Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

The South Sea Cave Ghosts!

The name, spoken by Yann Huachang, sent a shiver of dread through everyone.

In recent decades, the South Sea Cave Ghosts had committed a string of major atrocities in the East Sea Cultivation World. Countless Loose Cultivators had fallen victim to them, and even Cultivation Clans, protected by Arrays and overseen by Dao Foundation Cultivators, were not spared.

The incident a few years prior, where they ambushed and killed the Third Princess of the East Sea Alliance to steal a Core Formation Spiritual Object, had made them infamous far and wide.

The East Sea Alliance had a Golden Core Grandmaster, after all.

’To show no fear even toward a Golden Core... just how insane are these Tribulation Cultivators?’

There were over a dozen Tribulation Cultivators hovering in mid-air. Nearly half of them were Dao Foundation Cultivators, and there was even a Great Cultivator at the Late-Stage Dao Foundation Realm among them.

Luckily.

According to the rumors, their leader, who was at Dao Foundation Perfection, was not present.

In terms of the number of Dao Foundation Cultivators, the South Sea Cave Ghosts didn’t hold a significant advantage, but the auras of the two sides were worlds apart.

The eyes of the six from the Yunjing Commerce Association darted about nervously.

The three members of the Yann Family huddled together, while Zhu Ju, Le Mei, and Zhangg Chengyun spread out, keeping a wary distance from one another.

’Why are the South Sea Cave Ghosts here?’

’Is this a coincidence?’

’Or did someone collude with the Tribulation Cultivators?’

Zhu Ju even spotted a familiar face among the Tribulation Cultivators: Kou Wen, the man who had once invited him to join them.

The man saw him too, his eyebrows twitching in apparent surprise. A cruel smile then spread across his face as he slowly drew a hand across his neck.

"How did you find us here?" Yann Xi, his expression shifting, voiced the question on Zhu Ju’s mind.

"Who leaked our location?"

"Heh heh..." Mourning Ghost Huan Chao cackled.

"Why don’t you guess?"

"Elder Daoist Yann, you’ve lived a good long while. You should know it’s not worth losing your life over some material possessions."

He gestured toward Yann Huachang.

"Leave everything you have behind, and I might spare your lives. Among the South Sea Cave Ghosts, my reputation is considered quite reliable."

"Second Grand-uncle, don’t believe him!" Yann Nanshuang cried out.

"We have six Dao Foundation Cultivators on our side, and with you here, Elder, we won’t necessarily lose if we fight!"

A bitter look crossed Yann Xi’s face.

’She wasn’t wrong, technically.’

’Even if the six of them weren’t strong enough, as long as they stood united, the Tribulation Cultivators wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.’

’If six Dao Foundation Cultivators fought to the death, the enemy would suffer devastating losses even if they won. Tribulation Cultivators are after profit, not revenge. They’d usually back down from such a tough fight.’

Unfortunately...

...that wasn’t the reality of their situation.

’Once the fighting started, the three from the Yann Family might stick together, but Zhu Ju and the other two would likely flee at the first chance they got.’

Moreover...

’...Combat wasn’t just about a Cultivator’s Cultivation Realm; it was also about their techniques and real-world fighting experience.’

’The slightest disadvantage could mean a world of difference.’

’Their group of six had lived comfortable lives. How could they possibly be a match for these battle-hardened Tribulation Cultivators, who were likely armed to the teeth with treasures?’

’And that was without even considering the possibility of a mole in their own group.’

As these thoughts raced through Yann Xi’s mind, he suddenly felt something pressed into his hand as Yann Huachang’s voice echoed in his ears.

"I’ll hold them off! Take this and run!"

SWOOSH!

An object shot out.

The Primordial Energy in the air roiled as a palm-sized, shuttle-shaped Spiritual Object materialized and shot like a streak of light toward the Tribulation Cultivators.

The streak crossed miles in an instant, its terrifying might seeming to cleave space itself.

"A Magical Treasure!"

Mourning Ghost Huan Chao’s eyes lit up. He wasn’t alarmed; he was thrilled. With a sharp flick of the Long Banner in his hand, he sent billowing black smoke surging forward to meet the attack.

A moment later, he shook his head in disappointment.

"Oh, it’s just a Talisman Treasure."

A so-called Talisman Treasure was a type of Spirit Talisman that possessed a fraction of a Magical Treasure’s power. It was stronger than a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, but weaker than a true Magical Treasure.

The Yann Family, of course, possessed Magical Treasures—more than one, in fact—but Yann Huachang didn’t have one on him.

"Paupers!"

"The Yann Family has controlled the Yunjing Commerce Association’s inheritance for so many years, yet they don’t even have a single Magical Treasure on them. What a bunch of wastes!"

Disdain crossed Mourning Ghost Huan Chao’s face. He formed a Spell with his hands, and the Long Banner immediately sent several tendrils of black smoke rushing forward.

For him, blocking the Flying Shuttle, which held the might of a Magical Treasure, was effortless.

"Go! Now!"

Yann Huachang roared, his hands flying upward as dozens of Spirit Talismans, saturated with dense Spiritual Qi, shot out like lightning.

"I’ll fight you to the death!"

Tier Two Spirit Talismans!

In an instant.

It was as if dozens of Dao Foundation Cultivators had attacked in unison. An array of colorful Spiritual Lights instantly submerged the Tribulation Cultivators, and a destructive energy swept across the battlefield.

Faced with such power, whether one possessed a Magical Treasure seemed irrelevant.

BOOM!

RUMBLE...

Two Tribulation Cultivators who had yet to reach the Dao Foundation Realm screamed as they plummeted from the clouds, their life-auras vanishing the moment they hit the water.

"Damn you!"

Mourning Ghost Huan Chao let out a furious roar and slapped his own forehead. A dark Treasure Pagoda rose from the crown of his head.

The Treasure Pagoda swelled in the wind, instantly growing to several dozen feet tall. It spun violently, releasing streams of black light from its base that sucked in all of the Spirit Talisman attacks.

"A Magical Treasure!"

Such might could only belong to a true Magical Treasure.

Yann Huachang’s face turned deathly pale. With a change of his Spell, he transformed into a phantom and plunged into the sea below.

"Trying to run?"

Mourning Ghost Huan Chao sneered, transforming into a streak of black light to give chase. He snarled.

"If I let you get away today, I’ll renounce my own name!"

「Elsewhere.」

The instant Yann Huachang made his move, Yann Xi had already turned to flee, cursing furiously in his heart.

’That damned old fool, he set me up!’

He knew perfectly well that the storage bag Yann Huachang had thrust upon him contained nothing valuable. The elder’s roar had just been a ploy to use him as a decoy to draw the enemy’s fire.

Sure enough.

The Tribulation Cultivators had locked onto him, and several streaks of light were now in hot pursuit.

...

Escape!

The Cross and Vertical Saber in his Dantian trembled. In an instant, saber light enveloped his entire body. Achieving Human-Saber Unity, Zhu Ju shot into the sky.

The others were just as quick to react.

Bells on Le Mei’s person chimed repeatedly as she transformed into a phantom, retreating with deceptive speed.

Zhangg Chengyun was more ruthless. Rubbing his hands together, he produced a Fierce Flame in his palm and blasted it toward the Fire Spirit Jujube Tree below.

’The Tribulation Cultivators would never let him destroy such a valuable Spiritual Object.’

"Stop him!"

Indeed.

The two Dao Foundation Cultivators who had been about to charge saw this and their expressions changed drastically. They abruptly altered course in mid-air, their Escape Techniques carrying them toward the Fierce Flame instead.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhangg Chengyun transformed into a streak of fiery light and shot away, vanishing after a few flickers.

The slowest to react was Yann Nanshuang, who had no real Combat experience. By the time she came to her senses, the others had already fled far into the distance. But Zhu Ju couldn’t spare a thought for whether she lived or died.

At some point, a glimmer of Sword Light had appeared behind him. It wavered lazily, pursuing him at an unhurried pace.

It was like a cat toying with a mouse.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, we meet again."

Kou Wen chuckled, his voice carrying across the distance to Zhu Ju’s ears.

"It’s a reunion of old acquaintances. Why be in such a rush to leave? Why don’t we find a spot, sit down, and have a nice chat? When I sincerely invited you to join us, you turned me down so flatly. Do you have any idea how disappointed I was?"

’Mid-Stage Dao Foundation!’

Zhu Ju swept the area behind him with his Divine Thought, and his expression darkened.

’He’s actually at the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Realm! Putting everything else aside, his accumulation of True Essence alone is far deeper than mine.’

SWISH!

With a wave of his long sleeve, he sent a dozen sheets of Talisman Paper fluttering out. They transformed into figures identical to him and scattered in different directions.

Papermen!

Each Paperman carried Zhu Ju’s aura. Even a Dao Foundation Cultivator would find it difficult to tell them apart.

At least...

...not right away.

"Oh?"

Kou Wen looked surprised. His Sword Light suddenly accelerated, weaving through the crowd of ’Zhu Jus’.

SWISH!

SWISH! SWISH!

The Sword Light flashed, and one after another, the figures of ’Zhu Ju’ were sliced in half, reverting to scraps of paper that drifted away on the wind.

"A neat little trick."

Kou Wen’s eyes narrowed, and he licked his dry lips.

"If I had a technique like that, it would make ambushes, assassinations, and everything else so much more convenient."

"Heh heh..."

"I didn’t expect an extra prize!"

He let out a low laugh as his Sword Light flared. Strands of light crisscrossed through the air, weaving into a net in an instant.

Sword Light Division!

At the Innate Qi Refiner Realm, Sword Light Division is an exceedingly rare Sword Control Technique, but that isn’t the case for the Dao Foundation Realm.

As long as one had some Talent, mastering Sword Light Division wasn’t difficult.

Dao Foundation Cultivators had long lifespans and powerful Divine Souls; if they dedicated themselves to studying the Sword Control Technique, most could achieve some level of mastery.

Zhu Ju reappeared a hundred meters away. Seeing that his opponent had shredded all the Papermen, he frowned slightly.

SWOOSH!

Spiritual Light surged from his back as the Wind and Thunder Blade Wings abruptly unfurled. With a beat of the wings, his speed increased explosively.

He vanished after just a few flickers.

Such speed already surpassed that of the Early Stage Dao Foundation. It would be considered impressive even among those at the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation.

"Hmm?"

The playful expression on Kou Wen’s face vanished. His eyes darted about, and a cold smile formed on his lips.

"Interesting!"

"This guy is really something."

BOOM!

A sonic boom cracked through the air. A crimson Sword Light shot forward, skimming the water’s surface and tearing a long wake in the calm sea.

*

*

*

「Several hours later.」

SWOOSH!

Zhu Ju’s figure appeared in the sky above an island.

His forehead was beaded with sweat and his eyes were tinged with exhaustion. He glanced back, and his expression darkened.

"He’s like a vengeful ghost, impossible to shake off!"

His gaze swept the area. He flashed down onto the island and, with a wave of his sleeve, threw an object at his feet.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent a series of Array Flags flying out to embed themselves in the ground around him.

He had just finished when a streak of Sword Light came charging in.

"Setting up an array?"

Kou Wen’s voice dripped with ridicule.

"In such a short amount of time? Even a Tier Three Array Master who can create an array with a single thought couldn’t possibly set up anything powerful."

"Huh?"

His laughter died in his throat.

"How is this possible?"

At some point, his surroundings had become enveloped in a thick fog. Wisps of killing intent, so tangible they felt real, coiled around his body.

An Array!

"This is impossible!" Kou Wen’s eyes flashed as he sent a crimson Sword Light slashing upward.

"It’s fake!"

"It’s all an illusion!"

The Sword Light slashed through empty air.

SWISH!

The Sword Light descended, enveloping Kou Wen. He then merged with it, achieving Human-Sword Unity and shooting into the sky. A moment later, he should have theoretically traveled for miles, yet he was still surrounded by dense fog, his senses drawing a complete blank.

Only then did Kou Wen abandon his hopes of a simple escape. His eyes flickered as he warily observed his surroundings.

"An Illusion Array?"

"You must have set this Array up here in advance, right? Did you know all along that your movements had been leaked?"

He refused to believe anyone could set up such an Array in so little time. The only explanation was that it had been prepared in advance.

Zhu Ju paid him no mind.

’The profundity of The Investiture of the Gods is far beyond anyone’s imagination. I just wonder if the Nine-Star Ascension Altar is enough to kill a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator.’

"Rise!"

Seven Kills Curse!

Amplified by the Array, Zhu Ju’s Divine Soul Power surged. He guided the Spell, and a streak of Profound Light materialized from thin air.

The Profound Light, capable of splitting the heavens and sundering all things, shot straight for Kou Wen. Boundless Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi churned violently in its wake. One streak of Profound Light followed another, until an uncountable number of them filled the sky.

BOOM!

The Profound Light dissipated.

A golden bell had appeared above Kou Wen’s head. A faint layer of golden light surrounded him, having blocked the Seven Kills Curse.

’It’s not enough!’

Zhu Ju sighed softly.

’The Nine-Star Ascension Altar is meant to channel the power of a Demon True Man from the Magic World. Unfortunately, since there’s nothing like that in the Main World, the Magic Altar’s power is weakened by seventy percent.’

’In the end, I still have to rely on myself.’

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