I Cheated While Cultivating - Chapter 23
Chapter 23: Late At Night, Doubtful About Life
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Congratulations! You’re very lucky! You’ve gained a Master Fifth-Class Daoism Technique Five Thunder Technique Golden Book!”
‘Daoism technique?! Thunder technique?!
‘It’s a Five Thunder Technique Golden Book!’
Zhou Heng shouted aloud. Before this, he was a bit envious that Cheng Jiangjian was able to deliver a Daoism technique to exterminate ghosts. He never expected to be rewarded a Daoism technique.
Moreover, it was a well-known thunder technique that could subdue demons and exterminate ghosts and evil!
The Gold Lucky Bag had lived up to its name. It had actually rewarded him such a high-class Daoism technique!
A master fifth-class!
If this were a martial art, one could already start a sect with it!
One should know that even the leader of Longevity Sect was only at the level of master fifth-class. Even the divine weapon was also a type of master fifth-class martial art.
Furthermore, this was unlike martial arts. Daoism technique was extremely rare in this era, let alone a master fifth-class Daoism technique!
‘Thunder techniques should be able to cause extra damage to the ghosts. Coupled with the attribute of the special attack of Yin Spirits, perhaps I could really exterminate ghosts!’
Zhou Heng’s heart burst with joy. He quickly focused inwardly and immediately, he could sense a golden book glowing with lightning in his mind.
It was the Five Thunder Technique Golden Book!
It concerned the five internal organs and five elements of qi, which would condense to become Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang would be intertwined to become the seed of thunder and when one delivered the technique, one would be able to sense heaven and earth, command thunder, overcome fire and wind and possess superb power!
Whosoever held the power of thunder shall summon heaven and earth!
That was because thunder was the order of the sky. It had the greatest power. Even the three realms and nine places on earth were all beneath the control of thunder!
Under the power of the Five Thunder Technique, various kinds of ghosts, evil spirits and demons would no longer be able to conceal themselves. They would instantly turn into powder!
‘This is awesome!’
Zhou Heng’s heart got thrilled as he watched the images and could not wait to learn the thunder technique.
The next time he ran into a ghost, he could simply wave his palm. The brilliant power of wind and thunder would rush through the so-called undead and the indestructible ghost would perish in a blink!
The moment he thought of this, he grew giddy with excitement!
“You’re working hard to gain insights from the authentic secrets of Master Fifth-Class Five Thunder Technique Golden Book… Your cultivation base is too weak, therefore you are unable to comprehend the Daoism technique and unable to gain points for the level of proficiency.”
“Your continuous effort to gain insights from the authentic secrets of Master Fifth-Class Five Thunder Technique Golden Book has triggered Heavenly Rewards. But your cultivation base is too weak, therefore you are unable to comprehend the Daoism technique and unable to gain points for level of proficiency.”
After four hours, Zhou Heng looked at the hazy moonlight outside and felt the quietness of the late night. He could not help but start to doubt his life.
He could not understand his life!
He could not understand it!
There was no way to gain a single point for his level of proficiency at all! That was the harsh truth!
However, his efforts did not entirely result in nothing.
“You’ve continued to gain insights from the authentic secrets of Master Fifth-Class Five Thunder Technique Golden Book and suddenly have been enlightened that you’ll need Daoism techniques or martial arts of five elements as the basis before you can get a glimpse at the gateway of Daoism technique.”
With his current realm of cultivation, it would not be impossible for him to learn this Daoism technique.
On the condition that he cultivated one of the Daoism techniques or martial arts skills of five elements until reaching perfection. With that as his foundation, only then would he be able to gain insights into the divine wonders of this Daoism technique.
Moreover, his own level of cultivation of martial arts should reach at least ninth-class.
Although Zhou Heng had already achieved perfection for cultivation for two of the ninth-class martial arts and had acquired one of the eighth-class martial arts, this was a skill limited by the growth of his own strength, qi and blood circulation. As such, it could not help him advance his level of cultivation.
For the ninth-class, there was a delineation of characteristics.
One’s muscles and bones resonated to produce the thunderous sounds of tigers and leopards. He should have the physical strength to exert thousands of mass of force. With strength running through his whole body, he should be able to channel energy throughout his entire body. This was the level of a ninth-class martial artist.
However, if one wanted his level of cultivation to reach the ninth-class, practicing skills alone was not sufficient.
He needed to enhance his own strength, physical strength, and the internal energy of qi and blood circulation.
This also referred to Zhou Heng’s cultivation of Prosperity Inner Strength Stance Technique.
Once he had reached perfection for the level of cultivation for this stance technique, he could become a ninth-class martial artist.
Although he had not forgone the cultivation for stance techniques, the progress of internal energy was inadequate compared to his skills.
Ninth Class Prosperity Inner Strength Stance Technique. High Level: 2598/3000.
‘Indeed, I have to work on the cultivation of internal energy. If I practice skills but neglect the cultivation of energy, I won’t make any progress in the long run.’ Zhou Heng devised a future cultivation plan for himself.
‘However, this stance technique is just an ordinary basic stance technique and doesn’t have any special features.
‘If only I can obtain one stance technique which comprises the principles of five elements and upgrade my level of cultivation to the ninth-class, that’ll kill two birds with one stone.
‘Well, I heard that there are a few martial arts schools in the northern part of the city that teaches martial arts such as Five Elements Fists and others that are similar to Five Elements Stance. Tomorrow I shall go there to have a look after morning classes.
‘There are still two unutilized distributable points for the ninth-class martial arts. They will be put to use sooner or later.’
The principle of the five elements was a common concept among the martial arts, not only retrained to those high-class martial artists.
The so-called Five Elements Fist, Five Elements Kick, Five Elements Palm and other similar martial arts in the world of martial arts were available everywhere.
Even the variety of martial arts with similar names were in abundance. As such, there was a tendency for the name “Five Elements” to be downgraded as a lower-class martial art.
Fortunately, the existence of the prestigious Five Elements Clan with its Deva had spared the name “Five Elements” from total collapse.
As such, it should not be a challenge for Zhou Heng to obtain a basic martial art with the principles of five elements.
The only difficulties were to cultivate it to perfection as well as the continuous insights needed into the Five Thunder Technique Golden Book.
He looked forward to the next day expectantly.
With that, Zhou Heng went into his dreamland under the shower of cold moonlight.
Early the next morning, as usual, Zhou Heng had his breakfast before going to the martial arts school. Little did he expect to see Yu He already there practicing martial arts.
It was most unlike him.
‘Since when did this lazy bone become that hardworking?’
“Why are you here so early? Even the sun has not risen from the west yet.” Zhou Heng walked over to Yu Heng, patted his shoulders with a chuckle.
“Ah?” Yu He turned his head and saw it was Zhou Heng. He said, “What’s wrong? Can’t I work hard? Even though my family is rich, I can’t just sit there and eat without doing anything, right?”
“Finally, you sound like a human.” Zhou Heng rolled his eyes. He resisted the urge to beat this lazy bum who showed off his wealth.
“Didn’t you know?” Yu He came close to him, and whispered mysteriously, “Two days ago, there’s news that the Little Greenwood Sword, Liu Changsheng is coming to Yellow Wood City today to assess the strength of the masters of several big martial arts under the Five Elements Clan.”
The prestigious sects had extremely strict requirements over their affiliated martial arts schools. Not only did they have requirements over the number of ninth-class apprentices annually, but they would also assess the strengths of the masters of the martial arts schools.
If they failed to meet the standard, they would be punished, to the extent of getting their qualifications to teach basic martial arts of the sect stripped. Their names would also be removed from the martial arts school under the sect.
“Is Little Greenwood Sword the original disciple of the master fifth-class ranked at thirty-ninth place on the People Ranking Board?” Zhou Heng’s eyes glowed. He smiled as he said, “But what does he have to do with you when he only goes to those luxury martial arts schools?”
The stringent requirement of the top sects had contributed to the excellent teaching quality of the martial arts schools.
Regardless of the level of teaching or quality of martial arts, they were not comparable to ordinary martial arts schools. As such, the fees would also be charged at a very high rate. It was said that such classes could cost up to thousands silver taels annually. Therefore, only some of the wealthiest families would go there to learn the martial arts.
As a result, these martial arts schools were often teased as luxury martial arts schools.
“You don’t understand.” Yu He smiled as he said, “Martial arts schools under the Five Elements Clan are like a golden-egg laying geese. No one can afford to lose it.
“As for Liu Changsheng who’s going to make the assessment, the masters of the martial arts schools dare not take him lightly and will definitely give their best to serve him well. Even his clothing, food, accommodation and transportation will be the best. As such, they are bound to select the best restaurants and inns.
“This is considered a big investment worth a few thousand taels of silver!
“You know that despite my family’s restaurant and inns serving the best meals and accommodation in the Yellow Wood City, there are still other competitors around.
“Therefore, I’m going to the northern part of the city to negotiate with a few masters of martial arts schools and Liu Changsheng in order to try to nail this big fish. As such, how could I not come early to the martial arts school today and apply for a leave from the practitioner?”
‘This fellow. When it comes to martial arts practice, he’s a lazybone. When it comes to business matters, he’s full of spirit.’
Just then, Zhou Heng had a brilliant idea. He had a thought, then he smiled as he said, “I’m coming with you. I also want to see the legendary Little Greenwood Sword.”
Well, he could also take a look at the martial arts passed on by the martial arts school.
Since they were the martial arts schools affiliated with the Five Elements Clan, they must have the basic martial arts which contained the principles of five elements!