I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 167: No Return from This Journey

“Congratulations! You’ve hit the jackpot! You’ve obtained a special status card: The Enlightenment Card [Copper].”

“Congratulations! You’ve obtained ten taels of gold.”

“Congratulations! You’ve hit the jackpot! You’ve acquired the Taoist Formulas ‘Five Elements Escape Technique – Foundational Chapter’ [Seventh Rank].”

“Congratulations! You’ve obtained a special item: Disguise Mask+1.”

“Congratulations! You’ve acquired the Martial Arts ‘Golden Bell Cover’ [Secret Six Rank].”

“Congratulations! You’ve obtained a basic attribute: Spiritual Root+1.”

…

A series of reward alerts rang out.

Zhou Heng listened, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

The first three came from the Copper Fortune Bag, the latter three from the Silver Fortune Bag.

As expected, the Silver Fortune Bag still upheld the principle of “never having a jackpot,” providing some items that weren’t exceptionally good but were still fairly useful.

Zhou Heng had previously gained a Spiritual Root; it enhanced one’s aptitude for cultivating Taoist Formulas. Originally, he had a Spiritual Root+2, and now with another point, it was Spiritual Root+3.

With this new addition, his aptitude in Taoist Formulas could be said to be a rarity seen once in a thousand years.

“Disguise Mask: This item allows the wearer to alter their facial appearance, applicable to both male and female, but there will be no change to the body and hair. It can be used only once, lasting for three days. If removed prematurely, it is automatically considered that the wearer has forfeited the remaining duration.”

…

“Golden Bell Cover: A Secret Six Rank Martial Arts, comprising a total of ten layers. The first seven layers are of the Lower Third Rank, while the final three layers range from Secret Six Rank to the beginning of Sect Fifth Rank.

“Once cultivated to the sixth layer, the practitioner can transform their Inner Qi into a golden light that covers the body, rendering one impervious to blades and arrows and resistant to hidden attacks.

“If one reaches the tenth layer, reaching Perfection, a Golden Bell energy shroud can be formed outside the body, which not only defends but also reflects the enemy’s attacks.

“This is the foundation for the Divine Skill ‘Vajra Unbreakable Divine Technique’ [Absolute Fourth Rank].”

…

“Five Elements Escape Technique – Foundational Chapter: Seventh-Rank Taoist Formulas, integrating the five elemental energies of heaven and earth, practicing their principles, building one’s foundational cultivation, and increasing affinity with the five elements, thereby manifesting magical abilities.

“It can reduce the damage from Martial Arts and Taoist Formulas related to the five elements, and it allows the casting of the most basic Five Elements Escape Technique, utilizing objects of the five elements to take attacks in one’s stead. Before reaching significant proficiency, one must consume spiritual materials related to the five elements.”

…

“Enlightenment Card [Copper]: Immediately learn an unlearned Middle Third Rank Martial Arts or Taoist Formula that you already possess.”

…

All of these rewards were quite useful for Zhou Heng at the moment.

The Golden Bell Cover matched perfectly with his current Innate Pure Yang Inner Qi. Coupled with the Golden Light Three Forms and wearing sharp-clawed gloves, his strength could climb to a new level.

The arrival of the Five Elements Escape Technique was also timely. Even though it was only the Foundational Chapter, it was enough to deal with the potential trouble from the experts of the Five Elements Sect.

As for the Enlightenment Card and Disguise Mask, he planned to save them for a moment of need.

After all, he didn’t have any Middle Third Rank Martial Arts or Taoist Formulas that he urgently wanted to master at the moment.

He decided to first delve into the Five Elements Escape Technique.

“You are now pondering the Taoist Formulas ‘Five Elements Escape Technique – Foundational Chapter’ [Seventh Rank], feeling every word to be precious and insightful, suddenly grasping the profound mysteries, proficiency+100.”

…

“You continue to ponder the Taoist Formulas ‘Five Elements Escape Technique – Foundational Chapter’ [Seventh Rank], triggering the ‘Heaven Rewards the Diligent’ bonus, proficiency+500.”

…

“Your spiritual brilliance is penetrating, with deep roots and unmatched natural talent in practicing Taoist Formulas, your understanding of ‘Five Elements Escape Technique – Foundational Chapter’ [Seventh Rank] deepens, proficiency+1000.”

…

“Having once performed the true meaning of the Five Elements Path, capturing a thread of its spiritual charm, your comprehension of the Taoist Formulas ‘Five Elements Escape Technique – Foundational Chapter’ [Seventh Rank] deepens, proficiency+5000.”

…

Holy shit! Can this be real?!

Zhou Heng was stunned by his own rate of comprehension

Right from the start, this Taoist Formula felt like it had no secrets from him, every part was understandable at a glance.

At most, he only needed to ponder a little to fully comprehend it.

And so, it didn’t take long for Zhou Heng to cultivate this Five Elements Escape Technique to a high degree of proficiency, not even half a day had passed, and he had already brought this technique to the advanced stage.

[Seventh Rank] Five Elements Escape Technique – Foundational Chapter: Advanced (1500/4000)

“That was too fast.”

Zhou Heng couldn’t help but exclaim; it was indeed incredibly fast.

He hadn’t even started the “practice” step yet; by merely pondering this Taoist Formula itself, his proficiency had already reached the advanced stage.

This was certainly due to the enhancement from the Spiritual Root+3 basic attribute, but even more so because he had once cast a five-colored divine light using a special skill card.

Cultivating other Taoist Formulas wouldn’t be this fortunate.

Zhou Heng went to the yard and picked up a wooden stick, forming a hand seal with one hand.

Immediately, he felt his Innate Pure Yang Inner Qi rapidly depleting as he suddenly appeared a zhang away, while his original position was still occupied by a “Zhou Heng.”

Zhou Heng hurled a pebble at the “Zhou Heng,” and with a bang, the “Zhou Heng” reverted back to its stick form and fell to the ground.

“A superb body-double divine skill, useful for countering close-range fatal attacks. The only problem is the excessive energy consumption. Even with my Innate Skill constantly circulating and my Inner Qi never ceasing, I can only use it consecutively about a dozen times in a short period.

“If I wish to use it at will, I suppose I’ll need to wait until my cultivation reaches the Seventh Rank. At the current stage, the greatest benefit of this Taoist formula is to reduce the damage inflicted on myself by Taoist Formulas and Martial Arts of the five elements category.”

Overall, at the Seventh Rank level, this Taoist formula is already quite practical.

And this is the foundation of the Five Elements Taoist Formula, with a bright future ahead—the higher levels of techniques such as the Five Elements Escape Technique, Golden Light Earth Crossing, and Flames Golden Rainbow are all part of the Five Elements Escape Art.

Later, Zhou Heng spent half a day trying to comprehend and practice the Golden Bell Cover.

Thanks to the boost from his Sect Fifth Rank Inner Strength ‘Pure Yang Dan Jing’ and his Pure Yang Body, he made swift progress in cultivating the Golden Bell Cover. In just half a day, he had reached the sixth layer, inching close to the seventh.

By then, dawn was breaking, and Zhou Heng climbed out of the walls and ventured into the distant woods to try combining the Golden Bell Cover with the Golden Light Three Forms.

“Ha!”

With a loud shout, his muscles tensed, and his Innate Pure Yang Inner Qi circulated. Layers of golden light emerged from his body, quickly coalescing into a golden bell about thirty feet tall.

Normally, one would need to reach the tenth layer of the Golden Bell Cover to truly congeal a golden bell for defense, and even a mere semblance or embryonic shade of the golden bell requires the eighth layer of skill.

However, Zhou Heng’s Innate Pure Yang Inner Qi, while still at the Eighth Rank level, already possessed some characteristics of the Secret Sixth Rank, which accounted for the effect he was currently witnessing.

“Grasp Gold Hammer!”

Zhou Heng murmured lowly and swung his fist. A giant golden hand, about thirty feet long, extended from the bell and smashed forcefully towards the ground below.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion sounded, shaking the ground violently. Trees within a radius of more than thirty feet trembled and rustled as if a fierce wind swept through them.

The spot struck by the golden giant hand now bore a pit three feet deep and over thirty feet in diameter, and the trees that once stood there were crushed into splinters.

“Broken Gold Legs!”

Zhou Heng stomped fiercely, and the Golden Bell echoed in response.

The ground trembled and cracked, and fissures spread outward from his stomp in all directions, uprooting all the trees within a radius of over thirty feet.

“Ring Gold Palm!”

With a fierce shout, Zhou Heng slapped his palm down. Instantly, the entire Golden Bell took to the air, its presence resounding far and wide, clanging loudly, and within thirty feet, golden light scattered everywhere, shattering trees into dust.

“Amazing!”

Zhou Heng retracted his palm and settled his Inner Qi, looking around at the devastated scenery, he couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

He had never wielded such formidable power when using the Golden Light Three Forms before.

Especially the Ring Gold Palm.

Initially, when he executed this form, he simply used the golden light to shock the air and mimic the sound of ringing bells to harm his enemies.

Now, with the Golden Bell Cover, he truly had the bells ringing thunderously, and the power was easily three to four times greater than before.

“So how strong am I now?”

Zhou Heng clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within and thought, “Once this matter is settled, I will seek out the top ten masters of the Hero Ranking to learn from their moves.

“And indeed, only they might polish my martial arts now.”

…

In the territory of Yong State, Five Elder Mountain.

Since the Middle Ancient era, this has always been the home base of the Five Elements Sect, a place well-known throughout Yong State as the abode of immortals. Famed for producing notable figures, it’s the coveted dwelling of the great Martial Dao Sect.

Amid the clouds enveloping Cang Hua Peak, Liu Changsheng stood with a solemn expression, ready for action.

His gaze fixed toward Pingzhou, filled with complexity.

“Young Master, are you really going?” Wang Lang asked him anxiously, “Zhou Heng is no longer the Entry Rank junior he once was. His strength now is extraordinary; being a reincarnation of a great being, there’s no telling how many unfathomable and unpredictable methods he possesses…”

“Then, can I just not go?” Liu Changsheng turned to look at Wang Lang and said sternly, “There is an enmity of patricide between us, which is insurmountable. This is an excellent opportunity.

“Besides, I’ve risked my life to forcibly cultivate the Secret Sixth Rank Martial Arts ‘Qing Divine Descending Sword’ these past months. I’ve finally reached the fifth layer, and my cultivation has peaked at the Seventh Rank. Isn’t this all to battle Zhou Heng?”

“The death of the old master… I was there too. Young Master, forgive my bluntness, but the old master indeed went too far back then.” Wang Lang knelt down before Liu Changsheng, bowing his head, “Young Master, can we not go? You are the only heir of the Liu family.”

“Manager Wang, I know all that, and even I think my father deserved to die.” Liu Changsheng turned away and began descending the mountain steps. “But after all, he was my father. If I can treat his murder as nonexistent, what face would I have to continue living in this world?”

“Young Master!” Wang Lang knelt on the ground, crawling toward Liu Changsheng, trying to stop him, but Liu Changsheng didn’t look back and kept walking away.

After a few steps, Liu Changsheng paused, sighed deeply, and said without looking back, “Manager Wang, it’s very likely that I won’t return from this journey.

“If news of my death reaches home, please erase the enmity between the Liu family and Zhou Heng. Dismiss the servants, distribute part of the estate to them, and the rest will be left to you.”

“Young Master, you can still go after your martial arts have further improved,” Wang Lang pleaded earnestly.

“No,” replied Liu Changsheng, shaking his head bitterly. “If I can improve one step, Zhou Heng can improve ten. Now might be my last chance.”

With those words, he descended the mountain with his sword and soon disappeared into the mist, leaving no trace.

…

Seven days later.

Huangtong Mansion City was decked out in festive lights; drums and gongs filled the air, firecrackers burst incessantly. At the entrance of Longxing Martial Arts Hall, crowds flocked, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.

It was the day Longxing Martial Arts Hall reopened, and also the time when the “Authorized by Pure Yang Palace” sign would be hung, a day awaited eagerly by crowds of spectators.

On the very same day, Liu Changsheng, dressed in white mourning attire, arrived in Huangtong Mansion City, sword in hand.