I Cheated While Cultivating

As the Taoist incantations sounded, the wind and clouds changed between heaven and earth.

The vital energy surged wildly, escaping the Demon Emperor’s control, transforming into golden thunderbolts in the void that converged and danced like frenzied golden snakes.

The wind howled and the thunder roared, as if the entire Seven Lords Mountain was trembling.

The high clouds in the sky were stirred by an invisible giant hand, forming a vortex that spread in all directions, making it seem as if the entire sky was spinning.

Between the surging winds and the rotating firmament, countless thunderbolts flashed and intertwined, rapidly growing larger and longer, like thunder dragons soaring above the vault of heaven.

An utterly terrifying force bore down, preventing the Demon Emperor, who had intended to strike while Zhou Heng cast his spell, from moving. It clearly felt as if it had been locked in by an invisible heavenly will.

It was as if the thunder that surged and spun above the firmament was the wrath of the heavens, the punishment from above.

“What is this, what kind of technique is this?!” The Demon Emperor looked at the thunderbolts in the sky incredulously, its face filled with disbelief. It had never felt such a sense of crisis as it did now, with a sudden surge of intense fear welling up inside it.

I’m going to die!

If I’m struck by the force gathered by these thunderbolts, there’s no way I could survive, I would die on the spot!

The Demon Emperor made a judgment in its heart.

Having truly reached the Secret Sixth Rank, capable of perceiving the natural laws and mobilizing the vital energy of heaven and earth on a large scale, it was acutely aware of the terrifying might of the thunderbolts manifesting before it at this moment.

This was an attack that should not exist in this world, it had completely surpassed the limits of this world!

And it also felt that these scattered thunderbolts were not the final form of this attack, they were still changing, still getting stronger.

And at the core of the change was the Tianya Sword in Zhou Heng’s hands.

This sword, like a divine weapon from the nine heavens, shimmered with light, yet was crystal clear and pure. Merely looking at this sword made the Demon Emperor’s heart pound.

It felt that if someone of the same cultivation realm held this treasure sword, a casual slash would be enough to kill it instantly, without any effort.

Even though Zhou Heng’s cultivation realm and strength were far less than its own, the bizarre technique he performed with this treasure sword also made it feel like it was bound to die without a doubt.

“Why, why is this happening?!” The Demon Emperor let out an angry cry. It pointed to the sky and cursed loudly, roaring furiously, “Heaven, you are unfair! How can there be such a powerful weapon in this world, why, by what right?!”

Boom!

An earth-shattering boom exploded, and the infinite thunderbolts suddenly converged, striking the Tianya Sword in Zhou Heng’s hands that emitted ripples like clear water.

In an instant, the golden thunderbolts coalesced into a thunder pool, interwoven with the laws of yin and yang, emanating an incredibly terrifying might.

In just a moment, the thunder pool completely engulfed the Demon Emperor, and in a blink, the six-winged Demon Clan Sovereign that had reached the Secret Sixth Rank, was reduced to dust.

Died at the hands of Zhou Heng holding the Tianya Sword.

…

“Congratulations! You have defeated the formidable enemy ‘Demon Emperor Bai Yusheng.’ Fortune Bag [Silver] +3.”

…

“Congratulations! In the throes of a blood-pumping battle, you have deepened your understanding of your own Martial Path, and your realm has been elevated, proficiency in all martial arts learned +500.” Р𝔞₦Ꝋ𐌱Ęs

…

“Congratulations! You have killed the sure-to-die enemy ‘Demon Emperor Bai Yusheng·Six-Winged True Form,’ Fortune Bag [Gold] +1.”

…

The Tianya Sword in Zhou Heng’s hand gradually faded away.

The Nine Heavens Commanding Thunder strike had just depleted all the energy contained in the weapon’s projection.

Even so, it allowed him to experience once more the overwhelming power of a Fifth Rank Sect Master exerting full strength.

Had he not concentrated the power to target the Monster Emperor specifically, the unleashed Nine Heavens Commanding Thunder strike would’ve razed the surrounding area of Seven Lords Mountain for miles, flattening it nearly a hundred zhang.

Compared to the Secret Six Rank, which might still be besieged by those at the Peak of the Seventh Rank, the might of a Sect Fifth Rank truly surpassed the mundane, rendering any number of those at the peak of Seventh Rank useless.

While Zhou Heng was killing the Monster Emperor, Cheng Jianjian’s process of absorbing the Big Dipper’s star power was also nearing its end.

Her entire body shone with an immensely bright glow, and behind her emerged the phantom of the Big Dipper Seven Stars, the pattern of the Big Dipper on her mask also shone brightly in response.

Hum!

Suddenly, the void trembled, and Cheng Jianjian’s body began to float upwards, with the power of the Big Dipper intertwining around her, starting to reshape her star position inheritance.

At that moment, Zhou Heng too sensed an anomaly, feeling the Big Dipper constellation around Cheng Jianjian expanding rapidly, soon projecting a vast expanse of star field.

This was a sight only he could see; even Cheng Jianjian could not perceive it.

Through this star field, Zhou Heng’s perception extended directly to the Zhou Tian star chart, and he sensed the state of the Purple Tenuity Palace.

He then came to a realization.

Just as Zhou Heng had previously anticipated, by helping the Big Dipper Star Officer return to her position, indeed, the Ziwei Master’s star position authority had been enhanced.

This was a new authority—”Summon.”

As long as he, the Ziwei Master, was in the Purple Tenuity Palace, he could immediately summon any Star Envoy or Star Officer to the Purple Tenuity Palace.

Moreover, it disregarded distance and location.

Should there be a situation similar to Cheng Jianjian’s loss of contact again, Zhou Heng would only need to utilize this authority to summon the corresponding Star Envoy or Star Officer to the Purple Tenuity Palace.

No need for the trouble of crossing territories to investigate anymore.

“This is a good authority for a leader, convenient for summoning subordinates at any time, and for organizing and mobilizing a collective to accomplish great things,” Zhou Heng thought contemplatively.

“I wonder if this authority would still work if the Star Officer or Star Envoy is restrained by seals, grand formations, or trapped by something else. Hmm, this is based on the authority of the Zhou Tian star chart, so its application should be quite broad.”

In simple terms, this new authority was indeed quite powerful, but for him at the moment, it was somewhat of a mixed blessing.

However, once he became strong enough, or when he truly had a certain degree of authority and management power in the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer, it could be put to real use and would be considered a divine artifact.

At this time.

Cheng Jianjian had completed the transformation of her star position as a Star Officer, her whole body radiating a gentle and pure light as if a true Star God had descended to the world.

“Little Martial Uncle, I am deeply grateful.” The first thing Cheng Jianjian did was remove the hard-won Big Dipper Star Officer mask to bow and thank Zhou Heng.

“Are you being so polite with me because you want me to pay back all the thanks I owe you?” Zhou Heng said with a smile, stopping Cheng Jianjian, “There’s no need for that.”

“Haha, after all this time, Little Martial Uncle, you haven’t changed a bit,” Cheng Jianjian said with a light laugh before pausing slightly startled, shaking her head, “I forgot how quickly time passes in this world. More than two years have passed here, and in Da Qi, it’s been just over two months, right?”

“Mmm,” Zhou Heng nodded gently, chuckling, “You’ve aged two years for nothing.”

“Then I am three years older than you now,” Cheng Jianjian said with a beaming smile.

She wasn’t bothered by the joke; martial artists reaching Middle Third Rank could live for hundreds to thousands of years, so a mere two years was inconsequential.

“However,” Cheng Jianjian asked with some curiosity, “Junior Uncle, how did you find me? I’ve lost contact with the Stellar Trajectories, and this is a special world. You shouldn’t have been able to find me.”

“On one hand, the Ziwei Master has special significance; on the other hand, you left me…” Zhou Heng said with a smile, flipping his hand and taking out a half a candy wrapped in candy paper, and laughed, “This, do you still want it?”

This was the half-candy Cheng Jianjian had left for him when she bid farewell in Wujiang Prefecture City, with the promise that the next time they met, she would ask him for the remaining half.

“Junior Uncle… Of course, I want it!” Cheng Jianjian’s smile was radiant as she picked up the half-candy from Zhou Heng’s palm and placed it in her mouth. Her face was full of smiles, her eyes narrowed into crescents.

“It’s still so sweet.”

…

Inside the Purple Tenuity Palace.

The Five Emperors, Jiuxiao Thunder Master, and others gathered in front of the star portal, anxiously waiting.

From time to time, the Five Emperors would check the Stellar Trajectories to ensure the safety of the Ziwei Master. He was very worried about the safety of both Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian.

Next to them, Jiuxiao Thunder Master and the others under their masks also looked very solemn. They all had received Zhou Heng’s help and had fairly good relations with him, so they too were worried about his well-being.

Moreover, the position of Ziwei Master is of great importance to the Zhou Tian Boundary Officers, which is why other returning star officers and envoys had also gathered here to wait.

Hoping Zhou Heng would return quickly.

In fact, because time flowed quickly in that world, it had only been three or four days since Zhou Heng had crossed through the star portal, but even these few days were enough to make many anxious.

Hum!

Suddenly, the star portal that everyone was focused on trembled, the vortex of starlight in its center began to reverse, slowly unfolding a passageway.

In the next instant, two figures flew out of the portal, landing in the Purple Tenuity Palace.

Materializing into two people.

A man and a woman, one wearing the mask of the Ziwei Master and the other wearing the mask of the Big Dipper Star Officer.

It was Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian, who had just crossed back through the star portal.

“Master! You’re back, are you alright?”

“Great, the Master is safe and sound, safe and sound.”

“Now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”

Upon seeing Zhou Heng’s return, the Five Emperors, Jiuxiao Thunder Master, and the others present all heaved a sigh of relief and also noticed Cheng Jianjian who had returned with Zhou Heng.

“And Tian Ji… No, that mask pattern, the Big Dipper Star Officer, it’s the Big Dipper Star Officer!”

“Tian Ji, you’ve succeeded, you’ve accomplished your mission and obtained the position of the Big Dipper Star, a position that hasn’t appeared in three thousand years!”

“This is fantastic, truly double happiness! On the eighteenth’s gathering, this must be celebrated.”

Everyone was overjoyed.

This time, not only had the Ziwei Master returned safely after crossing realms, but Tian Ji had also completed her promotion task and become the first Big Dipper Star Officer since the establishment of the Zhou Tian Boundary Officers.

It was great news for the Zhou Tian Boundary Officers.

This also encouraged the star officers who were worrying over the increasingly severe threat of evil spirits and specters and made them realize that the Zhou Tian Boundary Officers were still growing stronger.

There was still hope for the future.

Such cheering was somewhat unexpected for Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian. Both were momentarily stunned before they regained their senses and joined in the excitement with everyone else.

Their trip across worlds had been very fruitful, and naturally, they were happy in their hearts.

After the cheering, Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian went their separate ways.

Cheng Jianjian had to go to the Hall of Disentanglement to update her mask task information, while Zhou Heng went to find Jiuxiao Thunder Master.

…

“Master, have you found the materials to forge a flying sword?” When she saw that the Master had come to find her, Jiuxiao Thunder Master guessed his intention.

She had previously borrowed good deeds from Zhou Heng and promised to help him refine a suitable divine weapon. At that time, Zhou Heng had mentioned wanting a flying sword containing the power of thunder.

“The main material has been found; the rest of the auxiliary materials can be obtained through wishing,” Zhou Heng said as he took out the sky thunder iron he had gotten from opening the Fortune Bag and handed it to Jiuxiao Thunder Master.

“Sky thunder iron, this is good stuff.” Recognizing the sky thunder iron immediately without waiting for Zhou Heng to introduce it, Jiuxiao Thunder Master said, “Master, such materials are rare.

“Giving me such an item to forge is also a stroke of luck for me. I’ve prepared the auxiliary materials myself; you don’t need to wish for them, as I can provide them.”

This sky thunder iron is a Secret Six Rank spiritual material, imbued with the essence of thunder and containing the principles of thunder, making it most suitable for crafting and refining thunder-attributed divine weapons.

However, this material is extremely rare and precious, formed from essence of iron that has been struck by thunder for a thousand years and nurtured by the energy of the utmost yang for a hundred years.

Casters often have a preference for rare materials, and even if the grade of some spiritual materials isn’t very high, as long as they are sufficiently rare, they will be treasured by them.

Jiuxiao Thunder Master was clearly such a caster.

“This way, it seems I’m taking advantage; I feel somewhat apologetic,” Zhou Heng said with a smile. He didn’t wish to owe anyone favors, nor did he want to directly refuse, after a brief moment of contemplation, “Since that’s the case, if the flying sword turns out to be suitable, let’s change the promised Lifespan Extension Pill from five years to ten years.”

“Ah? Extending life by ten years?!” Jiuxiao Thunder Master’s eyes widened in astonishment upon hearing this, her expression under the mask one of sheer surprise. This was the first time she had heard someone speak of extending life for ten years so casually.

She was inclined to refuse because such a gift seemed far too valuable in her view, yet thinking of her aging family members at home, she found it hard to speak.

“If it’s too difficult for you, just help me forge and refine weapons in the future,” Zhou Heng suggested with a smile.

“Of course, I’ll spare no effort in any task you need, Master,” said Jiuxiao Thunder Master, deeply moved.

“Then it’s settled,” Zhou Heng said, his face beaming with a smile.

This was his ultimate goal.

A caster who valued resources so greatly, how could he just have a one-off deal? He definitely needed to find opportunities for a long-term partnership.

…

After parting with Jiuxiao Thunder Master, Zhou Heng left the Purple Tenuity Palace.

To wait for Cheng Jianjian to come out.

The reason he came out to wait was that everyone in the Purple Tenuity Palace showed him extreme respect, which made him somewhat uncomfortable.

While waiting.

Zhou Heng decided to open a few Fortune Bags to see what he might find.

Especially the newly acquired Gold Fortune Bag.

The last time he opened a Gold Fortune Bag, he received Three Palms Overturning the Heavens, which was the basis for the “Elementary Gold Chapter.”

What might he get this time?

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