Cheat Code Delivered

As the Golden Crow rose, the sunlight grew warm. Huangtong Mansion City. Outside Longxing Martial Arts Hall, there was a breakfast stall. A group of young people, clothed in blue outfits, gathered here for a meal. Zhou Heng was among them, heartily enjoying savory tofu pudding and deep-fried dough sticks. As a time-traveler of two and a half years, this was his only way to reminisce about life on Earth. Of course, in this ancient China-like "Da Qi", it's not that there were no other methods. The main issue was that he couldn't afford it. He was poor. Martial arts training was expensive, and it didn't include accommodation. The rent in Huangtong Mansion City was also quite steep. Even buying breakfast required careful budgeting. Currently, Zhou Heng was just a regular apprentice at Longxing Martial Arts Hall of Huangtong Mansion, an entry-rank martial artist without the qualifications to teach or earn a steady income. He didn't want to trouble his family either. His parents in this lifetime were just ordinary villagers, surviving by farming and weaving, and sending him to the martial arts hall in the city was already a stretch. So, Zhou Heng often took side jobs as a guard or errand runner to earn some silver coins. However, the income from jobs that a martial arts student could do wasn't very high, and after paying his training fees, the remaining money could barely cover his daily expenses. "If only I could reach the Ninth Grade," Zhou Heng thought, "as a trainer in the martial arts hall, I'd make at least ten silver pieces a month, and a Ninth Rank Warrior makes even more as a guard." With more money, Zhou Heng plotted to someday buy two bowls of tofu pudding—one salty and one sweet to alternate—and four deep-fried sticks. To eat all he wanted. Perhaps even buy a residence in the suburbs of Huangtong Mansion City. No more dealing with landlords. As Zhou Heng dreamily revered this beautiful future, suddenly a plate appeared in front of him. On the plate was a big, fluffy white bun. Looking up, there stood a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, fair-skinned and rosy-cheeked. She was the one who brought the bun. Blinking her long lashes and gazing at Zhou Heng, the girl smiled and said, "Brother Heng, here's your bun." After speaking, she turned and went back to help at the stall. She was the breakfast stall owner's daughter, named Yun Xiu. She was rumored in the county town's major martial arts hall to be a promising seedling with a hope of reaching the Ninth Rank before the age of twenty. Whenever she came home to visit, she helped at the breakfast stall. Whenever Zhou Heng was around, she always brought him a meat bun. Several of Zhou Heng's good acquaintances started to tease. "Miss Xiu'er, how come we don't get free buns?" "That's right! Miss Xiu'er, you're playing favorites!" "Why does Zhou Heng get to eat your big buns for free, Miss Xiu'er? Do you have feelings for him?" Yun Xiu glanced at them and laughed, "Because you guys aren't as good-looking as Brother Heng." Good looking? Those who had just been teasing turned toward Zhou Heng. Hiss! He indeed appeared better looking than the rest! Indeed, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, tall and well-proportioned, with well-defined facial features, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes, red lips and white teeth. Dressed in fine clothes and a jade crown, he'd surely pass for a dashing young noble. Very handsome! "Hehehe!" Zhou Heng pointed at his own face and chuckled, "Don't be envious, I was born this way." "Tsch!" A chorus of hisses followed. Among them was a plain-looking young man with a scholarly air. His name was Yu He, and he was Zhou Heng's best friend at Longxing Martial Arts Hall. "Zhou Heng, I heard you signed up for the Wang Family's selection to pick temporary guards," Yu He said worriedly, "maybe you shouldn't go?" "What?" Zhou Heng gulped down Xiu'er's bun and asked in confusion, "Why not? The pay is ten silver pieces, and I asked Master Lin, the risks aren't that high." Normally, he made at most two silver pieces a month, and sometimes even less. Ten silver pieces at once was nearly half a year's income for him. After he had inquired about the specific details and judged the danger to be minimal, he had signed up. This was related to his future living standard. And his big plan to buy a house. Since he had time-traveled here and couldn't return for now, he had to live earnestly. "The job might not be dangerous, but the selection competition could be," Yu He shook his head, his eyebrows furrowed, "I heard that Sun Zhengping from Hechang Martial Arts Hall also signed up. "Sun Zhengping had practiced martial arts for ten years and was nearly a Ninth Rank Warrior," said Yu He. "He is known as a master among those under thirty in Huangtong Mansion who haven't reached the Entry Rank. You're no match for him." "Moreover, he is proficient in swordsmanship. His Ninth Grade sword technique, Autumn Rain Thirteen Swords, has reached Perfection. He always strikes fiercely and ruthlessly. Those whom he defeats either die or are seriously injured. I'm afraid for you too… If you are in urgent need of money, I could…" "There's no need for that," Zhou Heng interrupted, shaking his head. He then gulped down the bowl of tofu pudding, left five copper coins on the table, stood up, and smiled at Yu He, "Actually, I'm heading there specifically for this competition. Sun Zhengping has quite a reputation, and I've long wanted to meet him." Upon hearing this, Yu He gave a wry smile, "I knew I couldn't stop you. You are wholeheartedly devoted to martial arts, brave and diligent, never one to back down. Just be very careful; Sun Zhengping is very strong." "Heh, don't worry," Zhou Heng patted Yu He's shoulder and chuckled. "Sun Zhengping is strong, but I am not weak either. You go ahead and eat; I'm heading back to the Martial Arts Hall to train." "If you're ever short on money, just tell me," Yu He laughed, "my family has money." "Don't worry about me," Zhou Heng replied, waving his hand without turning back, and continued walking towards Longxing Martial Arts Hall. ... As a regular apprentice at the Martial Arts Hall, Zhou Heng didn't have his own private training room. He had to train in the main hall along with the other apprentices. However, it was early morning breakfast time, and no one else had arrived yet. Only Zhou Heng was here. He adjusted his breath and his expression grew solemn. Gone was the playful smile he wore outside. Inherently exuberant, he was incredibly serious when it came to training. Since the day two years ago, when he saw two people flying in the sky battling and shattering a mountain of over a thousand meters into dust, he had been firmly resolved to train diligently in martial arts. This was not merely an ancient world, but a world where high-grade warriors could move mountains and seas, pluck stars and moons—truly a world of gods and immortals! He wanted a better life. He wanted to live in peace. He wanted to find out why he had traversed time and if it was possible to return to Earth. He needed excellent martial skills and powerful strength! Cling! Zhou Heng drew his sword as morning sunlight streamed through the windows onto the blade, making his whole person seem as if enveloped in rosy light. Start! Move the sword! Each move, each stance! Steady and forceful! Like a Herculean figure splitting mountains! An imposing momentum! This was the Ninth Grade saber technique, Twelve-Route Mountain Splitting Saber Art, taught at Longxing Martial Arts Hall to apprentices with high potential. Every move by Zhou Heng was precise, his blade movements smooth without any hindrance, the edge of his blade forceful, almost achieving greatness and nearing perfection. This was his reliance for participating in the competition. As Zhou Heng had previously mentioned to Yu He. Sun Zhengping was indeed strong, but he was no weaker. Additionally, he wanted to see if through this competition he could improve his mastery of this saber technique to truly reach Perfection. For an unranked warrior to ascend to Ninth Rank, besides needing certain levels of cultivation and demonstrating clear characteristics of vigor, one must also cultivate a Ninth Grade martial art to Perfection. "But what exactly is Perfection? It's too vague. If only there were a progress bar." Zhou Heng contemplated inwardly. In fact, he had already mastered this saber technique to a high level six months ago, even forming muscle memory so that he could think while his body continued to train autonomously, yet he still had no idea when he could achieve Perfection. At that moment. He suddenly heard a strange notification sound in his mind. "You are diligently practicing the martial art, Twelve-Route Mountain Splitting Saber Art [Ninth Grade], proficiency +1." "You are diligently practicing the martial art, Twelve-Route Mountain Splitting Saber Art [Ninth Grade], proficiency +3." ... "You are diligently practicing the martial art, Twelve-Route Mountain Splitting Saber Art [Ninth Grade], proficiency +2." "You are diligently practicing the martial art, Twelve-Route Mountain Splitting Saber Art [Ninth Grade], proficiency +2." ... "You are diligently practicing the martial art, Twelve-Route Mountain Splitting Saber Art [Ninth Grade], proficiency +1." "Congratulations! Your continuous training has triggered 'Heaven rewards the diligent.' Your understanding of the martial art, Twelve-Route Mountain Splitting Saber Art [Ninth Grade], has significantly deepened, proficiency +10." "Congratulations! Your proficiency in the martial art, Twelve-Route Mountain Splitting Saber Art [Ninth Grade], has reached Perfection! Fortune Bag [Copper] +1." "Fortune Bag [Copper]: It encompasses everything, unexpected rewards await upon opening." "Would you like to open the Fortune Bag [Copper]?" Zhou Heng was dumbfounded. His face could barely hold the surprise. Staring blankly. Holy shit! What was this situation? A system? A cheat? Instinctively, he chose "Yes." He opened the Fortune Bag. "Congratulations! You've struck it rich! You've obtained the rare reward, Nine Swords of a Solitary Hero - Sword Breaker Technique [Eighth Grade]!"