Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Night.

The moon was bright and the stars were few.

Pei Jingque stood on the top floor of the pavilion, her hands behind her back. She squinted, gazing into the distance at the Cave Mansion arranged for Zhu Ju.

’A cultivation approaching the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation, a physical body at the Body Refining Third Realm, and he even created a remarkably powerful Sword Control Method...’

’Just what has Junior Brother Zhu been through all these years?’

During their spar, it seemed as though they had used all their techniques, but in reality, both had held back.

Take her, for example.

As the Sect Leader of the Bright Void Sect and a Tier Two Refiner, how could she not possess a Protective Magical Treasure?

She had also sensed the aura of a Magical Treasure on Zhu Ju, but neither of them had used one.

"Senior Sister!"

A streak of light landed silently on the mountain peak, revealing Liuu Huang’er. She looked up and said:

"You haven’t rested yet?"

"For Dao Foundation Cultivators like us, cultivation replaces sleep. I’ve already forgotten the last time I actually slept." Pei Jingque shook her head.

"Is something the matter?"

As she spoke,

she waved her sleeve, opening the pavilion’s Restriction to let Liuu Huang’er in.

"Yes."

Liuu Huang’er leaped onto the top floor.

"I went back and thought it over carefully. I still feel it’s necessary to remind you, Senior Sister."

"Senior Brother Zhu was gone for so long. No one knows what he went through all these years. We should be on our guard."

"After all..."

"The Joyful Sect’s methods are no different from a Heart Demon. Even if someone appears normal on the outside, they could still be under another’s control."

Such things had happened before.

Liuu Huang’er knew Pei Jingque would prioritize the Sect, but she was also worried her senior sister would be blinded by emotion.

Once feelings were involved, people often found it hard to control themselves.

"I understand."

Pei Jingque thought for a moment before explaining:

"There is a special connection between Junior Brother Zhu and me, so I know for certain that he is fine."

"Of course..."

"It’s also inevitable that he’s hiding some of his experiences from these past years."

"Hm?" Liuu Huang’er paused, her beautiful eyes blinking as realization dawned on her face.

"So the scoundrel who defiled you was him?"

Pei Jingque possessed a Profound Void Body, yet she had nearly failed to achieve the Dao Foundation Realm precisely because she had lost her virginity while still in the Innate Realm.

Very few people knew about this.

Liuu Huang’er was one of them.

But she only knew that someone had taken Pei Jingque’s virginity; she had no idea who the person was.

"Mm."

Pei Jingque nodded.

Even with her stable Dao Heart, her pretty face couldn’t help but flush slightly when discussing such a private matter.

"Tsk..." Liuu Huang’er wore an expression of satisfied curiosity, shaking her head and clicking her tongue.

"No wonder you had such a strong reaction when you found out Senior Brother Zhu was missing. So that’s how it was."

"Thankfully!"

"He’s back. You two can finally rekindle your old flame."

"It was an accident, and it’s all in the past now." Pei Jingque took a deep breath and shook her head.

"Don’t mention this again."

"Right, right." Liuu Huang’er giggled, nodding repeatedly before her brow furrowed.

"My thoughts were a mess today because of Senior Brother Zhu, and I forgot to mention something. Soon, Fellow Daoist Shii from the Profound Clarity Sect and the Loose Cultivator Qin Zhiruo from the Ten Thousand Mountains will become Dao partners. We should prepare a congratulatory gift."

"Fellow Daoist Shii Xuan?" Pei Jingque nodded silently.

"He’s the Dao Foundation Cultivator from the Profound Clarity Sect most likely to achieve Core Formation in the last sixty years. We can’t afford to be disrespectful."

"I will prepare a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact as a gift."

"A Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact?" Liuu Huang’er’s face turned bitter.

"There go several years of work for nothing!"

Pei Jingque possessed the Vermilion Bird Celestial Fire, which could incinerate all things, making her a natural Artifact Refiner. She had been able to forge Magical Treasures from an early stage.

Refining a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact wasn’t difficult for her.

However!

Materials and time were still required.

A good Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact was incredibly valuable, worth more than two years of the Bright Void Sect’s entire income.

"Supporting the disciples’ cultivation and maintaining the Tier Two Array costs over a hundred Middle Grade Spirit Stones in daily expenses each month. Add in all the other miscellaneous costs, and the Sect needs an income of no less than four hundred Middle Grade Spirit Stones every month."

Liuu Huang’er did some quick calculations and sighed.

"The income from the mines is dwindling. Qingfeng can only create a few Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Talismans each month, and it takes you two to three years to refine a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, not even counting the cost of materials..."

"The Sect’s expenses are about to exceed its income."

"Oh!"

"You and I can forgo our Monthly Allowance, and we can delay Qingfeng’s, but what about Senior Brother Zhu?"

Pei Jingque frowned.

Supporting a Dao Foundation Cultivator required a minimum of ten Middle Grade Spirit Stones per month. This amount might not seem like much for a sect, but it was like the last straw, capable of breaking the Bright Void Sect’s financial chain at any moment.

"I still have a Magical Robe."

Pei Jingque pursed her lips.

"Fairy Chen from the Celestial Yu Immortal Sect has always wanted it. If I sell it to her, I should be able to get a good price."

"The Magical Robe?" Liuu Huang’er said.

"You mean the Golden Threaded Robe?"

"No!"

"That was a farewell gift from the Flying Phoenix Lineage to the Dragon Head Lineage. How can you sell it for Spirit Stones?"

She gritted her teeth and said:

"Why don’t Qingfeng and I move our wedding forward? For so many years, the Sect has been giving gifts to others. It’s time we received some back. We can use the gift money to subsidize the Sect."

"No!" Pei Jingque shook her head.

"A date has already been set for your wedding with Qingfeng. How can it be changed so easily?"

"Besides, when you two marry and become Dao partners, the gift money belongs to you. How could the Sect possibly use it?"

"There’s no need to mention this again!"

"Senior Sister," Liuu Huang’er frowned.

"You’re still treating us like outsiders."

"This has nothing to do with being outsiders or not." Pei Jingque took a deep breath.

"Worst comes to worst, I’ll just take on more Artifact Refining jobs over the next two years. With that and the Spirit Stones I have on hand, we’ll be able to get by."

"Two years from now..."

"We should be able to earn a fortune from that Secret Realm."

Liuu Huang’er was helpless and could only nod.

*

*

*

「Three days later.」

DONG...

As the melodious chiming of a bell rang out, the disciples of the Bright Void Sect filed into the Sect’s great hall in an orderly fashion.

"We pay our respects to the Sect Leader!"

"We pay our respects to the Sect Leader!"

"..."

The unified shouts of over a hundred people echoed through the great hall.

"You may rise."

Dressed in a magnificent palace gown, Pei Jingque raised one hand. The divine light in her eyes swept across the disciples as she spoke:

"Today, I have a happy occasion to announce."

"This is Junior Brother Zhu Ju of the Dragon Head Lineage. He was trapped in Dazhou years ago and has only recently returned. You will all greet him."

?

Most of the crowd looked bewildered, while some who had already heard the news bowed their heads to Zhu Ju in respect.

"Martial Uncle Zhu!"

"Master Zhu!"

"Grandmaster..."

"Senior Brother," Liuu Huang’er said with a sweet smile, gesturing towards one person.

"This is Ma Shushuang, the head disciple of our Bright Void Sect. He has been the pillar of the Sect for all these years."

Ma Shushuang’s temples were gray, and his face was old; he looked to be in his seventies. Hearing this, he cupped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle Zhu."

"You’re a disciple of the Celestial Sword Lineage?" Zhu Ju looked at him, sensing a sharp Sword Intent.

"Were you injured in your youth?"

"Yes." Ma Shushuang smiled bitterly.

"Martial Uncle Zhu’s Dharma Eye is impeccable. This junior injured his foundation in his youth. To this day, I have only just broken through the Innate Eight Acupoints, bringing shame to my master."

"As for the Celestial Sword Lineage..."

"The three lineages of the Bright Void Sect have now merged into one. There is no longer a distinction."

"Senior Brother," Liuu Huang’er said.

"Although Nephew Ma has no hope of reaching the Dao Foundation, he helps Senior Sister manage the Sect’s affairs. He handles many of the tasks."

She then pointed to the Female Cultivator next to Ma Shushuang.

"Shui Qianning, Senior Sister’s third disciple. She is expected to achieve the Dao Foundation Realm within ten years."

The heroic-looking Female Cultivator, dressed in a Golden Threaded White Robe, clasped her fist in her hand.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle Zhu."

"Jir Mingxi," Liuu Huang’er continued her introductions.

"She has an Innate Dao Body. Though she is young, her cultivation is not low. Her future achievements will be limitless."

"Xu Hanzhi..."

"Have you been drinking again?"

"Martial Aunt," the young man named Xu Hanzhi flushed.

"Yesterday, a few fellow daoists from the Hundred Flowers Sect came to see me. It was hard for this disciple to refuse, so we had a few small drinks."

"Small drinks?" Liuu Huang’er shot him a glare.

"Drinking interferes with your duties. If you dare to make this mistake again, don’t blame your martial aunt for being harsh!"

"Yes, yes." Xu Hanzhi nodded repeatedly.

"This disciple wouldn’t dare. I’ll never dare again."

"..."

"Senior Brother," Liuu Huang’er whispered.

"The Sect currently has twelve Core True Inheritance disciples, thirty-six Inner Sect Disciples, and around three hundred Outer Sect Disciples."

"In addition, there are some servants and other staff who rely on the Sect for their livelihood. The total number of people is just under two thousand."

"The ones who came today are the more important disciples. Just get familiar with their faces. You’ll get to know them slowly over time."

Zhu Ju nodded slowly.

The number sounded large, but in reality, it wasn’t much at all.

When he was on East Sea Yunjing Island, the entire island belonged to the Yunjing Commerce Association, which had a population of over a million!

And frankly, the Yunjing Commerce Association’s foundation was far inferior to that of the Bright Void Sect.

The Bright Void Sect of the past had several Golden Core Cultivators and dozens of Magical Treasures, while the Yunjing Commerce Association didn’t even have a single Golden Core.

Of course,

the current Bright Void Sect had fallen into decline. Forget Golden Core Cultivators; even counting Zhu Ju, there were only four Dao Foundation Cultivators.

"Also,"

Liuu Huang’er licked her lips and continued,

"As a Dao Foundation Cultivator of the Sect, Senior Brother, your Monthly Allowance is three Middle Grade Spirit Stones and one Bright Essence Pill."

"..."

That was it?

A trace of surprise flashed in Zhu Ju’s eyes, but he quickly nodded.

"As a Sect Disciple, everything I have learned comes from the Bright Void Sect. It doesn’t matter whether I have a Monthly Allowance or not."

"Senior Brother..." Liuu Huang’er looked embarrassed.

"Please understand, Senior Brother. The Sect’s current situation is indeed a bit difficult, but things will get better in a couple of years."

Zhu Ju smiled and didn’t ask any more questions.

For a Dao Foundation Cultivator, three Middle Grade Spirit Stones a month was no different from receiving nothing at all.

Other sects would provide at least ten Middle Grade Spirit Stones, along with other resources like Magic Robes and Elixirs.

The Bright Void Sect...

It seemed they had next to no savings left.

From beginning to end, Pei Jingque sat on the main seat without saying a single word, like a divine statue.

A symbol.

’Hmm...’

’She appears to have her eyes open, but she’s actually in cultivation. This Sect Leader truly doesn’t waste a single moment.’

As for Zhai Qingfeng, his eyes were lifeless and his gaze wandered. His mind had probably drifted off to the heavens long ago.

He scanned the room.

Zhu Ju sighed helplessly.

This great Sect seemed to be entirely supported by Liuu Huang’er and a few juniors. It was truly an oddity.

......

Zhu Ju’s Cave Mansion was located halfway up the mountain.

The mountain rock had been hollowed out with magic, creating a space of about an acre, which was then divided into a Quiet Chamber, a study, an Alchemy Chamber, and other rooms.

Protected within a Tier Two Grand Array, it would be difficult for even a Golden Core Cultivator to sneak in undetected.

"It’s better to rely on yourself than on others."

Zhu Ju sat cross-legged on a cushion and took out his belongings one by one to take stock of his supplies.

Spirit Talismans.

He had a few left.

Most had been used during his escape.

Spirit Stones.

There were a little over ten Middle Grade Spirit Stones remaining.

Over the years, operating the Array on The Investiture of the Gods and recovering his energy had consumed most of his Spirit Stones.

Magical Artifacts...

Aside from the Ten Directions Sword, which he often used in battle and remained intact after several re-forgings, his other items had been destroyed in combat. Very few were left.

Even the Vajra Ming King Armor was covered in cracks. The Primordial Magnetic Heavy Sword was undamaged, but that was all he had besides it.

Elixirs...

When he left Yunjing Island, Zhu Ju had bought a massive amount of Elixirs, thinking it would be enough to support his cultivation to the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Realm over twenty years.

He never expected,

that he would encounter danger so frequently along the way. His various Elixirs were quickly depleted, and his cultivation had still not reached the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation.

Only a handful remained.

And he couldn’t sell his truly valuable possessions.

The Investiture of the Gods, his Mutated Left Hand, the Magical Treasure Wind and Thunder Blade Wings, and a Primordial Spirit Stone Embryo that he couldn’t activate.

Looking at the items before him, a hint of helplessness appeared on his face.

He was both rich and poor at the same time!

You could say he was poor.

He possessed several items worth no less than Magical Treasures.

You could say he was rich.

Yet as a Dao Foundation Cultivator who had lived for nearly a hundred years, he only had a dozen or so Middle Grade Spirit Stones to his name.

"Junior Brother."

Just then, Pei Jingque’s voice came from outside the Cave Mansion:

"You haven’t rested yet, have you?"

"I have something to discuss with you."

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