Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Immortal Demon Slash!

Sword Light Division!

The Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Cross and Vertical Saber, erupted into several fine rays of light. They crisscrossed in midair, weaving together a net of saber light that rained down.

ZZZZT—

Sparks flew from the golden bell above Kou Wen’s head as it trembled violently. In the blink of an eye, it was already on the verge of collapse.

But that wasn’t all. A divine light shone in Zhu Ju’s eyes. Two foot-long rays shot from his pupils, bypassing the Magical Artifact’s defense as they struck.

The Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light!

The Nine-Star Ascension Altar doubled the operator’s Divine Soul Power, which in turn greatly amplified the might of his Divine Soul Secret Technique.

Though launched second, the divine light arrived first, striking Kou Wen’s Sea of Consciousness.

It was true that Zhu Ju had only recently reached the Dao Foundation Realm. However, his Divine Soul Power far surpassed that of an ordinary Early Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator; it was even comparable to that of a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator.

Now, boosted by the Array, the might of the Secret Technique was nothing short of terrifying.

"Aaah!"

A bloodcurdling scream rang out.

Kou Wen clutched his head, blood pouring from his Seven Acupoints. He had been severely wounded in an instant, and without his control, the golden bell above him began to falter.

’An opportunity!’

Zhu Ju’s eyes lit up as he furiously drove the Cross and Vertical Saber forward.

The golden bell was merely a High Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact. Its impressive display was only possible because it was powered by the True Essence of a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator. Now that it had lost that support, its Defensive Power plummeted.

CRACK...

BOOM!

The golden bell artifact shuddered violently before bursting apart. Unobstructed, the saber light closed in to shred the figure within.

Just as the attack was about to land, a flash of crimson sword light emerged.

CLANG...

The saber and sword clashed, unleashing a surge of Powerful Qi. The Cross and Vertical Saber let out a resentful cry as it was forced to retreat, its attack foiled.

The gap in their strength was not so easily bridged.

Kou Wen was also wielding a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, had mastered the Sword Light Division Artifact Control Method, and his Cultivation was far deeper than Zhu Ju’s.

Once he recovered his senses, he immediately suppressed the Cross and Vertical Saber.

"Good!"

"Very good!"

His face covered in blood and looking utterly wretched, Kou Wen gritted his teeth and spoke.

"Sword Light Division... a Divine Soul Secret Technique... I’m getting really curious about how many secrets you’re hiding."

SWOOSH!

Two more beams of divine light descended.

The Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light!

"Ngh!"

Kou Wen’s body jerked back, but this time, he wasn’t severely wounded.

A shimmering Treasure Pearl had appeared on his forehead. A faint crack was now visible on its surface, evidence that it had blocked the divine light for him.

’A Divine Soul Treasure?’

Zhu Ju’s brow furrowed slightly.

’This was the problem with Divine Soul Secret Techniques.’

’Though incredibly powerful and able to bypass most Protective Magic, they were completely countered by these kinds of special treasures.’

’Just like the Soul-Shocking Bell in his own Sea of Consciousness.’

’Unless there was a massive disparity in power, a Divine Soul Secret Technique could hardly harm a Cultivator protected by such a treasure.’

"I will capture you, give you a taste of a fate worse than death, and torture every last secret out of your body."

Kou Wen commanded his Flying Sword to block the incoming saber light, his eyes flashing as he spoke.

"You have no idea what I’m capable of. I can cut a man to pieces and still keep him breathing."

"Have you ever seen a man who has been flayed alive?"

"Death by a thousand cuts, flaying and de-sinewing, carving out flesh and rendering fat... all three are my specialties."

His voice, cold and cruel, echoed across the battlefield. The sound grated on the ears like the shriek of a sharpening scythe.

Just hearing it was enough to make one’s blood run cold and their heart tremble with fear.

"Demon Sound Brainwashing? A Divine Soul Secret Technique?"

Zhu Ju’s expression remained unchanged.

"Did you think such a trick would work on me?"

"Hmph!" Kou Wen snorted. Of course, he knew his own Divine Soul Secret Technique was far less refined than his opponent’s.

"You’ll see, Zhu."

"No need." Zhu Ju’s eyes were dark.

"You should witness my methods first!"

WHOOSH—

Taking a deep breath, he flung several Spirit Talismans and a few dark Thunder Pills from his sleeve as the Wind and Thunder Blade Wings unfurled from his back.

RATTLE RATTLE...

The Wind and Thunder Blade Wings, composed of hundreds of sharp Curved Sabers, vibrated rapidly before scattering into hundreds of blades of light.

"Go!"

Instantly, the full barrage of attacks shot toward the figure trapped within the Array.

Tier Two Spirit Talismans!

Thunder Pearls!

The Seven Kills Curse!

The Cross and Vertical Saber, using Sword Light Division!

And...

The Pseudo Magical Treasure, the Wind and Thunder Blade Wings.

Spiritual Light streaked across the void, rushing toward Kou Wen under the cover of the Array.

BOOM!

RUMBLE...

In an instant, spiritual light surged and roiled at the heart of the Array. The surrounding sea was whipped into a frenzy of monstrous waves.

「After a long moment.」

The spiritual light dissipated. Kou Wen, his face deathly pale and his breathing faint, was somehow still alive.

Around him, seven streaks of red sword light swirled at an astonishing speed, forming the Seven-Star Sword Array.

He himself was curled up inside a large Conch-like shell, peering out through a crack.

This Conch on the battlefield was a full ten feet wide, its surface covered in dense, complex patterns. It had somehow saved Kou Wen’s life from the onslaught.

’Hm?’

Zhu Ju’s expression darkened. The hundreds of Flying Sabers hovering above once again swooped down.

CLANG CLANG CLANG...

The swirling Seven-Star Sword Array desperately tried to block them, but the assault was too dense. A few Flying Sabers still managed to pierce its defense and strike the Conch.

As sharp as the Wind and Thunder Blade Wings were, they only managed to leave a few faint marks on its surface.

"It’s useless!"

Kou Wen laughed softly.

"My Conch was refined from the remains of a Tier Three Great Demon. Even though it’s not a Magical Treasure, its defenses are just as good."

"Your methods are indeed impressive, but it won’t be so easy to kill me."

"At least..."

"Not in a short amount of time."

"You’re stalling for time?" Zhu Ju glanced into the distance, shook his head, and took a few steps forward.

"Waiting for your companions to arrive?"

"You won’t get the chance."

He slowly raised his left hand. As True Essence flowed into it, a five-colored radiance bloomed from his palm, and the Power of the Five Elements from the heavens and earth began to gather frenziedly around it.

Hiding inside the Conch, Kou Wen suddenly felt his heart tighten as a nameless terror crept into his mind.

Through the crack, he saw a five-colored brilliance weave itself together in the void. A giant hand, coalesced from the Power of the Five Elements, materialized in the air.

The giant hand slowly descended toward the Conch. Before the Seven-Star Sword Array could even get close, it was torn to shreds by the Power of the Five Elements.

SNAP!

The Red Blood Sword let out a mournful cry, its Spiritual Light dimming as it plummeted downward.

The giant hand’s advance didn’t slow. Seeming to move at a crawl yet arriving in an instant, it seized the Conch, and a terrifyingly Giant Power erupted.

KRAK...

A crack appeared on the Conch.

"No!"

Kou Wen’s face was deathly pale as he suddenly roared.

"Don’t!"

"Fellow Daoist, show mercy! I know the location of an ancient Heritage Mansion! I have many Treasures hidden in the East Sea! I also know a clue to a Secret Realm!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhu... Fellow Daoist Zhu, please be merciful! If you spare my life, I’ll give it all to you!"

Zhu Ju turned a deaf ear, simply applying more pressure bit by bit.

The giant hand tightened its grip on the Conch, crushing it inward. The cracking sounds grew more and more frequent until, with a final boom, it shattered completely.

BOOM!

The Power of the Five Elements exploded in the giant hand’s palm, annihilating everything within.

When the giant hand opened, not even a trace of Kou Wen’s body remained. Even his Storage Spiritual Artifact had been crushed, leaving behind only a few fragments.

"Huh?"

Zhu Ju’s eyebrow twitched. He picked up a Spirit Talisman carved from Spirit Wood from amidst a pile of gore, his expression changing slightly.

"A Talisman Treasure?"

He had always thought that a Talisman Treasure was something made from Talisman Paper, but apparently, that wasn’t always the case.

A Talisman Treasure,

could also be made of Spirit Wood.

However, this Talisman Treasure’s power was purely offensive. Trapped within the Array, it was useless. As a result, Kou Wen had died without ever getting a chance to use it.

"Worth it!"

He weighed the Talisman Treasure in his hand. The Investiture of the Gods swept up the remaining spoils on the battlefield, including the fallen Red Blood Sword.

With a shake of the wings on his back, Zhu Ju shot off like a bolt of lightning in the direction of Yunjing Island.

*

*

*

「Several days later.」

Zhu Ju, controlling the Dust Banner, approached Yunjing Island.

"Halt!"

Two patrolling guards blocked his path, but their expressions changed when they recognized his face. They bowed and gestured for him to proceed.

"So it is Elder Zhu. Please, this way."

"Not so fast," Zhu Ju said.

"On our last trip, my party was ambushed by Tribulation Cultivators. Besides me, did anyone else make it back alive?"

’Enough time has passed that the Commerce Association must have gotten the news. Besides, the attitude of these two is strange. Their gazes are full of scrutiny and apprehension. Something must have happened that I don’t know about.’

"Well..." The two men’s eyes darted about. One of them said,

"Elder Yann Nanshuang has returned. As for the others, we are not aware. The Commerce Association is currently investigating the matter."

"We must trouble you to come with us, Elder."

"Miss Yann is back?" Zhu Ju was taken aback. He had considered that others might have escaped, but he never expected it to be Yann Nanshuang. After all, her situation had been the most perilous.

He immediately nodded.

"Alright."

"Lead the way."

...

"Sit!"

"Serve tea!"

A familiar welcome, a familiar person.

Dong Ping sat opposite him, with Circulation Envoy Yuan observing from the side. The scene felt eerily familiar.

But unlike last time, Dong Ping’s expression was grave. Her arms were crossed, and her eyes were filled with scrutiny.

"Everyone with Yann Family blood leaves a strand of their life flame in the ancestral hall. If the flame goes out, it means the person is dead—body and soul. Right now, Elder Yann Huachang’s life flame has been extinguished, and Yann Xi’s is flickering on the verge of going out."

’Hm?’

Zhu Ju’s expression darkened.

’A Late-Stage Dao Foundation Great Cultivator actually died. As expected of the East Sea Cave Ghosts; their methods are truly formidable.’

"The Yann Family doesn’t have many Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivators to begin with. Losing one is a devastating blow,"

Dong Ping sighed.

"Therefore..."

"This matter must be thoroughly investigated. I hope you understand, Brother Zhu."

"I understand," Zhu Ju nodded.

"I will answer everything I know."

"That’s good." Dong Ping clapped her hands. A blue silk cloth behind her was pulled away, revealing a mirror as tall as a man.

She explained,

"This mirror is called the Heart-Spying Mirror. It can see into a person’s heart and distinguish truth from lies. When I ask you questions in a moment, Fellow Daoist, you must answer truthfully."

"Yes."

"Did you collude with the Tribulation Cultivators?"

"No."

"Did you leak the news of your trip with Yann Nanshuang and the others to anyone?"

"No."

"Have you recently associated with any Dao Foundation Cultivators who are not part of the Commerce Association?"

"No."

"..."

「A short while later.」

Circulation Envoy Yuan nodded at Dong Ping, and the grave expression on her face finally eased.

"My apologies."

"This was arranged by the Commerce Association. We were just following orders."

"I understand," Zhu Ju said.

"So no one else returned?"

"Fellow Daoist Zhang returned," Dong Ping said, stroking her smooth chin, her eyes glinting slightly.

"However, there may be some issues with him, so he cannot leave here for the time being."

"Issues?" Zhu Ju’s interest was piqued.

"Brother Zhu," Dong Ping smiled but didn’t elaborate. Instead, she changed the subject.

"According to Miss Yann Nanshuang, you were being pursued by a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Tribulation Cultivator. How did you escape?"

"Well..." Zhu Ju hesitated for a moment, then formed a hand seal. He activated the Four Symbols Star Ban, and his aura vanished almost completely.

Dong Ping looked astonished.

If she hadn’t been looking right at him, she wouldn’t have even known he was there. Even her Divine Thought gave no warning.

"What a technique!"

Her voice was filled with admiration as she clapped her hands lightly.

"No wonder..."

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