Seven days’ worth of accumulated energy allows for one trip to an Otherworld. The more trips I make, the longer I can stay.

At most,

I can stay in an Otherworld for a month!

The two Otherworlds draw from the same accumulated energy.

In other words, once I choose to expend the accumulated energy to go to one Otherworld, I won’t be able to go to the other for a short time.

"The first Otherworld is a Qi Blood Martial Arts World. I wonder what’s special about the second one?"

Zhu Ju rested his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

’From the brief glimpses I’ve had going in and out, it also seems to be an ancient era, probably not too different from the Main World.’

Shaking his head, he turned to look at the suit of armor behind him.

The Breaking Army Armor!

He acquired it later than he had expected. This was because Ye Chongshan’s Breaking Army Armor had been severely damaged in several places and had to be sent to the Prefecture City for repairs by master craftsmen before it was delivered.

The whole process took over a month.

Helmet, breastplate, elbow guards, Hand Armor, tassets, knee guards, and armored boots—the set of armor was divided into seven pieces, laid out in order. Although unworn, the dark, somber armor still emanated a sharp, murderous aura.

The armor’s design was simple and archaic, yet grand. The mottled scars across its surface bore witness to the many battles it had endured.

Without a doubt,

this was a deadly instrument of war!

"Good stuff!"

Whispering softly, Zhu Ju lightly clenched his fists, and the armor in the center of the room flew toward him like a bolt of lightning.

SWOOSH!

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG...

The various pieces of armor attached themselves to his body. In just a few breaths, Zhu Ju had become a walking iron man.

"Not bad!"

’The Elemental Magnetic Bracelets attract each other. With one part on me and the other inside the armor, all it takes is a bit of skill to don it quickly. I won’t have to worry too much when a crisis hits.’

"Time to test its strength!"

BANG!

His arm whipped forward like a soft cord, suddenly snapping taut the moment it made contact with the sword’s hilt.

His Inner Qi erupted.

The Longsword flew from the table. Guided by a Spiral Force, it carved an arc through the air and slashed toward the armor.

CLANG...

Sparks flew.

Zhu Ju swayed slightly before steadying himself. He inspected the armor, a look of delight spreading across his face.

’A Longsword infused with Inner Qi can cut through iron like mud, yet it only left a shallow mark on the Breaking Army Armor.’

’And that was without me actively channeling my Strength to deflect the force. It’s truly worthy of its price of thousands of taels of silver!’

"It’s just that..."

"its ability to mitigate concussive force is limited."

As he spoke, he waved his hand again. The Longsword, as if tied to an invisible chain, shot straight toward him in a sudden thrust.

This time,

Zhu Ju raised his arm to block it.

PING...

The Longsword was sent flying, but his body didn’t move an inch.

’Against the attack of an ordinary Inner Qi Expert, the Breaking Army Armor can block at least seventy percent of the damage. It can even weaken an attack of Inner Qi Release by fifty percent.’

’No wonder Ye Chongshan could wear this armor and withstand a master of Qi Circulation.’

His own strength was, of course, no match for Ye Chongshan’s in his prime. After all, one was at the peak of Inner Qi Release, while the other was still in the Nurturing Inner Qi Realm.

But,

Zhu Ju was now confident enough that, while wearing the Breaking Army Armor, he wouldn’t fear even an expert of Inner Qi Release.

"A pity!"

As the thought crossed his mind, he sighed with a touch of insatiable greed.

’It’s a bit too heavy.’

Weighing several hundred pounds, it was like having several burly men strapped to his body. While his Defensive Power was increased, his movement speed would definitely be restricted.

If not for his Cultivation of a Top-Notch Hard Skill like the Thirteen Body Refinement, which mitigated the effects in the short term, any other Inner Qi Martial Artist would collapse from exhaustion after running for just a moment in such heavy armor.

He lifted his hands and wiggled his ten fingers. The form-fitting Hand Armor felt like wearing a pair of stiff gloves.

His movements were still flexible, but to expect them to be the same as without the armor would be a fool’s dream.

"It’s time to take a trip to the second Otherworld."

*

*

*

A donkey cart slowly entered the county town. A middle-aged Scholar sat cross-legged on the cart, holding a folding fan and tapping it against his palm.

"Who would have thought!"

"To think that in such a remote place, there are still descendants of our same clan."

"My lord," the driver said with his head bowed.

"The Zhou Family here came from Dingyuan Prefecture over a hundred years ago. They should be from the line of the Sixth Great Ancestor."

"The Sixth Great Ancestor..." The middle-aged Scholar stroked his chin.

"A nearly forgotten figure. No wonder they haven’t been discovered all these years. What luck."

"Let’s go!"

"We’ll head straight there."

"Yes, my lord." The driver complied, flicking the reins. The donkey cart turned into a small alley and headed directly for the Zhou Mansion.

「Soon.」

In the guest hall of the Zhou Mansion.

Patriarch Zhou, Zhou Yangyun, looked at the middle-aged Scholar with suspicion in his eyes.

"My name is Jianmi, and I share your surname."

Zhou Jianmi fanned himself, his smile warm and gentle.

"I come from the Capital City!"

’The Capital City?’

Zhou Yangyun’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively glanced at his father and saw Mr. Zhou’s face darken.

"That’s right."

Zhou Jianmi smiled. "The Royal Family of the Capital City. To think that there are still kinsmen of the same bloodline here, thousands of miles away."

"Hmph!"

Mr. Zhou snorted coldly. "For over a hundred years, the Leping Zhou Family has sent letters according to clan rules, hoping to be reinstated into the family registry."

"But we never once received a reply!"

"Now that the Imperial Court is in turmoil and the Royal Family has fallen on hard times, you suddenly remember you have kinsmen here."

Zhou Yangyun nodded, his face tense.

’If the Leping County Zhou Family had the backing of the imperial surname, the early years wouldn’t have been so difficult. Especially when they first arrived in Leping County, they nearly faced extinction several times, but no one came to help.’

’Only showing up when you’re in trouble. Where were you before?’

"We are one family, let’s not speak as outsiders. The clan has indeed wronged you in the past, so we will offer appropriate compensation." Zhou Jianmi’s expression remained unchanged as he took a booklet from his robes and placed it gently on the table.

"Please take a look, elder brother."

He wasn’t old, but his generational standing was high, on the same level as Mr. Zhou.

"The Silent Extinction Path of Evil Death?" Mr. Zhou frowned.

"A Cultivation Technique?"

"Correct!" Zhou Jianmi nodded.

"Elder brother should know that the Cultivation Methods in this world are roughly divided into Arts, Skills, Methods, and Daos. Among them, the Methods that point directly to the Great Dao are the most supreme."

"And this Silent Extinction and Fierce Death..."

He pointed a finger at the booklet.

"...is a Daoist Scripture that leads directly to the path of life, death, and silent extinction. It is an extremely rare text, even among the Immortal Dao Sects."

"Impossible!" Zhou Yangyun shouted.

"Don’t take us for fools! If it were real, how could something like this possibly fall into our hands?"

"There is a reason, of course." Zhou Jianmi’s smile didn’t waver.

"Although this technique is powerful, it has flaws. A careless practitioner is very likely to fall into the Demon Dao. Furthermore, the Cultivation Technique is incomplete; it can only be cultivated to the Innate Realm at most."

"But it also has its benefits!"

He looked at Mr. Zhou and said,

"Not only can this technique greatly increase a Cultivator’s power, but it can also extend their life!"

Hm?

Mr. Zhou’s expression changed slightly.

He was already seventy-eight this year. He had damaged his foundation in fights during his younger years, and even taking Great Medicine was of no use.

’If I could extend my life...’

"Is that true?"

"Naturally." Zhou Jianmi said.

"If you don’t believe me, elder brother, you’ll know whether it’s true or false with a single glance."

Half-convinced and half-doubting, Mr. Zhou picked up the booklet. After flipping it open and glancing at just one page, his expression changed dramatically.

’Every word is a pearl!’

In a trance, it seemed as if some great universal Dao was manifesting before his very eyes.

"A Daoist Scripture?"

Mr. Zhou’s cheek twitched, his expression contorting.

"It’s real!"

In truth, he couldn’t fully comprehend the Cultivation Technique in the book, but something so profound had to be an artifact of the Immortal Family, not some Mortal Grade item.

"Hehe..." Zhou Jianmi laughed.

"Elder brother possesses a Cultivation at the peak of Inner Qi Release. If you can master Silent Extinction and Fierce Death, you will surely achieve Qi Circulation, and perhaps even reach the Innate Realm."

"At that time, who in this mere Leping County could possibly be your match?"

"Worthy Brother Jianmi, don’t underestimate the people of this world." Having received a benefit, Mr. Zhou grinned broadly, his form of address changing as well.

"That old fossil from the Sunx Family is also at the Realm of Qi Circulation. If not for his hidden ailments, his family would have long since dominated this county."

"Oh!" Zhou Jianmi raised an eyebrow.

"A master of Qi Circulation in a single county town. That is rare."

The Fourth Realm of Strength, with its four stages of Entering the Realm, Minor Success, Great Success, and Perfection, can be fully achieved as long as one has the Cultivation Technique and resources.

But the Three Realms of Inner Qi—Nurturing Inner Qi, Inner Qi Release, and Qi Circulation—each present a significant hurdle.

An expert of Qi Circulation is a major figure even in a Prefecture City.

"Heh..." Mr. Zhou lightly stroked his beard.

"There are always special cases. A few years ago, this county even produced an expert who comprehended a Martial Arts Realm. If he hadn’t died young, he might have even had a chance at becoming Innate."

"Worthy brother!"

He clutched the booklet tightly and said,

"Can the younger generation of the Zhou Family cultivate this technique?"

"A Method is not to be taught lightly." Zhou Jianmi frowned.

"Especially a Wonderful Dharma like this. If people obtain it without paying a price, they won’t know to cherish it."

"However..."

"The Cultivation Technique is already yours, elder brother. I will not inquire as to how you handle it."

...

CREAK...

The door closed.

"My lord," the driver asked with his head bowed.

"You just gave him the Cultivation Technique like that? What if he doesn’t practice it?"

"Rest assured, he will cultivate it." Zhou Jianmi wore the same faint smile as always.

"Some people fear death more the older they get. As long as they can extend their life, they’ll do anything you ask."

"He will first have his descendants cultivate it. When he sees their strength advance by leaps and bounds, he will naturally start himself."

"Hehehe..."

"The Cultivation Technique is real, and extending life and increasing strength are also real. But I’m afraid he will never understand..."

"The Great Dao... is poisonous!"

The more Zhou Jianmi thought about the consequences of cultivating Silent Extinction and Fierce Death, the more brilliant his smile became.

"When that time comes, Leping County is sure to become very interesting."

"I’m really looking forward to it!"