I Cheated While Cultivating

The caverns below Ansong County City finally returned to calm, all the ghosts that once lurked here had been eradicated by Zhou Heng, without a single one left.

Fortune Bag earnings total: sixteen Copper Fortune Bags, three Silver Fortune Bags.

Ghost eradication earnings total: 5,200 deeds of merit.

Reward for the mission total: 320 deeds of merit, 500 taels of silver.

What a bountiful harvest!

It was Zhou Heng’s first mission, and he had earned more than 5,500 deeds of merit in one go—an achievement that was simply legendary within the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer ranks.

If those within the Inner Circle of the Five Emperors knew about it, it’s estimated they would have been so envious that their eyeballs would pop out, especially since one of them had nearly gone gray with worry for the sake of 30,000 deeds of merit.

Zhou Heng did not immediately read the Memory Crystal left behind by Wan Shankong.

For one thing, this place was not suitable, and on the other hand, having just gone through a fierce battle, he was not in the mental state to probe into the secrets of the past.

“When I settle down, I’ll open a few Fortune Bags to calm myself. ‘Luck’ too, never knows when it will be needed, so there’s no point in always hoarding Fortune Bags.”

Zhou Heng’s thoughts wandered slightly, using this to adjust his still-boiling emotions and vitality from the recent fierce battle.

“Incredible, absolutely amazing!”

Chen Yingyu exclaimed repeatedly in awe, excitedly looking around at the cavern where the ghostly energy had been completely purged, her whole being thrilled with excitement.

She turned to face Zhou Heng, took off her mask, and revealed a face that was clear and refined, beautifully radiant yet tinged with a bit of heroic spirit.

“Zhi Xu Sect’s Sect Master, Chen Yingyu, pays respect to the Ziwei Emperor.” She revealed her true identity, and then explained, “Having learned from those ghosts that Your Excellency is a disciple of the Pure Yang Palace, I felt it right to disclose my identity as well.”

Zhou Tian Boundary Officer does not require its members to reveal their true identities to each other, even if one party is aware of the other’s identity; it’s purely a matter of personal conscience.

Just like how Zhou Heng does not currently know the true identity of someone in the Inner Circle of the Five Emperors.

Although he has already learned the name—which I owe to the System’s prompt—he does not dare call out that name. It’s quite amusing really, a mighty Fourth Rank expert called…

Zhang Tienan.

However, if someone proactively discloses their real identity to other members, it’s a very clear sign of goodwill, indicating a wish to engage in more in-depth interactions.

Yes, just ordinary friendship.

Nothing more.

Now with Chen Yingyu actively revealing her identity, it’s clearly a manifestation of her goodwill towards Zhou Heng.

“Hmm, Sect Master Chen has taken up her duties in a time of crisis, and I have long heard of it,” Zhou Heng said with a smile. “To manage such a large sect as Zhi Xu Sect at your young age is indeed no easy feat.”

He had actually heard about Chen Yingyu.

Two years ago.

The Zhi Xu Sect, a sect of Taoism inheriting from the Middle Ancient Era, was attacked by the heretical Nine Deaths Sect. The sect master, elders, and all Middle Third Rank experts perished in battle, and the sect’s scriptures were almost entirely plundered.

In the end, the Zhi Xu Sect was left with no more than a handful, all told, only around twenty or thirty people.

Chen Yingyu was the strongest among them, a Seventh Rank cultivator, ranked on the list of notable people, and the daughter of the late sect master.

Consequently, she took on the urgent role, accepting the position of sect master.

At the young age of twenty-one, she single-handedly took on the great responsibility of reviving the Zhi Xu Sect.

Speaking of which, the Pure Yang Palace once had some ties with the Zhi Xu Sect.

Although the sect was in decline before the attack, with only a Fifth Rank Sect Master to show face and the divine skills and scriptures of the Upper Third Rank almost entirely lost, during the Middle Ancient Era it was once a top-notch Taoist sect that was on par with Pure Yang Palace, if not superior.

It is said that the founding master of Zhi Xu Sect, Daoist Shoujing, was a friend of the founding master of Pure Yang Palace, Pure Yang Zi. The “Zhi Xu Jing” that Zhou Heng had read on Jade Void Peak was written by Daoist Shoujing.

“Your Excellency flatters me too much,” Chen Yingyu gently shook her head and sighed. “I’m just taking things one step at a time. To be honest, if it weren’t for joining the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer and seeing hope for the future, I really wouldn’t know what steps to take next.”

“The Zhou Tian Boundary Officer is indeed a great opportunity,” Zhou Heng nodded slightly and said, “However, Sect Master Chen should be more cautious in her actions in the future. Ghosts are mysterious and unpredictable, too dangerous.”

“Yes, I appreciate Your Excellency’s reminder,” Chen Yingyu nodded gratefully. “Had Your Excellency not rescued me this time, I’m afraid I would have died here. I cannot forget this great kindness and debt.”

“Sect Master Chen need not worry about it; it is merely part of my duties,” Zhou Heng chuckled and then said, “I have some matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first. Take care on your way, Sect Master Chen.”

Having said that, without waiting for Chen Yingyu to respond, he activated his qinggong, leaping out of the cavern, and swiftly moved away under the cover of night, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Chen Yingyu also leapt out of the cavern, gazing in the direction Zhou Heng had gone, and bowed respectfully, vowing silently, “This kindness, this emotion, must be repaid.”

…

Zhou Heng left Ansong County City directly.

Perhaps it was because speaking with Chen Yingyu was somewhat tiring, he didn’t know if it was because the girl had been a sect leader for too long, her mood was alright when excited or shocked, but once calm, she became somewhat rigid and formal.

She was only twenty-three years old, equivalent to just having graduated from college on Earth, yet her manner of speaking seemed much older than her actual age.

Talking with such a person was like matching couplets, lacking interest.

It was a bit tiring.

After leaving Ansong County City, Zhou Heng went to the post station where he left his reddish-brown horse, planning to rest there for the night and continue riding to Chang Xing Sect early the next morning.

There were still three days left until the appointed time.

He wasn’t in a rush.

Lying in the guest room of the post station, Zhou Heng pondered.

“Now I have eighteen copper Fortune Bags, I’ll just open six for now, why do I suddenly feel like a tycoon?”

He looked at his stock and felt it would really be a disservice to himself not to open some of them.

Moreover, the battle this time made him realize that his martial arts traits were still too obvious.

Anyone who had seen the ‘Ranking of Fighters’ or was familiar with the martial arts of Pure Yang Palace could basically recognize his identity.

In that case, wearing the Ziwei mask didn’t really have any effect in hiding his identity.

It would be best to acquire some new, unknown martial arts as soon as possible, to use when acting as the “Ziwei Emperor”, so as not to easily expose his identity.

Hiding one’s identity behind an alias is truly a technical task.

…

“Fortune Bag [Copper]: It contains everything imaginable, having it all. Upon opening, you can receive unexpected rewards.”

“Open six!”

“Congratulations! You hit the jackpot! Acquired martial arts ‘Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms’ [Seventh Rank]!”

“Congratulations! Acquired a special skill card: Quick Hairstyle Change Card.”

“Congratulations! You hit the jackpot! Acquired martial arts ‘Dou Zhuan Xing Yi’ [Seventh Rank]!”

“Congratulations! You hit the jackpot! Acquired the spiritual medicine: Linju Pill.”

“Congratulations! Acquired an extravagant set of clothing.”

“Congratulations! You hit the jackpot! Acquired martial arts ‘Xiao Wuxiang Gong’ [Seventh Rank]!”

…

What on earth is this Quick Hairstyle Change Card?

And what the heck is with the extravagant clothing??

Zhou Heng’s eyes almost popped out.

These Fortune Bags really lived up to their name, containing all sorts of oddities. Could it be that one day he might even get a PS5??

No, that would be wrong, there wouldn’t be a TV to play it with.

While the Linju Pill was a spiritual medicine, it wasn’t intended for human consumption, but rather for enhancing the bloodline strength of mounts. The description seemed quite miraculous, so he could try it on the reddish-brown horse.

Several new martial arts suits were greatly to Zhou Heng’s liking; he had initially thought that if he couldn’t get suitable new martial arts from the six Fortune Bags, he would open a few more.

Now it seemed his luck wasn’t bad.

Next, he would go to the nearest entrance of the Purple Tenuity Palace to fulfill his wish and get his hands on the promised weapon-grade bladed weapon, so he wouldn’t have to awkwardly use a sword for the Purple Thunder Seven Strikes.

But before that, he had to check the Memory Crystal dropped by Wan Shankong’s twisted remnant soul to see if it really contained information about the Battle of Tianyang.

The Memory Crystal was a purple crystal stone, and Zhou Heng could directly read the information inside with just a thought.

As he began to read, he saw an endless ghostly aura filling the plains. It was an army, with soldiers numbering in the hundreds of thousands, led by none other than Wan Shankong.

But behind him, commanding the troops, there were not only ghastly creatures but also… people!!