Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Chapter 236: Chapter 216: Core Formation Spiritual Object

SPLASH...

Ripples spread across the calm surface of the sea.

Sturdy merchant ships, each about a hundred meters long and several zhang tall, churned the water as they sailed toward the horizon.

There were dozens of such vessels.

Surrounding each merchant ship were ten to twenty smaller boats, sailing in a protective cluster.

These were the patrol boats of the Yunjing Commerce Association.

Their main duties were to patrol the surrounding area, contact local natives and Cultivators, and transport all sorts of goods.

Hundreds of ships moved through the vast ocean, like sharp arrows shooting through the water, leaving white wakes in their trail.

Seen from above, it was a spectacular sight.

Further back.

A mass of clouds and mist.

Within the mist, a massive island moved forward at a speed that seemed slow but was deceptively fast.

"No wonder it’s called the Yunjing Commerce Association."

Standing atop Cloud Peak and looking up at the giant whale formed from converged clouds, Zhu Ju couldn’t help but marvel:

"A divine whale, pulling it along for thousands of miles. Truly unimaginable."

In his line of sight, a giant whale a hundred li long dove through the mist and plunged into the sea.

Its ethereal body didn’t stir the waters, but a terrifying power erupted from it instead.

The giant island of the Yunjing Commerce Association trembled slightly and began to move, leaving its previous position in the sea.

"A Tier Three Grand Array!"

"Unbelievable!"

What terrifying power would be needed to pull such a massive island forward?

Even a Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator would be utterly crushed before it, and a Golden Core Grandmaster would have to give it a wide berth.

"Indeed!"

"Every time I see the divine whale appear, I’m filled with awe. It’s an array spirit that only a Tier Three Array could possess. Rumor has it that its true form was a Golden Core Great Demon. After it died, its Soul was refined into the Array by an elder of the Commerce Association."

A man, lightly stroking his beard, staggered over and casually handed Zhu Ju a wine gourd.

"Have a taste. It’s the Thousand-Day Intoxication I brewed myself."

The newcomer reeked of alcohol. A grass vine was tied around his waist, from which hung a series of thumb-sized gourds.

He casually took one off, shook it, and it transformed into a foot-long wine gourd filled to the brim with liquor.

This man’s name was Yann Lai. He was a disciple of the Yann Family and also a wine merchant.

He was a Dao Foundation Cultivator who made his living by brewing wine. His residence was not far from Zhu Ju’s, making them neighbors.

GULP...

He tilted his head back and downed the brew. A burning heat immediately spread from his belly, quickly sweeping throughout his entire body.

"Good wine!"

Zhu Ju’s eyes shone with a strange light.

"Spirit Wine?"

He had seen his fair share of Spirit Wine and Spirit Brews, but it was rare to find a Spirit Wine that was also effective for Dao Foundation Cultivators.

"That’s right." Yann Lai stroked his beard.

"My Thousand-Day Intoxication is brewed and fermented from dozens of Spiritual Objects. It’s best for nourishing the Physical Body."

"It sells for one Middle Grade Spirit Stone."

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow and, without any ceremony, tied the wine gourd to his own waist.

"Thank you for the gift of wine, fellow Daoist."

"..." Yann Lai was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"As long as you like it, fellow Daoist. When you run out, you can come to my place for more. I love dealing with people who appreciate good wine."

Today’s banquet was a send-off for the Commerce Association’s voyage.

As a newly promoted Dao Foundation member who had just joined the Commerce Association, Zhu Ju was the focus of many Cultivators, and quite a few came to get acquainted with him.

This also allowed him to learn more about the Yunjing Commerce Association.

The Commerce Association was led by the Yann Family, but they were not the sole power. The Fang and Qian Families were also formidable.

Each family had a Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator overseeing things.

Not far away.

Yann Ying approached Yann Nanshuang and asked in a low voice:

"What do you think?"

"About Zhu Ju?" Yann Nanshuang’s dimples showed.

"He’s a very interesting person. His Talent is excellent, his appearance is good, and he’s fun to talk to. He would be a good match."

"But, Brother Ying, he’s planning to return to the Ten Thousand Mountains, so I’m afraid your matchmaking attempt is doomed to fail."

As she spoke, she shook her head gently.

She actually had a very good impression of Zhu Ju. If it were possible, she would be willing to try getting to know him, perhaps even becoming dao partners.

Unfortunately, as a woman of the Yann Family, she couldn’t possibly leave the Yunjing Commerce Association, and Zhu Ju would be heading to the Ten Thousand Mountains in twenty years.

Their paths were not the same.

"Don’t be hasty."

Yann Ying spoke slowly.

"Back then, I also wanted to return to Dazhou to revive my Sect, but I ended up staying, didn’t I? People change."

"The Jade Void Sect is gone, but the Bright Void Sect still exists," Yann Nanshuang said, shaking her head.

"If Zhu Ju goes back, he can obtain a Golden Core Inheritance. That’s far more tempting than the Yann Family’s inheritance or a dao partner."

"Mmm..."

"Don’t worry, Brother Ying. As long as it doesn’t involve family taboos, I’ll definitely help him master an Array."

She understood now.

Yann Ying’s matchmaking was a pretense; his real goal was to have her seriously teach Zhu Ju about Arrays. After all, the two of them could be considered from the same lineage and sect.

The thought sent a chill through her heart.

’Even though Brother Ying had changed his surname and his children were named Yann, he still remembered the former Jade Void Sect.’

"Nanshuang, don’t misunderstand." Yann Ying quickly waved his hands.

"I am a member of the Yann Family now, and that won’t change. We should still try to win Zhu Ju over if we can."

"If we can’t..."

"...then it’s good to at least form a friendly connection."

"Mm." Yann Nanshuang nodded, her face devoid of expression.

"I understand."

*

*

*

When Zhu Ju returned, a man was kneeling at the entrance to his courtyard, with several maids standing helplessly to the side.

"Little Friend Li?"

"What are you doing? Get up, quickly!"

The person kneeling on the ground was none other than the Young Master of the Sea Jiao Commerce Association, the once-dashing Li Xingzhou.

At this moment, Li Xingzhou’s temples were white, his face was covered in wrinkles, and he looked as if he had aged several decades in an instant.

"Elder Zhu."

Li Xingzhou remained kneeling, kowtowing repeatedly.

"The Li Family has met with disaster and has nowhere to turn. I have no other choice but to beg for your protection, Elder."

"Get up and talk." Zhu Ju waved his sleeve, and an Invisible Force lifted him to his feet.

"I just heard about the Li Family’s situation. It had little to do with your family, so why has it come to this?"

"Heh..." Li Xingzhou gave a bitter, haggard smile.

"The wrath of a Golden Core is not something we can withstand, even if we were only caught in the crossfire. What’s more, the Li Family has enemies, and there were plenty of opportunistic vultures. Even our long-serving Steward ran off with the Spirit Stones..."

"Elder!"

His knees gave way, and he knelt again.

"I beg you to take me in!"

"Get up first." Zhu Ju sighed.

"I have also just joined the Yunjing Commerce Association and am still finding my footing. I’m afraid I want to help but lack the power."

"Elder..." Li Xingzhou looked up, his eyes bloodshot, and took out a Qiankun Bag, presenting it.

"This is my life’s savings, worth about ten thousand Spirit Stones. I only ask that you give me a place of refuge, Elder."

’Ten thousand Spirit Stones?’

It seemed like a lot, but it was only enough to buy one or two High Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

The Li Family was a great East Sea Merchant, and it had produced many Dao Foundation Cultivators over the centuries. Yet now, their Young Master had fallen to such a state.

It just goes to show how unpredictable life can be.

Zhu Ju took the Qiankun Bag. His expression flickered as he swept his Divine Thought inside.

"Just you?"

"There are two juniors as well," Li Xingzhou said.

"Rest assured, Elder. They are both very obedient and easy to manage. They will absolutely not cause you any trouble."

"Are there enemies of the Li Family in the Yunjing Commerce Association?" Zhu Ju asked.

"...Yes." Li Xingzhou’s face turned pale.

"There is one, but he is only at Nine Acupoints Perfection and has no hope of reaching the Dao Foundation Realm. He is on good terms with a Dao Foundation member of the Fang Family here in the Yunjing Commerce Association. As long as you speak up, Elder, he will definitely not dare to make a move."

Zhu Ju said thoughtfully, "Nine Acupoints Innate?" His gaze paused on Li Xingzhou, and he frowned.

"You’re injured?"

"Yes." Li Xingzhou’s voice was tinged with bitterness.

"My Meridians are damaged. I’m afraid I won’t live to be fifty, and my strength is less than thirty percent of what it was at my peak."

He was already in his thirties, meaning he only had a little over a decade left to live. Zhu Ju propped his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

"Have you ever read the Li Family’s Dao Foundation Realm Cultivation Method?"

"...I have."

Li Xingzhou gritted his teeth.

"If you want it, Elder, I can hand it over."

"Good." A smile appeared on Zhu Ju’s face. He tossed the Qiankun Bag in his hand back to him.

"Write down the Dao Foundation Method, allow me to use a little technique on you, and work for me for the next dozen years or so. In return, I will protect the three of you."

"...Yes." Li Xingzhou closed his eyes, resigning himself to his fate.

"Please, do as you will, Elder."

...

That night.

Zhu Ju placed the book in his hand on the table.

’Reaching the Dao Foundation is easy, but attaining the Golden Core is hard. The same goes for their inheritances.’

The Li Family’s Dao Foundation Method also lacked a way to reach the Golden Core. It was even difficult to cultivate to the Late-Stage Dao Foundation with it.

It was just like the Mixed Element Scripture he had received from the Yann Family.

Theoretically, if one were to rely solely on bitter cultivation with this kind of Method, it would take nearly two thousand years to reach Perfection.

’It was appallingly slow!’

Even with the help of Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Gathering Arrays, and other means, one could at most reach the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation.

Without heaven-defying luck, such as consuming some rare Spiritual Medicine, it would be impossible to reach the Late-Stage Dao Foundation within three or four hundred years.

That was why he had to return to the Ten Thousand Mountains, no matter what.

The Celestial Spirits and Earthly Evils inheritance of the Dragon Head Lineage was a Golden Core Inheritance that ranked among the best in all of Dazhou.

Its cultivation speed alone was incomparable to Methods like these.

’I didn’t expect the Third Princess to have actually lost a Core Formation Spiritual Object. No wonder the East Sea Alliance is furious.’

Li Xingzhou knew the situation in greater detail.

The reason the ’East Sea Cave Ghosts’ had moved against the Third Princess was for that very Core Formation Spiritual Object.

A so-called Core Formation Spiritual Object had a function similar to a Foundation Establishment Pill.

It could increase a Dao Foundation Cultivator’s chances of successfully advancing to the Golden Core Realm. Such items were extremely rare and priceless, with no open market for them.

They had succeeded.

The Third Princess had lost the Spiritual Object and was herself severely injured and unconscious. It was feared she had no hope of reaching the Golden Core in this lifetime.

Meanwhile, the leader of the ’East Sea Cave Ghosts’ was also a Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator. If he could achieve Core Formation, he would have no need to fear retaliation from the East Sea Alliance.

’Something’s not right!’

’A Core Formation Spiritual Object is incredibly important. For the Third Princess’s whereabouts to be leaked, precisely when she was carrying one... I’m afraid someone within the East Sea Alliance did this deliberately to ruin her path of cultivation.’

’The competition for the Great Dao... how perilous is it?’

Zhu Ju shook his head and gently rubbed his forehead.

’Li Xingzhou isn’t being entirely honest, either. The two juniors he brought with him are both Dao Foundation Seeds of the Li Family. No wonder they were targeted.’

’If the Li Family produced another Dao Foundation Cultivator, how could their enemies rest easy?’

’Fortunately, the Yunjing Commerce Association is already heading south. There’s only one of their enemies on board, so I don’t need to worry about it.’

’Mmm...’

’And my methods were also more effective than expected.’

...

"Uncle!"

"Father!"

Under the cover of night, a taller and a shorter young man greeted the staggering Li Xingzhou as he returned.

"Let’s go back first."

Li Xingzhou’s expression was grave.

"We’ll talk when we get back."

The three returned to their room, and Li Xingzhou’s voice softened.

"Elder Zhu has agreed to give us shelter."

"That’s great!" One of them, eyes shining, clenched his fist and said:

"With a Dao Foundation Cultivator protecting us, we won’t have to worry about our safety anymore. We can focus on our Cultivation."

"But..." the shorter boy sniffled.

"Our sister and mother... they’re all dead. They’re all dead... SOB..."

"Li Shun," the taller boy said with a taut face.

"We will avenge them. I have memorized everyone who moved against the Li Family. I will never forget."

"Children." Li Xingzhou closed his eyes and spoke in a low voice.

"We will not forget our hatred, but we cannot be blinded by it either. For the next few years, forget everything else and focus on your Cultivation. Even if our enemies are right in front of you, do not act rashly. Your primary mission is to achieve the Dao Foundation."

"Elder Zhu is very generous."

His expression was strange, even showing a hint of bewildered suspicion.

"You will not be short on the resources you need for your Cultivation. You might even be able to get your hands on Foundation Establishment Pills."

"Uncle?" The taller boy looked over, surprised.

"Do you still have family resources on you?"

"Well..." Li Xingzhou opened his mouth to speak, but for some reason, a look of pain crossed his face. He paused, then nodded.

"That’s right."

"I didn’t tell you before to avoid trouble, but I actually have quite a few family resources on me."

"I will use them to do business and earn Cultivation resources for you."

As he said this, his expression changed slightly.

’Heart Demon!’

’Is this Elder Zhu really a disciple of the Bright Void Sect?’

’Whenever I even think about revealing information related to him, the Demon Seed inside me issues a warning, or even a punishment.’

’Such methods...’

’They are just like the Demon Dao!’

’Of course I don’t have many resources, but Zhu Ju does, and I can use this opportunity to launder them.’

’Zhu Ju has many things that can’t see the light of day.’

’Relying only on the shop the Yann Family gave him, who knows how long it would take to sell them all off.’