Cultivation: I Can Traverse Otherworlds

"Get out of here!"

"This place has been booked out. Leave immediately!"

"…"

The moment the crowd of men in suits filed in, the tavern's patrons knew something was wrong.

Hearing the order to clear out, most of them obediently left.

Even the few who considered themselves capable turned pale after getting a good look at the newcomers, lowering their heads and scurrying away.

Although the tavern owner was reluctant, he had no choice but to force a smile and greet the arrivals.

"Mr. Hex, what brings you here?"

"Step aside!"

One of the men in suits blocked the tavern owner and barked in a low voice,

"We'll call you if we need you."

"Yes, yes." The owner nodded and bowed, backing away repeatedly.

"Just give the word if you need anything."

"Hex Wei." Qiann Lan glanced at the man who had just sat down not far away, then focused her voice into a tight beam toward Zhu Ju.

"His nickname is Jackal Wolf."

"His body is fused with the genes of some powerful Exotic Beast. Once activated, his strength and speed skyrocket, but his mind descends into a frenzy. He once tore nine High-Level Martial Artists to pieces while they were still alive."

"It's likely due to the influence of those genes. Even when he's lucid, he's still cruel and bloodthirsty. The underground fighting ring run by Jackal Wolf is the most bloody and grim of them all."

These so-called underground fighting rings were, in reality, just unregulated tournament-style fights.

There were no restrictions on weight, age, or methods. As long as you took down your opponent, by any means necessary, you won.

Compared to official tournaments, underground fighting rings were filled with savagery and brutality, yet they also attracted a large following.

Vast sums of money flowed into them every day.

However, many corporations and Commerce Associations were also in this line of business. It was more of a gray market than a truly black one.

After all, many underground fighting rings even paid taxes.

"Mm."

Zhu Ju nodded.

"Is he one of the three you mentioned?"

Qiann Lan froze.

She hadn't seen Zhu Ju's mouth move, nor had any sound waves vibrated in her ear, yet a voice had appeared in her mind.

'It's as if...'

'The voice was transmitted directly into my mind through his will alone.'

"Yes."

Marveling at Zhu Ju's abilities, Qiann Lan lowered her head and continued,

"The other two are called the Doctor and Baldy. No one remembers their real names anymore."

"The Doctor has undergone mechanical modifications to his body, and he commands a team of mechanical soldiers. Back then, Boss Jiao went to great lengths to earn his approval and become his partner."

"He has a bizarre personality and is completely inhuman. Anyone who falls into his hands becomes research material. He's extremely insane and dangerous."

A trace of fear appeared on her face as she mentioned the Doctor. She paused before continuing,

"Baldy is a former mercenary, a veteran of countless battles. He has over a hundred Demon Hunters under his command. Most of the Exotic Beasts for our slaughterhouse kitchen are hunted by him and his men. But he's not good at business, so he came to us for a partnership."

"Compared to Jackal Wolf and the Doctor, his personality is relatively simple, but he's just as dangerous."

Zhu Ju slowly nodded.

'Jackal Wolf, the Doctor, Baldy...'

When these three met with Boss Jiao, it was never on Boss Jiao's territory. They always chose a neutral location.

Apparently, they knew that even if the three of them joined forces, they would be no match for Boss Jiao on his home turf.

This time was no different.

Having heard that their partner had been replaced, they had arranged to meet here at this time.

"So what you're saying is..." Zhu Ju drained his cup in one gulp, his eyes tinged with a drunken haze.

"The three of them don't each manage a separate line of business? Instead, their operations overlap? Isn't that messy?"

"Yes," Qiann Lan nodded.

"The three big shots often bickered because their subordinates encroached on each other's businesses or crossed into each other's territory. Boss Jiao was always the one to mediate. That, combined with the fact that they were weaker, is why they at least pretended to follow his orders."

"I see." Zhu Ju set down his cup and sighed.

"To repel foreign threats, one must first bring internal peace. If you want a business to grow big and strong, you must first resolve internal conflicts."

DING...

The wind chime hanging on the tavern door rang as an old man in a trench coat, leaning on a cane, slowly stepped inside.

He took off his hat and hung it to the side, then placed one hand on his chest and bowed toward Zhu Ju.

"Mr. Zhu."

"The Doctor?"

"That is I."

The Doctor smiled faintly, his expression amiable.

But Zhu Ju couldn't feel the slightest aura of a living person from him. Even the Skin and Flesh of his face was a technological product, and his eyes were composed of countless intricate circuits.

'A mechanical body!'

WHOOSH...

The tavern door was thrown open, and a night breeze swept in, carrying the smell of alcohol and hallucinogens.

A burly, broad-shouldered man stepped inside. His gaze swept over everyone present before he broke into a wide grin.

"Looks like I'm late."

He strode up to Zhu Ju, pulled over a chair, and sat down, his eyes fixed on him.

"So you're the Mr. Zhu who replaced Boss Jiao?"

"I am." Zhu Ju nodded.

"Baldy?"

"That's me."

"You have hair."

"I was bald for a while."

"Haha..." Zhu Ju laughed.

"Interesting."

He beckoned to the other two.

"Sit!"

While Zhu Ju was sizing up the trio, they were also observing him.

He was clearly right in front of them, but for some reason, the image of Zhu Ju in their eyes was incredibly blurry.

His face...

It was like it had been censored.

This technique seemed simple, but it actually utilized the refraction of light and even warped space.

As a result, others couldn't see his features clearly. Even a machine taking rapid-fire photos would be useless.

"I've called you here today for two main reasons."

Zhu Ju tapped the table, slowly sat up straight, and said in a deliberate tone,

"From this day forward, I am taking Boss Jiao's position. His former businesses now belong to me."

"The three of you..."

"Any objections?"

Jackal Wolf's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Zhu Ju like a cheetah stalking its prey.

He licked the corner of his mouth, a savage grin spreading across his face.

"I have no objection."

"It's just a change of leadership. Boss Jiao, Mr. Zhu... it makes no difference to me."

"Indeed," the Doctor chuckled.

"Mr. Zhu, are you perhaps worried we might avenge Boss Jiao?"

"You needn't worry about that. The three of us were hardly on good terms with Boss Jiao."

"I have no objection either," Baldy nodded.

"As long as it's business as usual."

Anyone who could kill Boss Jiao, and on his own territory at that, could not be underestimated, no matter what methods they used.

That being the case, it wasn't worth offending him.

The three of them hadn't gotten to where they were by being reckless. Even Jackal Wolf could weigh the pros and cons.

"Good." Zhu Ju clapped his hands lightly.

"Then let's move on to the second matter."

"The businesses you control are too numerous, too mixed-up, and too chaotic. They easily interfere with one another. So..."

"I propose that each of you manages one specific area, and leave the rest to others."

"For example."

He looked at Baldy.

"From now on, Baldy, you just focus on running the slaughterhouse kitchen. No more selling drugs or pimping."

Baldy's face darkened.

The other two's eyes also narrowed.

"Mr. Zhu."

Jackal Wolf grinned, his expression a mockery of a smile.

"It seems you don't quite understand our relationship with Boss Jiao. We were partners, not his subordinates."

"I know," Zhu Ju nodded.

"However..."

"I'm not Boss Jiao. I don't need partners. I just need you to obey."

BANG!

A gunshot rang out.

A gun barrel emerged from the Doctor's mouth, and a gleaming, brass-colored bullet shot out.

The bullet flew straight for Zhu Ju's face.

They were only a few meters apart. At the speed of a bullet, the impact should have occurred by the time the sound reached one's ears.

And yet, that gleaming bullet seemed to hang suspended in mid-air, moving toward Zhu Ju at an excruciatingly slow speed.

It was as if an invisible force field was holding it back.

The Doctor's eyes narrowed.

CRACK!

The suspended bullet suddenly split apart, scattering into hundreds of thread-thin lines of fire that shot forward.

'Scattering Armor Bullet!'

This was a bullet of the Doctor's own design, possessing immense destructive power. Even a single small one could shatter a hundred-meter-long city wall. Its concentrated explosive force was even more terrifying.

Not even a Grand Martial Master, or even a Martial Saint, could withstand a direct hit to their Physical Body.

At the same time,

two short-barreled guns suddenly appeared in Baldy's hands. Their muzzles glowed blue as they spat out two streams of all-consuming plasma.

And from under Jackal Wolf, a tail shot out, whipping upward like a sharp blade slicing toward Zhu Ju.

The tail was pitch-black and covered in fine scales. With a light swipe, it split the hard table between them in two, its sharpness was astonishing.

The moment disagreement arose, the three of them had attacked without hesitation.

SWOOSH!

A five-colored light flashed through the air, and the hundreds of fire-threads and streams of blue plasma abruptly vanished.

Jackal Wolf's tail was also knocked away by an Invisible Power.

"I've changed my mind."

Zhu Ju slowly rose, his body levitating off the ground. White smoke materialized from thin air, enveloping everyone in the room.

"Even for a business partnership, three people is too many. I only need one."

"So..."

"Whichever of you three walks out of here alive will become my... disciple!"

An Array!

The Twelve Celestial Star Array!

Relying on the Bright Void Sect's resources and the materials he had on hand, he had long since fully repaired this Tier Three Array.

A Tier Three Grand Array possessed a degree of control over space. While it might not be a guaranteed kill against a Martial Saint of this world, dealing with three Grand Martial Masters who had gone down a heretical path was no problem at all.

*

*

*

Outside the tavern, a fine rain fell like a curtain.

Qiann Lan took an umbrella from her Storage Ring, holding it sideways to shield Zhu Ju's head. She spoke tentatively,

"Are we just leaving like this?"

"Mm."

Zhu Ju strolled forward.

"Boss Jiao was backed by an Evil God, which gave him the power to help them stand against the big shots in the Inner City District."

"As for me..."

"I need to become the true god of the Underworld!"

A god...

needs no companions.

He stopped walking and looked at the projection on the skyscraper ahead, a dazed look flickering in his eyes.

"The results for the college entrance exams are out today?"

"Yes."

Qiann Lan nodded.

"This year's candidates were exceptional. In Licheng District, over twenty more students than usual were admitted to High-Level Academies. One of them, a student named Zhu Xiaoshuang, was even a promising prospect that Boss Jiao had his eye on."

"Mm." Zhu Ju nodded and glanced into the darkness.

"Whoever walks out of that tavern alive, bring him to me."

"Yes."

From the shadows, a figure bowed its head in acknowledgment.

This was Shadow, the Hidden Guard Boss Jiao had painstakingly trained, who was now Zhu Ju's enforcer.

His strength?

Grand Martial Master!