Chapter 494: Tian Xia

The Deception Scripture—

Upon hearing this name, the Five Qi Qiankun Ring first froze, then crossed its arms and sneered.

You yellow-skinned rat, spouting nonsense—do you dare mock this venerable one?

Seeing the Five Qi Qiankun Ring raise its fist again, the field mouse inwardly cursed the spirit’s coarseness, yet hurriedly explained, fearing even a half-second delay would bring another beating.

According to the field mouse, his true name was Tian Xia, born in the White Cave of Miaobao Land, with his entire family under the control of the Rat Ancestor of the White Cave.

Though Tian Xia had fortunately awakened spiritual awareness and refined the transverse bone in his mouth, thereby becoming a demon.

But without any stroke of fortune, he would have remained an ordinary minor demon, subject to the Rat Ancestor’s commands and beatings, barely scraping by for freedom, let alone attaining the Dao.

Yet since acquiring this so-called Deception Scripture, everything changed.

Tian Xia had nearly ascended to heaven overnight, a world apart from his former state!

He first used the Deception Scripture to complete his first deal within the White Cave; after truly tasting its sweetness, his confidence soared.

After swindling the Rat Ancestor of the White Cave into utter ruin, nearly driving him into qi deviation, Tian Xia, feeling his skills had now reached a refined level, finally left the White Cave.

To cultivate and to vent his accumulated resentment, he gradually turned his attention toward surrounding factions.

From the White Cave to Yiguan Mountain, Chi Li Mansion, Hundred Toxins Palace, Golden Peak Sect…

Nearly one-third of the notable factions within Miaobao Land had been visited by Tian Xia, each having lost something valuable to his deceptions.

Now, the Water Duke Mushroom was, in Tian Xia’s plan, to be his final score in Miaobao Land.

Once the rumors died down and this matter concluded smoothly,

He, Tian Xia, would pass through the gateway standing at the Western Crossing Sea, heading to Wenzhao Heaven—the closest to Miaobao Land—and henceforth enjoy boundless freedom in the heavens!

The Deception Scripture was powerful, but walking constantly by the river, how could one avoid getting one’s shoes wet?

Tian Xia knew well: if he became too immersed in the Deception Scripture, he would eventually be beaten to death by others, dying by the very means that made him rich.

To achieve the Dao, given his current situation, he must reach the heavens and first secure a favorable position.

With the insights he’d gained through years of experience, even without heavy reliance on the Deception Scripture, Tian Xia was confident he could barely hold his ground in the heavens.

He might even one day establish his own sect and become a minor Daoist lord!

But all these plans, however fine, who could foresee…

After Tian Xia finished speaking, Chen Hang’s eyes flickered with thought, and he remained silent for a moment.

If Tian Xia’s words were true, then the Deception Scripture he cultivated was less a scripture or treasure record

than a kind of credential intimately tied to a Great Divine Power.

Each time Tian Xia successfully deceived someone, the Deception Scripture bestowed rewards proportional to the value of the stolen treasure.

Be it a flying treasure, a wondrous elixir, a divine weapon, or a powerful servant.

The variety was truly countless.

Moreover, the Deception Scripture itself was a mysterious treasure, capable of concealing its master’s spiritual aura and creating illusions, deceiving most eyes and ears.

This was the primary reason Tian Xia, despite his low cultivation, could fool Zhou Zhen and his group.

This description reminded Chen Hang of a strange scripture he had once obtained in Fuyu Lake.

Chongyu Demon God, The Great Prayer Rite of the Silent Heavenly Palace—

If a cultivator could pass the “Six Dust Demons” trial and cultivate the Great Prayer Rite with a demonic body, he could seamlessly connect his divine power to the depths of the Silent Heavenly Palace, becoming a Chongyu Demon Son and a “bloodline descendant” of the Chongyu Demon God across the myriad heavens.

After becoming a Chongyu Demon Son, by continually performing acts of destruction, annihilation, ruin, and terror, he could continuously receive blessings from the Silent Heavenly Palace.

These blessings bore striking resemblance to those granted by the Deception Scripture.

Both were extraordinarily diverse, countless in variety, truly astonishing!

Thus, Tian Xia’s Deception Scripture and the Great Prayer Rite seemed of the same lineage.

He and the Chongyu Demon Sons were both pawns in the hands of those Great Divine Powers.

Yet while broadly similar,

there were subtle differences between the two…

Once one became a Chongyu Demon Son, one had effectively transcended the suffering of birth, death, decay, and illness; even if killed repeatedly, one could be reborn again and again within the Silent Heavenly Palace.

Unless the Chongyu Demon God erased the life-root left by the Demon Son within the palace, the Demon Son could extend his existence indefinitely, needing no concern for lifespan or cultivation tribulations.

For with each blessing received, the Chongyu Demon Son was less a son and more a manifestation of the Chongyu Demon God, his mind corrupted by demonic aura, his inner light extinguished.

But those like Tian Xia who possessed the Deception Scripture were different.

They could be wounded and die; if killed, unless their primordial spirit escaped in time, they were utterly obliterated, with no aid forthcoming from the Deception Scripture.

Was it that the Deception Scripture’s master lacked the power of the Chongyu Demon God, or simply chose not to?

After many years, having witnessed such an odd path firsthand, Chen Hang’s thoughts sharpened, his mind flashing with countless ideas.

Compared to the Chongyu Demon God’s infamous reputation across the myriad heavens,

the creator of the Deception Scripture seemed obscure.

Not only had Chen Hang never heard of the Deception Scripture until now,

even Tian Xia, the true cultivator of the Deception Scripture, did not know the name or intentions of the Great Divine Power above him.

“How did you come by this Deception Scripture?”

Chen Hang paused, then asked.

At this, Tian Xia’s face flushed slightly, and he chuckled:

“It was shortly after I had just refined the transverse bone in my mouth and transformed into human form.

Unable to resist my appetite, I often visited human taverns for food, especially roasted chicken and fine wine—my absolute favorites.

Once, after leaving a tavern, I happened upon an elder by the roadside; after chatting awhile, he said his legs were weak and asked me to fetch him two jugs of wine…”

“So you merely fetched him two jugs of wine and gained such fortune? Are you lying? Do such Great Divine Powers act so casually?”

The Five Qi Qiankun Ring was skeptical, inwardly musing:

“If so, I should stroll more often through Xiao Ming Marsh—perhaps some old immortal will take a liking to me, elevate me to a Dao Artifact, and grant me smooth sailing? Will my master then value me more?”

“No, no!”

Hearing this, Tian Xia’s face turned awkward, and he hastily smiled:

“I fetched the two jugs without issue, but for some reason, I suddenly became possessed—I secretly stole one jug.

Then I lied to the elder, claiming I had accidentally spilled it, so I brought only one.

Looking back now, I truly shouldn’t have done it…”

Tian Xia’s voice grew weaker toward the end.

He himself was deeply puzzled: with the elder’s transcendent power, he surely knew exactly what Tian Xia had done—so why had he passed on the Deception Scripture?

“That’s allowed?”

The Five Qi Qiankun Ring stared.

As the atmosphere grew tense, Chen Hang suddenly spoke a reminder, then raised a finger.

Tian Xia instinctively tried to dodge, but remembering the phantom of the Golden Thunder Pearl, he suppressed all thoughts of escape.

Though fearful, he stood motionless, as if rooted to the ground.

In truth, over the years of deception, Tian Xia had gained many benefits from the Deception Scripture.

Such as the earth-traveling technique he had just used, and the Great Flying Sky Talisman now hidden in his sleeve—a treasure capable of traversing the void and shifting heaven and earth, his true lifeline!

Logically, if Tian Xia merely activated and shattered this talisman, he could instantly transform into a rainbow of light and escape danger.

Yet he had not done so after being forced from the ground by Chen Hang’s power; he preferred to endure another beating from the Five Qi Qiankun Ring rather than risk action.

The reason was not hard to guess.

Back at Huangwu Mountain, Chen Hang had immediately summoned the Golden Thunder Pearl to intimidate, rather than use other methods.

He had suspected Tian Xia had some hidden backing, and wished to deter him from acting foolishly.

Now, observing Tian Xia’s behavior, Chen Hang’s move had proven perfectly timed…

As Tian Xia’s thoughts churned, the Netherwater Spirit touched his forehead; in an instant, his entire life’s memories surged forth like a tidal wave.

If a normal cultivator mishandled this, even the slightest oversight

would bring catastrophic disaster to the soul-read subject, and due to spiritual turmoil, harm the caster as well—thus soul-reading was largely forbidden.

But Chen Hang possessed the superior Netherwater Spirit, and his control over his magic power was absolute—he feared nothing.

Soon after, as Chen Hang swept his sleeve and retracted the Netherwater Spirit, he merely nodded slightly, saying nothing further.

His probing confirmed Tian Xia’s words were true.

Yet the elder who had taught Tian Xia the Deception Scripture…

“In the Dao Record Hall, there is a volume called the Immortal Bureau’s Secret Repository, compiled by my sect’s Lequan Immortal and his disciples, recording the life stories of most immortals, buddhas, and deities across the myriad heavens, each with accompanying portraits.

Yet the elder who taught Tian Xia the Deception Scripture is not recorded in the Immortal Bureau’s Secret Repository.

Is it because he attained the Dao after the Ancient Era, hence absent from the portraits, or because he altered his appearance with divine power, making him unrecognizable?”

Chen Hang mused inwardly.

Though this thought passed through his mind briefly, he gave it no further weight.

But to Tian Xia, freshly soul-read and still trembling, it seemed deeply significant.

He suspected Chen Hang had decided to kill him—to eliminate him outright.

After hesitation, Tian Xia’s eyes flickered, then he firmly resolved himself, falling prostrate with a thud, pledging allegiance to Chen Hang and offering the Great Flying Sky Talisman from his sleeve as tribute.

“You, who have received such fortune from the Deception Scripture, surely are no ordinary fish—your future is immeasurable. Why such humility?”

Chen Hang asked with a smile.

“To be honest, though the Deception Scripture is mysterious, after narrowly escaping death several times, I’ve resolved to retire.

I planned to complete this one last deal, then journey to Wenzhao Heaven to find a quiet place for cultivation—yet who could have foreseen…”

Tian Xia smiled awkwardly and admitted honestly:

“Besides, today’s affair has already blown out of proportion. Even if you do not kill me, the Huangwu Zhou clan and the Old Chi Dragon will never let me off. I am willing to surrender all my wealth in exchange for my life!”

“If you would show mercy, I am willing to swear an Essence Blood Oath and serve you as a loyal hound and steed!”

On the opening page of that deception manual, it first taught Tian Xia how to assess the situation and adapt flexibly.

As the saying goes: he who understands the times is a hero.

If one cannot master even this, how could one possibly succeed in the later schemes of deception and bluff?

Tian Xia had originally believed his plan was flawless. His reason for daring to remain brazenly within Huangwu Mountain after swindling the Huangwu Zhou clan was precisely the tactic of hiding in plain sight.

Because the white stone archway in Huangwu Mountain could obscure heavenly calculations, he had also taken advantage of this benefit.

But after his brief clash with Chen Hang, Tian Xia realized that his prized strategies and life-saving cards meant nothing before Chen Hang.

When one’s life is seized by someone vastly superior in lineage, cultivation base, and cunning, what else is there to say?

One should simply bow one’s head and submit!

Moreover, Tian Xia had long wished to retire, seeking peace to cultivate in Tianyu and preserve his life.

If Chen Hang truly came from Tianyu, it would suit Tian Xia perfectly!

After a brief pause, Chen Hang spoke:

“Keep the Great Flying Spirit Talisman. But since you initiated this offense, you must settle matters with the Huangwu Zhou clan and the Old Chi Dragon.”

Upon hearing this, Tian Xia beamed with joy and immediately offered to surrender all his wealth to reconcile with both parties.

“If you wish to serve under me, your conduct must henceforth show restraint,” Chen Hang added.

“Master, permit me to explain—I usually only swindle ill-gotten wealth. This time, the Water Duke’s Fungus affair truly happened because I smelled its fragrance and could not control my hunger; I fell back into my old vice of gluttony...”

Since Chen Hang had already read his soul, Tian Xia spoke with unshakable confidence.

The Five Qi Cosmic Ring, meanwhile, marveled at how quickly Tian Xia had changed his tune, sighing inwardly that Cai Qing would now have a new rival, yet also gaining a deeper understanding of Tian Xia.

For a rare external herb like Water Duke’s Fungus, which greatly benefits dragonkind, Tian Xia had risked everything merely for a taste.

This yellow-skinned rat truly had a nature that valued food over life.

“Though you have already consumed the Water Duke’s Fungus, if the Old Chi Dragon merely seeks to advance his Dao, I have another solution.”

“And for me, it is costless and beneficial—there is still room for compromise.”

Chen Hang’s gaze shifted:

“Moreover, later I intend to track down that Dao sect traitor—I may need the Old Chi Dragon’s help.”

Though Tian Xia was confused, he saw Chen Hang instruct him to write two talisman letters—one for each disciple of the Huangwu Zhou clan and the Old Chi Dragon. The latter letter even requested a personal meeting with the Old Chi Dragon.

Seeing this, Tian Xia knew his life was spared, and he could not help but grin broadly, feeling a deeper sense of relief at finally having found a powerful patron.

After the two talisman letters were sent, at Chen Hang’s signal, Tian Xia also brought forth his own deception manual.

But unfortunately, the book had been specially sealed with a Daoist prohibition, just like the Divine House Shu Hua Dao Jun’s Great Primordial True Scripture Chen Hang had previously obtained.

To Tian Xia, the pages were filled with dense, tiny script—but when Chen Hang flipped through them, he saw only blank pages.

This left the Five Qi Cosmic Ring deeply disappointed, sighing repeatedly.

Time flew swiftly, and soon it was the day Chen Hang had agreed to meet the Old Chi Dragon.

On this day, as Tian Xia moved to announce himself, he had not yet reached the cliff’s edge when the Five Qi Cosmic Ring blocked him.

That day, Tian Xia had just begun to ascend to report, but before he could reach the cliff’s summit, he was barred by the Five Qi Cosmic Ring.

When Tian Xia saw Chen Hang’s condition, his pupils shrank, and his heart trembled.

When Tian Xia saw Chen Hang’s condition at that moment, his pupils shrank and his heart trembled.