I Cheated While Cultivating

“It’s a matter of flexibility,” Yan Shouyi said with a smile. “The core reason why you find it difficult to acquire merit now is that you are too weak compared to this world. But what if we change the world?”

“Brother, are you suggesting…” Zhou Heng’s eyes lit up as he said, “Switch to another world that is weaker than this one?”

“Precisely,” Yan Shouyi nodded lightly and continued, “Younger brother, with your current True Energy Realm cultivation, you’re merely an ordinary Secret Sixth Rank in our world, at most a bit more powerful.

“However, if you were in a world where the strongest are only at the level of the Seventh Rank, you would be like an immortal on earth, and your actions would naturally evoke a greater response from the world.”

“Ah, that’s a good idea!” Zhou Heng nodded and smiled, but then he had some doubts, “But will the merit acquired in this way be any different from that obtained in our world?”

“There’s essentially no difference,” Yan Shouyi shook his head and explained, “Just that there will be a difference in quantity. Perhaps what you accomplish in other worlds might only be a little more than what you’d gain from killing a Sect Fifth Rank fiend.”

“Sect Fifth Rank fiends aren’t so common either,” Zhou Heng said with a smile. “Looking at it this way, going to other worlds to accumulate merit is indeed a good idea.”

“That’s the principle,” Yan Shouyi nodded slightly and said, “However, the details of how to act in accordance with the laws of the world’s operation will require detailed information about the world, which your Zhou Tian Boundary Officer should have.”

“Mhm, I will inquire about it,” Zhou Heng nodded and then smiled, “Brother, you seem to know quite a bit about the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer.”

“Younger brother, you’re overthinking it,” Yan Shouyi said with a light laugh. “As the headmaster of the Pure Yang Palace and the top of the celestial ranking, could the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer be unrelated to me?”

“That makes sense,” Zhou Heng nodded.

“So when do you plan to explore?” Yan Shouyi asked.

“There’s no rush for that. Right now, I plan to consolidate the cultivation realm I’ve just broken through on the mountain,” Zhou Heng said thoughtfully. “Additionally, I have another matter I wish to inquire about when I return to the mountain this time.”

He then simply explained to Yan Shouyi his need to practice various types of True Qi and the need for more inner strength techniques.

“That’s easy to say,” Yan Shouyi drank a cup of tea and smiled, “Later, I’ll have Chen Xuan take you to Daoxu Cave Sky, where many martial arts manuals are stored.

“However, the rules of the Pure Yang Sect are set. You don’t get secret techniques for nothing. Besides the initial techniques learned, if you want to learn more martial arts, you’ll have to complete corresponding missions, so be prepared, younger brother.”

“Rest assured, brother, I’m prepared,” Zhou Heng smiled and said, “But there’s no hurry for this either. After I have consolidated my cultivation in a few days, it won’t be late for brother to have Chen Xuan take me to Daoxu Cave Sky then.”

“Then you can stay at the Golden Peak for now, and let me know once you’ve consolidated your cultivation realm,” Yan Shouyi nodded gently and smiled, “There are a few side halls here as well. It is dull for me alone; you can keep me company with a cup of tea.”

“Thank you, brother,” Zhou Heng nodded and smiled.

…

…

The next day at dawn, as the sun began to rise and the purple mist lingered.

Zhou Heng was sitting cross-legged amidst the clouds in front of the Golden Peak, his eyes slightly closed as his inner and outer aspects became one with heaven and earth, displaying an inclusive demeanor that corresponded with the morning’s purple aura in the distant sky.

He was comprehending and practicing the Eternal Life Chant.

“You are comprehending the martial arts technique ‘The Eternal Life Chant’ [Secret Sixth Rank]. Because you have profound knowledge in similar martial arts, you have a flash of insight, understanding its mysteries, Proficiency +1.”

“Congratulations! You have reached Proficiency 1 in ‘The Eternal Life Chant’ [Secret Sixth Rank], officially mastering this martial arts, and because you have profound knowledge in similar martial arts, Proficiency +25000.”

“Congratulations! Because you have mastered similar martial arts, your insight into ‘Pure Yang Dan Jing’ [Sect Fifth Rank] has deepened, blessed by serendipity, Proficiency +1000.”

“Congratulations! Because your inner strength True Qi is nurturing your body, improving your physical strength, the proficiency of ‘Golden Bell Cover’ [Secret Sixth Rank] has increased by +2000.”

“Congratulations! As your Inner Qi and True Qi have improved, your proficiency in the ‘Innate Formless Sword Finger’ [Secret Six Rank] has increased by 1000.”

…

[Secret Six Rank] The Eternal Life Chant: Seventh Layer (5871/7000)

…

By the time the morning sun rose and the violet qi had dissipated, the sea of clouds surrounding the peak of Yuxu had already been tinged with streaks of golden dawn.

It was a sight befitting the name Golden Peak.

Zhou Heng had cultivated the Longevity True Energy, bringing along a series of upgrades.

He also truly comprehended the profound mysteries of this part of The Eternal Life Chant.

This was a set of Inner Strength that focused more on the cultivation of the self, channeling the wonders of the world through the body’s meridian points, drawing in the Qi of heaven and earth to refine it, and in turn, strengthen one’s own True Qi.

If one obtained this skill while still at Lower Third Rank, it would be possible to directly cultivate Innate True Qi, and at the Peak of the Seventh Rank, it might not be impossible to fully unleash that power to stiffly challenge a warrior at the Realm of Secret Six Rank True Qi.

It could truly be called a Divine Skill.

Unfortunately, at the level of Secret Six Rank, using the inner realm of the body to resonate with the principles of the outer world and drawing in the Qi of heaven and earth was no longer unique to The Eternal Life Chant but a common practice for everyone.

Therefore, for the vast majority of Secret Six Rank Warriors, The Eternal Life Chant was really only considered an ordinary rejuvenating martial arts skill, with some additional life-extending capabilities.

But Zhou Heng was different; his inner world encompassed everything, capable of containing all. After he had cultivated the Longevity True Energy, his inner world embraced it, thereby enhancing its original effects.

This allowed Zhou Heng to extend his range for channeling the Qi of heaven and earth by a little, from originally at most a circumference of five hundred paces to nearly five hundred and fifty paces, and made drawing in the Qi of heaven and earth even more effortless, especially when it came to executing Taoist Formulas, making it smoother and more fluid.

“Compared to martial arts, the True Qi cultivated from The Eternal Life Chant is clearly more suited for executing Taoist Formulas,” Zhou Heng thought to himself with a chuckle.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but wonder if The Eternal Life Chant could be used as a foundation for crafting and modifying some so-called “Immortal” cultivation methods?

However, this was just a spontaneous thought, a mere divergence of his mind and not something he had deeply considered.

In the following half month, Zhou Heng spent his time around the sea of clouds near Golden Peak, tempering his True Qi and refining his body, solidifying his realm at the Secret Six Rank and cultivating the three Sect Fifth Rank martial arts he had previously obtained in the Cave Sky of Yuanzhenzi.

Specifically: ‘Cavernous Mystery Induction’, ‘Heavenly Abyss Thousand Shadows Light Dividing Sword Technique’, and ‘Jade Cosmos Dust Clearing Saber Technique’.

All were supreme martial techniques of the master level from the Zhi Xu Sect, and had already been lost three thousand years ago; even the current sect leader of the Zhi Xu Sect, Chen Yingyu, did not know them.

“I must find an opportunity to return the Zhi Xu Sect’s legacy I acquired from the statue of the Taoist Sage Qing Yu,” Zhou Heng pondered in his heart. Having accepted the rich reward of three Sect Fifth Rank martial arts from the Zhi Xu Sect, and one Heavenly Third Rank divine skill, he was obliged to fulfill his commitment.

With this thought in mind, he slowly opened his half-closed eyes, retracted his Divine Sense that had been attuning to the principles of the world, calmed the True Qi that was circulating, stood up, stepped onto the sea of clouds, tread through the void, and returned atop the Golden Peak.

It was time to head to the Dao Xu Cave Sky.

…

At the rear mountain of Yuxu Peak, the winds howled with snow, yet they could not come close to the plank road by even a hair’s breadth.

Zhou Heng and Chen Xuan were walking on this plank road toward the entrance to the Dao Xu Cave Sky. The entire road had restrictions in place, not only blocking the wind and snow but also prohibiting flight.

This was because the Dao Xu Cave Sky was actually left behind by a Celestial Man from the third generation of disciples of Pure Yang Palace after he had passed away in meditation.

For the vast majority of disciples today, this Celestial Man was an ancestor, and visiting the Dao Xu Cave Sky was essentially akin to paying respects at an ancestral mausoleum; the necessary respect had to be shown.

Having traversed the lengthy plank walkway, the two arrived on a suspended stone platform jutting out from the cliff face, where a thick white mist lay ahead.

“Little Uncle-Master, please wait a moment.” Chen Xuan stepped forward, took out a white jade token engraved with intricate designs, performed hand seals, muttered incantations, and then shouted lowly, “Open!”

No sooner had his voice faded than the white jade token began to glow with a radiant aqua light, which illuminated the dense white mist before them, causing it to swirl and part, revealing a golden-glowing portal suspended in mid-air.

“Little Uncle-Master, this is the Taoxu Heavenly Gate,” Chen Xuan said respectfully. “Please enter.”

He was only there to bring Zhou Heng to the gate and to open it; he would not go through himself.

“Thank you.” Zhou Heng nodded gently and then stepped onto the void, walking off the suspended stone platform towards the Taoxu Heavenly Gate.

Beneath his feet was a seemingly bottomless abyss, yet he did not fall; the power of the Taoxu Heavenly Gate had formed an invisible path as soon as the portal manifested.

When Zhou Heng arrived at the gate, he saw the golden light circulating rapidly, enveloping him, and in the next instant, he found himself in another world.

This place seemed to lack distinction between heaven and earth, nor was there a sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, or any life forms—just a gray, murky world with laws and principles that were profoundly obscure.

Certainly, this was not a normal world.

However, before coming to Taoxu Cave Sky, Zhou Heng had heard Yan Shouyi mention that this cave sky had been modified and was now totally different from ordinary cave skies, so there was no surprise there.

In Taoxu Cave Sky, there was no specified location to store secret manuals, for all the martial arts and Taoist formulas were already embedded within the great laws of this world.

One only needed to call out with their voice to bring up a list of titles and to learn what tasks needed to be completed to obtain the manuals.

Most of these tasks originated from messages sent by disciples of Pure Yang Palace who were outside, either asking for the Sect’s help or reporting information about certain enemies back to the Sect…

After being sorted out by designated individuals, these messages were transformed into specific missions and then matched to martial arts of varying levels according to their difficulty and urgency.

However, because the number of martial arts and tasks didn’t usually correspond, it was common for one martial art to be linked with several tasks, or for multiple martial arts to be associated with a single task. Completing a task would allow one to choose freely from the corresponding martial arts.

“Absolute Fourth Rank Inner Strength,” Zhou Heng intoned deeply. Since he was searching, he might as well start with the formidable ones—even if he couldn’t complete the tasks, he could get a glimpse before choosing a Sect Fifth Rank skill.

As soon as these words were spoken, he saw a string of catalogs appear before him, totaling thirty-seven inner strength manuals.

“Escape to Heaven Great Method,” “Treasured Thunder Dharma Body,”… “Pure Yang Great Sage Golden Book,” “Limitless True Yang Immortal Technique,”…

Zhou Heng checked the requirements to obtain the “Escape to Heaven Great Method.”

“You must slay the Loose Immortal ‘Empty Void’ who is the master of the Three Suns Palace in the Eastern Sea.”

He then looked at the “Pure Yang Great Sage Golden Book.”

“You must kill nine grandmasters of Absolute Fourth Rank from the four major evil paths and seize a Fourth Rank treasured weapon of the evil paths.”

…

Zhou Heng quickly realized that this was not something he should be looking at now.

Thus, he altered his call to “Sect Fifth Rank Inner Strength.”

Immediately, the catalog before Zhou Heng’s eyes changed, with the number of manuals increasing significantly—this time, there were nearly two hundred.

This implied that just among the Sect Fifth Rank martial arts legacies transmitted in Pure Yang Palace, there were over two hundred different inner strength manuals—a treasure trove for countless medium-sized sects and something smaller factions could only dream of acquiring.

The foundation of Pure Yang Palace was indeed profound.

Even Zhou Heng, looking at these secret manuals, was somewhat dazzled and at a loss as to which martial art to choose.

However, after some contemplation, he decided to select based on the missions—seeing which tasks were relatively easy to complete and also had good quality inner strength manuals.

This would be his priority.

…

In the end, Zhou Heng chose “Pure Yang Furious Thunder Technique.”

This was an inner strength technique of Sect Fifth Rank derived from “Pure Yang Dan Jing,” which allowed the manifestation of the might of thunder within Pure Yang True Qi and the cultivation of the Pure Yang Furious Thunder Dharma Phase.

It was like the enraged Thunder God, with vast and formidable power.

For Zhou Heng, this technique was not only convenient and quick to cultivate, but it would also directly enhance the power of his Purple Thunder Blade Skill, Divine Sword Thunder Control, and Five Thunder Righteous Method.

It was indeed a perfect fit for him.

The corresponding mission was also to Zhou Heng’s liking. As a derivative of “Pure Yang Dan Jing,” it wasn’t overly difficult.

The location was in Anhe Prefecture of Pingzhou, adjacent to Huangtong Mansion—a place he was familiar with.

According to the mission details—

Starting from a month ago, burly men or male martial artists with significant cultivation began disappearing in the middle of the night across Anhe Prefecture, and soon their emaciated corpses were found on the streets.

Among them were well-known Seventh Rank Warriors from the local area. The prefectural city officials couldn’t uncover the truth or catch the culprit, causing extreme panic among the populace.

More than half a month ago, the son of Weng Kang, the proprietor of the Yuhua treasure shop in Anhe Prefecture city, fell victim as well.

Both Weng Kang and his son were external disciples of Pure Yang Palace, and Weng himself was responsible for all of Pure Yang Palace’s jewelry industries in the multiple prefectures of Pingzhou, having earned a great wealth for the Sect.

Thus, Weng Kang sent a letter to the Sect, hoping to uncover the truth and avenge his son.

Upon receiving the letter, Pure Yang Palace, after review and arrangement by disciples specifically in charge of such matters, suspected that a high-ranking evil practitioner from Honghua Palace was cultivating a malevolent technique of absorbing Yang to replenish Yin.

The task was set up accordingly, and it was recommended that those who undertook it should be no lower than Secret Sixth Rank.

—Tasks from Pure Yang Palace were not only for exchanging secret manuals; they would also be issued elsewhere, and upon completion, could be exchanged for other items.

Hence, it wouldn’t delay the mission’s timing.

…

After accepting the task, Zhou Heng immediately descended from Taihua Mount.

He headed to Purple Tenuity Palace, then from there, he appeared in Pingzhou. Afterward, he flew with his sword, riding the wind and controlling the Qi, heading towards Anhe Prefecture.

Having broken through to Secret Sixth Rank, he had been constantly cultivating.

He was indeed itching for a fight.

And what better way than to test his martial arts on an evil practitioner?

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