I Cheated While Cultivating

Zhou Heng sized up the man before him and found that there indeed was a murderous aura about him that came from wielding a spear; he did not seem like a martial artist from the pugilistic world, but more like an expert honed in the military.

“Have you served in the army?” Zhou Heng raised an eyebrow and inquired.

“To hone my killing intent, I spent ten years cultivating in the military.” Hong Wanzai grinned, his aura of murder intensifying as he circulated his Inner Qi and adopted a stance, coldly laughing, “Boy, come on, let’s see how much killing intent your martial arts contain. Without your lethal weapon, are your fists still as sharp?”

Hong Wanzai announcing his identity like this immediately caused a sensation among the onlookers.

“I didn’t expect it to be him; Hong Wanzai is actually from the Chang Xing Sect. Zhou Heng’s in trouble now.”

“Is Hong Wanzai that formidable? I’ve never really heard of him.”

“You haven’t heard of him because you’re young. Over twenty years ago, he was an Eighth Rank martial artist. He went to train in the Southern Jin military, spent a decade with the troops, and experienced various battles with the barbarian tribes of the vast wilderness mountains, slaying countless enemies!”

“My goodness, that impressive? In that case, can Zhou Heng even defeat him?”

“Zhou Heng’s martial arts rank is definitely much higher than Hong Wanzai’s, but Hong Wanzai’s combat experience is too rich. Often in combat, victory or death does not merely depend on one’s martial arts rank and cultivation. Battle experience also plays a significant role.”

“It looks like Zhou Heng is really in trouble. When Hong Wanzai gets angry, it’s going to get bloody!”

The crowd buzzed with discussion, recounting Hong Wanzai’s background and his past glorious deeds.

Pei Luoling naturally overheard all of this.

The young girl immediately became nervous, tugging at the hem of her brother’s clothes and whispering, “Brother, if Zhou Heng can’t beat that ‘Mountain-Bearing Divine Spear,’ remember to step in and mediate.”

Zhou Heng can’t afford to have an accident. There are so many stories I haven’t heard yet. No one else tells stories that are as novel and interesting as Zhou Heng’s, and I like the sound of his voice.

“What??” Pei Luoshu, however, was stunned by his sister’s abrupt remarks, replying in bewilderment, “Why should I intervene? I don’t even know him…”

“Wuuu, you don’t love me anymore!!” Pei Luoling’s lips quivered, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

“Alright, alright, I understand, I understand,” Pei Luoshu, who couldn’t bear to see his sister cry, quickly nodded, “If Zhou Heng truly is no match for Hong Wanzai, I will step in and mediate.”

“Why didn’t you just say so earlier!” Pei Luoling snapped her folding fan shut and slapped Pei Luoshu on the shoulder, smiling, “You almost made me cry. You owe me compensation, just a hundred taels in silver notes, not too much.”

“… I only get ten silver notes for my monthly allowance.” Pei Luoshu’s mouth twitched slightly, and he turned to look at Zhou Heng, trying to change the subject, “Though, if you ask me, this Hong Wanzai might not necessarily be a match for Zhou Heng.”

“Really?” Pei Luoling perked up with excitement, happily exclaiming, “Is that true? But I heard from the people around that this Hong Wanzai is very powerful. He’s battle-hardened from serving in the military and far stronger than the average martial artist of the same rank.”

“Is Zhou Heng your average martial artist?” Pei Luoshu rolled his eyes. This was a person who, at Eighth Rank, had already mastered the Sword Control Technique—an extraordinary existence not to be judged by conventional standards.

“Hmm, he’s indeed not your average martial artist,” Pei Luoling nodded and smiled, “Now that you mention it, I feel better and more confident. Brother, stand aside a bit, don’t block my view of Zhou Heng.”

“…” Pei Luoshu had no choice but to obediently shift his position, solidifying his status as the ultimate supportive tool.

At this moment, Hong Wanzai had already launched his attack on Zhou Heng. His entire body surged with Inner Qi, and his every movement whipped up a frenzy of wind, lifting sand and stones all around him.

Whoosh whoosh!

Amidst the howling winds, Hong Wanzai became like a thrusting spear, shooting forward in a flash, and appeared in front of Zhou Heng. His hands came together, fingers forming palms, with his fingertips pointing forward—one hand in front, the other behind—like holding a great spear, he stabbed towards Zhou Heng’s neck.

“You have witnessed Hong Wanzai performing ‘Divine Spear Hand Technique\'[Eighth Rank], based on past experience, you have discerned the essence of its martial secrets, proficiency +500.”

After all, Chang Xing Sect is not a major sect, and even a Seventh Rank expert commonly uses Eighth Rank techniques.

Almost the instant Hong Wanzai unleashed this technique, Zhou Heng saw through everything and learned it, even managing to use it with considerable skill.

Thus, he instantly adopted the same stance as Hong Wanzai.

It was the same hand formation, the same forward-pointing fingertips, and one hand in front, the other behind, as if holding a great spear as well, and he stabbed towards Hong Wanzai’s neck.

However, this was merely the external stance. In essence, he was propelling this technique with his minor “Formless Skill,” while simultaneously using the technique “Turning the Cosmic Wheel” to borrow force against force.

Hong Wanzai failed to detect the subtleties and saw Zhou Heng deploying his most proficient martial arts. Enraged, he sneered, “Ignorant fool, daring to use my martial arts against me in a duel, courting death!”

However, before he could finish speaking…

Hong Wanzai saw Zhou Heng’s “spear-hand” lightly touch his outstretched palms, instantly diverting the force of his own “spear thrust,” unexpectedly redirecting it back against himself!

At the same time, Zhou Heng’s thrust followed the trajectory of this force, striking forward and pressing against Hong Wanzai’s neck.

All of this happened in a flash, and before a single exchange had passed, Hong Wanzai was defeated.

“How dull.” Zhou Heng shook his head in disappointment.

The hand that was originally resting on Hong Wanzai’s neck thrust forward, and Hong Wanzai—the martial artist renowned for his countless kills and battle-hardened experience—was struck so his eyes rolled back, he spat out foam, and fainted.

All the spectators were dumbfounded, immersed in extreme shock.

How could this be?!

What had they just seen?

Zhou Heng seemed to have used Hong Wanzai’s own martial arts to defeat him, winning with an almost overwhelming advantage!

This was too strong, absurdly powerful.

There had never been a case where someone used the opponent’s martial arts to down the opponent, but here it was, happening right before their eyes.

It was simply inconceivable.

The disciples of Chang Xing Sect were also stunned, looking at Zhou Heng in disbelief. They could not believe that Hong Wanzai had been defeated by Zhou Heng using his most skilled “Divine Spear Hand Technique.”

This is the secret of the Chang Xing Sect that is not passed on to outsiders. How exactly did Zhou Heng acquire it?

Could it be that he had forced it out of Kong Chengshun?

However, Kong Chengshun practiced Eighth Rank swordsmanship and had never cultivated the Art of the Spear Palm of the Slayer.

Even if he had truly been interrogated, it’s certain he wouldn’t have divulged the Art of the Spear Palm of the Slayer.

So how did Zhou Heng learn it?

It couldn’t be that he simply watched it once and learned it, could it??

This absurd thought flashed through their minds but was instantly denied by themselves.

How could such a thing be possible, no, absolutely not!

“I’ll take you on! I want to see if you really are that powerful!”

Whether spurred by anger at Zhou Heng’s previous fighting method or wanting to prove that Zhou Heng didn’t have the ability to learn Martial Arts after just a glance, another Seventh Rank expert from the Chang Xing Sect stepped forward.

He was an old man around sixty years of age, his hair still black but his beard turning slightly gray, his body showing signs of age, yet his Inner Qi was incredibly robust, having almost surpassed the Peak of the Seventh Rank.

Such depth of Inner Qi could not be said to be anything other than powerful.

“Fan Xiao, known in the martial world as the ‘Chang Xing Divine Fist,’ is here to test your brilliant moves!” Fan Xiao stared coldly at Zhou Heng, speaking in a deep voice.

“Begin whenever you’re ready,” Zhou Heng said with a light laugh.

…

…

Bang!

As the forceful energy surged, the air rang out with explosive sounds, and Fan Xiao was sent flying by a punch from Zhou Heng. He collided with the crowd in front of the Chang Xing Sect’s gates and fell to the ground, unconscious.

This time, Zhou Heng used the same moves that Fan Xiao had used.

Another Seventh Rank expert from the Chang Xing Sect stepped up and ended up being beaten by Zhou Heng using the same techniques as well.

Afterward, every person who fought Zhou Heng met the same fate.

No matter what Martial Arts they used or what moves they executed, Zhou Heng would deploy the same tactics, and he did it even more powerfully, to defeat them!

Now, everyone had clearly seen it.

Zhou Heng was doing it on purpose; he was intentionally using the same techniques as those who fought him!

He was using their own methods to defeat them, effectively humiliating and overwhelming the Chang Xing Sect to the fullest extent!

Hiss!

What immense confidence was this?

After all, people have limited energy; nobody can learn too many Martial Arts, let alone master a multitude of them, and use the same Martial Arts to counter and defeat an opponent.

The strength and methods now displayed by Zhou Heng were simply unfathomable.

By now, it was night.

The full moon of September 15 had risen into the sky, and Zhou Heng, after a day of fierce battle, did not show the slightest sign of fatigue, still looking spirited while standing in front of the Chang Xing Sect’s gates.

With the Innate Skill reaching an advanced level, his inner Qi was unceasing. Unless a tremendous amount of Inner Qi was depleted in a short time, his Inner Qi could recover at a very fast pace.

“Is that all?” Zhou Heng stood under the moonlight, looking at the people of the Chang Xing Sect with a cold sneer and said, “The top sect of Huangtong Mansion City is only of this level?”

Silence ensued, nobody spoke.

All thirty-odd Seventh Rank experts of the Chang Xing Sect had been defeated by Zhou Heng using their best Martial Arts; no one dared to speak up.

Although Eighth and Ninth Grade disciples from the Chang Xing Sect also came out to assess the situation, their prowess was not sufficient to intervene in conflicts of such caliber, so they could only watch.

The onlookers were also curious about how the Chang Xing Sect would handle the situation next.

This was a significant loss of face!

Would they become enraged and send a Sixth Rank Innate expert to attack Zhou Heng?

“Zhou Heng, don’t push people too far!” Finally, Hong Wanzai, who was the first to challenge Zhou Heng, could not endure it any longer and stood up saying, “Why must you humiliate us so much? Remember, ‘to forgive when one has the upper hand!\'”

It had been a good half-day since he had fought Zhou Heng, and although he had passed out from the beating then, he had since come to.

The other disciples of the Chang Xing Sect also nodded in agreement, and even many spectators thought Zhou Heng was being too excessive.

“To forgive when one has the upper hand? Hah!” Zhou Heng, upon hearing this, let out a cold laugh and glanced over the crowd, “Why is it that you, the Chang Xing Sect, don’t understand the principle you yourselves don’t follow, yet expect me to abide by it?

“When the Chang Xing Sect pressured the Yu Family and targeted my mentor, why did you not think of this saying? I came here for revenge. There is no reason for me to be merciful!

“It’s fine if no one else wants to fight. I’ll just stand in front of the gates of the Chang Xing Sect, and fight whoever comes out.

“See one, beat one!”