Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Chapter 223: Chapter 207: Dao Foundation! Dao Foundation

「Three months later.」

「East Sea.」

On a small, deserted island.

Zhu Ju sat cross-legged on an inconspicuous round stone, his hands forming a series of spell seals as a saber’s gleam flickered around him.

SWOOSH!

The saber’s gleam divided, splitting into five.

The five streaks of saber light crisscrossed, streaking at astonishing speed toward a massive boulder over a hundred meters away.

TSSSSS...

Lines of cracks appeared on the boulder. A moment later, the rock, which stood as tall as several men, collapsed with a crash and scattered into a pile of rubble.

With a flick of his Sword Formula.

Zhu Ju’s eyes shone with a strange light.

Immortal Demon Slash—Green Fall and Yellow Springs!

A ray of sword light descended from the sky, carrying the faint sound of ten thousand ghosts wailing in unison. It was as if the gates of the Underworld had swung open as it plunged downward.

BOOM!

A roar erupted from the water ahead. Waves shot a hundred meters into the sky against their own momentum, and even the small island began to sway.

The island, once overgrown with weeds, was now barren. Stimulated by the Sword Intent, all life force withered away, and everything died.

Haaaah...

Exhaling a long, turbid breath, Zhu Ju slowly withdrew the Cross and Vertical Saber.

’With Sword Light Division plus Immortal Demon Slash, this strike should have power no less than that of a new Dao Foundation Cultivator.’

’Unfortunately, even at full power, I can only manage one or two of those strikes.’

Shaking his head, he put away the Cross and Vertical Saber, and his back gave a slight shudder.

SWOOSH!

A pair of wings unfurled from his back.

The wings were about ten feet wide, covered with three hundred and sixty feathers shaped like Flying Sabers, resembling layers of fish scales.

He gave a gentle flap.

BOOM!

Accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, Zhu Ju’s figure vanished from the round stone and reappeared over a hundred feet away.

’So fast!’

The extreme speed distorted his vision, and even his Spiritual Soul Perception was thrown off-kilter.

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow and once again channeled True Qi into the Wind and Thunder Blade Wings.

SWOOSH!

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

A phantom-like figure flickered back and forth above the island, sometimes in the east, sometimes in the west, leaving a trail of afterimages.

Finally, five or six afterimages could be seen at once. Before they could dissipate, new ones were already appearing.

Fast!

Unbelievably fast!

It was like a flash of lightning dancing in the sky. Even a Late-Stage Innate Qi Refiner would struggle to keep up.

BOOM!

RUMBLE...

Accompanied by a deafening roar, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky and struck the small island.

The island, just over a dozen mu in size, shuddered violently and began to tilt, sinking into the sea.

SWOOSH!

Zhu Ju’s figure appeared in mid-air, his eyes wide with surprise as he looked down.

’As expected of a Pseudo-Magical Treasure. The power of these Wind and Thunder Blade Wings is much greater than the Cross and Vertical Saber.’

’A pity I can’t activate them with a mere thought. They also need to borrow the illusory power of lightning, making them far less convenient than the Cross and Vertical Saber.’

’But as for speed and Defensive Power...’

’They’re more than enough!’

With a thought, the wings on his back folded, instantly encasing him like a giant iron ball.

By the time the iron ball unfolded, his figure had already shot over a hundred meters away.

「Not long after.」

On another, slightly larger island.

Zhu Ju sat cross-legged upon it. He waved his sleeve, casting out several Array Flags, and released the Jile Spirit House hidden in his mind.

Once all his preparations were complete, he took a wooden box from his Qiankun Bag.

CLICK!

The wooden box opened.

A Foundation Establishment Pill, shimmering like a pearl or a precious jade, came into view.

"Wait until I’m fully prepared before trying to break through?" Zhu Ju chuckled softly.

’Nothing in life is ever a sure thing. My Essence, Qi, and Spirit have already reached Perfection. Delaying any further won’t lead to much progress. Carrying such a great treasure around just makes me anxious. It’s better to take the gamble.’

’If I succeed...’

’Then even if the Joyful Sect really does have pursuers in the East Sea, I’ll have nothing to fear.’

GULP...

With a toss of his hand, he swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill.

...

The sky was vast and clear.

It was a rare, beautiful day.

A merchant ship sailed through the East Sea Territory.

The ship had three decks, seventy-two cabins, could carry several hundred people, and belonged to the Sea Jiao Li Family.

Li Xingzhou, a man in his early thirties, walked onto the deck. He gazed at the distant horizon and spoke slowly.

"In another ten days or so, we should reach the East Sea Alliance, right?"

"Yes."

Beside him, a plain-looking woman nodded.

"Young Master, the East Sea Alliance has not been peaceful in recent years. Even Dao Foundation Cultivators must be extremely cautious regarding the struggle for the Alliance Leader position."

"Are you sure you want to get involved in this mess?"

"Elder Cui," Li Xingzhou said, bowing respectfully to the woman.

"The Sea Jiao Li Family is not what it once was. If we can’t open a new trade route, I fear we won’t be able to sustain ourselves a hundred years from now."

"Dazhou..."

"We can no longer do business on the mainland!"

His gaze turned toward Dazhou, and he shook his head helplessly.

"We’ll go to the East Sea Alliance and take a look first. If it really doesn’t work out, we’ll find another way. We can’t just sit here and wait for our doom."

Cui Li said nothing.

She wasn’t interested in business, but her two-hundred-year lifespan had made it clear that the Li Family had reached a point where it had to change.

Even if they didn’t go to the East Sea Alliance, they would just go somewhere else.

"So be it!"

She sighed softly.

"I have been supported by your Li Family for a hundred years. No matter what happens, I will protect your life, Young Master."

"Thank you, Elder," Li Xingzhou said, cupping his hands.

"With your words, Elder, I can rest assured."

"You’re welcome. It is my..." Cui Li’s voice trailed off, and a look of shock and suspicion suddenly appeared on her face.

"That is..."

"Is someone breaking through to the Innate Realm?"

Without waiting for Li Xingzhou to speak, she waved her long sleeve, and a shimmer of Spiritual Light enveloped them both, carrying them toward a small island.

The Tunneling Speed of a Dao Foundation Cultivator was astonishing. What seemed like a vast distance was covered in an instant.

By now, even Li Xingzhou could sense the disturbance. The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi from several miles around was converging on a single point ahead.

It was as if it were all being devoured by a gigantic Taotie.

"Elder?"

"Quiet!" Cui Li’s expression was grave.

"It’s already over."

"Over?" Li Xingzhou was stunned for a moment, then his face filled with astonishment.

"Did he succeed?"

He had once witnessed his father’s failed attempt to reach the Dao Foundation Realm. Back then, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi in the Li Family’s forbidden grounds had descended into chaos.