Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Cuihu Island.

The territory of the Xiangg Family, a Cultivation Clan from the East Sea.

The island boasted a beautiful environment and was rich in various underwater Spiritual Objects. A particular type of Spirit Vine was an especially famous local specialty.

The Yunjing Commerce Association purchased large quantities of this Spirit Vine every time they visited, using it to refine a certain kind of Magical Artifact.

People came and went along the long street.

Zhu Ju paused and nodded at a middle-aged scholar walking toward him from the side.

"Brother Guu."

"Fellow Daoist Zhu."

Guu Xinglan, holding a folding fan, smiled and clasped his hands.

"Are you also here for the auction?"

"I am."

Zhu Ju nodded.

"I heard there will be many good things at this auction. Not just local specialties, but the Commerce Association is also putting up many Treasures. How could I miss such a lively event?"

"Indeed." Guu Xinglan lightly tapped his folding fan.

"A Curious Object will be auctioned this time—a Primordial Spirit Stone Embryo."

"A Primordial Spirit Stone Embryo?" Zhu Ju froze for a moment before asking in astonishment,

"The same Curious Object from the legends?"

"Precisely." Guu Xinglan nodded.

"The so-called Primordial Spirit Stone Embryo is an anomaly among Spirit Stones. It contains innate Spirituality and, upon maturing, can be refined into an Outer Body Incarnation."

He spoke with a sigh of emotion.

"Because it is an Innate creation, the Primordial Spirit Stone Embryo’s Physical Body is exceptionally tough. It can withstand a direct hit from a Magical Treasure without being damaged. From the moment it is born, it is a master comparable to someone at Body Refining Third Realm Perfection."

"A pity!"

"Nurturing this item takes an incredibly long time, easily thousands or even tens of thousands of years. Even the great powers can’t afford to wait. That’s why, despite its rarity, it’s difficult to sell at a high price. And using it for Refinement like a normal Spirit Stone would be a terrible waste."

He shook his head repeatedly as he spoke.

"A Primordial Spirit Stone Embryo..." Zhu Ju said in admiration,

"Brother Guu, you’re truly well-informed."

"Hm?"

His expression suddenly changed. He stared directly at Guu Xinglan, his eyes showing a mix of suspicion and sheer disbelief.

"Brother Guu, you... you’ve advanced to the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation?"

He had been momentarily careless and hadn’t noticed before, but the man now exuded the pressure unique to a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator.

But...

How many years had it been?

Although Guu Xinglan was older than him and had a deeper Cultivation, breaking through this quickly was still beyond his expectations.

At his age, reaching the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation now meant that with steady progress, he was certain to reach the Late-Stage Dao Foundation in the future.

Perhaps...

there was even a sliver of hope for Core Formation.

"That’s right!"

Guu Xinglan’s face was beaming with delight.

"It’s all thanks to that operation back then. I obtained a Spiritual Medicine that directly increased my Cultivation by sixty years."

"As they say, ’A man can’t get rich without a windfall, just as a horse can’t get fat without extra fodder.’ Relying on bitter Cultivation alone will get you nowhere in life."

"A Cultivator..."

"...must fight against the heavens, fight against the earth, and fight against men. Only then can one seize that sliver of a chance to attain the Dao."

He seemed to have a deep understanding of this, shaking his head and saying,

"Cultivation is, by its very nature, an act of defying heaven. If you try to follow the natural course of things, you’ll never achieve anything great in this life."

"You have a point, Brother Guu." Zhu Ju seemed lost in thought.

"I’ve learned something today!"

As expected.

The man had changed.

The Guu Xinglan of the past, though sincere in his pursuit of the Dao, was cautious in his actions and tactful in his dealings with others.

But now...

...his expression was triumphant, his edge fully exposed. He had lost his former composure and caution, becoming more unrestrained and indulgent.

’It seems the gains from that expedition had a huge impact on him, causing a complete one-eighty in his personality.’

’Then again...’

’One adventure saved him nearly a hundred years of bitter Cultivation, not to mention other benefits. After experiencing such a thrill, how could he go back to tolerating a mundane life?’

As these thoughts churned in his mind, Zhu Ju couldn’t help but sigh softly.

If not for his own unique opportunities, he knew that honest Cultivation offered no hope for him either. He would likely have done the same as Guu Xinglan—when faced with a dead end, he would have gambled everything to seize that slim chance.

Failure would be one thing.

But success would only breed a greater appetite.

Eventually, on some other expedition, they would find themselves in a desperate situation and perish on their path to the Dao. This was the fate of so many Cultivators.

However...

’I can travel to an Otherworld and have the resources of many other worlds to plunder. I don’t need to take such risks. A slow and steady approach is best for me.’

"Brother Zhu, you also look to be in high spirits. You must have had some fortuitous encounter as well." Guu Xinglan said, turning his head to look.

"Congratulations are in order!"

"You could say that," Zhu Ju said with a smile.

"I’ve made some small gains in my Cultivation recently."

He had successfully linked his second soul-essence, causing his strength to soar. His Cultivation progress was no worse than Guu Xinglan’s.

As they spoke, the two entered a massive venue. It resembled some sort of arena, with raised outer seating and a sunken center, allowing all attendees a clear view of the items on display.

GONG!

The sound of the Dharma Bell echoed in all directions.

A man walked onto the central platform of the auction, clasped his hands, and bowed to the surrounding Cultivators.

"Fellow Daoists, thank you for your patience. I am Xiangg Zhou, and I will be overseeing this auction. The rules are the same as always."

"No Combat, no releasing Divine Thought..."

It was the standard litany of auction rules.

Zhu Ju, a frequent visitor to Marketplace auctions, grew drowsy listening to them, only snapping back to attention at the sound of a muffled THUD.

"The first item today is a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Illusion Star Sword, from the hands of the Flying Dragon Zen Master of Longyou Island."

"The starting bid is five thousand Spirit Stones, with each increment no less than fifty Spirit Stones."

"Hmph!" Guu Xinglan snorted softly from the side.

"There’s no way the Flying Dragon Zen Master would personally refine a High Grade Spiritual Artifact. A Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, maybe."

"It was most likely made by one of the Zen Master’s disciples. They’re just using his name to fetch a better price."

Zhu Ju nodded.

The Flying Dragon Zen Master of Longyou Island was a Tier Three Artifact Refiner at Dao Foundation Perfection who had successfully refined several Magical Treasures.

A certain Golden Core Grandmaster’s personal Magical Treasure was rumored to have been crafted by him.

A High Grade Spiritual Artifact?

It was certainly beneath his notice.

The others were clearly aware of this as well, but even a disciple of the Zen Master possessed Artifact Refining skills far superior to those of an ordinary Artifact Refiner.

The key was that the price wasn’t exorbitant. Several people immediately made bids, and it was eventually sold for seven thousand Spirit Stones.

"The Flying Fish Shuttle!"

"A Tier One High Grade Flying Ship, it can transform into a ten-meter-long vessel and achieve astonishing speed by harnessing the power of water. Starting bid is ten thousand Spirit Stones..."

"Five Nine Heavens Cloud Dragon talismans, Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Talismans, each comparable to a full-power strike from a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator. Starting bid for the set of five is six thousand Spirit Stones..."

"..."

Item after item was presented.

To an Innate Qi Refiner, every item at this auction was a masterpiece, but to a Dao Foundation Cultivator, they were nothing special.

There were very few bidders.

Zhu Ju, however, took the opportunity to acquire two materials.

"A Demonic Secret Technique, the Blood-Burning Curse!"

"This Secret Technique can burn a Cultivator’s blood Essence, causing their Magical Power to surge by several tenths in a short period. An Early Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator could even possess the Cultivation of the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation. However, after using it, there will be a period of exhaustion."

"Everyone, please note that a moment’s carelessness with this technique will burn the Cultivator’s lifespan. A hundred years of life won’t last long, so please consider carefully. Of course, if you’re using it in a life-or-death struggle, then it doesn’t matter."

"Starting bid is twenty thousand Spirit Stones, with each increment no less than two hundred Spirit Stones."

Hm?

A flicker appeared in Zhu Ju’s eyes.

The Blood-Burning Curse?

He knew of many such Magic arts and even possessed a few, but none that could be used by a Dao Foundation Cultivator.

Burning blood Essence?

After a moment of thought, he slowly raised his hand.

"Twenty thousand Spirit Stones!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhu..." Guu Xinglan looked over in surprise.

"I can’t believe you’re interested in such a Method. I thought you were a cautious person, but it seems I was wrong!"

Only desperate outlaws would be interested in this kind of Life-or-Death Fighting Method. Even he hadn’t considered bidding.

Zhu Ju just smiled without explaining.

The aftereffects of the Blood-Burning Curse were too severe, and it easily consumed one’s lifespan. Not many Dao Foundation Cultivators were interested.

In the end, after only two more bids, he successfully won it.

The auction continued.

"Urgh..."

The auctioneer, Xiangg Family Dao Foundation Cultivator Xiangg Zhou, felt his ears twitch as if he heard something. He stopped, just as he was about to display the next item, and frowned at the person who had interrupted the auction by walking onto the stage.

The two whispered for a few moments, and then Xiangg Zhou’s face filled with horror.

He paused.

Then, with a bitter expression, he turned back, clasped his hands to the crowd, and spoke.

"My apologies, everyone."

"We are adding one last-minute item to the auction."

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.

"A Core Formation Spiritual Object, the Profound Ice Flame. The starting bid is ten thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, with each increment... no less than one hundred Middle Grade Spirit Stones."

"Please, place your bids."

The hall fell suddenly silent. All the Dao Foundation Cultivators held their breath, their eyes fixed on the Spiritual Object being slowly unveiled in the center of the stage.

The Profound Ice Flame!

A Core Formation Spiritual Object!

It was actually real!

SWOOSH!

Zhu Ju shot to his feet, his expression grave.

"I’ve just remembered I have some unfinished business at home, so I must take my leave."

Without waiting for Guu Xinglan’s reply, he turned and hurried away.

He wasn’t the only one who chose to leave, but many more people chose to stay and watch.

Something’s wrong!

As he walked out of the auction house, Zhu Ju glanced back, his eyes narrowing.

The Profound Ice Flame was a Core Formation Spiritual Object that the Fang Family had acquired. The Yann Family had always wanted to get their hands on it, and the two families had negotiated over it countless times. Why would it suddenly be put up for auction here on Cuihu Island?

Even if they weren’t going to sell it to the Yann Family, they should have taken it somewhere more prosperous to sell. Only then could they get a better price.

Cuihu Island?

Who here had the resources to acquire a Core Formation Spiritual Object?

Although he didn’t understand what was going on, Zhu Ju still chose to leave.

A wise man doesn’t stand beneath a collapsing wall.

Not long after he walked out of the auction house, a deafening roar erupted from behind him.

BOOM!

As the ground trembled, the entire auction venue collapsed with a crash.

More than a dozen figures flew out from the rubble. For a moment, streaks of colorful light shot through the air, accompanied by continuous, thunderous rumbles.

The entire Marketplace was thrown into chaos.

"Who dares cause trouble here?"

An furious roar came from Huxing Island, in the center of Cuihu Island, as two auras of the Late-Stage Dao Foundation erupted into the sky.

"Activate the Array! I’d like to see who is so bold!"

The people from the Xiangg Family.

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow slightly.

According to the information he had, the Xiangg Family only had one Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator. He never expected there to be two.

Indeed!

If they wanted to live a long life, every Cultivator and every Cultivation Clan had to learn to hide their true strength.

With the appearance of the two Xiangg Family ancestors, the Array expanded, and the commotion in the Marketplace immediately quieted down.

Many who had planned to snatch things and run amidst the chaos obediently put their stolen goods down.

Looting during a riot...

...requires an actual riot.

With two Xiangg Family ancestors and a Tier Two Middle Grade Array present, Cuihu Island would not descend into chaos.

BOOM!

Just then, a thick beam of Spiritual Light pierced through the Xiangg Family’s Guardian Array and slammed into the lake.

The lake water immediately erupted into monstrous waves.

The island where the Marketplace was located shook violently, and many buildings near the lake were directly washed away and collapsed.

What?

Zhu Ju was stunned.

He wasn’t the only one astonished; even the two Xiangg Family ancestors were dumbfounded.

What was happening?

How could their own Array be so fragile?

"It’s the Yann Family!"

Xiangg Zhou, the auctioneer, roared,

"It’s the work of the Yunjing Commerce Association!"

"The Yunjing Commerce Association?" One of the Xiangg Family ancestors, Xiangg Jiang, who had been famous for two hundred years, looked up at the sky with a ferocious expression.

"Why?"

"Have we of the Xiangg Family been poor hosts to you? Why are you attacking us?"

"Xiangg Jiang," a voice full of rage boomed from the void above.

"Hand over Tang Yuanshan at once! Otherwise, don’t blame me for razing this Cuihu Island to the ground!"

"Tang Yuanshan? Master Tang?" Xiangg Jiang was taken aback.

"He’s not here. He left a few days ago."

"Bullshit!" roared the Yann Family ancestor, Yann Weiran.

"That Tang fellow’s trail went cold on your Cuihu Island! The Array on this island was set up by him! If it weren’t for your Xiangg Family covering for him, how could he have escaped the Yann Family’s grasp?"

"A misunderstanding," Xiangg Jiang said urgently.

"Fellow Daoist Yann, this is all a misunderstanding!"

"There is no misunderstanding," Yann Weiran said angrily.

"That Tang fellow knows the Array Map for Yunjing Island’s Tier Three Array. He absolutely cannot be allowed to leave the Yann Family’s control."

"Kill them all!"

"Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find him!"

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