Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Chapter 245: Chapter 221: Elemental Prohibition Ring 2

"Drunken Daoist!"

"Fellow Daoist Guu!"

Zhu Ju summoned his Dust Banner, wrapped himself in a hazy glow, and flew into midair.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting."

"We just arrived as well." The Drunken Daoist was Yann Lai, a Dao Foundation Cultivator from the Yann Family who, instead of pursuing proper business, made a living by brewing wine. He had given himself the moniker "Drunken Daoist."

He let out a drunken hiccup and said with a smile,

"Let’s head out!"

Guu Xinglan nodded.

Having been with the Yunjing Commerce Association for some time now, Zhu Ju had gotten to know a few people and developed varying degrees of closeness with them.

The Drunken Daoist, Yann Lai, was his neighbor. With his witty and humorous personality, it was only natural that the two of them got along well.

His relationship with Guu Xinglan, however, was unexpected.

Guu Xinglan had been his assessor, and after Zhu Ju joined the Commerce Association, they lost contact. Later on, however, they started interacting again when Zhu Ju needed to purchase a certain type of Spiritual Material.

Although Guu Xinglan could be a bit arrogant, he acted with propriety and was a skilled conversationalist, so they gradually grew familiar.

On the other hand, he had grown distant from people like Yann Ying and Dong Ping for various reasons.

"On Hee Island, there’s a clan of Merfolk. The women of this clan are skilled in song and dance, their voices are heavenly, and the memory of it lingers on."

The Drunken Daoist narrowed his eyes.

"The last time I came here was thirty years ago. This trip will only be worth it if I can buy a few Mermaids."

"The Merfolk are the Zhuge Family’s private reserve, especially the Mermaids. I’m afraid it’ll be impossible to get your hands on any," Guu Xinglan said, shaking his head.

"But if we could buy some in the Commerce Association’s name and raise them on the island, we could at least admire them from time to time."

"I’ve heard that Mermaids can’t be separated from their partners. Once separated, they’ll starve themselves to death. They’re utterly faithful," Zhu Ju said, resting his chin on his hand.

"I’d like to see that for myself."

"It’s true," the Drunken Daoist said with a nod.

"That’s why you have to buy them in pairs. They’re very delicate creatures. You can only look from afar, not touch."

As they spoke, the three of them flew off Yunjing Island, heading toward their destination.

For Zhu Ju, this excursion to see the Merfolk was just a cover. His real purpose was to go to the Otherworld.

Yunjing Island was constantly moving forward. Traversing to another world from the island wouldn’t return you to the same spot, so he had to go to a fixed location.

*

*

*

「Divine Capital.」

Baiyun Temple.

The limping Old Huang pulled a flat-cart into the rear courtyard, unloaded sacks of rice and grain, and carried them into the back kitchen.

"Grandpa Huang."

Ming Yue asked curiously,

"Why did you buy so much this time?"

"The price of grain went up, by nearly thirty percent." Old Huang wiped his face with a sweat towel, looking every bit like a common old farmer as he muttered,

"It’s the autumn harvest season right now, when grain prices should be at their cheapest. If they’re rising now, I’m afraid they’ll be even more expensive in the winter."

"You two!"

he barked.

"Have you learned all of yesterday’s characters?"

"We’ve learned them all," Qingfeng said with a nod. Ming Yue hesitated for a moment before giving a somewhat uncertain nod herself.

"You little girl, so dishonest." Old Huang grinned.

"The Temple Master told me to teach you how to read. If you don’t study hard, just wait and see how he punishes you when he returns from his travels."

"Grandpa Huang," Ming Yue said in a clear, sweet voice, tugging on the corner of Old Huang’s clothes.

"We have been studying hard! And we’ve been practicing the Eight Pieces of Brocade that Master taught us. We haven’t missed a single day."

"Oh?" Limping, Old Huang made his way to the front courtyard.

"Show me."

"Yes."

The two children complied, performing the gentle-looking Eight Pieces of Brocade move by move. Before long, they were panting for breath.

"Don’t slack off. Keep it up."

Old Huang said.

"The Temple Master is no ordinary person. This set of Martial Arts can reshape one’s Tendons and Bones and cleanse the marrow. If word of it got out, countless people would go crazy for it. Don’t take such a great opportunity for granted."

As the Dharma Transmission Elder of the Divine Fist Sect, he had seen countless Basic Methods of Martial Arts, but none could compare to these Eight Pieces of Brocade.

Just a dozen or so simple movements could actually temper all the muscles in the body, right down to the Tendons and Bones and internal organs.

If the Divine Fist Sect had an Entry Level method like this, how could they have only produced a few experts in the Upper Three Grades after all these years?

However... ’Why does this Eight Pieces of Brocade look so much like the Body Stabilization Skill from Marquis Zhenyuan’s Family?’

"Master!"

"Master is back."

"Mm." Zhu Ju, who had appeared at the entrance at some unknown point, nodded at the two children, Qingfeng and Ming Yue, and asked,

"Why are there so many constables in the Outer Sect?"

"Temple Master." Old Huang bowed respectfully.

"I heard that disciples of the Demon Sect appeared in Qunxing Workshop. They’re investigating and came to the Daoist Temple this morning."

"The Demon Sect?" Zhu Ju murmured thoughtfully, nodding slowly.

The so-called Demon Sect was actually named the ’Celestial Intent Sect.’ It was said to have been founded by the surviving orphans of the previous dynasty’s Royal Family.

Its self-proclaimed mission was to overthrow the Daqi.

Of course, a sect like this would be seen as a thorn in the Court’s side, so it was only natural for them to be called the Demon Sect.

However, the fact that they could survive so tenaciously despite the Court’s attempts to eradicate them spoke to the Demon Sect’s considerable strength.

...

「Night.」

Zhu Ju formed a Seal Technique with his hands and cast the Profound Light Technique.

A Water Mirror appeared.

As his thoughts turned, the image in the Water Mirror shifted, revealing the scene of a study.

The Profound Light Technique wasn’t limited to just looking down from above.

The profundity of the magic lay in its ability to connect with the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. In theory, he could see any place where Primordial Energy flowed.

Windows, doors, and walls were no obstacle.

"Xuan’er."

A white-haired old man gestured toward a portrait on the wall.

"This is our Wuu Family’s ancestor, the Martial Divine Power of the Vajra Realm. The ancestor made his name renowned throughout the world with his self-created Anger Battle Eight Techniques and established the foundation of the Wuu Family by following the founding monarch of the Daqi."

’Vajra Realm?’

A look of confusion appeared on Zhu Ju’s face.

’What realm is that?’

"Today, you have advanced to First-Grade Grandmaster. It is time I taught you the Wuu Family’s true inheritance."

"Come!"

"First, kowtow to the ancestor!"

"Yes." The handsome young man in white replied solemnly, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing repeatedly to the portrait.

"Listen well." The old man turned around, his eyes shining brightly.

"The Anger Battle Heart Technique..."

BOOM!

A violent surge of Qi Force erupted from the old man’s body, enveloping the entire study and isolating it from the outside.

The flow of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was cut off, and the Profound Light Technique lost its effect.

’I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.’

Zhu Ju shook his head, his hand forming a different spell.

’Lady Wuk, let’s see if you came through for me this time.’

SWOOSH!

Ripples spread across the Water Mirror in front of him, and the image that had just disappeared reappeared, even clearer than before.

"Excellent!"

Zhu Ju’s face lit up with joy.

"Lady Wuk really did have Wuu Xuan carry the Protective Talisman I gave her close to his body. It seems my efforts weren’t wasted after all."

’When I get the chance in the future, I should hand out more Protective Talismans. It would be best if every one of those people with an inheritance gets one.’

He hadn’t been idle these past few days. Using the Daoist Temple’s reputation and some minor tricks, he had gained the trust of many people.

The Protective Talismans were real, but they were also embedded with his own tricks, making it easy to spy with their help.

"Ignite the soul as fire, burn the enemy to ash, take the seven emotions as fuel, and the eight sufferings as a guide..."

The Wuu Family’s ancestor was one of the founding heroes of the Daqi, but the family had fallen into decline as early as three hundred years ago.

The current Patriarch had barely managed to advance to First-Grade Grandmaster.

While such strength could dominate a region elsewhere, it was nothing special in the Divine Capital.

As the most talented young man the Wuu Family had seen in several hundred years, Wuu Xuan had reached the rank of First-Grade Grandmaster in his early twenties. He was considered an outstanding talent anywhere in the world and shouldered the heavy responsibility of reviving the Wuu Family. It was only fitting that he receive the ancestor’s inheritance.

The Wuu Family Patriarch slowly recounted the core secrets of the Anger Battle Heart Technique.

Zhu Ju compared it with the True Martial Scripture and the Nine Mountains Skill, and many insights surfaced in his mind.

’The Anger Battle Heart Technique is somewhat similar to the Nine Mountains Skill. Both prioritize raw power, which is different from the True Martial Scripture.’

’The breakthrough method for the Nine Mountains Skill really has been tampered with. If I had truly cultivated according to its instructions, the consequences would have been dire.’

’The Martial Arts of this world are truly extraordinary. The Divine Treasure realm, which is comparable to the Early Stage Dao Foundation, isn’t even the end. There’s a Vajra Realm above it. I wonder if the Vajra Realm is the limit of Martial Arts?’

’Blood Flesh Martial Dao... it’s not a Body Refining Method, yet it’s superior to one...’

As Zhu Ju’s thoughts churned, he saw the Wuu Family Patriarch suddenly stop speaking. His brow furrowed tightly as he looked out the window.

"Shadow!"

"Here."

A shadow wavered outside the room, and a phantom-like figure solidified into reality, kneeling before the door. This person was actually a First Grade expert as well.

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

Even though the Wuu Family had declined, they still had a First-Grade Grandmaster protecting them from the shadows.

"What’s going on in the Outer Sect?" the Wuu Family Patriarch asked.

"Why is it so chaotic?"

"Reporting to the Patriarch," Shadow said.

"The Unscrupulous People have discovered that a number of officials were secretly colluding with the rebellious Prince Fenyang. They are now carrying out orders to purge his supporters."

"Prince Fenyang?" The Wuu Family Patriarch’s expression changed slightly.

"Does His Majesty still not intend to let this matter rest...?"