Covering the Sky: A Guide to Proving the Dao Without Cheats

Luo Heng admired the beauty before him for a moment before speaking, "Princess Yan, I'd like to make a deal with you. Hmm! I'll exchange a portion of Xuanhuang Qi for a secret technique of the Azure Emperor. How about it? I only need..."

After saying that, Luo Hengcui used his pitiful divine power to barely open the lid of the Devouring Demon Jar in the Sea of ​​Bitterness, releasing a portion of Xuanhuang Qi.

Yan Ruyu's gaze shifted between the Xuanhuang Qi and Luo Heng, her expression quite complex.

She knew the saying "when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head," and besides, the deal was fair, so she nodded slightly in agreement.

Yan Ruyu took out a jade slip that resembled bamboo but was not bamboo, and gently presented it to Luo Heng with her delicate hand. Luo Heng took it but didn't even look at it, and casually handed it to Wei Yi beside him.

"Senior Wei, everyone who sees this gets a share."

Wei Yi's gaze lingered on the jade slip for a moment, and he was about to decline when Luo Heng preemptively said with a smile, "Add a cup."

Wei Yi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then shook his head and chuckled, saying nothing more, and reached out to take the scroll of jade slip.

After seeing Yan Ruyu use the Azure Emperor's weapon, the Chaos Azure Lotus, to collect the half-square of Xuanhuang Qi, Luo Heng smiled and said to Yan Ruyu, "Princess Yan, this meeting was a little unpleasant. I look forward to our next encounter."

After saying that, Wei Yi and Luo Heng disappeared from the spot.

Yan Ruyu stood still, her eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression. A hint of bitterness and loss was hard to conceal—as a descendant of the Azure Emperor, she now had to deal with people in such a predicament.

Although it appeared to be a transaction on the surface, how could she not have sensed the underlying coercion? This was something that Yan Ruyu, who appeared gentle but was actually proud, found difficult to remain calm about.

However, in the blink of an eye, her bright, clear eyes regained their resolute light. She gently stroked the warm, jade-like blue lotus in her arms, her fingertips tightening slightly, as if drawing strength from this ancestral relic.

A morning breeze blew by, her black hair fluttering in the wind. She took one last look at the void where the two had disappeared.

"I also look forward to our next meeting." Thinking this, she turned around, her skirt fluttering, her back ramrod straight.

In a short while, the peerless descendant of the Azure Emperor reappeared in the world, as if the moment of vulnerability had never existed.

Of course, Luo Heng, who had already left, was unaware of Yan Ruyu's thoughts at that moment. If he knew, he would surely cry out that he was wronged.

He believed he had been exceptionally considerate of Yan Ruyu's feelings, partly out of respect for the Green Emperor.

Compared to Ji Haoyue, who later dared to forcibly seize an imperial weapon at the fourth level of the realm, Luo Heng's act of exchanging Xuanhuang Qi for a secret technique can only be described as that of a gentle, kind, respectful, and frugal gentleman.

However, Yan Ruyu cannot be blamed for this. At this time, she had not yet experienced the harsh realities of society and was still the demon princess with the bloodline of the Azure Emperor. She had just obtained the supreme imperial weapon, the Chaos Azure Lotus, and was full of vigor and ambition.

If Luo Heng had made this deal a few years later, she might have truly felt grateful.

It is evident that the same event can elicit vastly different perspectives depending on the timing, circumstances, and mindset.

That afternoon, in an elegant courtyard of Yaochi Stone Workshop in the Northern Divine City, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi looked at Luo Heng and Wei Yi in front of her and asked with a strange expression.

"May I ask what brings Fellow Daoist Luo and Senior Wei here today?"

Luo Heng took a sip of the fragrant tea on the table. It tasted slightly bitter at first, followed by sweetness, and then his mind became clear.

"Excellent tea!" Luo Heng couldn't help but exclaim, looking at the Holy Maiden of Yaochi opposite him. He realized he seemed to be cursing, but fortunately, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi probably didn't understand.

Luo Heng quickly coughed lightly and got to the point. "I've come here again to make a deal with Yaochi. I'm willing to exchange my Xuanhuang Qi for Yaochi's help in gathering some information for me."

Even the Holy Maiden of Yaochi was startled when she heard that Xuanhuang Qi was being used as a bargaining chip.

Wei Yi, standing to the side, with his saintly composure, couldn't help but glance at Luo Heng out of the corner of his eye upon hearing this.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, what kind of news is this?" Yaochi Saintess asked, calming herself down.

"I hope the Holy Land of Yaochi can help me find out about the Holy Son of Yaoguang," Luo Heng said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi was somewhat taken aback. It wasn't that the conditions were too harsh, but rather that they were far too simple. Not to mention the major holy lands, even the major merchant guilds in the divine city could easily fulfill them.

The Holy Maiden of Yaochi hesitated for a moment before saying, "This is not difficult. Fellow Daoist Luo, just give me a strand."

Luo Heng was somewhat surprised to hear this, then his face showed a hint of admiration. He moved the lid of the Devouring Demon Jar in the Bitter Sea, releasing a wisp of Xuanhuang Qi.

The Holy Maiden of Yaochi took out a tower-shaped magical artifact and collected the wisp of Xuanhuang Qi. Afterwards, she summoned a Yaochi disciple dressed in white and whispered a few instructions to him.

Not long after, the female disciple returned. The Holy Maiden of Yaochi gestured for her to inform Luo Heng directly.

The result was not ideal. Yao Guang Holy Son has been in seclusion in the Yao Guang Holy Land recently and rarely comes to the Divine City.

After a moment's thought, Luo Heng decided to stop waiting passively and instead take the initiative.

"Holy Maiden of Yaochi, may I have a few words alone with Senior Wei?" Luo Heng said to the Holy Maiden of Yaochi.

The Holy Maiden of Yaochi rose, bowed to Luo Heng and Wei Yiying, and gracefully walked out of the courtyard.

"Senior Wei, are you curious about why I sought out the Holy Son Yaoguang?" Luo Heng asked.

Wei Yi nodded slightly. After all, Luo Heng's previous actions had all been for materials for imperial weapons or for secret techniques of the Great Emperor, so he was indeed curious about Luo Heng's intentions in seeking out the Holy Son Yao Guang this time.

Luo Heng explained with a smile, "Because the Holy Son Yao Guang is actually from the Ruthless lineage, and he cultivates the Devouring Heaven Demon Art and the Undying Heaven Art. Therefore, I hope Senior Wei can help me capture him."

Wei Yi asked suspiciously, "Are you planning to eliminate demons and uphold justice?"

Luo Heng replied with a smile, "That's not the case. I intend to cultivate the Devouring Heaven Demon Art and the Undying Heaven Art, but the Holy Son Yao Guang... is blocking my way."

Even Wei Yi, who had experienced six thousand years of vicissitudes, was stunned upon hearing this.

He stared at the young man before him, who was completely different from the one he had first met, and his heart was filled with turmoil: He had encouraged him to be brave and diligent back then, but he hadn't let him be so arrogant! Could it be that he had given him too much guidance back then?

Luo Heng noticed Wei Yi's expression and continued with a smile, "Senior Wei, rest assured, although the Devouring Heaven Demon Art requires the absorption of the origins of many royal and divine bodies, it does not necessarily have to absorb living people; dead corpses are also acceptable."

How about this? I'll make a deal with Senior Wei. If you ever discover that I've done something heinous, you can kill me directly. What do you say?

Oh, by the way, you can also give a copy of the "Devouring Heaven Demon Art" and the "Undying Heaven Art" to the senior.

Wei Yi, who was already somewhat wavering, was immediately moved when he heard Luo Heng's last words.

All I can say is that Luo Heng gave way too much.

……