Chapter 494: Tian Xia

The Deception Sutra—

Upon hearing this name, Five Qi Peng Qian Kun first stared in surprise, then crossed his arms and sneered coldly.

"You yellow-skinned rat, spouting nonsense, are you merely trifling with this Venerable One?"

Seeing Five Qi Peng Qian Kun flash his fist again, the field mouse secretly cursed this artifact spirit for being truly vulgar, yet hurriedly explained, fearing that speaking a moment too slow would result in another full meal of old fists.

According to the field mouse, his original name was Tian Xia, hailing from the White Cave of the Marvelous Treasure Land, where his entire family was under the command of that Rat Demon Fuchan Fuchan Laozu of the White Cave.

Although Tian Xia had fortunately awakened spiritual wisdom and refined the horizontal bone in his mouth, thereby ascending to become a demon creature.

Yet barring any accidents, he would have remained an ordinary minor demon for life, ordered about and beaten or scolded at will by that Rat Demon Fuchan Fuchan Laozu of the White Cave, hardly able to gain even a free body, let alone achieve the Great Dao.

But ever since obtaining this so-called Deception Sutra, everything became different.

Tian Xia nearly ascended to heaven in a single step, becoming worlds apart from his former self!

This individual first used the Deception Sutra to complete his first transaction within the White Cave; having truly tasted the sweetness of success, his confidence surged greatly.

And after swindling that Rat Demon Fuchan Fuchan Laozu of the White Cave until he was stripped of all wealth and nearly driven to qi deviation, Tian Xia, feeling his Zi Jia Gong had finally entered the hall and reached the inner chamber, at last departed the White Cave.

For the sake of cultivation, and moreover to vent a breath of unjust evil air, he gradually turned his schemes toward the surrounding powers.

From the White Cave to Yiguan Mountain, Carp Ruler Manor, Hundred Poison Palace, Golden Peak Sect...

Nearly one-third of the famous powers within this Marvelous Treasure Land were visited by Tian Xia, and to varying degrees, all were swindled by Tian Xia into yielding some benefits.

As for this Water Duke Zhi, in Tian Xia's expectation, this was supposed to be his final haul within the Marvelous Treasure Land.

Once the wind of news settled and this matter was neatly concluded.

He, Tian Xia, would pass through that Realm Gate standing in the Western Crossing Sea and proceed to Wen Zhao Heaven, the one closest in distance to the Marvelous Treasure Land, thenceforth to roam freely and happily throughout Xudu Xudu Tianyu!

Though the Deception Sutra is good, when one constantly walks by the river, how can there be any reason for one's shoes not to get wet?

Tian Xia knew clearly in his heart that if he became too addicted to the path of the Deception Sutra, sooner or later he would be beaten to death by others, dying upon the very method that made his fortune.

To achieve the Great Dao, given his current circumstances, he must first reach Xudu Xudu Tianyu and secure a geographical advantage.

Relying on the insights and realizations tempered over his many years of training, once within the majestic Xudu Xudu Tianyu, even without relying too heavily on the Deception Sutra, Tian Xia was confident he could barely establish a foothold.

It was even not impossible that in the future he might found a sect and establish a school, becoming the master of a minor Dao lineage!

But although all these conjectures were fine, who could have known...

As Tian Xia finished his speech, a thread of contemplation flashed in Chen Heng's eyes, and for a moment he did not speak.

If truly as Tian Xia had just stated, then the Deception Sutra cultivated by Tian Xia, rather than being a scripture or treasure record.

Should instead be counted as a type of register or credential closely connected to a Great Divine Power Practitioner.

Each time Tian Xia successfully swindled someone, depending on the value of the stolen treasure, the Deception Sutra would bestow unequal benefits.

Sometimes flying treasures, sometimes miraculous medicines and spirit pills, sometimes sharp weapons and divine arms, sometimes powerful warriors or servants.

All kinds of things, truly too numerous to list.

Moreover, the Deception Sutra itself is also a type of mysterious secret treasure, possessing the functions of concealing its master's qi signature and creating illusions, capable of deceiving the ears and eyes of most people.

This was the greatest reason why Tian Xia, whose Daoist cultivation was clearly not very high, could still bluff Zhou Zhen and the others.

And this description actually reminded Chen Heng of a strange scripture he had obtained in his early years at Daojun Fu Yu's Lake.

Shouzun Shouzun Moshen, the "Silent Tiangong Saint-Controlling Prayer Great Art"—

If a cultivator in the world could pass the trial method of the "Six Dust Demons," and then cultivate the "Silent Tiangong Saint-Controlling Prayer Great Art" with a demonic body, they could smoothly connect their own divine powers to the depths of that Silent Tiangong, transforming into a Shouzun Demon Son, becoming the "bloodline offspring" of that Shouzun Shouzun Moshen within the Multiverse.

And after becoming a Shouzun Demon Son, as long as one continuously performed acts of urging decay, extermination, destruction, and calamity, one could also continuously receive blessings from Shouzun Shouzun Moshen from within the Silent Tiangong.

These blessings were quite similar to the benefits given by the Deception Sutra.

Both were abundant in their variety of items, truly diverse and myriad, too numerous to list, leaving one utterly dumbfounded!

Viewed in this light, the "Deception Sutra" cultivated by Tian Xia and the "Silent Tiangong Saint-Controlling Prayer Great Art" seemed to follow the same path.

He and the Shouzun Demon Son should both be chess pieces in the hands of those Great Divine Power Practitioners.

However, although they were largely equivalent.

Yet in subtle details, there were still some differences between the two...

Once one becomes a Shouzun Demon Son, it is tantamount to transcending the suffering of life, death, decline, and illness; even if killed time and again, one can be reborn repeatedly within the Silent Tiangong.

Unless Shouzun Shouzun Moshen erases the life foundation the Demon Son left within the Tiangong, the Demon Son can nearly extend their life infinitely; even when facing lifespan limits or the arrival of Daoist tribulation penalties, there is no need to worry.

Because as they receive blessings time and again, the Shouzun Demon Son, rather than being a Demon Son, has instead degenerated into an incarnation of Shouzun Shouzun Moshen, their mind and spirit long polluted by demonic miasma, their nature light extinguished.

But people like Tian Xia, who have obtained the Deception Sutra in hand, are not so.

They can be injured and can die; if they die, unless they escape with their primordial spirit in time, they will turn completely to ash, and one should not expect the Deception Sutra to give them any assistance.

It is unknown whether the divine powers of the Deception Sutra's master are inferior to those of Shouzun Shouzun Moshen, or whether this individual is simply unwilling to do so?

After many years, and having witnessed this strange path with his own eyes, Chen Heng's thoughts involuntarily condensed, myriad ideas flashing through his brain like lightning.

Compared to the formidable and fierce reputation of Shouzun Shouzun Moshen within the Multiverse.

?? The creator of the Deception Sutra seemed to be obscure in fame.

Not only was this the first time Chen Heng had ever heard the name of the Deception Sutra.

Even Tian Xia, a true practitioner of the Deception Sutra, did not know the surname and given name of that Great Divine Power Practitioner above his head, nor what exactly this figure plotted against him.

"How did you obtain this Deception Sutra?"

Chen Heng pondered for a moment, then opened his mouth to ask.

Upon hearing these words, Tian Xia's face revealed a hint of embarrassment, and he smiled:

"That was back when I had just finished refining the horizontal bone in my mouth and transformed into a human form not long ago.

Because I found it hard to break the desire of mouth and belly, I also greatly enjoyed seeking food in the restaurants of mortal cities, especially roasted chicken, mellow wine, and such, which were indeed my heart's beloved objects.

And once, after leaving a restaurant, I happened to see an elder by the street; after chatting for a while, that elder said his legs and feet were inconvenient and asked me to fetch two pots of wine for him..."

"So you merely fetched two pots of wine for him and received such a great fortune; could this be nonsense? Do these Great Divine Power Practitioners always act so casually?"

Five Qi Peng Qian Kun was half-believing and half-doubting, secretly pondering in his heart:

"In that case, should I also wander more throughout the Xiaoming Great Marsh? Perhaps some old immortal will take a fancy to me, promote me to a Dao Instrument, and then everything will go smoothly? Might My Lord then value me a bit more?"

"No, no!"

Hearing these words from the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun ring, Tian Xia's face suddenly grew somewhat awkward, and he hurriedly smiled apologetically:

"Originally, I had successfully brewed two pots of wine, but at that time, for some reason, I was suddenly possessed by a devil and secretly greedily kept one pot for myself.

In the end, I lied to that elder, claiming I had carelessly spilled it on the road, so I only brought him one pot.

Reflecting on it repeatedly since then, what I did at that time was truly utterly wrong..."

Tian Xia's voice grew increasingly lacking in confidence as he went on.

It seemed even he was filled with doubt; given that old man's heaven-spanning abilities, he must have been perfectly clear about Tian Xia's actions, so why did he still transmit the Deception Sutra to him?

"This works too?"

The Five Qi Peng Qian Kun ring stared wide-eyed.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat delicate, Chen Heng suddenly offered a reminder, then raised his hand and pointed.

Tian Xia instinctively wanted to dodge aside, but recalling the phantom of the Mixed Gold Thunder Bead from earlier, he could only rein in all his scheming thoughts.

Despite his fear, he stood obediently in place, as if his feet had taken root.

In truth, after traveling everywhere to deceive people over these years, Tian Xia had also gained no small benefits from the Deception Sutra.

Such as the Di Xing Fa he had just employed, and also like that Great Flying Scenery Talisman currently in his sleeve pouch, capable of crossing the void and shifting heaven and earth, which Tian Xia regarded as his true trump card for preserving his life!

By rights, if Tian Xia merely intended to crush this talisman, he could instantly transform into rainbow light and escape the dangerous situation.

But the reason Tian Xia did not act this way, after being forced out of the earth by Chen Heng's magic power, was that he would rather suffer a beating from the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun ring than dare to make any rash move.

The reason for this was actually not hard to guess.

Earlier at Huang Wu Mountain, the reason Chen Heng immediately brought out the Mixed Gold Thunder Bead to intimidate, rather than using other methods,

was that he guessed Tian Xia must have some background to rely on, and wished to prevent this fellow from being too clever for his own good.

Seeing Tian Xia's performance now, Chen Heng's earlier move had indeed proven useful...

Just as Tian Xia's thoughts were in turmoil, the You Ming Zhen Shui happened to touch his brow, and in but an instant, the memories of Tian Xia's life surged forth like a tide.

If an ordinary cultivator were here and handled this improperly, with even the slightest oversight,

this would not only be a great catastrophe for the one whose soul was being read, but due to the shock to the divine soul, it would also rebound and injure the caster themselves; hence, methods for searching souls and reading spirits were mostly listed as taboos.

But Chen Heng, first possessing such a Deng Shang Cheng Fa as the You Ming Zhen Shui, and second, having long mastered the control of his own magic power to act as his heart desired, naturally feared nothing.

Shortly after, having swept his sleeve to put away the You Ming Zhen Shui again, Chen Heng merely nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

From this recent investigation, it was indeed true that Tian Xia had spoken no lies.

It was just that old man who had transmitted the Deception Sutra to Tian Xia...

"In the Dao Record Hall, there is a volume titled 'Secret Treasury of the Immortal Officials,' cast jointly by our sect's Immortal Le Quan and his disciples; it records the life stories of most immortals, Buddhas, gods, and sages within the myriad heavens and universes, each accompanied by a portrait.

Yet strangely, that old man who transmitted the Deception Sutra to Tian Xia was not recorded in the 'Secret Treasury of the Immortal Officials.'

Was it because this person attained the Dao after the Ancient Era, so his portrait does not appear in the volume, or because he used divine abilities to change his appearance, making him difficult to identify?"

Chen Heng thought silently.

And although this thought of his passed in a flash without further deliberation,

to Tian Xia, whose soul had just been read and who inevitably felt lingering fear, it seemed full of profound meaning.

He only suspected that Chen Heng had harbored killing intent, wishing to go all the way and eliminate him first before anything else.

After hesitating for several moments, his eyes flashing darkly for a while, Tian Xia finally made up his mind; with a thud, he prostrated himself on the ground, declaring his willingness to serve Chen Heng as his master, and even intended to take out that Great Flying Scenery Talisman from his sleeve pouch as an offering.

"Since Your Honor has obtained such a fortune as the Deception Sutra, it stands to reason that you are no creature of the pond, and your achievements will be immeasurable; why act this way?"

Chen Heng asked with a smile.

"To be honest, although the Deception Sutra is mysterious and strange, after several near-death experiences, I have already formed the intention to wash my hands of this trade.

I originally planned to finish this one job and then go to Wenzhao Heaven to find a quiet land for cultivation; who could have known..."

Tian Xia smiled awkwardly, speaking the truth:

"Moreover, today's matter has already blown up; even if Senior does not kill me, the Huang Wu Zhou Shi and that old Chi Dragon will certainly not let me go; I am willing to offer my entire family assets in exchange for my life!

If Senior is willing to show mercy, I am willing to sign a Vital Essence Blood Oath and serve with the loyalty of a dog or horse!"

On the first page of that Deception Sutra, it first taught Tian Xia how to assess the situation and adapt flexibly.

The so-called wise man recognizes the times.

If one is not proficient even in this, let alone speak of the various subsequent acts of bluffing and deception.

Tian Xia originally felt he had acted without a single leak; the reason he dared to stay openly in Huang Wu Mountain after deceiving the Huang Wu Zhou Shi was precisely based on the idea of hiding in the shadow of the lamp.

Because the Bai Shi archway in Huang Wu Mountain could obscure heavenly mechanism calculations, he had even conveniently taken advantage of this location.

But after the brief clash with Chen Heng just now, Tian Xia also understood that his proudly arranged plans and life-preserving trump cards counted for nothing before Chen Heng.

Since his lifeline had been seized by someone whose background, cultivation, and scheming were all far superior to his own, what else was there to say?

Simply bow your head and prostrate yourself!

Moreover, Tian Xia had long harbored the intention to stop, wishing to go to Xudu Xudu Tianyu to cultivate in peace and preserve his life.

If Chen Heng was truly a person from Xudu Xudu Tianyu, that would hit exactly what Tian Xia hoped for!

After pondering briefly, Chen Heng also spoke:

"Keep that Great Flying Scenery Talisman; however, since you offended first in this matter, you must handle affairs properly with the Huang Wu Zhou Shi and that Chi Dragon."

Upon hearing these words, Tian Xia's face lit up with joy, and he immediately declared his willingness to take out his assets to reconcile with these two parties.

"Since you wish to enter my sect to serve, your usual conduct should have some scruples," Chen Heng added.

"My Lord, allow me to report; usually, I only deceive people out of ill-gotten gains; in this matter of the Water Duke Zhi, it was truly that upon smelling that fragrance, the hunger worms in my belly were uncontrollable, and I suffered a relapse of my gluttonous illness..."

Since Chen Heng had already read his divine soul, Tian Xia spoke these words with quite an air of righteousness.

And while the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun ring sighed at Tian Xia's quick change of tune, secretly lamenting that Cai Qing would seemingly have another rival in the future, it also gained a deeper understanding of Tian Xia.

For an external medicine like Water Duke Lingzhi, which holds great utility for dragon offspring, Tian Xia would actually risk his life merely for a taste of good flavor.

This yellow-furred rat truly possessed a nature that valued food over life itself.

"Although the Water Duke Lingzhi has already been consumed by you, if that old Chi-dragon merely seeks to increase its Dao cultivation, I do have another method at hand.

Moreover, for me, this entails benefit without cost; thus, the matter is not without room for maneuver."

Chen Heng's eyes flickered with movement:

"Furthermore, shortly I intend to seek the whereabouts of that rebellious scion of a Dao lineage; it may well be that I shall need to borrow the strength of that old Chi-dragon."

Though Tian Xia heard only clouds

and mist, seeing Chen Heng order him to write two talisman letters, one delivered respectively to the Huang Wu Zhou Shi and the two disciples of that old Chi-dragon, and on the talisman letter for the latter, he even desired a personal meeting with the old Chi-dragon.

Seeing this, Tian Xia knew his life was saved; for a moment, he could not help but break into a joyful smile, feeling several degrees more emotion at finally having secured a powerful backer.

After the two talisman letters were dispatched, at Chen Heng's indication, Tian Xia also brought out his own copy of the Deception Sutra.

Alas, this object had been specially sealed with a Dao prohibition, just like the "Divine Abode Pivot Hua Daojun Expounds the Tai Shi Yuan Zhen Sutra" that Chen Heng had previously obtained.

In Tian Xia's view, the pages were filled with dense, fly-head small characters, yet when Chen Heng flipped through them, he saw only blankness.

This caused the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle to feel thoroughly disappointed, sighing repeatedly.

Time flew swiftly; in the blink of an eye, the Hao De Ri Qi agreed upon between Chen Heng and that old Chi-dragon arrived.

On this day, just as Tian Xia intended to ascend and report, before he could even reach the cliff top, he was blocked by the Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Circle.

"What is this?"

Once Tian Xia saw clearly Chen Heng's current condition, his pupils contracted, and his heart could not help but tremble with shock.