Chapter 144: Deception

In the cultivation world, inheritance is not regarded as especially important.

No one says, "You are my disciple, so you must cultivate my sect's arts."

Because disciples' spiritual roots are all over the place—every type imaginable—when cultivating, they're very casual about which arts they choose.

What inheritance?

Human cultivators value great lineages, not petty personal ones.

So which arts you cultivate doesn't matter much.

As long as it's not demonic.

But your cultivation art, He Pingsheng, seems too unusual—I'm just asking, it's not too much.

"Can you tell me where it came from?" the Ancestor fixed his gaze on He Pingsheng.

I certainly have to tell.

Otherwise, others will think you harbor some great secret.

That would be bad.

We can't let thieves keep eyeing you, can we?

"Yes!" He Pingsheng glanced around, then said: "My art's origin is… improper… Master, may I tell you alone?"

The Ancestor's beard stirred slightly. "What, you don't trust us Elders?"

He Pingsheng said: "No, it's just that this matter concerns my very life and fortune!"

"Relax!" the Grand Void Ancestor said. "I guarantee your life and fortune. Speak."

"Oh!" He Pingsheng took a deep breath and whispered: "In the secret realm, I killed a man!"

The Elders instantly perked up.

"Who?" Grand Void asked.

He Pingsheng said: "That… that senior brother from the Ice Pole Sect… Xiao Bufan!"

"Heh!" the Profound Yang Ancestor slammed his thigh. "The Ice Pole Sect has been hunting the killer of Xiao Bufan—and it was you, you brat?"

"That doesn't make sense… you were only Qi Refining seventh layer back then. How could you have killed him?"

He Pingsheng said: "Under normal circumstances, I certainly couldn't have. But at the time, I caught him… catching him attempting to dishonor Qiao Senior Sister of Tianfu Mountain. I ambushed him, and together with Senior Sister Qiao, we slew him!"

"This…"

"This is also why Senior Sister Qiao… decided to become my Dao partner!"

"Every word I've said is true. I swear by the Heavenly Dao!"

"Screw your Heavenly Dao oath!" Grand Void waved his hand. "Disciples of the same sect aren't allowed to swear oaths to each other!"

In truth, it's useless.

A Heavenly Dao oath belongs to the realm of Dao.

Disciples at Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, or Golden Core stages haven't yet touched Dao—so even if they swear, it means nothing.

A Heavenly Dao oath can only bind cultivators of Nascent Soul rank or higher.

"Ah!" the Profound Yang Ancestor suddenly understood. "So that's why the Qiao family would send their daughter to marry this plain-looking, mediocre brat—now I get it! I get it!"

Now no one doubted He Pingsheng was lying.

This explained the marriage alliance perfectly!

"So you mean!" Grand Void said: "These two books on spirit refinement were taken from Xiao Bufan?"

"Yes, Ancestor!" He Pingsheng said. "Ancestor, you're brilliant!"

"Brilliant my ass!" the Ancestor snapped. "You've told me this much—if I still can't guess, I'm an idiot!"

Sword Bamboo asked: "What else was in Xiao Bufan's storage bag?"

Grand Void shot Sword Bamboo a look. "Could you ask that?"

But He Pingsheng said: "There were many spirit stones—I split them with Senior Sister Qiao."

"And a Cloud-Piercing Boat!"

"And…"

"Enough!" Profound Yang's face turned grim. "Don't say more. What you obtained is yours—none of our business!"

Everything had been normal.

But with Sword Bamboo's question, Profound Yang grew furious.

That question was utterly unnecessary.

After all, He Pingsheng is his disciple's disciple—asking that way disrespects Profound Yang's face.

"Brother Profound Yang, don't be angry!" Sword Bamboo said. "I meant no harm—just asking casually. Besides, Xiao Bufan clearly was a lecher. If he had any improper items, we could screen them for He Boy, right?"

"I'm a Great Golden Core. Brother, do you suspect me of coveting something?"

"Hmph…" Profound Yang snorted.

He Pingsheng whispered: "There was also a Heaven-grade cultivation art…"

"What?" Sword Bamboo gasped, leaping to her feet. "Where? Show me!"

The others all stared wide-eyed at He Pingsheng.

"What Heaven-grade art?"

"What element?"

"Where?"

"Have you cultivated it?"

All the Great Golden Cores except Profound Yang crowded around He Pingsheng, each trembling with excitement.

Only the Grand Void Ancestor seemed utterly uninterested.

He lounged comfortably in his chair, slowly closing his eyes.

The spirit-refinement art He Pingsheng had just handed over was also Heaven-grade—but it bore no label.

So they hadn't recognized it.

Had they known, what chaos would have erupted now?

"Uh…" He Pingsheng said: "I threw it away."

"What?"

"Threw it away?"

Everyone stared in disbelief.

Sword Bamboo asked: "Why?"

He Pingsheng said: "Respected Sword Bamboo Elder, I felt… something was off about that art."

Sword Bamboo asked: "What was off?"

He Pingsheng feigned thought. "It had… many drawings of men and women… cough… doing those things. I thought it was lecherous, so I just tossed it."

"Slap!"

Elder Hong smacked his thigh. "I get it now…"

"A Harmony Art—this must be a high-level Harmony Art… Heaven-grade!"

"Sssss…"

"Got it! Xiao Bufan must've planned to use it to absorb Yin and replenish Yang—that's why he targeted Qiao's girl! Lucky He Boy interrupted him!"

"So that's it! So that's it!"

Everyone turned back to He Pingsheng, each filled with unbearable longing.

Did they want it?

Of course they wanted it—it was a Heaven-grade art!

Who wouldn't?

But how to ask?

If you asked, it meant you wanted to cultivate a Harmony Art—how would your brothers and sisters see you?

Especially Sword Bamboo—she was suffering the most.

She most wanted to ask, yet couldn't bring herself to.

The Grand Void Ancestor, who had been sipping tea with half-closed eyes, suddenly opened them. "He Boy, stop teasing them. Tell them where you threw it—or they'll lie awake all night and sneak over to find you!"

He Pingsheng said: "It's… in the deep mountains, over a thousand li south of the secret realm. I just tossed it carelessly."

"I forgot the exact spot!"

Those around him nearly spat blood.