I Cheated While Cultivating

Zhou Heng glanced at the scholar, noting his average appearance and stature. However, his bright eyes and refined demeanor stood out, marking him as no ordinary man.

Good,” he nodded, then led Bai Yuejian out of the tavern and headed to a secluded spot in a nearby alley, asking, “What’s the matter?”

Bai Yuejian too looked curiously at the scholar.

“Mr. Zhou, I am a bookseller from Chenglin Book Company, my surname is Lin, given name Ziran.” The scholar was very respectful and smiled as he spoke, “Our Chenglin Book Company mainly sells autobiographies of various famous figures.

We have already published thirty autobiographies of the ‘Human List’ masters, five of the ‘Earth List,’ and even one of an ‘Immortal’ from the ‘Heaven List,’ all of which have sold quite well. Having reviewed your battle achievements, I believe there is potential for a great story to be told about you.” Bookseller??

Zhou Heng was a bit puzzled by this unexpected encounter but also somewhat interested. He smiled and asked, “So, how much is the payment for the manuscript?”

Autobiographies typically run about two hundred thousand words each. Generally speaking, we pay a thousand taels per book, plus a twenty percent royalty on subsequent sales,” Lin Ziran replied with a smile. “You don’t need to worry about revealing your secrets; nine parts fiction to one part truth is fine. After all, it’s just for fun.

“If you’re interested, I can give you a deposit of five hundred taels right now, and the remaining five hundred will be paid after you submit the manuscript’.” “Two hundred thousand words, one thousand taels plus royalties from later sales?” Zhou Heng stroked his chin and smiled, “Sounds tempting, but I haven’t the intent to write an autobiography right now. Maybe some other time.”

Since he no longer needed gold to use Palm Thunder, his need for money wasn’t as pressing as before. Having five hundred taels of silver on hand was more than enough for his expenses.

‘There’s no rush to submit-the manuscript just needs to be completed within three years,” Lin Ziran said, still smiling. “We’ll give you plenty of time to create.”

“Three years?” Zhou Heng laughed, shaking his head, “It’s not a matter of when to submit. I genuinely have no intention of writing one right now. If an opportunity arises later, you can come to me again.”

A joke. In three years’ time, he wouldn’t be ranked where he was now. By then, it wouldn’t be a mere thousand taels and a twenty percent revenue share-tha’t would surely be higher.

If he agreed to collaborate now, he’d definitely be at a loss.

However, Zhou Heng didn’t completely reject the offer, not wanting to sour the relationship. Plus, he was hoping to get something else from Lin Ziran.

As an experienced bookseller, Lin Ziran quickly grasped what Zhou Heng was considering after seeing him refuse, but he understood it. In fact, he had encountered such situations more than once during previous manuscript requests.

It was a pity that most of the confident geniuses had faded away after a few years, losing the fame and popularity they once had.

By that time, even if they sought to continue their former partnerships, Chenglin Book Company would find various reasons to refuse them.

Without fame or popularity, who would read their autobiographies? Of course, some would later rise meteorically and become even more sought after. No one could rule out that possibility, and judging from the current situation, Zhou Heng also had a chance to advance further.

So, although Lin Ziran was rejected, he maintained a friendly demeanour and gently said, “As long as there’s a chance in the future, we will definitely come looking for you again.”

He didn’t promise anything outright-only that they would approach him again if there was an opportunity.

Zhou Heng didn’t mind Lin Ziran’s thoughtfulness. He directly asked, “Earlier you mentioned there was an ‘Immortal’ from the ‘Heaven List’ in your autobiographies. Can I have a copy?”

Are you interested?” Lin Ziran was not surprised; those Celestial Men ranked on the ‘Heaven List’ were like Immortals of the earth-isn’t everyone curious about their life stories?

“Of course,” Zhou Heng nodded.

He wanted to see if he could develop a true understanding of this Celestial Man through the autobiography, as a preliminary acquaintance, before summoning his projection.

Though his projection card could summon any character Zhou Heng knew, this knowledge had to be based on a real understanding-clear historical records, autobiographies, or accurate descriptions by others.

If it was just a figure from novels, movies, TV shows, or animations without corresponding real knowledge, it was impossible to summon their projection. As for characters like Sun Wukong, Buddha Tathagata, and Heavenly Sovereign, whether they truly existed was uncertain, but Zhou Heng could confirm he lacked a real understanding of them.

Therefore, he couldn’t summon them.

The biographies at Lin Ziran’s might contain fictitious elements, but they also had parts of the truth, which might indeed provide some actual understanding. “It’s quite a coincidence you’re asking for the autobiography of that particular ‘Heaven List’ Immortal.” Lin Ziran smiled, took out a scroll from his sleeve, handed it to Zhou Heng, and said, “This volume, ‘Subduing the Demoness,’ is the very autobiography of that ‘Heaven List’ Immortal. I’ll give it to you as’a gift.”

Subduing the Demoness??

Zhou Heng took the yellow-covered book and, seeing the title, was somewhat baffled.

His initial thoughts should be correct, right? There should, perhaps, possibly be some truth inside??

Why would an ‘Immortal’ of the ‘Heaven List’ write such stuff??

He curbed the urge to criticize in his mind, steadied his thoughts, and opened the cover to see the contents.

It began with an introduction of the author’s identity.

“Cui Tianhe, head of the Fengzhou Cui family from the Twelve Ancient Families of Da Qi, had already reached the Upper Third Rank of Celestial Man centuries ago… with a wide range of hobbies, particularly fond of dallying among women… composing poetry and music… writing autobiographies…” Zhou Heng quickly flipped through and found it was written in a chapter-based novel format-indeed, the autobiography was just like a novel, complete with chapter titles.

But those chapter titles…

Things like “The Delightful Taste of the Honghua Palace Demoness”… “One Hundred Ways to Kill a Nine Deaths Sect Female Disciple”… “The Untold Story Between Me and the Heavenly Palace’s Holy Maiden”…

What kind of material was this?

It seemed the color of the cover was indeed no mistake?

Zhou Heng looked at Lin Ziran with puzzled eyes as if to ask-Are you really sure this book is the autobiography of an ‘Immortal’ from the ‘Heaven List’?

“Mr. Zhou, there is no need to be concerned,” Lin Ziran said with a smile. “This ‘Subduing the Demoness’ is indeed the autobiography written by ‘The Beacon of Righteousness,’ Cui Tianhe, currently eighth on the ‘Heaven List.'”

The Beacon of Righteousness?

The light of righteousness is… like this??

Zhou Heng found himself at a loss for words. Were the hobbies of these great Celestial Powers really so peculiar?

How marvelous!

Two days later, July 3rd.

The eagerly anticipated Wang Family martial arts competition finally officially commenced.

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