I Cheated While Cultivating

Yan Shouyi said with a light laugh, reaching out to grasp the Golden Crow in his hand. Instantly, the Golden Crow shrank rapidly and turned into a tiny, yellow-feathered chick in the blink of an eye.

The little chick hopped twice in the palm of Yan Shouyi’s hand and spit out a golden bead from its mouth. It was crystal clear, emitted a faint glow, and was extremely hot. Just looking at it made Zhou Heng feel a bit dazzled.

It was as if a common person was staring directly at the sun.

After spitting out the golden bead, the little chick appeared to be extremely weary and instantly collapsed, falling asleep.

At this moment, Zhou Heng was somewhat stunned because the moment Yang Fan, transformed into the Golden Crow, had burst out from the reflection wall, he immediately gained a great deal of insight into exquisite martial arts.

The proficiency of many martial arts soared directly.

“Congratulations! By watching ‘Yang Fan’ perform the Martial Arts ‘Golden Crow Slaughter God Great Law’ [Absolute Fourth Rank] from a close distance, you feel a clear sense of comprehension emerging in your heart, proficiency +0.03.”

…

“Congratulations! Due to your possession of the Celestial Man’s Cave Sky’s treasure of fortune, intertwined with the laws of the Sun’s Golden Crow, the difficulty of Comprehending Martial Arts ‘Golden Crow Slaughter God Great Law’ [Absolute Fourth Rank] is reduced, proficiency +3.”

…

“Congratulations! Martial Arts ‘Golden Crow Slaughter God Great Law’ [Absolute Fourth Rank] proficiency has reached 1, you have formally learned this martial art. Due to the foundation of martial arts you previously studied and the bonus of similar types at the same level, proficiency +15000.”

…

[Absolute Fourth Rank] Golden Crow Slaughter God Great Law: Level Five (1/6000)

…

“Congratulations! As you’ve acquired a high-rank martial art, the proficiency of similar types of lower-rank martial arts ‘Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms’ [Seventh Rank], ‘Six Directions Plum Blossom Hands’ [Seventh Rank]… increases by +3000.”

…

“Congratulations! Martial Arts ‘Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms’ [Seventh Rank], ‘Six Directions Plum Blossom Hands’ [Seventh Rank]… proficiency has reached Perfection, Fortune Bag [Silver] +5, Fortune Bag [Copper] +7.”

…

A huge harvest, this really is a huge harvest.

The benefits of acquiring a high-rank martial art really are immense.

Even without considering the high-rank martial art itself, just the proficiency bonus it brings to the lower-rank martial arts alone could almost compare to a great explosion of a formidable enemy.

However, this was also thanks to him having a large number of Lower Third Rank martial arts that were not yet perfected; similar good fortune would be hard to come by in the future.

“Junior Brother, what’s the matter?” Yan Shouyi asked with a smile, “You seem to have gained some insight into martial arts?”

“Yes, indeed I have had some insights,” Zhou Heng nodded, holding the national seal jade in his hand, and said with a smile, “Senior Brother, now that this treasure that gathers the destiny of the Cave Sky world is in hand, what should we do next?”

“It’s already done,” Yan Shouyi replied with a light smile, and with a flick of his finger, the golden bead that the little chick had spat out fell into Zhou Heng’s palm, “This is Yang Fan’s Celestial Man’s Cave Sky.”

“Just this little bead?” Zhou Heng was surprised.

“Buddha spoke of fitting a mustard seed into Mount Meru, Tao speaks of shrinking a thousand li within a pouch; the Celestial Man’s Cave Sky operates on the same principle. Actually, it’s quite normal,” Yan Shouyi said with a smile, “However, your current Cultivation Realm is too low, and you cannot refine it yet. I can only wipe away the imprint of the Cave Sky after suppressing Yang Fan’s Primordial Spirit, then use this treasure of fortune as a spirit guide to transfer some of the more basic usage rights onto you.”

“I see, thank you, Senior Brother,” Zhou Heng nodded in acknowledgment.

While Yan Shouyi explained the situation, Zhou Heng also received some information through the golden bead in his hand, about what he could now do with this Cave Sky world.

There were mainly three things.

First, as Yan Shouyi had previously said, it could be used as a large Qiankun pouch and also to store living creatures besides oneself.

Second, it could aid in cultivation, meaning using this golden bead to comprehend the way of the sun and increase the speed of comprehension of the related martial arts.

Third, it could be used as an evil-repelling object, enhancing his resistance to the spirit pollution caused by evil creatures, ghosts, and demons.

Although the true capabilities of the Cave Sky could only be utilised once Zhou Heng’s cultivation realm advanced further, even this current level was considered an excellent secret treasure.

It would make his future travels through the martial world or other worlds much more convenient.

“What are your plans moving forward?” Yan Shouyi put away the little chick and smiled, “You’ve killed so many experts from the evil paths before, turning the Killing Orders of the four major evil paths into a joke, and they are still searching for you everywhere now.”

“Let them search. I’ll kill whoever comes,” Zhou Heng chuckled and said, “I’ve never been afraid of them. However, I plan to spend the New Year in Huangtong Mansion City first. I’ll think about what to do after the New Year.”

“You seem rather at ease,” said Yan Shouyi with a hearty laugh before he took out a gold-gilded, exquisite invitation from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Heng, “If you have no plans after the new year, I do know of a good place to visit.”

“What is this…” Zhou Heng fixed his gaze and noticed several large characters on the gold-gilded invitation, “Zhongzhou Imperial City’s Chaoyang Wine Gathering, hosted by the Zhao Family?”

“Exactly,” Yan Shouyi nodded slightly and said, “On my return from the West Wasteland, I traveled with Da Qi’s Prince of Zhen Nan, who gave me three invitations, calling upon the young talents of the Pure Yang Palace to attend the Chaoyang Wine Gathering.”

“It’s not just a simple gathering, is it?” Zhou Heng took the invitation, glanced over it briefly, and chuckled, “Does it mean that young masters from Southern Jin are coming to Da Qi for a visit?”

“It’s an old tradition,” Yan Shouyi nodded and explained, “Every three to five years, Southern Jin sends a special envoy with a few of their strongest young generation to come over.”

“Officially, it’s to bring people to broaden their horizons, but in reality, it’s a challenge to the young generation of Da Qi, a rather clichéd act, yet most effective,” he added.

“Most effective?” Zhou Heng asked, puzzled, “What do you mean, elder brother?”

“Of course, to suppress Da Qi,” Yan Shouyi gazed towards the south and said, “Whether it’s in the royal court or among the sects and noble families, there are several who share this intention.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Heng expressed surprise, “With the Evil God threatening from outside, the West Wasteland causing trouble from within, and now Southern Jin engaging in infighting with Da Qi, what’s there to gain from this?”

“Has there ever been a human race that doesn’t fight among themselves?” Yan Shouyi smiled and continued, “Actually, the reason is quite simple. Three thousand years ago after the battle of Tianyang, the Central Dynasty split into three nations: Da Qi, Da Jin, and Da Zhou—you know that, don’t you?”

“I do,” Zhou Heng nodded, feeling a bit of anticipation. Was Yan Shouyi about to tell him the specific details of the Battle of Tianyang?

“Junior brother, don’t look at me like that; I’m not going to tell you the details of the Battle of Tianyang now,” Yan Shouyi chuckled twice and then said, “Once, the great unified Central Dynasty was led by the Zhao family.”

The royal family of Da Qi today also carries the surname Zhao.

“Elder brother means to say…” Zhou Heng suddenly understood and pondered, “So the royal family of Da Qi is actually the royal family of the former Central Dynasty, and it’s the territory of Northern Zhou and Southern Jin that was carved up from the original ‘Da Qi’?”

“More or less,” Yan Shouyi nodded slightly and explained, “Nowadays, the royal family of Da Qi is somewhat weaker than those of Northern Zhou and Southern Jin, and as a result, they face oppression.”

“But because of external threats, this oppression is not too severe, and it is mostly like the Chaoyang Wine Gathering, without any direct conflict.”

“That’s the royal family; what about the noble families and sects?” Zhou Heng asked.

He knew that the royal family, noble families, and sects should never be discussed together. Even the closely connected royal family and noble families should not be generalized, let alone the sects.

“The issues with the noble families have been grudges existing since the Middle Ancient Era. As for the sects…” Yan Shouyi paused for a moment, sighed lightly, and said, “They are mainly centered around our Pure Yang Palace.”

“Pure Yang Palace?” Zhou Heng was initially taken aback; he hadn’t expected someone would dare to challenge and oppress the Pure Yang Palace, which had a Divine First Rank in the world. Then, something suddenly occurred to him, “Could it be Taixu Viewpoint?”

Taixu Viewpoint, also known as Taixu Palace, together with Pure Yang Palace and Tasang Dao Palace, are referred to as the three great palaces of the Daoist path.

However, unlike the Pure Yang Palace and Tasang Dao Palace, the lineage of Taixu Viewpoint is extremely ancient and untraceable, only known to have been a formidable force that shook the heavens and worlds since the mythical era.

When the founder of Pure Yang Palace first established it, Taixu Viewpoint was already the supreme immortal sect that countless beings aspired to join.

Over the eons, Taixu Viewpoint has produced innumerable powerful beings who have established sects and spread the Daoist teachings across various lands.

Today, many Daoist sects in the world can trace their heritage back several thousand years to Taixu Viewpoint to some degree.

Even now, the three great Daoist palaces have always been led by Taixu Viewpoint.

However, when Zhou Heng had previously chatted idly with You Ziheng on Taihua Mount, he heard from You Ziheng that for the past few thousand years, Taixu Viewpoint had been quite dissatisfied with Pure Yang Palace.

“Yes, Taixu Viewpoint it is,” Yan Shouyi nodded, “In the past three thousand years, the reputation of Pure Yang Palace has grown significantly; with our founder’s cultivation realm becoming increasingly unfathomable, Taixu Viewpoint has become somewhat restless.”

“So, it’s the old leader begrudging the rise of the new leader,” Zhou Heng commented with a laugh.

“Old leader, new leader?” Yan Shouyi paused, then laughed, “Haha, interesting comparison and indeed quite fitting, but that’s not the only reason, though your understanding isn’t incorrect either.”

“Then elder brother, how many are going from Da Qi to the Chaoyang Wine Gathering?” Zhou Heng inquired.

“I have three invitations, Cui Tianhe from Fengzhou’s Cui Family has three as well, and by tradition, the royal family should have four more spots, ten in total,” Yan Shouyi replied.

“So that’s practically the top ten of the ‘People’s List’,” Zhou Heng smiled.

“Not necessarily,” Yan Shouyi shook his head gently and smiled, “Those named on the ‘People’s List’ are indeed the young talents of the age, but not all the young powerhouses of this world are on the list.”

“Ah, I’ve placed too much importance on the People’s List then,” Zhou Heng nodded and asked again, “What about the Southern Jin side?”

“It’s hard to say exactly who will come, but two can be assured, one will definitely be a disciple of Taixu Viewpoint, and the other…” Yan Shouyi paused, looking meaningfully at Zhou Heng.

“The Zhou Family of Lu Yang.”