Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Guk Rusong departed, offering a thousand thanks, while Zhu Ju paced over to the Quiet Chamber and slowly opened the storage pouch at his waist.

SHIMMER...

A seven-colored radiance surged from the mouth of the storage pouch.

Streams of light flew out from within, held fast in mid-air by the Tier One Spirit Capturing Array set up inside the Quiet Chamber.

Amidst the brilliant, flowing colors, a Flying Sword, a Long Banner, a Treasure Bracelet... all appeared.

All sorts of Magical Artifacts and Magical Treasures hovered in mid-air, their rich Spirituality and grim, killing Qi converging in the room.

These were all Zhu Ju’s spoils of war.

On this trip, he had killed several Dao Foundation Cultivators, including the Yin Yang Elder, and obtained several Magical Treasures from them.

As Dao Foundation Cultivators, besides the Magical Treasures they used for combat, they naturally carried all sorts of other Magical Artifacts as well.

And all of these,

had now fallen into Zhu Ju’s hands.

’As the saying goes, a horse doesn’t get fat without midnight fodder, and a man doesn’t get rich without a windfall. If I had to rely on honest work, when in a blue moon would I ever get my hands on such fine things?’

Shaking his head, Zhu Ju put a few of the items that caught his eye into his storage pouch, then turned and strode away.

As the stone door closed, the Spiritual Light of the many Magical Artifacts dimmed.

They had once been powerful weapons in their masters’ hands, cherished and cared for. Many had even become famous in their own right, forging great reputations, but now they were locked away in a dusty storeroom, with no telling when they would see the light of day again.

It was a truly sad and lamentable fate.

...

In the days that followed, news that the Celestial Yu Sect’s Nascent Soul True Man had fallen at the hands of the Six Paths Demon Monarch gradually began to spread.

Even the Innate Qi Refiners had heard of it.

For the news to travel so quickly was highly unusual.

Clearly,

the demons of the Demon Dao were fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

For a time, panic spread throughout the Righteous Immortal Alliance, and the various major Immortal Sects all strengthened their defenses.

Fortunately, the Celestial Yu Sect also released news that the Six Paths Demon Monarch’s Primordial Spirit had been wounded by Miaoyan True Man’s dying counterattack and that he was then besieged by the Celestial Yu Sect’s Nine Bends River Array. Although he hadn’t died, he had suffered grievous losses and couldn’t possibly recover from his injuries in a short time.

「At the same time.」

News also came from the front lines that the demons of the Demon Dao had not continued their advance, which seemed to corroborate the Celestial Yu Sect’s claims.

This brought a small measure of relief.

However, the Bright Void Sect’s relocation was not called off. The plans for site selection and the move itself had officially begun.

”Sect Leader.”

Zhai Qingfeng began, seeking counsel:

”The matter of site selection is of great importance. I’m afraid it would be inappropriate to send only a few Innate Qi Refiners.”

”Besides, the area near the Void is fraught with danger. It would be better for me to lead the team; I can look out for them.”

”But Elder Zhai, your injuries...” Pei Jingque frowned.

”I can’t allow it.”

”I appreciate the Sect Leader’s concern, but my injuries are no longer serious.” Zhai Qingfeng replied with a faint smile, cupping his fists.

”These minor injuries are nothing. The Sect’s business must come first.”

”Hmm...” Pei Jingque thought for a moment, then nodded.

”Very well!”

”Then we will have to trouble you, Elder Zhai.”

”It is my duty,” Zhai Qingfeng said, waving his hand dismissively.

”I am a member of the Bright Void Sect, after all.”

”Also...”

He paused in thought before saying:

”Sect Leader, in my opinion, the Sect has no need to recruit so many disciples. Quality over quantity should be our principle. Besides, the cost of supporting so many people’s daily lives is a great burden on the Sect.”

”Huang’er’s proposal, for instance, was quite good.”

Zhu Ju, who had been at the side with his eyes closed as if resting, slowly opened them.

Liuu Huang’er had once proposed that the Bright Void Sect should freely share some of its Outer Sect Heart Techniques.

Like the Dragon Head Lineage’s Earth Evil Mysterious Skill...

This way, the native people of the Ten Thousand Mountains could also practice Cultivation, and at that time, the Bright Void Sect would only need to set an entry threshold.

For instance.

Only those who opened their Three Acupoints before the age of thirty would be allowed to join the Sect.

This would greatly reduce the number of Sect Disciples; otherwise, the Sect’s population would just keep expanding.

Until the Sect’s resources could no longer sustain it.

”Unacceptable.”

Pei Jingque shook his head, vetoing the idea.

”How can the Sect’s legacy be passed on to outsiders?”

”But...” Zhai Qingfeng frowned.

”Many of our Cultivation Techniques have already been secretly passed around. There are some with exceptional Talent who have cultivated our Sect’s Methods, but because of our rules, they’re branded as thieves who stole our techniques. They’re barred from entry and we’re even supposed to destroy their Cultivation. Isn’t that too cruel?”

He had been a Loose Cultivator and understood their hardships. Moreover, he truly was thinking of the Bright Void Sect’s best interests.

”That is enough.” Pei Jingque’s voice turned grave.

”The Sect’s rules cannot be changed. There is no need to speak of this further, Elder Zhai.”

Zhai Qingfeng opened his mouth, but closed it with a helpless sigh.

Liuu Huang’er was absent from today’s meeting. The four people present were Sect Leader Pei Jingque, Zhu Ju, Zhai Qingfeng, and Shui Qianning, who had only recently advanced to the Dao Foundation realm.

Of the four,

Zhu Ju rarely spoke.

As for Shui Qianning, this was her first time attending a council meeting with the others, and she was not yet accustomed to the atmosphere.

At that moment,

Xu Hanzhi requested an audience.

He walked into the great hall, offering a cupped-fist salute to all present.

”Disciple Xu Hanzhi greets the Sect Leader and the honored Seniors.”

”Hanzhi.”

Zhu Ju leaned forward, his brow slightly furrowed.

”I called you over today mainly to ask about the current state of the Spirit Wine business, but...”

”Why are you still at Eight Acupoints Innate?”

”Uh...” Sweat beaded on Xu Hanzhi’s forehead.

”I... I...”

A host of excuses flashed through his mind, but under Zhu Ju’s intimidating gaze, they all dissolved into a single, bitter admission:

”I am lazy by nature.”

”So you admit you’re lazy!” Zhu Ju’s voice grew heavy, his face flashing with anger.

”Even my disappointing Inner Sect Disciple, Guk Rusong, has already opened his Nine Acupoints! Your Talent is greater than his, you have far more resources, and just a few years ago, even his Cultivation was inferior to yours.”

”If he can reach Nine Acupoints, why can’t you?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an invisible, intimidating power, like a great mountain pressing down on a person, making it hard to breathe.

THUD!

Xu Hanzhi’s knees gave way, and he fell to the ground, drenched in sweat and his eyes filled with terror.

”I... I was wrong.”

”That’s enough.”

Pei Jingque waved his hand, speaking in a placating tone.

”Junior Brother Zhu, don’t frighten him.”

”Over these years, Hanzhi has brewed Spirit Wine for the Sect, expanded our sales channels, and earned a great deal of Spirit Stones. It’s only natural that his Cultivation has slowed down as a result.”

”Sect Leader.” Zhu Ju’s voice was cold and stern.

”No matter how many Spirit Stones we have, they are still external objects. For us Cultivators, our Cultivation and Realm are fundamental. How can we forsake the root for the branches?”

”Xu Hanzhi!”

”I am here,” Xu Hanzhi hurriedly replied.

”If you do not reach Nine Acupoints Perfection within three years, the Spirit Wine business will be handed over to someone else,” Zhu Ju declared.

”Leave the ledgers. You may go!”

”Yes.” With red-rimmed eyes, Xu Hanzhi tremblingly presented the ledgers and quickly retreated from the great hall.

Zhu Ju’s face remained grim, casting an oppressive pall over the atmosphere in the hall.

”Senior Zhu has good intentions, and Junior Brother Xu should know it.”

Shui Qianning’s beautiful eyes twinkled as she said with a smile:

”With Junior Brother Xu’s lazy disposition, if he didn’t have someone as strict as our senior pushing him from behind, he would probably never accomplish anything.”

”Indeed,” Zhai Qingfeng nodded.

”Sometimes a good scolding is what’s needed.”

Pei Jingque smiled but did not speak.

Compared to Shui Qianning and Zhai Qingfeng, Pei Jingque understood Zhu Ju on a deeper level.

’This Junior Brother Zhu has always been a man of few words, agreeing to all the Sect’s arrangements. In truth, his will is incredibly firm. Once he’s made up his mind, no one’s words are of any use. He only appears agreeable on the outside because there are few things that he actually cares enough about to object.’

’The only things he cares about, besides his pursuit of the Great Dao, are the few people close to him. The fact that he would reprimand Xu Hanzhi proves that my junior brother truly cares for the boy.’

As these thoughts turned in his mind, a complex expression appeared in Pei Jingque’s eyes.

Zhu Ju cared about Xu Hanzhi’s Cultivation, but he didn’t seem to care about the loss the Sect would suffer by losing Xu Hanzhi’s services.

In his eyes,

the Sect...

wasn’t all that important!

Ironically, from Zhai Qingfeng and Liuu Huang’er’s perspectives, Pei Jingque placed *too much* importance on the Sect.

So important that the Sect’s rules could not be changed.

So important that it was acceptable to sacrifice certain people for the benefit of the Sect.

*

*

*

Zhu Ju left the great hall, flew up into the air, got his bearings, and then headed southwest.

Before long,

he appeared beside a small stream.

Someone was already waiting there.

This person was dressed in the distinctive Dao Foundation Robe of the Celestial Yu Sect. He had the face of a young man and a resolute, unwavering gaze.

It was Luu Dingwang.

Due to their connection through the Luu Family, the two had always kept in touch, though their relationship wasn’t particularly close.

Recently, however, they had been communicating more frequently because of the situation with the Celestial Yu Sect.

”Grand-uncle!”

Seeing Zhu Ju descend, Luu Dingwang cupped his fists in salute.

”I heard you went to the front lines. I was so worried I even asked my fellow disciples about you. Thank goodness you’re alright.”

”I’ve told you before, we can interact as peers. You can drop the ’Grand-uncle’ title,” Zhu Ju said, waving his hand dismissively.

”The Celestial Yu Sect...”

”What is the situation?”

Luu Dingwang’s expression darkened.

After a pause, he said:

”The Sect Leader and the Elders have conferred. They plan to take the Core Disciples and some of their family and relatives into a Secret Realm to take refuge. They will seal the mountain and not emerge.”

”Hm?”

He had heard this rumor as well but hadn’t expected it to be true. Zhu Ju’s expression changed involuntarily.

”The Immortal Alliance agreed?”

Even after losing their Nascent Soul True Man, the Celestial Yu Sect still has numerous Golden Core Grandmasters and Dao Foundation Cultivators.

For all of them to hide away in a Secret Realm now is undoubtedly a massive loss for the Righteous Immortal Alliance.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the Alliance was losing a limb.

”What could they do if they didn’t agree?”

Luu Dingwang gave a bitter smile.

”The Sect has already made up its mind to seal the mountain. Surely the people from the Immortal Alliance aren’t going to try and force their way through our gates?”

”Sealing the mountain...” Zhu Ju asked,

”For how long?”

”At least a hundred years. At most... a thousand,” Luu Dingwang sighed.

”Until a new Nascent Soul True Man emerges.”

”A Nascent Soul True Man?” Zhu Ju’s face showed his astonishment.

”Can a Nascent Soul True Man be produced in a Secret Realm?”

Luu Dingwang’s expression changed slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he said:

”There’s no harm in telling you. In truth, the place the Sect is going is not a Secret Realm, but another world entirely.”

”It’s just that that world is poor in Cultivation resources and has few inheritances, which is why we call it a Secret Realm.”

’Another world?’

The Cultivation Realm had the concept of the All Heavens and Myriad Realms, but besides himself, Zhu Ju had never heard of anyone else who could travel to other worlds. He couldn’t help but ask in astonishment:

”The Celestial Yu Sect has actually mastered a way to travel to other worlds.”

”Not exactly,” Luu Dingwang shook his head.

”It would be more accurate to say that the Celestial Yu Sect knows of a passage to another world. As for how that passage came to be, the Sect has no idea.”

”I see!” Zhu Ju said in understanding.

”So, why did you ask me to come here?”

”Grand-uncle.”

Luu Dingwang began, his voice solemn:

”I will be among those entering the Secret Realm.”

”A part of the Luu Family will be able to go with me, but most will have to stay behind. I hope the Bright Void Sect will be able to take them in.”

”Things are not easy for the Bright Void Sect either,” Zhu Ju frowned.

”How many people?”

”Thirty-seven people,” Luu Dingwang said quickly.

”All of them are descendants, wives, or concubines of the Luu Family.”

’Thirty-seven people?’

Zhu Ju thought for a moment, then nodded.

”Alright. When will you send them over?”

”They are nearby. They can leave with you, Grand-uncle, at any time.” Luu Dingwang was overjoyed at his words and immediately took out a Command Token to hand over.

”The Celestial Yu Sect is about to seal its mountain. Before that, they will be selling off many resources in exchange for needed supplies. It’s said that many rare Spiritual Objects and Secret Techniques will be available, even Golden Core Inheritances. An opportunity like this is rare.”

”In half a year, a trade fair will be held for a time at a certain location. Grand-uncle, you can use this token to attend. Perhaps you’ll be able to acquire something useful.”