I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 88: Fooling

Zhou Heng, upon hearing the woman’s exclamation, wore a puzzled expression, for it was the first time he had heard the term “Ghost Immortal.”

And judging by the woman’s reaction, the degree of terror inspired by a Ghost Immortal likely far exceeded that of ordinary ghosts.

“Ghost Immortal?!” Cheng Jianjian, having heard this, was equally shocked, clearly aware of the concept.

“What is a Ghost Immortal?” Zhou Heng asked with a frown.

“After reaching Fifth Rank, some ghosts undergo a special ritual that transforms their state of existence. They no longer need to absorb Yang Energy, nor do they need to seize others’ flesh,” Cheng Jianjian explained quickly. “Those that have reached this level call themselves ‘Ghost Immortals’.”

“Just a transformation of their form of existence?” Zhou Heng exclaimed in surprise. If that was all, there seemed no need for such fear.

“After transforming their form of existence, Ghost Immortals can advance even further,” said the woman from before, her voice grave. “Ghost Immortals face the three calamities of wind, fire, and thunder. If they can surpass them all, they can reach the realm of Celestial Men. Even if they only pass through the calamity of wind, they possess the power of Fourth Rank, and even Celestial Men cannot exterminate them.”

“The world fills with howling yin winds, and purple-black light obscures the heavens. With such anomalies appearing in the world, this Ghost Immortal has likely already surpassed the wind calamity,” Cheng Jianjian said gravely, bitterness in her voice. “We’re in big trouble.”

“Ghost Immortal, wind calamity, Fourth Rank…” Zhou Heng muttered under his breath, staring at the various phenomena in the sky, his brows tightly knitted as thoughts raced through his mind.

Although he had previously considered that the true enemy within Yuyang County City might be Xuan Yang’s true form, he had not anticipated that what was sealed here might be a Ghost Immortal.

A Ghost Immortal who might have surpassed the wind calamity, possibly possessing the power of Fourth Rank!

Is this Xuan Yang’s true form??

“Can the Five Thunder Righteous Method exterminate it?”

Even Zhou Heng was feeling uncertain now.

Although the Five Thunder Righteous Method was mighty, it was still a Taoist Formula of Sect Fifth Rank, and may not be effective against a Ghost Immortal of this level.

Would there be a greater hope if combined with the “Fooling Card,” reducing the Ghost Immortal’s intelligence and rationality?

By now, the purple-black light in the sky had become extremely dense and deep, as if this was the only color left in the world.

Besides this, there was nothing else.

The yin wind howled through heaven and earth, and a chilling coldness spread everywhere.

This caused everyone in Yuyang County City to shiver involuntarily, their fear escalating.

For the vast majority of them, they had never witnessed such a terrifying scene in their lifetime.

Pingzhou was situated in the central part of Da Qi, and the Imperial Court had strong governance there. Rarely were there large-scale conflicts, so it was essentially a relatively peaceful era.

As a result, very few had ever truly seen a Middle Third Rank Martial Artist take action.

For most, their understanding and knowledge of Middle Third Rank Martial Artists stemmed mainly from their secular identity and status.

As for how powerful these great figures actually were?

Very few had any concept of that.

Even those who did have some concept mostly learned about it from the stories told by Storytellers, the truth of which were uncertain.

Hence, for them, witnessing such occurrences now, transforming the sky, commanding fierce winds, descending curtains of light, and sealing the city, was truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight and fear.

Not many could completely suppress the emotions within their hearts.

Their reactions varied immensely.

Some cried out loud; some banged their heads against walls.

Some knelt on the ground and continuously kowtowed to the sky; some sat quietly, silent and unmoving as if awaiting death, while others took a knife to their own throats, ending it all.

“Fascinating, this is too fascinating!”

Just then, a voice filled with mockery suddenly rose, as if omnipresent, reaching the ears of everyone in Yuyang County City.

At the same time, the purplish-black light in the sky began to spin, with its center being the thickest part of the light, from which a figure was now emerging.

The people of Yuyang County all looked up at the sky.

They saw a man of normal stature, dressed in simple and elegant purple robes, walking out from the light.

He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a purple jade crown on his head, clear and profound facial features, a broad forehead, slender eyebrows, a gentle gaze, and a faint smile on his lips.

He seemed like a scholar fond of ancient attire, very amiable, and posed no threat at all.

Many relaxed their minds unconsciously after seeing his appearance.

But in the next instant, nearly all ordinary people felt a sudden darkness before their eyes and a sensation as if their heads were going to burst; they were seized by splitting headaches and fell to the ground, nearly passing out.

Many martial artists with cultivation also could not escape this plight; they felt as if their heads had been struck by a hammer, suffering intense pain, their strength and inner qi thrown into chaotic turmoil, causing unbearable agony and making them unsteady on their feet.

This was all because the man who had emerged from the light suddenly transformed, morphing from a normal person into a giant “god statue” a hundred zhang tall.

With four heads and eight arms, a fierce visage, his entire body wrapped in purplish-black light, he exuded a rich aura of coldness and the scent of death, as if he intended to turn the world into a demon realm, striking profound fear and awe into others.

The “god statue” rotated its four heads to look down upon the entire Yuyang County City and, speaking in unison from all mouths, began to laugh, “So many years have passed, and humans remain so insignificant, so fragile. I’ve already restrained my aura as much as possible.”

At this moment, Zhou Heng was also watching the “god statue” in the sky, feeling the mountainous and oceanic terrifying presence of the other, causing his scalp to tingle and making it difficult to muster the thought of resistance.

“You confronted the ‘Celestial Demon Dharma Body’ of Xuan Yang directly and felt a mysterious enlightenment stirring within you, but you could not comprehend its intricacies or gain any proficiency.”

The prompt sounded in his mind.

This let Zhou Heng know what the ghost immortal’s god statue state was.

It also confirmed for him that this ghost immortal was indeed Xuan Yang itself, as he had previously guessed!

Cheng Jianjian was also motionless, as if petrified by the “god statue’s” might, standing there in a daze.

Too terrifying!

A hundred-zhang tall figure, his entire body flickering with purplish-black light, four heads and eight arms, bringing calamity, truly like the descent of a celestial devil.

Is this the Celestial Demon Dharma Body!?

“We still have a chance!”

Just then, the woman who was with Cheng Jianjian suddenly spoke with a touch of surprise, “This ghost immortal must have escaped only in part; his dharma body is incomplete!”

With that, she actually soared into the air, her body enveloped in verdant light as she shot into the sky, and with a turn of her right hand, she took out an ancient-looking copper mirror with a blue gleam to it that seemed to have extraordinary uses.

“I will use this secret treasure to hold off this incomplete ghost immortal. You all take the chance to leave, and you must be quick!”

After leaving these words behind, she flew directly into the sky, heading toward the hundred-zhang tall Celestial Demon Dharma Body.

The next instant, a verdant brilliance suddenly blossomed in the sky.

This verdant light, filled with vitality, wove laws and gathered primal energy, as if it were forming a barrier, intending to separate the hundred-zhang dharma body from Yuyang County City below.

A refreshing breeze mixed with the flow of the primal energy of heaven and earth, quickly sweeping across the whole of Yuyang County City.

This also made many who were in despair notice the situation above.

Someone is actually fighting that “monster”!

Ascending into the heaven!

Weilding treasures to cast spells!

This must be at least a Sixth Rank expert!

Who would have thought that within Yuyang County there was such a hidden master!

The flame of hope was suddenly rekindled in the hearts of countless people.

Everyone gazed at the sky with unwavering attention.

Hoping that the woman would emerge victorious.

“Let’s go!”

Cheng Jianjian, however, seized Zhou Heng’s shoulder and said solemnly, “She is at the peak of Sixth Rank with that secret treasure to assist her she should be able to hold off that Ghost Immortal for a while.

“But, this Ghost Immortal is too powerful, and she won’t be able to withstand him for long.

“We must leave the city immediately and notify the more powerful figures to come. Only by doing so can we save her and the people here.”

But no sooner had she finished speaking…

Boom!

A thunderous noise came from the sky, and the cyan light screen shattered in response, disintegrating into countless luminous fragments and fading into nothingness—it had been smashed by the Ghost Immortal with a bare-fisted punch.

The woman, who had just flown up, fell straight from the sky and landed not far in front of Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian.

The ancient mirror in her hand had dulled and was full of cracks.

Cheng Jianjian was utterly stunned, her face beneath the mask filled with astonishment and shock.

She hadn’t expected that a Sixth Rank peak Martial Artist wielding a secret treasure would not even withstand a single exchange, being defeated and cast down with a single blow.

Wasn’t this Ghost Immortal incomplete?

Why was he still so powerful?

“The strength of ants.”

The Ghost Immortal in the sky let out a cold laugh, retracted the fist he had smashed down with, and said, “Such meager tricks, daring to show off before this seat—it is courting death.”

The glimmer of hope that had just sparked in the hearts of the people of Yuyang County City was instantly extinguished.

Several people couldn’t withstand the blow and committed suicide on the spot.

The woman who had fallen to the ground hadn’t died, but she had sustained heavy injuries.

Cheng Jianjian rushed over to help her sit up with difficulty, leaning her against the wall behind her.

Then she took out a jade bottle and poured out a few elixirs as clear as jade. Gently lifting the woman’s mask, she administered them to her.

“Cough cough!” After swallowing the elixirs, the woman coughed a few times, blood flowing from beneath her mask and staining her garments red, but at least stabilized her True Qi and injuries for the time being, averting the immediate threat to her life.

“Isn’t this Ghost Immortal an incomplete Dharma Body?” Cheng Jianjian asked in a heavy voice.

“We miscalculated.” She shook her head, looked up at the sky, and smiled bitterly, “Though it’s an incomplete Ghost Immortal Dharma Body and hasn’t reached Fourth Rank, it’s still far stronger than any Fifth Rank, and even above the Middle Third Rank. The saying that a little higher is a whole lot superior really isn’t wrong.”

“If there were a Sect Fifth Rank peak Taoist Formula, could it defeat him?” Zhou Heng suddenly came over and asked.

“Sect Fifth Rank peak Taoist Formula?” The woman paused at those words, turned her head to look at Zhou Heng, fell silent for a moment, and then shook her head slightly, “There’s a chance, but the probability isn’t high, unless it’s the Thunder Method. A Ghost Immortal who has not yet transcended the thunder tribulation fears thunder the most.

“But where can we find a Grandmaster capable of using the Thunder Method at this moment? Such individuals are scarce across the whole world.”

She clearly didn’t hold much hope.

After all, in this era, Taoist Formulas themselves were exceedingly rare, and those effective against ghostly beings were even scarcer.

And the Thunder Method, among those aimed at ghostly beings, was an extreme rarity.

It has always existed only in rumors.

Very few have seen it with their own eyes.

“…Master, do you have a way?” Cheng Jianjian’s eyes brightened.

She knew that Zhou Heng was extraordinary and likely had experienced incredible fortune; perhaps he really had a way.

“Sect Fifth Rank peak Taoist Formula?” But just then, the voice of Xuan Yang suddenly came from the sky.

Meanwhile, his four heads and eight eyes were all looking at Zhou Heng, and the ferocious mouths cracked into a smile, saying, “Have you recovered part of your memories from your previous life?”

“…” Zhou Heng was taken aback upon hearing this, bewildered and not understanding what this creature meant, but he managed to maintain his composure and said indifferently, “Think whatever you want.”

“Hahahaha!” Xuan Yang suddenly burst into loud laughter, his terrifying voice causing the ground to tremble; he looked down on Zhou Heng from his elevated position, “What a pity, what use are memories alone? Do you think you can release the Taoist Formulas of a Sect Fifth Rank with only a Ninth Grade cultivation?”

This exchange between the two caused Cheng Jianjian and the woman to listen in utter confusion, only after careful thought did they sort through it.

It seemed that this Ghost Immortal mistook Zhou Heng for the reincarnation of someone.

Cheng Jianjian immediately thought of something she had learned at Pure Yang Palace when she inquired about Zhou Heng’s situation from You Ziheng—

You Ziheng had obtained a Divine Weapon-grade sword with a spirit in it at Huangtong Mansion City, and the sword spirit repeatedly claimed that Zhou Heng was the reincarnation of a Celestial Man from Pure Yang Palace.

However, You Ziheng had denied this.

Because the Celestial Man from Pure Yang Palace who had passed away twenty years ago had not reincarnated, and his Divine Soul was still being nurtured within Pure Yang Palace, waiting for an opportunity.

Therefore, at the time, Cheng Jianjian didn’t take it seriously.

But now, reflecting on it, she realized that You Ziheng only denied that Zhou Heng was the reincarnation of a Celestial Man from Pure Yang Palace and didn’t negate the possibility that Zhou Heng could be the reincarnation of some other great entity.

Could it be that Zhou Heng was indeed the reincarnation of some powerful being?

This thought made her feelings grow complicated all of a sudden.

At the moment, Zhou Heng was ready to use the “Fooling Card” and “Peak Card” at any time, but to ensure that nothing went wrong, he had not yet used them.

His eyes were slightly closed, giving off an aura of profound mystery, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a sneer tinged with mockery as he sighed, “Xuan Yang, it has been thousands of years, and you are still as loathsome as ever.”

His tone was as if he was an old acquaintance of the Ghost Immortal, shocking Cheng Jianjian and the woman beside him, who thought that Zhou Heng had indeed awakened his memories from a past life and recognized this Ghost Immortal.

In reality, Zhou Heng was deceiving Xuan Yang.

In fact, from beginning to end, the Ghost Immortal had never revealed his name to Zhou Heng, nor had he mentioned the name Xuan Yang.

Even the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer believed that only He Yang had been sealed here.

This meant that the information about Xuan Yang had likely been obliterated in the long river of history over time, leaving few who knew of it.

Wang Tong had also lost the memories from when he was possessed by the remnant soul-consciousness of Xuan Yang.

Under normal circumstances, it was almost impossible for Zhou Heng to know of “Xuan Yang.”

Therefore, now that Zhou Heng suddenly called out the name “Xuan Yang” and behaved as if they were old acquaintances, Xuan Yang would highly likely mistake Zhou Heng for the reincarnation of the person who had sealed him here thousands of years ago!

“You! You are!!?”

True to form, Xuan Yang reacted as if struck by thunder, as if he remembered something horrifying, all eight of his eyes unbelievably fixed on Zhou Heng, each of his four hideous faces flickering with extreme panic.

“No! You cannot be him, die!”

Xuan Yang roared in anger, giving up on his original plan to first crush Zhou Heng’s spirit before seizing his Pure Yang Body and the soul of a powerful reincarnation.

He was ready to strike!

However, just as he gathered his mana and raised his eight arms, intending to execute a move that would destroy Yuyang County City, his movements suddenly stalled.

He had unexpectedly forgotten what he was about to do.

Yet, as a Ghost Immortal who had survived the Wind Calamity, Xuan Yang had a quite resolute will and soon came back to his senses.

Right!

I was attacking, I was going to destroy everything here!!

But then, he started to puzzle over which of his eight hands he should use to attack first.

He had been fooled.

His intelligence had dropped.