Zhu Wu brought Zhou Rui to the small town.
After resting for a little while, seeing that dusk was falling, he left the town and headed toward the small earthen mound.
With his true qi circulating, a palm-sized box landed in his hand.
"Huh? It won't open?" Zhu Wu pressed and pried, but the box remained as solid as a single piece with no movement at all.
"It seems to have a restriction on it. It probably takes a Nascent Soul Stage expert to open it," Zhou Rui said after trying it a few times.
"Did a young girl leave this for you?" Zhou Rui sounded slightly jealous.
"How did you know?"
"This little box is exquisitely crafted and has a faint scent of powder and cosmetics. If it wasn't a young girl, could it be some grown man?" Certain of her answer, Zhou Rui looked somewhat aggrieved.
Zhu Wu paid no attention to Zhou Rui's feelings and put the box away into his storage ring.
"Let's go. We're heading back first."
The entire journey passed in silence.
The next day.
"I plan to go to the capital to find my master," Zhou Rui said, seemingly having made up her mind as she looked at Zhu Wu. "Are you... coming with me?"
"No. I want to break through to the Golden Core Stage first," Zhu Wu said.
"You're already at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. If you go to the capital, you might break through very quickly," Zhou Rui said.
"It's not that easy. The environment I need for my breakthrough is different," Zhu Wu said.
"By the way, I've always felt your true qi is unusual. Are you of the five spiritual roots?" Zhou Rui asked.
"Maybe. I was tested simply once, but I'm not sure," Zhu Wu replied.
"How long do you reckon... it will take you to make the breakthrough?" Zhou Rui asked again.
"Maybe three to five days, maybe three to five years," Zhu Wu said, unable to say for sure.
"If it's three to five days, where do you plan to go for your breakthrough?" Zhou Rui asked with a glimmer of expectation.
"A ruin—an ancient tomb."
"There? Such a disgusting place? There might even be danger... Uh... I'll go with you," Zhou Rui thought for a moment.
"In case those black-robed men from last time show up again, I can guard your back," Zhou Rui said.
"Hmm. Very well. Then let's wait two more days to let the Li Family calm down a bit first," Zhu Wu said.
"By the way, you should disguise yourself too. You're so pretty; you'll stand out too much if you go out like this."
"All right." Hearing herself called pretty, Zhou Rui smiled happily.
In the inn's main lobby.
A few tables of guests were eating, drinking, and chatting.
"Hey, have you all heard? There's going to be a martial arts tournament in the Capital next month."
"The Li Family is recruiting retainers on a large scale, requiring the Golden Core Stage or above. The Zhang Family is doing the same."
"Come to think of it, these two families usually have nothing to do with each other in the Capital, yet this time they've suddenly gotten in bed with the Wang Family."
"There are five major families in the Capital: Zhang, Li, Zhao, Chen, and Wang. With three of them forming an alliance and heavily recruiting troops, I wonder if some secret realm is about to open."
"The secret realm opening in the Capital next month is just a minor secret realm; there's really no need for an alliance."
"I heard the Wang Family and the Chen Family are not on good terms. I wonder if this is to deal with the Chen Family."
"The two families haven't had any bad blood recently, so it shouldn't be necessary."
"There hasn't been any recently, but I heard that over a dozen years ago they fell out over a marriage alliance between the two houses."
"The Wang Family wouldn't hold a grudge for so many years, would they?"
"Could it be that the Li Family intends to deal with the Mobei City Lord's Mansion?"
"The Mobei City Lord's Mansion has backers in the capital. Those three families wouldn't dare, would they?"
"Have you guys heard? The eighth young master of the Li Family is dead."
"That spoiled brat? Good riddance."
"Shh, walls have ears. The Li Family has always been petty."
"Now that you mention it, didn't a young master of the Zhang Family die a year or two ago as well?"
"Hey, now that you mention it, could their alliance be to avenge these two young masters?"
"It's possible. I heard this Li young master died at the hands of someone named Zhu Wu. I wonder if the Zhang young master was the same?"
"I heard the Zhang young master was killed by a monster beast while exploring a minor sect's secret realm."
"That Zhu Wu is said to be from just a minor sect."
"Could it be that both incidents are indeed related to Zhu Wu?"
"Does anyone here know Zhu Wu? What kind of person is he?"
"He's quite famous around Mobei City. In a previous secret realm expedition, he killed someone across a major boundary realm."
"Being able to kill across realms, he probably isn't from a minor sect, right?"
"Who knows..."
"..."
Listening as they ate, Zhu Wu and Zhou Rui quickly finished their meal and went out for a stroll.
There was no spiritual Qi to speak of in the small town, making it unsuitable for cultivation, so wandering the streets was far more practical.
Two days later, taking advantage of the cover of night, Zhou Rui used her flying sword to carry Zhu Wu back to the ancient tomb.
The night was already deep.
The stench of blood inside the tomb remained pungent, and Zhu Wu circulated his true qi to dissipate the smell.
After waiting for an hour, seeing that dawn was approaching and there were no changes in the coffin, the two of them let down their guard.
"It shouldn't appear now. Go ahead and cultivate, I'll keep watch," Zhou Rui said, staring at Zhu Wu.
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
Zhu Wu circulated his true qi and began to cultivate.
Two hours passed, and his true qi was exhausted. Zhu Wu reined in his true qi and stopped cultivating.
"Eighth Realm - Illusory Moon"
The "Nirvana Myriad Thunders" had reached Great Accomplishment.
His base realm had loosened somewhat, but it was still a bit lacking.
"Done? You didn't break through?" Zhou Rui asked worriedly.
"No, but I've made some progress. I still need to go out for practical combat and tempering first," Zhu Wu said.
"Then..."
"I'll send you to the capital," Zhu Wu interrupted Zhou Rui.
"How about I go back to the City Lord's Mansion and wait until you break through before we go together?" Zhou Rui suggested.
"Better not. In case that Li Family makes a move against the City Lord's Mansion, they might not be able to protect you well," Zhu Wu replied.
For a long while, no one spoke.
Somewhere in the ruins.
"Let's part ways right here," Zhu Wu said.
"Then break through as soon as you can. I'll wait for you in the capital," Zhou Rui said.
"Alright."
Zhou Rui flew away on her sword.
Zhu Wu put on his mask and hurried toward the capital.
The capital was much more prosperous than Mobei City, and there were quite a few minor and major sects. The main sect of the Moon Shadow Sect was also located here.
Because of this, he had no choice but to wear a mask.
Entering the capital required no registration.
This was because ordinary cultivators did not dare to cause trouble in the city, and those who dared to cause trouble didn't need to register anyway.
The City Lord's Mansion.
It also offered some tasks. Perhaps because Zhu Wu's previous tasks in Mobei City had all received special attention and higher rewards, the rewards for these tasks felt miserably low in comparison.
Moreover, not seeing any suitable tasks, Zhu Wu shook his head and gave up the idea of taking on any assignments.
Many chain establishments had the same names across various cities; the only major differences were their scale.
The Pill Pavilion. Countless varieties of medicinal pills were held within.
The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Idlers forbidden to enter.
The Heavenly Fragrance Tower. Patrons constantly walking in and out.
The Carefree Tower. Laughter and cheer filled the air.
The estates of the major aristocratic families saw a constant stream of carriages and horses.
Ordinary households kept their doors tightly shut.
Along the main streets, peddlers and laborers from all corners of the country mingled with cultivators from various sects who had come down the mountains for practical tempering.
Zhu Wu strolled around for a day, but failed to find where the black market was, so he temporarily sought out a small inn to stay at.
"Little Immortal, what would you like to eat or drink?" The innkeeper greeted him with a smile, leading Zhu Wu to a table and seating him.
"Just bring me... some monster beast meat."
Zhu Wu suddenly remembered how Xie Li ordered her food.
"Coming right up. Is the Little Immortal here to participate in the martial arts tournament?" The innkeeper waved his hand toward the back and then asked Zhu Wu.
"That's right, can you tell?" Zhu Wu asked in return.
"Of course. Lately, there are only two kinds of strangers coming to the capital: those participating in the tournament, and those watching it. Seeing your extraordinary demeanor, you must be a contestant," the innkeeper flattered.
"Enjoy your meal, Immortal."
"Does the Immortal need to know any relevant information about this tournament?" The innkeeper paused and asked.
"What information?" Zhu Wu began to eat slowly.
"For instance, who among the current participants are expected to win the championship, which sects they come from, their master's teachings, and cultivation techniques, and so on," the innkeeper introduced.
"Does it cost spirit stones?"
"It's a complimentary gift if you stay at the inn," the innkeeper said.
"That's great then. Give me a room."
"Right away, I'll have it arranged for you right now. Please enjoy your meal first." With that, the innkeeper went off busily to attend to other customers.
The attendant led Zhu Wu to his room and was about to leave.
"Do you know where the black market is?" Zhu Wu asked softly.
The attendant looked around and replied in a low voice, "Just go to the northeast of the city and ask around, and you'll find out. By the way, they usually only come out at night."
The attendant went downstairs to attend to the guests.
Zhu Wu looked around the room. A booklet lay on the table, containing information on the main tournament participants mentioned earlier.
Zhu Wu flipped through it casually until he saw that the sky had grown dark. Then he headed out.
A few cultivators walked back and forth on the street as if taking a stroll, occasionally exchanging a few words about domestic trivia.
A cultivator walked toward Zhu Wu and greeted him, "Where are you from, little brother? Do you need a room?"
"No. Just looking around," Zhu Wu said, turning his head to look around.
"What is it that little brother wants? Magical treasures, medicinal pills, or cultivation techniques?"
"What do you have?"
"I don't have any, but I know where they are. Three low-grade spirit stones."
"Alright."
After making several twists and turns, the cultivator led Zhu Wu into a hidden space where Zhu Wu changed into a different mask.
This place was much larger than the black market in Mobei.
At a glance, everywhere one looked were swords and magical treasures of questionable origin.
Zhu Wu found a Tier-Earth Advanced cultivation technique compatible with the wood spiritual root called "A Soldiers Grass and Trees", priced at forty middle-grade spirit stones.
There were many other good things as well. Zhu Wu originally wanted to buy some medicinal pills to further his cultivation, but unfortunately, he had run out of spirit stones.
However, whereas he previously only had healing techniques, he now possessed offensive methods. This allowed him to participate in the martial arts tournament with peace of mind without worrying about exposing his identity.
Returning to the inn, he cultivated for a single night to master the basics.
Zhu Wu took on a task to retrieve a monster beast core outside the city, using the opportunity to cultivate "A Soldiers Grass and Trees" to the Small Accomplishment stage.
"A Soldiers Grass and Trees" was just as its name implied: it allowed the user to channel true qi through their wood spiritual root to mobilize every blade of grass and tree in the surroundings for their own use. Even without vegetation, true qi could be used to directly materialize them, but that consumed too much true qi and should not be used unless absolutely necessary.
Three Tier-Seven monster beasts known as Mountain-Moving Apes were gathered in front of a cave.
The present-day Zhu Wu could easily kill them.
After retrieving the beast cores, he discovered a spiritual herb inside the cave.
"This trip wasn't wasted," Zhu Wu thought to himself as he carefully plucked the Tier-Six spiritual herb, Earth Ganoderma.
Ganoderma came in fire, earth, wood, and water varieties, and it was said that refining them together yielded even better results.
"Greetings, fellow daoist!" A crisp voice reached his ears.
Zhu Wu turned his head to see a graceful female cultivator standing outside, looking as striking as a bright flower in the forest.
"Might fellow daoist be willing to part with the Earth Ganoderma? I will exchange other spiritual herbs of equal value for it." The female cultivator's eyes seemed to hold affection as she asked with anticipation.
"I can. I wonder what you have to trade?" Zhu Wu thought for a moment; he had no immediate use for spiritual herbs for his cultivation anyway, and besides, the person opposite him was a great beauty.
"Snow lotus flower, green egret fruit, crimson flower fruit, white crow seed..." The female cultivator rattled off a dozen kinds of spiritual herbs and fruits in one breath.
"Uh... it seems none of those are things I can use," Zhu Wu said.
"This... I have an urgent need for this item. I wonder what fellow daoist's needs are? Tell me about them, and perhaps I can help." The female cultivator seemed to grow somewhat urgent.
"Spirit stones are fine too." Zhu Wu thought about it; lately, he had far too many places where he needed spirit stones.
"Well, I don't have enough on me right now. If fellow daoist trusts me, can you wait until I return to the city and borrow some from my senior martial brothers?" the female cultivator said.
"I'm heading back to the city right now, we can go together," Zhu Wu said.
"Well, I wanted to refine it right here. Going back to the city would waste more time." The female cultivator thought for a moment, took out a jade pendant, and asked, "This is an heirloom of my family. Can it serve as a temporary pledge? I'll come back to retrieve it after returning to the city."
"That works too." Zhu Wu thought for a moment, accepted the jade pendant, and hung it from his belt.
"Many thanks, fellow daoist!" The female cultivator cupped her fists and bowed.
"Then see you in the city!" Zhu Wu strode off.
"Eh, Foundation Establishment Stage?" The female cultivator looked puzzled for a moment, then walked into the cave to begin refining the Earth Ganoderma.
"This martial arts tournament aims to recruit heroes from all over the world, not to fight for fame and fortune. Therefore, stop at the moment of victory and do not injure lives."
"Of course, the top ten will all receive extra rewards, which you all probably already know."
"The tournament will be held for a total of three days. Those who win on the first day can participate in the second day's matches, and those who win on the second day will participate in the third day's matches."
"Participants may go up onto the stage themselves in a moment. In principle, each person has only one opportunity to take the stage. If recommended by elders of major sects or if someone transfers their opportunity to them, they may take the stage one more time. At most, no more than twice."
"Higher realms are not allowed to challenge lower realms unless the lower-realm party permits it. Lower realms are allowed to challenge higher realms."
"..."
An administrator was explaining some basic rules on the high platform.
Gathered around the martial training platform were rogue cultivators and sect disciples from all over, as well as onlookers who had simply come to watch the excitement, standing far away in the outer circle.
Seated at the front of the martial training platform were certain young masters and managers of the major aristocratic families.
They had come specifically to screen for the cultivators they needed.
"Next, the martial arts tournament begins..."
"I'll go first!" A bulky man shoved aside the cultivator next to him and leaped onto the martial training platform.
"I—" The bulky man was about to introduce himself.
"Cut the crap, nobody cares about the loser." Before the bulky man could finish his self-introduction, another cultivator leaped up. "Let's just start directly! Only by winning until the end do you qualify to register!"
Sure enough, within a few moves, the bulky man was knocked off the martial training platform.
"Next group..." The administrator noted down the winner and spoke.
An hour passed, and nearly half of the participants had gone.
Zhu Wu leaped up.
"Foundation Establishment Late Stage?"
"Even this kind of person can get on stage? Is there anyone left at the Foundation Establishment Stage here?"
"Could he actually be hoping to make it into the top ten?"
"Whoever goes up against him is getting a huge bargain, isn't that right?"
The crowd beneath the stage murmured in surprise and discussion.
"Wait, what he has hanging from his belt looks like Senior Sister's jade pendant..." suddenly said one cultivator.
"Senior Sister's jade pendant? Are you sure?"
"I practically follow Senior Sister every day, I can't be mistaken."
"Then I'm going up to get some clarity." With that, he leaped onto the stage.
"A Golden Core Late Stage cultivator fighting a Foundation Establishment Late Stage one? That's a difference of a major boundary realm!"
"Isn't that Golden Core a bit of a bully? To say the least, even a Golden Core Early Stage would be better."
"..."
"I didn't come on stage to challenge you, I just want to confirm something with you: where did you get the jade pendant at your waist?" The Golden Core Late Stage cultivator asked, trying his best to suppress his surging anger.
"Oh? You recognize this jade pendant?" Sensing a trace of killing intent from his opponent, Zhu Wu turned his head and looked down at the stage.
"Didn't I see that female cultivator earlier? They seem to be from the same sect, right? Why did I sense a hint of killing intent? Was it my imagination?" Zhu Wu thought to himself.
"Speak! Where on earth did you get it, or else I won't be polite to you!" The Golden Core Late Stage cultivator grew somewhat frantic.
"A young lady gave it to me," Zhu Wu replied truthfully, unsure whether the other was friend or foe.
"Nonsense, my senior sister never gives things to people, let alone her personal jade pendant! Speak, what did you do to my senior sister?" The Golden Core Late Stage cultivator's true qi surged; he already had the intent to make a move.
"She really did give it to me. If she's your senior sister, just go ask her and you'll know," Zhu Wu replied helplessly.
"Is this jealousy? I don't want to get mixed up in this kind of dispute... it's not like I don't have a dao companion..." Zhu Wu muttered inwardly.
"I don't believe it! I follow my junior sister every day, and we only parted ways the day before yesterday. How could you possibly have met my junior sister in two days, and even gotten her to give you her jade pendant? Speak!"
A higher realm could not attack a lower realm unless the other party agreed.
"I already said she gave it to me, and she'll be looking for me later..." Zhu Wu wanted to make things clear, but unfortunately he hadn't chosen his words well.
"What, she's even looking for you?! Do you accept my challenge?!" The Golden Core Late Stage cultivator asked, suppressing his rage.
"If you want to challenge me, fine." Zhu Wu couldn't be bothered to explain further.
"Fire Meteor!"
Fire Meteor was a technique commonly used by cultivators because it was simple to cultivate and had decent offensive effects.
Before Zhu Wu could even prepare himself, the Golden Core Late Stage cultivator's attack had already arrived.
"Drifting Dragon Steps!"
Zhu Wu narrowly dodged it.
"Azure Underworld Sword!"
"Prairie Fire!"
"Fire Meteor!"
Attack after attack rained down, giving Zhu Wu no chance to catch his breath at all.
"You're really pushing your luck!" Zhu Wu was getting annoyed by this unreasonable assault.
"Illusory Moon!"
"Yueying!"
"Illusory Moon! Illusory Moon!"
"A Soldiers Grass and Trees!"
In an instant, vines wrapped tightly around the Golden Core Late Stage cultivator's ankles, and thousands of grass blades shot out like a volley of ten thousand arrows.
Taking advantage of the moment the Golden Core Late Stage cultivator dodged, an even thicker vine whipped past and flung him right off the martial training platform.
"I used both the illusion technique I just broke through with and the newly cultivated technique on you; you're quite lucky. Since I'm not yet sure if you're a friend or a foe, I'll let you off this once," Zhu Wu thought to himself.
The Golden Core Late Stage cultivator never expected a Foundation Establishment Late Stage opponent to possess such strength. Lowering his guard for a split second, he was swept right off the platform just like that.
This made his anger flare up even more violently.
To get back on the stage, someone had to transfer their opportunity to him.
"Junior brother, give me your chance. I'm going to teach him a real lesson!" The Golden Core Late Stage cultivator returned to the group and said to one of them.
"Senior brother, this isn't a good idea. How am I supposed to explain this if the elders ask?" said the other fellow apprentice, who was also at the Golden Core Late Stage.
They seemed to treat this tournament as practical training, and the elders had assigned each of them tasks to vie for a certain ranking.
If he gave away his chance, he wouldn't be able to participate in the tournament to secure a ranking.
Since the elders were not present, they couldn't directly vouch for him to gain an extra turn on stage.
"Calm down, senior brother. I think we should wait until junior sister comes back before deciding," another person said.
Glaring fiercely at Zhu Wu, who was walking down from the stage, the Golden Core Late Stage cultivator slowly sat down.