I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 308: Chapter 28: Only the Azure Dragon is Seen

Before the Star Gate, Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian exchanged a smile.

Both noticed the other’s attire had changed since their time in Thunder Realm; they had put on the robes representing the identity of Zhou Tian Boundary Officer and donned their star position masks.

“Congratulations,” Zhou Heng said with a smile.

“Joy shared,” Cheng Jianjian replied with a slight nod, her smile as radiant as flowers beneath her mask.

This journey through the Thunder Realm, Zhou Heng had cultivated the Fury Thunder True Qi, and Cheng Jianjian had refined the Jade Sky True Qi. Together, they transcended external scenes and stepped into the Innate Realm, becoming true Secret Six Rank experts.

“This time, the Fairy of Jade Sky has made her name known throughout the Thunder Realm,” Zhou Heng said with a small smile.

“And your fame will surely be etched in the memory of the Purple Lightning Sect,” Cheng Jianjian said with a chuckle, covering her lips, “Now that both of us have made breakthroughs, in some time, we can indeed venture to that world together.”

“What world?” Zhou Heng asked curiously, the agreement being something Cheng Jianjian had mentioned before, but she had never specified any information about that world.

“I will tell you when the time comes,” Cheng Jianjian replied playfully with a wink, “Let me keep you guessing; it’s a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” Zhou Heng grew more curious.

“It will benefit your cultivation,” Cheng Jianjian said with a light smile. “By the way, I helped you find a world for cultivating True Qi. Don’t you have something to say in return?”

“Ah? This…” Upon hearing this, Zhou Heng suddenly shivered, recalling that he had forgotten to buy sweets, but his mind worked quickly, and he smiled, “This is also a surprise.”

“Huh?” Cheng Jianjian looked at Zhou Heng in surprise, and after a long while, she nodded, “Hmm, a surprise? Now I’m really looking forward to it.”

“You won’t be disappointed,” Zhou Heng assured with a smile, mentally sighing in relief, having bluffed his way through.

…

After leaving the Star Gate, Zhou Heng and Cheng Jianjian went to the Hall of Unburdening and met with one of the Five Emperors’ inner seats to update their personal information and received the merits due for completing the task.

At the same time, they also wanted to inquire about something.

“Senior, what’s going on with Wang Li? Can Ghost Immortals also reincarnate?” Zhou Heng was quite curious, wondering why a Ghost Immortal would reincarnate?

According to the information he had learned before—

Ghostly creatures, after death, would reincarnate as evil creatures in another world, and there’s no such thing as reincarnation, but what about Wang Li?

Moreover, during his days in the Thunder Realm, he had not encountered any trace of ghostly beings, let alone Ghost Immortals who have reincarnated. Where did the reincarnation of a Ghost Immortal come from?

“Normally, Ghost Immortals cannot reincarnate, but Wang Li is an exception,” the inner seat of the Five Emperors said while sorting through mission materials. “In fact, the reason behind it is somewhat humorous.

“Three hundred years ago, a Ghost Immortal who had passed through the calamities of wind and fire came from the Eastern Sea, audaciously intending to possess the body of an Absolute Fourth Rank monk from Infinite Temple.

“The Buddha Sect emphasizes spiritual cultivation, and that Fourth Rank pinnacle monk just happened to have achieved Perfection, nearly reaching the Third Rank of heaven, so the Ghost Immortal was directly suppressed and purified.

“Afterwards, the Ghost Immortal was cast into the cycle of reincarnation by that monk, destined to be reborn across countless worlds for three hundred years. If he followed an evil path, he would vanish into smoke and ashes, but if he chose the righteous path, after three hundred years he would reincarnate into this realm and enter the monk’s fold as a disciple.”

“Hiss, that dramatic, huh?” Zhou Heng couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air and speak with a mix of astonishment and doubt, “Such Divine Skills are surely beyond the level of Absolute Fourth Rank.”

To cast into reincarnation, to set the timeline and rules of reincarnation—such actions were akin to those of gods and Buddhists.

“That monk must be the current Abbot Shanxing of Infinite Temple,” Cheng Jianjian speculated, “I have heard that he cultivates the great way of reincarnation.”

“Indeed,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors nodded and said, “Now that it’s his last life, if he ends it in the righteous way, then there will be one less evil spirit in this world.”

One less evil spirit?

Zhou Heng, surprised, said, “Does that mean if, by this method, the Ghost Immortal is ultimately reborn in our world, he can truly become a human and no longer be an evil spirit? Even if killed, he won’t be reborn as an evil creature?”

“No, it’s just a temporary solution,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors shook his head and sighed, “Three hundred years of reincarnation in the righteous path only wash away the surface of being an evil spirit; its inner nature is still that of an evil spirit.

“However, if the Ghost Immortal does manage to reincarnate and bathes in the Buddhist Law under the tutelage of Master Shanxing as a young acolyte, then it won’t be possible for him to awaken the memories of his past life as a Ghost Immortal. As long as he doesn’t die, he will be regarded as a monk of the righteous path and will no longer be an evil spirit.”

“But what if he dies by accident?” Zhou Heng asked.

“He would still die as an evil spirit and would be reborn as an evil creature in another world,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors said indifferently.

“…” Zhou Heng fell into a brief silence, then bitterly smiled and said, “I thought I had finally found a method to completely eradicate evil spirits and creatures.”

“It is extremely difficult,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors shook his head and said, “However, this is still an attempt and can effectively reduce the number of evil spirits and creatures. We naturally support it and also hope this attempt will succeed. That’s why there is a series of tasks regarding Wang Li.”

“So that’s how it is.” Zhou Heng bowed in salute and said, “Thank you, senior, for enlightening me.”

“Lord Star Master need not thank us, in truth, we all ought to be thanking you,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors smiled and said, “We are all looking forward to officially using that Divine Soul Star Gate you have newly opened.”

Compared to the Star Gate that requires one’s True Body to descend, the Divine Soul Star Gate, which only permits a strand of Divine Soul thought to descend, is much safer. Even if one dies in another world, only that strand of thought will be lost.

Moreover, for a Fourth Rank Absolute Peak Great Grandmaster who has cultivated a Yang God’s Dharma Body, the Divine Soul Star Gate has an even more powerful feature.

The Divine Soul of the Yang God’s Dharma Body is exceptionally strong and capable of ten thousand thoughts, even able to use the Divine Soul Star Gate to multitask, simultaneously traveling to different worlds with double, triple, even quadruple gates…

Now, even though the Divine Soul Star Gate has not been truly put into use yet, many great experts are already envious; it could even serve as a draw to “recruit newcomers” in the future.

Very powerful.

“Please don’t be anxious, senior, in just three days, the gathering will take place,” Zhou Heng said with a slight smile. “At that time, I’ll explain the situation, and after it’s affirmed by both Azure Dragon and Tianyi, it will naturally be put into official use.”

“This Divine Soul Star Gate could bring about revolutionary changes to the organization,” Cheng Jianjian was also very pleased.

“Just waiting for the meeting to start,” the Inner Seat of the Five Emperors said with eyes full of anticipation.

…

April 18th, clear skies.

The Purple Tenuity Palace reappeared, more majestic by a billionfold than usual, situated at the center of a myriad of stars, as the Zhou Tian stellar chart evolved into an endless starry sky, with the images of Star Officers lighting up with radiance.

Inside this magnificent and boundless hall, all the formal members including the Star Officers and Star Envoys of the Zhou Tian Boundary Officer had arrived, standing silently on both sides of the grand hall, awaiting the descent of Tianyi and Azure Dragon.

After a short while, a clear brilliance fell down, and a man wearing an Azure Dragon mask emerged, dressed in a blue robe with embroidered dragon patterns, of utmost nobility.

It was Azure Dragon.

But—

Azure Dragon alone, Tianyi was nowhere to be seen!

The atmosphere inside the grand hall of the Purple Tenuity Palace suddenly grew heavy.