Heaven-Stealing Thief

Rumble!

Outside, in the courtyard, Wang Ping stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes half-closed. Most of his Spirit Sense had left his body and settled completely upon the Six-Desire Chaos Demon behind him.

In an instant, his entire field of vision changed.

Before this, the world in his eyes had been no different from the world perceived by his Spirit Sense. Mountains were still mountains, waters were still waters, and everything was orderly.

But now, it was different.

Through the Six-Desire Chaos Demon's perspective, the world sensed by his Spirit Sense had abruptly assumed a completely different appearance. Or rather, it had gained an extraordinary radiance.

That radiance spread through the air like an aurora, filling the cosmos. At first glance, it seemed as though countless tiny worms were wriggling within it. Yet in the blink of an eye, they became surging waves. Those two qualities merged together, displaying different colors as the sun rose and the moon set.

Azure, yellow, red, white, black—they alternated in endless rotation.

The five colors formed different shapes before Wang Ping's eyes. They appeared muddled together, yet were clearly divided into twenty-four streams.

"This is..."

At the sight of such a wonder, Wang Ping immediately recalled a passage from the Six Desires Heaven's Free Attainment Method: "Heaven and earth possess Twenty-Four Qi, governing the transformations of all things."

Thus, they were called the Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi.

Legend had it that the cultivation of Qi Refinement was related to this Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi. Unfortunately, the method was vague on the matter, leaving him unable to know the truth.

Yet soon, as the Six Desires Heaven's Free Attainment Method began to circulate, Wang Ping discovered that one of the twenty-four auroras filling heaven and earth had reacted. Infinite colors drifted down with the Six-Desire Chaos Demon's breaths, wrapping around him like a waterfall before being drawn into him bit by bit.

Crack!

Almost at the same moment, Wang Ping felt as if he had been thrown into boiling water. Torrents of heat poured in through his nose and mouth, flowing through every limb and bone.

The feeling was like melting and reforging.

It was as though his sinews, bones, flesh, skin, even his meridians, were being dissolved by that heat, then polished anew and forged into entirely different shapes.

"Fuck!?"

Wang Ping blurted it out instinctively, nearly biting through his tongue. Intense agony savagely battered his brain and nerves throughout the process.

If he had to describe it, it was like being buried in sand with only a dead man's head exposed. Then someone split open the top of that head with a blade and poured mercury inside... That unbearable itch, that unspeakable suffering, made one want to crawl out through the opening at the crown of one's head.

Wang Ping... couldn't hold back.

Splat!

He suddenly raised his head and crawled out through that opening atop his head, from the very source of the scorching flow that seemed to be melting his body. Then darkness instantly swallowed his vision.

Crack, crack crack crack!

The piercing sounds continued without end.

Rotting skin peeled away, bloody fluid streamed from his pores, blue veins thickened, and his muscles and bones grew sturdier. Wang Ping slowly straightened.

The pain fell away like shackles being unlocked. Along with it fell a layer of ragged human skin, and the overwhelming exhilaration made Wang Ping's entire body tremble.

A complete rebirth!

At this moment, Wang Ping was like a serpent-dragon shedding its old skin and emerging into new life. The exposed skin of his body gleamed with a golden radiance beneath the sunlight.

Spirit-Communing Thought, Perfectly Sealed True Body, Cosmic Circulation Breath Intake, Qi-Manifesting Technique.

The First Tribulation Realm possessed four cultivation traits. Wang Ping had already cultivated Spirit-Communing Thought, while the second trait he was currently cultivating was the Perfectly Sealed True Body.

Of course, this was merely the beginning. The radiance of his skin made its supernatural nature obvious at a glance, which also meant it remained superficial and had not penetrated deep into his internal meridians. Once he truly cultivated the Perfectly Sealed True Body, all such supernatural signs would instead be concealed, and he would look no different from an ordinary mortal.

Bang!

The next second, Wang Ping raised his foot and set it down. He had barely used any strength, merely intending to take a few steps, yet the blue brick beneath his foot shattered from that single stomp!

"Unbelievable..."

Wang Ping swayed in place and took another two steps. He continued crushing blue bricks beneath his feet, only reining in his strength on the fifth step, leaving behind nothing more than cracks.

Strength!

It had to be known that he was not using Inner Force at all. Relying solely on his pure physique, the strength he displayed was no weaker than when he had charged alone into an enemy formation in his previous life!

Back then, he had even used the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Art!

Compared to his current self, those so-called External Arts Perfection practitioners, those True Dragon Sinews and Mountain Lord Bones, were complete nonsense. They did not even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath!

Was this reasonable?

"Actually, it seems pretty reasonable. After all, I've become an immortal cultivator..."

Standing where he was, Wang Ping swung his arms again and performed a set of punches. Only with the aid of his Spirit Sense did he gradually gain control over the power of his reborn body.

"Am I even human now?"

In the Great Shun Dynasty, an ordinary martial artist needed ten years of grueling practice to achieve External Arts Perfection, while an Inner Force Martial Master needed another ten years. But how long had he just spent?

The time it took to draw one breath of spiritual energy!

With only a single breath of spiritual energy, his physique had already become comparable to that of an Inner Force Martial Master. The gulf between them was less a difference between people—

And more a difference between species!

"No, there's also my martial arts..."

Wang Ping circulated his Spirit Sense and carefully examined the changes within himself. To his surprise, he found that every trace left in his body by the martial arts he had practiced in the past had vanished.

Or rather, they had been overwritten.

True Dragon Sinew, Mountain Lord Bone, Dragon-Elephant Flesh, Kui Ox Hide, Supreme Yang Blood, Snow-Tempered Marrow... His mortal physique had now been completely covered by a more mysterious power.

This transformation was like a snake or python turning into a dragon.

"...Unbelievable!"

Even the Inner Force physique cultivated through the Sky Roc Dragon-Seizing Physique Diagram had visibly begun to collapse, dissolving back into his meridians.

The reason was exceedingly simple.

"The grade of my martial arts isn't enough anymore..." Wang Ping murmured.

What was Inner Force? What was a martial physique?

Put plainly, a martial physique was another bodily system that a martial artist constructed within their body. Essence, qi, and spirit were converted through it, and the resulting power was Inner Force.

The problem he faced now was simple: the Sky Roc Dragon-Seizing Physique Diagram had limited output. It could no longer merge his transformed essence, qi, and spirit into one or convert them into Inner Force. Even the Inner Force he had already converted was being naturally broken down as his body operated.

It was as though his body were telling him:

"There is no room inside me for something this small?"

At that thought, Wang Ping nearly laughed. If he returned to the Great Shun Court now, he likely would not even qualify as an Inner Force Martial Master, only as an external arts martial artist.

"Forget it, forget it."

"Whether I have Inner Force or not, my strength has unquestionably risen. That's what matters. Besides, from another angle, this is also my potential..."

Although the Sky Roc Dragon-Seizing Physique Diagram could no longer allow his current self to convert Inner Force, the Great Shun Court surely possessed stronger Inner Force physiques. From that perspective, this loss of cultivation was not a bad thing. In the future, he could seek better martial arts and walk farther down the path of Martial Dao.

Thinking of this, Wang Ping let it go.

"Though practicing martial arts cannot compare to cultivating immortality, it develops quickly and is still useful in the early stages. Besides, I have a Defective Spiritual Root and no hope of the Great Dao. I must always prepare for a rainy day."

He gathered his thoughts.

Wang Ping's consciousness withdrew from the Six-Desire Chaos Demon and returned to his body. He then stowed the towering three-meter divine general back into his shadow.

Feeling the surging power within himself, he could not help indulging in a few thoughts. My body's combat strength alone can now compare to the state I reached after using the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Art in my previous life. And I've cultivated the Six-Desire Chaos Demon too. It possesses quite a few supernatural abilities—its combat strength is probably even greater than mine.

Moreover, the two could fight side by side.

"If a real fight broke out, with me dealing damage from the rear using a bow and arrows and the Six-Desire Chaos Demon holding the front line, could we perhaps contend with a Titled Martial Master like Xu Bingzheng?"

Wang Ping was itching to try.

But he quickly calmed down again. No. Even if I want to show off, I should wait until I return to the Great Shun Court. Here in the Immortal Sect, I still need to keep my head down...

It had to be known that he had only cultivated a single Spirit-Communing Thought, yet he already possessed such abilities.

What about You Daoist Nun?

Even by a conservative estimate, she should already have passed the Human Tribulation and cultivated Dharma Power. After all, she clearly possessed a True Spiritual Root and was an official disciple of the Immortal Sect.

Jingle, jingle!

Just then, as the silver bells beneath the eaves rang, Wang Ping raised his eyes at once. He knew You Daoist Nun had emerged from seclusion and was summoning him, her attendant boy.

Wang Ping did not dare delay. He hurried to the courtyard wall painted with a gate, took out his token, and knocked on it. Only then did he reach out and gently push against the painting.

Clang!

The gate opened in response.

The Grotto-Heaven within the painting came into view.

Wang Ping strolled through the gate and entered the inner temple.

Almost simultaneously, You Daoist Nun, who stood beneath a towering ancient tree in the inner temple courtyard, seemed to sense something. She turned around, and her gaze immediately fell upon him.

"...Hm?"

The next second, You Daoist Nun gave a soft cry of surprise. Her beautiful eyes studied Wang Ping, light flowing through them as a hint of delight appeared. Only then did she nod slightly.

"Not bad."

Wang Ping immediately bowed. "You flatter me, my lady. My cultivation method has merely made a minor breakthrough."

You Daoist Nun said approvingly, "A minor breakthrough? Cultivating the Six Desires Heaven's Free Attainment Method to the fourth level in three months is more than a minor breakthrough."

At those words, Wang Ping's heart tightened.

Though he had long prepared himself mentally, when You Daoist Nun casually exposed the progress of his cultivation, he still felt a deep unease.

"This is far too unsafe."

"If only I had some secret method to conceal my cultivation. Otherwise, my cultivation is too abnormal and could easily draw the scrutiny of those with ulterior motives."

"Since you have made progress, accompany me this time."

You Daoist Nun reached into her sleeve, then took out a jade slip and tossed it into Wang Ping's arms. "Read it carefully. On this journey, you will protect me while I cultivate."

"I obey your decree."

Wang Ping held the jade slip in both hands. After accepting the order, he extended his Spirit Sense to read its contents, and a subtle change immediately came over his expression.

What was written inside the jade slip was a summons.

[By order: Bliss Peak disciple You Xuexin is to escort the recently unearthed "Five Thieves Steal Heaven Myriad Transformation Divine Talisman" back to the Divine Weapons Institute within three days. There shall be no delay.]

"This is a decree from the Immortal Sect."

You Daoist Nun spoke calmly. "It was personally issued by Martial Uncle Mingde, a Qi Refiner of the Divine Weapons Institute. It was sent to me because I have cultivated [Swordsmanship]."

"As for the Five Thieves Steal Heaven Myriad Transformation Divine Talisman, it is an immortal art created by a former disciple expelled from the Immortal Sect. He called himself the Heaven-Stealing Thief. The cultivation method he spread is exceedingly sinister and can beguile people's hearts. Only cultivators like me, who have cultivated [Swordsmanship] and possess clear sword-hearts, can resist it."

You Daoist Nun explained in detail:

"Originally, the Five Thieves Steal Heaven Myriad Transformation Divine Talisman should have been completely destroyed. This one was a fish that slipped through the net, discovered by an Outer Sect Disciple."

"That is why I, being the closest, have been assigned to escort it."

"However, the Heaven-Stealing Thief's poisonous legacy within the Immortal Sect runs deep, and he still has many followers. If they learn of this, they may very well intercept and kill us along the way."

Wang Ping frowned deeply at this.

"This... If the item is so important, why do the seniors within the sect not come retrieve it personally? And are there truly so-called thief followers within the Immortal Sect as well?"

"There's nothing strange about that." You Daoist Nun said flatly. "These are not things you should know... In short, the Qi Refiners of the sect do not easily set foot in the mortal world. As for those thief followers, the Immortal Sect calls them Marauder Cultivators. They are merely a group of cultivators who have not obtained the orthodox path and can only walk such crooked and wicked roads."

After hearing You Daoist Nun's explanation, Wang Ping finally understood.

These so-called Marauder Cultivators were actually Rogue Cultivators not recognized by the Immortal Sect. Unable to advance further within the sect, they could only seek another path.

The Five Thieves Steal Heaven Myriad Transformation Divine Talisman had thus come into being.

Put simply, the Heaven-Stealing Thief, that expelled disciple of the Immortal Sect, had made his cultivation method open to all. There was no threshold whatsoever—he spread it directly throughout the entire Immortal Sect.

Thus, everyone who cultivated his method became his disciple and a natural ally. After banding together, they became the Marauder Cultivators of the Immortal Sect today.

"These people normally hide within the Immortal Sect. At critical moments, they assume new identities and intercept Immortal Sect cultivators along the way, gathering all manner of immortal cultivation resources. The Immortal Sect has spent considerable effort purging them, but these Marauder Cultivators are like weeds—no matter how many are cut down, they can never be eradicated."

A perfectly natural result.

Wang Ping was not surprised in the least. After all, when there are policies from above, there are countermeasures below.

As long as the Immortal Sect continued restricting cultivators' paths toward immortality, there would always be soil from which Marauder Cultivators could grow. Put bluntly, this was a problem with the system.

Wang Ping grumbled inwardly, but did not dare reveal even the slightest trace of it. He immediately lowered his head and respectfully asked, "May I ask, my lady, when do we depart?"

"...Three days from now."

At this point, You Daoist Nun's voice paused slightly. Then she looked at Wang Ping and, rare as it was, revealed a breathtakingly beautiful smile.

"I must admit that your cultivation progress has far exceeded my expectations."

"So my plan must be adjusted as well... Go back and rest first. Come see me again in three days. Then I shall give you a surprise."

"So that you may fully realize your value as a human sacrifice."

A surprise? What did she mean by surprise?

Wang Ping's eyelid twitched. The process by which the Immortal Sect made Force Servitors, along with the so-called corpse tax imposed under the Immortal Sect's rule in the memories of his former self, flashed rapidly through his mind.

When he looked at You Daoist Nun again, his expression immediately changed.

This surprise... wouldn't be a problem, would it?