Cultivators Are So Weak in This World

Chapter 357 - 332 Inside Story, Part 2

"How do you know so much, being so weak? Or do you have a special status in the Western Sect?" Zhang Rongfang was slightly surprised.

His words implied doubt about the authenticity of the other party’s information.

"I... I am the owner of the Golden Wing Pavilion under the Western Sect, Cheng Hui!!" Cheng Hui quickly replied, "As long as you don’t kill me, I can help you obtain many, many top-secret documents from the Western Sect! And from the Eastern Sect too!"

"Top-secret documents?" Zhang Rongfang was intrigued.

Currently, what he feared most was the unknown dangers within the God Worship system.

Spirit Guard, Spiritual Veins, Spirit General.

These are the three major ranks of God Worship.

How powerful is the Spirit General?

How strong are the gods and Buddhas?

Among the major forces, which ones possess Spirit Generals, and which do not? What are their respective goals and stances?

If he could access broader information sources...

It would be crucial for his future development in terms of maximizing benefits and avoiding harm.

Immediately, he grabbed Cheng Hui and leaped swiftly towards the quiet room.

The martial arts field was open on all sides, not suitable for interrogation.

Soon, inside the quiet room.

The door closed.

Only the heavily injured Cheng Hui and the calmly seated Zhang Rongfang remained.

"Speak. First question. How exactly did the Eastern Sect collapse in the past? Where did the Imperial Tutor go, being so powerful?"

"Since you are the owner of the Golden Wing Pavilion, once belonging to the Eastern Sect, you should know the secrets within this."

Zhang Rongfang’s gaze was deep as he stared at the softly groaning Cheng Hui.

"I... don’t know much." Cheng Hui knew that if he dared to say he knew nothing, his death would be imminent in the next second.

He already understood that this so-called Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching was likely not the real person, but another Grandmaster in hiding, posing as Zhang Ying to fish for information.

The person in front of him was most likely a hidden Grandmaster of the Great Dao Teaching.

Otherwise, how could his strength be so exceptional?

He was just a step away from reaching the Grandmaster realm yet could not last twenty moves in front of the other party.

So this person could definitely not be Zhang Ying. Given Zhang Ying’s aptitude, it was impossible to reach this level even if he had started practicing martial arts from the womb.

"Speak first, and I’ll judge whether it’s much or not." Zhang Rongfang calmly urged.

"Alright..." Cheng Hui organized his thoughts.

"Back then, the Eastern Sect actually had the support of the Snow Rainbow Pavilion, where both the Great Brightness Temple and the current Celestial Treasure Palace of the Great Dao Teaching had Acolytes of the Snow Rainbow Pavilion as partners.

In pairs, their strength was extremely terrifying.

The conclusion from my investigation is that the downfall of the Eastern Sect was due to the Spirit Emperor Your Majesty abandoning his support for them.

Just like the Eastern Sect’s testing and research on the God Worship system, it was actually set up by a decree from Your Majesty.

The Eastern Sect was merely the executor, but later, for unknown reasons, Your Majesty changed his stance and blamed everything on the Eastern Sect."

Clearing his throat, Cheng Hui carefully set his bones, took medicine, and continued.

"As for the Imperial Tutor Damir, with the power of an Extreme Realm Grandmaster, he was terrifying. But as for being the best in the world, he wasn’t quite there.

In reality, based on reports and intelligence compiled, the Imperial Tutor’s strength was also related to a peerless divine weapon named Emperor Kun."

"Emperor Kun? A peerless divine weapon??" Zhang Rongfang was stunned. How did weapons come into the picture now?

Cheng Hui coughed twice.

"Emperor Kun, also known as Earth Kun, takes its name from the earth’s force. It was the Imperial Tutor Damir’s personal equipment. To be exact, it is not a sword, nor a knife, but a set of armored gauntlets.

When combined with the Imperial Tutor, it becomes truly invincible in the world."

"Armored gauntlets... Emperor Kun..." Zhang Rongfang was shaken.

What kind of equipment or weapon allowed a mortal Grandmaster to dominate the world and oppress the God Worship Grandmasters into submission?

"Later, the Eastern Sect tried multiple times to forge a weapon similar to Emperor Kun but failed every time." Cheng Hui continued.

Zhang Rongfang subconsciously recalled the secret weapon he obtained, the Heaven Blade.

If they didn’t have a target to compare with, the Eastern Sect wouldn’t expend resources to create such special weapons.

"Continue. What about the Spirit Generals? How strong are they?"

"This..." Cheng Hui showed a hint of helplessness. "I don’t know much about that. But....."

Seeing the other party’s displeasure, he quickly shifted his tone.

"However, I can still tell you a bit."

He smiled slightly.

"Spirit Generals are called God Generals in the Spirit Court. They hold major positions in each region.

Among the major forces, only the top ones have one or two.

There can’t be many of these deterrent, absolute forces."

"As for their strength... Spirit Generals cannot be matched by human power. It’s an absolute force beyond a Grandmaster."

"Stronger than the Imperial Tutor back in the day?" Zhang Rongfang found it hard to understand the difference.

"It’s rumored that the Imperial Tutor back then was defeated and perished at the hands of several Spirit Generals." Cheng Hui carefully replied.

"If they could not beat the Spirit Generals, how could they claim to be number one in the world?" Zhang Rongfang countered.

"Because Spirit Generals are also known as God Generals, not human generals... Moreover, back then, it should have been an ambush." Cheng Hui earnestly said. "Furthermore, based on the decades of subtle clues gathered by the Golden Wing Pavilion, the Great Spirit Divine General actually... does not take orders from that person..."

Zhang Rongfang was startled.

In an instant, many parts of his mind connected.

No wonder his teacher Chongxuan mentioned that the Great Spirit Palace rarely summoned God Generals to attend.

If the God Generals are loyal to the gods rather than imperial power, even intending to restrain the imperial power,

then a lot of things make sense...

"So..." Cheng Hui continued, "So we also suspect that the collapse of the Eastern Sect was likely a result of imperial power challenging divine power, and upon failing, it caused a backlash."

This secret was something he deduced and analyzed from gathering information from various sources.

He had kept it inside himself for so long.

Finally expressing it now, Cheng Hui suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

"The Imperial Tutor failed in his challenge, died, leading to the collapse of the Eastern Sect. And the Spirit Emperor Your Majesty’s reversal was merely an act of helplessness... Is that what you mean?" Zhang Rongfang kept his expression unchanged, but inside, he was stirring with tumultuous waves.

If that’s the case.

Then in this vast Great Spirit, is it the emperor who rules, or is it the gods and Buddhas?

"I don’t know....." Cheng Hui lowered his head, "It’s just my speculation."

For a moment, both fell into silence.

Zhang Rongfang had imagined many possibilities.

He also considered that the Spirit Emperor might be the mastermind behind it all, the root cause.

But at this very moment....

Outside, the birds chirped and flowers blossomed, the cicadas sang long.

But inside the still room, Zhang Rongfang felt a chill in his heart.

"There’s another question." He took a deep breath. "Since the Imperial Tutor was the world’s top expert, then after his death, who is the current number one?"

"I don’t know. No one can occupy that position; many Grandmasters haven’t truly fought, so it’s impossible to determine a winner.

Moreover, every Grandmaster possesses status and identity far beyond ordinary imagination, the power they wield is astonishingly grand. Therefore, it’s even less likely for them to fight with all their strength.

So, presently, it’s unclear who is truly number one.

However...." Cheng Hui paused slightly.

"However, what?"

"Thirty years ago, there was a record of a Grandmaster’s battle.

A Martial Arts Grandmaster from the Dao Sect, identity unknown, fought against two Grandmasters from the Western Sect and Zhenyi Sect, and won.

That mysterious person was considered the second greatest in the world, next only to Damir. Besides this, there is no more information; intelligence among Grandmasters is not at my level to investigate."

Zhang Rongfang nodded, showing understanding.

He was also glad now that he restrained his impulse earlier and didn’t slap Cheng Hui to death, which was the right decision.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t know so many secrets.

"One last question."

He focused his gaze intently, pressing the other party.

"I’ve been thinking, worshippers of gods have lifespans far exceeding ordinary people, yet over the years, the number of worshippers has always been small, and few ordinary people know of their existence.

With the development of the various sects in Great Spirit, it would only take a decade to multiply their current numbers several times.

Why don’t they release more for cultivation? Why are they still obsessed with spreading their teachings everywhere? Expanding territories?"

"This...." Cheng Hui’s heart tightened; this question was extremely sensitive.

"I’ve thought about this too. Based on gathered intelligence and analysis, I suspect that the number of worshippers is influenced by the strength of the gods themselves.

And the strength of the gods is determined by the sect’s scale and control range.

That’s a possibility I’ve guessed based on corresponding relationships.

The specific reason, I’m not sure."

Having held a high position in the Golden Wing Pavilion for years, he naturally had speculations about this.

Moreover, he had had some doubts before.

Now, hearing Zhang Rongfang’s question, he became more certain.

The expert suppressing him now, pretending to be the Daoist Zhang Ying, was definitely not a worshipper.

Judging by the series of questions asked.

This person is very likely a non-worshipper expert!

"So, aside from the Spirit Court, the strongest worshipper forces now should be the Western Sect and the Dao Sect?" Zhang Rongfang continued to ask.

"In theory, they should be." Cheng Hui nodded.

".....One last question." Zhang Rongfang continued.

’How many ’lasts’ have you had now....’ Cheng Hui was speechless.

But he didn’t dare to utter a sound outwardly.

"This time, it’s truly the last one." Zhang Rongfang said solemnly.

He seemed to grasp Cheng Hui’s thoughts.

"Please ask." Cheng Hui’s heart jumped, quickly putting on a smile. As long as he could live, not only multiple questions, but he could even do anything if asked!

"I want to ask you." Zhang Rongfang squinted, "Do you know who I am?"

"...." Cheng Hui’s heart instantly froze, a terrifying sense of threat shot up from his back to his head.

"You are...." Countless thoughts swiftly flickered, he opened his mouth, dry-mouthed, Qi and Blood surging.

"Great Dao Teaching Daoist, Zhang Ying!"

Screech!!

In an instant, shadows flickered.

Two figures simultaneously moved.

Cheng Hui rose, diving towards the window.

But only halfway through his leap, his neck was precisely grasped by a large hand.

A huge, irresistible force dragged him back.

"Don’t kill me.... I’ve been protecting... Ye Bai, and the Celestial Maiden...!" Cheng Hui, in a split-second, was inspired and squeezed out that sentence.

The immense gripping force paused on his neck.

’Success!!’ Cheng Hui rejoiced, knowing his gamble was right, the person in front of him was definitely connected with the Eastern Sect’s remnants!

"Back then, I was just feigning allegiance to the Western Sect, in reality...."

Suddenly, his words halted, feeling his entire Qi and Blood rapidly draining, leaking from the arteries on both sides of his neck.

"I....!? You!!?"

He struggled desperately, his hands constantly slapping Zhang Rongfang’s right arm.

But it was already too late....

"Actually, even if I didn’t kill you, the Western Sect wouldn’t let you live in the end...." Zhang Rongfang calmly gazed at him.

"Don’t you understand? It’s all because you know too much...."

Cheng Hui’s last hand weakly hit Zhang Rongfang’s hand, a trace of despair flashed in his eyes.

Snap.

Finally, his head tilted, his neck was forcibly snapped, turning him into an aged and extremely shriveled corpse, falling to the ground.