I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 360: Chapter 80: Return to Da Qi, Yin and Yang God Light

Boom!

A stupendous explosion rocked the halls of Yao Palace as palace after palace crumbled from within.

It was as if something had detonated from the inside.

Within moments, everything came crashing down.

Countless fragments of the palaces scattered and flew into the void.

All the martial artists who had been fighting fiercely over the divine skills and treasures stopped their attacks, staring dumbfounded at the scene before them, disbelief written all over their faces.

What’s going on?

What happened?

Yao Palace’s hundred halls were collapsing?!

This was the legacy of the Dream Saint, a second Rank Tao artifact, equivalent to a fully condensed Tao seed!

How could it suddenly collapse?!

However, the martial artists quickly recovered from their shock.

Under their divine sense perception, even the ordinary martial artists of Secret Six Rank could clearly sense—as Yao Palace’s hundred halls fell, this dream-like fairy world seemed about to collapse as well.

If this world collapsed, everything within would inevitably turn to ashes.

If they continued to stay here, death was almost certain.

“Run!”

“Escape quickly!”

“Get out of here!”

“To that giant gate!”

The ones who acted first were naturally the grandmasters with the highest cultivation realms; some transformed into flying rainbows, others manifested their Dharma Phases, all fleeing towards the cliff where the giant gate was located.

The flight speed of grandmasters was extremely fast, and as they darted through the void, immense gusts of wind would rise if they didn’t purposely restrain their power, each containing an incredibly strong impulsive force.

Ordinary Secret Six Rank martial artists could easily get injured if a grandmaster flew past them at close range and high speed.

Boom!

Boom, boom!

The flying lights seemed to tear through the void, emitting bursts of screeching.

Clearly, these grandmasters were flying at full strength, determined to escape at the quickest possible speed.

With the vision and perception of grandmasters, they could easily notice that two people still stood atop the giant gate’s cliff. If they didn’t slow down, it was very likely that the two would be injured or even killed.

But at this moment of life-and-death urgency, they couldn’t care less.

Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian could both guess the thoughts of these individuals, so they moved aside to let the several grandmasters fly out.

After all, it was a mere trifle and cost them nothing.

Most of the grandmasters didn’t look back and flew straight through the giant gate since escaping was the priority.

However, as one person flew close to the cliff, he suddenly turned his head with a mocking look at Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian.

Then, raising a hand, he pointed out a stream of mana, transforming into two beams of sword light that slashed towards the two of them.

The power of these two sword lights was immense, and even though they were just a casual strike from a Fifth Rank sect master, they had enough force to completely annihilate most martial artists in the True Gang Realm.

Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian were both stunned; they didn’t know this grandmaster, who theoretically had no reason whatsoever to want them dead.

However, through divine sense perception, Zhou Heng could roughly guess this person’s mindset.

It was somewhat like when a person, facing a life-and-death crisis, feels extreme fear, and apart from desperate escape doesn’t know what to do, thus feeling very suppressed. Then, by chance, they see two ants that they could easily crush without wasting time.

Naturally, they act on this impulse, intending to vent their emotions in this way.

Unfortunately, neither Zhou Heng nor Cheng Jianjian were helpless ants, to be casually trampled to death by anyone.

In the instant that the Fifth Rank sect master made his move, Zhou Heng immediately employed the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique and the Eight Gates of Life and Death, boosting his strength by twenty times.

Immediately following that, he formed a sword gesture with his hand and swept it forward.

Clang!

The sound of the sword’s hum pierced through the void, resonated in all directions, and a cyan sword light soared across the sky, causing all things around it, such as the void, vital energy, and the laws of nature, to come to a standstill.

Even the two sword lights emitted by the Fifth Rank Sect Master had halted in mid-air, unable to advance any further.

At this moment, it was as if the river of time had been abruptly severed; time itself paused here, halting its flow, and everything simultaneously entered a strange state of quiescence.

Sword Technique of Conviction!

Eternity!

The expression in the Sect Master’s eyes shifted from mockery to shock, then to terror, and then it froze, for even his thoughts were suspended in stillness.

Zhou Heng then formed a sword technique with his hands, and the True Qi within his body surged wildly, instantly condensing a giant sword in the void that reached to the heavens and pierced the earth.

As if inscribed with the will of the heavens, it seemed to symbolize the laws and principles of rules!

This sword appeared as if it were a Divine Sword sent down by the will of the heavens!

Heavenly Sword Technique!

Clang!

Accompanied by the clear sound of the sword’s hum, this thousand-zhang-long Giant Sword slashed down through the air, like a meteor falling, and struck the Fifth Rank Sect Master.

As the Heavenly Sword descended, the effects of Eternity came to an end; just as the Sect Master attempted to resist, he found himself enveloped by infinite sword radiance.

Moreover, within this sword radiance was an extremely powerful set of laws and principles, restraining his mana, suppressing his Divine Soul, akin to the will of heaven crushing down, leaving no room for thoughts of resistance.

He recognized this sword technique!

“Heavenly Sword Technique! Heaven Sword Sect! I, Xu Changgong, will never rest until I have my revenge!!!”

But as soon as the thought flashed through his mind, he lost consciousness, his last bit of lucid will fixated on being crushed under the edge of the Heavenly Sword and continuously falling into the abyss below.

There, it was bottomless.

…

“Congratulations! You have defeated the effortless enemy ‘Xu Changgong’. Fortune Bag [Copper] +1.”

Zhou Heng received a reward notification, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he thought to himself, “He actually didn’t die, could there be some life-saving or death-replacement treasure?”

“However, even if he comes back to life, he most likely won’t recognize me. Heh, he might recognize the sword techniques I just used though. The Heavenly Sword Technique and the Heaven Sword Sect have quite a deep connection.”

Zhou Heng had acquired this Heavenly Sword Technique from Fang Wen.

And its origin was extraordinary.

One of the Sword Saints from the Middle Ancient Age of Saints, before achieving enlightenment, had created many astonishing sword techniques, of which the “Heavenly Sword Technique” was one, with immense power.

It is said that the founder of the Heaven Sword Sect was inspired by the Heavenly Sword Technique and was able to glimpse into the mysteries of the Celestial Man realm. Later on, he based the founding of the Heaven Sword Sect on this.

“Hmm, not bad. I might even be able to pin something on the Heaven Sword Sect,” Zhou Heng chuckled to himself.

“The collapse is about to spread to this place, we should also get out,” Cheng Jianjian reminded.

“Yes, let’s go!” Zhou Heng nodded lightly.

…

Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian stood on the cliff, with a huge door behind them.

Thus, they easily exited from this place and saw the several Fifth Rank Sect Masters who had just rushed out of the giant door.

Subsequently, more people flew out of the giant door, one after another.

But in the end, only twenty-five people emerged.

Eleven were dead.

Including Ning Zeyu.

The giant door had successfully isolated the collapse of the hundred palaces of the Yao Palace, leaving this piece of white jade platform unaffected.

The group finally got a chance to breathe.

“`

Next, all they had to do was to crush the Star Tear Stone, and they could leave this place.

——The method for leaving the Hundred Halls map of Yao Palace was known upon obtaining the Star Tear Stone, one just needed to crush the Star Tear Stone on the plaza outside the Giant Gate, and they could return.

This was also the reason why everyone was so certain to fly out of the Giant Gate.

However, before leaving, many took a deep look at Zhou Heng and silently etched his image in their minds.

This man is untouchable!

After all, apart from the few Grandmasters who rushed out of the Giant Gate first, the rest had all witnessed with their own eyes the scene of Zhou Heng beheading Xu Changgong.

A Secret Sixth Rank Martial Artist had actually instantly killed a Fifth Rank Sect Master!

If it weren’t seen with their own eyes, nobody would believe such an incredible tale.

And Xu Changgong was no ordinary Sect Master; he was the legitimate son of the Family Head of the distinguished Xu family from Shu Prefecture in the great Jin, with an extraordinary background and incredible strength.

Who could have imagined that he would be defeated by a Secret Sixth Rank Martial Artist?

It really made people feel that it was unbelievable.

Zhou Heng sensed these gazes but he didn’t care, he simply glanced around at everyone present, then crushed the Star Tear Stone together with Cheng Jianjian.

And left the Hundred Halls map of Yao Palace.

…

The sky remained a brilliant blue, with clouds stretching out endlessly.

Zhou Heng was once again sitting on the date-red horse; his gaze swept forward, and after some thought, he gently pulled the reins, directing the date-red horse to turn north.

He planned to return.

Although his purpose for going to Luozhou to find trouble with Jia Ye Temple had not been accomplished, he had already completed the collection of fortune and killing momentum, thus achieving half of his goal for coming to Southern Jin.

The most urgent task now was to strive to complete the cultivation of the Yin Yang Positive Negative Divine Light as soon as possible.

This way, not only would his strength greatly increase, but he could also advance further in the Way of Five Virtues.

This was the foundation for him to refine the True Gang and break through his current realm.

Moreover, regarding the legacy treasures of Meng Qiu and the circumstances of Ning Zeyu, Zhou Heng felt some confusion and needed to ask He Mengqiu or Yun Xiu about it.

At the same time, he also wanted to try if he could really dig out clues about this world’s connection to Earth.

After all, the legend of ‘A Smile in a Sea of Flowers’ was something he had heard on Earth.

Compared to these, finding trouble with Jia Ye Temple just didn’t seem that important anymore.

It wouldn’t be too late to come back when his strength was stronger in the future.

…

Having a clear goal, Zhou Heng’s speed on his journey north back to Da Qi was very quick.

On the way, he was somewhat hopeful to run into Cheng Jianjian, who was also on her return trip.

Unfortunately, he did not encounter her.

This was actually quite normal.

Cheng Jianjian had too many treasures with infinite uses, and her speed of travel was naturally much faster than that of the size-limited date-red horse. Moreover, she had set off before Zhou Heng, so she was bound to be much faster.

Zhou Heng rode the date-red horse and traveled all the way to the border between the Qi and Jin nations, where the border line was still as if it did not exist; he returned to Yuzhou unobstructed.

Once back within the territory of Da Qi, he no longer needed to ride a horse and directly used the Thousand Miles Light Treading Art, stepping on light clouds, riding through the air, and flying toward the nearest entrance of the Purple Tenuity Palace.

As for the date-red horse, it returned to the Cave Sky to graze.

…

The southwestern area of Southern Jin is close to the Wild Gods Mountain Range, featuring many mountains.

The region has towering peaks and ridges that extend for hundreds of thousands of miles, more than the area of a regular province.

Thus it is also known as the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

The Hundred Thousand Mountains are rarely visited by humans, inhabited by many rare and exotic beasts, and even ancient species, making it extremely dangerous for the vast majority of Martial Artists.

“`

However, there are also numerous mysterious sects and reclusive powers residing within the vast expanse of the Ten-Thousand Mountain,

Each demarcating their own spheres of influence.

They do not encroach upon one another.

Among them, the three teachings and ten immortals are the most powerful.

The three teachings refer to three different sects.

The ten immortals, on the other hand, refer to ten Celestial Men.

In ancient times, reaching the realm of a Celestial Man was already enough to be considered among the ranks of the immortals.

It is said that among these ten immortals, there is one whose power has carried over from the Age of Saints in the Middle Ancient period to the present.

He once listened to the teachings of the Dream Saint, even receiving personal guidance and deeply understanding the true essence of dream’s path, his cultivation realm is unfathomable, and it is rumored that he is infinitely close to the realm of a Tao Lord.

The creatures within the Ten-Thousand Mountain revere him as the “God of Dreams.”

No one dares to disrespect him.

For he exists within the dreams of every creature here, omnipresent.

One day, countless creatures within the Ten-Thousand Mountain suddenly woke up from their sleep, their eyes reflecting indescribable terror, sweating cold sweat.

They all had a nightmare, a most terrifying nightmare.

And, a name was deeply imprinted in their hearts.

“Zhou Heng!”

In the Ten-Thousand Mountain, there is only one reason for such a nightmare: the God of Dreams… was angry!

And it was all because of this “Zhou Heng”!

The creatures here dared not direct their anger at the God of Dreams, so they poured all their hatred and rage onto the figure of “Zhou Heng.”

As long as they encountered him,

They would certainly kill him!!

…

After Zhou Heng returned to Da Qi, he did not rush to find He Mengqiu and Yun Xiu,

Instead, he first returned to Mount Taihua.

He planned to first master the Yin Yang Divine Light.

This was an extremely powerful Taoist formula.

Similar to the legendary treasure “Yin Yang Mirror” in miraculous ways, if cultivated to its utmost peak and further sublimated, it might even offer a glimpse into the mysteries of the “Yin Yang Seal.”

That’s one of the Primordial Nine Seals, with no line of succession!

Once this formula is perfected, Zhou Heng felt confident that he would not need the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique or the Eight Gates of Life and Death to forcibly enhance his strength in order to exchange blows with a master of the Sect Fifth Rank.

Hmm… It might not necessarily be an exchange of blows; it’s also possible that a single illumination from the divine light could result in the opponent’s direct death.

After all, this Taoist formula could almost be considered a one-hit-kill ability.

…

The Yin Yang Divine Light was ultimately an Absolute Fourth Rank Taoist formula, which made its cultivation extremely difficult.

Even though Zhou Heng’s proficiency in this formula had reached 0.8 due to the fortuitous energies he received, leaving only 0.2 proficiency needed to truly master it, it still took him a full two months to accomplish this.

Of course, the time spent was completely worth it; his final gains were not only the mastery of this extremely powerful formula but also an improved understanding of the Path of Five Virtues.

Thus laying a solid foundation for him to establish related inner strength techniques of the Five Virtues Path in the future.

Next, he would further gather the energies of the Five Virtues and cultivate the “Three Treasures Wishful Fist.”

Zhou Heng had already planned this step beforehand.

However, before that, he had one more thing to do – find He Mengqiu and her disciple Yun Xiu to inquire about the Dream Saint.

Thanks to the dream spirit guide left by Yun Xiu earlier, Zhou Heng didn’t take long to locate the two of them.