Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Jiang Ding’s trembling hand clicked on the entry for Taiqing Spirit Iron in front of Magic Arts-Breaking Immortal Gold on the encyclopedia.

”Established with propriety and justice, created with Taiqing. Mysterious Scripture of Taiqing: Taiqing represents the way of heaven.”

”Taiqing Spirit Iron, an ultimate Immortal Gold of the soul path, obtaining it can enhance the foundation of the divine soul; other details are unknown, it was originally produced on Jiandaoshan Mountain of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion, one of the Nine Great Immortal Sects from the Outer Realm, taking ten thousand years to form one tael, and Taoist disciples appeared every ten thousand years.

In the year 8526, it was annihilated by the Xianmen Sect, and since then it has become extinct.”

Numbed.

Jiang Ding was completely numbed.

Even though Magic Arts-Breaking Immortal Gold is precious, with the backing of the Xianmen Sect, it is hoped that Nascent Soul Monks can still obtain it, but this Taiqing Spirit Iron that improves the divine soul’s foundation is a treasure that even Divinity Transformation Cultivators would covet desperately, to no avail.

”Zhen Sect’s Art, Zhen Sect’s Art.”

Jiang Ding sighed deeply, ”Even for a major sect like the Nine Great Immortal Sects from the Outer Realm, only the chosen ones like Sword Boys and Taoist disciples, who appear once in ten thousand years, have the qualifications to cultivate the ’Sword Cultivation Method’ during their mortal lifetimes.”

”It’s possible to forge a Supreme Immortal Base, with hopes for the great Dao!”

Jiang Ding looked on with fervent eyes.

Struggling with his talents, cultivation was difficult for him. If he could refine this fundamental sword, he might rise in the future and not be inferior to the chosen ones.

No wonder the Great Sun Sword Pavilion attacked the Xianmen Sect so frantically, sparing no casualties, and in the end, the sect perished, and they all died.

The mouse scrolled, and the screen moved downward.

His breathing quickened slightly.

”Taiqing Spirit Iron mine. Its color is mystical. Also with white specks like stars, divine substances conceal themselves; found by cultivators, they cannot be seen, but if a mortal approaches, there will be a faint singing sound, listening to it can lead to the enlightenment of laws.”

Jiang Ding’s heart was tumultuous as he tried to maintain composure on his face.

”Is it a coincidence?”

”Why does this sound so much like the Heavenly Sound Stone that was stolen from the Qixuan School? No, there are countless ores that give off singing sounds. The possibility of it being Taiqing Spirit Iron is extremely low.”

”Extremely low, why is it extremely low!”

He roared in his heart.

”Why would a treasure that can travel through worlds specifically bring me there? Is that also a coincidence?”

It took well over ten minutes before Jiang Ding managed to calm himself down and continue looking through the cultivation methods.

Page by page, the speed at which he flipped through the book got faster and faster until he finally jumped to the end.

”I don’t understand.”

Jiang Ding had to admit reluctantly.

Although ’Sword Cultivation Method’ is a method of the ’Law’ level, it is derived from the ’Scriptures’ and is extremely difficult. It is not something that a high school student could comprehend.

This technique belongs to the top chosen ones.

”However, there were some gains. Professor Zhang Junsheng from Qingfeng University made archaeological deductions of a secondary sword refining method, using Thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood and Geng Metal as substitutes. It is possible for Golden Pill Monks to obtain it…”

”But it’s all the same to me, all too unattainable.”

With a sigh, the sky outside was pitch black.

Jiang Ding glanced at the time. It was already past nine o’clock in the evening. It would be just right to go back, practice his sword a few times, and then go to sleep.

…

The sunlight lazily shone through.

The tree canopy blocked the light as Jiang Ding leaned back in a lounge chair, holding a thick book that was temporarily printed from copy paper, with a few unintelligible words on it.

”Shenxiao’s Hundred-Step Flying Sword”.

He took photos and uploaded them to the library, earning 20 points. This was the most basic; there were other methods such as translating, correcting, and other ways to earn library points, which he was not capable of doing.

Unexpectedly, in just a few days, the book had been translated completely.

Jiang Ding guessed that library points were also precious to High-Level Cultivators, who could use them to submit calculation requests related to their own cultivation methods and artifacts to the Central Array Spirit Computer.

Nobody’s wisdom should be underestimated.

For example, this ”Shenxiao Hundred Step Flying Sword” was divided into three layers: Talisman Sword, Wood Sword, and Iron Sword.

In the early stage, blood is used as ink, spiritual talisman paper is written on, folded, then continuously refined with essence blood until it can be controlled as one, eventually producing a talisman seed.

The talisman seed is integrated into a spiritual plant seed, watered with potent medicinal spirit fluid, and after years of growth, a spiritual plant connected to one’s own blood is produced.

It is then cut down and used to forge a wood sword. The wood sword continuously integrates essence blood and metallic essence until it finally becomes an iron sword that even a Xiantian Martial Artist can use to kill.

One’s own essence blood must not be expended in large amounts.

Jiang Ding thought, familiarizing himself with the process wouldn’t hurt.

Thump-thump!

After a couple of light knocks on the door, Huang Deyou came in, holding a ledger and stepping carefully.

”Master, there are only three taels of silver left in our shop. Here is the account book, please take a look…”

Over time, he had come to understand the mysterious comings and goings of this young proprietor. Therefore, he didn’t take the liberty of entering the backyard without permission, and today he had finally found the man.

”Hmm, please wait a moment.”

What made Huang Deyou’s heart skip a beat was that the seemingly nonchalant young hero actually took the ledger and flipped through it page by page.

In the area invisible to Huang, Jiang Ding used his invisible glasses to project a micro-computer of a tactical camouflage suit, compiling a spreadsheet that corresponded income, expenditure, inventory, and summaries respectively.

After about ten minutes or so, Jiang Ding took out paper and a pen and wrote down a total of seven account figures, which he then passed forward.

Upon one glance, Huang Deyou immediately broke into a cold sweat.

’On March 2 of the Yuanhe sixty-seventh year, one Purple Spiritual Plant was recorded as earning one wen. Why hasn’t it been received?’

”On March 1 of the Yuanhe sixty-seventh year…”

One by one, each sum accounted for, some by hundreds of wen, and others by one or two wen—all were pinpoint accurate, even clearer than his own bookkeeping.

”Master, please spare my life…”

Huang Deyou’s knees buckled, and he knelt down to beg, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.

Such embezzlement didn’t even require Jiang Ding’s intervention; just spreading the word would ensure that Huang could never find a decent job again in this lifetime.

This was a mistake born of experience.

Who would have known that a Jianghu young hero, who clearly had an extraordinary background, would scrutinize the ledgers in such detail, not overlooking even a single wen, and actually manage to find discrepancies.

”It’s no trouble.”

Jiang Ding handed him a four-column bookkeeping spreadsheet: ”Fill this out yourself. From now on, use this format for the accounts, and besides, I’ll soon replenish the silver in the accounting room.”

Everyone has a tendency to take their chances.

He himself was no different, sometimes nearly unable to resist the urge to be lazy and skip a sword practice session.

But once is human nature, twice is inexcusable.

”Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master! I would repay you by serving as your ox or horse in my next life!”

Huang Deyou was ecstatic, kowtowing repeatedly.

Jiang Ding waved his hand dismissively: ”Don’t be like that, I don’t like it. Go back to work.”

After Huang Deyou left, Jiang Ding gently caressed the hilt of his sword and, for the second time in more than two weeks, stepped out of the back door of his yard.

Compared to his first visit, the front yard had undergone many changes.

The main hall had a counter that still smelled faintly of lacquer with Huang Deyou sitting behind it, and beside him was an apprentice he had recruited, specifically to record the existing collection of plant specimens.

In front of the counter were a few herb collectors selling specimens, occasionally arguing over their completeness.

The other areas, like the front door, the floor, and the windows, had been renovated, and a new signboard read Lanban Street Grocery Store.

Noticing his emergence, Huang Deyou hurried forward to greet him but was stopped by a wave of Jiang Ding’s hand.

Wandering down the street, Jiang Ding deftly avoided puddles and brushed past the bustling crowd. He tried to become accustomed to the occasional foul odors that wafted through the air.

Suddenly, Jiang Ding spotted a few familiar figures, his steps quickened, and he approached them.

Liu Qi, who was having tea by the street, forced a smile uglier than crying: ”Hero, I swear to heaven, my brothers and I really haven’t taken advantage of your store recently.”

After being seriously injured by a sword that day, he didn’t dare report it to his gang, thinking it was just an ordinary merchant who showed up on their turf, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Now seeing Jiang Ding, Liu Qi’s legs trembled uncontrollably.

”I need a favor from you,” said Jiang Ding with a smile. ”I want to go to the Sihai Business Association, but I’m unfamiliar with the area. Could you send a brother to show me the way?”

Liu Qi sighed in relief and pointed to a bushy-browed man beside him, ”It’s a small matter. Xiao Liu, go lead the way for the young hero!”

After crossing the junction where the dirt road met the stone-paved street, the path once again became spacious and tidy.

Xiao Liu was quite talkative, leading Jiang Ding through twists and turns, occasionally pointing out famous restaurants, brothels, and gambling dens along the way.

”Please look, Hero, this is Jinlong Business Association, and just over a hundred steps from here is the Sihai Business Association,” Xiao Liu said, gesturing to an opulent six-story business building: ”The Jinlong Business Association is much more well-known here in Dongling City than the Sihai Business Association, they have ample goods, and the prices are somewhat cheaper, though their reputation is a bit lacking.”

”Reputation?” inquired Jiang Ding, curious.

”I’ve heard that some customers have bought counterfeit medicinal materials here. They have no scruples about what goods they buy or sell, attracting many underworld figures, and there have even been fatalities,” Xiao Liu hurried to add, ”Of course, this is just what we brothers in the gang say to each other, it might not be entirely true.”

After a while, a three-story building appeared on the street, its signboard written with the gilded characters ’Sihai Business Association.’

Compared to Jinlong Business Association’s lavish opulence, the Sihai Business Association looked more understated and tasteful. With a water pond in front and trees and rocks inside, it had a harmonious feng shui appeal.

Xiao Liu respectfully said, ”Hero, this is the Sihai Business Association.”

”Mmm, thank you,” responded Jiang Ding.

He took out a piece of silver, roughly worth a hundred wen, and handed it to Xiao Liu.

Xiao Liu was overjoyed: ”Thank you for the reward, Hero!”

Though they received a monthly stipend by the tael, the vast majority of it was taken by those above them. They hardly had any left at the end of the month. The occasional meat and drink were far from enough.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have immediately attempted to extort a newly opened shop. Such short-sighted actions would surely bring trouble if the gang’s higher-ups found out.