Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Monster Transformation Technique!

The Spiritual Crow Master transformed into a Fire Crow and swallowed the roasted human figure in one gulp. The scene unfolding before them caused the expressions of everyone present to change.

RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE...

The men from Black Cloud Manor who had followed the Spiritual Crow Master scattered, completely surrounding the people who had come down from the mountain.

They looked ready to attack as a group at a single command.

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

"Master, please be merciful!"

From within the surrounded crowd, a man shouted anxiously. He stepped forward, holding an Ink Jade Token high with both hands.

"This item was condensed from the heart of a three-hundred-year-old Ink Jade Bamboo. It’s a rare material for Artifact Refining."

"This junior is willing to trade this item for a chance to live."

"Oh!" The Spiritual Crow Master reverted to his human form. With a beckoning gesture of one hand, the Ink Jade Token landed in his palm.

He weighed it casually in his hand, a smile touching his face.

"Not bad."

"This thing is barely worth a glance."

"Scram!"

"Yes, yes." Sweat beaded on the man’s forehead as he nodded repeatedly. He gathered his sleeves, gave a quick bow to the crowd, and hurried down the mountain.

"I have a Spirit Jade..."

"This humble Monk has a Purple Gold Kasaya..."

With someone having started, the others all followed suit, taking out their valuable possessions to trade for permission to go down the mountain.

The Spiritual Crow Master inspected each item. If he was satisfied, he took it. If not, he would summon Fierce Flames to incinerate the person, not giving them a second chance in the slightest. This made sure no one dared to hold anything back.

A short while later.

Aside from three itinerant Monks who truly had nothing to offer, almost everyone else had successfully made it down the mountain.

"Fellow Daoist." The Spiritual Crow Master ignored the itinerant Monks and turned to look at Ye Baici.

"Though we are under orders to guard this mountain path, we cannot kill the innocent indiscriminately. Wouldn’t you agree, Fellow Daoist Ye?"

He held a Red Gourd, aimed its mouth at the items at his feet, and with a gentle shake, he collected all the stolen goods inside.

Obviously.

This Red Gourd was a Magical Artifact with a pocket dimension inside.

But despite the huge haul from this "toll," he didn’t seem to have any intention of sharing even a fraction of it.

You have to understand.

This was the area that Zhu Ju and Ye Baici were assigned to guard.

"..." Watching his actions, Ye Baici gave a serene smile and, with a flip of her hand, produced the Buddha’s Heart Lamp.

"I have long heard of the Spiritual Crow Master’s profound Magical Power. Since we’ve met tonight, why don’t you let me broaden my horizons?"

"I ask for your instruction!"

"Oh!" The Spiritual Crow Master raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile on his face.

"Very well."

FWOOSH...

Fierce Flames billowed out.

Ye Baici’s family Magic could summon ice and snow, but she hadn’t been a Mage for long. Her Cultivation was relatively shallow, so her strongest method of combat was still the Buddha’s Heart Lamp.

With a single thought, a lifelike Fire Dragon shot out from the lamp’s wick.

"Playing with fire?"

The Spiritual Crow Master cackled strangely upon seeing this.

"Fellow Daoist, surely you know of my methods?"

SWISH!

His body blurred, and he transformed into a giant crow. The crow let out a bizarre cry, stirring up Fierce Flames with a beat of its wings.

The Golden Crow!

The hereditary Visualization Image the Spiritual Crow Master cultivated was that of a Golden Crow, and he had also mastered the Fire Crow’s Transformation Technique. The two complemented each other perfectly.

The clashing Fierce Flames in the center of the clearing abruptly merged into a wall of fire, which spun gently and burned the three itinerant Monks to ash.

BOOM!

The Fierce Flames exploded.

Ye Baici’s face paled as she staggered backward, while the Spiritual Crow Master stood firm in the center of the field.

The difference in their strength was self-evident.

"This fire..." The Spiritual Crow Master licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with greed as he stared at the Buddha’s Heart Lamp in Ye Baici’s hand.

"Interesting!"

His Fire Control Technique was extraordinary, yet just now he had been almost completely unable to influence that fire. He had never encountered such a situation before.

"Master, your Magical Power is profound. I am impressed." Ye Baici took a step back and put away the Buddha’s Heart Lamp.

"Let’s go!"

"Young Master Zhu."

Ghost Monkey moved closer to Zhu Ju and said in a low voice:

"The Spiritual Crow Master has been famous for years. He’s even stronger than Xing Suanzi, and rumor has it he has a powerful backer."

"We should avoid provoking him if we can."

Zhu Ju nodded.

He hadn’t said a word from beginning to end, merely acting as a spectator.

"Speaking of which."

After a moment of thought, he asked:

"How strong is Bamboo Mountain Temple?"

"Very strong, of course." Ghost Monkey was taken aback for a second, then explained:

"Bamboo Mountain Temple has stood on Bamboo Mountain for several hundred years. Its fame has spread far and wide, and not just because of its charity. It was all earned, fist by fist."

"The Abbot of Bamboo Mountain Temple, Yuanye, and the Elder Monk of the Pagoda Forest, Benyin, are both Great Mages who have been famous for years. And that Parasitic Demon Bee is a top-tier expert at the peak of the Great Mage level."

"Not to mention them, the Elders of the Arhat Hall, Scripture Pavilion, and Law Enforcement Hall are all experts at the Mage Peak."

"The Elders?" Zhu Ju asked.

"How do they compare to Xing Suanzi and the Spiritual Crow Master?"

"This junior is just a Magician. How could I tell the difference in strength between Mages?" Ghost Monkey said with a dry laugh.

"However, in theory, the Elders of Bamboo Mountain Temple should be stronger. After all, with such a large temple backing them, they don’t lack resources for Cultivation, legacies, or even powerful Buddhist Artifacts."

"That’s something others can’t compare to. It’s also why Yidu went to such great lengths for this siege on Bamboo Mountain—truly, the opponent is just too strong."

Zhu Ju understood.

Hm?

Before he even got close to the tent, his eyebrow twitched. He stopped and looked toward a dense patch of forest not far away.

"Who’s there?"

Ye Baici shouted, flicking her finger and sending a streak of fire shooting out like lightning.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

The low chant of a Buddha’s name came from the forest, and two figures stepped out.

"The Buddha’s Heart Lamp?"

One of them waved his Kasaya lightly, and without anyone seeing how he cast the Magic, the line of fire abruptly stopped in mid-air.

"Donor, how did you come to have Senior Brother Yuanwu’s Buddhist Artifact?"

"Hm?" Hearing this, Ye Baici’s expression softened. She immediately withdrew her Magic and bowed to the newcomer.

"So you are a High Monk from Longmen Temple. My name is Ye Baici. I borrowed the Buddha’s Heart Lamp from Master Yuanwu to vanquish Demons."

"I see." The Monk returned the bow.

"This humble Monk is Yuanding of Longmen Temple."

"Donor Zhu!" The young Monk beside Yuanding spotted an acquaintance in the crowd and called out eagerly.

"We meet again."

"Master Xinhai." A smile appeared on Zhu Ju’s face.

"What a coincidence."

This young Monk was none other than Xinhai, whom he had met during his first exploration of the Magic World. He had been a great help back then; he never thought they would meet again here.

"So you two know each other."

Ye Baici looked over in surprise and asked:

"Are you two masters also here for Bamboo Mountain Temple’s Buddha’s Birthday celebration?"

"Indeed." Yuanding nodded, then sighed softly.

"I have long heard of Bamboo Mountain Temple’s renown. This humble Monk thought there would surely be a High Monk lecturing on the Dharma here. I never expected that while the Magic Dao is prevalent, the Buddhist Technique is lacking."

"Sigh!"

"This tribulation was inevitable!"

He seemed to strongly disapprove of Bamboo Mountain Temple’s methods. When the situation on the mountain was mentioned, he just shook his head repeatedly.

"Master," Ye Baici said.

"This isn’t a place to linger. You should hurry down the mountain. Avoid this tribulation first and foremost."

"That’s right." Xinhai nodded repeatedly, a fearful look on his face.

"We just ran into several patrols of Soldiers. The killing intent coming from them was terrifying."

"Master, let’s go down the mountain first."

He was at the Profound Light Second Realm, and Yuanding was a Buddhist Master. Although their Cultivation was not weak, neither was skilled in Combat.

Against Evil Soldiers, they would have almost no power to resist.

"Go down the mountain?" Just then, an icy voice rang out.

"Did I give you permission?"

SWISH!

SWISH! SWISH!

The men from Black Cloud Manor shot out from the woods, surrounding the group. The Spiritual Crow Master approached with his hands behind his back.

"CAW... CAW..."

A crow flew down from the treetops and landed on his shoulder.

"This entire area is already filled with my Spirit Crows. Without my permission, I’d like to see who can get down this mountain."

"Master," Ye Baici said with a frown.

"These two are High Monks from Longmen Temple, not Monks from Bamboo Mountain Temple. It’s only reasonable for them to go down the mountain."

"That’s right!" Ghost Monkey nodded.

"You let so many people go down the mountain just now, and we didn’t say a thing. Now we want to let two people go, and you’re not willing?"

"Isn’t that just bullying?"

Rouge Saber and the Mute Girl both had indignant expressions, their eyes glaring angrily.

"You’re mistaken!" the Spiritual Crow Master said unhurriedly.

"The people I let go were all innocent. But these two Monks, in my opinion, are not."

"Longmen Temple is a Buddhist Holy Land. They have produced Saint Monks for generations and would never shelter evil." Ghost Monkey snorted coldly.

"You just want to extort them!"

"Enough!" Ye Baici’s voice grew heavy as she stared directly at the Spiritual Crow Master.

"If we insist on escorting the two masters down the mountain, what will you do, Master?"

Hm?

The Spiritual Crow Master raised his eyebrow at her words.

His gaze swept over Zhu Ju and Yuanding before finally landing on Ye Baici, a cold smirk on his face.

’Three Mages?’

’So what!’

"Colluding with Demons... I will naturally eliminate this evil for the people. Even if I fail, I will report it to General Wan."

"Amitabha Buddha." Yuanding placed his palms together, his face showing his reluctance.

"Donor Ye, there is no need for this. The Buddhist Sect also speaks of worldly affairs. Has this Master taken a fancy to something my disciple and I possess?"

"If so."

"You may take it."

"Heh..." The Spiritual Crow Master’s face was full of disdain.

"Two poor Monks, not a roof tile to your names. Your Kasayas might fetch a few taels of silver, but the oil lamp in Fellow Daoist Ye’s hand is quite to my liking."

"You want the Buddha’s Heart Lamp?" Ye Baici’s expression changed drastically.

"Impossible!"

"Amitabha Buddha." Yuanding also frowned deeply.

"Master, you may not know this, but the Buddha’s Heart Lamp is one of the Seven Treasures of Longmen Temple. It can only be lent, never given away."

"So you’re not giving it to me?" The Spiritual Crow Master’s face darkened.

"Fine!"

"You two Monks will come with me!"

"Wait." Zhu Ju, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke. His gaze slowly fell upon the Spiritual Crow Master.

"There’s no need for all that trouble."

Hm?

The Spiritual Crow Master’s eyebrow twitched. His Skin and Flesh instantly tensed, and a sense of crisis suddenly bloomed in his heart.

He instantly understood Zhu Ju’s intentions.

Fury surged within him.

"You dare!"

Before the words left his mouth, a faint, ghostly cold saber gleam appeared in his vision.

The Second Limit of the Ghost God Limit—Asking the Way in the Underworld!

’Danger!’

The Spiritual Crow Master had lived for over a sixty-year cycle and had been through hundreds of battles, but never had he felt death so close.

’This Saber Technique...’

’It’s like a summons from the road to the underworld!’

Having just advanced to Mage, a single slash from Zhu Ju had been enough to shatter the Jile Spirit House. And although Xing Suanzi had not been at his peak at the time, the current Zhu Ju had not only broken through in Magic, but as an Innate Qi Refiner, he had also opened One Acupoint.

His strength was now countless times greater than when he had killed Xing Suanzi.

"AHHH!"

Amidst his roar, the Divine Soul that the Spiritual Crow Master had cultivated for decades shattered the suppression of the Sword Intent. His body blurred, revealing his Demon Body.

A Fire Crow!

Golden Crow Burning Heaven!

Pale golden flames rushed toward the saber gleam, only to be split in two before the Spiritual Crow Master’s horrified gaze.

’How is this possible?’

The saber gleam cut through the Fierce Flames, its momentum undiminished, and struck the Fire Crow that the Spiritual Crow Master had become using the Monster Transformation Technique.

SQUELCH...

Blood and flesh splattered.

"Hm?"

Zhu Ju withdrew his saber and raised an eyebrow, looking at the center of the clearing.

The Spiritual Crow Master, who should have been slain by his single strike, had instead split into several Fire Crows and was flying off in all directions.

An angry and terrified voice echoed.

"You really are in league with the evil monks of Bamboo Mountain Temple and the Demons! I’ll report this to General Wan and have you all executed!"

"I don’t believe you can kill every person and every crow here!"

The Spiritual Crow Master’s true body was hidden among the many crows. He roared in fury, but his will to fight was already gone.

That last strike,

for a moment, had made him think he had encountered a Great Mage who specialized in Close Combat Magic. His Monster Transformation Technique had been broken on the spot.

If not for a life-saving item he possessed, he would already be dead!

’This guy...’

’He’s so strong!’

’Didn’t they say he just became a Mage?’

’Why is he so ridiculously strong?’

"Trying to escape?"

Zhu Ju narrowed his eyes, looking at the scattering crows and the panicked men from Black Cloud Manor.

With a flick of his hand.

The Ten Thousand Swords Map appeared before him.

"Go!"

ZING!

In an instant.

Ten thousand swords sang in unison!