Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

”Young Master Zhu.”

After dismissing the others, Lu Dingkui took a book from his robes and handed it over.

”I have disciples and apprentices at home, so I cannot stay by your side at all times. This is the Dragon Elephant Force Secret Manual. You can study it diligently while I’m away, and ask me if there’s anything you don’t understand.”

”Heh…”

He chuckled and said:

”Young Master, your mind is sharp and your fame spreads throughout the city. Mastering a mere nine methods for circulating Qi Blood will surely be as easy as flipping your hand.”

Lu Dingkui was tall and burly, with an honest-looking face, but in reality, he was as meticulous as he was cunning.

He clearly didn’t want to waste too much time on Zhu Ju, yet his words were exceedingly polite.

Zhu Ju reached out and took the Secret Manual. After just a simple flip-through, a difficult expression appeared on his face.

It was indeed nine stances, that much was true.

But each stance was extremely complex, and there could be no errors during its execution, or all previous effort would be wasted.

’It wouldn’t be difficult for me, but for a beginner to learn it in a short time is nothing short of a fool’s dream.’

”Young Master, you need not worry.”

Lu Dingkui spoke up when he saw this:

”I mentioned that others can help with this technique. You can find someone trustworthy to massage you and invigorate your blood. A female companion would be best, as your body will inevitably show some... unusual reactions when your Yang Qi surges.”

”Over the years, I have taken a total of seven wives and concubines, and every one of them has helped me with my Cultivation.”

”Dragon Elephant Force not only strengthens the body, but it also has the miraculous effect of allowing one to pleasure several women in a single night. Young Master Zhu will find out in due time.”

He roared with laughter as he spoke.

”Massage and invigorate the blood…”

Zhu Ju mused thoughtfully:

”A medicinal bath?”

”Eh?” Lu Dingkui’s face showed surprise and suspicion.

”Young Master has a sharp eye.”

”That’s right. The method is a medicinal bath. Nourishing the body with Secret Medicine while massaging to invigorate the blood will yield twice the results with half the effort.”

”Master Lu, you flatter me.” Zhu Ju’s expression was calm.

”Although I am not fond of practicing Martial Arts, I have been exposed to it since childhood and thus have some understanding of the path of Martial Arts. A simple massage to invigorate the blood wouldn’t have such a profound effect.”

”So…”

”How much for one portion of the Secret Medicine?”

”Heh heh…” Lu Dingkui gave a dry laugh upon hearing this, scratching his head with an embarrassed look.

”A portion of the ordinary Secret Medicine is one tael, a better one is two taels, and the best kind is five taels of silver.”

”These are the listed prices. If Young Master Zhu doesn’t believe me, you can go and ask. My True Disciples pay the same price.”

”Five taels?” Zhu Ju naturally wasn’t considering the ordinary Secret Medicine, so he asked:

”How many uses does it have?”

”...Just one.” Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed himself, Lu Dingkui said with a dry chuckle:

”If you buy ten portions, I can give you a ten percent discount... How about a twenty percent discount?”

”Then I’ll take ten portions to start and see how they are.” Zhu Ju shook his head, put away the Secret Manual, and clasped his hands formally.

”Master Lu, please begin your instruction.”

”Of course, of course.” Lu Dingkui smiled and waved his hand.

”I will first teach you the first stance, Five Dragons Coiling Heaven. This is the most fundamental method of the Dragon Elephant Force. Practicing it over a long period can strengthen your inner Qi Blood and Strength. It remains quite useful even after reaching Grade Entering.”

”Come!”

”Extend your arm.”

*

*

*

SPLASH…

The petite Shuang’er lifted a heavy water bucket that was half her height and poured it into the bathtub.

Her forehead was beaded with sweat and she was panting heavily, but she didn’t stop, pouring one bucket after another until the tub was seventy percent full.

”Yo-Young Master.”

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Shuang’er’s eyes held a hint of hesitation.

”Does it not need to be heated? You’re just going to soak in it like this?”

”Mm,” Zhu Ju nodded.

”Lu Dingkui said that hot water would nullify the Secret Medicine’s effects. Besides, using the medicine will stimulate the body to produce heat, so I won’t feel cold.”

He glanced at the water’s color and nodded lightly.

”That’s about right. Help me change.”

”Yes.” Shuang’er’s pretty face flushed slightly as she stepped forward to help Zhu Ju undress, watching him step into the tub.

TSSSSS…

As his skin touched the water’s surface, a thick white steam immediately billowed out, and the cold water began to roil as if it were boiling.

In just a few moments, the large room was filled with rolling white steam, so thick it was impossible to see one’s hand in front of their face, and one could only make out vague shapes.

Zhu Ju first felt a sharp pain, which was quickly followed by numbness. Then, countless streams of Qi surged into his body.

”Hiss…”

A sound of comfort escaped his lips as he leaned against the edge of the tub, stretching his body.

”Come on!”

”...Yes.” Shuang’er’s face grew an even deeper shade of crimson. Fortunately, she was shrouded by the thick steam, so no one could see.

She gently took off her clothes, folded them neatly to the side, and carefully slid into the tub.

THUMP-THUMP!

THUMP-THUMP!

Her rapid heartbeat, like the constant pounding of a war drum, made Shuang’er’s movements stiff and shaky.

”Don’t be nervous.”

Zhu Ju’s voice was steady, as if he hadn’t noticed a thing.

”Massaging to invigorate the blood is no easy task. If you make a mistake, the best-case scenario is that it has no effect. In a more serious case, I could even be injured.”

”So…”

”Whether or not your Young Master can master the Dragon Elephant Force is all up to you. Clear your mind of distracting thoughts and focus on the task.”

”Yes!” A chill ran through Shuang’er’s heart, and all her distracting thoughts vanished in an instant. She composed herself and moved closer.

In the thick mist,

a pair of slender hands pressed against Zhu Ju’s somewhat pale skin, applying gentle force according to the Cultivation Technique’s description.

There was nothing romantic about the process.

Massaging to invigorate the blood required precise control of acupoints and the flow of Qi Blood. It was not only mentally taxing but also physically exhausting.

By the time one cycle was complete, Shuang’er was drenched in sweat and utterly drained of strength. Her arms, in particular, were unbearably sore. She lay to the side, panting for breath.

Zhu Ju moved his Tendon and Bone slightly, and a continuous series of crisp CRACKLING sounds echoed out.

’The Secret Medicine…’

’Its effects are mediocre.’

’To reduce the medicine’s harshness on the body, they’ve mixed in painkillers. With frequent medicinal baths, the body’s sensitivity to external stimuli will weaken. You might not even feel pain when you get injured.’

’However…’

’It’s quite suitable for a Body Refining Hard Skill. After all, to unleash the power of a Hard Skill, you have to clash head-on with others. That’s impossible if you’re afraid of pain. But if you accumulate too many injuries, it becomes difficult to achieve anything with the Hard Skill. It’s a double-edged sword.’

He shook his head, his gaze lowering slightly.

’The Essence my Venerable Immortal Bone can provide is ten times more potent than this Secret Medicine, but revealing it would be too shocking.’

’I’ll take it one step at a time for now!’

”Young Master.” Just then, Shuang’er’s voice came from behind him.

”I’ve recovered. Let’s continue while the medicine is still effective.”

”Oh…” Zhu Ju turned his head.

”You’ve really recovered?”

This kind of massage was not an easy job. Especially when performed for a long time, it was pure grunt work.

Shuang’er’s rapid recovery was unexpected.

「A short while later.」

Zhu Ju, having changed his clothes, arrived at the empty Martial Arts Arena. He closed his eyes and silently recalled the Giant Spirit Fist.

WHOOSH…

His clothes fluttered as his spine moved like a soaring dragon, and his body shot forward abruptly.

He clenched his five fingers into a fist and punched out fiercely.

Mountain Shattering!

Mountain Severing!

Heaven-Suppressing Sect!

BANG!

The Fierce Fist Force landed on the wooden stake, and the hard post immediately shattered into pieces, exploding outward.

”One Punch Shatters Wood.”

”I’ve more or less reached the threshold of Grade Entering.”

If an outsider were to witness this scene, they would surely be aghast, as Zhu Ju had only just begun his Cultivation.

To go from never having practiced Martial Arts to reaching the threshold of Grade Entering in a single day was something that would take an ordinary person many years of arduous training, even with the help of Secret Medicine.

”Huh?”

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

”This Fist Technique…”

”It’s truly extraordinary!”