Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Main World.

Zhu Ju activated the array protecting his courtyard, hung a sign refusing visitors, and strode into a secret chamber.

SWISH!

He performed a quick incantation.

The runes carved into the walls glowed brilliantly, and a transparent barrier of light enveloped the entire secret chamber.

But that wasn’t all.

Zhu Ju flicked his wrist and tossed out The Investiture of the Gods. The Nine-Star Ascension Altar on it unfurled, releasing an invisible power.

Only after all this was done did he sit cross-legged on the meditation cushion.

With a wave of his hand.

Several spiritual medicines appeared before him.

Zhu Ju closed his eyes and mentally rehearsed all the potential problems that could arise during this breakthrough. Once he was certain there would be no issues, he consumed the various spiritual medicines in sequence.

Fake Death Pill, Life-Saving Pill, Blood Locking Medicine...

As the various elixirs entered his stomach, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, driven by a Secret Technique, surged to their absolute peak.

Four Gods Locking Fate!

This was a Secret Technique derived from the Four Symbols Star Ban, a method of feigning death similar to the Great Dream Leisure Technique.

The effects were nothing short of astonishing.

However, this technique required a special constitution; ordinary people would find it difficult to use.

Instantly, Zhu Ju’s heart stopped beating and his breathing ceased. His entire body became like a stone, devoid of any sign of life.

Only in the depths of his Sea of Consciousness did a flicker of Spirituality remain unextinguished.

An unknown amount of time passed.

At the moment of bodily death and spiritual dissipation, the souls hidden within his Physical Body quietly emerged, like mischievous sprites.

The locations of the souls could be seen, but not reached.

The insights gained from one’s own Cultivation were completely different from what one could learn from others. Zhu Ju finally had a true, personal understanding of the Divine Treasures and the souls, and he now knew why this breakthrough was so difficult.

The souls were illusory and ethereal, flickering in and out of existence, impossible to grasp.

Nine Mountains Skill!

As the Cultivation Technique circulated, a strange suction force emerged from his Physical Body. One of the previously free-roaming souls suddenly froze, and as if drawn by some attraction, it slowly began to manifest.

The Power Spirit!

Compared to the other souls, the Nine Mountains Skill, the Anger Battle Heart Technique, and even Quan Xinghe had all opened the Power Spirit’s Divine Treasure.

This was the one Zhu Ju was most familiar with and most confident in handling.

Power!

Power!

Power!

Zhu Ju’s consciousness roared within his Sea of Consciousness. The phantom image of a Strong Bull Demon appeared, and the Qi Blood in his Physical Body began to burn. This was a Visualization Secret Technique from the Magic World.

BOOM!

A rampaging force lifted his consciousness and plunged it headfirst into the Power Spirit.

The next instant, a silent roar echoed through his Sea of Consciousness. Zhu Ju’s eyes snapped open, and his deathly still Physical Body erupted with vigorous life.

The soul and Physical Body connected. His body felt as if it had been remade, and an unfamiliar sense of power welled up from within him.

CRACKLE... POP...

Faint crackling sounds erupted from the depths of every cell as his flesh and blood were reshaped at an astonishing speed.

A complete metamorphosis!

In the span of just a dozen breaths, his Physical Body underwent a complete refinement. His Blood Flesh Martial Dao had, as a matter of course, stepped into the realm of a Divine Treasure Martial Saint.

Power!

A feeling of immense power.

Zhu Ju felt as if he could lift an entire mountain.

This was, of course, an illusion born from the sudden surge in his strength, but the feeling of fullness was so overwhelming that he couldn’t help but throw his head back and let out a long roar.

”AHHHH!”

The sound could pierce clouds and shatter stone. If not for the array covering this place, everyone on Yunjing Island would have heard it with perfect clarity.

...

”This went even more smoothly than I imagined.”

Inside the secret chamber, Zhu Ju stretched his wrists, a smile spreading across his face.

”My spirit and flesh have merged. By connecting with the Power Spirit, I’ve opened a Divine Treasure. I suppose I can be considered a Divine Treasure Martial Saint now.”

”Thankfully, I ran all sorts of experiments on those few people and even fought a Power Spirit Martial Saint. Otherwise, I definitely would have run into big trouble during the breakthrough.”

Although everything seemed to have gone smoothly, Zhu Ju knew in his heart that he had still taken many detours during the breakthrough process.

It was only because his Physical Body was formidable and his foundation was solid that he could forcefully overcome those obstacles and shortcomings.

Of course, if he had to do it again, he would be even more confident.

’Opening the Divine Treasure requires the Martial Arts Will to merge inseparably with a soul. This is equivalent to setting one’s Dao path, which is difficult to ever change again.’

’No wonder Martial Saints only open one Divine Treasure.’

’But...’

A strange light glinted in Zhu Ju’s eyes.

’I’m different.’

’My Divine Soul Power is immense. I can use the Divine Soul Secret Technique, Soul Splitting Lock Thought, and I understand what the Divine Treasures truly are. This means I can continue opening other Divine Treasures.’

’With my current Divine Soul Power...’

’Opening three Divine Treasures should be no problem!’

In that case, the ’Ten-Complete Martial Dao’ he had envisioned was no longer a delusion; it was entirely feasible.

’Using the Methods of the Main World as a foundation, the Divine Soul Secret Techniques of the Magic World as support, and the method for Opening the Divine Treasure from the Blood Flesh World as the key... if I can truly merge with the souls, couldn’t I form a Nascent Soul without ever achieving a Golden Core?’

The Nascent Soul... is the Primordial Spirit!

And the Primordial Spirit... is the Three Souls and Seven Spirits.

If he could truly form a Nascent Soul without Core Formation, Zhu Ju would be pioneering an entirely new path of Cultivation for this world.

As these thoughts turned in his mind, he shook his head slightly.

’Difficult!’

’To walk this path, one needs a foundation in Cultivation, an understanding of Magic, and knowledge of Blood Flesh Martial Dao. Others can’t learn it, nor could they walk it.’

’Unless I can fully comprehend and integrate the Cultivation Techniques of all three worlds to create a new Method... but how could that be easy?’

Composing himself, Zhu Ju lightly clenched his fists and threw a punch into the empty air before him.

BANG!

The air cracked with an explosive sound.

The array covering the area rippled, and the Spiritual Patterns on the walls flickered wildly.

’My strength has more than doubled. In close-quarters combat, I wouldn’t even fear a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation cultivator.’

After practicing for a few moments in the chamber, the smile on Zhu Ju’s face grew even wider.

The Power Spirit!

It governed strength.

SWISH!

The Cross and Vertical Saber flew out like a bolt of lightning. It folded mid-air, reversing its trajectory to slash back down, unleashing a sharp blade of light that cascaded from above.

CLANG—

Zhu Ju made a patting motion with one palm, and an immense, surging power erupted, instantly shattering the blade of light.

’There are Cultivators in the Dao Foundation Realm who practice Body Refining Hard Skills. I suppose my own Hard Skill can now be considered initially accomplished.’

For an ordinary Body Refining Cultivator to advance to the Dao Foundation realm and then reach the stage of initial accomplishment, it would normally take decades, or even a century.

But for Zhu Ju, it had only been a few years!

Compared to Body Refining Methods, the advantage of the Divine Treasure Martial Saint path was its potential for rapid progress.

’That’s not all.’

Glancing at the Cross and Vertical Saber floating beside him, Zhu Ju flicked a finger.

SWOOSH!

The Cross and Vertical Saber transformed into a streak of blade light and slashed forward violently. The array in the chamber immediately rippled and showed signs of instability.

That would have been utterly impossible before.

’When I control the Cross and Vertical Saber now, although the speed and blade light are the same, it’s augmented by an invisible, giant power, causing a massive increase in its might.’

Zhu Ju silently calculated in his mind and muttered:

”If I had relied on Cultivation alone, I’m afraid it would have taken a full sixty-year cycle of practice to achieve this level of power.”

In other words, although Zhu Ju’s Cultivation level hadn’t changed, his actual combat strength was comparable to a Dao Foundation cultivator with an extra sixty years of Cultivation.

’The Power Spirit... it can actually affect external objects like a Flying Sword?’

A sixty-year cycle of Cultivation might seem ordinary, as it would still place one in the Early Stage Dao Foundation, but for him, it was different.

Without that extra sixty years of Cultivation, even if Zhu Ju used the Sword Light Splitting Technique, he would still pose little threat to a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator.

With it, he could severely injure, and perhaps even kill, a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator.

’It’s hard to imagine... If I opened a few more Divine Treasures and had a few more souls enter my body, how terrifying would my strength become?’

’Circulating my Cultivation Technique is smoother, my perception of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi is sharper, and casting Magic is as easy as lifting a finger...’

’A soul Entering the Body has many benefits, but the True Essence in my body hasn’t changed at all.’

Finally, Zhu Ju lifted his left hand, his expression complex.

’The greatest gain from this breakthrough... was actually this?’

His left hand contained the Power of the Five Elements, making it comparable to a Magical Treasure. Now that the Power Spirit had entered his Physical Body, the power of his left hand had also increased dramatically.

Magical Treasures also had high and low grades.

It was just that Magical Treasures were rare; a Low Grade Magical Treasure was already something a Dao Foundation Cultivator might seek for their entire life, not daring to dream of more.

Therefore, whenever Magical Treasures were mentioned, it was almost always in reference to Low Grade ones.

Only those at the Core Formation realm had a chance of wielding stronger Magical Treasures.

But Zhu Ju... felt that his left hand was showing signs of advancing toward a Middle Grade Magical Treasure. At the very least, its power was much greater now.

’With a full-power strike, there probably aren’t many at the Early Stage Dao Foundation who could block it, right?’

*

*

*

Creating a new Cultivation Technique from scratch was no easy task, especially a Method that seemed to point directly to the Nascent Soul Path.

Even with Zhu Ju’s cultivation insights from several worlds, it wasn’t enough.

It would take ten, or even a hundred years of accumulation to have any hope of success.

「Over a year later.」

Zhu Ju had fully adapted to his post-breakthrough Physical Body, and his ideas about the ’Ten-Complete Martial Dao’ had become more comprehensive.

The materials for the Golden Saber Flame Array had also been mostly gathered.

On this day, a streak of light shot across the sky and landed in a stone pavilion.

SWISH!

”Brother Zhu!”

”Miss Yann.”

The two greeted each other.

Yann Nanshuang gestured to the female cultivator beside her and said with a smile:

”This is Elder Sister Le Mei, also known as the Wind Chime Sword. She’ll be traveling with us this time.”

”Fellow Daoist Zhu.” Le Mei curtsied in greeting.

Female cultivators were mostly stunning, and the Wind Chime Sword, Le Mei, was no exception. Her delicate features made her seem like a girl of sixteen, looking even younger than Yann Nanshuang. Only the look in her eyes held the charm of a mature woman.

Her sleeves and the hem of her dress were embroidered with tiny bells, which chimed as she moved. What purpose they served was unknown.

”I have been in secluded cultivation for the past few years, practicing a Secret Technique. I didn’t realize the Commerce Association had gained such a remarkable talent like you, Fellow Daoist.”

Le Mei said with a smile, ”Fellow Daoist Zhu, you should come visit my Cave Mansion sometime.”

It was common for Dao Foundation Cultivators to enter seclusion for eight or ten years at a time.

”I only hope you won’t find my presence a bother,” Zhu Ju said.

”I only advanced not long ago, so I’ll just be a burden on this trip. I’ll have to rely on everyone’s care along the way.”

”Hee hee...” Le Mei pursed her lips and chuckled lightly.

”Don’t worry about it.”

”We’ve all been there.”

”They’re here!”

She looked up toward the sky and saw three streaks of light pierce through the clouds and descend in succession.

Two Dao Foundation cultivators from the Yann Family, and one Guest Minister of the Yann Family.

Yann Huachang and Yann Xi.

Among them, Yann Huachang was one of the Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivators of the Yunjing Commerce Association, a being with a chance of breaking through to the Golden Core realm.

Yann Xi also had a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivation.

The other Guest Minister was named Zhangg Chengyun. He had met Zhu Ju a few times and had joined the Commerce Association a century ago.

However, even after a hundred years, he was still at the Early Stage Dao Foundation.

This was very common.

If one relied solely on bitter cultivation without a top-tier Method or Talent, it was normal to not have a breakthrough for two hundred years.

Most Dao Foundation cultivators, upon reaching a certain age, would stop being obsessed with their Dao path and instead choose to enjoy life.

Zhangg Chengyun was one such person.

”Little Friend Zhu.”

Yann Huachang’s temples were graying, and his voice was aged. ”Did you bring the item?”

”I did.” Zhu Ju nodded, took out the Elemental Prohibition Ring, and handed it to Yann Nanshuang, who was standing beside him.

He had spent a great deal of effort on this item.

A trace of Spiritual Light appeared on Yann Nanshuang’s hand. She gently swept it over the Elemental Prohibition Ring, and then a smile appeared on her face as she nodded to the two Yann Family elders.

”No problems.”

”Good!”

Yann Huachang lightly waved his sleeve, and an auspicious cloud rose from beneath his feet, lifting the group and carrying them off into the distance.

Along the way, Yann Nanshuang explained:

”The East Sea is vast. Many experts and powerful figures have appeared there in the past, and there are even rumors of otherworldly Independent Immortals.”

”Therefore, within the East Sea, people sometimes discover Cave Mansions or treasures left behind by predecessors.”

”The place we’re heading to this time is one such location.”

Back when Zhu Ju had agreed to craft the Elemental Prohibition Ring, Yann Nanshuang had promised to invite him on this trip. Several years had passed, the Magical Artifact was now complete, and the two of them were finally setting out as agreed.