I Cheated While Cultivating

Zhou Heng left Yang Zhengguang’s house and headed towards Yu He’s place.

When entering the city, he overheard pedestrians discussing how Yu He, the famous wealthy young master of Huangtong Mansion, got married half a year ago.

He had missed the wedding feast before, and now that he was back, he naturally wanted to enjoy a meal there.

That young scoundrel went to drink flower wine every day, who knows from where he conjured up a bride.

Could there really be a girl willing to marry that thing?

As for Yang Zhengguang’s situation, Zhou Heng had already taken care of it.

At such a close distance, the effects of Celestial Man Observation Technique had reached their peak, enabling him to clearly see the condition of both Yang Zhengguang and the soul that dwelled within him.

Yang Zhengguang himself was unproblematic, merely an ordinary Ninth Rank Warrior. His unusual aura was due to a strand of Celestial Spirit Remnant that resided in his sea of consciousness.

This strand of Celestial Spirit Remnant was exceedingly weak, like a candle flame in the wind, ready to extinguish at any moment. It could only dwell in Yang Zhengguang’s sea of consciousness; once it appeared in the outside world, it could be snuffed out completely.

It is said that the Primordial Spirit of the Celestial Man is indestructible when anchored in the void, but this particular Celestial Man had fallen into such a pathetic state.

For Zhou Heng, dealing with a Celestial Spirit Remnant of such a degree was far too simple. He could erase it directly with just a slight effort.

But he did not do so.

A Celestial Spirit Remnant taking refuge in the sea of consciousness of a Ninth Rank Warrior, and seemingly about to stir up some trouble recently, most likely had an ulterior motive.

Zhou Heng wanted to figure out what this “ulterior motive” could be, whether it involved malevolent spirits, and whether it would bring a great crisis to Huangtong Mansion City.

After all, Huangtong Mansion City was no ordinary place.

This city suppressed the half-bone of a Demon Lord, which had previously attracted Overseas Loose Cultivators, great demons, and Ghost Immortals who tried to break the seal, sparking battles that almost led to catastrophe for Huangtong Mansion City.

Though now Huangtong Mansion City had Jiang Tafa, a Tao Lord, which theoretically should have meant there would be no major crisis, Zhou Heng couldn’t be certain of Jiang Tafa’s true intentions, nor whether this reclusive Tao Lord would indeed protect Huangtong Mansion City.

He did not wish to place his hopes on an uncertain matter.

It was wiser to investigate and clarify things himself.

Yang Zhengguang and the Celestial Spirit Remnant residing within him were the clues.

He naturally could not easily erase it.

However, although Zhou Heng had not acted directly, he still left behind a gold leaf as a spirit talisman for connection.

On the surface, the gold leaf seemed to contain records of the Five Thunder Orthodox Gold Book, but in reality, it was a Five Thunder Righteous Method Spirit Talisman, which was extremely effective against soul beings. With one strike, even an Absolute Fourth Rank Ghost Immortal would suffer serious injuries. ⱤᴀＮȪᛒĘS

This was enough to cause that strand of Celestial Spirit Remnant to feel wary, even fearful.

Thereby, Zhou Heng could verify some things.

If this Celestial Spirit Remnant had grand schemes, and if Huangtong Mansion City held great importance within them, then it would most likely seek out help, achieving the effect of drawing the snake out of its hole.

If the Celestial Spirit Remnant instead made Yang Zhengguang leave Huangtong Mansion City, it would mean that the city did not hold a particularly important place in its schemes.

Either way, this could help prevent a crisis for Huangtong Mansion City.

In fact, Zhou Heng’s arrangements didn’t end there.

In addition to leaving behind the gold leaf, he utilized a recently conceived secret technique that influenced the spirit to place a suggestion within Yang Zhengguang’s mind.

The suggestion made Yang Zhengguang extremely eager to cultivate the Five Thunder Orthodox Gold Book.

As long as Yang Zhengguang retained his desire for the Five Thunder Orthodox Gold Book in his mind, Zhou Heng could sense his whereabouts and monitor the movements of him and that strand of Celestial Spirit Remnant at any time.

If anything unusual happens, deal with it immediately.

This was the method he had summarized when he had contemplated the “True Spirit Heart Sutra” previously, combining the martial and spirit secret techniques such as “Sky-Earth Striking Method” and “Immortal Seal Technique” he had practiced.

It still lacked a specific name, but it was quite practical.

That was why Zhou Heng was even more eager to truly master the “True Spirit Heart Sutra”. Just a little gain from contemplation had proven so useful, so if he were to truly cultivate it to completion, wouldn’t he be able to play with people’s minds and spirits at will?

What a formidable power that would be!

…

Yu He’s reputation was now very high; he was considered a celebrity in Huangtong Mansion City.

All this was thanks to his management of Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall.

Backed by the towering presence of Pure Yang Palace, combined with his own knack for handling such affairs, in just over a year, he had developed Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall into the biggest martial arts hall in Huangtong Mansion City.

Not only were its apprentices and trainers better than those of other halls, but his revenue streams were also diverse, transforming the martial arts hall from a place that solely selected disciples into an institution that could profit in various ways.

Last year, Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall’s net profit in Huangtong Mansion City even surpassed that of Pure Yang Palace’s businesses elsewhere.

Yu He could truly be called a business genius.

Some time ago, a Grandmaster in charge of overseeing external business profits from Pure Yang Palace had even visited to meet with Yu He; he left with nothing but admiration after their exchange.

“It’s been a while, and this kid has become even more impressive.” Zhou Heng felt happy inside and with a smile on his face, arrived outside Yu He’s newly acquired mansion.

Since there had been a wedding there just half a year ago, red lanterns hung and “happiness” characters adorned the walls and gate, making it look quite festive.

“Taoist master, whom are you looking for?”

The doorman at the gate asked politely.

Zhou Heng was dressed in a Pure Yang Palace Taoist robe, which made him look like a Taoist who wandered the world.

“I’m looking for Yu He,” Zhou Heng said with a smile.

“Ah? Searching for the young master…” The doorman showed an embarrassed expression, unsure of how to respond.

He had just recently come to the prefectural city from a lower county and hadn’t met Zhou Heng, so he was somewhat troubled about this stranger seeking his master.

He was afraid of causing trouble.

“Tell him, it’s Zhou Heng looking for him,” Zhou Heng understood the servant’s thoughts.

“You are Zhou Heng, the Taoist Zhou?!” The doorman excitedly said upon hearing his words: “The young master often talks about you, saying he has a good brother who became an Immortal up on Taihua Mount.”

“Taoist master?” Zhou Heng was surprised by the title, not expecting to be addressed this way.

However, upon reflection, it seemed understandable.

Though Da Qi had many Middle Third Rank and even Upper Third Rank powerful beings, for the vast majority of common people, a Seventh Rank was the strongest being they could encounter in their daily life.

To many common folks, Middle Third Rank warriors, who could travel to the realms beyond, were already untouchable and lofty figures.

It was not particularly strange in some remote areas to call those who could fly and vanish into the sky ‘Immortals’.

With Pure Yang Palace traditionally known as a sect with ‘Immortal’ status among people, the way Yu He spoke of him becoming an ‘Immortal’ on Taihua Mount didn’t seem problematic.

“Since you are Taoist Zhou, please do come in. I will notify the young master right away,” the doorman said with a reverent expression, bowing low and welcoming Zhou Heng into the gate.

“There’s no need for such formality,” Zhou Heng said with a smile, gently shaking his head as he walked through the mansion gate, just in time to see Yu He walking towards him from a distance, accompanied by a woman dressed in plain white clothes.

The girl appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old. While her looks were not particularly stunning, she was still above average, with an air of gentleness and intelligence. Her hair was already done up in the style of a married woman; she must have been Yu He’s newlywed wife.

“Zhou Heng!” When Yu He saw Zhou Heng, he immediately burst into hearty laughter and hurried over, “When did you get back? How come you didn’t let me know?”

“Just entered the city, and here I am to see you,” Zhou Heng smiled, “I missed your wedding feast before, so I have to make you make it up to me this time.”

“Hahaha! No problem, we brothers haven’t seen each other for so long, we must drink to our heart’s content!” Yu He seemed much more open-hearted than before, and there seemed to be some changes in the way he spoke and acted.

“Business has been good? You’re being so formal with me,” Zhou Heng raised an eyebrow.

“Hiss, you noticed, huh? Sigh, once a habit is formed, it’s tough to change,” Yu He spread his hands in resignation and said, “Come on, let’s go find Master Lin and Grandmaster Lei, it’s been a long time since we all got together.”

“Sure,” Zhou Heng nodded, then pointed at the woman beside him and smiled, “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Oh, right, I got so excited seeing you that I forgot,” Yu He laughed happily, “This is my wife. We met in adversity a year ago, and as time passed, we developed feelings for each other, and naturally became husband and wife.”

“That’s wonderful, wonderful,” Zhou Heng nodded and said, “Shall we go find Master Lin and Grandmaster Lei, and talk while we walk?”

“Alright! Let’s go!” Yu He laughed.

…

On the way to the Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall, Zhou Heng asked Yu He some more about his wife.

For instance, how they met and some details of their time together.

Yu He answered each question one by one.

By the time they reached the Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall, Zhou Heng had more or less figured out the situation.

Yu He’s wife was named Bai Husheng, nineteen years of age, with parents who had passed away early.

Since her childhood, she had been practicing her family’s martial arts and was a talented individual, reaching the Eighth Rank at a young age.

A year earlier, Yu He was out on business when he encountered bandits. His guards were all injured, and it looked like he was going to be captured.

At that moment, Bai Husheng suddenly appeared, fought off the bandits with great effort, and saved Yu He.

However, Bai Husheng was also being pursued for assassination at that time and had sustained serious injuries, so she took Yu He and fled together.

The two spent nearly half a month together living a fugitive life before finally returning to Huangtong Mansion City.

Once outside the city, they settled down, and Bai Husheng stayed in Yu’s house.

Gradually, Yu He and she grew closer and closer.

Familiarity bred fondness, and things fell into place naturally.

Everything seemed quite normal.

Upon reaching the Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall and meeting Lin Cang and Lei Xiuyan, Zhou Heng did not continue to inquire about Bai Husheng.

Afterward, the four of them went to a tavern they used to frequent, reminiscing and indulging in food and drink.

Lin Cang’s martial path had progressed, reaching the Eighth Rank level, which made him one of the stronger trainers in the prefectural city’s martial halls. Lei Xiuyan, however, still had not reached the threshold of the Secret Sixth Rank, a challenge too difficult for ordinary martial artists.

When talking about Zhou Heng’s experiences over the past two years, both men were quite delighted, as Zhou was their apprentice, and now that he had achieved so much, they shared in his glory.

Yet, at this apparently harmonious dinner table, everyone could feel a certain barrier that hadn’t existed before between them.

After the meal and drinks were finished.

Lin Cang, slightly drunk, came over and patted Zhou Heng on the shoulder, and said with a smile, “Little Zhou, I’m really happy that you still call me Master Lin even now. I mean it, I’m truly happy. A Fifth Rank Sect Master, that’s a figure I couldn’t even look up to before.”

“Old Lin, you’re drunk,” Lei Xiuyan supported Lin Cang, and also looked towards Zhou Heng, his expression slightly complex as he said, “Little Zhou, I heard that reaching Middle Third Rank can extend one’s lifespan, right?”

“Yes, Secret Six Rank lives for three hundred years, Sect Fifth Rank lives for five hundred, and if one attains the pinnacle of Fourth Rank, they can have a thousand years of longevity,” Zhou Heng nodded slightly.

“A thousand years of longevity… That’s truly the life of an Immortal,” Lei Xiuyan sighed softly and said, “Little Zhou, some days ago, my father, whom you’ve also met, passed away from illness.”

“The old hall master passed away?” Zhou Heng was taken aback upon hearing this, then sighed, “Hall Master, please accept my condolences.”

“Yes,” Lei Xiuyan nodded, offering a forced smile, “In the end, we’re only ordinary people. Little Zhou, I’ll take Old Lin back first, you guys chat.”

With that, he helped the somewhat drunken Lin Cang leave.

“Master Lin and Hall Master Lei are thinking too much, I actually think being an ordinary person is quite nice, hehe,” Yu He laughed. “Look, I got a wife before you did, big brother should hurry up too, or my kid will be fetching soy sauce while you’re still without a family.”

“I’m not in a rush for that,” Zhou Heng smiled.Update by n0vgo.c0

“Hehe, that’s also true, you’re now a Fifth Rank Sect Master, able to live five hundred years, ah, five hundred years, that’s several lifetimes,” Yu He also seemed a bit pensive, and said, “If one could really live that long, it seems it wouldn’t be so bad. However, I don’t have that talent.”

“Don’t worry, later I’ll refine some life-extending elixirs, letting you live another hundred years or so won’t be a problem,” Zhou Heng chuckled.

“Is that even possible?” Yu He’s mouth fell open and then he shook his head, “Forget it, by that time the people around me will likely have mostly died off, living another hundred years alone wouldn’t mean much.”

“That may not necessarily be the case,” Zhou Heng suddenly shook his head.

“…” Yu He fell silent, and after a good while, he spoke with a bitter expression, “Let her go, please? She won’t do evil, and she definitely won’t harm me.”

“You trust her just like that?” Zhou Heng’s brows furrowed slightly.

“I trust her,” Yu He’s expression was resolute.

“Since the Middle Ancient times, there have been very few demonic beings in the world, and they almost always view humans with hostility,” Zhou Heng said gravely, “I’m not sure she truly won’t harm you, but I advise you to be cautious.”

Bai Husheng was a Fox Demon.

Zhou Heng had realized it the moment he had seen her at Yu’s residence.

“I don’t want to always be on guard against the person by my side,” Yu He, however, shook his head and said, “That would be too tiring. Since I’ve married her, I trust her.”

“This makes me sound like I’m the villain from a storybook, beating mandarin ducks with a bat,” Zhou Heng laughed.

“Yes, indeed very much so,” Yu He laughed as well.

“I don’t plan to act that way,” Zhou Heng shook his head and said, “The choice is yours, since you trust her, I won’t interfere.”

“Good brother,” Yu He nodded seriously and smiled, “Thanks.”

…

This conversation, touching upon changes of the heart, gave Zhou Heng a lot to ponder.

The proficiency of the True Spirit Heart Sutra had markedly improved.

However, in the end, he still chose not to interfere in the matter of Yu He and the Fox Demon.

Of course, just to be safe, Zhou Heng left a concealed spirit talisman on Yu He.

It could defend against one attack from a power below Absolute Fourth Rank.

Moreover, once the spirit talisman was triggered, he would immediately sense it.

An uncommon union between a demonic being and a human in the world made it impossible for Zhou Heng to not pay attention.

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