Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Celestial Wealth Commerce Association.

Zhu Ju stepped inside once again under the identity of ’Wuh Tian’.

”Haha...”

His laughter arrived before he did.

Wangg Xiuzhu, who had been promoted to security manager, came forward with a hearty laugh and embraced Zhu Ju:

”Younger Brother Wuh, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

”It has.” Zhu Ju nodded.

”Brother Wangg, you know what the situation was like a while ago. A lot of people wanted to make me the scapegoat.”

”If I hadn’t laid low, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have made it to today.”

”Younger Brother Wuh, you’re a sensible man!” Wangg Xiuzhu’s face showed surprise as he lightly patted his shoulder.

”Come!”

”I’ll show you around inside.”

Everyone knew that Manager Zheng’s death couldn’t possibly be related to ’Wuh Tian’, but that didn’t stop them from pinning it on him.

Of course.

In reality, he was the one who had killed Manager Zheng, so it wasn’t exactly an injustice.

It was just that in Wangg Xiuzhu’s impression, ’Wuh Tian’ was a narrow-minded and greedy man, not someone capable of great things.

Looking at him again today, however, something was different.

His appearance hadn’t changed—his features were still the same—but the impression he gave was completely different.

The relaxed brow, the slightly downturned corners of his mouth, the cold, distant look in his eyes—it was as if he were a different person entirely.

”I heard Younger Brother Wuh’s son got into a High-Level Academy. Congratulations!”

He changed the subject, speaking with a smile.

”When are we celebrating?”

”Hmph!” Zhu Ju snorted softly.

”Children have their own paths to follow. I don’t plan on riding his coattails, so there’s no need to celebrate.”

”Ever since that brat got into a High-Level Academy, he thinks he’s all grown up. He hasn’t come back once.”

It wasn’t just Wuh Ping.

Wuh Qing had also applied for a school dormitory and completely cut off contact with him, her father, ever since.

”Is that so?”

Wangg Xiuzhu raised his eyebrows but wasn’t surprised. He was well aware of Wuh Tian’s family situation.

”It doesn’t matter!”

”It’s their loss. Younger Brother Wuh, you’ve latched onto a bigger branch now. You’re not the man you used to be.”

”Come!”

”Register your information here.”

The two of them stopped in front of a large device. As the machine activated, a metal needle extended.

Zhu Ju held out his hand. His fingertip touched the metal needle, and a drop of blood was immediately drawn.

A moment later.

With a crisp ’BEEP’, the heavy alloy door in front of them slowly slid open to either side.

”No problems!”

Wangg Xiuzhu’s expression relaxed.

”Younger Brother Wuh, you probably don’t know, but some Exotic Beasts can disguise themselves as humans. This is the only way to ensure security.”

”Oh!” Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

”Exotic Beasts have intelligence?”

”It’s rare, but yes, some do. In fact, some Exotic Beasts are even more intelligent than humans.” Wangg Xiuzhu nodded, continuing as they walked.

”As everyone knows, Exotic Beasts are divided into low-level, mid-level, and high-level, corresponding to our Martial Artists, Martial Masters, and Grand Martial Masters. And above high-level Exotic Beasts, there are Legendary Level Exotic Beasts.”

”Without relying on external tools, only a Martial Saint can deal with a Legendary Beast.”

”Above Legendary Beasts, there is an extremely special type of Exotic Beast we’ve named the Holy King Beast. These beasts not only possess terrifying power but also intelligence that is no less than a human’s.”

The two walked along the empty corridor.

It appeared empty, but Zhu Ju’s keen senses told him that if he made a single wrong move, this hundred-meter-long corridor would transform into a tunnel of death, unleashing terrifying destructive power.

”A Holy King Beast?”

He asked casually.

”Stronger than a Legendary Beast? Wouldn’t that mean not even a Martial Saint is a match for them? Are they invincible?”

”You can’t quite say that.” Wangg Xiuzhu shook his head.

”A single Holy King Beast is indeed unrivaled. But the reason our Human Race has been able to survive the apocalypse is that we rely on more than just individual martial prowess. We also have technology and the will to work together as one.”

”ZZZ...”

The glass door ahead slid open.

”For example, not long ago, a Holy King Beast, the Vajra Ming King, appeared nearby. It was ambushed and killed in the wilderness by several Martial Saints working together, who also deployed a few high-powered, destructive weapons.”

”Our Celestial Wealth Commerce Association also participated and obtained one of its eyes.”

Vajra Ming King!

The Ming King Eye!

A flicker of movement in Zhu Ju’s eyes.

The reason Boss Jiao, that Divine Envoy of an Evil God, had sought him out was to obtain this very thing.

”This is the research center of the Celestial Wealth Commerce Association.”

Wangg Xiuzhu pointed forward with an outstretched hand.

”Nearly seventy percent of Funeng City’s virtual network is provided by our Commerce Association. It’s also our biggest source of revenue.”

”In addition, there’s the Genetic Potion and Exotic Beast trades, information services, and so on...”

”I don’t know much about all that. After all, I’m just a minor manager in the security department.”

A security manager was only considered mid-level within the entire Celestial Wealth Commerce Association, maybe even lower-mid level.

Naturally, he had no access to the core operations.

”But you’re different!”

Wangg Xiuzhu turned, his voice tinged with emotion.

”You’re the Inspector sent by the Qin Family, responsible for overseeing the Commerce Association’s trade activities. Aside from a few core areas, you can go in and look at almost anything, as long as you submit a request.”

That was right.

The current ’Wuh Tian’ had a different status.

He was no longer an insignificant Demon Hunter for the Celestial Wealth Commerce Association.

Instead, he was the Inspector representing the Qin Family, responsible for supervising the operations of the Celestial Wealth Commerce Association—a ’big shot’ with an annual salary of over a million.

”TAP... TAP...”

The rhythmic sound of high heels striking the floor approached.

”Inspector Wuh?”

A beautiful woman walked up to them, a cloud of rather strong perfume preceding her.

”A pleasure to meet you. I am Hex Huixin. From here, I will be the one to introduce you to the Commerce Association’s operations.”

”Mm...”

The woman pursed her lips into a small smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

”Mr. Wuh’s former superior, Manager Zheng, was my ex-husband.”

Hm?

Zhu Ju raised his eyebrows.

Wangg Xiuzhu, standing to the side, looked embarrassed. He nodded at her and excused himself.

...

Hex Huixin had a wonderful figure, made all the more curvaceous by her tight-fitting uniform. The sway of her hips as she walked was quite distracting.

”Mr. Wuh, you’re not what I expected.”

She turned her head to look at him, her voice alluring.

”You have quite the presence!”

Zhu Ju just smiled.

He had intentionally assumed the identity of ’Wuh Tian’ for the convenience of interacting with this world, but he couldn’t maintain the disguise forever.

Now that the children had left and he had become the head of the Underworld, his true nature was naturally starting to show through.

He walked with purpose, his eyes sharp and his stride powerful—a stark contrast to the cautious demeanor of someone from the lower rungs of society suddenly thrust into the upper class.

”Miss Hex.”

”How about you tell me about this place?”

”Why the hurry?” Hex Huixin giggled, but still pointed at the staff inside.

”This area is mainly for Genetic Potion research.”

”As everyone knows, Genetic Potions, from the most basic Genetic Enhancement Potions to the Advanced Enhancement Potions, have always been big sellers. However, due to the Federation’s subsidy policies, it’s hard for the Commerce Association to profit from them. Besides, our association was never known for refining potions.”

”Therefore, Legendary Potions and Forbidden Medicine are our research focus.”

”Legendary Potions and Forbidden Medicine?” Zhu Ju asked.

”Elaborate.”

”A Legendary Potion is a type of Genetic Enhancement Potion extracted from a Legendary Beast. Taking one can help a High-Level Martial Master advance to Grand Martial Master. Forbidden Medicine, on the other hand, can help a Grand Martial Master advance to Martial Saint.” Hex Huixin paused.

”Of course!”

”That’s just in theory.”

”Legendary Potions have a high chance of failure, and Forbidden Medicine is very likely to cause the death of a Grand Martial Master. Right now, a stable Legendary Potion doesn’t even exist, and Forbidden Medicine has been responsible for the deaths of countless Grand Martial Masters.”

”What about the Wang and Xie Families?” Zhu Ju asked thoughtfully.

”They’ve had Martial Saints in every generation. They must have their own unique Forbidden Medicine, right?”

”Yes.” Hex Huixin smiled.

”However, their Forbidden Medicine was specifically developed for their own family bloodlines and isn’t universally effective. The Hex, Qin, and Lin Families have tried to follow their path, but for some reason, it has never worked.”

”This way, please!”

Legendary Potions, Forbidden Medicine... all the major consortiums and commerce associations were researching them, but progress was slow.

Currently.

There was no light at the end of the tunnel.

”The intelligent system, Fuxi!”

Standing before a giant pillar of light, Hex Huixin spoke with emotion in her voice.

”This is the greatest asset of our Celestial Wealth Commerce Association. It’s responsible for managing nearly seventy percent of the entire virtual network in Funeng City, and it’s also connected to the Federation’s other Safe Cities. Among more than three thousand intelligent systems, its auction price ranked thirteenth last year.”

Fuxi!

Zhu Ju had heard of this system.

It had the ability to process massive amounts of data, assisting researchers in completing numerous complex calculations and improving efficiency in every aspect.

”Here.”

Hex Huixin handed him a wristband.

”This contains a subsystem of Fuxi. You can use it to request access to the company’s internal files.”

”Of course...”

”All access is logged.”

Zhu Ju took it and casually put it on his wrist. As the wristband lit up, a screen visible only to his eyes materialized. He could adjust its various functions using voice and gestures.

He tried it out briefly and nodded in satisfaction.

”Very convenient!”

”Of course it’s convenient.”

Hex Huixin smiled smugly.

”This is what the Celestial Wealth Commerce Association does best.”

”WHIR...”

The heavy door ahead slowly parted, revealing a massive laboratory.

The laboratory before them occupied more than ten acres, and countless complex machines surrounded an object in the center.

It was an eye.

A strange, oval-shaped object over ten meters tall!

Even from a great distance, and though the eye had lost all signs of life, he could still feel an immense pressure bearing down on him.

’Nascent Soul! No, not quite!’

A dead eye was actually making Zhu Ju, a Golden Core Grandmaster, feel intense pressure.

’It’s hard to imagine. If the owner of this eye were still alive, how terrifying would its power have been?’

Similarly.

The fact that several Martial Saints, with the help of other means, could kill such a being meant that the power of a Martial Saint probably far exceeded his imagination as well.

”The Ming King Eye!”

Hex Huixin’s voice was full of awe.

”It’s said this eye has the miraculous ability to perceive all things. We’re trying to extract its unique components to see if we can discover anything.”

”Mm.”

Zhu Ju gazed at the enormous eye, the space between his eyebrows twitching slightly, before slowly retracting his gaze.

”Where is my office?”

”This way!”

Hex Huixin turned.

”Tonight, I’ve prepared a welcome banquet for Mr. Wuh. All our colleagues will be there.”

”I would be honored.” Zhu Ju nodded.

”Thank you.”