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

The next day.

Apprenticeship Ceremony

At this point, four days had passed since he broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

After getting up, Zhou Cheng swallowed a Nine-Orifice Golden Pill.

After breaking through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, one Nine-Orifice Golden Pill could increase his cultivation by around twenty points. With the Northern Dark Divine Technique cultivating automatically, he could gain twenty-seven points in total each day.

So, as soon as Zhou Cheng swallowed the Nine-Orifice Golden Pill, he opened his sixth meridian, the Yangwei Meridian, and smoothly broke through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.

After opening the Yangwei Meridian, his inner force surged through his Conception Vessel, Governing Vessel, Thrusting Vessel, Dai Meridian, Yin Wei Meridian, and Yangwei Meridian, circulating without pause.

The Northern Dark Divine Technique was a God Grade cultivation method. Every moment, it devoured the purest spiritual energy between heaven and earth, continually tempering Zhou Cheng's divine bodies and improving his entire body.

On top of that, the Nine-Orifice Golden Pill was the best pill for increasing inner force in the Qi Refining Realm. It had many effects, including remaking the body, strengthening one's foundations and vitality, reinforcing the physique, and bolstering one's blood and qi.

As a result, these past few days, Zhou Cheng's Black Tortoise Divine Body and Indestructible Vajra Divine Body had both continued to improve. They had each reached 63 percent of the initial stage.

Once they reached 100 percent, both divine bodies would advance to the minor stage.

Feeling his inner force flowing ceaselessly through his six meridians, Zhou Cheng walked out of the courtyard. By now, he ought to be the strongest 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, had been hailed as the strongest of the Great Feng Dynasty's younger generation at the tenth level of Qi Refining. But Zhou Cheng was confident that, with his current strength, he could kill Nan Qinghe with ease.

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

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

Along the way, they saw disciples of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect and powerful figures from all kinds of sects.

The Ten Thousand Stars Sect's founder, Xing Yao, was taking a final disciple, so the Sun Moon Sword Sect, Shaolin, the Saber Sect, and the other first-rate sects of the Great Feng Dynasty had all come.

Even the Emperor of Great Feng had sent an envoy to offer his congratulations.

The Sun Moon Sword Sect was led by its sect master, Chen Genfeng. Shaolin was led by its abbot, Huineng, and Long Ye, the Saber Sect's sect master, had come as well.

Zhou Cheng's elder brother, Zhou Li, had accompanied his master, Chen Genfeng. When he saw Zhou Cheng, he clapped him on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up.

As for Shaolin's abbot, Huineng, when he saw Zhou Cheng, he joined his palms and said, "Amitabha," his face full of regret. He again invited Zhou Cheng to visit Shaolin sometime and listen to his teachings of the Buddha.

Zhou Cheng respected Abbot Huineng. He clasped his hands and said he would certainly visit.

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

Soon, every seat arranged in the main hall of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect was filled.

Seeing that the time was about right, Xing Yao rose with a smile. "It's about time. Let's begin the Apprenticeship Ceremony."

What followed was a series of elaborate rites.

Su Huang presided over Zhou Cheng's Apprenticeship Ceremony.

After Su Huang recited the Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules to Zhou Cheng, Zhou Cheng performed the three bows to Xing Yao and, at last, offered him tea.

After drinking the tea, Xing Yao laughed heartily and personally helped Zhou Cheng to his feet. "My good disciple, get up! The happiest thing in my life is taking you as my final disciple!"

Everyone present could hear how much Xing Yao cherished Zhou Cheng.

When Su Huang heard Xing Yao say that taking Zhou Cheng as his final disciple was the happiest thing in his life, his brows furrowed.

After speaking, Xing Yao looked over the crowd and announced with a smile, "I hereby declare that Zhou Cheng will be an inner disciple of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect."

Chen Genfeng, Huineng, Long Ye, and the others came forward to offer their congratulations.

Once they had finished, Gao Yi, who stood beside Su Huang, suddenly stepped forward, bowed to Xing Yao, and said, "Grandmaster, the Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules state that only those in the Qi Refining Realm can become inner disciples."

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

He continued, "I remember Grandmaster once said that no one could break the sect rules. This disciple feels that it is inappropriate for Junior Uncle, at the fourth level of Body Refining, to become an inner disciple of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect."

The hall fell quiet for a moment, then many people began to stir.

At that point, Gao Yi added, "According to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules, someone at the fourth level of Body Refining can only become a servant disciple."

He emphasized the words "servant disciple."

Those four words rang especially loud in everyone's ears.

Xing Yao glanced at Su Huang, Shi Fei, Wu Shuo, and the others, then looked calmly at Gao Yi. "You mean that for your Junior Uncle to become an inner disciple of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect, he must be at the first level of Qi Refining."

"If he's only at the fourth level of Body Refining, he can only become a servant disciple of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect. Is that it?"

Gao Yi dropped to one knee. "This disciple only feels that the Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules must not be broken for the sake of one person."

He then said, "According to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect Rules, Junior Uncle must defeat the top outer disciple of the Ten Thousand Stars Sect and break through to the Qi Refining Realm before he can become an inner disciple."

"This disciple is only thinking of what's best for the Ten Thousand Stars Sect."

Gao Yi was about to continue his pretentious speech when Zhou Cheng stepped forward and cut him off. "Who's the top outer disciple right now? Come out."

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

What did Zhou Cheng mean? Was he going to challenge the top outer disciple?

A tall young man came out of the crowd. He bowed to Xing Yao, Su Huang, and the others, then cupped his hands toward Zhou Cheng. "I'm Jiang Shuo, the top outer disciple. Greetings, Senior Brother." His manner was fairly respectful.

"Make your move," Zhou Cheng said, looking at him.

Jiang Shuo hesitated. Without drawing attention to himself, he glanced toward Gao Yi, who made a discreet gesture.

As the Ten Thousand Stars Sect's chief disciple, Gao Yi had many of its disciples following his lead. Jiang Shuo was naturally one of his men.

Seeing Gao Yi's gesture, Jiang Shuo felt reassured. He cupped his hands and said, "Please instruct me, Senior Brother."

Seeing how unconcerned the other man looked, Zhou Cheng knew he wasn't taking him seriously. He warned him, "You'd better give it everything you've got. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll kill you with one punch."

Everyone was stunned by Zhou Cheng's words.

Jiang Shuo grew angry and took a deep breath. "In that case, I, Jiang Shuo, will give it everything I've got. I hope you'll do the same, Senior Brother. Don't hold back."

At the other man's insistence that he give it everything he had, Zhou Cheng shook his head.

Seeing this, Jiang Shuo unleashed the full aura of his peak tenth level of Body Refining. He suddenly lunged forward like a shooting star chasing the moon, reaching Zhou Cheng in the blink of an eye and throwing a punch.

As his punch shot out, its force stirred a gale through the air.

This was the Ten Thousand Stars Sect's Star-Splitting Fist, a fierce technique and one of the strongest martial arts among the sect's acquired combat skills. When thrown, it carried the force of a star splitting apart.