Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

Not only had a Great Mage been dispatched here, but they were also ignoring the Situ Family and directly attacking the city’s Cultivators.

’What happened?’

Though his mind was racing, Zhu Ju’s expression remained unchanged.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, his trips to the Magic World were always brief. He would get in, get out, and not get involved in the local disputes.

"Where is Fellow Daoist Ye?"

"The Ghost Market."

*

*

*

The Ghost Market.

This was the territory of a mysterious Great Mage.

"Once you enter the Ghost Market, all other matters are left behind." This had been the unbreakable pact for decades.

Combat was forbidden in the Ghost Market. No matter the grudge, it had to be settled outside. In all of Yidu, only this place could offer sanctuary to those with nowhere else to run.

It was only natural that Ye Baici and the others were hiding here.

"Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, while practicing the profound Prajñāpāramitā, illuminated the five skandhas and saw that they were all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty... All dharmas are empty appearances, not born, not destroyed, not defiled, not pure, not increasing, not decreasing."

Yuanding and Xinhai sat cross-legged on prayer cushions, chanting Buddhist verses as a faint, sacred light emanated from their bodies, bathing the area in its glow.

Several injured people sat in a circle around the two monks, using the sacred light to heal their wounds.

As a High Monk of Longmen Temple, Yuanding was not strong in Combat, but his techniques were particularly effective against demons, devils, and other such fiends.

However, he had his own unique methods for healing injuries.

"HMM..."

As if sensing something, his chanting paused, and Yuanding slowly opened his eyes.

"Donor Zhu is here."

GRIND...

The tomb’s stone marker was moved aside, and Zhu Ju and his companions strode into the ’tomb.’ His gaze lingered for a moment on Ye Baici, who was missing an arm.

No one would have ever guessed.

That an ordinary-looking tomb from the outside would contain such a large space within, complete with a Quiet Chamber and private rooms.

It was like a multi-room apartment.

"Everyone."

Zhu Ju clasped his fists in greeting.

"It has been a while. Master, have you not left Yidu yet?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Young Master Zhu." Ye Baici’s face was deathly pale, like a piece of porcelain about to shatter—truly living up to her name.

An icy aura surrounded her as she nodded at Zhu Ju in acknowledgment.

"You’re finally here."

"I am used to a wandering life and rarely stay in one place for long," Zhu Ju explained casually.

"I heard about what happened to all of you..."

"I am deeply sorry!"

He hadn’t interacted much with Ye Baici and her group, but he deeply admired them.

For the sake of revenge.

Knowing they were outmatched, the group still bravely made their move. Several died in the battle to eliminate Xing Suanzi.

Now,

Rouge Saber and the Mute Girl were also dead.

Of the original ten, only Ghost Monkey and Ye Baici were left, and both were severely injured.

Was it worth it?

Only they would know the answer to that.

"Yanshi, a Great Mage of the Celestial Capital Sect, ignored Xing Suanzi’s evil deeds and allowed his subordinates to murder indiscriminately."

"He will surely face divine retribution!"

Someone cursed under their breath.

"This is Fellow Daoist Fuchen," Ye Baici introduced.

"Fellow Daoist Fuchen had a past dispute with Xing Suanzi and got dragged into this as well. His Daoist Temple was even forcibly destroyed."

"HMM..." Zhu Ju asked,

"Is no one doing anything about it?"

"How could they not?" Daoist Fuchen snorted coldly.

"Captain Wei has already gone to the City Lord’s Mansion. We will make that Yanshi pay. When the time comes, we hope Fellow Daoist Zhu will lend a hand."

Zhu Ju’s expression remained indifferent.

He had come to the Magic World only to acquire resources and increase his Cultivation. He had no intention of getting too involved.

Especially when it came to dealing with a Great Mage he had no chance of defeating. It was best to avoid it if he could.

Daoist Fuchen clearly noticed this. His brow twitched, and he looked as if he was about to say something, but a look from Ye Baici stopped him.

"Donor Zhu."

Yuanding put his palms together in a respectful gesture. "Could we have a word in private?"

"Of course."

Zhu Ju nodded.

The two went to an adjacent room. Yuanding gently rotated the Buddhist Beads in his hand, and an invisible layer of sacred light immediately enveloped the area.

"Donor Zhu."

After setting up a ward to prevent anyone from eavesdropping, Yuanding spoke.

"That day you went after Yuanle of Bamboo Mountain Temple... I was wondering what the outcome was."

"Yuanle..." Zhu Ju began.

"Master, why do you ask?"

"Amitabha Buddha." Yuanding put his palms together, a complicated look on his face, and said with a sigh,

"General Wan breached Bamboo Mountain Temple. To exterminate the poisonous hornets on the back mountain, he ordered the mountain to be set ablaze, and all the temple’s scriptures were destroyed in the fire."

"I made many inquiries and learned that before Yuanle left the temple, he secretly took many classic scriptures of the Buddhist Sect with him."

"So..."

"I was wondering if those Buddhist scriptures happen to be in your possession, Donor?"

His face was full of hope, but his voice was anxious, clearly afraid of receiving an answer different from what he wished.

Faced with the loss of the Buddhist scriptures, even this High Monk found it hard to keep his composure.

"I see."

Zhu Ju understood. He took out a pile of Buddhist Scriptures from his Qiankun Bag.

"Master, please see if these are the ones."

The Heart Sutra, the Lengjia Sutra, the Three Plate Scriptures of Tibet, the Mandala Fire Heart Sutra...

"Yes, yes!"

Gazing at the stack of Buddhist Scriptures that stood taller than a man, Yuanding couldn’t stop tears from welling in his eyes as he reached out with trembling hands to gently caress them.

"This is the Heart Sutra, handwritten by Saint Monk Zhenwu! And the complete seven volumes of the Mandala Fire Heart Sutra..."

"Donor Zhu!"

He gave a deep bow.

"Thank you, Donor, for preserving the sacred texts of our Buddhist Sect! Please accept this humble monk’s bow!"

"Master, there’s no need for that." I hurriedly made a gesture with one hand to stop him.

"It was an unintentional act on my part."

"Such selflessness is the mark of a Buddha Heart," Yuanding said.

"It seems Donor Zhu has an affinity with our Buddhist Sect!"

Huh?

’There’s no need for that.’

Zhu Ju’s cheek twitched.

"Donor," Yuanding began, hesitating for a moment.

"As the saying goes, one does not accept rewards one has not earned. These scriptures may be unimportant to others, but to the Buddhist Sect, their loss is unacceptable."

"Is there any way that I can be of assistance to you, Donor?"

"Oh?" Zhu Ju’s eyes flickered. He had previously considered the Buddhist Scriptures useless, so if he could exchange them for some benefits, that would be for the best. He immediately asked,

"I have long heard that Longmen Temple is a Buddhist Holy Land with an extraordinary legacy of Cultivation Techniques. I wonder if I might be fortunate enough to take a look at one?"

"Why not?" Yuanding replied without hesitation, his tone decisive.

"The Buddhist Sect is all-embracing; its Buddhist Techniques should not be hoarded. Longmen Temple has the Seven Treasures Marvelous Skill. You may choose any one of them, Donor."

"HMM..."

"The Seven Treasures Marvelous Skill is one of the Buddhist Supreme Methods. I only hope that you will not pass it on to others, Donor."

"Rest assured, Master, I certainly will not." A smile couldn’t help but spread across Zhu Ju’s face.

"Do you have a Body Tempering Method?"

"This..." Yuanding froze, a strange and slightly ashamed expression on his face.

"I have been to many places and met many Cultivators, but when it comes to Body Tempering Methods, I’m afraid no one in this era can compare to you, Donor."

"The Seven Treasures Marvelous Skill of Longmen Temple..."

He shook his head gently.

"Is also not good enough."

Zhu Ju’s expression froze.

’So this is the so-called Buddhist Supreme Method?’

’Longmen Temple is already a top-tier Cultivation Holy Land in this world, yet it’s still inferior to the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill. The inheritances from other places are likely the same.’

But he snapped back to his senses in an instant.

’I’m thinking about this the wrong way!’

’The Cultivation Techniques of the Magic World are profound, but they are mostly related to the Divine Soul. They aren’t specialized in tempering the Physical Body, so of course they are far inferior to the inheritances of the Main World. Besides, the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill from the Bright Void Sect is already extraordinary to begin with.’

"Donor."

Yuanding thought for a moment, then said,

"Among the Seven Treasures Marvelous Skill of Longmen Temple, there is one Method that can assist with body tempering. It is called the Celestial Dragon Eight Sounds."

"Perhaps this skill will be of use to you."

Seemingly feeling that what he offered was not up to par and was somewhat unworthy of the precious scriptures before him, he gritted his teeth and took out another item.

"This is a Buddha Eye Bodhi, a Curious Object from Longmen Temple. Holding it under your tongue can help you use the Celestial Dragon Eight Sounds."