I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 94: Terrifying Will

From the moment Zhou Heng beheaded Chen Song, the scene instantly became chaotic.

The crowd present all felt exceptionally puzzled.

Chen Feihong was Chen Song’s sister, so it was quite normal that she suddenly rushed out to attack Zhou Heng.

This was within many people’s expectations.

But what was with those two strange people covered with poisonous insects?

Too disgusting, too thrilling!

And what was that black gas that appeared out of nowhere?

The sudden and intense changes made the onlookers who had come just for the spectacle feel a tingling at their scalps, subconsciously recalling the terror they had experienced just the night before.

Surely not another catastrophe so soon after the last one had passed.

Hidden in the shadows, Shen Jingjing knew that these were members of the Three Poison Sect and the Plague Emperor Sect making their move, so she made a decisive charge out, holding two daggers and attacking the two from the Three Poison Sect.

In an instant, the sounds of thunder, sword clashes, and saber clashes overlapped and exploded.

The area in front of the inn was filled with strength and the shadows of blades and swords, forcing many spectators to retreat far away, watching the scene with horror and trepidation.

Faced with such a siege, could Zhou Heng still have a way out?

Many people couldn’t help but harbor such doubts in their hearts.

In their eyes, a Ninth Rank Warrior, no matter how strong, had to have a limit.

With so many powerful foes coming out to surround him, it seemed Zhou Heng’s chances were slim.

Yet in reality, Zhou Heng, faced with this situation, felt not only untroubled but, for some reason, even more excited; the surging battle intent was nearly tangible, giving his gaze the appearance of containing thunder.

“Evil fiends, how dare you be so presumptuous!” he bellowed fiercely, his martial spirit soaring, while simultaneously swinging his longsword, not even bothering with the poisonous insects as he charged straight at Chen Feihong.

Such a method of fighting was incredibly fierce, as if an unrivaled overlord was in the world, unstoppable, spirit reaching for the skies – starkly different from his usual style of combat.

Centipedes, spiders, scorpions slipped through the gaps in the thunder net, bypassed Shen Jingjing’s blockade, and landed on Zhou Heng.

Yet before they could even bite him, they all seemed to be sliced by the saber light, shattered into pieces.

Sharpness +1!

Zhou Heng had added this attribute to his clothes.

At the same time, amidst the booming purple thunder light, he had already reached Chen Feihong, with his saber edge opening up a net of Purple Thunder, rolling like a turning wheel, slashing at Chen Feihong!

Hell’s Thunder Strike!

This was the same move Zhou Heng had used to kill Chen Song, the third strike of the Purple Thunder Seven Strikes. At the Lower Third Rank stage, the power of this move was already exceptionally fierce!

However, Chen Feihong was born in Shocking Thunder Manor, a direct disciple of the manor’s master. Her martial arts were much stronger than Chen Song’s, having already practiced the Seventh Rank technique “Heavenly Thunder Sword Technique” while at the Eighth Rank.

After stepping into the Seventh Rank, her strength had further skyrocketed!

Therefore, facing Zhou Heng’s saber strike, her sword edge did not tremble in the slightest, still heading straight for Zhou Heng’s brow, filled with killing intent!

This strike, fueled by her raging fury, resounded with the roar of wind and thunder, as if layers of astonishing thunder were descending, somewhat similar to Zhou Heng’s saber technique.

Boom!

Boom boom!!

The sounds of thunderous echoes like layers of lightning intertwining exploded out; ChenFeihong’s sword strike couldn’t be said to be weak, and with her cultivation realm reaching the Seventh Rank, from every aspect, she was significantly more powerful than Zhou Heng.

Under normal circumstances, Zhou Heng had no chance of winning, and if he didn’t dodge, even surviving would be difficult.

If it were in the past, Zhou Heng might have chosen to clash fiercely with a blow before switching to his sharp glove, briefly confronting his opponent, and finding a gap to break away from the battle and escape.

But now, Zhou Heng felt only a surging fighting spirit in his chest, with no desire to stop at all.

His whole being seemed to have transformed into a raging thunder, like a war deity ready to destroy all living beings bearing hostility towards him!

Even the normally peaceful and harmonious Authentic Internal Energy within him was fully activated, boiling as if consumed by fire, beginning to circulate wildly.

The sliver of Thunder Power contained within his Inner Qi was also stimulated, resonating with the Purple Thunder Blade Skill he was using, and began to rapidly expand.

“Congratulations! Your Martial Art ‘Authentic Internal Energy Heart Method’ [Seventh Rank] has been operated by a higher-level martial technique and aligned with your current mental state, increasing your understanding of these two martial arts!”

“Martial Art ‘Authentic Internal Energy Heart Method’ [Eighth Rank] proficiency +500!”

“Martial Art ‘Purple Thunder Seven Strikes’ [Absolute Fourth Rank] (only the first four strikes can be used) proficiency +300!!”

At this moment, Zhou Heng’s body was covered with purple lightning, and he entered an unprecedented state of intense battle spirit.

Boom!

His Inner Qi, infused with Thunder Power, surged violently, making every move of Zhou Heng resound with the roar of thunder, as he raised his Waist Knife high above his head, letting the purple lightning spread, while his other hand formed a hand seal.

Palm Thunder!

Golden lightning instantly landed on the blade’s edge, mixing with the purple lightning, creating dazzling waves of purple-gold light, strikingly bright to the extreme!

All of this was completed in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Chen Feihong’s Thunderbolt-like sword light had just reached Zhou Heng’s face!

“Chen Feihong! You colluded with evil paths to assassinate me; such acts are unforgivable. Die!” Zhou Heng bellowed, his blade falling swiftly as if a violent storm, hacking chaotically towards Chen Feihong!

Boom boom boom!!

The purple-gold lightning exploded suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, causing everyone present to be dizzy and unstable on their feet, their minds confused.

Right after, waves upon waves of massive purple-gold lightning piled up, accompanying Zhou Heng’s swiftly falling blade, as if ferocious layers of a thunderous world were relentlessly crashing down!

Purple Thunder Seven Strikes, the Fourth Strike!

Winter Thunderbolt!!

Boom!!

This single blow surpassed the limits of Zhou Heng’s current cultivation realm, as well as the limits that a normal Seventh Rank Warrior could withstand!

Chen Feihong didn’t have the slightest chance to resist; her longsword was directly sliced in two by Zhou Heng’s blow, and then she herself was cleaved in half and swallowed by that world of thunder, instantly turned to charred remains.

As for the two attackers from the Three Poison Sect who had rushed forward earlier, the insects they released were partially cut and killed by the sharp properties of the blade, and the rest were blasted into debris by the Palm Thunder and Purple Thunder Blade Light, rendering them completely ineffective.

Even the attackers themselves, in the aftermath of Zhou Heng’s “Winter Thunderbolt” strike, were struck down by the lightning, collapsing to the ground, scorched black and convulsing, with no signs of life.

And the black air that seemed to contain disease and death, in the face of the utterly masculine and bright thunderous brilliance, had nowhere to hide and was completely swept away.

The man sitting in the medical clinic who had stealthily attempted to ambush, his expression changed subtly, and he furrowed his brows, preparing to stand and leave the place.

He felt that Zhou Heng’s state seemed a bit unusual.

It appeared Zhou Heng was immersed in a certain mental state.

Such people are not to be provoked.

However, the moment this man stood up, he caught the attention of Zhou Heng.

“Monster! Where do you think you’re going!?” Zhou Heng bellowed fiercely, like a thunderbolt.

He unleashed a Winter Thunderbolt, and without a trace of fatigue or weakness, his eyes sparkled like lightning as he fixed his gaze on the man dressed as a doctor. Immediately, he lunged forward and brought down his saber.

“I knew you were no good the moment I laid eyes on you!”

The blade in Zhou Heng’s hands once again shimmered with purple thunder light, his figure seeming to grow taller, becoming more domineering and formidable, “A vile creature daring to disguise himself as a doctor, I will reveal your true form!”

Boom!!

Purple thunder indiscriminately struck down, layer upon layer of lightning crashing down!

Winter Thunderbolt!

In just an instant, Zhou Heng had enveloped the man’s every possible move within his attack, making it difficult for him to escape in any direction.

Forcing him to engage in battle!

Even though Zhou Heng’s current strength should’ve led to his meridians bursting and death after executing merely one strike of the Winter Thunderbolt, or at the very least a severe loss of vitality and temporary fighting capability.

But now, he was in a strange state as if blessed by some mysterious force, executing the Purple Thunder Seven Strikes more smoothly than ever, and even after two consecutive Winter Thunderbolts, he did not show any sign of weariness.

This simply did not resemble a Ninth Rank Warrior at his peak!

The Plague Emperor Sect disciple disguised as an ordinary doctor, although a Seventh Rank Warrior, usually prepared to attack from the shadows, had almost no experience in head-on combat.

Not to mention facing Zhou Heng’s fierce and intimidating approach head-on.

Only when Zhou Heng’s saber came down did he react, hastily retreating in an attempt to avoid Zhou Heng’s ferocious and terrifying strike.

Unfortunately, he dodged the blade but not the electric light attached to the blade edge.

He was instantly shaken by the strike, his body convulsing!

However, this man was after all a Seventh Rank Warrior from the Plague Emperor Sect, not so easily defeated; even paralyzed by the lightning, he mustered all his spirit and struck out at Zhou Heng with a palm.

In an instant, all the patients in the clinic stiffened, black qi emanating from their seven orifices, converging towards the man’s palm.

This was one of the Seventh Rank Martial Arts of the Plague Emperor Sect called “Disease-Induced Death Palm” – the technique “Collecting Sickness, Killing Life”!

It could gather the “disease qi” in the palm from surrounding people and through palm techniques, inflict the ailments temporarily onto the enemy, weakening their body as if they were sick, greatly reducing their combat strength.

Naturally, the heavier the disease qi, the more difficult it was to transfer. With the strength of this Seventh Rank Warrior from the Plague Emperor Sect, he could at most transmit mild symptoms like fever, coughing, and sneezing.

Yet even such mild symptoms could be critically effective in the life-and-death exchanges of Martial Path combat.

This type of move was extremely difficult for Lower Third Rank warriors to defend against, and many Plague Emperor Sect practitioners relied on it to defeat numerous opponents.

Nevertheless, Zhou Heng faced this move without the slightest panic, his eyes still blazing with the will to fight. With the Purple Thunder Blade Light flickering, he sneered, “You dare to flaunt such Martial Arts before me, watch me cut you down!”

Boom!!

Yet another Winter Thunderbolt!

Thunder roared as it fell!

Effortlessly dispersing the disease qi unleashed by the Plague Emperor Sect warrior, his saber cut through the black qi, solidly striking the man’s body!

Crack!

Clothes, skin, muscles, bones, organs… were cut through in succession, and the Plague Emperor Sect warrior was cleaved at the waist by Zhou Heng, blood spraying forth. However, this blood was not red but purple-black.

This too carried a potent disease qi!

If it were to spread, most of those present would contract a serious illness, sparking an epidemic!

At that moment, the Plague Emperor Sect martial artist did not die immediately. Seeing this scene unfold, he laughed triumphantly, “Hahaha! Remember, you killed all these people!!”

“Naive!” Zhou Heng looked at the man disdainfully, and with a flick of his saber, a series of purple electric lights burst forth, enveloping the man’s corpse and the purple-black blood.

The supremely stalwart and yang thunder power obliterated all traces of the disease on the spot, containing an imminent outbreak of plague and reducing the Plague Emperor Sect martial artist to charred remains.

“Congratulations! You’ve killed the utterly vulnerable enemy Zhao Kang, Fortune Bag [Copper] +1.”

“Congratulations! You’ve killed the utterly vulnerable enemy Wang Heng, Fortune Bag [Copper] +1.”

“Congratulations! You’ve killed the evenly matched enemy Chen Feihong, Fortune Bag [Silver] +1.”

“Congratulations! You’ve killed the evenly matched enemy Wu Qiang, Fortune Bag [Silver] +1.”

A series of System notifications!

By now, Zhou Heng’s surroundings were clear of adversaries, save for Shen Jingjing who had rushed out to help him fend off the enemies from the Three Poison Sect. All other enemies lay dead.

Not one was spared!

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Many people hadn’t even had the chance to react before they found out that the battle had already ended, and those who had besieged Zhou Heng were all dead.

Only Zhou Heng remained standing, saber in hand.

The saber gleamed with purple thunder light, casting his figure as though clad in a layer of Purple Thunder Battle Armor.

He looked incredibly domineering.

However, at this moment, Zhou Heng had no energy to pay attention to his surroundings.

The sequence of moves he had just executed had plunged him into a strange state.

He felt as if there was a golden-armored giant wielding a Thunder Sword in his mind, a manifestation of the martial true meaning of the Purple Thunder Seven Strikes. Just standing there, it seemed to unfold the myriad mysteries of this peerless skill.

It was the presence of this giant that allowed Zhou Heng to perform the fourth strike “Winter Thunderbolt” without almost any exhaustion, executing it effortlessly.

But he was well aware that this was not his own power.

It was an incredibly strong, incredibly vast will that had granted him this capability.

“But this is not my power. Just now, my combat style, even my temperament, was influenced by this terrifying will!” Zhou Heng was already drenched in a cold sweat at this point.

Even though he had ceased fighting, he could still sense the presence of that terrifying will, lingering and unable to be dispelled.

Moreover, this will was continuing to influence his Inner Qi.

At this very moment, his Inner Qi was rapidly circulating, expanding, and that tiny strand of Thunder Power within it was also growing swiftly.

The balanced and gentle Authentic Internal Energy was showing signs of transforming into the ferocious Thunder Internal Energy.

What was going on?!

Facing this kind of mental anomaly, Zhou Heng decisively activated the “Purified Heart” state.

An icy chill that penetrated the heart and spleen instantly coursed through his entire body, making him shiver uncontrollably. The restless feeling in his heart had disappeared without a trace.

Immediately after, he found the golden-armored giant holding the Thunder Sword in his sea of consciousness starting to disintegrate rapidly.

In less than the span of three breaths, the terrifying will vanished, leaving only a tiny cluster of purple lightning suspended there, now devoid of any will.

Zhou Heng’s mental state had finally returned to normal.

However, in his state of Purified Heart and extreme calmness, he had also clarified his thoughts and understood exactly what had happened to him.