Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

SWISH!

Two streaks of Tunneling Light pierced the clouds, skimming over the vast, white sea of clouds.

Dong Yuelan’s Escape Technique was quite profound; she could transform into a seven-colored morning glow, like a rainbow stretching across the sky.

Zhu Ju was different.

He commanded a Flying Sword of the Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact rank. Achieving Human-Sword Unity, he transformed into a streak of Tunneling Light, his figure indistinct as he followed closely behind.

Ten days had passed since the two left the Marketplace.

At first,

streaks of Tunneling Light had soared from every peak, converging in mid-air into a meteor shower that shot toward the front lines.

They would occasionally encounter a few familiar streaks of Tunneling Light, and the two would exchange greetings and travel together for a while.

The further on they went,

the fewer people there were.

Now, they hadn’t encountered any fellow daoists for several days.

”Fellow Daoist Zhu.”

Dong Yuelan turned her head and sent a thought:

”Your Sect Leader and I often address each other as sisters. You don’t mind if I call you Junior Brother Zhu, do you?”

”Of course not.” Zhu Ju smiled faintly and voluntarily changed his form of address:

”Senior Sister Dong.”

”Before I left, Senior Sister Pei specifically instructed me to learn a lot from you and not to act on my own.”

”Haha...” Dong Yuelan laughed heartily, her heroic style on full display:

”Sister Pei is too kind.”

”Junior Brother, you’ve traveled far from overseas and are unfamiliar with the terrain of the Ten Thousand Mountains. You can’t go wrong following me, though.”

She pointed forward with her hand:

”That place ahead is called Thousand Crag Cliff. It’s teeming with Demon Birds. We’ll go down and rest for the night, recover our energy, and continue our journey tomorrow.”

Dao Foundation Cultivators could go months without eating or drinking, but their minds would eventually grow weary.

”Alright!”

Hearing this, Zhu Ju nodded. His Tunneling Light descended, and he landed on the top of a low mountain.

He chose a flat area, untied the Spirit House hanging from his waist, and gave it a gentle toss. A siheyuan-style courtyard house appeared before them.

”A Spirit House?”

Dong Yuelan had been about to set up camp. Seeing this, she raised an eyebrow:

”I wouldn’t have thought Junior Brother Zhu would buy something like this.”

Spirit Houses weren’t very useful, but their special materials made them extremely expensive.

Typically, only Cultivators from top Immortal Sects with profound backgrounds would be so extravagant.

She hadn’t expected it.

She hadn’t expected that Zhu Ju, who had always seemed frugal in her eyes, would actually be willing to spend Spirit Stones on such a thing.

”Life is short; one should enjoy it while it lasts.” Zhu Ju smiled and said:

”Though I am a seeker of the Dao, I don’t mind making myself a bit more comfortable. Would you care to come in, Senior Sister?”

As he spoke, he waved his long sleeve, and the gate to the courtyard house swung open.

”Junior Brother.”

Dong Yuelan frowned slightly and spoke slowly:

”Your Talent isn’t bad, and you advanced to the Dao Foundation stage early. Your path on the Dao is promising. You shouldn’t be too concerned with pleasure.”

”Yes.” Zhu Ju said politely:

”Senior Sister is right.”

Dong Yuelan smiled, stepped inside, and chose a side room to rest in.

A Spirit House has an Array. Being inside makes one vulnerable to being controlled by the owner. Her entering was a show of trust.

Of course,

it also displayed her absolute confidence in her own strength.

Dong Yuelan had advanced to the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation two years earlier than even Pei Jingque. With her considerable array of skills, she naturally didn’t pay much mind to Zhu Ju, who was still in the ’Early Stage Dao Foundation’.

Zhu Ju smiled indifferently.

’Dong Yuelan has a ’big sister’ personality. To put it nicely, she likes to lecture. To put it bluntly, she looks down on people.’

’Unless she acknowledges your strength, she will always maintain a superior attitude.’

In the master bedroom.

His Outer Body Incarnation, ’Wukong’, sat cross-legged in the center, silently engaged in Cultivation.

’Even while traveling, I have my Outer Body Incarnation to assist with Cultivation. Why would I worry about my Cultivation not progressing?’

Zhu Ju nodded in satisfaction at the sight:

”No wonder the Sect records say that everyone who possesses an Outer Body Incarnation is a powerhouse. As long as I have enough time, I’ll be no different.”

He composed himself.

He sat cross-legged on a cushion, took out the ’Ten Directions Cross’, and placed it before him. He then sent his Divine Thought probing into it.

Instantly,

the Sword Intent within the Flying Sword pulled him into a void-like space.

Thousands of flying swords formed a net, and Zhu Ju was in the very center, locked tightly by the Sword Intent.

’I’ve come in so many times, and it’s still exactly the same. It’s just a dead thing, after all. It doesn’t know how to adapt.’

Muttering this, his eyes lowered slightly. Ten flying swords appeared around him, and a Stern Slaughter Intent shot to the heavens.

Ten Directions Killing Dao!

The ten flying swords spun around him, isolating the inside from the out, continuously clashing with the incoming Sword Intent.

A world formed from Divine Intent naturally couldn’t absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi; it could only rely on his Divine Soul Origin to fight the enemy.

The White Tiger Fierce Slaughter Sword Intent contained within the Broken Sword was ferocious, silent, and annihilated all things—it was the most domineering and vicious of all.

At the very beginning,

the moment the Sword Intent struck Zhu Ju, he was injured and spat up blood on the spot.

But now, after being tempered by the Broken Sword Intent, he could already hold his own against it, and the Sword Intent of his Ten Directions Killing Dao had become increasingly pure.

The White Tiger Fierce Slaughter Sword Intent was pure black, pressing down on Zhu Ju with the force of a savage, violent storm.

A trace of blood-red Sword Intent wavered under the assault, on the verge of collapse, yet it always remained standing, even expanding its domain little by little.

BOOM!

CLANG CLANG CLANG...

The clash of Sword Intents manifested in his mind as two peerless Swordsmen, each engaging in Combat with Sword Control.

The White Tiger Fierce Killing Sword was grand and sweeping, its every move stately and archaic—the Realm of simplifying the complex after reaching the apex of the Sword Dao.

The Sword Light of the Ten Directions Killing Dao was tangled and domineering, growing fiercer the more it fought under the opponent’s suppression.

As time passed, his originally scattered Sword Technique became condensed, his Sword Intent grew purer, and his moves became more practiced.

There were even signs of a transformation.

TING...

Along with a melodious clang, the Flying Sword trembled slightly, forcing Zhu Ju’s Divine Intent out.

”One incense stick’s time!”

Zhu Ju calculated the time in his head and a faint smile appeared on his face:

”Longer than last time. For the next ten-odd days, you should listen to me obediently, right?”

That’s right!

Zhu Ju currently could not fully master the Flying Sword ’Ten Directions Cross’.

But every time his Divine Intent entered it, the Flying Sword would be imbued with his aura, allowing him to command it for a period of time afterward.

The longer he could endure, the longer he could command it.

Once he completely wore down the Broken Sword Intent, he would be able to fully control the ’Ten Directions Cross Sword’.

”Hm?”

His eyebrows twitched, and he transmitted his voice in a low whisper:

”Senior Sister Dong, no need to worry. It’s just a few Barbarians who have entered the mountains. They won’t dare to approach the Spirit House.”

In the side room, Dong Yuelan, who was regulating her breath, flickered her beautiful eyes before slowly closing them again.

Outside.

A few Barbarians who had entered the mountains to hunt beasts cautiously emerged from the forest, looking in the direction of the Spirit House.

In their eyes, that ’Spirit House’ was a terrifying, colossal beast lying prone on the ground.

An invisible pressure spread out in all directions.

The Barbarians glanced at each other, swallowed hard, and cautiously retreated toward the dense forest.

Only when the Spirit House was out of sight did they let out low growls and flee desperately down the mountain.

There’s a monster in the mountains!

In the near future, this news would surely spread throughout the entire Barbarian tribe.

*

*

*

「One month later.」

They were still in the Ten Thousand Mountains.

The view was of endless, vast mountain ranges, no different from when they had arrived. However, the two of them had already reined in their Tunneling Light, slowed their pace, and were proceeding with caution.

There was still some distance to the front lines, but they had already encountered small groups of Demonic Cultivators.

Clearly,

this area was no longer safe.

”Yingke Cliff!”

Dong Yuelan lowered her Tunneling Light and gazed at the cliff on the high mountain ahead, her expression complex:

”Back then, when the disciples of the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Bright Void Sect retreated, we agreed to rendezvous here. I had only recently achieved Dao Foundation at the time and was responsible for leading the disciples back. Though I appeared calm on the surface, I was actually panicking inside. Fortunately, nothing went wrong in the end.”

”In a flash...”

”Decades have passed.”

On the cliff ahead, a rock jutted out, resembling outstretched arms welcoming a guest. Its form was vigorous, as if greeting visitors.

Presumably, this was how it got its name.

”At the time, I was far away in the East Sea and didn’t experience it. I suppose I escaped a calamity,” Zhu Ju sighed.

”It’s a pity...”

”So many people we’ll never get to see again.”

”Indeed,” Dong Yuelan nodded. Her expression suddenly changed as she took a Communication Jade Talisman from her storage bag.

Zhu Ju took one out as well.

He swept his Divine Thought inside, and his brow furrowed:

”The Immortal Alliance is telling us to gather at a nearby outpost to resist the Demon Dao invasion. Of all the times for this to happen.”

As Dao Foundation members of the Immortal Alliance, they each carried this kind of Communication Jade to exchange information.

It could also be used to call for help in critical moments.

The reason the two of them were able to determine the rendezvous location was also because of this item.

Liuu Huang’er and Zhai Qingfeng could unilaterally grant Zhu Ju permission, allowing him to lock onto their position.

”This kind of large-scale communication consumes an enormous amount of Spirit Stones. It seems the Immortal Alliance outpost is really in trouble.”

Dong Yuelan’s beautiful eyes gleamed:

”If we don’t go, we might be targeted. Besides, it is our duty not to shrink from fighting the Demon Dao.”

This communication originated from the Profound Clarity Sect.

Since they had received the message, the sender would also know they were in the area. Not going would be inappropriate.

But if they went,

who knew what kind of situation they would encounter.

Moreover, they weren’t Cultivators scheduled for duty on the front lines. They had come this time to escort their sect members in a retreat. If they got tied down at the front, they might not only fail to retrieve their people but also get trapped themselves.

”The Profound Clarity Sect...”

Dong Yuelan’s face was contemplative. With a light wave of her long sleeve, a swath of rosy light converged before her into a map.

A topographical map of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

”The outpost is to the north.”

She propped her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful:

”Although it’s not on our direct path, it’s still in the north. We can head towards the outpost first, then observe the situation and decide whether to help or continue north.”

”Hmm...” Zhu Ju thought for a moment:

”Alright.”

He agreed aloud, but sighed internally.

’Dong Yuelan seemed to be asking for my opinion, but she had already made her decision.’

’According to my own thinking,’

’we could have just ignored the Immortal Alliance’s call for aid. Even if they asked about it later, we could have just made up an excuse.’

’Right now, the priority should be getting our people back as soon as possible.’

However, when he thought of Pei Jingque’s instructions to take care of Dong Yuelan, he could only sigh helplessly.

He then added a reminder:

”We definitely can’t stay at the outpost for too long. We need to get our people as soon as possible.”

”Mm.”

Dong Yuelan nodded in agreement.

...

「Immortal Alliance Outpost.」

Several Dao Foundation Cultivators from the Profound Clarity Sect were gathered around a sand table.

In the main seat sat a handsome youth with delicate features, yet with white hair hanging at his temples.

The youth’s name was Shii Xuan, a Core True Inheritance of the Profound Clarity Sect.

He possessed a Dao Foundation Perfection Cultivation and was also the Profound Clarity Sect’s most promising candidate to reach the Golden Core Realm in recent decades.

Years ago,

the union of Shii Xuan of the Profound Clarity Sect and the Loose Cultivator Qin Zhiruo as Dao-Companions was a major event that the Immortal Alliance had intentionally publicized.

At that time, even though the Bright Void Sect was going through hard times, they had also sent a congratulatory gift.

”The Sect wants us to defend this place to the death, or at the very least, to slow the advance of the Demonic Demon People.”

Shii Xuan spoke slowly:

”One month!”

”We must hold out for at least one month to buy time for those behind us.”

”Senior Brother,” a person on the left spoke up.

”This place has a Tier Three Array and numerous Dao Foundation Cultivators. Even if a Demonic Golden Core attacks, holding out for a month won’t be a problem.”

”Junior Brother Huang,” an old man on the right shook his head.

”The Sect wants us to buy time. But besides buying time, we also need to consider how to retreat.”

”One month...”

”After one month, this entire area will be swarming with Demonic Cultivators. So what if we complete our mission then?”

”It’s still a dead end!”

Everyone nodded repeatedly.

”Senior Brother Shii.”

A person below said:

”I have already sent messages to nearby daoists. Currently, more than twenty Dao Foundation Cultivators are on their way.”

”More than twenty?” Junior Brother Huang frowned.

”Didn’t you say there were over thirty?”

”Well...” The person below looked embarrassed:

”It’s true that over thirty people received the message, but only twenty-some replied that they were coming.”

”Hmph!” Shii Xuan snorted coldly, his eyes narrowing:

”Cowards before the battle has even begun, deserting their posts... Find out who isn’t coming. I will report them to the Immortal Alliance for severe punishment.”

”Junior Brothers.”

He scanned the room and said in a low, heavy voice:

”I, Shii, have been ordered to guard this place. I will not disappoint the Sect. I will defend this outpost to the death against the Demonic Cultivators.”

”Fight to the last moment!”

”Yes!” Everyone stood up and responded loudly:

”Fight to the last moment!”

Among the crowd, Junior Brother Huang’s roar was the loudest, but no one noticed the flash of disdain in his eyes.

A Tier Three Array involves the mysteries of space.

The outpost’s Tier Three Array was the same; at full power, it could teleport two or three people a thousand li away.

The others might not know,

but Shii Xuan would definitely claim one of those spots.

Therefore,

no matter what happened, Shii Xuan would be fine.

But if the others really fought the Demon Dao invasion to the bitter end, their doom would be sealed.