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

"How could I possibly have such an opportunity?" Luo Heng replied calmly. "However, I do know the whereabouts of one of the secrets, and there is not much danger there. With your cultivation level, obtaining it would be as easy as turning your hand."

The transaction is simple: after you've succeeded, I'll simply make a copy.

Wei Yi chuckled upon hearing this: "Good, tell me, where is it?"

Although he had lived in seclusion in Tianxuan Stone Workshop all these years, he had never slacked off in his cultivation; otherwise, he would not have been able to reach the realm of a sage. Having reached such a level of cultivation, it would be impossible for him not to have the desire to attain enlightenment.

Moreover, if he were to rescue his fellow disciples in the future, he would need sufficient strength to rely on. For both public and private reasons, he would never miss such an opportunity as the Nine Secrets.

Knowing the matter was settled, Luo Heng immediately used his still somewhat rusty telepathic technique to tell him: "Behind the Qin Clan in Zhongzhou, there is a cliff covered with weapon illustrations. On the night of the full moon, the Nine Secrets will reveal themselves. However…"

He hesitated for a moment, then continued to transmit his voice: "Although the Qin Sect does not prohibit outsiders from observing, it secretly possesses the Divine Transformation Technique of the Ruthless Great Emperor, which may convert ordinary cultivators. There may also be powerful figures hidden within the sect. When you go on your journey to the West, I hope you will not disturb them."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yi nodded slightly: "Wait here." Before he finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared from the spot.

Once Wei Yi left, the surrounding environment returned to normal. The Holy Maiden of Yaochi, seeing Wei Yi disappear from afar, gracefully approached and teased with a smile, "I never imagined Fellow Daoist Luo would have such a fortuitous encounter; I was truly blind before."

However, it was just a joke, and the Holy Maiden of Yaochi didn't say anything more. She was a smart woman and didn't ask any further questions about the Nine Secrets.

Luo Heng, however, changed the subject, asking directly, "I wonder if your Yaochi Holy Land is interested in the Nine Secrets?"

Upon hearing this, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi looked surprised, her smile fading as she asked seriously, "Fellow Daoist Luo, are you truly interested in trading the Nine Secrets with our Yaochi Holy Land?"

"Of course it's true. How could I dare to joke with the Yaochi Holy Land like this? However, let's discuss the price in detail after Saint Wei Yi retrieves the Nine Secrets."

Upon hearing this, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi suppressed her inner joy and nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Luo Heng's eyes darted around, and he said, "By the way, Holy Maiden, I'm a little short of money lately. Could you lend me fifty catties of Yuan to tide me over? I'll definitely repay you tenfold when I have the money."

Upon hearing this, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi had a slightly strange expression, but she still smiled and handed Luo Heng fifty catties of Yuan.

Luo Heng, who was thick-skinned enough, was not embarrassed at all. After receiving the source, he found a flat place, sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate.

He has only just reached the Life Spring Realm and plans to at least cultivate to the Divine Bridge Realm so that he can travel by rainbow instead of relying on his own two legs.

Seeing this, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi also put away her smile. After all, for cultivators, cultivation is always the most important thing, and there's nothing funny about that.

She stopped bothering him and gathered with the Yaochi disciples who had come with her, chatting quietly. During this time, a beautiful female disciple even looked up at Luo Heng, then lowered her head and chuckled.

Ignoring Luo Heng, Luo Heng began cultivating, absorbing the pure primordial energy from the source. The early stages of the Heaven-Covering Technique were actually quite fast. With enough source energy, Luo Heng felt he had taken a significant step forward in his Life Spring realm after only one day of cultivation.

As for why Ye Fan's cultivation was so slow in the original story, it was entirely because he was poor.

When he finished his breathing exercises and opened his eyes with joy, he was surprised to find that Wei Yi was already standing quietly in front of him.

Luo Heng hurriedly stood up to bow, but Wei Yi casually waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities, I don't care about such empty gestures."

Luo Heng couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Do you think I, a fine young man of the 21st century, enjoy this kind of thing? Isn't it all just to make a good impression on you, this saint? And this flowery way of speaking is exhausting."

Although he thought this, he showed no sign of it on his face. Instead, he became even more respectful and repeatedly replied, "What you say is true, senior. I understand."

Seeing this, Wei Yi said no more and handed a piece of warm white jade to Luo Heng.

"With your current cultivation level, you are not yet capable of comprehending the secret of the character '兵' (soldier). I have imprinted the secret method into this jade. When your cultivation level is sufficient in the future, you will be able to sense and observe it, and cultivate it step by step."

Luo Heng respectfully accepted the jade piece with both hands. He felt its smooth, warm texture and sensed a subtle spiritual energy flowing through it. It was a palm-sized piece of white jade, its surface radiating divine light. Its material was neither gold nor stone, and he wondered what kind of divine material it was made of.

In the center of the jade talisman, an ancient character for "soldier" is deeply engraved, its strokes seemingly containing the supreme Daoist essence of warfare and killing.

Luo Heng only glanced at it intently before feeling a slight tremor in his soul, followed by a wave of dizziness. Inexplicably, many vague insights into weapon training and use appeared in his mind.

He felt a chill run down his spine, quickly composed himself, carefully put away the jade piece, and finally said, "Senior Wei, now that the transaction is complete, I will dare to state my true request for this trip..."

"This junior humbly requests that Senior Wei be my protector." Luo Heng bowed respectfully. "Naturally, I dare not ask for too much, only a one-year term is required."

Furthermore, if their lives are in danger during this period, the senior can leave at any time.

After saying that, he looked at Wei Yi with a slightly nervous expression, his heart filled with anticipation.

Although Wei Yi is not the key figure in this trip to the Northern Region, if we can obtain the protection of a sage, our subsequent plans will be much smoother, and our safety will be more guaranteed.

These conditions were indeed somewhat excessive, and Luo Heng had already prepared himself for rejection, thinking that even asking for help once or twice wouldn't be out of the question. However, he clearly underestimated the value of the information he brought to this saint.

Wei Yi's deep gaze lingered on him for a moment before he slowly spoke, "The information you brought is worth the price. Plus the secret of the 'Soldier'..." He nodded slightly, "Although you've already made a copy, I've indeed gained a great advantage in this matter. Therefore, I grant your request. When shall we begin?"

Luo Heng was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Senior, please wait a moment. I still have some trivial matters to attend to, so the time for my protection will probably have to be postponed for a while."

Wei Yi didn't pay any attention. With a casual wave of his hand, a stone shard flew into his palm. Dao patterns flowed from his fingertips, and profound runes immediately appeared on the stone shard.

He handed the stone talisman to Luo Heng: "Once you are ready, crush this object, and I will come."

Luo Heng accepted the stone talisman with both hands, his joy barely concealed. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, senior!" Just as he was about to take his leave, he heard Wei Yi's deep voice behind him:

"Young man, the path of cultivation should be one of courageous and diligent progress. If you are overly cautious and calculating in everything you do, how can you ever reach the summit?"

Luo Heng paused slightly, then turned around and bowed respectfully again: "This junior has learned a great deal."

After saying that, he turned and walked away again. Seeing this, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi bowed slightly to Wei Yi, then followed Luo Heng with light steps. The two figures disappeared outside the stone archway one after the other.