Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

It was his first time in the Divine Capital, and even for a Dao Foundation Cultivator, his eyes were wide with wonder, and he marveled at the sights all along the way.

Anle Workshop.

”Sir, come and have some fun!”

”Young master, please, take a seat.”

”Listen to a song? Have a drink? Or perhaps...”

”Hee hee...”

”...”

On both sides of an avenue wide enough for four horse-carriages to travel abreast, a flock of charming women called out, and the shop signs were draped in festive red.

A new groom by day, a beautiful bride by night.

This was Anle Workshop.

”Brother Gong.”

In a tavern on the main street, a man hurried over and spoke in a low voice to a broad-shouldered, powerfully built man.

”There’s a Daoist from the Outer Sect looking for you. He says he’s from Guanqu County, and he’s carrying a letter from Master Zhang.”

”Oh!”

Gong Shi raised an eyebrow.

”I’ll go take a look.”

Parting the crowd, he strode to the tavern entrance, his gaze lingering for a moment on the Daoist holding a duster.

Then, a broad smile appeared on his face.

”And how should I address you, Daoist?”

”I am Ziju,” Zhu Ju said with a bow, handing over the letter.

”Master Zhang said that Brother Gong has lived in the Divine Capital for many years. He told me I could find you if I needed anything.”

”That’s right.” Gong Shi took the letter but tossed it to a man behind him without a glance, then laughed and said,

”I do know quite a few people, but...”

”Daoist Ziju, living in the Divine Capital is no easy feat!”

Seeing him toss the letter away without even looking, Zhu Ju’s brow twitched.

’It seems this incredibly proud disciple Master Zhang spoke of doesn’t take his former ’master’ seriously at all.’

’It makes sense.’

’Master Zhang is only a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist who has never even left the Prefecture City, whereas this man is a Third-Grade Innate who has seen the world. It’s not surprising he’d look down on his ’country bumpkin’ master.’

”Silver coins?”

Though his mind was racing, Zhu Ju’s expression remained as placid as still water. He gave his duster a gentle flick and said,

”We who have left the secular world view money as mere dirt. I have only come seeking a place to stay. An affiliation with a Daoist Temple would suffice.”

”Tsk...” Gong Shi tutted, slinging an arm around Zhu Ju’s shoulder.

”You don’t seem old enough to have seen through the vanities of the world, Daoist. Have you already grown tired of its splendors?”

”How about I find a job for you here in Anle Workshop? With a build like yours, Daoist, you’d have no trouble earning a living.”

”Not interested?”

His brow furrowed, his face already showing a hint of impatience.

”You can’t survive in the Divine Capital without a penny to your name. Even getting into a Daoist Temple costs silver.”

”Hm?”

The hard object that suddenly appeared in his hand made Gong Shi’s expression shift. He tossed the silver taels in his palm, his face transforming with them.

”You have silver! Well, that changes things!”

”To the Broker Residence!”

The Broker Residence.

This was the domain of the brokers.

They handled the sale of property, the pawning of valuables, and even issued the contracts for servants and maids.

”Hero Gong.”

The broker recognized Gong Shi, a frequent visitor, and greeted him from a distance with a cupped-fist salute.

”Here to buy women again?”

”Didn’t you just buy a few the other day? Don’t tell me you’ve broken them already. You ought to be a bit more gentle.”

”Bullshit!” Gong Shi snapped.

”As if I’d be interested in such common wares. Those were for the shop. You got any new stock?”

”Not at the moment,” the broker said, shaking his head. Then he lowered his voice.

”But a new batch is coming in a couple of days. The Unscrupulous People recently raided the home of some disgraced official. His womenfolk are about to go on sale.”

”Hero Gong, you should come take a look. The ladies from the houses of high officials are more delicate than you can imagine, each one more so than the last.”

”Oh!” Gong Shi’s interest was piqued.

”Tell me more.”

He got caught up in the conversation, forgetting the reason for his visit.

Zhu Ju followed behind, sizing up the magnificent, luxurious building as he ambled toward the rear courtyard.

”Hey!”

”I’m talking to you.”

someone shouted.

”Unauthorized personnel are forbidden here.”

”Pardon me.” Zhu Ju ignored the commotion behind him and bowed to a portly man.

”I wish to purchase a courtyard. A foreclosed property would be acceptable.”

”Oh!” The man raised an eyebrow.

”Do you know me?”

”I do not,” Zhu Ju said, shaking his head.

”I know a little of the art of physiognomy. Though this place is large and filled with many people, your features, Benefactor, are the most distinguished.”

”I imagine you are the one who can make decisions.”

’Perceiving with his Divine Soul, he could sense the fiery Qi Blood of the hundred or so people here, some strong, some weak.’

’Gong Shi, a Third-Grade Innate, had Qi Blood like a furnace. But the Qi of this man before him surged like a signal beacon, a notch stronger than even Mong Yu’s.’

’If he wasn’t a First-Grade Grandmaster, he wasn’t far off.’

A person like this...

...must hold a high position.

”Haha...” Jiao Ru laughed heartily.

”What a sharp eye you have, Daoist! Though I am not an official at the Broker Residence, my words carry weight here.”

”Come!”

”Come in and sit.”

With a grand wave of his hand, he claimed the central room, called for tea, and addressed Zhu Ju with narrowed eyes.

”Where are you from, Daoist? And what is your name?”

”I am Ziju, from Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, currently affiliated with Guanqu County. It’s a small place, not worth mentioning,” Zhu Ju replied.

”And you are...?”

”Jiao Ru, of the Unscrupulous People.” Jiao Ru’s eyes glinted.

”Never heard of us?”

”I have just arrived in the Divine Capital. It seems perfectly normal that I haven’t,” Zhu Ju replied, his expression unchanged.

”True enough!” Jiao Ru said, as if in sudden realization.

”It’s my own paranoia. The Unscrupulous People are the Inspectors of the Divine Capital One Hundred and Eight Workshops. We spend our days dealing with the treacherous and cunning, so I suppose I’ve forgotten what normal life is like.”

”So, Daoist, you’re looking for a Daoist Temple?”

He seemed somewhat wistful, his tone softening considerably, no longer as aggressive as before.

”A Daoist Temple?”

Zhu Ju asked.

”One can purchase a Daoist Temple directly?”

”Of course!” Jiao Ru grinned.

”His Majesty is short on funds, and so is the Court. Forget a mere Daoist Temple—if you have enough money, you can even buy an official post.”

”Heh heh...”

”Of course, that depends on whether there are any vacant Daoist Temples.”

He beckoned behind him, and a broker immediately brought over a thick ledger.

Just then, a figure rushed into the rear courtyard.

”You, Daoist—” Gong Shi had been getting animated in his conversation. When he turned and found Zhu Ju gone, he asked around and learned he had gone to the rear courtyard. He rushed over, ready to explode in anger at the sight of him.

”Hm?”

Jiao Ru’s face darkened.

”What do you want?”

”Ah!” Gong Shi froze. When he got a clear look at the man sitting across from Zhu Ju, his face instantly turned deathly pale.

”Lord... Lord Jiao.”

”Get out! And stand guard outside the door.” Jiao Ru frowned, shot him a glance, and turned back to Zhu Ju, his voice softening.

”Daoist, please, take a closer look. Are there any temples in here that catch your fancy?”

”Are there any Daoist Temples in Qunxing Workshop?”

”Qunxing Workshop?” Jiao Ru’s expression shifted slightly, a scrutinizing look returning to his eyes.

”That’s where the Princes reside. Daoist, for you to go there... surely you must have some ulterior motive?”

”Hah...” Zhu Ju chuckled.

”I may seek the Great Dao, but I have not yet attained it. In the meantime, what’s wrong with currying favor with the powerful to get by in this world?”

”True enough,” Jiao Ru said, nodding. He flipped to a page with a cryptic smile.

”As a matter of fact, there is one. A Daoist Temple that just recently became available. It’s in a good location, but it’ll cost you eight thousand taels of gold.”

”Eight thousand taels?” Zhu Ju considered this for a moment, then produced a thick stack of silver notes.

”Done.”

”Please be so kind as to count it.”

RUSTLE...

At this, Gong Shi, who was standing guard outside the door, felt his eyes narrow. Passing brokers stopped dead in their tracks, looks of astonishment on their faces.

Eight thousand taels of gold was no small sum.

’This unassuming Daoist just pulled it out like it was nothing?’

”You’re a man of impressive means, Daoist!” Jiao Ru roared with laughter.

”Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Hai Pig Jiao Ru, one of the Twelve Unscrupulous Marshals of the Divine Capital. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Daoist Ziju!”