Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

”What a pity!”

”The Crown Prince actually failed. If he’d really killed that dog of an Emperor, our lives would be so much easier.”

”Yeah, just to satisfy the Emperor’s cravings, my third son hasn’t been able to come home to the Capital for years. Of the group that left with him, most of them are dead now.”

”That fatuous ruler!”

”Why isn’t he dead yet?!”

”The Crown Prince is benevolent, but he was no match for that decrepit monarch. When will this world ever get better?”

”...”

Zhu Ju’s perception was powerful. Even doing nothing, his Divine Thought as a Dao Foundation Cultivator still allowed him to hear the whispers of countless people.

The Court had issued a strict decree: discussion of the Crown Prince’s rebellion was forbidden.

But silencing the populace is harder than damming a river. The more such matters were forbidden from discussion, the more people gossiped in private.

To block it,

was impossible.

’A strong start, but a weak finish!’

That was Zhu Ju’s six-word assessment of the matter.

Emperor Chong’an had long disliked the Crown Prince. Six out of ten officials in the Eastern Palace were missing. Even though many officials in the Court sympathized with him, he ultimately held too little real power. Besides, this uprising had been far too hasty.

The timing, however, hadn’t been bad.

The Third Prince had left the Capital City to quell a rebellion and couldn’t return quickly, taking a large number of Imperial Guard experts with him. Meanwhile, Emperor Chong’an happened to suffer a relapse of an old illness, making it difficult for him to govern.

The Eastern Palace had the support of the Demon Sect and many court officials. He even had four Martial Saint generals leading his troops, who broke through the city gates in one fell swoop.

For a short time, they advanced straight to the heart of the enemy.

Alas.

He was severely lacking in top-tier experts.

’If he had just two more Vajra Realm Martial Saints for a surprise attack, his odds of success would have been at least fifty percent.’

’The Celestial Intent Sect...’

’They didn’t truly commit their forces, either. They probably didn’t think much of the Crown Prince’s plan.’

Shaking his head, Zhu Ju put down a few large coins, picked up the pastries he’d bought, and ambled back toward Baiyun Temple.

’Vajra Realm...’

That night.

He had used the Profound Light Technique to spy on the Imperial City and had ’personally witnessed’ several Vajra Martial Saints clash.

He even witnessed the endlessly majestic Golden Man slaughtering all in his path.

Martial Artists of this realm possessed the ability to fly and burrow through the earth. Their physical bodies wouldn’t decay for a thousand years, and their Martial Arts Will was practically tangible. In close-quarters combat, they were stronger than Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivators.

However, Dao Foundation Cultivators had a wide array of methods—Spirit Talismans, Magical Artifacts, Magic, and so on. Once they opened up a distance, they could easily dominate a Vajra Martial Saint.

And above the Vajra Realm...

...there was the Sumeru Realm.

Just such an old monster was hidden deep within the Imperial City. A mere whisper of its aura had shattered his Profound Light Technique.

It had even forced Zhu Ju to conceal his own aura, terrified of being detected.

’The Sumeru Realm?’

’It’s probably comparable to a Body Cultivator at the Hard Skill Third Realm. To a certain extent, their flesh and blood can withstand Magical Treasures.’

’Faced with such an expert, a Dao Foundation Cultivator’s myriad techniques are all useless.’

BANG!

”Search!”

”Search every inch of this place for me!”

”Don’t miss a single spot!”

”...”

Inside Baiyun Temple, dozens of Unscrupulous People stormed into Sanqing Hall and the rear courtyard, smashing things and searching meticulously.

Qingfeng and Ming Yue, their little faces pale, huddled in a corner under Old Huang’s protection, not daring to resist in the slightest.

”What is the meaning of this?”

Walking into the Daoist Temple, Zhu Ju frowned at the scene and looked toward Yin Tiger Weei Yuxuan, who stood nearby with his hands behind his back.

Recalling Jiao Ru’s message, he sighed inwardly but kept his expression neutral, cupping his hands in a salute.

”Lord Weei, Baiyun Temple has never broken any laws.”

”That’s not necessarily true.”

Yin Tiger Weei Yuxuan sneered.

”Hai Pig Jiaoru, an Unscrupulous Marshal, committed insubordination and offended the Emperor. His Majesty has already ordered his execution.”

”You old Daoist were close with the man surnamed Jiao. I have reason to suspect Baiyun Temple was also involved.”

”Jiao Ru is dead?” Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow, not calling out the other man’s lie.

”If he dared to defy the Emperor, then he deserved to die.”

”However, my association with him was merely for fortune-telling and divination. I know nothing of any other matters. I hope Lord Weei will investigate clearly.”

”Fortune-telling and divination?” Yin Tiger Weei Yuxuan grinned.

”Since you’re so skilled, old Daoist, why don’t you try divining whether you’ll face imprisonment today?”

”If you’re right, I will reward you!”

”Haha...”

The crowd of Unscrupulous People burst into laughter, their gazes filled with mockery.

The answer was in Yin Tiger Weei Yuxuan’s hands. No matter what Zhu Ju divined, it would be correct if Weei Yuxuan said it was.

And if he said it was wrong, it would be wrong.

Weren’t they just toying with this ’Daoist Ziju’?

”Very well, then I shall perform a divination.” Zhu Ju smiled upon hearing this and began to calculate unhurriedly on his fingers.

A moment later, he nodded and said:

”I have the result. I will not face imprisonment today. As for Lord Weei, however, a single misstep could land you in prison.”

”How dare you!”

Weei Yuxuan’s face darkened.

”You old Daoist dare to insult me! In my opinion, Baiyun Temple was also involved in the rebellion. Seize them all!”

With a wave of his hand, he swung his horsewhip.

CRACK!

Zhu Ju gently flicked his duster.

The whip flew back the way it came, leaving a mark on Weei Yuxuan’s face and making him cry out in pain.

”You dare to fight back?”

Weei Yuxuan roared.

”A traitorous rebel indeed! Seize him for me!”

”Stop!”

Just then, a person in a bright yellow vest with a shrill voice entered the Daoist Temple. Frowning, he shouted in a strained, high-pitched tone:

”The Seventh Princess has arrived! Everyone, make way!”

’The Seventh Princess?’

The Unscrupulous People, who had been about to attack Zhu Ju, paled at the announcement and hurriedly retreated, kneeling on the ground.

Weei Yuxuan dropped his whip, his face a mask of confusion.

’Why would a princess come here?’

’Could it be...’

As the thought crossed his mind, Weei Yuxuan quickly knelt and shouted:

”Unscrupulous Marshal Yin Tiger Weei Yuxuan pays his respects to the Seventh Princess.”

”Mm.”

A faint fragrance drifted by.

A beautiful woman walked into the Daoist Temple, surrounded by her entourage.

The woman’s features were deep and timeless. Slightly full cheeks softened her sculpted jawline, and her bright, searching eyes held a composed air. Her incomparable, heroic bearing was particularly striking.

Her attire was extremely simple—just plain-colored robes with a Treasure Sword at her waist—yet one could still pick her out from a crowd at first glance.

The Seventh Princess, Qii Wanyan!

Zhu Ju’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before shifting to the unremarkable handmaiden by the Princess’s side.

’Li Ningxue?’

’She was in disguise, but her aura didn’t lie.’

’Has the Celestial Intent Sect already found a new target? Or was Crown Prince Qii Xian a decoy from the start, and the Demon Sect’s true target has always been the Seventh Princess?’

”You are Daoist Ziju?”

”I am.” Zhu Ju gently waved his duster.

”Greetings, Your Highness.”

”Clean this up.” Qii Wanyan swept her gaze over the chaotic Daoist Temple, her brow furrowed in displeasure.

”Clear a place for us to talk.”

”Yes.”

The eunuch with the shrill voice hastily complied, shouting at the Unscrupulous People.

”What are you standing around for? Hurry up and clean this place! You filthy lot shouldn’t have even come to such a tranquil place, ruining Her Highness’s mood for no reason.”

’Filthy lot?’

Weei Yuxuan gritted his teeth but didn’t dare to retort, merely ordering his men to quickly tidy up a side hall.

*

*

*

”Sit.”

Qii Wanyan had a chair brought over, sat down herself, and sighed.

”I have been ordered to find a Daoist temple or Buddhist temple in the Capital City to renounce the world. I heard Baiyun Temple is quite efficacious, so I came to have a look.”

”Daoist Master.”

She looked directly at Zhu Ju and said slowly:

”In your opinion, am I suited to become a Daoist priestess here?”

”There are hundreds of Daoist and Buddhist temples in the Divine Capital, not to mention family shrines and ancestral halls. As long as the heart is sincere, one can renounce the world anywhere,” Zhu Ju said.

”Your Highness must ask yourself where is suitable.”

”Oh?” Qii Wanyan raised her eyebrows.

Her visit to Baiyun Temple was merely a whim while passing by; she hadn’t actually considered renouncing the world here.

Even if she were to become a priestess.

She ought to choose a good place.

Baiyun Temple wasn’t large and had only one Daoist master, making it a poor choice. But this Daoist was interesting.

”I heard you mention earlier, Daoist Master, that you are skilled in fortune-telling and divination.” After a moment’s thought, Qii Wanyan asked:

”Why don’t you read my fortune as well? I would also like to know... what the future holds.”

”Yes.” Zhu Ju complied, focusing his gaze.

”Your Highness’s expression is clear, making it difficult to discern at a glance. Allow me to take a step closer.”

”You may,” Qii Wanyan nodded.

Zhu Ju stepped closer.

”Your Highness has the eyes of a dragon and the neck of a phoenix, the very picture of supreme nobility.”

He looked at her profile.

”Your authority is immeasurable. You are destined to be the master of all under heaven.”

Hmm?

Qii Wanyan’s expression darkened.

THUD!

Of the four handmaidens beside her, three turned deathly pale at his words and dropped to their knees, trembling violently.

Only Li Ningxue paused for a moment before kneeling as well.

”Heh...”

Qii Wanyan’s beautiful eyes darted around, and she flicked her sleeve lightly.

”You jest, Daoist Master.”

”The three of you, leave. Xue’er, stay.”

”Yes.” The three maids crawled on the floor, shakily exiting the side hall as if a ferocious beast were behind them.

”The people of this world are so mediocre, frightened by just a few words.” Qii Wanyan watched the three maids depart, her eyes narrowing.

”It was just a joke. Why were they so afraid?”

”Heh...”

With a low chuckle, Qii Wanyan rose and walked to the window, clasping her hands behind her back as she gazed into the distance.

”Daoist Master.”

”Back then, my ancestor saw the chaos of the times and suppressed the world with his two fists, establishing the Daqi dynasty’s foundation for hundreds of years.”

”In your opinion, how much longer can the Daqi last?”

”And don’t give me any flattering words about it lasting for eternity. Throughout history, no dynasty has ever lasted more than a thousand years.”

”Your Highness bears the world in your heart. I am impressed.” Zhu Ju opened the pastries he had bought and gestured toward Li Ningxue.

”Have one?”

Li Ningxue froze, instinctively looking at the Seventh Princess, Qii Wanyan.

”Go on, eat.” Qii Wanyan chuckled.

”It’s not as if the Daoist Master is going to harm you.”

”Yes.” Li Ningxue replied crisply, picking up a pastry and putting it in her mouth.

”How is it?”

”Very good.”

”Would you like another?”

”Well...” Li Ningxue hesitated for a moment before nodding.

”May I?”

”Of course.” Zhu Ju smiled, pushing the box of pastries toward her.

”It’s a pity there’s only this much. If you eat more, others will naturally have less.”

”When it reaches a certain point, some people might become unhappy.”

Qii Wanyan raised her eyebrows.

”The Daoist Master speaks the truth.”

”Throughout history, dynasties have fallen because Vassal Towns, enfeoffed lords, Noble Families, and Sects grew too powerful, leaving too many people unable to survive. They were forced to rebel, leading to chaos in the realm and eventually a change of dynasty.”

She said thoughtfully:

”If one could suppress the great and powerful clans and divide the world’s wealth equally, would it be possible to have a dynasty that lasts a thousand years without falling?”

”Your Highness,” Zhu Ju said with a calm smile.

”The greatest powerful clan in the world is not the Noble Families, nor the enfeoffed lords, and certainly not the Major Sects of the Martial World. It is the Royal Family.”

”As long as the Royal Family exists, as long as there is an Emperor in this world, there can never be an immortal dynasty.”

SHH!

Qii Wanyan’s expression suddenly turned cold.

PLOP!

The pastry in Li Ningxue’s hand fell to the floor. She stared at Zhu Ju, her face a mask of astonished terror.

’No Emperor?’

’How could the world possibly exist without an Emperor!’

”How audacious.”

Qii Wanyan’s beautiful eyes flickered as she cast a seemingly casual glance at Li Ningxue.

”I had thought you were a man of the Demon Sect, Daoist Master, but now it seems that’s not the case. Even the Demon Sect wouldn’t harbor such heretical ideas.”

”Daoist Master...”

”If you were to face a Sumeru Realm expert, how would you handle it?”

’A Sumeru Realm expert?’

”Your Highness jests.” Zhu Ju shook his head.

”When facing such a being, one naturally flees as far as possible.”

Qii Wanyan raised her eyebrows.

’Flee?’

’And not surrender without a fight.’

Even a Vajra Martial Saint would have almost no chance of escaping from a Sumeru Realm expert, yet Zhu Ju’s face showed no obvious fear.

...

”Guards!”

Qii Wanyan walked out of the side hall, glanced at the kneeling Unscrupulous Marshal Yin Tiger Weei Yuxuan, and barked coldly:

”Weei Yuxuan abused his power to commit violence, obstructing the laws of the Court! Throw him into the Celestial Prison!”

”Temple Master Daoist Ziju of Baiyun Temple is an accomplished master whom I deeply admire. I wish to take up residence here.”

”Report this matter to my Father Emperor. Go at once!”

’What?’

Weei Yuxuan snapped his head up, his face a picture of bewilderment.

’That Daoist... was he really that accurate?’