I Cheated While Cultivating

“Zhou Heng, what are you doing?!”

The other three members of the Illusory Law Sect rushed over upon seeing the man injured, standing on either side of Zhou Heng with unfriendly expressions.

“Stand down!” The Illusory Law Sect disciple, who had been kneeling on the ground, spread his arms to stop the other two from taking action.

He then slowly stood up, his face ashen as he looked at Zhou Heng and bitterly said, “Good, very good. I truly didn’t expect Pure Yang Palace to possess such a brilliant Illusion Technique and martial arts, nor did I expect your Divine Soul power to be so strong. I, Ning Qifeng, admit my loss without grievances!”

“So you are Ning Qifeng, number sixteen on the Human List, an authentic successor of the Illusory Law Sect, taught by ‘Illusion True Man’ who is number ten on the Ground List and known as ‘Ning Qifeng’ where truth and illusion are indistinguishable.” Zhou Heng’s eyebrows raised slightly as he shook his head with a smile, “Unfortunately, it seems you haven’t learned much of the Illusion True Man’s skills.”

“Zhou Heng, don’t push your luck!” Ning Qifeng barked sharply, while the two beside him also showed fierce faces, ready to strike at any moment.

But at this moment, the “Zhou Heng” standing before them began to distort, and in the next instant, it turned into a paper figure that drifted down to the ground.

Illusion Technique!

In fact, Zhou Heng had already left. The one standing before them and speaking was nothing but an illusion crafted by Zhou Heng using a paper figure.

Under Zhou Heng’s incredibly strong Divine Soul power, the complexity of the Undying Seal Technique was brought to its fullest extent.

It wasn’t until that moment that Ning Qifeng and the other two realized that the illusion they were under had just been dispelled, and that they had been trapped in an illusion all along.

“What a powerful Illusion Technique, when has Pure Yang Palace possessed such an advanced technique?”

“This is at least a Secret Sixth Rank Illusion Technique. Just how many Middle Third Rank martial arts does this Zhou Heng know?”

The two Illusory Law Sect disciples were shocked to their core, looking at Zhou Heng’s departing figure without the courage to chase after him and counterattack. Their prior experience had genuinely made them recognize Zhou Heng’s strength.

Too formidable, too strong!

“No, it’s not that the Illusion Technique is powerful.” Ning Qifeng’s face darkened as he said, “This Illusion Technique martial arts technique would at most count as a Secret Sixth Rank secret within our Illusory Law Sect, not necessarily anything outstanding; it’s Zhou Heng’s Divine Soul that’s too strong.”

Then a disciple asked, “Brother, what should we do now?”

“Should we continue…?”

The other two Illusory Law Sect disciples inquired softly, looking up to Ning Qifeng for direction.

“Let’s go, we’ll head back first.” Ning Qifeng shook his head and glanced in the direction Zhou Heng had left, saying, “No, let’s go to that large mansion; Zhou Heng is most likely heading there.”

As Ning Qifeng had said, after leaving their location, Zhou Heng didn’t go anywhere else but directly to the large mansion where Yang Fan had been sealed earlier.

After all, he was still under psychological suggestion within the Illusion Technique, and when asked if he knew the secrets of that mansion, having broken Ning Qifeng and the others’ illusion, he naturally wouldn’t forget the suggestion.

As long as he hadn’t forgotten that suggestion, it was logical that he would be interested in the secrets of the mansion, and he would not rest until he found out.

If he disregarded the matter entirely, that would truly be the issue.

Acting should be done thoroughly.

…

As Zhou Heng was about to push the door and enter the mansion, Ning Qifeng also arrived at the location with his two junior brothers.

However, Zhou Heng paid no attention to the three people; he pushed open the gate and walked in, then turned to close the door behind him.

Bang!

Ning Qifeng placed his hands on the door, stopping Zhou Heng from closing it as he said in a deep voice, “Zhou Heng, I advise you not to investigate the affairs here. They are deeply complicated and not within your scope to understand…”

“Are you used to talking to unaffiliated loose cultivators, or do you not know who I am?” Zhou Heng sneered. With a slight exertion of strength in his hands, a bang sounded, and the gate was shut.

Ning Qifeng and the other two were left standing outside the door, unable to enter.

“Senior brother, it seems Zhou Heng is determined to oppose us.”

“What should we do now?”

The two Illusory Law Sect disciples were filled with anger, waiting for Ning Qifeng to make a decision.

“Let him be,” Ning Qifeng shook his head, appearing not at all angry, and said, “Let’s go, we should head back.”

“Ah? Go back?”

“Just like that, go back? Senior brother?”

The two Illusory Law Sect disciples were stunned, not understanding what was going on.

“Go back,” Ning Qifeng spoke indifferently. “Let’s go.”

Having said that, he walked away from the mansion, not showing the slightest hint of reluctance. The other two Illusory Law Sect disciples, seeing his reaction, could only reluctantly follow him.

The three arrived at a large residence in the southern district of Huangtong Mansion City and entered.

This was the place they had rented.

It wasn’t just the three of them who had come to Huangtong Mansion City; in fact, the one who was truly here to investigate was a Fourth Rank pinnacle Great Grandmaster, Ning Qifeng’s master.

The man ranked tenth on the Earth List, “Celestial Illusion Real Person” Wu Fa.

Ning Qifeng, accompanied by his two junior brothers, stepped into the main hall of this residence. They respectfully greeted the Celestial Illusion Real Person Wu Fa and recounted their earlier confrontation with Zhou Heng.

Wu Fa was a middle-aged man who appeared to be around forty, with features as if carved from jade, a countenance that could pass for a younger man, standing tall and outstanding, clothed in a moon white robe, exuding a sage-like aura as if a banished immortal had descended from the heavens.

His expression was indifferent, his face showing no sign of emotional change as he listened in silence.

Only when he heard how Zhou Heng easily broke the illusion technique jointly used by Ning Qifeng’s group and countered with his own, leaving them without the chance to even react, did a slight flicker appear in his eyes.

“Pure Yang Palace has such an illusion technique? No, this is mostly likely a remnant from Zhou Heng’s previous life. Interesting. Zhou Heng’s previous life identity is becoming even more mysterious,” Wu Fa nodded slightly with a smile. “Qifeng, your loss is not in vain. Transcendents reincarnated, especially those retaining their past life’s techniques, inherently possess strength far surpassing martial artists of the same rank.”

“Disciple does not need your consolation, Master. It was indeed disciple’s own lack of skill,” Ning Qifeng shook his head, then inquired, “Do you think this Zhou Heng has anything to do with the matters concerning the Yang Fan Mansion?”

“Based on your previous description, Zhou Heng doesn’t seem to be a major concern,” said Wu Fa indifferently. “Moreover, when you were not here just now, I received a transmission from the Taoist Sovereign over thousands of miles.”

“The Taoist Sovereign transmitted a message to you?” Ning Qifeng was surprised and asked with some curiosity, “May I know what it was about?”

The other two Illusory Law Sect disciples also showed looks of longing, their faces filled with anticipation as they looked at Wu Fa, eager to know what the Taoist Sovereign had said.

Within the Illusory Law Sect, respect and reverence for one’s Upper Third Rank transcendent master were common. Indeed, many even worshiped them as living immortals, offering them their utmost respect and veneration.

Ning Qifeng and the other two were still far from this level, but the Tao Lord of the Illusory Law Sect was still an existence they held in utmost reverence.

To them, learning even the slightest bit of news about such an existence was considered an unparalleled blessing, let alone the contents of the message itself.

“There’s no harm in telling you,” Wu Fa nodded and said, “The Tao Lord had initially sensed something strange from the seal that was concealing Yang Fan. Yang Fan was completely taken away, but that was just the initial perception.

Not long after that, the Tao Lord sensed a clearer picture, the seal he used to help Yang Fan conceal his presence had been tampered with.

And it wasn’t tampered with at the level of sealing techniques, but rather someone directly interfered with the laws of the seal with Dao power.”

“Dao power?!” Ning Qifeng exclaimed, the other two disciples of the Illusory Law Sect were also shocked, they all knew very well what those two words meant.

Dao power, is the power of Dao seeds, which can also be considered as the power of the Great Dao.

This is a force that only a Tao Lord can truly wield.

In other words, the person who tampered with the seal on Yang Fan could very possibly be another Tao Lord.

It was actually a conflict between Tao Lords!

Just at the thought of this, Ning Qifeng’s complexion turned pale, and a multitude of thoughts flashed through his mind. Anxiously he asked, “Master, do you think it could have been the Tao Lord from Pure Yang Palace who made a move?”

“No,” Wu Fa shook his head and said, “The Pure Yang Palace has never had a Tao Lord who had condensed a Dao seed for sealing, so this matter should be unrelated to the Pure Yang Palace.

“In fact, in the present age, there is only one Tao Lord who can exert Dao power in the realm of seals. He once ferried across the Qingxia River, but now that boatman is no longer there.

“The disciple of the Saint of Middle Ancient Laws, known as the ‘Sealing Tao Lord,’ the Second Rank powerhouse, Jiang Tafa.”

This conclusion immediately astonished Ning Qifeng and the other two to the point where they were dumbstruck, their faces filled with incredulity.

They had never expected that, originally only investigating through Zhou Heng, a Seventh Rank Warrior, whether the Pure Yang Palace had any connection, they would suddenly be informed that this was most likely the doing of a Tao Lord from the Middle Ancient Era.

The Middle Ancient Era, in the hearts of many martial artists, was an incredibly powerful epoch, with the Nine Saints of the age establishing legacies, a hundred schools of thought contending, and academic institutions abounding, full of emerging powerhouses.

An inheritance from the Middle Ancient Era to the present often equates to power, not to mention such a being who was already a Tao Lord and a disciple of the Saint of Laws during the Middle Ancient Era.

To Ning Qifeng and the others, it was as though a mythological story they had grown up listening to had suddenly entered the realm of reality.

This brought them an immense shock, leaving them speechless and unable to talk for a long time.

“Master, are you saying that it was actually the Sealing Tao Lord who took Yang Fan?” Ning Qifeng asked with some disbelief, “Also, is it possible that this Sealing Tao Lord is still in Huangtong Mansion City right now?”

“Indeed, he could quite possibly be within Huangtong Mansion City,” Wu Fa nodded slightly and said, “If that’s the case, then the Taoist Sovereign God Soldier that Yang Fan had stolen from the Solar Divine Palace, most likely also ended up in his hands.”

“Then… Master, what should we do next?” Ning Qifeng asked in a hushed voice.

“What follows is no longer something we can get involved in,” Wu Fa shook his head, stood up, and said, “This is where it ends; we just have to report back to the Tao Lord that Jiang Tafa is quite likely still inside Huangtong Mansion City.”

“Ah?” Ning Qifeng and the other two disciples were startled by his response, not expecting such an answer at all. Shouldn’t they do everything possible to help the Tao Lord investigate?

“Ah what?” Seeing the reaction of the three, Wu Fa glanced at them, chuckled, and said, “In a struggle of Tao Lords, what business do ants like us have to interfere? Are we looking to court death?”

…

Zhou Heng was completely unaware that Jiang Tafa had been strangely accused of taking away Yang Fan.

After Ning Qifeng and the others had left, he still pretended to rummage through the large mansion for a long time, especially where the bas-relief had disappeared; he scrutinized it over and over again.

Unfortunately, despite turning the place upside down, he found nothing and, in the end, had to leave the mansion “empty-handed.”

The following days were uneventful.

Zhou Heng and the others had all departed from Huangtong Mansion City, and Zhou Heng finally had some peace and quiet to focus on his cultivation.

At the same time, he began preparing for the gathering of the Zhou Tian Boundary Officers in a little over ten days.

One morning after breakfast, he donned the mask of the Ziwei Master, preparing to check if there were any messages for him today.

Since he could receive messages from the Purple Tenuity Palace only after wearing the mask, Zhou Heng had developed a habit of putting it on every morning to check.

The main reason was that it had been over ten days since he last went to the Purple Tenuity Palace to inquire, and he still had not received any news about Cheng Jianjian, which made him worried.

In the past few days, Zhou Heng saw nothing but blank space when he wore the mask, no messages, but this time he saw a line of text.

“Master, please return to the Purple Tenuity Palace as soon as possible, there is news about Tian Ji.”

The message seemed to have been sent not long ago and appeared quite urgent.

So, without a second thought, Zhou Heng immediately got up, left his house, rode his reddish-brown horse out of Huangtong Mansion City, to a place where few people trekked, and then equipped the horse with a Red Lotus harness, increasing its speed significantly.

In less than a quarter of an hour, he arrived at the nearest entrance to the Purple Tenuity Palace. After storing the reddish-brown horse in his Cave Sky world, he entered the realm where the Purple Tenuity Palace was located while wearing the Ziwei Master’s mask.

As soon as Zhou Heng arrived at the Purple Cloud Platform, even before stepping onto the Bridge of Starlight, he saw the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors, who was pacing back and forth, seemingly quite anxious.

“Senior, what’s the matter?” Zhou Heng asked.

“Master, I’m so glad you’re here,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors greeted first and immediately took Zhou Heng onto the Bridge of Starlight, “There’s no time to explain, please follow me to the Hall of Dispel Worries first.”

“All right,” Zhou Heng nodded, letting the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors lead the way at great speed.

In front of the Purple Tenuity Palace, after meeting The Supreme and the Celestial Man of Heaven’s Law, the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors hastily took Zhou Heng to the Hall of Dispel Worries.

“Master, take a look at this,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors hurriedly pulled out a black jade slip and unfolded it.

On this pitch-black jade slip, lines of starlight shimmered, forming the star chart of the Three Enclosures and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, with some parts bright, others dim, and a few emitting a red glow.

It was somewhat simpler compared to the Chart of Zhou Tian’s Stars.

“This is?” Zhou Heng looked at the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors with curiosity.

“This is the Chart of Heavenly Star Tracks,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors explained: “The life and death of the Star Officer and Star Envoys who pass through the Star Gates to other worlds is unpredictable and uncertain, and this chart serves as the basic information for judgment.

“Normally, the positions of the Star Officers and Star Envoys on the Chart of Heavenly Star Tracks are dim, but as soon as they pass through the Star Gates to other worlds, their corresponding positions will light up.

“Should they die in another world, the radiance of the corresponding star will extinguish and emit a red glow, which, under normal circumstances, indicates demise without other explanations.

“But now… Master, look, this is the star corresponding to Tian Ji.”

As he spoke, the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors pointed to the place on the Chart of Heavenly Star Tracks where the “Tian Ji Star” should be, but now there was no starlight there; it was neither dim nor red.

The star corresponding to that position had simply vanished, leaving nothing but emptiness!