Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Upon entering the room, he found himself in an airtight chamber with a single candle burning, filling the room with the scent of pine resin as the maid softly closed the door.

”Which faction’s intelligence does the guest wish to acquire?”

The stocky manager behind the desk stood up and cupped his hands together, asking.

Jiang Ding placed his hand on his sword hilt and sat down, speaking softly, ”I want information on the Jindao School and some major intelligence from Jianghu.”

”All of the information about the Jindao School? Or just certain individuals?”

”All of it.”

”Which level of intelligence does the guest require?”

The stocky manager asked, then further explained, ”Intelligence is classified into four grades: heavenly, earthly, mysterious, and yellow. Heavenly-grade intelligence can be exchanged for century-old medicines and precious materials, while intelligence below that level can be paid for with silver.”

”Precious materials?”

”This piece of intelligence is complimentary for the guest,” said the stocky manager. ”It’s the ore used to forge the heritage divine weapons of major sects, the might of which is far superior to ordinary precious knives and swords.”

Jiang Ding thought of the white sword in Wan Qianyu’s hand, indeed something that seemed capable of amplifying the power of Inner Energy.

”Earthly-grade.”

”The price is twelve thousand silver,” the stocky manager cupped his hands, ”Please don’t take offense, guest, but for this kind of major power’s intelligence, even if it doesn’t involve top-secret matters, the price is still the same. If you want to inquire about information on some independent martial artists, it would cost much less.”

Jiang Ding handed over two banknotes issued by the Sihai Business Association.

The stocky manager examined every detail of the banknotes carefully before revealing a smile, ”Please wait a moment, guest. I will personally bring the intelligence to you shortly. If you need to call someone, just pull on this red cord on the desk.”

Before long, the stocky manager returned carrying stacks of books, piled up to the height of a person and half a person wide, making the secret room much more cramped.

”You may only look, you cannot take these with you. You may come here to read within the next fifteen days, but you must not spread it anywhere else, in any place.”

He didn’t mention what the consequences of spreading the information would be as he closed the door and left.

Jiang Ding picked up the first volume, ”The Jindao School and the Emperor of Yue Country from the Year 207 of the Establishment,” and slowly began to flip through it.

The founder of the Jindao School was but a wanderer in Jianghu, who one day came across an old Taoist seriously injured. Out of compassion or perhaps some other reason, he saved the Taoist. After the Taoist’s wounds had healed, he gave him a cultivation method and an elixir.

The cultivation method was a top-notch one, ”Golden Knife Slaying Spirit Technique,” capable of cultivation to the Xiantian level. The pill was named Xiantian Pill, able to help a martial artist with Great Achievement of Inner Qi break through to the Xiantian level.

Thus, the Jindao School was established, and more than a hundred years later, its disciples had infiltrated all walks of life within the imperial court, including the military and bureaucratic circles, producing many important ministers from its ranks.

Other major sects were similar in this respect.

One could say that in the three hundred years of Yue Country, the world no longer belonged to the Royal Chen Family alone, but shared with all the major martial arts sects. It was not a world where the Emperor could do as he pleased anymore.

The strongest within the sect, Patriarch Jin Dao, was an expert in the mid stages of Xiantian. His battle achievements...

Jiang Ding read slowly, not resting for seven or eight hours straight, transferring the books from one side to the other, quickly gaining a comprehensive understanding of the openly acknowledged Inner Qi Realm Martial Artists in the Jindao School, the strengths, personalities, and family backgrounds of the various experts.

Then he flipped to the latest intelligence from Jianghu.

”... Duke Tong Wang Dover of Zhendong secretly broke through to Xiantian and plans to declare himself emperor and establish a nation, sending secret letters to the Three Sects and Six Schools, saying that the new dynasty intends to set up a system of nine-ranked noble martial families. The Three Sects and the Royal Family will be on equal footing as first-rank, and from now on, only members of the Three Sects and the Royal Family may hold first-rank civil and military offices. The Six Schools will be considered second-rank, and second-rank civil and military officials will be selected from among them...”

”... The Master of the Wolf God Cult, Langzhu, is displeased, with several generals of Wolf God Cult origin showing signs of imminent mutiny...”

”... ’Mountain King’ Chen Wu of the royal family’s Xiantian masters leads the Yue Divine Cavalry stationed at Chizhong Mansion, waiting for an opportunity to quell the rebellion...”

After finishing the last report and recording it within his microcomputer, Jiang Ding pulled the red cord.

”Does the guest have any instructions?”

The stocky manager appeared and asked with cupped hands.

”I need information on three Jindao School disciples, those who have been back to the Jindao School within the last month. Individuals who are neither too high nor too low in status and are notorious for their heinous deeds,” Jiang Ding said.

The stocky manager showed a touch of surprise.

”This also counts as information on the Jindao School, which I can provide for the guest free of charge.”

...

”Zheng Tu, with Great Achievement of Inner Qi, an inner disciple of the Jindao School, once killed Zhou Di, a seventh-rank official who impeached a high-ranking Jindao School minister, took over his residence, his wife, and daughters. He has a fondness for eating the hearts of young girls, requiring a new victim to be brought to his room every two months...”

”Wu Kuang, with Great Achievement of Inner Qi, an inner disciple of the Jindao School, established the peripheral organization ’Hunt Flower Gate’, abducting various decent women to offer to the high ranks within the school, forging connections with important figures in the court and major factions...”

”Zhou Di and...”

Walking silently on the bustling streets of Yuejing, Jiang Ding thought about the information on those three individuals and heaved a sigh.

”There are too many who deserve to die... Alas, the sword is not sharp enough, and the affairs of the world cannot always meet one’s wishes.”

Unconsciously, he had arrived in front of a simple estate with green tiles and gray bricks, bearing the name ’Zhou Residence’ on the wooden door, which appeared old and dusty, having lost its original luster.

There were two martial artists guarding the entrance.

Jiang Ding didn’t take Tianjilou’s word for it and spent some time and silver investigating the neighbors around.

This Zhou Jinchong was indeed an honest official, and he was also kind to others in normal times. After his death, his mother hanged herself, and his wife and two daughters intended to seek refuge with her maternal family but were coerced by Jindao School’s Zheng Tu, confined and not allowed to leave the house.

Zheng Tu initially came every day, but recently, he came once every five days, at irregular hours of the day or night.

As for the officials, with many important ministers and generals from Jindao School in key positions within the court, who would stand up for a censor who didn’t know whether he was dead or alive?

They simply declared that Zhou Jinchong had died of typhoid fever and never inquired further.

Jiang Ding silently waited at a tea stall, and several hours later, a middle-aged man with a mustache approached the Zhou residence.

”Greeting Lord Zheng!”

The two martial artists guarding the door quickly bowed and nodded their respect.

”Work well, and I won’t let you two be treated unfairly.”

Patting their shoulders with a smile, Zheng Tu entered the Zhou residence. Soon after, screams and sobs could be heard from inside.

Jiang Ding sighed and approached the gate.

”Stop! What are you doing?”

The two martial artists, who were not in the Internal Qi Realm but were Body Refining Martial Artists, looked at him warily with their hands on their sword hilts, and warned, ”This property belongs to the Jindao School!”

”I’m here for revenge.”

Jiang Ding grunted, his sword swept past and then returned to its scabbard, as a thin line of blood appeared on the throats of the two guards, who slumped to the ground.

”Zheng Tu, you stole my woman years ago; the repayment has arrived today, prepare to die!”

He kicked the door open with one foot.

A man with a mustache was chasing three terrified women, one grown and two younger, all with distinct charms.

His face changed, he drew out his slender long knife, and stared intently at the intruder, ”Friend, I don’t know you, could you be mistaken?”

”I’m not mistaken.”

Jiang Ding’s sword cut towards him with no fancy movements—just great strength and speed.

”You’re seeking death!”

Zheng Tu roared in anger, his Inner Energy erupted, all of it pouring into the edge of his knife, and in a flash, he cleaved three strikes, one each from left, middle, and right, the blade light shining brightly.

Flowing Golden Three Knife Slash!

A superior knife technique that many in the Jindao School liked to cultivate; having practiced it for ten years, Zheng Tu was confident, believing there were not many within the school who surpassed him in mastery of this technique.

He thought he saw the image of this unknown intruder’s head, chest, and waist cut simultaneously.

Clang!

In the clash of the sword and knife, Zheng Tu’s face changed dramatically, revealing a look of fear.

”Spare me, I’m from the Jindao School...”

In just an instant, the three knife strikes were cut off by a single sword slash, the gleaming sword piercing through his chest. Everything went dark before his eyes as he fell unconscious.

Jiang Ding grabbed his neck with one hand, dragging him behind.

He looked at the three terrified women with a complex expression, tossed over a silver ingot, then he grabbed a wide cloth to cover the unconscious Zheng Tu, and swiftly carried him away as he left.