I Cheated While Cultivating

Even Pei Luoshu and Pei Luoling were shocked, staring with wide eyes.

The siblings had originally thought that Zhou Heng was merely a typical disciple of Pure Yang Palace, perhaps with higher strength and talent, who might one day have the chance to be taken as a personal disciple by a grandmaster or a supreme master, but it would still take some time.

After all, Zhou Heng had only joined Pure Yang Palace a few months ago.

But now, he had suddenly become the “Little Martial Uncle” of the seventh generation of disciples in the Pure Yang Palace.

This was too unexpected and simply outrageous.

“Is he really taken as a disciple by the Celestial Man, the head of Pure Yang Palace?” Pei Luoling said with a look of surprise, whispering to Zhou Heng, “Fresh out of the gate and favored by a big shot, with connections reaching to the heavens—this is exactly the treatment of a protagonist in a story.”

“No, it’s also possible that one of the other peaks’ elders in Pure Yang Palace took him as a disciple.” Pei Luoshu shook his head and muttered, “That rumor could just be hearsay, transforming Zhou Heng from a personal disciple of some elder into a direct disciple of the head of the palace.”

His guess was actually very reasonable.

Among the fifth generation of disciples still alive in Pure Yang Palace, there is not only the former head Chen Dongxuan, but also disciples from the Jade Qiong Peak, Taixu Peak, Jade Qiong Peak, and others, although they have rarely taken disciples in the past century.

The last disciple of the sixth generation who stirred the martial world was from fifty years ago, a disciple of the former master of the Purple Virtual Peak of Pure Yang Palace.

Known as Wandering White Crane Immortal, You Ziheng.

“As long as it’s not from the Jade Virtual Peak lineage, it wouldn’t be considered too shocking,” Pei Luoling said with a light smile, “But I still think that rumor is probably true, and the Chang Xing Sect is surely in trouble.”

“Hey, even if it isn’t true, with that rumor out in the open, most people, upon learning that Zhou Heng is a direct sixth generation disciple of Pure Yang Palace, will first think he’s a disciple of a Tao Lord.” Pei Luoshu looked up at the mountain peaks in front and laughed, “Actually, if the rumor is false, Chang Xing Sect’s trouble might be even bigger.

“Zhou Heng’s status as a direct sixth generation disciple of Pure Yang Palace is certain. If not taken as a disciple by the acting head, then his master would be one of the still-living elders of the various peaks, most of whom have already achieved Celestial Man status, or are Fourth Rank supreme masters who have prolonged their lifespans.

“The Tao Lord is in secluded cultivation, rarely stepping into the mundane world, and Yan Shouyi as the head of Pure Yang Palace also would not act rashly. These two are unlikely to take direct action because of Zhou Heng, leaving some room for maneuver.

“But if it’s a Celestial Man who has retired from sect duties, solely wishing to find a good disciple, or a Fourth Rank supreme master who is aging and nearing the end of his life, and who has just accepted a successor… Once Zhou Heng runs into trouble, can you guess what they would do?”

“Then Chang Xing Sect would certainly be doomed,” Pei Luoling nodded.

“Exactly,” Pei Luoshu said with a light chuckle, “If I were Wan Fengchun, I would come down the mountain right now to voluntarily apologize and promise to keep a close watch on Liu Songshan, preventing him from taking even half a step out of Chang Xing Sect.”

“Would that happen?” Pei Luoling also looked towards the mountain peak where the Chang Xing Sect was located and laughed, “Isn’t it supposed to be that after beating the young, the old come out and then engage in a life-or-death struggle with Pure Yang Palace, ultimately getting wiped out?”

“…Who would be that foolish?” Pei Luoshu’s mouth twitched slightly as he said, “Pure Yang Palace is a supreme immortal gate with a Divine First Rank, only if Wan Fengchun has a problem with his brain would he clash with Pure Yang Palace to the death.”

“Many storytellers tell it that way, and quite a few people believe them,” Pei Luoling covered her lips with her folding fan and giggled lightly, suddenly noticing several streaks of cloud light floating down from the peak, “Eh, down already?”

Wan Fengchun came flying down from the summit with Qian Zheng, Yue Rong, and others.

They descended from afar, stepped off their cloud, and walked up to Zhou Heng, bowing and apologizing in unison.

“Daoist Zhou, an elder in our sect has acted recklessly and without concern for martial world ethics, oppressing your friends and seniors. I cannot shirk my responsibility in this matter and hereby apologize to you,” Wan Fengchun said.

Wan Fengchun, a Fifth Rank Sect Master, was now bowing and apologizing to Zhou Heng with utmost reverence; to many onlookers, it truly seemed like he was thoroughly lowering his face.

The others, Qian Zheng, Yue Rong, and the rest of the Sixth Rank Innate masters, also took turns bowing and apologizing to Zhou Heng.

The sight thrilled everyone around them beyond measure.

Grandmasters, Innates!

These were usually big names on the martial path, top figures in a province, and even in County City, they would be honored guests of all the major forces, yet now they were humbly apologizing to a Martial Path Eighth Rank.

Many envied Zhou Heng, wishing they could be in his shoes to see what it felt like to receive apologies from Grandmasters and Innates.

However, many also soberly recognized that Wan Fengchun wasn’t apologizing to Zhou Heng, but to Pure Yang Palace, to its supreme masters, Celestial Men, Tao Lords, and that Saint.

This was the depth of a sect’s foundation.

Thinking of this, some people couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for Wan Fengchun and the others, feeling that they were being oppressed by one of the current top Martial Dao Sects, and that if Zhou Heng didn’t let it go at this, it would be somewhat overreaching.

Of course, many still clearly remembered Liu Songshan’s previous actions and the attitude of Chang Xing Sect before Zhou Heng’s identity was revealed.

Such a predicament was purely self-inflicted.

Isn’t it just bullying the weak and fearing the strong?

Not the least bit pitiable!

“Following the customs of the martial world, it seems I should readily accept your apology, and then we’d drink together from a jar of wine, dissolving our grievances,” Zhou Heng said with a light chuckle, showing no intention of letting Wan Fengchun and the others stand up.

From a short distance, the half-dead Liu Songshan hung his head, not daring to look at Zhou Heng, but his eyes, fixed on the ground, were filled with darkness and hatred, his fingernails digging into the earth.

Damn it!

Damn it all!

His heart was filled with a fierce desire to kill, but he dared not show even a hint of it now; he could only wait for a future opportunity.

“If Daoist Zhou could truly be so magnanimous, then we would be eternally grateful, but Liu Songshan did indeed go too far earlier,” Wan Fengchun continued to bow, lowering his head to Zhou Heng, “Rest assured, Daoist Zhou, I will bring him back to the mountain, strictly discipline him, and confine him within the Sect, forbidding him from taking even half a step out.”

“No need.” Zhou Heng shook his head with a cold laugh, raising his hand in a sweep. The Geng Metal Sword Energy Talisman was immediately activated.

Zheng!

A sound of a sword cry echoed, the extremely sharp Geng Metal Sword Qi tore through the void, causing the metal weapons in the hands of the many onlookers to tremble, emitting a chorus of jingling and clanging sounds.

Almost instantly, the Geng Metal Sword Qi struck the half-dead Liu Songshan, enveloping his entire being.

If it had been an uninjured Liu Songshan, facing this Sword Qi, he would have had the strength to dodge and defend, and at most, it would take some time without causing him significant harm.

But now, with him half-dead and suppressed by Jiang Taihe, the flow of True Qi within his body had completely ceased, and his body could hardly move, let alone have the strength to resist this Sword Qi.

He could only watch helplessly as the pure white Sword Qi flew towards him, covering him entirely, followed by the excruciating pain of skin peeling, flesh crushing, and bones breaking.

Liu Songshan knew that this was the Geng Metal Sword Qi grinding him to pieces.

Damn it!

He was actually going to die at the hands of such a youngster!

“Junior brother!” Wan Fengchun wanted to disperse the Sword Qi, but Jiang Taihe stepped forward to block him.

A moment later, the Geng Metal Sword Qi faded away, leaving only a trench hundreds of feet long on the ground. Liu Songshan had vanished without a trace; he was completely obliterated.

“Congratulations! You have killed the doomed enemy Liu Songshan. Fortune Bag [Gold] +1.”

The reward notification sounded.

Zhou Heng turned his head towards Wan Fengchun and said indifferently, “There’s no need to confine him anymore, Sect Leader. I always repay grievances directly; killing him was the simplest solution.”

“You?!” Wan Fengchun, consumed by a burst of anger, suddenly looked up, glaring at Zhou Heng, “Very well, very well! Despite your young age, Daoist Zhou, you have a strong killer instinct. With such a decisive nature in killing at such a young age, you’re bound to have limitless prospects in the future.”

“Then I thank Sect Leader Wan for your auspicious words.” Zhou Heng said with a cold laugh.

If Wan Fengchun had brought Liu Songshan out to apologize and make amends when Zhou Heng first arrived here, he most likely would have let the matter go.

After all, his initial goal was to defeat Chang Xing Sect’s Lower Third Rank disciples in front of many in the martial world, humiliate Chang Xing Sect’s reputation, and thus avenge Yu He and Lin Cang among others.

Even, had Liu Songshan stepped forward to apologize to Zhou Heng on his own initiative after seeing that all the Lower Third Rank disciples of Chang Xing Sect were no match for Zhou Heng, things would not have escalated to this point.

It was too late for Wan Fengchun, the Sect Leader of Chang Xing Sect, to come out now.

Bullying the weak but fearing the tough, and then wanting to apologize and make amends after realizing the other party is too tough to handle?

Where in this world do things work that way?

If apologies and amends were sufficient, then what’s the purpose of cultivating?

Wan Fengchun was so infuriated by Zhou Heng’s words that his breathing became rapid, his old face turned iron blue, and after giving Zhou Heng a glare, he said to Jiang Taihe, “Pure Yang Palace truly has gained a formidable junior uncle! Impressive, impressive!”

Having said that, he directly turned around, ascended into the clouds, and along with Qian Zheng and Yue Rong, returned to Chang Xing Sect.

The scene fell completely silent, with not even a crow or sparrow making a sound.

Nobody had anticipated that matters would turn out this way.

To think a Sixth Rank Innate had died!

Martial Dao Sixth Rank, harmonizing with the external scenery, reversing the natural order, in many sects this rank is already equivalent to a sect leader, and even in sects with a Grandmaster, it’s an elder’s position, a truly significant figure.

And just like that, he perished?

“Junior uncle, you’ve made an enemy of Chang Xing Sect.” Jiang Taihe spoke in a soft voice.

“Would there be no enmity if I hadn’t killed Liu Songshan?” Zhou Heng chuckled, “If I didn’t kill him, once he recovered, he would surely come to kill me.”

“Actually, what I meant was, if I had taken action, I could have helped share some of the enmity for you, junior uncle.” Jiang Taihe said with a smile.

“…Haha, there’s no need for that.” Zhou Heng glanced at the mountain gate of Chang Xing Sect, “I fear that Chang Xing Sect will soon close off its mountain gate.”

“Close off the mountain?” Jiang Taihe wore a puzzled expression.

…

Within the crowd.

Pei Luoshu looked at Zhou Heng, his eyes filled with admiration, “What a resolute Purple Lightning Thunder Blade; that strike just now truly shocked me.

“Next, I reckon Chang Xing Sect will close off the mountain.”

“Ah?” Pei Luoling did not understand and asked in confusion, “Why would they close off the mountain?”

————

PS: I recommend a book by a friend of mine called “For the Dragon”. Summary: This is the story of a genocide-surviving youth who aspires to become the Great Wilderness’s number one True Dragon.