Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

WHOOSH!

Just as the passage was about to close, another figure appeared.

The major powers all turned to look. After getting a clear view of the person, most of them shook their heads and sighed.

Only the members of the Bright Void Sect were suddenly energized.

"Senior Brother Liao!"

"Junior Brother!"

"Sect Leader, Martial Uncle Zhu." Liao Mo, his hair completely white, was an Eight Acupoints Innate cultivator just like Shi Chuan. With a solemn expression, he cupped his hands in a salute to the two of them and presented three storage bags he had taken from his person.

Hmm?

Pei Jingque's eyebrows twitched slightly.

The storage bags of the Bright Void Sect had unique markings, yet two of the bags Liao Mo produced were not from their own Sect.

'So...'

'Did he rob someone else?'

Though the thought crossed her mind, Pei Jingque's expression remained impassive. She performed a Finger Technique, sealing the storage bags.

"We'll talk about this back at the Sect."

Liao Mo was one of Zhai Qingfeng's people, so the contents of the storage bags naturally belonged to the Sect and Zhai Qingfeng. It wasn't too late to examine them after sealing them with magic and returning. Moreover, the traces of the spell would ensure no one could steal what was inside.

Speaking of which, although Zhai Qingfeng hadn't come this time, his gains were likely the greatest.

Not only were there the three storage bags brought back by Liao Mo, but another one of his people had also returned safely from the Secret Realm.

In contrast, Liuu Huang'er, Pei Jingque, and Zhu Ju each had one junior—sent in their stead—who had yet to return.

"Time's up."

Watching the increasingly unstable Secret Realm passage, Xu Canglan spoke in a low voice,

"Everyone, retrieve your Jade Tokens!"

"Sect Leader Xu," Zhu Ju stepped forward.

"Can we wait a little longer?"

"It's pointless." Xu Canglan shook his head. "A day has already passed. Even if they were injured, the people inside could have crawled to the node by now. If they haven't returned, they've most likely perished. No one has ever returned at the last possible moment."

"Junior Brother," Pei Jingque sighed and advised,

"It's no use."

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, if you're so soft-hearted, why send someone important inside in the first place?" Zhao Yongze shook his head in confusion. "A High Grade Spirit Stone can delay the closing of the Secret Realm's entrance for a while, but I, for one, am not waiting."

As he spoke, he raised a hand and retrieved the Zhao Family's Jade Token.

With the Five Elements Spirit Locking Disc now incomplete, the spatial rift immediately showed signs of instability, and the passage began to close.

Zhu Ju frowned.

SIGH!

Seeing this, Pei Jingque shook her head gently. With a flick of her sleeve, she tossed out a High Grade Spirit Stone, which merged into her own Jade Token.

"Everyone, I will wait a bit longer with my junior brother."

In theory, one High Grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for one hundred Middle Grade Spirit Stones, but in reality, it was worth far more.

It usually took one hundred thirty to one hundred forty Middle Grade Spirit Stones to trade for a single High Grade Spirit Stone.

In the eyes of many Dao Foundation Cultivators, a single High Grade Spirit Stone was worth far more than an Innate Qi Refiner.

"Very well."

The Wuh Family Master retrieved his Jade Token.

"Since Sect Leader Pei wishes to wait, we will take our leave first."

The Wuh Family had reaped a hefty harvest on this trip. It wasn't safe to carry so many valuable items, and he was eager to return.

The Seeking Immortal Sect and the Zhao Family also bid their farewells.

"Sect Leader Pei."

Dong Yuelan of the Hundred Flowers Sect spoke, her beautiful eyes glittering.

"Do you need us to stay and keep you company?"

"That won't be necessary." Pei Jingque shook her head. "The round trip for this journey has taken nearly half a year. Fellow Daoist Dong, you should head back early. We might have other matters to attend to."

"Alright then."

Dong Yuelan thought for a moment, then cupped her hands in a salute.

"Farewell!"

...

「The Secret Realm」

WHOOSH!

A figure shattered the rock and leaped out from underground.

"Ptooey!"

"Ptooey! Ptooey!"

Xi Chen spat out a mouthful of dirt, wiped his face with both hands, and took out a Spirit Talisman to look in the indicated direction.

'It's over!'

'I'm out of time.'

'Who would have thought there was another world beneath this Secret Realm? It was dangerous, but it also held many Treasures. I was trapped inside and almost didn't make it out.'

He sprinted up a hillside. Gazing at the distant node, Xi Chen let out a low roar and charged forward with all his might.

'The passage is still there!'

'I'll risk it all!'

He pulled a Spirit Fruit from his storage bag and swallowed it whole. His aura instantly surged, reaching the level of a Late-Stage Innate cultivator.

WHOOSH!

SWISH! SWISH!

Fast!

He frantically squeezed out every last bit of True Qi in his body, his figure blurring like lightning as he shot toward the passage.

Time ticked by.

Mountains look close but are far to travel.

What seemed near was, in fact, extremely far.

Fortunately, for some unknown reason, the passage that should have already closed was still shimmering with light, giving Xi Chen a sliver of hope.

Faster!

Just a little faster!

"AHHH!"

Xi Chen roared at the sky, the veins on his neck bulging as he scrambled forward on all fours.

Gradually, the Spiritual Light of the passage grew clearer.

Ten li!

Eight li!

Five li!

...

"I'm back!"

With a low roar, Xi Chen lunged forward.

BANG!

He slammed into a large tree, shattering it to pieces.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the guiding Spiritual Light, the Secret Realm passage closed completely.

Xi Chen lay sprawled on the ground, staring at the dissipating Spiritual Light before him. His eyes were vacant, slowly filling with despair.

"No!"

"I was so close, just a little bit more..."

His grief-stricken, unwilling roar echoed in all directions.

「After a long time.」

Xi Chen, who was collapsed on the ground with lifeless eyes, felt something lick his fingers. He slowly turned his head.

"Little Leopard."

He sat up, holding the Spirit Beast he had adopted underground in his arms, and looked up at the sky.

"We still have a chance."

"In twenty or thirty years, the passage will open again. We can get out then."

"Sister... Master..."

"Wait for me. I won't give up."

「Outside」

Watching the Void close completely, leaving no trace behind, Zhu Ju sighed helplessly. He had lost all hope.

'It seems Xi Chen's luck has run out. He's lost his life in the Secret Realm this time.'

As his master, he had already delayed as long as possible. There was nothing more he could do.

"Senior Sister, I'll pay you back for the Spirit Stones when we return."

"It's fine," Pei Jingque chuckled lightly.

"I also wanted to see if a miracle might happen."

"Junior Brother, let's go..."

"Hm?"

Before she could finish, she suddenly turned her head to look into the depths of the thick fog, a look of shocked suspicion on her face.

"It's a Tier Three Demon Beast!" Zhu Ju's expression darkened. "It's probably the same one we encountered a while ago. We need to find a place to hide, quickly."

*

*

*

BOOM!

A stone pillar a hundred meters long and as thick as a dozen people holding hands shot into the sky, sending a massive, shadowy figure flying.

"Vicious beast!"

From the darkness, someone snorted coldly. "I have been fighting you for half a year. I didn't expect you to still have strength to spare. It seems you're no ordinary Demon."

"However..."

"This time, you will not escape!"

WHOOSH!

Within the thick fog, a sharp, cold glint flashed and vanished, crossing several li in an instant to strike.

A Magical Treasure!

The Sharp Gold Dust Needle!

To deal with his target, the cultivator had specifically borrowed a Magical Treasure from a friend, one that specialized in overcoming Demons with tough hides.

PFFT!

"ROAR..."

The roar was like thunder, shaking the surroundings.

A colossal figure burst from the ground. It slammed its forelimbs on the earth, and the hard ground instantly rippled like the surface of water. Countless thick stone pillars shot into the sky, aimed at the figure in mid-air.

Although the Sharp Gold Dust Needle had injured it, it had also thoroughly enraged the Tier Three Demon Beast.

The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi within a radius of dozens of li fell into chaos.

The Earth Element Qi condensed in the air, forming sharp stone pillars that shot out wildly and erratically.

ROAR!

The roar was like thunder, and the Primordial Energy churned violently.

The Spiritual Light of Magic flared.

...

「Dozens of li away」

The group from the Bright Void Sect hid behind a low mountain, their faces pale as they felt the violent gales.

"A Tier Three Demon Beast..."

Guk Rusong's body trembled.

"How can it be so terrifying?"

They were probably dozens of li away from the heart of the Combat, yet even at this distance, they could barely withstand the aftershocks.

'If we were any closer...'

Before a Tier Three Demon Beast and a Golden Core Grandmaster, an Innate Qi Refiner was as fragile as an ant.

"It's a Rock Armor Demon Crocodile!"

Pei Jingque's beautiful eyes flickered, her voice trembling.

"A Tier Three Rock Armor Demon Crocodile!"

"Senior Sister, you know of this Demon?" Zhu Ju asked in a low voice. "To hold its own against a Golden Core Grandmaster... this Tier Three Demon Beast's strength is truly remarkable."

"Yes." Pei Jingque nodded and sent a mental transmission. "Junior Brother, do you remember I once said that a Golden Core senior from our Sect was trapped nearby?"

"I remember." Zhu Ju's eyes flickered. "Is that senior related to this Demon Beast?"

"That's right." Pei Jingque took a deep breath, a spiritual light flashing in her beautiful eyes. "Rock Armor Demon Crocodiles are ferocious by nature and extremely difficult to tame. That senior happened to have one by his side. I suspect this Demon is the very one that belonged to him."

"Normally, after its master dies, a tamed Spirit Beast will guard their remains."

"So..."

"The place where that senior fell should be near here!"

Zhu Ju's breath hitched.

The inheritance of a Golden Core Grandmaster... even if it was just a single Personal Magical Treasure, it would be an immense fortune.

However, he asked in a low voice, "Will the Rock Armor Demon Crocodile show mercy to the senior's descendants?"

"That..." Pei Jingque shook her head gently. "I doubt it."

"This type of Demon Beast is ferocious by nature. It's rare for them not to turn on their own masters. If it encounters us, I'm afraid it won't show any mercy."

"A Tier Three Demon Beast." Zhu Ju frowned. "It's too dangerous."

Back in the East Sea, he had been hunted by a Tier Three Demon Beast and had fled for more than half a year.

If he hadn't been able to escape into an Otherworld to hide, he would have died long ago on his way back.

Even so, he only managed to save his life after throwing away the item that attracted its enmity, causing the Tier Three Demon Beast to give up the chase.

So he knew very well how dangerous a Tier Three Demon Beast was.

"Junior Brother."

Pei Jingque said in a low voice, "We don't need to provoke the Rock Armor Demon Crocodile. Besides, it probably doesn't have time to deal with us right now."

"While they're fighting, we'll find the senior's remains, take any relics he might have left behind, and leave."

"If we're in and out quickly, there shouldn't be much danger."

"..." Zhu Ju looked at her, knowing in his heart that saying anything more would be useless.

"Does Senior Sister know where the senior's remains are?"

"The lair!" A flicker of joy crossed Pei Jingque's face, knowing Zhu Ju had agreed. She said, "If we find the Rock Armor Demon Crocodile's lair, we should be able to find the senior's remains."

"Alright then."

Zhu Ju took a deep breath, glanced at Guk Rusong and the others behind him, and with a wave of his large sleeve, swept them up and rushed into the distance.

「A short while later」

He used magic to hollow out the inside of a giant boulder and settled Guk Rusong and the other three inside.

"We'll be back in a day at the soonest, three to five days at the latest."

Looking at the four of them, Zhu Ju said, "Don't worry."

"We won't be long."

Beside him, Pei Jingque calculated the time and nodded slowly.

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