Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

The Sword Forest.

The burial ground for swords of the Celestial Sword Lineage.

It was also where the Disciples were laid to rest after their passing.

Zhu Ju walked up to a giant sword-shaped stone monument, where he saw Qu Hongxiao holding a broom, sweeping fallen leaves from the stone steps.

The first snow had just melted, leaving fallen leaves piled high.

Her slender figure moved with a limp and a hobble, and her dusty, gray clothes looked as if they hadn’t been washed in ages.

”Senior Brother Zhu.”

Hearing the footsteps behind her, Qu Hongxiao, her face covered in grime, turned around, her eyes bursting with joy.

”You’re here.”

”Yes.”

Zhu Ju spoke.

”Didn’t they say the misunderstanding was cleared up?”

”The ones who framed you were punished by the Law Enforcement Hall. One of them was nearly expelled from the Sect.”

”Yes,” Qu Hongxiao nodded.

”They were the ones who framed me, and they even tried to steal the Sword Talisman Senior Brother Zhu gave me. Of course I was going to fight them.”

”What I mean is...” Zhu Ju stepped closer.

”Since the misunderstanding is resolved, why are you still here? Sweeping the graves in the Sword Forest is a job for culprits.”

”I like it here,” Qu Hongxiao said.

”My master is here too!”

She pulled Zhu Ju over to a grave and pointed at the crooked characters on the headstone.

”I wrote this for my master.”

_Tomb of Master Guu Yi!_

The characters on the headstone weren’t pretty, but they held a unique Sword Intent, just like the person standing before him.

”That’s fine too.”

Zhu Ju looked at the grave and said slowly,

”As the old saying goes: home is where the heart is. At least here, little sister, you won’t be disturbed by others.”

”Right, right!” Qu Hongxiao nodded repeatedly.

”As long as I sweep every day, someone brings me food and drink. I don’t want to leave.”

”Little sister...” Zhu Ju looked at her awkward, limping movements.

”What happened with your injuries?”

”Oh!” Qu Hongxiao scratched her messy hair and giggled foolishly.

”When I was fighting them, a True Inheritance senior brother saw me. He mistakenly thought I was the one bullying them, so he attacked me. I wasn’t his match, and he broke my bones.”

”And that’s what happened.”

’Broken bones?’

With the recovery ability of an Innate Qi Refiner, mere broken bones shouldn’t have resulted in this.

This could only happen if her foundation was damaged.

”Senior Brother, don’t worry about me.”

Qu Hongxiao took a couple of steps to show she was fine.

”I was born with a Sword Bone. I’m unyielding, like a sword. Besides, even a Broken Sword can still be useful.”

”Right,” Zhu Ju nodded with a smile.

”You’re right, little sister.”

...

The news of Qu Hongxiao being framed somehow got out and quickly spread throughout the entire Bright Void Sect.

A fool being framed wasn’t particularly strange news.

But someone giving a Sword Talisman comparable to a High Grade Spiritual Artifact to a fool? That became a topic of gossip.

Because of this, Zhu Ju gained a bit of a reputation.

It wasn’t a good reputation, though. Some even said that the Dragon Head Lineage had produced a fool of its own.

Otherwise, why would anyone give something so valuable to a fool?

Zhu Ju had always lived a reclusive life and didn’t know many people, but during this time, he had frequent visitors.

Ning Ruxue, Xiao Bufan, Yan Bohu...

Even Shen Youx and Kongli Changuang made a special trip to his small courtyard after hearing about Qu Hongxiao’s situation.

They were treating him like some rare curiosity to be gawked at.

Helpless, Zhu Ju simply announced he was entering closed-door Cultivation and went to the Earth Fire Stone Chamber. He didn’t show his face for over a month, waiting for the gossip to die down.

Winter passed and spring arrived.

On this day,

DONG...

A melodious, mournful bell tolled, echoing throughout Dragon Head Peak.

Fengg Wuju had succumbed to his grievous injuries and passed away.

In front of the main hall, the Sect Disciples gathered. A sense of grief silently permeated the air as hundreds of disciples stood facing the wind.

Shen Youx’s eyes were red. He took out a letter, slowly unfolded it, took a deep breath, and began to speak in a low voice.

”I was born from humble beginnings and was fortunate to enter the Bright Void Sect for 197 years. I have cultivated a thousand acres of Spirit Fields, taught dozens of disciples, carved over a hundred thousand Array Patterns, and guarded the mountain gate for seventy years.”

”Though my life was a struggle and my Dao Foundation never reached Perfection, my annotations can be found on all three thousand volumes of the Daoist Canon in the Library Pavilion, and my lifeblood is seared into every crack of the Mountain Guardian Grand Array.”

”Today, before my passing, I have burned my Innate True Flame to mend the final flaw in the Earth Vein.”

”May the disciples who come after me know this: the Great Dao is not only about ascending to the heavens. Guarding the Sect’s legacy is also a form of Cultivation, like spiritual rice—rooting deep in fertile soil, quietly waiting for spring’s growth.”

His voice, choked with emotion, echoed across the clearing.

Fengg Wuju was born in the Bright Void Sect and died on Dragon Head Peak. He had dedicated his entire life to the Sect, aside from his own Cultivation.

Even in death, he still worried for the Sect and the Dragon Head Lineage.

This devotion was something few Inner or Outer Sect Disciples could understand, but the Core Disciples felt it as if it were their own.

They were the same, their hearts bound to the Sect, sharing its life and death.

Shen Youx steadied his emotions and continued.

”I have regrets in my life!”

”First, I regret the wasted years, for I never completed the Great Dao.”

”Second, I regret that the Demon Sect is powerful, and I was powerless to turn the tide.”

”Third, I regret that the Sect is withering, and a single pillar cannot support it.”

”Today, my remains will dissolve into the Mountain Guardian Grand Array and scatter amongst the plants and trees. There is no need for any disciple to mourn me.”

”Though my body may perish, my heart will endure forever!”

ROAR!

The Mountain Guardian Grand Array trembled without a wind, and a low, mournful dragon’s cry lingered in the air. The trees on the mountain quivered, and leaves fluttered down in sorrow.

ZWING!

A Longsword rose from Celestial Sword Peak, its blade dipping slightly in a gesture of mourning.

SCREE!

A phoenix shrouded in Seven-Colored Clouds flew in from the distance, circling and dancing around Dragon Head Peak.

Its cry was so sorrowful it brought tears to the eyes of all who heard it.

Fengg Wuju, the Dao Foundation Cultivator who had protected the Dragon Head Lineage for decades despite his grievous wounds, had finally reached his end.

The three lineages grieved as one!

In the Quiet Chamber.

Zhu Ju’s emotions were in turmoil for a long time.

’A Dao Foundation Cultivator lives for three hundred years. With Life-Extending Elixirs or Secret Techniques, living to four hundred isn’t unheard of.’

’Martial Uncle Fengg didn’t even make it to two hundred...’

’The path of the Dao is long and arduous!’

As these thoughts turned in his mind, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

’Martial Uncle Fengg was a Dao Foundation Cultivator, yet his first regret in life was wasting his years and failing to achieve the Great Dao.’

’The lessons of our predecessors are a guide for those who follow. I must not allow myself to have the same regret. I absolutely cannot become complacent just because of some small achievements.’

”Open!”

As he operated his Cultivation Technique, his surging True Qi abruptly condensed.

”Ma!”

Celestial Dragon Eight Sounds!

DONG...

The Soul-Shocking Bell trembled.

CRACK!

With a crisp sound from within his body, the Mouth Acupoint, one of the Nine Acupoints, was forcefully broken through by his True Qi.

The Innate Fifth Acupoint.

Opened!

As the fifth Acupoint opened, both the True Qi in Zhu Ju’s body and his Sea of Consciousness Divine Soul Power surged dramatically.

His Physical Body was also tempered to a higher degree.

WHOOSH...

He exhaled a long breath of turbid air, flexed his wrist, and mused to himself,

’Because I opened my Forehead Ancestral Acupoint, I’m now equivalent to a Six Acupoints Innate. My Divine Soul Power is no less than that of a True Man, and my Physical Body can withstand a Demon’s attack head-on.’

’It’s time to go to Tianzui City and try to solve the problem with my left hand.’

***

The Magic World.

The last rays of the setting sun were fading.

On a muddy main road, a caravan of nearly a hundred people slowly approached from the distance.

”Giddy-up!”

CRACK...

A whip snapped, cracking through the air.

The caravan’s manager and head of the guards, Zhao Leng, shouted to the crowd,

”The Demon Catchers’ garrison town isn’t far ahead! A True Man is stationed there, so you don’t have to worry about Demons in the wild.”

”Everyone, pick up the pace! Let’s get there before nightfall.”

His name suited him.

His expression was extremely stiff and cold, deterring anyone from getting close.

”Demon Catchers,” a young man said, parting the curtain of a carriage in the procession.

”Do you know which senior is stationed here?”

”Young Master Wuk,” Zhao Leng said, forcing a smile as he rode his horse closer to the young man.

”The True Man in the town ahead is Master Hex, the Eight-Armed Vajra. However, Master Hex is a recluse and rarely sees outsiders. But if he knew Young Master Wuk was visiting, he would certainly grant you an audience.”

”Shall this humble one have someone announce your arrival?”

”No need,” Young Master Wuk shook his head.

”It seems this senior has not yet overcome his first tribulation. It would be inappropriate to disturb him rashly. Perhaps some other time.”

”Yes, sir.”

Zhao Leng complied.

”Then shall we head straight for the inn once we’re in town?”

”Hm?”

His ears twitched, and he abruptly turned his head to look at a path to the side.

”Who’s there?”

”It’s me, it’s me, Brother Zhao,” a breathless voice called out, followed by the sight of a shepherd hurrying over with his flock of sheep.

Behind the flock was a man on horseback.

”Old Li.”

Seeing the shepherd, Zhao Leng’s expression softened.

”Were you out buying more stock?”

”Yes,” Old Li, who was dressed as a farmer, replied with a simple and honest look, wiping the sweat from his brow with a smile.

”The master was in a hurry, so I had to go get another batch. I can’t compare to you, Brother Zhao. You always do things on a grand scale.”

He said, glancing at the caravan with a look of awe.

”Shut your mouth!”

Zhao Leng’s face darkened.

”Are you looking to die?”

Hm?

Old Li froze, a palpable killing intent washing over him. He trembled and slapped himself across the face.

SLAP!

”Look at this foul mouth of mine, it just never learns.”

SLAP!

He slapped himself on both sides, swelling his own cheeks, all while wearing a fawning smile.

”Hmph!”

Zhao Leng snorted, his gaze sweeping discreetly toward the carriage.

”Keep your stinking mouth shut and stay far away. Don’t let the noble person in the caravan smell that stench of sheep manure on you.”

”Yes, yes,” Old Li nodded repeatedly.

”You go on ahead, Brother Zhao. We’ll just follow behind. We’re downwind, so you definitely won’t smell anything.”

”Oh, right!”

He gestured with his hand.

”This Young Master Zhu is also heading into town.”

”Oh?” Zhao Leng raised an eyebrow, looking at the young man behind Old Li. His gaze paused on the horse.

”The Bamboo Horse Technique.”

”A Magician?”

”You have a sharp eye, friend.” Zhu Ju dismounted, dispelled the Bamboo Horse Technique, and cupped his fist in his hand in a salute.

”I am Zhu Ju. I’ve long heard that magic flourishes in Tianzui City, and I wish to go there to exchange insights with fellow practitioners.”

”Heh...” Zhao Leng scoffed.

”Countless people want to go to Tianzui City every year, but very few can actually last there.”

”The town ahead belongs to the Demon Catchers. To enter, you need to register your name, origin, and the Visualization Technique you cultivate.”

”Hm?” Zhu Ju frowned.

”I have to disclose my Visualization Technique?”

”Of course,” Zhao Leng said with a disdainful look.

”You don’t actually think the Demon Catcher organization, with its legacy stretching back to ancient times, would covet your Visualization Technique, do you?”

”Of course not,” Zhu Ju said with a smile.

”I am from Yidu, and the Visualization Image I cultivate is called the Dust Banner.”

”The Dust Banner?” Zhao Leng frowned.

”Which Demon is that...”

”A Treasure!”

His eyes widened as he looked at Zhu Ju in astonishment.

”You cultivate a Treasure Visualization Image?”

”That is correct.”

”Hmph!”

Unexpectedly, after getting his answer, Zhao Leng looked displeased.

”To succeed with a Treasure Visualization Technique, one must seize Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects. People like you are the ones who plunder all the good things in this world.”

’Hm?’

This reaction was not what Zhu Ju had expected.

Cultivating a Treasure Visualization Technique to advance to a True Man required plundering Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, most of which were non-renewable.

But it was still better than a Demon True Man advancing by devouring living beings.

’Why... did the people here seem to dislike Treasure Artifact True Men even more than Demon True Men?’

”How rare!”

The curtain of the carriage to the side was lifted, and Young Master Wuk appeared with a smile.

”Cultivators who walk the path of Treasures are a rare sight these days. Brother Zhu, why don’t you come aboard and have a seat?”

”Young Master Wuk?” Zhao Leng’s expression changed slightly.

”Gladly!”

Zhu Ju had already accepted and strode toward the carriage.

”Hey!” Shepherd Li reached out as if to stop him, but he didn’t dare. He could only stomp his foot in frustration.

”Brother Zhao.”

His eyes darted around as he lowered his voice.

”That one’s mine. You... you can’t steal him.”

”Relax.”

Zhao Leng turned back.

”Let’s get into town first.”

Under the veil of night,

the town ahead looked like a Fierce Beast crouching on the plains, its great maw open, waiting for its food to arrive.