I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 59: Self-Examination

"Senior You, why have you come?”

Zhou Heng looked puzzled, as if he knew nothing and understood nothing.

"Have you learned acting?” You Ziheng smiled and said to Zhou Heng,

“Otherwise, how is your acting so good? Alright, stop pretending, I know it was you who unleashed that Metal Sword Qi.”

"Ah?” Zhou Heng still looked utterly bewildered and said,

“Metal Sword Qi? What is that? What are you talking about, senior? I don’t understand at all.”

At the same time, his mind raced, analyzing how You Ziheng had found out.

Was it through inference based on the situation at the

“crime scene”?

Or perhaps You Ziheng hadn’t truly sealed and suppressed the Fuyaji Sword but instead had communicated with it to some extent?

No matter the scenario.

Zhou Heng was certain that it was very likely You Ziheng already knew the truth.

So, what was his purpose in coming here and exposing the matter?

Did he have some scheme in mind?

Or was it merely a warning?

But what could a mere Ninth Grade Warrior like himself possess that would interest a Grandmaster from the Pure Yang Palace?

"Stop overthinking, I have no ill intentions.”

You Ziheng extended his right hand, and the Fuyaji Sword, wrapped in apricot­yellow talisman paper, appeared in his hand,

“I’ve already told Pei Zhantu and the others that it was me who unleashed the Metal Sword Qi. I’ve taken the blame for you, so the Chang Xing Sect will no longer bother you.”

“…” Zhou Heng fell silent upon hearing this, then frowned in confusion and said,

“Senior, why would you do this for me?”

"Guess?” You Ziheng said with a smile, suddenly lying down on the wall top, securing the Fuyaji Sword away, then taking a swig of wine, gulping it down with a laugh, and said:

"You might have saved the entire Huangtong Mansion City, perhaps even my life, and since it was Jiang Jian who recommended you, covering for such a small matter for you is nothing to me.”

"I saved the entire Huangtong Mansion City?” Zhou Heng was genuinely stunned and exclaimed,

“And saved your life as well?”

What’s going on?

A great merit falling from the sky?

How come I myself wasn’t aware I was so impressive?

"It’s a possibility, not a certainty, burp.” You Ziheng looked up at the moon in the sky and belched, “Not all Divine Weapons contain a ‘spirit’ within them.

"A Divine Weapon that does have a ‘spirit’ must have the sacrifice of a powerful being beyond Fourth Rank at its birth. Such a weapon can also be called an Evil Weapon, as it is filled with the intense resentment and pain of a powerful being and can become uncontrollable and violent at any moment.

"Even when sealed, if the ‘spirit’ of an Evil Weapon can interact with the outside through its spirit, there’s still a risk of losing control.

"Though its destructive power is not as severe as in its heyday, it’s still equivalent to a Fourth-Rank being that has lost its sanity. If it truly went out of control, well, we’d all be dead.”

"Fourth, Fourth Rank?” Zhou Heng was dumbstruck.

He had not expected the sealed Fuyaji Sword to still be so dangerous.

Absolute Fourth Rank, meaning—absolute peak, unparalleled!

This referred to a supreme being who could enter the Earth rankings and glimpse the realm of the Celestials!

If the Fuyaji Sword were to become uncontrollable as You Ziheng described, equivalent to a Fourth-Rank warrior who had lost their sanity, then the entire Huangtong Mansion City would likely turn into ruins.

There was no one here who could withstand the might of a Fourth-Rank warrior.

Kong Chengshun truly deserved his fate for bringing such a dangerous thing here… Of course, he likely had no idea of the danger involved.

"Scared now?” You Ziheng chuckled, tilting his head to look at Zhou Heng and said,

“Don’t worry, I’ve now sealed it with talismans. After finalizing your assessment tomorrow, I will take it back to the Pure Yang Palace for suppression.”

Having said that, he hopped down from the wall top and said with a smile, “If you can indeed join the Pure Yang Palace and reach the Fourth Rank, perhaps this Divine Sword might find its way back into your hands.

"Work hard, kid.”

You Ziheng patted Zhou Heng’s shoulder and staggered towards the city.

However, after only a few steps, he stopped, turned his back to Zhou Heng, and said,

“Oh, and in the future, when you’ve done something bad, even if you leave in a hurry, remember to cover your tracks.”

Lastly, You Ziheng took out a Jade Talisman from his bosom and tossed it to Zhou Heng, “This is a Life-saving Talisman. It gives you one chance to come back to life if faced with attacks from a Martial Artist below Third Rank Celestial.

"Consider this my repayment for saving my life.”

After tossing the talisman, his figure suddenly became like a breeze and disappeared.

Leaving behind a stunned Zhou Heng, holding the Life-saving Jade Talisman in his hand.

This was an invaluable treasure!

Had You Ziheng just given it to him like that?

What’s going on?

"He wouldn’t have any peculiar hobbies, would he!”

After You Ziheng left Zhou Heng as if transformed into wind, he did not immediately return to his place of residence.

Instead, he ascended to the high skies above, forming a cloud bed with his mana, lying on it while holding a wine gourd, gazing up at the stars and the bright moon in the night sky.

He poured wine into his mouth, only to find that the gourd was empty.

"White crane, bring me some wine!” You Ziheng called out, seemingly a bit irritated.

Whoosh!

The cloud bed churned and rolled as a white crane, standing a zhang tall, emerged through the mist.

Yet, it didn’t bring over any wine but stopped beside You Ziheng, looking in the direction of Zhou Heng’s home.

"Are you helping him because you see your own past self in him?” the white crane spoke human words, its voice smooth and neutral, not discernible as male or female.

"Help him? No, just clearing out some useless rubbish, so it doesn’t take up space,” You Ziheng shook his head, lying back in a spread-eagle position, his gaze on the starry sky, his expression turning somewhat complex.

"This young man does indeed resemble you from the past,” said the white crane.

"White crane!” You Ziheng suddenly sat up, his gaze turning sharp as he glared at the white crane.

"I’m docking you a jar of wine,” the white crane remained unmoved, its tone light and breezy.

"No, come on!” You Ziheng immediately caved in, lunging to embrace the white crane’s legs but ended up hugging only a cloud, as the white crane dissipated from sight.

He fell back onto the cloud bed, slightly dazed, and then heaved a long sigh.

"I hope this kid doesn’t make the same mistakes I did.”

Zhou Heng returned home.

The series of events tonight had touched him somewhat.

Lately, he seemed to have gotten a bit carried away.

Whether it was previously thinking about shearing the wool from Fuya Sword or forgetting to erase his tracks this time, he felt he wasn’t being very cautious.

This was not good.

While it was important to be brave and diligent, a mindset as if walking on thin ice was undeniably essential.

But why was this happening?

Was it because of the System?

No.

It should not be.

Zhou Heng shook his head, dismissing the thought.

While the System’s cheats had indeed made him stronger quickly, the proficiency wasn’t added directly; he had honed it bit by bit, earnestly.

Having come this far step by step, he wouldn’t become arrogant due to the rapid progression of his strength.

"Is it because of the opponents?”

Zhou Heng pondered another possibility, feeling that it was quite likely the reason.

The opponents in Huangtong Mansion City were too weak.

From Sun Zhengping to Kong Chengshun, he had won too easily, which unconsciously bred a sense of complacency in him.

It was a natural human sentiment, a very reasonable mindset, but it couldn’t continue like this.

His spirit needed to settle down.

So, Zhou Heng fell into deep thought.

"The world is vast, filled with geniuses. Kong Chengshun is merely ninety­ninth on the Human List. My victory over him is not that remarkable. It’s truly the likes of Cheng Jianjian that are the real prodigies of this age.

"Perhaps I should take the opportunity to travel the world, spar with various talents, see the profound martial arts of the current great Martial Dao Sects, broaden my horizons, and let my spirit settle down?

"Hmm, that seems feasible.”

Having thought this through and set his future plans, Zhou Heng felt refreshed and clear-headed.

"At a time like this, I should open a Fortune Bag to celebrate!”

"Fortune Bag [Silver] *2: Encompasses all things, nothing it does not contain.

When opened, one can obtain a surprising reward.”

"Open one!”