I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 333: Chapter 53: Immortal and Indestructible

This sword’s dazzling brilliance was peerless, causing Pei Luoling and others to feel a sting in their eyes, daring not to look directly at it.

The elemental energy between heaven and earth boiled under the pull of this sword light, the mist in the sky was split apart, and the radiance of the two suns became extraordinarily bright.

At this moment, everyone within the Prefectural City of Upper South had seen this sword light, and they all noticed that it was headed for Monk Shan Hui. Witnessing this scene, different people felt different emotions.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

There were those who were merely spectators, those who were agitated, those who felt a surge of pride, and there were those who were consumed with anger and anxiety; for a moment, the attention of everyone in the entire Prefectural City of Upper South was riveted on this sword light.

However, no one believed that this azure sword light could do anything to Shan Hui—even the well-informed Pei Luoling thought so.

After all, Shan Hui’s strength had been proven when he first arrived in the Prefectural City of Upper South. He was a genuine True Gang Realm powerhouse.

Unless a Grandmaster made a move, no one could be his opponent.

And the sign of a Grandmaster’s action was very obvious. While gathering the elemental energy of heaven and earth, there would also be a significant alteration of the laws, and even the manifestation of a Dharma Phase might occur.

The azure sword light that appeared now seemed to be nothing but condensed True Qi, its level of refinement still not quite on par with the True Gang, and it was feared that the person who made the move was merely a Sixth Rank Martial Artist in the True Energy Realm, a whole level lower than Shan Hui.

Under such circumstances, how could there be any chance of victory?

It was precisely because they sensed that the essence of this azure sword light was only True Qi that gathered the elemental energy of heaven and earth, that Monk Shan Hui on the preaching stage was calm and composed throughout.

He did not even lift his eyes, looking gently at the believers below him with hands pressed together, and said, “Amitabha, our Buddha is merciful. Simply reciting the Buddha’s name can ward off all methods, please watch, even though this sword light is fierce, I only need to recite…”

Boom!

Before Monk Shan Hui could finish speaking, the azure sword light had already slashed down, completely enveloping him and cutting off his words.

And after it enveloped him, the sword light swiftly expanded, becoming thicker and longer, and in a mere instant, it had enveloped the entire preaching stage.

It seemed that Monk Shan Hui had no ability to resist whatsoever.

In reality, Monk Shan Hui did put up a fight.

When the azure sword light was about to hit him, his hands pressed together, he secretly channeled True Gang and mobilized the elemental energy of heaven and earth, using a secret Buddhist technique in an attempt to meet this sword light head-on.

The technique Monk Shan Hui performed was the secret Sixth Rank Martial Arts of Jia Ye Temple, “Buddha’s Light Body-Protection Vajra Mantra.”

This secret technique, at the Sixth Rank level, could definitely be considered a top defense Martial Art. With his True Gang Realm practice, he theoretically could defend against most attacks from warriors below the Sect Fifth Rank.

Yet in the face of this azure sword light’s might, the protective golden light around Monk Shan Hui lasted only an instant before being breached. The azure sword light overwhelmed him with unstoppable force, performing an act that no ordinary person or martial artist could have even noticed his resistance.

Zheng Zheng Zheng!

The sound of the sword’s cry continued, but the azure sword light no longer appeared like a sword light.

In the eyes of the onlookers, it looked more like a giant azure grinder, grinding down upon the preaching stage, intent on completely crushing the previously preaching Monk Shan Hui.

The scene before them caused nearly two hundred thousand spectators’ eyes to split in fury, their spirits also suffering a tremendous blow, even beginning to doubt their lives and the reality of this world.

After this period of preaching, Monk Shan Hui had already formed an image akin to a savior in the hearts of the listeners. He was the beacon of hope and spiritual comfort for these nearly two hundred thousand people.

But now, this savior seemed to have been struck by an unknown sword light, his life hanging in the balance, causing their spiritual reliance to collapse, and with it, their hope for the future.

These people, one by one, had ashen faces, staring blankly at the dazzling azure sword light with empty eyes and expressions of dumbfounded shock, looking like walking corpses.

And in the distance, at the tavern, Pei Luoling and the others had already begun to cheer.

“Ah! No!”

Amidst the azure sword light, roars of incomparable rage echoed, with flickers of golden light struggling feebly.

Yet, under the crushing might of this peerless azure radiance, there was no room for any resistance, and the noises quickly silenced.

Shan Hui, the monk, was thus slain.

The azure sword light gradually faded away, and the disturbed elemental energy between heaven and earth also returned to normal.

But the platform where the Dharma had been preached was now flattened; where Shan Hui once sat and expounded the Dharma, there was now no trace of him left, all was turned to ash and dispersed.

It wasn’t until this moment that the people who were gathered here to listen began to wake from their trance, each one with eyes wide, their faces showing astonishment and terror.

With Shan Hui dead, those whose minds had been influenced by his preaching of Buddha’s laws all regained their senses.

At the same time, they all realized how terrifying their previous state had been, almost ready to abandon their wives and children, neglect the elderly at home, with minds solely focused on the faith in Buddha and the teachings of the Buddhist Law.

How could they still be called human?

Suddenly, a towering rage ignited in the hearts of the people in the Prefectural city of Shangnan.

If Shan Hui hadn’t been utterly destroyed by the azure sword light just now, the outraged citizens of Shangnan Prefectural city would have likely surrounded him by now.

In the tavern, Pei Luoling and the others burst into jubilant cheers, but they were also very curious—who could possess such power to slay the formidable monk Shan Hui with a single sword stroke?

As the azure sword light vanished, a figure also appeared in the sky.

It was a handsome youth wearing a Taoist robe and a jade crown, his body surrounded by purple thunder, floating high in the air, looking down at the Prefectural city of Shangnan below.

“Zhou Heng, it’s Zhou Heng!”

Pei Luoling recognized him and exclaimed with delight, “It’s actually him, he’s become this powerful? I remember he reached the Secret Sixth Rank less than half a year ago.”

Hisss!

The other three all sucked in a breath of cold air. The Secret Sixth Rank, which was achieved less than half a year ago, should still be in the True Qi Realm. Yet, with such cultivation, he managed to slay Shan Hui with a single sword—this was simply inconceivable.

At this moment, Zhou Heng’s Divine Sense also detected the presence of Pei Luoling.

But he didn’t have time for joy. Although Shan Hui was dead, he didn’t let his guard down; instead, his gaze became even more solemn, focusing on the spot where Shan Hui had been.

While carefully sensing the changes in the laws of nature around him, he felt that something was off.

“There is no doubt that Shan Hui is dead; the Qingyuan Sword Manual I just used cut him down,” Zhou Heng furrowed his brows and muttered to himself, “But why do I also have a feeling that he hasn’t truly died?”

Just as he puzzled over this, the spot where Shan Hui had been suddenly sprouted azure lotuses, followed by Buddhist chants and music.

The supposed annihilated Shan Hui unexpectedly stepped out from the void, unscathed, upon a lotus flower.

“Amitabha,” Shan Hui, with hands in prayer, smilingly said to Zhou Heng in the air, “Benefactor, the way you greeted me just now was truly not friendly.”

His sudden appearance immediately silenced everyone present, all looking towards him in disbelief.

What’s going on?

“`

Hadn’t he already been reduced to ashes by that azure sword light just now?

How is he resurrected again?

Does resurrection truly exist in this world?

Inconceivable!

Zhou Heng’s expression remained unchanged, facing the suddenly resurrected Shan Hui, he said nothing, nor did he respond, and simply pointed his fingers like a sword directly at the monk Shan Hui.

Clang!

Amid the sound of the sword cry, another sword light fell, just as before, slicing Shan Hui into powder, obliterating both form and spirit.

However, when the sword light dissipated, the chanting and lotuses appeared once more.

Shan Hui was resurrected again.

“Benefactor, give up, it’s futile,” said Shan Hui with a smile, “I admit, your strength indeed has surpassed that of this poor monk. To have such strength at the True Qi Realm is truly rare, but to kill me, that is impossible.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Heng snorted coldly, and attacked once again.

But this time, he did not use the Qingyuan Sword Manual and instead appeared in front of Monk Shan Hui, raised his palm, and fiercely smacked it down with the force of turning heaven and earth upside down.

The world seemed to tilt!

Zhou Heng’s palm landed solidly on the top of Monk Shan Hui’s head, immediately driving it into his chest cavity, and then his whole body was blown to ashes by this savage force.

Monk Shan Hui died again, once more before the watching crowd of the prefectural city.

But in the next moment, Monk Shan Hui came back to life again.

However, just as he was resurrected and before he could speak, a blade light wrapped in the power of thunder struck him head-on, instantly splitting him in two, and reducing him to char.

He died again.

Immediately afterwards, Monk Shan Hui was resurrected again… Resurrected, slain, resurrected, slain… Monk Shan Hui seemed to have countless life-saving talismans, as no matter how Zhou Heng killed him, he would come back to life in a baffling manner.

It appeared he was indestructible!

Such an extreme and eerie occurrence was inconceivable, not just to the common folk but also to martial artists with some knowledge, completely beyond everyone’s imagination.

Utterly inconceivable.

“Give up, Benefactor Zhou,” Shan Hui resurrected once more, brought his hands together and continued to persuade Zhou Heng, “You see, this poor monk cannot be killed, possessing an indestructible golden body.”

“How do you do it?” Zhou Heng’s brow slightly furrowed, this time he did not immediately make a move to kill Shan Hui, deciding to have a talk with the monk and inquire about the situation.

“It is all due to my devout faith in Buddha, receiving boundless light and protection, my nature pure and vacant, without birth hence indestructible,” said Shan Hui with a gentle gaze and a light smile on his lips, “Benefactor Zhou, you have a predestined connection with our Buddha Sect. Why not join Jia Ye Temple? In time, you too can enjoy the indestructible protection of Buddha’s light like this poor monk.”

“Buddha’s light protection, indestructible…” Zhou Heng’s eyes narrowed slightly, suddenly raising his head to look at the sky, where two suns were shining upon each other.

One had the pure and yang power, entirely golden; this was Yan Shouyi’s power, and the other was full of the Buddha Sect’s aura, entirely green, displaying Zen chanting.

“Tao Lord Second Rank, is this how you wield great divine powers to change the rules?” Zhou Heng wondered with amazement in his heart.

“`

Previously, after killing Shan Hui time and again, Zhou Heng had confirmed that Shan Hui’s resurrection was neither due to a secret technique nor a life-saving talisman, which are typical of Taoist talismans.

Monk Shan Hui’s resurrection seemed to be influenced by some special rule.

It was as if someone had predetermined a rule that stated, “As soon as Shan Hui is killed, he will immediately revive on the spot.”

Monk Shan Hui’s resurrection followed such a pattern.

Indeed, such a rule defied all reason, and even a Celestial Power could not possibly enforce such a rule. However, to a Taoist of the second rank, it may not be impossible.

Zhou Heng didn’t know much about a Second-Rank Tao Lord, but even with his limited knowledge, he was aware that a Tao Lord, having condensed their Taoist Seed and brought together various rules and principles beneath it, could indeed alter local rules and principles to a certain extent.

The one currently facing Yan Shouyi was indeed a Second-Rank power from Jia Ye Temple.

With the divine skills of this powerful being, creating rules like “Disciples of Jia Ye Temple will revive on the spot” would likely be no difficult task.

However, being unkillable didn’t mean he was unmanageable.

“Benefactor, your silence suggests you are pondering how to kill me?” Monk Shan Hui smiled, “Give up, after killing me so many times before, you should already know, I cannot be killed.”

“What does it feel like to be killed?” Zhou Heng suddenly asked in return.

At the same time, he made another move and killed Monk Shan Hui again.

Following that, Monk Shan Hui revived yet again, only to be killed by him once more.

After trying over twenty more times, and acquiring several dozen copper fortune bags, Zhou Heng finally noticed a flicker of exhaustion on the face of the newly resurrected Shan Hui.

Even though it was fleeting, Zhou Heng caught the change in expression.

He was waiting for this moment!

The body might be unkillable, the divine soul might reconverge, and even the spirit and memories might restore, thus achieving the effect of resurrection, but as long as Shan Hui’s self-awareness was continuous, his spirit would eventually feel exhausted.

Normally, this level of exhaustion would not cause any concern.

Even if Shan Hui’s spirit were utterly exhausted, leading to a spiritual breakdown and death, under the influence of this special rule of infinite revival, it held no substantive significance.

Therefore, Zhou Heng had another purpose.

The act of killing Shan Hui continued, and Shan Hui kept on reviving, the endless loop even causing the surrounding civilians to become numb to the sight.

After resurrecting yet another time, the weariness on Shan Hui’s face was quite apparent, and his mental state was extremely poor.

“Benefactor, your efforts are futile,” Shan Hui was already losing patience, said, “The sea of suffering is boundless, turning back is the shore. This humble monk advises the benefactor to turn back soon, convert to Buddha Sect, otherwise I fear you might end up in hell in the future.”

“Whether I go to hell is hardly for you to decide,” Zhou Heng said with a smile, “At this juncture, master, you should worry about yourself.”

“What can you possibly do to me?” Shan Hui sneered, about to say more, but when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.

Suddenly, he felt his thoughts slowing down and he began losing control of his own body, as if another powerful force had intervened, wanting to manipulate his spirit and body.

Puppetry Technique!

It was one of the gains Zhou Heng brought back after his soul had descended to another world.