I Cheated While Cultivating

Chapter 53: What to do?

Kong Chengshun’s screams echoed across the arena.

The crowd was dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief, shocked to their core!

Such a renowned figure on the rankings, one of the world’s foremost young talents, had just been defeated!

Moreover, it seemed he had been completely crushed, without the slightest chance to fight back!?

How could this be possible! ?

It was simply inconceivable.

Atop the high platform, Huang Jingfu and Hong Kang suddenly stood up, stretching their necks forward, their eyes wide with disbelief and involuntarily shaking their heads.

"How is this possible, it can’t be!”

"This is Kong Chengshun, Kong Chengshun of the Setting Sun Flying Sword, how could this happen!?”

Whether it was Huang Jingfu, who had previously been so confident, or Hong Kang, who had been echoing Huang Jingfu, both were dumbstruck at this moment, never expecting such a thing to happen!?

How could Zhou Heng be so formidable, so strong!?

How long had Zhou Heng been at the Ninth Grade?

Yet he had defeated Kong Chengshun, who was ranked ninety-ninth!?

It was beyond belief!

On another high platform, Tian Chong almost flipped the desk in front of him.

Zhou Heng actually defeated Kong Chengshun?

Not through some trial!

But with overwhelming strength, he had forcibly defeated Kong Chengshun!

How could this be possible!?

What about his own reward?

Had his mountain of silver just flown away?

He was infuriated, feeling as if his rage was going to explode.

It wasn’t just Huang Jingfu and the others who found this hard to believe.

Even Lei Xiuyan, the hall master, was stunned.

Watching the scene on the platform, he was speechless and gaped in astonishment for a long time.

Could Zhou Heng really be that powerful?

Behind Lei Xiuyan, Lin Cang, one of the trainers, was even more puzzled.

Did I teach him this?

Am I really that good??

Below the platform, Yu He, Yun Xiu, Liu Changsheng, and others were also shocked, watching Kong Chengshun’s miserable state, they felt as if they were in a dream.

From a nearby tall building, Pei Luoling cheered loudly.

Pei Zhantu gazed thoughtfully at Zhou Heng’s hands. As a Fifth Rank Grandmaster, he saw the profoundness of the martial arts Zhou Heng used.

This was definitely not the martial arts of a minor martial hall.

But what did that matter?

The martial world is vast; who doesn’t have some strange encounters?

To defeat an Eighth Rank as a Ninth Rank, he truly deserved the title of prodigy, no matter what.

"Not a bad kid,” he nodded slightly.

Kong Chengshun knelt on his knees, his arms and legs throbbing with intense pain, causing him to break into a cold sweat.

After that initial scream, he clenched his teeth firmly, enduring the pain, his voice squeezed out from between his clenched teeth,

“Zhou Heng, you’re very strong, you’re so formidable!”

He had never imagined Zhou Heng’s strength would be so overpowering.

That weird and mysterious martial arts technique seemed to completely counter his own, crushing all his defenses, rendering him powerless!

The other was just a mere Ninth Rank Warrior, how could he be so strong!?

Damn it!

"Thanks for the praise,” Zhou Heng said indifferently, while casually tossing Kong Chengshun to the ground, and looking towards the high platform where Tian Chong was,

“Grand Prefect, the test should be over now, right.”

Bang!

Tian Chong suddenly slapped the table and stood up, his eyes wide with rage as he bellowed,

“Zhou Heng, do you realize what you’ve just done!?”

As soon as these words came out, everyone’s gaze in the audience shifted toward the Head of Martial Affairs of Huangtong Mansion.

Anyone who wasn’t a fool could sense that a storm was brewing.

Zhou Heng had indeed thrilled the crowd by knocking Kong Chengshun to the ground, but upon reflection, it was clear that this action could have serious consequences for Zhou Heng.

For one thing, he certainly wouldn’t be able to become an outer sect disciple of the Chang Xing Sect.

Moreover, since Kong Chengshun was a guest of Tian Chong, who oversaw the selection contest, the event had ended in chaos.

How could Tian Chong let Zhou Heng off easily?

Even if during the contest, Kong Chengshun appeared to have attempted a sneak attack, which went against the rules of the Jianghu.

But in this world, it was never just about the rules.

Seeing Tian Chong fly into a rage, a cold smile appeared on Kong Chengshun’s face as he struggled to his feet, saying sarcastically,

“Young Master Zhou is indeed very skilled. It seems that my small Chang Xing Sect could hardly accommodate such a grand Buddha as you.”

"What are you trying to say? Speak plainly,” Zhou Heng responded with a calm smile, fearless.

In fact, when he crippled Kong Chengshun’s hands with the Six Paths Plum Blossom Palm, he had already anticipated the potential consequences of his actions.

A martial artist’s personal deeds were always separate from the martial hall itself.

This was the common perception.

After all, martial artists were hot-blooded, and conflicts and duels were inevitable. If actions weren’t separated, it would be easy to spark collective conflicts between martial halls.

Therefore, Longxing Martial Arts Hall wouldn’t be targeted because of him.

But he himself would certainly be targeted.

Kong Chengshun, being in charge of recruiting outer sect disciples, had the authority to reject him at the door, cutting off his chance to inherit higher martial arts from the Chang Xing Sect.

If they were even more ruthless, they could collaborate with other sects to target him, completely blocking his martial path.

Tian Chong, as the Head of Martial Affairs of Huangtong Mansion, had the authority to order the martial hall to expel him, and if his reasons were valid, he could even suggest to the Mansion Lord that Zhou Heng be banished from Huangtong Mansion.

And once out of the city…

Any misadventure in the wilds would seem perfectly reasonable.

For an ordinary martial artist, this would be a disaster, but for a cheat like Zhou Heng, it was just a minor inconvenience.

He wasn’t afraid of being cut off from martial arts inheritance, and it was clear that the Mansion Lord, Wu Zongshan, wasn’t likely to forcefully expel him from Huangtong Mansion.

However, Lei Xiuyan, Lin Cang, Yun Xiu, Yu He, and others didn’t know what Zhou Heng was relying on.

Seeing Tian Chong’s demeanor and Kong Chengshun’s attitude, they immediately thought of the worst possible scenarios and their faces turned pale with worry for Zhou Heng’s future.

At the same time, they racked their brains, trying to come up with a solution to the predicament.

Liu Changsheng, however, was contemplating in his heart… This seemed like a good opportunity to persuade Zhou Heng to join the Five Elements Sect again.

"How courageous you are, Zhou Heng, brazen and obstinate!” Tian Chong said furiously, pointing at Zhou Heng and shouting, “Zhou Heng! You’re young but your heart is vicious!

"Master Kong Chengshun kindly tested you, allowing you to attack as you wished, yet you were ungrateful and maliciously injured him when he was off guard! With such behavior, you’re no different than those of the evil path. If you continue to practice martial arts in our establishment, I fear you might lead many apprentices astray! Lei Xiuyan, where are you? Would your Longxing Martial Arts Hall still keep such a thug?”

This barrage of accusations painted Zhou Heng as a brutal and violent thug who readily injured others, deliberately ignoring the fact that Kong Chengshun had tried to sabotage Zhou Heng earlier.

Seeing this, Yu He and others blanched and instinctively looked toward Lei Xiuyan on the high platform.

What to do now?

Tian Chong was the Head of Martial Affairs of Huangtong Mansion, and the Chang Xing Sect was the strongest martial sect near this prefectural city… Who would dare to contradict them for the sake of Zhou Heng?

At that moment, Lin Cang, standing behind Lei Xiuyan, clenched his fists, wanting to burst forth to defend Zhou Heng.

But Lei Xiuyan stopped him.

The hall master fell into brief silence, his gaze turning resolute as if making up his mind, and was about to stand.

Just then, exclamations of surprise suddenly erupted around the arena.

Lei Xiuyan turned his head to look and was instantly stunned.

Someone was treading through the air, stepping effortlessly from a tall building nearby and flying over.

At the same time, an indifferent yet authoritative voice echoed between heaven and earth.

"Tian Chong, is this how you perform your duties as a Head of Martial Affairs?”