I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 365: Chapter 85: Immortals Abound Like Hemp

Fengzhou County City Yamen, the Prefect’s study.

Cui Qingyang was dealing with the recent reports from various localities, while his son Cui Guanlan stood by his side, quietly observing the way his father handled official affairs.

As one of the Twelve Ancient Families of Da Qi, Fengzhou has been managed by the Cui family for thousands of years. Although the Prefectural Governor’s position is officially conferred by the Imperial Court of Da Qi, in reality, it is an extension of the Cui family’s power, typically inherited by the brothers of the Family Head.

Cui Qingyang is the second brother of the Family Head, Cui Tianhe. Their line has been managing the position of Prefectural Governor for nearly a thousand years, practically making it an industry of this lineage.

Cui Guanlan is Cui Qingyang’s eldest son, talented and already nearing the level of Secret Six Rank before the age of thirty. He is also shrewd and has been designated as the next candidate for the Prefectural Governor of Fengzhou.

Now, he was learning by following Cui Qingyang.

Just at that moment, a bailiff rushed over in a hurry.

“My Lord, a young man who calls himself Zhou Heng has come to visit. He claims to be a True Disciple of Pure Yang Palace.”

Zhou Heng?

A True Disciple of Pure Yang Palace?

Standing behind Cui Qingyang, Cui Guanlan abruptly lifted his head, looking towards the bailiff.

Cui Qingyang, however, appeared calm, leisurely putting down his pen and smiling, “Let him in.”

Then, he said to Cui Guanlan, “Guanlan, you go down first. I have matters to discuss with this little Taoist Zhou.”

“Father…” Cui Guanlan hesitated, yet ultimately swallowed his words, nodded his head, and bowed to take his leave.

The manner of Cui Qingyang complicated his feelings.

After all, half a year ago, Zhou Heng was just a “youthful talent” ranked on the same list as him, and his ranking was even above Zhou Heng’s.

Yet in such a short time, there was already a chasm as vast as heaven and earth between them.

“I don’t even have the qualifications to discuss matters with him anymore.” Cui Guanlan felt somewhat dazed, but a surge of determination rose within him—he was not convinced and resolved to strive for improvement.

Not long after Cui Guanlan left, Zhou Heng followed a bailiff into Cui Qingyang’s study.

“The little Taoist has personally come all this way, and I failed to greet you properly. Please do not take offense,” Cui Qingyang laughed heartily and got up to greet him himself, startling the bailiff who led Zhou Heng over, making his legs tremble slightly.

Could this Zhou Heng be a Celestial Man?

Normally, only a Celestial Man would warrant such a reception from the Lord Prefect.

But wasn’t this Zhou Heng still on the human rankings just over half a year ago?

Unable to understand, yet not daring to ask, the bailiff left with a mind full of confusion.

Now only Cui Qingyang and Zhou Heng were left in the study.

“Prefect Cui is too polite,” Zhou Heng said with a slight bow, smiling, “I am here to find someone.”

“Oh? Junior Taoist Priest, please speak.” Cui Qingyang motioned Zhou Heng to sit down on a chair.

“He Mengqiu, the senior, arrived in County City yesterday,” Zhou Heng said. “I do not know where she is staying, may I ask you to inform me?”

“So, you are looking for Senior He.” Cui Qingyang said. “She is resting in a residence in the southern district of the city. Later, I’ll send someone to notify her that you wish to visit.”

He seemed to hold He Mengqiu in high regard, for despite being the head of an entire county and a Great Grandmaster at the peak of the Fourth Rank, he addressed He Mengqiu as his senior.

Zhou Heng was slightly surprised but did not delve further, smiling said, “Then, I thank you. Besides that, there is another matter; the people of the Plague Emperor Sect are plotting in secret to perform a sacrifice in Fengzhou County City, to conduct a ceremony to invite the incarnation of an Evil God to descend.”

“It seems Pure Yang Palace has also learned of this matter,” Cui Qingyang nodded and smiled. “When I found out that you, the junior Taoist Priest, were coming, I guessed it might be related to this.”

Cui Qingyang did not know that the person who had reported the matter of the Nine Dragons Plague Emperor’s impending descent to the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer was none other than Zhou Heng. Even less did he know that Zhou Heng was a member of the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer; he merely believed Zhou Heng came here as Pure Yang Palace’s spokesperson to convey their stance on this issue.

“Yes, we have been notified by the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer,” Zhou Heng smiled. “We will extend our help.”

“Oh? That’s wonderful,” Cui Qingyang said in great joy. “Zhou Tian Boundary Officer mentioned that seven Celestial Men would come to join hands in preventing the Evil God’s incarnation from descending.”

He did not know that Pure Yang Palace had already planned to intervene and stop the descent of the Evil God.

“My five senior brothers will come,” Zhou Heng smiled. “With the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer’s seven Celestial Men included, we will have twelve Celestial Men in total. Even if the descent ceremony truly begins, we still hold a great chance to prevent the incarnation of the Evil God from descending.”

Once the descent ceremony begins, it signifies the start of the Evil God’s incarnation descending. Even if the ceremony is not fully completed, the Evil God could still utilize the ritual to make a link and descend with a portion of his power.

“Five Celestial Men are coming!” Cui Qingyang gasped in shock, his heart erupted in tumultuous waves; he hadn’t expected Pure Yang Palace to be so powerful.

In an age where neither the Tao Lords nor the Saints could take action, the ability to deploy five Celestial Men at once meant there was even more powerful force guarding within their Sect.

Sure enough, Pure Yang Palace, an ancient Sect, had profound and immeasurable depths, truly deserving of being one of the three primary Taoist Sects.

“Indeed, and one of them is my senior brother Yan Shouyi,” Zhou Heng nodded lightly, smiling. “After all, the matter of the Evil God’s incarnation descending is no trivial issue. Should there be any mistake, a new path of evil might arise in this world – my senior brother takes it very seriously.”

“The world’s number one Celestial Man is coming too?” Cui Qingyang was dumbfounded, then laughed and said, “With this, the matter is nearly certain to be resolved. The heretics of the Plague Emperor Sect could probably never dream that so many Immortals would come.”

In ancient times, the realm of Celestial Men could already be referred to as “Ranked among the Immortals,” genuine Immortals indeed.

“However, the arrival of the Celestial Men to prevent the descent of the Evil God is ultimately only the last step. It would be best if we could find the people of the Plague Emperor Sect in advance,” Zhou Heng said gravely. “If we can nip this in the bud, we can resolve it without needing Celestial Men to descend.”

“Exactly,” Cui Qingyang nodded, but his brow soon furrowed and he said, “However, I’ve already sent people to search everywhere these past few days, still with no clues. Even after my brother used Divine Skills of a Celestial Man to search the entirety of Fengzhou over a dozen times, we couldn’t find the targeted individuals.”

Cui Qingyang’s elder brother is the Family Head of Fengzhou’s Cui clan, Cui Tianhe, a revered Celestial Man.

“Even the Divine Skills of a Celestial Man could not trace them?” Zhou Heng also furrowed his brows, puzzled. “Does the Plague Emperor Sect have such a foundation? Or are they willing to pay any price to have the incarnation of the Evil God descend this time?”

The rise of the Plague Emperor Sect was but three thousand years ago; the Evil God they worshiped was still being suppressed and had not yet revived to return. With very few Celestial Men, they were, in fact, not very powerful.

To elude the search of a Celestial Man’s Divine Skills, one would need either a special Celestial Man treasure or a Tao Lord level treasure, or a portable Cave Sky.

None of which the Plague Emperor Sect could easily bring forth.

—The Evil God worshiped by the Plague Emperor Sect was not the Nine Dragons Plague Emperor Great Emperor Lyu Yue but an Evil God not heard of by Zhou Heng. They also had no divine proclamations and self-proclaimed as the “Divine Monarch of Pestilence, walking among the heavens.”

“Could there be other forces involved?” A thought suddenly flashed through Zhou Heng’s mind, making him shiver. “Yes, the judgment of the Evil God’s incarnation descending is based solely on the memory fragments of those two zealous believers.”

“But the information on the memory fragment is greatly incomplete. It’s highly possible that what I’ve understood is only one-sided. Perhaps it’s not only the Plague Emperor Sect that’s now trying to summon the incarnation of an Evil God?”

No sooner had this thought occurred than it became uncontrollable, and the more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed. He realized that his previous thinking might have been too one-sided.

Thus, Zhou Heng shared this speculation with Cui Qingyang.

Naturally, he only mentioned his suspicion that other forces might be involved and that there might be some variables, without revealing anything else.

Upon hearing this, Cui Qingyang instantly felt it made sense and said, “Indeed, it’s possible. I’ll go find my elder brother right away. Would the young Taoist like to come along?”

“There’s no need,” Zhou Heng shook his head and said, “I’ll go to see Elder He.”

“That’s also good,” Cui Qingyang nodded and added, “Elder He is currently using the Dream Realm Great Method to investigate this matter. Please, young Taoist, also inform Elder He of your speculation.”

“No problem,” Zhou Heng nodded.

…

In a large mansion in the southern part of County City in Fengzhou, Zhou Heng met with He Mengqiu.

“You’re saying that you suspect people from other forces are assisting the Plague Emperor Sect?” After listening to Zhou Heng’s description, He Mengqiu’s eyebrows lightly furrowed as she nodded and said, “It’s not impossible.”

“Has Elder He discovered anything?” Zhou Heng asked.

“Mm,” He Mengqiu nodded slightly and said, “After arriving in County City of Fengzhou, I’ve been trying to navigate the dream realm, looking for suspicious people. However, I’ve found no one so far, until just now when I suddenly sensed that someone’s consciousness sea projection disappeared.

“This so-called consciousness sea projection is a term from the Way of Dreams. As long as a person is alive, even if they are unconscious, their spirit’s energy will disperse, and this dispersed spirit energy, when gathered, is called the consciousness sea.

“Different individuals’ dispersed spirit energies in the consciousness sea will have slight distinctions, which are called consciousness sea projections. A sudden disappearance of the consciousness sea projection could mean this person has suddenly died or… entered another world.”

“Since Elder He says so, it must not be because someone has died,” Zhou Heng said.

“That’s correct,” He Mengqiu confirmed with a nod. “I am sure that there seems to be a world similar to a Cave Sky hidden within County City of Fengzhou, serving as a shelter for the people of the Plague Emperor Sect.

“Moreover, the world being used to shelter them is likely related to the Way of Dreams. When that person’s consciousness sea projection disappeared, it was immediately replaced by a substitute to deceive observers.

“Observing changes in the consciousness sea projection is indeed within the scope of the Way of Dreams, and manipulating it is as difficult as reaching the heavens. If I didn’t already have some achievements in the Way of Dreams, I might not have noticed it.”

“Related to the Way of Dreams?” Zhou Heng’s heart stirred as he said, “Elder He, some time ago I went to Southern Jin where a sacred relic of the Dream Saint had appeared…”

He briefly told He Mengqiu of the Yao Palace Hundred Halls Chart and the event where a simple smile became spiritually enlightened.

“Yao Palace Hundred Halls Chart… That chart actually encapsulates a great fear of my master,” He Mengqiu sighed softly upon hearing it. “A smile to bring enlightenment, I roughly know who it might be. It should be my second senior brother, but he left the Central Plains long ago, and it should not be him involved this time.”

She did not go into detail about this “second senior brother.”

“It seems Elder He already has someone in mind?” Zhou Heng said, although he thought of inquiring further about the story of a smile to bring enlightenment, he did not wish to be too blatant.

“I’m afraid it’s my eldest senior brother,” He Mengqiu’s expression grew complicated. “Back then, under our master, there were only the three of us. We listened to master’s story of a smile to bring enlightenment together, and those were indeed beautiful days.

“After the Middle Ancient period, my second senior brother went south, my eldest senior brother disappeared for many years, and I died, with my Dao vanishing only to be reborn from calamity. The three disciples of our master have completely scattered.

“But, this method of forging a void and manipulating the consciousness sea is indeed very much like my eldest senior brother’s way. However, he has always detested Evil Gods and evil spirits, so how could he possibly…”

At this point, she couldn’t continue speaking.

Zhou Heng remained silent.

He could tell, although He Mengqiu had briefly mentioned many details in her story, those parts likely concealed a multitude of secrets and a complicated past.

After a long while.

“No matter what, we must prevent the descent of the Evil God,” He Mengqiu regained her composure and said solemnly, “By the way, what are you doing here? Is Pure Yang Palace also coming to help?”

“Correct,” Zhou Heng nodded and smiled, “I can contribute my meager strength.”

“Just a meager strength?” He Mengqiu suddenly laughed, “I’m afraid it might be a power that could steady the heavens and earth.”

…

In the following three days, Zhou Heng and the others still couldn’t find any clues.

To avoid startling the snake, the Plague Emperor Sect, desperate, directly started the ritual, and the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer only sent two Celestial Men in secret to help investigate.

Zuoyuan and Youyuan, these two were veteran Celestial Men, rumored to have nearly three thousand years of cultivation, having overcome the five decays of heaven and man, with unfathomable strength and cultivation levels.

However, even these two powerful Celestial Men couldn’t find any traces of the Plague Emperor Sect’s activities.

Apart from the anomaly in the sea of consciousness that He Mengqiu had sensed earlier, all other investigations indicated that there were no abnormalities in County City of Fengzhou.

Yet Zhou Heng and his companions knew an unstoppable storm was about to burst.

Not finding the people of the Plague Emperor Sect meant they could not prevent the start of the Evil God’s descent ritual, and they must now resist head-on.

Another three days passed.

The County City of Fengzhou remained sunny and peaceful, with many citizens going out to buy groceries and take walks as usual… But an invisible force was quietly spreading in the dark.

Some people suddenly began to cough inexplicably and had difficulty breathing, as if they had contracted some disease, and the number of these people increased rapidly. In just a few breaths, more than a hundred thousand people were infected.

At the same time, the sky above County City of Fengzhou suddenly darkened as if it were about to collapse downwards. The clouds took on an eerie purple-black hue, and two gigantic black palms seemed to reach down from an infinite height, attempting to part the clouds.

Inside a dark alley in the North District, Cui Tianhe, along with his fellow sect members, including one Immortal and six Great Grandmasters, stepped out from that concealed void into reality.

“Hahaha!! The Emperor is about to descend, our god will awaken!” The Plague Emperor Sect’s Immortal danced and cheered, looking at the spectacle in the sky with great excitement.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

But at that moment, thirteen beams of light suddenly tore through the sky, illuminating the firmament. The purple-black clouds were squeezed by strands of pure golden light.

Figures emerged from within the golden light, carrying the heavens on their backs, clad in the great Dao, intertwined with laws and principles in their every move, exuding an aura of Dao and accompanied by layers of fantastic visions.

Tigers roared and dragons chanted; phoenixes sang in harmony!

Swords shone brightly; blades glittered resplendently!

With the sound of tiger drums and phoenix lyres, holy people of the Immortals were arrayed like hemp!

The followers of the Plague Emperor Sect stood dumbfounded, staring at the scene in the sky with incredulity, their mouths slowly agape as if they were puppets or clay statues, completely frozen in place.