Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Though the Bright Void Sect had declined, it was still a major Immortal Sect and had its own territory at the Immortal Alliance’s encampment.

The Main Hall.

A man and a woman, having been summoned, hurried over and dispersed their Tunneling Lights.

Pei Jingque, dressed in a magnificent palace gown, her face flushed with excitement, gestured to the figure standing in the center.

”This is Junior Brother Zhu Ju. He was trapped in Dazhou sixty years ago and has only just returned.”

”I called you over so you could get acquainted.”

The Female Cultivator, with delicate features that made her seem like a beautiful young maiden, clapped her hands lightly, a trace of surprise flashing in her lovely eyes:

”I remember now! I saw Senior Brother Zhu a few times back then. No wonder you look a little familiar.”

”Junior Sister Liuu,” Zhu Ju said, cupping his hands. His voice was complex.

”It’s been a long time!”

Sixty years had changed almost everything.

Old acquaintances were either dead or missing.

Shen Youx, Ning Ruxue, Xiao Bufan...

None of the people he used to know were around anymore.

Qu Hongxiao was said to have fled to the Western Wilderness with the survivors of the Celestial Sword and Flying Phoenix lineages, her fate unknown.

Zhu Ju had been trapped in Dazhou not long after Liuu Huang’er joined the Bright Void Sect’s Dragon Head Peak, so their relationship was ordinary.

But at least they knew each other.

The other person, however, was a complete stranger.

”This is Fellow Daoist Zhai Qingfeng,” Pei Jingque introduced.

”Fellow Daoist Zhai was originally a Loose Cultivator from the Ten Thousand Mountains. He was invited by Junior Sister Liuu to be an Honored Guest Elder of the Bright Void Sect.”

”Over these years, it is thanks to Fellow Daoist Zhai’s efforts that the Bright Void Sect hasn’t fallen into complete ruin.”

”Sect Leader, you exaggerate,” Zhai Qingfeng said with a light laugh, cupping his hands.

”Even without me, the Bright Void Sect is an indispensable Immortal Sect in the Immortal Alliance. I dare not take the credit.”

”Fellow Daoist Zhu, we should get to know each other better in the future.”

This man was quite handsome.

He had sword-like brows, star-like eyes, and a high-bridged nose. A hint of arrogance was visible between his brows, yet it didn’t make him unapproachable.

He stood very close to Liuu Huang’er; their relationship must be out of the ordinary.

”This is great.”

Liuu Huang’er said with a smile:

”With Senior Brother Zhu back, our Bright Void Sect now has four Dao Foundation Cultivators. We’ll see who dares to bully us now!”

Then she asked curiously:

”Senior Brother Zhu, how did you manage all these years?”

”It’s a long story,” Zhu Ju sighed softly.

”Back then, I went to Dazhou and unfortunately fell into the hands of a demon from the Joyful Sect. I barely managed to escape, only to drift in the East Sea for several decades. It’s a blessing from the heavens that I was fortunate enough to return.”

”The Joyful Sect?” Zhai Qingfeng’s expression changed slightly.

”Brother Zhu, you fell into the hands of a Joyful Sect demon?”

”That’s right.” Zhu Ju nodded.

”I did indeed go through that.”

Zhai Qingfeng stroked his chin and subconsciously glanced at Pei Jingque. He was about to speak when he saw Liuu Huang’er beside him shake her head slightly, forcing him to suppress his thoughts for the time being.

”Everyone, please sit.”

Pei Jingque gestured with her hand.

”Junior Brother Zhu, sit here.”

”When the Bright Void Sect suffered its calamity, the three lineages were almost completely wiped out. The surviving seniors from the Celestial Sword and Flying Phoenix lineages took a few disciples and went to the Western Wilderness. I stayed behind in the Ten Thousand Mountains with the rest of our people. We agreed to meet again one day. As the master of the Dragon Head Lineage, I also inherited the position of Sect Leader.”

”Sigh!”

She sighed softly and sat down in the main seat.

’Sect Leader...’

’What have I done to deserve this?’

”Senior Sister,” Liuu Huang’er said with a crisp laugh.

”Let the past be the past. Besides, if you don’t act as Sect Leader, are you suggesting I should? I only joined the Sect halfway.”

She pulled Zhai Qingfeng to sit on Pei Jingque’s left, while Zhu Ju sat on the right, facing them.

’The Dragon Head Lineage...’

’No!’

’The Bright Void Sect currently only has four Dao Foundation Cultivators.’

The few of them talked for a while and agreed to summon the Sect Disciples in three days to formally meet Zhu Ju.

After their discussion, Zhai Qingfeng and Liuu Huang’er cupped their hands and took their leave.

On the way.

Zhai Qingfeng glanced back and said gravely:

”The Joyful Sect excels at bewitching people’s minds. Even a Dao Foundation Cultivator can be mind-controlled by a Demoness and turned into a Puppet. That’s how many of the Immortal Alliance’s spies come to be. Fellow Daoist Zhu has been missing for so many years, and he has a history of being captured by the Joyful Sect. No one knows what he’s been through. We must be on guard.”

”I know,” Liuu Huang’er sighed softly.

”Senior Sister understands too.”

”But because of that, it’s highly likely Senior Brother Zhu hasn’t been bewitched. Otherwise, he could have just not mentioned that experience at all.”

”Since he brought it up so openly, it proves nothing is wrong.”

Zhai Qingfeng slowly shook his head.

The Joyful Sect’s methods were extremely bizarre. Sometimes a person might seem normal on the surface but was in fact already under someone’s control.

The person might even believe they’re fine, only to suddenly go berserk upon hearing a certain sound or seeing a certain object.

Their various strange techniques were simply impossible to guard against!

In his opinion, one could never be too careful.

”Besides...” Liuu Huang’er’s gaze was complicated.

”Senior Sister Pei’s feelings for Senior Brother Zhu are very special. When Senior Sister came out of seclusion back then and learned that Senior Brother Zhu was missing and likely dead, she was depressed for a long time. I’d never seen her like that before.”

”Oh!” Zhai Qingfeng raised an eyebrow.

”The Sect Leader went through something like that?”

”Who hasn’t been young? Who hasn’t fallen for someone in their youth?” Liuu Huang’er rolled her eyes.

”But back then, Senior Brother Zhu wasn’t particularly outstanding in the Sect, and the two of them didn’t seem to have much interaction. I always wondered how Senior Sister could have fallen for someone like him.”

”It seems Senior Sister Pei has excellent judgment after all. Senior Brother Zhu actually became a Dao Foundation Cultivator. You could say she has a talent for spotting a diamond in the rough.”

”That may be so, but we still need to be careful,” Zhai Qingfeng said, narrowing his eyes.

”Fellow Daoist Zhu...”

”We still have to be cautious!”

”Yes,” Liuu Huang’er nodded.

”Senior Sister is a sensible person. She definitely knows what to do. We just need to keep an eye on things from the side.”

”With one more Dao Foundation Cultivator in the Sect, things will be much easier in the future.”

”That’s true,” Zhai Qingfeng nodded.

”And we’ll get two more spots for that Secret Realm.”

*

*

*

”Back then, I was on my way to find my sister and brother-in-law when I ran into Mao Guang, a Dao Foundation Cultivator from the Celestial Corpse Sect. After I escaped, I encountered the Yin Yang Demon from the Joyful Sect and was abducted to Wind Moon Valley. Fortunately, I ran into an old acquaintance there, Zhou Yuantong...”

As Zhu Ju recounted his past, decades of experiences flowing from his lips, he couldn’t help but feel emotional.

Before he knew it...

He had been through so much.

Pei Jingque listened attentively, asking a question or two from time to time, her expression shifting constantly.

”So, you married Zhou Yuantong, but then you faked your death to escape because you were afraid of implicating her?”

”Weren’t you afraid of breaking her heart?”

”Senior Sister...” Zhu Ju was taken aback.

”Is that really important?”

Staying alive was what mattered. If they had both tried to escape then, they definitely would have been hunted down by Dao Foundation Cultivators.

With their strength at the time, it was highly likely they wouldn’t have survived.

Women really do focus on different things than men.

”Mmm...” Pei Jingque shook her head gently.

”Perhaps.”

Zhu Ju fell silent.

”Come.”

Pei Jingque stood up.

”We haven’t seen each other in so many years. Let me see how strong my Junior Brother has become.”

She said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

But maybe it was just his imagination, because Zhu Ju felt like she was holding back a burst of anger she wanted to unleash on him.

......

”VMMM...”

As the Array activated, a space of several dozen mu was enveloped in a complex Spiritual Light.

It was sealed off from the outside world.

’A Tier Two High Grade Array!’

Zhu Ju’s eyes twitched slightly.

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. The Bright Void Sect had fallen so far, with only one of its three lineages remaining, yet it was still protected by a Tier Two High Grade Array. In the East Sea, it would be considered a top power in its region.

The East Sea,

compared to Dazhou, was practically a Cultivation desert.

”Be careful, Junior Brother.”

Pei Jingque’s voice was cold and clear.

”Since advancing to the Dao Foundation Realm, I have been cultivating the Vermilion Bird Heaven-Burning Flame. This Magic is passed down from the Jade Void Sect and is one of the Four Symbols Divine Techniques. Its power is astonishing; few in the same Realm can stand against it.”

”Vermilion Bird Heaven-Burning Flame?” Zhu Ju was jolted.

”Senior Sister, you intend to be a Magic Cultivator?”

So-called Magic Cultivators were Cultivators who primarily used Magic as their means of combat.

This type of Cultivator was mostly born with a natural affinity for Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and had Mastery of various incredibly powerful Magic and Divine Techniques.

Furthermore, because they constantly communed with Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, their chances of reaching the Golden Core Realm were also slightly higher than other Cultivators.

Of course,

it also had its drawbacks.

Magic Cultivators usually didn’t rely on external items, which made it difficult for them to gain an advantage in Combat.

For example, an Artifact Cultivator with a Magical Treasure could use its power to fight opponents of a higher Realm.

”Something like that.”

Pei Jingque didn’t explain further. The space between her eyebrows lit up, and a flame totem appeared on the surface of her skin.

Immediately after, a Vermilion Bird formed from flames emerged from her brow, spreading its wings and flying into the air.

The Vermilion Bird had the beak of a crane, the comb of a rooster, the body of an eagle, and the tail of a sparrow. Its entire body was covered in fiery red feathers, and its two claws glinted with sharp, cold light.

”SCREEE!”

A shrill cry echoed through the arena. The air temperature rose sharply, and balls of fire appeared out of thin air.

Flames are usually ethereal, giving one a sense of unreality.

But the flames before him were different.

The crimson flames were like solidified magma. The sky-filling Fierce Flame resembled a burning mountain, exerting an invisible pressure that made it hard to breathe even before it drew near.

’Mid-Stage Dao Foundation!’

’Vermilion Bird Heaven-Burning Flame!’

Zhu Ju’s eyes twitched.

He had almost forgotten that Pei Jingque’s Profound Void Body naturally had the ability to conceal her true strength.

At first, he had thought she was also at the Early Stage Dao Foundation Realm.

This was quite normal.

Pei Jingque had a special constitution, cultivated a top-tier legacy, and held the title of Bright Void Sect Leader. For her to advance from Early Stage Dao Foundation to Mid-Stage Dao Foundation in sixty years of Cultivation was only to be expected.

It would be strange if she hadn’t.

The Fierce Flame raged in the sky, and though she hadn’t officially attacked yet, he could already feel the threat.

’What powerful Magic!’

’Worthy of the Jade Void Sect’s legacy.’

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Ju’s eyes narrowed. With a flick of his finger, the Ten Directions Sword leaped out from his Dantian.

”TWANG!”

A melodious sword hum reverberated through the arena.

Amidst the sky full of Fierce Flame, a sliver of Sword Light slowly rose, propping open a space of about one mu with a slow yet powerful momentum.

Sword Light Division!

Twenty rays of Sword Light crisscrossed and converged in the air, their invisible Stern Slaughter Intent colliding with the sky-filling Fierce Flame.

”Mmm...”

Pei Jingque’s eyes flickered, and she nodded slowly.

”What a fine Sword Technique!”

”It bears some resemblance to the Ghost God Limit. What is the name of this Sword Technique?”

”Ten Directions Killing Dao,” Zhu Ju said.

”It’s a Sword Control Method of my own creation.”

”Your own creation?” Pei Jingque’s eyes showed surprise.

”Junior Brother, you truly are... a prodigy!”

Creating one’s own Sword Technique wasn’t difficult. What was rare was creating such a remarkable one in only a few decades.

’I wonder what Junior Brother Zhu went through all these years. To think his self-created Sword Technique would possess such immense killing intent.’

’His Divine Soul is clear and his Sword Intent is pure. It seems he wasn’t subjected to the Joyful Sect demons’ methods after all.’

”Come!”

Composing herself, she uttered a low shout:

”Go!”

”BOOM...”

The sky of Fierce Flame suddenly surged. A terrifying power descended, and the Ten Directions Sword immediately sounded like it was on the verge of breaking.

Zhu Ju’s expression changed slightly.

There was something wrong with the flames!

The Ten Directions Sword was a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact. Under the control of his Sword Control Method, its power was even more astonishing.

Now, being burned by the Fierce Flame, not only did its Sword Light dim, but even he himself felt a stabbing pain in his Divine Soul.

Vermilion Bird Heaven-Burning Flame?

No wonder she could be a Magic Cultivator. If a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact couldn’t withstand such a blast of Fierce Flame, wouldn’t a High Grade Spiritual Artifact be incinerated in the blink of an eye?

Though his mind raced, his actions didn’t stop.

The Sword Light zipped through the sky of Fierce Flame. It suddenly flared, forcibly cleaving the flames apart.

”SWOOSH!”

Ten Directions Killing Dao!

A sharp killing intent surged forward through the channel, heading straight for Pei Jingque’s face.

”SCREEE!”

Suddenly,

a Vermilion Bird wreathed in Fierce Flame appeared out of thin air, thrusting out its claws to clash with the Ten Directions Sword.

”BOOM!”

Sword Light and Fierce Flame scattered everywhere.

The Ten Directions Sword let out a mournful cry and retreated rapidly.

The sharpness of the Flying Sword was actually no match for the Vermilion Bird formed of Fierce Flame.

”SCREEE!”

The Vermilion Bird clearly had no intention of stopping there. It spread its wings and charged toward the Ten Directions Sword once more.

TWANG!

A nimble Sword Light erupted.

”CLANG CLANG CLANG...”

”BANG!”

Sword Light and Fierce Flame exploded outward. Although the Sword Light was at a disadvantage, it showed a stubborn resilience.

”BOOM...”

After another collision, Zhu Ju let out a muffled grunt and took an involuntary step back. When he came to his senses, a figure had already appeared before him.

It was Pei Jingque!

Under the cover of the sky-filling Fierce Flame, she had closed the distance without him realizing and thrust out a clenched fist.

Her fingers were slender and delicate, like works of art carved from jade, seemingly devoid of any killing power.

But as her fist shot out, the surrounding air suddenly stagnated.

Then it exploded violently.

Body Refining Second Realm!

Zhu Ju’s eyebrow twitched slightly, but then a smile appeared on his face as he raised a hand and gently slapped forward.

”BANG!”

Fist met palm, and the air trembled violently.

Pei Jingque’s eyes showed surprise as she pulled back and retreated.

”Body Refining Third Realm?”