I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 357: Chapter 77: Disciples of Buddha in the Distant Ancient Past

Shanyuan was defeated very straightforwardly and swiftly.

Under the gaze of hundreds of onlookers hoping to witness an intense battle, Zhou Heng used just one move to defeat Monk Shanyuan.

There was no toe-to-toe struggle, no surge of energy from heaven and earth, and none of the colorful lights often associated with Middle Third Rank warriors were present. None of the rumored phenomena occurred.

The whole process was simply Zhou Heng forming a hand seal, his eyes igniting with a golden light, and then Monk Shanyuan’s face displayed an expression of pain and horror as he quickly knelt to the ground, drenched in cold sweat.

This situation had completely surpassed the understanding of the numerous pilgrims.

If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they would never believe that Master Shanyuan, who was known for his high martial arts prowess, capable of flying and disappearing at will, could be defeated so easily.

Inconceivable!

At this moment, Zhou Heng stood there with a smile, calm and collected.

“How is this possible, how can this be?” Monk Shanyuan murmured, pressing his hands against the ground and growling through clenched teeth, “This can’t be possible!”

The many onlookers also buzzed with confused commentary.

“What happened, I don’t understand?”

“Did that young man just defeat Master Shanyuan with a single look?”

“What martial art is this? I’ve never heard of it before. Could this young man be the legendary transcendent figure who has reversed his age?”

“What’s going on??”

Most of the pilgrims were ordinary people, and even those few who had practiced martial arts were only Ninth Grade or not even Entry Rank, with limited knowledge; they couldn’t understand the state of Monk Shanyuan.

“Master?!” Monk Tongzhen’s cry could be heard as he had just rushed over from outside the Golden Light Temple and was greeted by this unfathomable scene upon arrival.

“Master, Master, what’s happened to you??” Monk Tongzhen ran up to Monk Shanyuan’s side, trying to help him up.

However, no matter how much Monk Shanyuan tried, he remained firmly kneeling as if a mountain weighed down upon him, and even with all his strength, Monk Tongzhen could not budge him an inch.

“There’s no need to help him.” Zhou Heng spoke dismissively, “He’s suppressed by his own fear. Unless he overcomes the fear in his heart, he’ll remain kneeling here.”

“What wicked technique did you use?!” Monk Tongzhen glared at Zhou Heng furiously.

“Then you try it.” A flash of golden light twinkled in Zhou Heng’s eyes.

An immensely powerful spiritual force instantly penetrated Monk Tongzhen’s Divine Soul barrier, evoking his deepest fears and most unbearable memories.

Sky-Earth Striking Method!

Thud!

Monk Tongzhen too knelt to the ground, his face ashen, drenched in cold sweat, trembling all over, a sight even more pitiful than Monk Shanyuan beside him.

The apprentices and trainers from the Golden Light Temple who witnessed this scene were all thoroughly shocked, their minds immediately snapping to attention as they turned to flee without looking back.

In no time, every apprentice and trainer from the Golden Light Temple had cleared out completely.

“Too weak, not interesting,” Zhou Heng shook his head and then turned to smile at Cheng Jianjian, “Let’s go, it’s time to visit the next place.”

“I’ll lead the way,” Cheng Jianjian said with a light smile, walking ahead while leading the chestnut horse.

The onlookers at Golden Light Temple watched the receding figures of Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian, looking around at their surroundings and the grand hall in front of them, and couldn’t help but fall into a deep self-doubt.

It seemed that the Jia Ye Temple, rumored to be one of the top Martial Dao Sects of the Great Jin, wasn’t all that impressive after all.

The once greatly respected Master Shanyuan had just been effortlessly defeated by a youth who appeared out of nowhere.

Moreover, the other party didn’t even lift a finger, merely casting a glance, and Shanyuan was defeated!

The disparity was just too vast.

Thus, the group of pilgrims let out a sigh and dispersed, deciding never to visit the Golden Light Temple to pray again.

The apprentices looked at each other, with a desire to leave with the pilgrims but also feeling unwilling.

After all, they had paid to learn martial arts, and leaving now would mean a great loss.

But seeing their usually revered Shanyuan Monk looking so gloomy on his knees, they still felt shortchanged. After some thought, they decided it was better to head home, out of sight, out of mind.

Soon, the vast Golden Light Temple became deserted.

Only Shanyuan and Tongzhen, the two monks, were left trembling and kneeling on the ground.

…

As the sun approached its zenith, it was noontime.

Monk Shanyuan’s face finally began to relax, and he slowly lifted his head and stood up, although his eyes still showed a thick trace of fear.

He glanced at Tongzhen, who was kneeling beside him, his expression turning dark. With a wave of his hand and a flash of golden light, he soothed Tongzhen Monk’s emotions, calming him down.

“Zhou Heng, what a formidable reincarnated being!” Monk Shanyuan gritted his teeth, his face filled with resentment.

“Master, what exactly happened just now?” Although Tongzhen managed to barely calm down, his mind was muddled, and the memories of what had transpired were in utter chaos.

“Shut up!” Monk Shanyuan glared at Tongzhen and said in a deep voice, “Announce the closure of the temple!”

“Ah?” Tongzhen was still a bit confused, and hesitantly asked, “Close, close the temple?”

“Hurry up!” Monk Shanyuan snapped, extremely irritable.

…

For Zhou Heng at the moment, martial artists below the rank of Sect Fifth Rank posed absolutely no threat.

Therefore, after leaving the Golden Light Temple, he and Cheng Jianjian hurriedly continued on to the next martial arts school established by Jia Ye Temple in Yujian Prefectural City.

The same scenario played out almost identically.

Without the slightest effort.

In just half a day, Zhou Heng had defeated all the forces related to Jia Ye Temple in Yujian Prefectural City, causing their reputation to plummet drastically.

The entire Yujian Prefectural City was thrown into shock and disbelief.

Jia Ye Temple was a top-ranking Martial Dao Sect in the great Jin Dynasty, one of the three ancient Buddha Sect temples, and yet they had been defeated by two unknown youngsters, a boy and a girl.

It was inconceivable.

For a time, discussions about Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian created quite a buzz, with many speculating about their identities.

In a tavern room.

Cheng Jianjian held an invitation in her hand, her expression odd. She looked at Zhou Heng sitting opposite her and lightly laughed, “Guess who sent the invitation?”

“The Ning Family from Yujian?” Zhou Heng smiled and said, “They’re the only ones left.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Cheng Jianjian nodded and replied, “It’s an invitation from the Ning Family, saying they’ll hold a banquet at their home tonight, inviting us to attend, as they have important matters to discuss.”

“Oh?” Zhou Heng smiled and said, “Wasn’t this Ning Zeyu avoiding you just a while ago?”

“Perhaps she changed her mind,” Cheng Jianjian replied with a light smile, while popping a piece of candy into her mouth, “or perhaps after learning about what we have been doing, she has some new plans.”

“It might be related to the Hundred Halls Picture of Yao Palace,” Zhou Heng said with a smile. “After all, she is called the Heavenly Maiden of Yao Palace.”

“Hmm, I think so too,” Cheng Jianjian nodded and said, “I heard that when Ning Zeyu was born, there were faint visions of Yao Palace pavilions in the sky, and after she made a name for herself, she acquired the title of Heavenly Maiden of Yao Palace.”

“She was born with such phenomena?” Zhou Heng was a bit surprised upon hearing this and laughed, “Now I’m quite curious about this Heavenly Maiden of Yao Palace.”

“Curious?” Cheng Jianjian suddenly grabbed a handful of candy and swallowed it.

“Maybe she’s also the reincarnation of a great power,” Zhou Heng said smilingly.

…

The Ning Family was the largest and most prosperous family in Yujian Mansion City.

Their rise was nothing short of legendary.

Thirty years ago, the Ning Family was but an ordinary family within Yujian Mansion City. Although they were in business and quite wealthy, they were not on par with the true great families.

In the land of a prefecture, a family with a Secret Six Rank martial artist was called a great family.

The Ning Family only had two Seventh Rank Warriors, both old men in their sixties and seventies, nearing the end of their lives. The next generation, mostly inept, even struggled with the issue of succeeding the family business.

At that time, many people were watching the Ning Family, waiting for those two old Seventh Ranks to die, so they could divide up the Ning Family’s assets.

However, everything changed after the birth of Ning Zeyu.

It is said that when Ning Zeyu was born, there were ephemeral shadows of pavilions and terraces in the sky, and the space above the Ning Family shone with a vast expanse of white light, a phenomenon that shocked the heavens and earth.

When the midwife took her from her mother’s womb, they even found a piece of jade stone clutched in her hand.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

However, many locals in Yujian Mansion City say it’s just a rumor, and that none of it really happened. Regardless, from that moment on, everything about the Ning Family began to change.

Firstly, those two elderly Seventh Ranks broke through to the Secret Six Rank, greatly increasing their strength and prolonging their lifespans, and suddenly pushed the Ning Family to the top echelons of Yujian Mansion City’s families.

After that, the Ning Family’s businesses flourished more and more. No matter the industry, they almost always made money smoothly. Although they almost never made a fortune, with enough industries involved, the income of the Ning Family was exceedingly high.

Their achievements in the martial path, coupled with their booming business, rapidly developed the Ning Family, making them stronger and causing the other families to grow wary, preparing to join forces against the Ning Family.

However, before these families could implement their plans, news spread from the Ning Family that Ning Zeyu, at the mere age of twenty-six, had refined her True Qi, inner and outer realms converging, stepping into the realm of Secret Six Rank.

A Secret Six Rank at twenty-six!

Let alone a small place like Yujian Mansion City, which could not even count as a big city, even in the world’s top martial dao sects, such an achievement was considered genius.

This made those who had designs on the Ning Family abandon their thoughts.

It was from that time that the Ning Family truly became the strongest family in Yujian Mansion City.

Without a doubt.

Undoubtedly, Ning Zeyu was the true core of the Ning Family, often her will was the will of the Ning Family.

Now that the Ning Family sent an invitation, it meant that Ning Zeyu’s thoughts had changed.

…

The Ning Family took the arrival of Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian very seriously, directly sending someone to Yujian Inn to welcome them with great respect.

“`

However, this left them both feeling puzzled.

Ning Zeyu seemed to be taking too bold a risk.

Right now, the two of them had just crushed all the martial arts halls of the Jia Ye Temple within Yujian Mansion City, making enemies with this top-tier Martial Dao Sect.

In such a situation, anyone who openly associated with the two of them might bear the wrath of the Jia Ye Temple.

Originally, Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian thought that Ning Zeyu would at most secretly send someone to bring them over, but they didn’t expect her to be so blatant about it, seemingly unafraid of being discovered by the Jia Ye Temple.

“It’s somewhat strange,” Cheng Jianjian said to Zhou Heng, her voice grave. “Could it be that Ning Zeyu has other plans?”

“No, this is very interesting,” Zhou Heng laughed. “Ning Zeyu shouldn’t be a fool, yet she still did this, which makes me even more curious.”

…

In the “Intimate Hall” of the Ning Residence.

This hall, situated in the backyard of the Ning Residence and built in exquisite fashion, was where Ning Zeyu specially entertained honored guests.

Upon their arrival, Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian were led there by people of the Ning Family.

Ning Zeyu was a beautiful woman in her twenties, dressed in a fresh white dress. Her features were delicate, and her eyes carried an air of spirit, giving her an ethereal charm.

She seemed to share a subtle similarity in temperament with Cheng Jianjian.

“Mr. Zhou, Miss Cheng,” Ning Zeyu greeted them with a bow and a smile. “I’ve been waiting for a long time. Please, have a seat.”

As she spoke, she actively poured a cup of tea for Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian.

Her attitude remained quite humble.

“Miss Ning, what did you want to discuss?” Zhou Heng didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point. “You might as well speak frankly.”

“Previously, you ignored me, and now you’ve suddenly changed your mind?” Cheng Jianjian also directly asked.

“It’s for the Hundred Halls Map of Yao Palace,” Ning Zeyu replied succinctly. “I can sense that at least six Grandmasters have come to explore the Hundred Halls Map of Yao Palace this time, and I’m not their match yet.”

“So, you want to recruit us to be your helpers?” Zhou Heng laughed.

“That’s right,” Ning Zeyu nodded and said. “You two have consecutively defeated the martial arts halls of the Jia Ye Temple, which made me recognize your strength.”

“Aren’t you afraid of offending the Jia Ye Temple because of this?” Cheng Jianjian asked gravely.

“If I succeed in this venture, I will fear no Jia Ye Temple,” Ning Zeyu declared earnestly. “Besides, if the Jia Ye Temple truly decides to deal with the Ning Family, wouldn’t that also satisfy Miss Cheng’s desire?”

“No, I want to defeat you myself,” Cheng Jianjian shook her head.

“Is that so?” Ning Zeyu shook her head with a smile. “I’m afraid you won’t have the chance…ugh!!”

She hadn’t finished speaking when her face suddenly turned pale, looking disbelievingly at Zhou Heng, only to see him forming hand seals and gazing at her with a menacing look.

“Miss Ning, do you remember that you invited us here?” Zhou Heng said indifferently. Just now, he had used the Divine Soul Secret Method to attack Ning Zeyu’s Divine Soul.

“Why not have a fight with me first?” Cheng Jianjian’s eyebrows arched slightly as she spoke. “Without clear terms, we cannot cooperate. What are your true intentions, and why are you not afraid of the Jia Ye Temple?”

Ning Zeyu had spoken too vaguely just now.

…

Ning Zeyu fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, and as if she had made up her mind, she said solemnly, “Do you know the origin of the name ‘Jia Ye Temple’?”

Without waiting for them to speak, she continued, “Legend has it that in the distant and untraceable past, there was an ancestor of all Buddhas who had ten disciples. One of them was called ‘Jia Ye.'”

“`