Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

When Zhu Ju left the courtyard, a man was already waiting for him outside with a horse.

”Daoist Master!”

The county’s Chief Clerk Jiang, dressed in a long robe, clasped his fists and bowed, a fawning smile on his face:

”Daoist Master, you are truly a man of divine skill! To cure such a terrible illness with a wave of your hand... I am in complete admiration.”

”Oh, right!”

”Here is your Precept Certificate, registered under our county’s Daoist temple. Please, take it.”

Zhu Ju accepted the Precept Certificate.

It was a scroll-like document that listed the Daoist’s title, age, appearance, and affiliated temple.

Daoist Ziju of Kunlun Mountain’s Jade Void Palace, affiliated with Chenyuan Temple in Quguan County.

As for where Kunlun Mountain and Jade Void Palace were...

A Daoist’s Precept Certificate would often list all sorts of ethereal, mythical locations. The important part was the affiliated temple.

Jade Void Palace?

’When you’re out and about, you make your own identity.’

Zhu Ju smiled nonchalantly. He put away the Precept Certificate, then slowly and deliberately gave a salute with his duster.

”I thank you.”

He had mentioned the matter of the Precept Certificate a few days ago, but the other party had repeatedly made excuses. Now, they had suddenly produced it.

It just goes to show,

having a powerful person on your side makes things easy.

”Of course, of course,” Chief Clerk Jiang said, waving his hands dismissively.

”The Precept Certificate should have been delivered to your inn yesterday. It is my fault that it’s a day late. I’ve brought a fine steed as a special gift. I hope the Daoist Master will not hold it against me.”

”You’re too kind, Chief Clerk Jiang.” Zhu Ju glanced at the horse, estimating its price in this world.

He didn’t move to accept it, however. Instead, he asked:

”Is Marquis Zhenyuan very powerful among the Dukes?”

If he weren’t, the man wouldn’t be so afraid of his reprisal that he would offer such an expensive horse as an apology.

Chief Clerk Jiang’s expression changed slightly.

”Let’s go.”

Understanding the situation, Zhu Ju gestured with his hand.

”We can talk as we walk.”

”Yes.” Chief Clerk Jiang started walking, keeping pace. After a moment of internal struggle, he lowered his voice and said:

”Daoist Master must know that our dynasty was founded and built on Martial Arts. Enfeoffing princes and dukes is customary, with the Four Great Marquis Kingdoms being the most prominent.”

”Mm,” Zhu Ju said, glancing sideways in confusion.

”Marquis Zhenyuan doesn’t seem to be one of them.”

Although he hadn’t been here long, he still knew that much common knowledge.

The Marquis Kingdoms.

In their own fiefdoms, the Dukes were like emperors, holding the power of life and death over their subjects.

They even had private soldiers and armies.

This also made it easy for them to harbor rebellious thoughts. A great rebellion broke out just two years ago.

”Daoist Master,” Chief Clerk Jiang said, looking even more surprised than him.

”He wasn’t one of them before, but after the rebellion of the Four Great Marquis Kingdoms was suppressed, Marquis Zhenyuan became one of the most powerful princes.”

Zhu Ju lightly tapped his forehead in sudden understanding.

Two years ago, the various fiefdoms of Daqi had defied the Emperor’s command and rebelled, led by the four great dukes. The rebellion was swiftly crushed.

The Dukes and their families were exterminated.

New Dukes rose to take their place.

Marquis Zhenyuan was one of them.

”To prevent history from repeating itself, His Majesty decreed last year that all the princes and dukes of the various fiefdoms must send a Hostage to the Divine Capital to be educated as a proper subject.”

”When the Hostage returns to succeed his father one day, there will be no need to worry about him defying the sovereign’s orders and committing such treasonous acts again.”

Chief Clerk Jiang continued:

”The Heir of Marquis Zhenyuan is on his way to the capital. If something were to happen to him in our county, even the County Magistrate would lose his post.”

”So...”

”You’ve done us a great service, Daoist Master!”

’So that’s how it is!’

Zhu Ju understood.

The Hostages sent to the capital for ’re-education’ were, in theory, the heirs to the fiefdoms personally chosen by the Emperor.

Once he came of age and the old Marquis passed away, he would return to inherit the fiefdom, naturally incurring the resentment of others.

It wasn’t surprising that someone would try to eliminate him with poison. There was no such thing as family affection among the Aristocratic Families.

* * *

「The Inn.」

CLICK!

A flint struck, and a spark ignited the oil lamp.

Although he could already see in the dark as if it were day, Zhu Ju was still in the habit of lighting an oil lamp when he read at night.

It was a habit of sorts.

A reminder that he, too, had once been a mere Mortal.

The True Martial Scripture!

It was a thin booklet with elegant handwriting, clearly penned by a woman.

Inside the booklet, besides the Cultivation Technique of over a thousand words, there were nearly two thousand words of detailed explanations, which was quite convenient for Zhu Ju, who had never encountered this world’s Cultivation Techniques before.

The founding emperor of Daqi rose from humble beginnings, and it was said his power was a gift from the heavens.

He could master any Cultivation Technique in the world with a single glance, a once-in-a-millennium Martial Arts prodigy.

His self-created Emperor’s Dragon Fist was reputed to be invincible, allowing him to single-handedly sweep across the world and establish the Daqi dynasty.

He was called a living Human Immortal!

The rumors were surely exaggerated.

But it was certainly true that the founding emperor of Daqi was formidably powerful.

The True Martial Scripture was indeed created by him, but it was a Cultivation Method from his early years that he had long since abandoned.

’No True Qi?’

’No Magical Power!’

Zhu Ju’s expression grew solemn as he flipped through the True Martial Scripture.

’Simply tempering the Physical Body can actually allow the flesh and blood to Return to the Innate, and even reach the point of Opening Mountains and splitting seas?’

’Unbelievable!’

This world’s Martial Arts didn’t involve True Qi, Magical Power, or the Divine Soul at all. It was purely focused on the Physical Body.

According to the True Martial Scripture.

By cultivating the ”True Martial Scripture” to the level of Perfection, one could become a First-Grade Grandmaster.

At that point, one’s Physical Body could ignore Divine Weapons, their fists and feet could shatter Celestial Meteorite Iron, and they would even be a cut above a Nine Acupoints Innate.

If one opened the Divine Treasure...

the Physical Body could stand against a Dao Foundation Cultivator!

Not just that the Physical Body was comparable to a Dao Foundation Cultivator, but that it could face one wielding a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact head-on.

HISS!

Zhu Ju sucked in a cold breath and flipped the True Martial Scripture to the middle, searching for the key to the Physical Body Returning to the Innate.

”Unity of Spirit and Body!”

Qi Blood Martial Arts strengthened one’s Qi Blood, using it to nourish the Physical Body. This was merely the Cultivation method for the Lower Three Grades.

Entering the Realm of Strength.

Using Strength to temper flesh and blood, mastering Bright Force, Dark Force, and Gang Force—this was the secret of cultivation for the Middle Third Grade.

The Upper Three Grades.

Mortal Transformation, Unity of Spirit and Body.

This step required a Cultivator to fuse their own Martial Arts Will into their flesh and blood, achieving ’divinity in the fist’.

Only then would every move they made possess immense power and an indomitable, all-destroying might.

’Martial Arts Will?’

Zhu Ju closed the Cultivation Technique manual and sank into thought with his eyes closed.

’Breaking the human body’s limits with pure Martial Arts Will, allowing the Physical Body to Return to the Innate and advance to the Third Grade realm.’

This was the key to this world’s Martial Arts.

A Third-Grade Martial Artist’s Physical Body, blessed by their Martial Arts Will, could fearlessly withstand metal weapons.

’No wonder that woman Mong Yu was willing to trade this technique. I’m afraid no one besides the founding emperor could ever practice the True Martial Scripture.’

’At least, they couldn’t reach the Upper Three Grades.’

’Unlike other Cultivation Techniques, cultivating the True Martial Scripture requires the intervention of another’s will to succeed. It’s a kind of shortcut, an Evil Technique.’

’Huh?’

Zhu Ju frowned in confusion, then raised an eyebrow.

’I see!’

Martial Arts is pure.

Martial Arts Will is even more so.

Using another’s will to temper one’s own Physical Body was clearly an Evil Technique, an aberration. But there was one exception.

A general!

A great general who commands many soldiers.

Such a person shares life and death with the soldiers and troops under their command. Their Qi and Blood are connected, so they can naturally use that shared Divine Intent to temper their bodies.

The founding monarch of Daqi was no ordinary man. Besides being a Martial Arts expert, he was also a general who commanded a million troops.

A commanding general could harness the fighting spirit and battle intent of their soldiers to temper their Physical Body and ascend to the Upper Three Grades.

The founding monarch was even more so!

’If one could command an army of a million and harness the will of all those people for oneself, then...’

’what would be so difficult about being invincible?’

’The Emperor’s Dragon Fist... no wonder it’s called the number one Fist Technique in the world. But I suspect it’s only invincible when used by the Emperor. In anyone else’s hands, its power probably wouldn’t be one ten-thousandth of the Emperor’s.’

Zhu Ju tapped the table, lost in thought.

’But Mong Yu was mistaken. My Physical Body has already surpassed the realm of Returning to the Innate. It’s no weaker than a First-Grade Grandmaster of this world.’

’I don’t need to cultivate the True Martial Scripture. I only need to borrow its methods for the Unity of Spirit and Body and Opening the Divine Treasure.’

SWISH!

Closing the booklet, Zhu Ju stood up and began to pace.

’When this world’s Martial Arts is cultivated to its peak, it’s somewhat similar to the Body Refining Techniques of the Dao Foundation Realm. If I can master it, it could serve as a hidden trump card.’

’Divine Treasure?’

’I wonder if there are other realms after the Divine Treasure. The cultivation of Daqi’s founding emperor was definitely far beyond that.’

*

*

*

「The next day.」

The sky had yet to brighten.

”HYAH!”

”WHOA...”

Two armored soldiers leaped off their horses, burst into the inn, and grabbed a random person, shouting:

”Where is Daoist Ziju staying?”

”Ah!”

The person froze, unable to react in their panic, and was viciously thrown aside by the impatient soldier.

”Useless!”

”Daoist Ziju!”

The soldier roared, his voice shaking the surroundings:

”Our Heir’s terrible illness has relapsed! We ask that the Daoist Master come with us to treat him!”

”How can that be?” Zhu Ju, who had just finished his breakfast, emerged from behind a wall, a look of confusion on his face.

”Yesterday’s treatment removed the root of the illness. He should only need a period of rest. Logically, it shouldn’t have relapsed.”

”Never mind.”

He shook his head lightly.

”Lead the way.”

”Yes!” The soldier was overjoyed.

”Daoist Master, please follow me.”

The two turned and strode away, covering a huge distance with each step. With a mighty tug, one of them pulled over a horse weighing more than a thousand pounds.

”Daoist Master, please mount!”

A Fifth-Grade Martial Artist!

The renowned Master Zhang of Quguan County was probably no match for a random soldier by the Heir of Marquis Zhenyuan’s side.

* * *

「The bedchamber.」

The Heir, Zhao’an, lay unconscious on the bed. Unlike yesterday, his forehead was now faintly black.

It was a symptom of a potent poison Entering the Body.

Zhu Ju sat by the bed and checked his pulse with closed eyes.

Other than Mong Yu, whom the Heir called Aunt Mong, there was no one else in the room.

”Hmm...”

He withdrew his hand and lightly waved his duster.

”This isn’t the same illness.”

Yesterday, the illness was in his Vital Organs; today, the poison is in his Blood Marrow. One toxin was insidious and slow-acting, the other was fierce and swift.

Therefore.

It was a new ailment.

Someone had tampered with the Heir again.

’This child is truly pitiful, surrounded by people who want him dead, suffering from illness and pain at such a young age.’

”Yes.” Mong Yu’s face was grim, her eyes glinting with killing intent.

”Although I don’t know much about medical skills, I could also see that today’s symptoms are different from yesterday’s.”

”But I’ve investigated everyone who came into contact with the Heir in the last few hours and found nothing amiss.”

”There’s no need to explain, Miss Mong,” Zhu Ju said with a faint smile.

”I am merely here to treat the patient.”

As he spoke, he once again took out his acupuncture kit. After applying the needles according to his methods, he wrote a prescription and handed it over.

”Get the medicine according to this prescription. Three doses will eradicate the poison completely.”

He had traveled through several worlds and learned many Wonderful Dharmas; his methods for dealing with external poisons were masterful.

’Curing an illness with a wave of the hand’ was no exaggeration for him.

”Thank you, Daoist Master,” Mong Yu said, her face full of gratitude.

”The Heir has been frail and sickly since childhood. I was wondering if the Daoist Master would be able to accompany us to the Divine Capital?”

”Well...” Zhu Ju paused slightly, then shook his head.

”I have made an arrangement to visit a friend on a long journey, so I have no free time recently. However, I will be making a trip to the Divine Capital eventually.”

”I see!” Mong Yu thought for a moment, then said:

”If you go to the Divine Capital, Daoist Master, I hope you will visit us at Tianxing Star Workshop. All the Heirs of the Dukes are housed there.”

”Tianxing Star Workshop,” Zhu Ju nodded.

”I will remember that.”

「Night.」

No stars, no moon.

A dark figure silently scaled the courtyard wall. Its feet were like a cat’s paws, making no sound as they landed.

Its figure moved along the corner of the wall like a phantom, appearing before a window and lightly placing a single palm against it.

A faint pulse of Strength was released.

CRACK!

The wooden pivot of the window shutter was shattered from a distance.

The dark figure threw open the window and leaped into the room. Its gaze swept across, and it lunged for the bed, a dark gleam flashing from its hand.

PUFF!

The sharp blade sank into the bed, but the sensation was strange; it lacked the solid impact of striking a human body.

WHOOSH...

A lamp lit up the room.

Mong Yu stood in the center of the room, her expression grim.

”Someone really did come to assassinate me,” Zhu Ju said with a sigh, putting down the flint and standing behind Mong Yu.

”Thankfully, Miss Mong warned me. Otherwise, I’m afraid I would have met a grim fate.”

”You’re too polite, Daoist Master. If not for the Heir’s illness, you wouldn’t be in this trouble,” Mong Yu said, turning to the dark figure.

”Who are you?”

”Why do you want to harm the Heir?”