Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

BZZZ...

Spiritual Light flared.

The Array within the estate had been activated.

The Array set up here was clearly much better than the free one provided by the Commerce Association, which offered a small measure of reassurance.

"Grand-aunt."

A child tugged at the corner of Yann Lan’s clothes, their voice filled with concern.

"Are you okay?"

"Yuk Yu, be good. Grand-aunt is fine." Yann Lan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and gently rubbed the child’s head.

"Go on, go to your mother’s side. We’re all going to be okay."

After comforting the child, she looked toward Zhu Ju.

"Brother Zhu, how are you?"

"I’m fine." Zhu Ju understood what she was asking and replied with a faint smile.

"Forbidden Techniques have side effects, but I only used it for a short time. There won’t be any lasting impact."

In reality, because he had connected to his Essence Spirit, there was no impact at all.

"That’s good, that’s good."

Yann Lan relaxed and asked,

"What do we do now?"

"What do we do?" Zhu Ju looked up. His hearing was sharp and his perception keen. Despite the obscuring fog, he could still hear the chaotic noises in the distance.

Faint, yet ubiquitous, chaos!

’I can’t believe it. Yunjing Island has truly fallen into chaos.’

"Now that they’ve made their move, they won’t rest until the Yann Family has fallen. We need to find another place to hide."

"But..." Yann Lan’s face was grim.

"Can we even get out?"

Outside the estate.

Shadowy figures flickered in the fog. It was impossible to know how many people were hidden there, but at least two Dao Foundation Cultivators were spying on this location.

If they went out, they would surely face a ferocious siege.

Zhu Ju rubbed his chin.

He had plenty of tricks up his sleeve and could easily break through even if he couldn’t win. The problem was the others.

The children were especially fragile; the mere aftershocks of Combat could be enough to kill them.

"Everyone."

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Ju shouted to the outside.

"This is an internal dispute of the Commerce Association. Why should we outsiders get involved?"

"Only a few descendants of my respected brother are here. They aren’t even qualified to visit the Yann Family’s ancestral home; they’re just from a branch family. Could you please show mercy and spare their lives? I will be sure to reward you generously in the future!"

"Heh..." A cold laugh came from the fog.

"The Yann Family has controlled the Commerce Association for hundreds of years and has long since incurred the wrath of all. Taking action against them is a must."

"As for Yann Ying’s descendants..."

"Since he changed his surname to Yann, don’t talk about being an ’outsider’!"

"That’s right," another voice echoed in agreement.

"The Yann Family’s descendants received the Yann Family’s resources, which naturally encroached upon the benefits of others. You can’t call them innocent."

"As long as the Yann Clan Members live, we cannot be at ease."

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, we admire you for protecting Yann Ying’s descendants out of loyalty to your sworn brother. If you leave, we won’t stop you. But if you insist on making an enemy of us, then don’t blame us for being merciless!"

"What?" Zhu Ju’s expression darkened.

"Must this end in mutual destruction?"

"The fish will die, but the net may not break," another person said slowly.

"Do you really think you’ll be safe just by hiding in there?"

"It’s Pann Si." The familiar voice made Yann Lan’s face pale, and terror filled her eyes.

"A Guest Minister of the Sunx Family, a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator."

’It’s him!’

A flicker in Zhu Ju’s eyes.

There were many Dao Foundation Cultivators on Yunjing Island, but the vast majority were in the Early Stage Dao Foundation. The number dropped off significantly at the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation.

Every Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator was quite famous, so of course he knew of them.

"Found it!"

Just as he was lost in thought, a joyous cry came from outside.

SWOOSH!

Immediately after, several streaks of light descended from the sky, piercing into the Array protecting the estate and causing the Spiritual Light to ripple.

"Not good!"

Yann Lan’s expression changed.

"They have an Array Master!"

Zhu Ju’s heart sank. With a resigned sigh, he flipped his hand and took an object from his storage bag, holding it in his palm.

"Don’t panic."

"Protect the children. Apply a Protective Talisman and a Light Body Talisman to everyone. We’re getting out of here first."

"Brother Zhu," Yann Lan said, surprised.

"But..."

"I’ll handle this." Zhu Ju took a step forward, tossed the object in his hand, and his True Essence surged forth.

BZZM!

The Spiritual Light flickered.

A Talisman Treasure!

The Three Yang Divine Fire Talisman!

The Wood Talisman hovered in mid-air. From it, the inscribed three-headed fire dragon spiraled out, so lifelike it seemed to let out a low growl.

"Is that..." Yann Lan covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide.

"A Talisman Treasure!"

In a sense, Talisman Treasures were even rarer than Magical Treasures.

After all, the materials used to refine a Talisman Treasure could also be used for a Magical Treasure. A Magical Treasure could be used indefinitely, while a Talisman Treasure only had a few uses.

And while a Talisman Treasure was powerful, it was ultimately a far cry from a true Magical Treasure.

Unless it was made to protect a junior descendant, very few High-Tier Cultivators would specifically refine a Talisman Treasure.

She never thought that Zhu Ju would actually possess a Talisman Treasure!

CRACK!

The sound of shattering came from the Array protecting the estate, and visible cracks spread across the barrier above them.

BANG!

With a deafening BOOM, the Array shattered.

"Excellent!"

"Attack!"

The Cultivators in the fog outside the courtyard sounded ecstatic. As multicolored Spiritual Light began to surge, their hearts suddenly sank.

It was as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on their chests.

’What’s happening?’

BOOM!

Three lifelike Fire Dragons, each over a hundred feet long, shot out from the estate. They circled once in the air, swallowing all the incoming attacks.

Spirit Talismans, Magical Artifacts, Magic...

Nothing was spared!

"A Talisman Treasure!"

Someone screamed in terror.

"Run!"

Too late!

Zhu Ju poured all his power into the Three Yang Divine Fire Talisman, and the three Fire Dragons crashed into the fog, heading for the three Dao Foundation Cultivators.

Everything in their path was incinerated.

With a mere flick of a Fire Dragon’s tail, any Innate Qi Refiners in its path were engulfed in flames, instantly reduced to ash.

BOOM!

Fierce Flames shot a thousand feet into the sky, turning the surroundings into a sea of fire. At its core, even stone and rock melted into lava.

Of the three auras, two vanished in an instant.

The power of the Talisman Treasure was no less than an all-out attack from a Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator.

"Watch over them."

Zhu Ju barked, retrieving the Talisman Treasure. In a flash, he shot forward.

"I’ll be right back."

Unleashing the full power of his Physical Body, which was comparable to the Body Refining Second Realm, his speed was not much slower than a Flying Sword Master’s.

After a few flickers, he appeared in front of Pann Si.

As a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator, he had survived a direct hit from the Talisman Treasure, though his aura had weakened considerably.

A shattered shield lay on the ground. It must have been what helped him nullify most of the Talisman Treasure’s power.

"Damn it!"

"My Fish Scale Shield!"

Pann Si gritted his teeth, his face contorted with rage. He turned to look at Zhu Ju, a cold glint in his eyes.

"You dare show your face to me again?"

"Die!"

Two streaks of light, one black and one white, slashed out in a crisscross pattern. The might of a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator was on full display, accompanied by the faint roar of thunder.

’Sword Qi Thunder Sound?’

’No!’

’Impossible!’

’If he had mastered this Divine Technique, he would be able to contend with Late-Stage Dao Foundation cultivators. His reputation wouldn’t be so minor.’

Zhu Ju’s thoughts raced as he thrust his left hand forward.

’Hm?’

Pann Si raised an eyebrow, a mocking look in his eyes.

’Trying to block my Yin Yang Flying Sword with his bare hand? He’s courting death.’

SWISH!

The Five-Colored Divine Light descended.

The two Flying Swords faltered for a moment, then slashed out again, seemingly unaffected by the Five-Colored Divine Light.

The Five-Colored Divine Light restrained Five Elements Objects, not everything under the heavens. The unexpected development startled Zhu Ju as well.

But he recovered in an instant, changing his palm into a claw to meet the attack.

The Five-Colored Divine Light couldn’t restrain the swords, but his mutated left hand, a ’Magical Treasure’ in its own right, was indestructible.

CLANG...

The Flying Swords collided with his left hand with a piercing screech. Zhu Ju clenched his five fingers, catching the Flying Swords in his grasp.

’What?’

Pann Si was shocked at the sight.

Before he could react, Zhu Ju had already charged forward and chopped out diagonally with one hand like a blade.

Immortal Demon Slash!

Chaotic Slash!

SWISH!

SWISH! SWISH!

A thousand afterimages appeared out of thin air.

The Spiritual Light on Pann Si’s body flared brightly, but his various Protective Spells and Spirit Talismans were all shattered, leaving him defenseless.

He was already heavily injured, his bonded Magical Artifact had been seized, and a Body Refining Cultivator had closed the distance. His fate was sealed.

POW!

The hand-blade, imbued with Giant Power, landed on his body.

’It’s over!’

SPURT!

Bloody gashes appeared all over his body. Zhu Ju flickered past him as the Ten Directions Sword leaped out with a ringing sound and swept the area.

Several figures hiding in the fog were cut down one after another.

Immediately after, Sword Intent soared to the heavens.

Zhu Ju grabbed Pann Si’s corpse and threw it high into the air. His Flying Sword slashed repeatedly, dismembering the body and scattering the pieces in all directions.

"Pann Si is dead! Let’s see who else dares to make a move!"

He had used a Talisman Treasure to kill two Dao Foundation Cultivators and grievously wound a third, swiftly and decisively eliminating his powerful foes.

With such a display of might, he instantly intimidated everyone present.

...

The area fell silent.

Then, all sorts of RUSTLING sounds arose as the lucky survivors scattered and fled like rabbits.

Among them was even a hidden Dao Foundation Cultivator.

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow but knew this wasn’t the time to wipe them all out. He quickly gathered the spoils of war and returned.

At the courtyard gate.

Yann Lan was protecting the group, on high alert. When she saw Zhu Ju return, her face lit up with elation.

"Brother Zhu!"

"Elder Zhu!"

"Let’s go!" Zhu Ju waved his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

"We need to leave this place immediately."

He had a base in the Marketplace, but it surely wasn’t safe there now either. However, one of the three Dao Foundation Cultivators he had just dealt with had been a recluse whose residence wasn’t far from Zhu Ju’s own estate.

It would be a perfect hiding place.

「A short while later.」

The group avoided prying eyes and ears and arrived at a Cave Mansion. Zhu Ju took out a Token and waved it.

BZZZ...

Spiritual Light flashed, and a gap opened in the Cave Mansion’s Restriction.

"Get inside."

After everyone was inside and he had confirmed there was no one around, Zhu Ju entered the Cave Mansion and closed the Restriction.

"The master of this place was named Ruicao. He was a rather eccentric Dao Foundation Cultivator who never associated with others."

"With the island in such chaos, no one should come to disturb us."

After inspecting the Cave Mansion, Zhu Ju spoke.

"You all stay here for now. I have some things to take care of back at my place. But don’t worry, we’re not far from each other. I can rush over at the first sign of trouble."

"...Yes." Although Yann Lan was reluctant to see him go, she could only nod.

"Be careful, Brother Zhu."

*

*

*

「Back at his residence.」

Zhu Ju stared at his estate with a dark expression.

Everything looked normal, but the intermingling of various chaotic auras indicated that many people had entered while he was away.

A sweep of his Divine Thought made his expression turn even uglier.

He had left many things here, and now they were all gone—especially the most critical item, the Array Plate.

Because he needed to constantly adjust the Array, the Array Plate couldn’t be kept in his storage bag all the time.

Although he had a spare, how could he not be heartbroken that something he had put so much effort into had been stolen?

"Thieving rats!"

"Don’t let me catch you!"

Gritting his teeth, Zhu Ju flicked his hand to draw in the residual auras left in the area. Just as he was about to close the courtyard gate, a commotion nearby made him pause.

"Sister Huu."

Reeking of alcohol, Yu Lou walked out of the Drunken Daoist’s courtyard and clapped Huu Lishu on the shoulder.

"If you have any problems, just tell your big brother. As long as I’m here, I’ll definitely protect you."

"*Hic...*"

He let out a drunken hiccup. His gaze swept over to where Zhu Ju was, and his expression stiffened. He then scratched his head and turned to leave.

’Yu Lou?’

’When did he get involved with Huu Lishu?’

Zhu Ju’s brow furrowed slightly.

The Drunken Daoist had just married Huu Lishu. He’d only been gone for a short while, and something like this was already happening?

The way those two had just been acting was far too intimate.

"Fellow... Fellow Daoist Zhu."

Huu Lishu had an awkward expression.

"You’re back."

"Mm," Zhu Ju nodded, his face impassive.

"Um..." Huu Lishu said lamely.

"It’s not what you think."

"Forget it." Zhu Ju closed the courtyard gate.

"You should explain it to the Drunken Daoist."

"Brother Lai is dead." Huu Lishu’s eyes were red, and her voice was choked with sobs.

"He’s dead!"

"It’s only because Brother Lai is gone that Yu Lou dares to come here and take advantage of me."

’Hm?’

Zhu Ju’s expression changed.

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