Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

The Ghost Tower Master has arrived.

As these words fell, the expressions of everyone present changed.

As the mastermind behind the world’s number one assassin organization, the Ghost Tower Master’s identity was extremely mysterious.

Under all of heaven,

those who knew his true identity could be counted on one hand.

Even Shen Ming, who had just spoken with such confidence, was merely guessing.

The wind and snow raged on.

The earth was draped in a blanket of white.

A tall, slender figure wearing a demonic ghost mask had appeared in their midst at some unknown time, completely silent.

If not for Zhu Ju speaking up, the others wouldn’t have even noticed the extra person.

After all, there wasn’t a single weakling present. The least among them were Divine Treasure Martial Saints—great figures who, in any other place, could make the world tremble with a stomp of their foot. And yet, not one of them had noticed the newcomer’s arrival.

’If he was here to assassinate someone...’

The face of Shen Ming, the Soul Chasing Life-Taking Sword, suddenly turned exceptionally ugly, as if he had suffered a massive blow.

He, the world’s number one assassin, now seemed like a complete joke.

”Daoist Ziju!”

The Ghost Tower Master cupped his fists, his voice indifferent.

”I have long heard of your great name. Today, I finally have the pleasure of meeting you.”

”Master Ouyang,” Zhu Ju said suddenly, scrutinizing the man. ”We should have met once before in the Imperial City.”

’Ouyang?’

Everyone present was startled by the name. Then, as if guessing something, their expressions shifted complexly.

There were many famous experts in the world and the Martial World with the surname ’Ouyang’, but there was only one who could be called a top-tier expert.

Ouyang Chengxuan!

The Sect Leader of the Celestial Intent Sect!

”Hmph...”

Beneath the mask, the Ghost Tower Master’s eyes flickered, his expression a mixture of a smile and a non-smile. The demonic ghost mask shattered silently.

Beneath it was a middle-aged scholar with a refined and cultured air.

He looked perfectly ordinary.

Yet he was one of the most powerful experts in the world.

The Miao Manx Saintess Qiyao’s beautiful eyes shifted, a look of astonishment on her face. The Ghost Tower Master was actually the Sect Leader of the Celestial Intent Sect.

But on second thought, it was quite normal.

There were only a handful of Sumeru Martial Saints in the world, and even fewer who would be willing to spend the effort to manage the Ghost Tower.

Other than the Sect Leader of the Celestial Intent Sect, who had always wanted to overthrow the Daqi Court, no one else had a reason to.

”Daoist Ziju of Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain?”

Ouyang Chengxuan stared at Zhu Ju, his voice slow.

”The Celestial Intent Sect and the Ghost Tower have spent considerable effort on you, yet we have gained nothing.”

”Your background is unknown, your origins are a mystery, you disappear frequently, and even your cultivation and methods are an enigma.”

His eyes narrowed.

”Who exactly are you?”

The longer one lived, the more one understood that for a person to achieve greatness, it was impossible to do so by fumbling around alone.

This was especially true for a Sumeru Martial Saint.

If one investigated diligently, they could always find traces of someone’s past in the Martial World. But this clearly didn’t apply to Zhu Ju. This ’Daoist Ziju’ was as if he had popped out of a stone, appearing with unbelievable methods and strength from the very beginning, his lineage unknown to all.

”I am Daoist Ziju. My secular name is Zhu Ju.”

Zhu Ju waved his duster lightly and spoke slowly, ”Master Ouyang, the Ghost Tower has committed evil for many years. I have been tasked with its annihilation. I hope you will not stand in my way. It would be best if you were to disband it voluntarily.”

”Elder Ouyang,” the Miao Manx Saintess Qiyao suddenly interjected. ”I can help you deal with Daoist Ziju, but afterward, you must help me capture these two.”

As she spoke,

she pointed a finger at the Black and White Heroes.

Unlike the Southern Barbarians, who feigned submission to Daqi, the Miao Manx were considered nothing but savage bandits in the eyes of the Daqi officials.

They were on naturally opposing sides.

It was only natural for her to move against Zhu Ju, and from the looks of it, he did not want her to capture the Black and White Heroes.

”Hmm...” Ouyang Chengxuan’s eyes flickered.

He truly couldn’t get a read on Zhu Ju. If he had a Vajra Martial Saint assisting him, it would be for the best.

”Qiyao, why must you look for trouble?” Zhu Ju shook his head gently, then turned his gaze to Shen Ming.

”Soul Chasing Life-Taking Sword?”

”That is me,” Shen Ming nodded.

His expression was grave, and he had already resolved himself to die.

’The main reason Qii Wanyan wanted the Ghost Tower wiped out was because of me.’ he thought. ’My assassination attempt on her back then... I was so close to succeeding.’

”Daoist,” the Black and White Heroes took a step forward, and Fu Feizhou spoke, ”We can help you deal with the Miao Manx Saintess. I wonder if the Daoist could spare Brother Shen’s life?”

Zhu Ju smiled and spoke a few words to Shen Ming, but no sound came out.

Sound Transmission Secret.

Shen Ming’s eyes suddenly widened, his expression a mix of astonishment, confusion, and joy.

”Truly?”

”A man of my calling does not lie,” Zhu Ju replied with a faint smile and a nod.

”Very well!” Shen Ming gritted his teeth.

”I’ll do it!”

The others exchanged glances, unsure what agreement the two had reached.

”Master Ouyang.”

Zhu Ju turned back to Ouyang Chengxuan.

”I have long heard that the Celestial Intent Technique is unparalleled in this world. I am quite interested in this Cultivation Technique. Might I have a look?”

”I am also very interested in the method you cultivate, Daoist,” Ouyang Chengxuan said with a deadpan expression.

”Might I have a look?”

”Heh...” Zhu Ju chuckled, then looked again at the Miao Manx Saintess Qiyao. ”Since you insist on making things difficult for me, then don’t blame me for taking advantage of your plight.”

”Take this palm from me!”

”If you can survive, the Black and White Heroes and Soul Chasing Life-Taking Sword Shen Ming will be yours to deal with.”

”Shameless boasting!” The Miao Manx Saintess Qiyao’s face turned cold. Her figure flickered, and she was already lunging forward. ”You vile Daoist, you take a move from me first!”

Her slender, jade-like fingers plucked gently, and countless threads, invisible to the naked eye, suddenly wound toward him.

The vast Primordial Energy within the Vajra Martial Saint’s body transformed into a sharp Sword Pointing. With a flick of her finger, a hundred-meter stretch of empty space instantly exploded.

The swirling snow in the sky came to a sudden halt.

Lifeless Finger!

Facing a peerless expert who was likely in the Sumeru Realm, the injured Saintess unleashed her full power from the very first move.

Zhu Ju raised his left hand.

His movements were unhurried, yet he raised his hand before her Sword Pointing arrived, his five fingers curling slightly inward.

BOOM!

The space around them abruptly dimmed.

The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi within a one-li radius was instantly seized by his left hand, transforming into a formless mountain that pressed down.

Heaven-Flipping Seal!

Zhu Ju pressed down with one hand.

His Body Refining Third Realm cultivation, his left arm comparable to a Magical Treasure, and a Palm Technique that encompassed the Power of the Five Elements.

In that instant,

the world was turned upside down.

In the perception of the Miao Manx Saintess Qiyao, it was as if space itself was collapsing at that moment, an infinite and mighty force descending from the heavens.

”AH!”

Her eyes flew wide, and a piercing shriek escaped her lips. The Qi in her body erupted like a volcano as she frantically jabbed her Sword Pointing.

”BANG!”

The air trembled violently.

The snow-filled sky was blasted upward as a figure, spitting blood, was sent flying back a hundred zhang. Before she even landed, she tapped her toes and frantically fled into the distance.

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

’As expected of a Vajra Martial Saint. To take a full-powered blow from me while injured and still not die.’ he thought.

’However...’

’She won’t last much longer.’

As the thought crossed his mind, a sudden chill ran down his neck. The Vajra Ming King Armor he had been cultivating within his body instantly enveloped him.

”TING...”

A Soft Sword struck the armor. A terrifying force exploded, sending Zhu Ju flying.

If he hadn’t reacted quickly enough, that strike might have shattered his neck.

”A sneak attack?”

Zhu Ju’s voice was tinged with surprise.

”Aren’t you one of the world’s top—”

”ZING!”

Before he could finish, his vision was filled with Sword Light, and countless afterimages flickered around him.

Celestial Demon Illusion Body Technique!

Celestial Intent Sword Technique!

The sight of him defeating the Miao Manx Saintess Qiyao with a single palm strike was truly terrifying; even Ouyang Chengxuan wasn’t confident he could do the same.

As for a sneak attack...

The Celestial Intent Sect never advocated for fighting honorably, and what’s more, he was the master of the Ghost Tower, an assassin organization.

”CLANG!”

A flash of saber light appeared, tearing through the sky full of sword shadows.

Cross and Vertical Saber!

Ten Directions Killing Dao!

A savage killing intent spread in all directions as if it were tangible. The afterimages shattered one by one, revealing Ouyang Chengxuan’s true form.

He stood there, man and sword, and with a stomp of his foot, he abruptly closed the distance.

Ouyang Chengxuan’s Body Technique was extremely bizarre. His body instantly shrank by nearly half, making him look like a child.

The Longsword that was originally aimed at the throat was now thrusting toward the waist and ribs.

It was Size Manipulation! A Physical Body Divine Power of a Sumeru Realm Martial Saint.

”TING...”

Saber and sword clashed.

Ouyang Chengxuan suddenly transformed into a ten-foot-tall giant, terrifying Giant Power erupting through the blade of his sword.

”BANG!”

Zhu Ju retreated, saber in hand.

”The Sumeru Realm...”

”Truly extraordinary!”

’A Sumeru Martial Saint in this world has power roughly equivalent to a Dao Foundation Cultivator at the Body Refining Third Realm in the Main World.’ he thought.

’In close-quarters combat,’

’a Sumeru Martial Saint’s physical techniques are stronger, but a Body Cultivator at the Body Refining Third Realm can draw upon more external forces,’

’like Magical Artifacts, Spirit Talismans, and so on...’

’It’s hard to say who is stronger or weaker.’

However, Zhu Ju had connected his Three Spirits and was protected by the Vajra Ming King Armor. His strength was greater than, not lesser than, a cultivator at the Body Refining Third Realm.

What’s more,

he also had the Cross and Vertical Saber, which was comparable to a Magical Treasure.

”CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!...”

The two exchanged blows at high speed, leaving afterimages in their wake. The shockwaves of their Powerful Qi swept through the area, felling large trees one after another.

The swirling snow was shredded into countless fragments.

”BANG!”

The two clashed again. Zhu Ju stood his ground with a grave expression, looking at the fist print on his chest armor. He spoke with a note of wonder,

”Celestial Intent?”

”Predicting the future, gaining the upper hand at every turn. You saw through my Saber Technique before I could even begin to execute it.”

”Is this the Celestial Intent Sword Technique?”

His opponent’s Sword Technique was the bane of almost any Martial Arts. The so-called ’Celestial Intent’ meant being able to control everything.

”But...”

”Can you truly calculate everything?”

He snorted, his body spinning with his saber, unleashing the Ten Directions Killing Dao in a furious torrent.

Blood-Burning Curse!

The originally complex Saber Technique vanished, replaced by wide, sweeping moves that pressed forward like a millstone.

Zhu Ju gave up on competing in terms of technique and chose to simply crush his opponent with superior power and defense.

’This again?’

A vexed look appeared on Ouyang Chengxuan’s face.

It was the same in the Imperial Palace. That old monster from the Royal Family had also chosen this method to deal with him.

Comparatively speaking,

the power of the old monster from the Daqi Royal Family was more condensed and profound.

However, Zhu Ju was clad in the Vajra Ming King Armor, giving him superior Defensive Power. Moreover, his Qi Blood was like the rising sun, and his strength seemed endless. In this regard, he was stronger than that old monster who was on the verge of death.

”BOOM!”

A ferocious saber Qi slashed down, creating a hundred-meter-long fissure in the earth. The snow-filled sky was blasted upward against its own fall.

A figure vanished into the flurry of snow, disappearing from sight.

”Running?”

Zhu Ju’s eyebrow twitched.

”Where can you possibly run to?”

He murmured to himself, and his figure flickered as he gave chase, leaving behind the three bewildered members of the Black and White Heroes.

*

*

*

「Three days later.」

Mirror Lake.

Zhu Ju appeared over the lake’s surface, holding a long saber. With a single slash, he parted the water and charged toward Ouyang Chengxuan, who was hiding at the bottom.

「One hour later.」

The area around Mirror Lake was a complete wreck. The surging lake water had submerged several villages, leading to rumors of a Flood Dragon running amok in the lake.

「Seven days later.」

The Southern Barbarian Lands.

A thousand bare-chested Barbarians with painted faces trembled in fear, watching the two terrifying figures battling in the distance.

”You two,”

the Southern Barbarian Dharma King revealed a mouth full of black teeth, his voice trembling, ”this is a sacred, forbidden land of the Southern Barbarians. The spiritual bones of our ancestors are buried here. I ask that you two please find another place...”

”BOOM!”

Dozens of burial mounds were leveled by the sword and saber Qi. The ground shook violently, and the very Earth Veins shifted.

The veins on the Southern Barbarian Dharma King’s forehead bulged, and he clenched his fists so hard they made a CRACKING sound.

But after seeing the two figures fighting, a look of despair crossed his face.

’Sumeru Realm!’

’Even if I were to step forward, I would just be throwing my life away!’

「Ten days later.」

The foot of Tianwen Mountain.

Xuan Chengzi stood in the air, watching the two people fighting below. His brows were tightly furrowed, and a hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes.

”Ancestor.”

A disciple asked in a low voice, ”Are we just going to let them cause trouble here?”

”Two in the Sumeru Realm. Even I cannot rashly intervene,” Xuan Chengzi shook his head gently. ”Don’t worry, they won’t stay for long.”

”Yes.” The disciple breathed a sigh of relief, then added, ”I never thought that Daoist Ziju of Baiyun Temple was so formidable. To think he can fight on par with the Celestial Intent Sect Leader.”

?

Xuan Chengzi looked over with a strange expression.

”No!”

”It is Daoist Ziju who is hunting the Celestial Intent Sect Leader. Ouyang Chengxuan is already using his life-risking techniques, yet Daoist Ziju is still fighting with ease.”

”Ah!” The disciple was dumbfounded.

「Half a month later.」

Zhu Ju watched the figure fleeing before him and sighed helplessly.

”Time is up.”

”If I had another month...”

”Never mind!”

He shook his head gently.

”It should be enough.”