple? Come out."

Gao Yi, Su Huang, Shi Fei, and the others were stunned.

What did Zhou Cheng mean by this? Was he intending to challenge the number one outer disciple?

From the crowd, a tall young man stepped out. He bowed to Xing Yao, Su Huang, and the others, then cupped his hands toward Zhou Cheng. "I am Jiang Shuo, the number one outer disciple. Greetings, Martial Uncle." His attitude was quite respectful.

"Make your move," Zhou Cheng said, looking at his opponent.

Jiang Shuo hesitated, casting a subtle glance toward Gao Yi, who responded with a secret hand gesture.

As the head disciple of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect, Gao Yi was looked up to by many of its members, and Jiang Shuo was naturally one of his men.

Seeing the gesture, Jiang Shuo felt a weight lift from his heart and cupped his fists, saying, "Please, Senior Brother, enlighten me."

Seeing the other's indifferent attitude, Zhou Cheng knew he wasn't being taken seriously, so he offered a warning: "You had best go all out later, otherwise, I fear I might kill you with a single punch."

The moment Zhou Cheng spoke, everyone was stunned.

Jiang Shuo felt a surge of anger and took a deep breath. "Since that is the case, then Jiang Shuo shall go all out. I also ask that you do the same, Senior Brother; pray do not hold back."

Hearing the request for him to use his full strength as well, Zhou Cheng shook his head.

Seeing this, Jiang Shuo unleashed the full momentum of his peak tenth-stage Body Tempering realm, taking a sudden, explosive step forward. Like a meteor chasing the moon, he arrived before Zhou Cheng in the blink of an eye and threw a punch.

As he struck, the force of his fist tore through the air.

This was the Ten Thousand Stars Sect's Star-Splitting Fist, a technique of immense ferocity and one of the strongest Houtian combat arts in the sect; a single blow carried the power to shatter stars.