Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

The opportunity to enter the Secret Realm and gather Spiritual Medicine and Spiritual Materials came only once every few decades. It was not one to be missed.

The key was, he didn’t need to go in and risk his life himself.

After the wedding, Zhu Ju bid farewell to Pei Jingque and returned to his Cave Mansion, where he sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion.

With a light wave of his hand, a screen of Spiritual Light unfolded before him, displaying a long list of names.

It was the roster of the Bright Void Sect’s disciples.

He needed to choose two Innate Qi Refiners from the list to enter the Secret Realm in his stead and gather resources.

Even if half the spoils went to the Sect, the other half would be his.

’Core Disciples are all Dao Foundation Seeds, the future pillars of the Sect. They certainly can’t be put in harm’s way.’

’According to my martial sister, there might be Tier Two Demon Beasts in the Secret Realm, and juniors from other powers will be entering as well. The Outer Sect Disciples are too weak. Sending them in would be a death sentence, and they wouldn’t be able to gather any useful materials. So that’s out of the question.’

His thoughts shifted, and Zhu Ju turned his attention to the Inner Sect Disciples.

Most Inner Sect Disciples were Innate Qi Refiners with decent Cultivation, but they were too old and had limited potential.

Take Su Kun, for example, who was ranked first.

He had already opened eight of the Innate Nine Acupoints, but he was eighty-seven years old. Setting aside whether he could ever achieve Nine Acupoints Perfection, even if he did, it would be impossible for him to successfully complete his Foundation Establishment.

’How come no one chose him?’

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow, a look of realization dawning on his face.

’That makes sense.’

’At his age, he’s probably lost his fighting spirit. He might not be willing to risk his life in the Secret Realm.’

To explore a Secret Realm, one needed the will to fight for a chance. Otherwise, they’d never bring back anything of value.

Shaking his head, he scanned further down the list.

Xie Qingzhu. Innate Eight Acupoints, sixty-three years old. One of Pei Jingque’s two choices.

Cao Dongjun. Innate Seven Acupoints, fifty-five years old. One of Liuu Huang’er’s candidates.

...

Zhu Ju had returned a bit too late.

All the suitable disciples had already been chosen by Pei Jingque, Liuu Huang’er, and Zhai Qingfeng.

The remaining options were far from ideal.

Besides, there were plenty of young, talented Inner Sect Disciples, but their Cultivation hadn’t reached the Late-Stage Innate Realm, so they hadn’t become True Inheritance Disciples. His own apprentice, Xi Chen, was a prime example.

They wouldn’t do, either.

After several rounds of careful screening, even considering a few outstanding disciples from the Outer Sect, Zhu Ju finally came up with a handful of reasonably suitable candidates.

’Yuann Rusong, Ye Tianqi...’

*

*

*

"Master!"

Yuann Rusong pushed the door open and entered, addressing the figure behind the desk.

"You were looking for me?"

"Yes." Zhu Ju nodded, setting down the scroll in his hands to look at his visitor.

Yuann Rusong lived up to his name—"Like a Pine." He stood as straight and tall as a pine tree, and the Longsword at his waist only added to his sharp aura.

Though no longer a young man, you could still faintly see traces of his youthful vigor. However, he was missing an arm.

A one-armed Swordsman!

Zhu Ju began, his voice measured.

"You are a disciple of Zhongli Yuanshan of the Flying Phoenix Lineage?"

"I am," Yuann Rusong confirmed with a nod.

"I knew someone named Zhongli Changuang." Zhu Ju smiled, his tone tinged with nostalgia.

"What a pity..."

"Zhongli Changuang?" Yuann Rusong looked up, surprised.

"She was my master’s elder sister. She achieved Nine Acupoints Perfection at a young age and had a great chance of establishing her Dao Foundation. But then the Demon Dao invaded... Senior Changuang was killed in battle while retreating. I was fortunate enough to meet her a few times when I was young."

"Killed in battle..." Zhu Ju’s eyes darkened.

"So many old friends have passed."

After a pause, he continued slowly.

"You are forty-nine and have reached Innate Seven Acupoints. If you can open all Nine Acupoints before you turn sixty, even with one less arm than an ordinary person, you still have a decent chance of reaching the Dao Foundation Realm."

"It’s not uncommon to see Dao Foundation Cultivators with physical imperfections. After reaching that Realm, you can even use a Secret Technique to restore your body."

"..." Yuann Rusong shook his head gently.

"It is difficult."

"But rest assured, Master. I will certainly not abandon the path of Cultivation. I have always been diligent."

The path of the Innate Nine Acupoints grows more difficult with each step.

If one couldn’t open the Seven Acupoints and advance to the Late-Stage Innate Realm before the age of forty, the chances of reaching the Dao Foundation Realm were minuscule.

Not to say it was impossible...

...but the odds were certainly slim.

He was already forty-nine and had only just opened his Seventh Acupoint. At this rate, he wouldn’t achieve Nine Acupoints Perfection until he was seventy or eighty.

By then...

’I might not even have the will to attempt the Dao Foundation Realm anymore.’

"I can help you,"

Zhu Ju offered.

"Your Talent isn’t bad. It’s just that because of your injury, you were overlooked by the elders in your youth, causing you to take many wrong turns. With enough resources, you might yet succeed."

"..." Yuann Rusong swallowed hard. A flicker of excitement appeared in his eyes, but he quickly forced it down.

"Master."

"What must I do?"

He was a grown man; he knew that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Even a Sect elder wouldn’t offer sponsorship for no reason.

"Go to a place in my stead," Zhu Ju said.

"And bring some things back. The more you bring back, the richer your reward will be. I might even be able to offer a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Is it dangerous?"

"There is some danger."

Yuann Rusong lowered his head. After a long moment, he spoke.

"Master, I need to think this over carefully."

"Of course." Zhu Ju nodded in understanding.

"You can go back and think it over. You could also ask your friend, Cao Dongjun, for his opinion."

Cao Dongjun was one of Liuu Huang’er’s chosen candidates, so he should know something about the Secret Realm.

"Yes."

The mention of his friend’s name made Yuann Rusong’s eyes flicker, and his expression was no longer so resistant.

...

THUD!

Ye Tianqi—a man with narrow eyes and the sharp chin and hollow cheeks of a monkey—went weak at the knees and knelt before Zhu Ju.

"Ancestor, Tianqi greets you!"

"Don’t." Zhu Ju waved a dismissive hand.

"Let’s stick to our Sect ranks. After all, I never taught your father anything."

Ye Tianqi was Ye Jingming’s son.

As for the late Ye Jingming, he was a descendant of the Ye Family whom Zhu Ju had known back when he himself was still a Mortal Martial Artist. Ye Jingming had brought his younger sister, Ye Yao, to seek refuge at the Bright Void Sect, but he had never become Zhu Ju’s disciple.

Thus, Ye Tianqi was the descendant of someone from a junior generation to Zhu Ju, so addressing him as ’Ancestor’ wasn’t entirely out of line.

He averted his gaze and said slowly, "I’ve called you here because there is a matter I may require your help with."

"Please, give me your orders, Master."

Ye Tianqi declared loudly.

"Your business is my business! It’s the Ye Family’s business! I would go through a mountain of knives and a sea of fire for you!"

"..." Zhu Ju was left speechless.

"I need you to go to a rather dangerous place and bring some things back."

"In return, I will give you enough Cultivation resources to help you reach Nine Acupoints Perfection ahead of schedule."

"Master," Ye Tianqi said, shaking his head.

"It is my duty to work for you. How could I possibly speak of rewards?"

"Enough." Zhu Ju frowned.

"I’ll give you time to think about whether you want to agree. This is a genuinely dangerous task; you could very well die."

"..." Ye Tianqi’s expression stiffened. After a moment, he spoke.

"It is my honor to be able to work for you, Master. The danger doesn’t matter... but I have a wife and children..."

"I might need to ask their opinion."

"I understand." Zhu Ju’s expression remained unchanged.

"Go back and discuss it with them."

"Yes."

Ye Tianqi agreed.

"Then I will take my leave."

Zhu Ju shook his head gently as he watched the man’s retreating figure.

The moment Zhu Ju had returned to the Bright Void Sect, Ye Tianqi had come to visit, fawning over him with every ounce of his being.

His personal Cultivation Talent wasn’t bad, either. As a Seven Acupoints Innate Cultivator in his early fifties, with enough hard work, he still had a sliver of hope of reaching the Dao Foundation Realm.

Unfortunately, after a few interactions, it was clear that Ye Tianqi was not the type to take risks, and he was quite narrow-minded.

Aside from his silver tongue, he was almost completely useless.

If he hadn’t been so short on candidates, Zhu Ju would never have considered him. After all, even if he sent him into the Secret Realm, he’d have to worry that the man would just shirk his duties and hide until it was over.

The spots were limited. Every candidate had to be chosen with care.

’I’ll keep looking.’

With a soft sigh, Zhu Ju summoned another person.

He was picking the people to send to the Secret Realm, but his candidates also had a choice. It was only natural to interview a few more people.

Over the next few days, he met with several more people. Though he had already pre-screened them, he remained largely unsatisfied.

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