Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

”In that case, don’t blame me for being forceful. I’ll take them to the Pavilion Master for an explanation.”

With that, he stepped forward and snatched the baby from the woman’s arms.

”Huh?”

”What are you doing?”

”BANG!”

The bluestone slab under her feet suddenly flipped, and Sangx Rongrong, holding the baby, fell right through, disappearing from the scene in an instant.

”Damn it!”

”There’s a secret passage below!”

”The Eyes and Ears are active. She can’t escape.”

”After her!”

”What about these two?”

”Kill them. Take their belongings back to the Hundred Knowing Pavilion.”

...

Night.

The starlight was dim.

Sangx Rongrong fled, clutching the baby.

Her Body Technique was impressive. She landed without a sound and moved with swiftness, using the terrain to conceal her figure, making her extremely difficult to spot.

When it came to the arts of Concealment and Disguise, even a First-Grade Grandmaster couldn’t necessarily match her.

”SWISH!”

Her forward-rushing figure came to a sudden halt.

”Who’s there?”

Sangx Rongrong barked in a low voice, a Soft Sword flashing from her long sleeve like lightning.

”DING...”

The figure that had abruptly appeared before her merely flicked a finger, and the ferocious Strength behind the motion instantly shattered the thousand-forged Soft Sword into countless fragments.

’A Martial Saint!’

A chill seized Sangx Rongrong’s heart.

”Miss Sangx, where might you be going?” Zhu Ju’s figure was shrouded in darkness as he spoke slowly.

”I was just on my way to the Hundred Knowing Pavilion to purchase some information. Since we’ve met here, why don’t we talk right now?”

”You know who I am?” Sangx Rongrong’s eyes narrowed.

”Who are you?”

”That is not important.” Zhu Ju sighed softly.

”I haven’t been back for some time. I didn’t expect the Divine Capital to fall into such chaos. Tell me everything you know.”

”...Senior.” Facing a Martial Saint, Sangx Rongrong knew she was powerless to resist. Her eyes flickered as she said:

”This is not a good place to linger. Could we perhaps move somewhere else?”

”Besides, so much has happened recently, this junior doesn’t even know where to begin. I’ll need to return to the Pavilion to look up the records.”

”No need for such trouble.” Zhu Ju smiled faintly.

”You have a photographic memory. You never forget anything you’ve seen. You can just tell me here.”

”As for your pursuers...”

He glanced behind them.

”Rest assured, we will not be disturbed before you are finished speaking.”

’He actually knows about my photographic memory, something even the Pavilion Master only suspects.’

’Who on earth is this person?’

”...Yes.” Gritting her teeth, Sangx Rongrong had no choice but to agree. She said in a low voice:

”Ever since Lord Geng died in the Celestial Prison, many people have been dissatisfied. Quite a few have secretly formed societies to remonstrate with His Majesty...”

”The Seventh Princess fell into a coma, and His Majesty was enraged, ordering a strict investigation of the Capital City.”

”All the powers in the Capital City, big and small, have been affected. Many officials have been imprisoned, numerous experts have been executed, and with some people taking the opportunity to stir up trouble and seek personal gain, the Divine Capital has become this chaotic.”

”So that’s how it is.” Zhu Ju said with understanding.

”Have the places with Divine Treasure Martial Saint legacies also been affected?”

”Yes.” Sangx Rongrong nodded, her body tensing involuntarily as she glanced back at her pursuers.

”Senior, shouldn’t we move to another place?”

”No need.” Zhu Ju shook his head.

”Continue.”

”Th-this...” Panic filled Sangx Rongrong’s eyes, but she continued:

”They weren’t just affected; a Martial Saint even died because of it. The Gang Leader of the Celestial Killer Gang was a Martial Saint, famous for many years. He was slapped to death by Chenn Dragon, the head of the Twelve Unscrupulous Marshals. It was only then that the world learned Chenn Dragon had reached the Vajra Realm.”

”Senior, they’re here!”

”THUMP THUMP THUMP...”

As she spoke, the members of the Hundred Knowing Pavilion caught up, but they charged right past as if they hadn’t seen the two of them at all.

’How could this be?’

Sangx Rongrong was stunned.

She was standing right there, watching Yi San brush past her, yet he hadn’t seen her.

’It isn’t an act!’

’He truly, genuinely didn’t see me.’

”Continue,” Zhu Ju said, seemingly unaware of the people who had just rushed past.

”How many families in the Capital City with Divine Treasure legacies have been affected? And which of those legacies can be acquired now?”

”...” Sangx Rongrong stammered:

”There... there are a few... like the Bao Family...”

After a long while, Zhu Ju finally nodded, ending his questions.

”Not bad.”

”You didn’t lie.”

”As a reward, I’ll take this into my custody.” With that, he reached out and plucked a strip of cloth covered in strange patterns from the baby.

”A Divine Treasure legacy is a fine thing, but ’an innocent man gets into trouble for carrying a treasure.’ You are not yet worthy of possessing it.”

”Farewell.”

With that, his figure flickered and vanished, leaving Sangx Rongrong standing there, utterly bewildered.

She paused for a moment.

Then, she came back to her senses and silently sped away from the Divine Capital.

*

*

*

「Wangyou Workshop.」

「The Mao Family Estate.」

A group of people charged into the courtyard, wreaking havoc. As bodies fell one by one, rooms were ransacked and turned upside down.

”Found it!”

From beneath a floorboard pried up in the corner, a foot-wide, amethyst-gold box was pulled out.

”Ningxue.”

A handsome young man opened the box, took out a scroll, and handed it over.

”See? I didn’t lie to you, did I?”

”The Mao Family’s Iron Devouring Golden Swallowing Technique was hidden right here, just waiting for someone to become a Second-Grade Grandmaster to inherit it.”

”The Divine Intent Image!” Li Ningxue took the scroll, stroking it gently, a look of delight appearing on her face.

”Yuan Lang, thank you.”

”Don’t mention it, don’t mention it.” The man called Yuan Lang was ecstatic, waving his hands in excitement.

”Anything that you like, Ningxue, if I can get it for you, I’ll definitely get it for you.”

His eyes were glued to Li Ningxue, unwilling to look away even as he spoke, his gaze filled with infatuation.

”Hee hee...”

Li Ningxue gave a charming, radiant smile.

”This is a Divine Intent Image left by a Divine Treasure Martial Saint. With it, one can inherit the Martial Saint’s legacy completely, without worrying about any traps left in the Cultivation Technique. Are you really willing to part with something so precious?”

”Of course!” Yuan Lang slapped his chest.

”The most precious thing in this world is you, Ningxue. As long as I can make you happy, I’d do anything.”

”Hee hee...” The smile on Li Ningxue’s face grew even more radiant, but inwardly, she was terrified.

’The Bewitching Technique that Daoist Ziju taught me is terrifying. To think it can make someone willingly offer up such a great treasure.’

She had no doubt.

’If I were severely injured and needed Yuan Lang’s heart for medicine, he would dig it out without a moment’s hesitation.’

’This Cultivation Technique...’

’It’s practically the Demon Dao!’

”Senior.”

After composing herself, Li Ningxue looked up at the empty air and said in a clear voice:

”This junior has found the lost Cultivation Technique of the Celestial Intent Sect. Will Senior show himself, or should this junior keep it safe for now?”

”An interesting little girl.” A figure descended from the sky and landed in their midst, examining Li Ningxue with a look of surprise.

”You actually managed to find the Iron Devouring Golden Swallowing Technique?”

”I did not fail the task you entrusted to me, Senior.” Li Ningxue’s smile vanished as she bowed in salute.

”Senior, can I become a candidate for Saintess now?”

”Heh...” The newcomer chuckled.

”Your methods are impressive, but alas, your Cultivation is too low. As for the matter of being a candidate for Saintess, I will look into it upon my return.”

”I see...” Li Ningxue pursed her lips, not showing any dissatisfaction.

”In that case, could Senior do this junior a small favor?”

”What favor?” The newcomer lowered his gaze.

”Lend me your head.” Li Ningxue took a step back and said:

”Senior, this is one of the Celestial Intent Sect’s Hall Masters, Quan Xinghe of the Mountain Fist. He meets your requirements.”

’What?’

Quan Xinghe froze, then his vision blurred. He found himself in an indescribable place.

Across from him stood a handsome Daoist.

”Wuliang Celestial Venerable.”

Zhu Ju lightly waved his Duster.

”This humble Daoist pays his respects.”