Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

After a long while, people recovered from their shock.

”’Dream Eating Sword Demon’ Jiang Ding, who is this senior? Hei Jin took so many people to encircle and kill him, could there be some deep-seated hatred?”

This was many people’s first reaction.

”Hahaha, serve him right, the vendetta of my family has finally been avenged.”

”In my opinion, this is infighting within the Demon School. They often kill each other more brutally than they kill those from the Righteous Path.”

Suddenly, someone shrieked.

”Look quickly! It’s not a senior!”

”At the bottom, the very bottom one!”

Everyone shifted their gaze as instructed and were immediately shocked.

Rank four, ’Dream Eating Sword Demon’ Jiang Ding, Internal Qi Perfection, unclear heritage, unknown origins, suspected of having received the millennia-old inheritance of Master Qixuan from the Qixuan School, crafting a Hundred Step Flying Sword.

Rumors say his Cultivation Method advances by consuming the essence of myriad butterflies, then using it to devour human souls.”

”Achievements: annihilating Fierce Tiger Village, slaying ’Dongshan Mountain Flying Tiger’ Lu Jingtian and his six tigers, killing hundreds of Fierce Tiger Village’s inhabitants; in a battle on Donglingshan Mountain, killed Dragon and Phoenix List rank twelve ’Black Flame Blade’ Hei Jin, as well as ’Mixed Gold Dagger’ Zheng Ye, Zhendong Guard Chen Chen and dozens of Internal Qi Realm soldiers, and over a hundred fully trained body-strengthening troops.”

”The Hundred Step Flying Sword is born!”

Many martial artists trembled at the sight of the few words.

As a legendary tale in the martial arts world, the Hundred Step Flying Sword carried many myths with it and was considered by many warriors to be one of the ultimate goals to reach.

”Another scourge has emerged from Diabolism, the Righteous Path weakens by a fraction more!”

Many lamented, no longer doubting the accuracy of the Sword Demon’s title.

At the same time, news of a new person entering the top ten of the Dragon and Phoenix List spread rapidly in all directions, landing on the desk of many a major figure.

For many powers without a Xiantian Martial Artist at the helm, such a figure must be taken seriously, as losing sight of them could spell disaster even for sectors with a Xiantian Stronghold, for the top ten of the Dragon and Phoenix List are all hopefuls of reaching Xiantian.

In an outlying area, two people wearing bamboo hats quietly left, drawing no attention.

One after the other, they walked down the main street.

Gong Caiyu’s mind buzzed, overwhelmed by the information she had just heard, and she didn’t know what to think.

No wonder the Jianghu people from Dongling City who pursued her scattered in all directions at the mere mention of his presence, not swayed by the huge rewards offered by the Marquis’ mansion.

”We’ve arrived.”

Jiang Ding suddenly spoke, rousing Gong Caiyu from her daze.

In front of them stood a red lacquered gate, studded with interlaced copper nails nine horizontally and nine vertically, and engraved with dragon patterns. Dozens of guards in golden armor stood watch, the wealth and majesty of the royal family so imposing that one dared not look up.

”Ah?”

Gong Caiyu came to her senses, feeling an intense reluctance.

Aside from the time spent with her parents, she had never felt as secure as these past three days, as if she had nothing to worry about and someone would shield her from the sky falling down. All she needed to do was joyfully cultivate her martial arts.

Uncle Ziteng had never given her such a feeling. With the heavy burden of restoring the Qixuan School weighing on him, he always appeared extremely haggard and anxious, ultimately leading to the worst outcome.

But she knew she had to go. Her mother was still waiting for her.

”Young master, could you possibly...”

Gong Caiyu hesitated, not finishing her sentence.

”Yes.”

Jiang Ding pointed with his finger.

Hum~

A faint sound of a sword’s hum, and a red Talisman Sword appeared in Gong Caiyu’s small hand out of nowhere, its touch as smooth as jade.

”This is the Hundred Step Flying Sword!”

Gong Caiyu held her breath and stared at the short sword, the very object successive generations of leaders from the Qixuan School sought tirelessly since the time of their Ancestor Master.

After a long while, she reluctantly returned the short sword, which disappeared upon touching Jiang Ding’s palm.

”Young master, did you really receive Master Qixuan’s inheritance?”

Gong Caiyu couldn’t help but ask.

”No.”

Jiang Ding replied, and the cloak on his head spun off and fell into Gong Caiyu’s hands as he turned to leave.

After a practical test, this item was of no use, purely decorative. To change shape, one still needed professional tools and martial arts techniques.

”Young master, that’s not what I meant, please don’t be angry...”

Gong Caiyu became flustered and wanted to explain, but the figure had already blended into the crowd, disappearing entirely. Tears welled up in her eyes and began to fall.

”Keep this for me.”

A gentle voice reached her ear, and Gong Caiyu’s tears turned to laughter.

Glancing at the royally affluent door once more, she took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and as the ninety-eighth ranked ’Flying Snow Fairy’ on the Dragon and Phoenix List, she presented the gatekeeper with an invitation she and Jiang Ding had prepared together.

She was not slighted, and in just a short time, she was warmly welcomed into the palace by the personal maid of the County Lord Qinghe.

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...

With the cloak no longer a constraint, his field of vision suddenly broadened a great deal.

Jiang Ding walked slowly on the main street of Chizhong Mansion, his Art of Small Concealment at the minor-accomplishment level fully active, making the passersby unconsciously overlook his presence.

When it came to hiding and safety, he had his own set of beliefs.

And that was to never be seen by anyone!

Alone and silently cultivating, whether it was goodwill or malice, none should affect him.

Yuejing brought together the essence of Yue Country, with the great Sects and numerous powerhouses everywhere, Xiantian Martial Artists included, making it a place far more dangerous than others.

He planned to lay low in Chizhong Mansion for a while, taking and assimilating the remaining Ginseng Essence Qi-transforming Elixirs with the hope of refining and completing the twelve primary channels of his Large Circle of Vital Energy.

As for the Taiqing Spirit Iron,

if that really was it, it was certainly not something cultivators below the Nascent Soul level could handle, and not even to mention their inability to destroy it, let alone a mere Xiantian Martial Artist.

”Master Jiang!”

”Master Jiang, please wait a moment!”

A soft and charming female voice called out from a distance.

Jiang Ding pretended not to hear and quickened his pace.

Before long,

accompanied by a fragrant breeze and a flash of purple, a beautiful woman appeared in front of him, dressed in a purple palace gown, with a phoenix hairpin on her head, her demeanor graceful and noble.

One of her embroidered shoes had fallen off somehow during her run, revealing a beautifully curved bare foot, as she gasped for breath, with a flushed face, seemingly having exerted all her Inner Energy to catch up.

The woman said softly, ”Master Jiang, since you’re passing by my palace, why not come in for a chat? I’m quite curious about Dongling’s local scenery as well.”

Jiang Ding glanced at her.

’Clear River Fairy’ Chen Xi!

The eldest princess of the current emperor, with a fief in Qinghe Mansion and the title of County Lord Qinghe.

Although she was only nineteenth on the Dragon and Phoenix List, in terms of nobility, probably very few women in the world could compare with her. Such condescension to acknowledge scholarly talent was enough to move even the most stony-hearted prodigies.

Jiang Ding, however, felt nothing special; he just glanced at her and then shifted his gaze to an old crone behind her, his face full of solemnity as he instinctively gripped the scabbard of his sword.

Xiantian Martial Artist!

Definitely the aura of a Xiantian Martial Artist, although somewhat concealed, he could feel it.

This was a dangerous person who could threaten Mid-stage Qi Practicing cultivators in close combat.

Compared to that, the vaguely antagonistic aura of another exquisitely handsome man, even more beautiful than County Lord Qinghe, seemed insignificant.

”What a keen perception.”

The old crone was surprised but didn’t say much else, just standing behind County Lord Qinghe.

”Master Jiang, this is the ’Divine Poison Doctor’ Granny Liu, one of the Eight Great Heroes,” explained County Lord Qinghe Chen Xi without a trace of embarrassment from being ignored, her soft voice continued: ”If Master Jiang could visit Qinghe Building more often, letting our sisters get to know you better, it is not impossible to ask Granny to give you some pointers in martial arts.”

Jiang Ding finally focused his gaze on her, his eyebrows raised: ”Isn’t Qinghe Building exclusively for women?”

”Naturally, it is.”

Chen Xi covered her mouth and giggled: ”But we sisters aren’t living in a nunnery. If one of us has someone whom she has taken a fancy to, someone who is decently presentable and comes from a similar background, should we turn him away?”

”Wouldn’t that be intentionally stirring up trouble in the sisters’ family affairs?”

Her figure was lithe, and her eyes seemed to hint at something, encouraging thoughts to wander in a certain direction.

”I have other pressing matters, so I must decline Your Highness’s kind invitation,” said Jiang Ding, shaking his head and turning to leave.

”Stop!”

At this moment, the handsome young man who felt his beloved had been insulted could no longer hold back and shouted coldly, ” ’Dream Eating Sword Demon’ Jiang Ding, you are too arrogant. Dongling City is a backwater place; Hei Jin is nothing but a bully who preys on the weak. Do you really think that high of yourself?”

His words received no response; the other party’s figure flickered, and his speed increased even further.

”Good, good!”

The handsome man’s face flushed slightly, and with a thrust of his sword, his movements were equally swift, with colorful petals seeming to bloom between his sword blade and footsteps, creating a picturesque scene.

Eleventh on the Dragon and Phoenix List, ’Young Lord Bai Hua’ Wan You!

His mother was the head of the Sect of Ziwei Sword, one of the Six Great Sects, the ’Ten Flower Sword Fairy’ Wan Qianyu.

Legend had it that Wan Qianyu, who had her son in middle age, was extremely protective of him. Patriarch Jin Dao, the ’Sea Splitting Saber’ Wei Xian, who ranked seventh on the Dragon and Phoenix List, had once defeated Wan You and humiliated him. He was immediately challenged by Wan Qianyu at home, and it was said that even the Xiantian powerhouse Patriarch Jin Dao was injured as a result.

Therefore, ’Young Lord Bai Hua’ Wan You was feared much more in Jianghu than any other in the top ten of the Dragon and Phoenix List.

Whoosh!

The Hundred Flowers Illusion enveloping the tip of the sword struck only air, as Jiang Ding’s speed surged once more, his figure blending into the crowd, soon disappearing without a trace.

”Young Lord Wan, how could you strike at a guest of Qinghe? Others might think Qinghe is...”

The reproachful voice of Chen Xi arrived too late.

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