I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 190: Chapter 190: A dream in a short nap

Yun Xiu never dreamed it would be for this reason.

The master’s master, that is the mentor.

And the master was a reincarnation of a Celestial Power from the Middle Ancient Era, practiced the Three Dreams Dharma; her master was none other than the “Saint of Dreams,” one of the Nine Saints of the Middle Ancient Era.

That was a Divine First Rank Dao Lord.

He was known as the monarch of dreams, the sovereign of illusions, the holy creator, the Supreme Being in an everlasting dream of ten thousand years!

Was Zhou Heng the reincarnation of this being?

How could this be possible!

“At first, I also found it hard to believe,” He Mengqiu noticed the change in Yun Xiu’s emotions and sighed, “but after seeing him indeed announce the future that was about to occur in a manner akin to prophecy, I was about seventy to eighty percent certain.”

“Announce the future like a prophecy?” Yun Xiu’s beautiful eyes opened wide in shock, exclaimed, “Can Zhou Heng really do something like that?”

It was simply too inconceivable.

“Back in Huangtong Mansion City, the reason we could kill Yu Long, the Loose Immortal, was because of his prophecy, or rather, what he called ‘reality dreams’,” He Mengqiu said with complex emotions:

“Others may not understand the principle, but I do. It’s clearly about pulling a part of reality into one’s own dreamscape, then shaping the dream with one’s will to interfere with reality, manifesting a Great Divine Power.

“I have witnessed my master use this ability, and even more exaggerated and incredible than what Zhou Heng displayed. My master called it ‘a grand dream in a fleeting moment’.

“Although the scale of Zhou Heng’s prophetic announcement of the future is relatively small, and the description is somewhat intricate, it’s normal. Reincarnation is the way of heaven, and even a saint cannot leave behind too many powerful preparations without restriction.

“Additionally, Zhou Heng has shown abilities like the Five Elements Path divine radiance, reversing and restarting everything, instantly enhancing the level of his own techniques. Logically speaking, these abilities don’t belong to just one Dao or to one specific path.

“Yet, the highest realm of the Three Dreams Dharma can do just that, materializing the power of distinct paths within dreams. Although their potency would surely be lessened, it’s definitely sufficient as a measure for reincarnates.

“In this way, all of Zhou Heng’s behaviors can be completely accounted for, he… ”

“Master.” Yun Xiu suddenly interjected, for the first time ever interrupting He Mengqiu, said, “Are you really certain that Zhou Heng is the reincarnation of our grandmaster? Or is it… just a speculation?”

“…” He Mengqiu momentarily stupefied, she did not expect Yun Xiu would do such a thing. After a lengthy silence, she sighed: “Don’t worry, for now, it is still speculation, and I will not do anything about it.”

Her current level of cultivation hadn’t recovered to the Secret Sixth Rank, and she hadn’t truly formed a Dharma Phase. Even if she could barely evoke her Primordial Spirit to manifest dreams, it was still difficult to perceive higher-level dream powers.

Thus, her conjecture about Zhou Heng was still based solely on various observations.

“Thank you, Master.” Yun Xiu lowered her head, speaking softly.

“Are you afraid that I might force his memories to awaken after confirming his identity?” asked He Mengqiu.

“…” Yun Xiu kept her head down, saying nothing.

“You needn’t worry about that,” He Mengqiu smiled and continued: “Firstly, our master strictly forbade us from interfering with His reincarnation’s awakening, even if it’s meant to help.

“Secondly, with Pure Yang Palace looking after him, there should be solutions available. Even if his memories do truly awaken later, there should be ways to preserve Zhou Heng’s primary personality.”

“Is that so?” Yun Xiu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but then she voiced her concerns again, “But even if Zhou Heng is not the reincarnation of our grandmaster, he must be the reincarnation of some other powerful being, right?”

“That’s correct,” He Mengqiu nodded, “From Zhou Heng’s many performances, it’s without a doubt that he is the reincarnation of a powerful being. Even if not our master, it would be someone else. The reawakening of the previous powerhouse’s memories within him is inevitable.”

“Master, I will endeavor to practice the Three Dreams Dharma,” Yun Xiu said, clenching her fists firmly.

Practicing the Three Dreams Dharma to an advanced level can grant one the ability to help others stabilize their current primary personality.

…

Wujiang Prefectural City.

Qi Rui manifested part of her Dharma Body’s prowess, transforming a section of space beside the Wu Jiang River into a pavilion, hidden from the mortal world, serving as the venue to bring Cheng Jianjian for a talk with Zhou Heng.

At the Fourth Rank of the Martial Path, one who has cultivated a Yang God’s Dharma Body, has already condensed many laws close to the ultimate path, naturally possessing many mystical attributes. It was an effortless matter for her to carve out an independent space with the power of her Dharma Body.

Since the pavilion was a manifestation of part of Qi Rui’s Dharma Body, its scenery naturally matched her will and aesthetic sense.

It was a three-tiered pavilion, with a white jade base, blue bricks and black tiles, exuding a touch of understated elegance. Its interior was furnished in a simple and unpretentious manner, mostly with paintings, calligraphy, and jade articles.

Despite the pavilion’s fresh and simplistic elegance, Zhou Heng could still feel a subtle sense of oppression while walking inside. This was not the will of Qi Rui, but rather the effect of the laws interwoven by her Dharma Body.

The core legacy of Jade Qiong Peak is a Divine Skill “Jade Sky Lingxu Sutra,” targeting Divine First Rank, able to cultivate a Yang God “Lingxiao Divine Palace Physique” at the Absolute Fourth Rank, inherently possessing the true meaning of dominating heaven and earth.

Compared to Cheng Jianjian’s liveliness and openness, Qi Rui appeared quite indifferent and serious, scarcely showing humor, resembling Cheng Jianjian when she first met Zhou Heng wearing a mask.

“Senior, you wanted to see me for something?” Zhou Heng asked Qi Rui.

“Junior brother, just call me Senior Sister,” Qi Rui’s tone was very calm, seemingly void of emotional fluctuations, “I came here for two reasons: first, to bring Jianjian over, as she wanted to see you. Second, to offer you a piece of advice.”

“Little grand-uncle, this advice is also something I wanted to give you.” Cheng Jianjian looked at Zhou Heng with concern.

“Is it regarding the matter of me being the reincarnation of a powerful being?” Zhou Heng had some premonition.

“Indeed,” Qi Rui nodded gently, speaking indifferently, “Jiang Jian, you tell him.”

“It’s like this, Junior Uncle,” Cheng Jianjian frowned slightly, her voice tinged with worry, “Previously, Master spoke to me about your use of divine skills in Huangtong Mansion City, and I became somewhat concerned.

“Those divine skills are indeed unparalleled in strength, and you could even say they are fantastically powerful. You should be aware that most of them are likely remnants left by your past life.

“Such remnants on one hand enhance the survival rate of your transmigrated self, preventing further weakening of the will’s imprint if the transmigrated self were to die. On the other hand, they are also the embodiment of the will of the great power from your previous life.”

“Using these divine skills excessively could potentially hasten the awakening of the will of the great power from your past life?” Zhou Heng speculated along Jiang Jian’s line of thought, her concerns indeed very valid.

However, everything was wrong from the start. He wasn’t a reincarnation of the great power, nor did he have any remnants that contained the will of a previous life.

Of course, this reason still suited just fine as an explanation for the origin of those Fortune Bag ability cards and martial arts.

“Yes,” Jiang Jian nodded, adding, “Although I do know that the situation at the time left you no choice but to act that way, I still hope that in the future you can try to use them as little as possible…”

At this point, she paused, her gaze fixed on Zhou Heng, “I have few friends, and I don’t want you to suddenly become someone else one day. Once the will of the great power from your previous life awakens, it will be irreversible.

“However, in this mortal world, it is inevitable that there will be all kinds of accidents, so this time, I want to suggest that you return to Taihua Mount and cultivate in seclusion for a while. On the one hand, it would stabilize your cultivation realm, and on the other, it would allow you a temporary reprieve from worldly disturbances.”

“If you want to go back, I can take you back directly,” Qi Rui said.

“Return to the mountain?” Zhou Heng was momentarily taken aback by the suggestion, pondering for a moment with a smile, “Come to think of it, I actually haven’t spent much time at Taihua”

Just over two months.

Day in, day out practicing.

Nothing changed.

So, he said, “Actually, someone advised me to return to the mountain to cultivate in seclusion for a while, saying that it could help me avoid many a storm and many dangers. But I refused.

“The mortal world is full of unforeseen storms; I might avoid them for a moment, but could I avoid them for a lifetime? If I can’t avoid them for a lifetime, then what’s the point in dodging them for a moment?”

“…” After hearing this, Jiang Jianjian fell silent for a brief moment, then, smiling, she said, “Indeed, I was wondering if you would refuse. After all, retreating from the world to cultivate doesn’t quite fit your character.”

“Haha, Miss Cheng understands me,” Zhou Heng laughed.

“Since you won’t return to the mountain, then I shall take my leave first, Junior Brother,” Qi Rui said, bidding farewell, then the surrounding scene dissipated, and with it, the pavilion vanished.

Qi Rui had already transformed into a streak of flowing light, soaring into the sky.

Zhou Heng and Jiang Jianjian, who had been hidden in the void, now reappeared and found themselves by the riverbank of Wujiang.

“Master may seem cold, but he’s warm at heart, Junior Uncle, don’t take it to heart,” Jiang Jianjian, watching the fading light of her Master disappearing in the distance, said, “Actually, I was indecisive about advising you, but it was Master who gave me the resolve to do so.”

“I can tell,” Zhou Heng nodded slightly, smiling, “Miss Cheng didn’t leave with Senior Sister Qi, is there something else you wish to say?”

“Can’t I stay without having something to say?” Jiang Jianjian suddenly asked, her smile clever and charming.

“Ah?” Zhou Heng was stunned, at a loss for a response.

“Haha!” Jiang Jianjian’s smile bloomed beautifully, as she extended her palm towards Zhou Heng, “Young Master Zhou, do you have any candy? Speaking of which, I still prefer calling you that.”

“Actually, I also find it more familiar to listen to that,” Zhou Heng said with a light laugh, flipping his hand to take out a piece of fruit candy from his Qiankun purse and placed it in Jiang Jianjian’s palm.

“Do you carry these with you all the time, Young Master?” Jiang Jianjian asked with a light smile.

She split the candy in two, placing one half in her mouth and the other back in Zhou Heng’s hand.

Then, with her hands clasped behind her back, she turned to look at the Wujiang River, the breeze gently lifting the hem of her dress, making her seem like an ethereal fairy.

“What is this?” Zhou Heng asked, puzzled.

“How about the next time we meet, I ask you for the other half of the candy?” Jiang Jianjian turned around, her hair blown by the river wind partially concealing her exquisitely beautiful cheek, but her smile was still visible at the corners of her mouth.

Miss, are you setting up a flag here?

Zhou Heng quietly joked in his heart, yet he placed the other half of the candy back into the Qiankun purse and nodded, “Sure, no problem at all.”

“Then you must take good care of it, Young Master,” Jiang Jianjian said with a laugh, “I take my leave.”

Afterward, a red silk rose from her body, turning into a bright light that carried her skyward. She rode the winds and vanished quickly, disappearing into the horizon.

…

Above the lofty clouds, Qi Rui actually hadn’t departed.

Jiang Jianjian, rising into the sky with a secret treasure, passed through the clouds and caught sight of her.

The red light ceased, still carrying the young girl aloft, “Master…”

“Have you made your decision?” Qi Rui remained cool in demeanor, but there was a hidden concern in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Jianjian.

“Yes, this is a hard-earned opportunity for me, likely my only chance,” Jiang Jianjian nodded firmly, her expression determined.