I Cheated While Cultivating

“This isn’t quite proper,” Zhou Heng said with a smile.

“Why don’t you ask who Han Lin is?” the man in the red robe demanded intensely, his eyes blazing. “A mere mortal dares to play clever in front of me!”

Before his words could fade, his palm lit up with a crimson glow, forming two unbearably hot balls of flame that he fiercely slapped towards Zhou Heng.

At the same time, the glaring light in his eyes also possessed a formidable deterrence. Any ordinary person who hadn’t cultivated and looked directly into this light would suffer an intense spiritual assault and could even faint on the spot.

This was the most common tactic cultivators used when facing mortals, generally causing them to faint with just one glance.

Though those fireballs seemed to be slapped towards Zhou Heng, in reality, they were a precaution for the potential appearance of Han Lin’s true body. In the eyes of the man in the red robe, Zhou Heng was either Han Lin’s servant or his puppet.

The latter seemed to be the more likely case.

However, the moment Zhou Heng locked eyes with him, the man in the red robe felt as if he were gazing into a sea filled with golden light.

The spiritual assault contained within his divine light was utterly consumed by this vast and boundless “ocean,” failing to stir up even the slightest ripple. The man in the red robe felt a wave of dizziness himself.

“Not good, I’ve been tricked! What level of divine soul is this?” the man in the red robe thought in alarm, ready to transition his fireball from a feint to a genuine technique attack.

He had realized that Zhou Heng was definitely not a mortal. How could a person with such a powerful divine soul possibly be a mortal?!

Where did Han Lin find such help?!

But it was already too late.

Zhou Heng’s eyes shone with a golden light, and the meaning of the cycle of life and death emerged.

The man in the red robe suddenly froze, his face twisting with an expression of unbearable pain, and the flames in his hands dimmed.

Under the pull of Zhou Heng’s powerful divine soul power, the innermost vulnerabilities of his spirit were penetrated. Painful scenes from his past life surfaced continuously in his mind.

Sky-Earth Striking Method!

The man in the red robe then felt his thoughts slowing drastically, and his control over his own body weakening.

Puppetry Technique?!

The man in the red robe recognized this extremely sinister technique, a signature technique of Han Lin.

He wanted to resist, to activate his divine soul power to break free from the suppression of the Puppetry Technique.

But he found his divine soul, when faced with the force of the Puppetry Technique, was like an ant facing a mountain, completely without any capacity to resist.

Within just a few breaths, the light in the man in the red robe’s eyes dimmed, and he became Zhou Heng’s puppet.

To the passersby outside, the two were simply knocking and opening a door, exchanging a few words—no sign of any fierce battle had occurred.

—The firelight previously gathered in the palm of the man in the red robe was directed inwards, making it hard for onlookers to notice.

Without sound or sign, a cultivator of the Sun Roaming Realm had become Zhou Heng’s puppet.

“The effects of the Sky-Earth Striking Method’s pure spiritual attack aren’t too bad,” Zhou Heng sighed in relief, controlling the puppet to close the gates of the courtyard.

In fact, when he detected the man in the red robe with his Divine Sense Perception, he had already sensed the hostility from him.

And when the person mentioned the name “Han Lin,” Zhou Heng was utterly certain.

This was the Sun Roaming Realm nemesis that Han Lin had been avoiding.

Therefore, Zhou Heng did not care whether speaking might reveal the fact that he had encountered Han Lin, and he directly used the Sky-Earth Striking Method and Puppetry Technique to turn this person into a puppet.

However, when he obtained the memory fragments of the red-robed middle-aged man, the expression on his face became intriguing.

“Wei Guang, the Fiery Envoy of the Holy Sect of Mercy, Han Lin stole the Holy Sect’s sacred text ‘Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Figure’?” Zhou Heng was a bit stunned after receiving this heavy news.

In Wei Guang’s memory fragments, the “Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Figure” was an extremely sophisticated visualization chart that could unlock great intelligence and power, directly pointing to the Heavenly Heart Realm.

“But there’s no visualization chart on Han Lin’s body, or did he hide the treasure chart somewhere else?” Zhou Heng wondered. He had inspected all of Han Lin’s “relics” and hadn’t found anything of value.

“Something’s not right. Han Lin is but a mere Object Control Realm cultivator, how could he have stolen the sacred text of the Holy Sect of Mercy? This Holy Sect of Mercy is one of the top factions in this world, with Heavenly Heart Realm experts.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I still know too little about this world, and I can only guess blindly at many things; relying solely on these memory fragments is difficult to get a comprehensive picture.” Zhou Heng reflected.

The main purpose of Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian’s arrival in this world was to eliminate the trouble-causing demons, earn meritorious deeds, and acquire the techniques of this world in order to perfect their own Taoist Formulas.

All of this required the restoration of a certain level of strength; without strength, everything was but empty talk.

Besides, Zhou Heng had some ideas of his own.

If he could develop a cultivation path distinct from visualization here, might he receive feedback from the laws of nature and obtain merit? Thereby contributing to his cultivation of the Mysterious Yellow Tower Technique.

This was also one of the reasons why he was so excited when he cultivated a strand of Innate True Qi using the Longevity Technique previously.

“There’s no visualization chart in Wei Guang’s memories either, pity.” Zhou Heng frowned slightly, then summoned the puppet Han Lin over, contemplating in front of these two puppets.

Without doubt, there were problems with both of these men.

Wei Guang was an envoy of the Holy Sect of Mercy; if he were to be in trouble, the Sect would inevitably come looking for trouble.

And Han Lin’s problem was even bigger, suspected of stealing a chart pointing directly to the Heavenly Heart Realm, probably not only being watched by the people of the Holy Sect of Mercy.

As long as he kept these two puppets close, he was sure to encounter all sorts of incidents, and it could even be said that an attack could come at any time.

—Even Wei Guang could use tracking methods to find Han Lin who had been turned into a puppet, so Zhou Heng did not believe that others would not be able to find them; he, whose cultivation had not yet recovered, still lacked the ability to completely erase past traces.

“However, isn’t this also better?” Zhou Heng suddenly smiled.

For him, going out to explore with his strength not yet restored was very dangerous.

It would be better to stay here, wait patiently, and let people come to him one by one.

At the same time, he could settle down to further study the development of the Longevity Technique in this world.

With Zhou Heng’s current level of Divine Soul, by using the Sky-Earth Striking Method in conjunction with the Puppetry Technique, he could almost instantly kill any cultivator below the True Form Realm.

And cultivators of the True Form Realm were revered as great mentors, powerful figures who enjoyed the support of over ten countries and typically would not act rashly.

If several cultivators from the Sun Roaming Realm or Object Control Realm came looking for trouble before the arrival of a True Form Realm cultivator, he might obtain a genuine visualization technique.

What Zhou Heng now lacked was a key that could open the path of Divine Soul visualization in this world; once he obtained the key, he was confident he could rapidly restore his strength.

“The meeting at Jiahe Inn in the Capital City of Liang Country with the Big Dipper is set for half a year after my arrival, and more than ten days have passed already, there is still time,” Zhou Heng thought inwardly.

Sharpening the axe will not delay the work of cutting firewood; restoring one’s strength is the most important thing.

…

Thirty miles north of Qingxiang Town lies Baiyang Peak, marvelously grand and majestic.

In this place, a Daquan Sect cultivator named Yu Jianghe established his cave dwellings to comprehend the earth energy of the mountain range, contemplating the “Treasure Likeness Chart of the Three Mountains.”

This is one of Daquan Sect’s secret manuals, pointing directly to the stage of revealing sanctity.

Yu Jianghe, now over seventy, has been stuck in the Sun Roaming Realm without any progress for the past twenty years.

He had a premonition.

If he could not condense the treasure likeness true form within three years, he would exhaust his lifespan and pass away in meditation.

However, his comprehension of the mountain range’s earth energy was shallow; his talent did not lie there. Incapable of grasping the true meaning of the Treasure Likeness Chart of the Three Mountains, he naturally found it difficult to condense the true form.

Yu Jianghe had considered changing the chart for contemplation, but to do so, he would need one of a higher grade than the original and also non-conflicting.

The Treasure Likeness Chart of the Three Mountains points directly to the stage of revealing sanctity; beyond that is the direct point to the Heavenly Heart.

However, such a contemplative chart or treasure manual is possessed only by the sect leader of Daquan Sect, which is the “Great Completeness Treasure Likeness Chart of Thousands of Miles of Rivers and Mountains.”

With the status of an ordinary true disciple, Yu Jianghe was not qualified to cultivate it.

This path seemed to have reached a dead end.

Yu Jianghe stood on the summit of Baiyang Peak, looking out over the endless mountain ranges, as well as the fertile lands and prosperous towns far in the distance, feeling a tumult of emotions.

How many more years could he enjoy such wonderful worldly scenes?

At this time, a young man in his twenties came here. With a tall and sturdy physique, handsome in appearance, he greeted Yu Jianghe with great respect, “Master, your disciple has good news to tell you.”

His name was Yu Liushui and he was the direct disciple of Yu Jianghe.

Disciple as he was in name, he was more like a foster son.

Yu Liushui was an orphan, abandoned by his parents in a basin shortly after birth and left to drift along the water, eventually picked up by the passing Yu Jianghe and taken in as a disciple.

Their relationship was in fact that of father and son; Yu Liushui treated Yu Jianghe as he would his own father.

Seeing Yu Jianghe becoming increasingly dispirited, Yu Liushui was deeply grieved and anxious. He had been trying to find a way to solve his master’s problem all along.

A few days ago, he received a piece of news and hurried to Baiyang Peak without delay to share it with Yu Jianghe.

“What news?” Yu Jianghe said indifferently, his heart at peace.

In the past two years, Yu Liushui had thought of many solutions for him. Though they were all out of filial piety, none were useful, and gradually, he had stopped paying much attention to them.

“Three days ago, Wei Guang went to Qingxiang Town and then never came out,” Yu Liushui said joyfully, “He was always looking for Han Lin, and it’s likely Han Lin is in Qingxiang Town.”

“Han Lin? The one rumored to have entered the ancient battlefield in the southwest and brought out a manual, the ‘Great Power Buddha Dragon’s Treasure Likeness Chart’?” Yu Jianghe’s eyes lit up, his spirit revived, as he turned to face Yu Liushui, “Is Wei Guang’s news reliable?”

“It is reliable, disciple saw it with his own eyes,” Yu Liushui smiled as he saw the change in his master’s expression, and joyfully added, “Master, speaking of which, the Holy Sect of Mercy is really shameless.

“Claiming that the ‘Great Power Buddha Dragon’s Treasure Likeness Chart’ is their sect’s guarded treasure, while it’s clearly an ancient treasure manual of the Buddha Sect from the Five Sages Temple, how did it become theirs?”

“Is the Holy Sect of Mercy just full of hot air?” Yu Jianghe smiled and said, “This ‘Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Map’ is a treasure map from the ancient Buddha Sect’s Five Sages Temple, pointing directly to the Heavenly Heart.

“Such a treasure map, even if the Holy Sect of Mercy claims it as their own, will definitely attract the attention of many.

“If the current situation were not so unclear, the Holy Sect of Mercy would likely have already made a move without drawing attention; by now, there would probably have been a great sage trying to seize it by force. For your master, this map is also a top-notch classic.”

“That’s right. This map is indeed suitable for your transition in cultivation, Master.” Yu Liushui nodded and said: “Furthermore, I have investigated Wei Guang’s whereabouts. After he entered Qingxiang Town, he went straight to a house. Once he… entered, he never came out again.

“The owner of that house arrived in Qingxiang Town half a month ago, a wandering physician who calls himself Zhou Wei. He also has an attendant. I suspect that this Zhou Wei is merely Han Lin’s puppet, and the so-called attendant is Han Lin himself.”

“Hmm, that is possible,” Yu Jianghe nodded gently and said, “If the rumors are true, and Han Lin really obtained the ‘Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Map,’ he should have made some achievements in his cultivation by now, even possibly breaking through to the Sun Roaming Realm, and suddenly defeating Wei Guang could be a possibility.”

“Master, I wish to join you in heading to Qingxiang Town to capture Han Lin and snatch the ‘Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Map’!” Yu Liushui said, spirited.

“No, no,” Yu Jianghe shook his head and smiled, saying, “Why seize by force? I am old and do not like fighting and killing. Let’s go make a trade with him.”

“A trade?” Yu Liushui was stunned.

…

Holy Sect of Mercy’s Liang Country branch.

On the high platform.

“Utter nonsense, sheer utter nonsense!”

The lord Jing Yanhua bellowed with righteous anger, his face ashen, and a faint image of a wrathful treasure manifestation appeared behind him, “Wei Guang actually died? A cultivator in the Sun Roaming Realm, chasing down Han Lin who’s merely at the level of controlling objects, and he died?”

Beneath the high platform, all the subordinates shivered, their heads lowered, none daring to speak.

“Speak up! Have you all turned into mutes?!” Jing Yanhua raged further, the formidable Divine Soul power of the True Form Realm radiating from his body, making the platform below begin to tremble.

The crowd of subordinates felt the pressure mounting as well.

“Lord, perhaps that Han Lin practiced the ‘Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Map’ and broke through his realm, thereby overpowering Wei Guang?” Someone ventured, his courage bolstered.

“Nonsense!” Jing Yanhua snorted coldly. A surge of invisible force erupted, immediately sending the speaker flying, “Just because Han Lin has the ‘Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Map’ doesn’t mean he knows he has it.

“The inheritance of the Five Sages Temple isn’t so easily obtained. Others may not know, but I’m aware that Han Lin indeed acquired that treasure map on an ancient battlefield, but it can’t be directly used for cultivation.

“Only by burning Han Lin’s corpse to ash with the Buddhist Cleanse Fire can the ‘Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Map’ truly manifest. Otherwise, it is simply impossible to attain the visualization map.”

It was then that everyone understood the insistence on the ‘Great Power Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva Treasure Map’ being their own classic.

There truly was some reason to it.

If others got hold of Han Lin, they wouldn’t be able to get the treasure map; but if their side did, they would be able to claim it.

Isn’t that the same as saying it belongs to their side?

Thus, another eagerly said, “Lord, please send us to Qingxiang Town to pursue Han Lin and recover the treasure map!”

“Get lost, you’re all as useless as Wei Guang!” Jing Yanhua coldly snorted and said, “I originally thought that given Wei Guang’s strength, capturing Han Lin would not be difficult. Little did I expect that fool to actually die.

“This time the lord of the sect will personally go. Let’s see how that insignificant Han Lin will turn the tables!”