Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

In the room.

Jiang Ding, cradling a boulder several meters tall and wide, appeared. The moment it truly touched the floor, a continuous flow of inner energy surged from beneath his feet, forming a plane to evenly distribute the massive weight across the room’s floor.

”I am in great danger now!”

Jiang Ding glanced left and right; the bustling streets and the busy traffic that usually comforted him did not have that effect this time.

Taiqing Spirit Iron!

This was something that could drive high-level cultivators mad. If any Golden Pill monk passed by and discovered it with a scan of their Divine Sense, they would snatch it without hesitation, no matter the law.

This material could forge the foundation of the great Dao, potentially breaking through realms and extending one’s life by hundreds, even thousands, of years.

It’s not that Xianmen cultivators were morally corrupt; it’s just that only a saint of moral integrity could resist such a tremendous temptation!

Whoosh!

From his sleeve, a faint blue sword shadow flew out and into his pocket. When it reemerged, a cell phone rested upon the blade. Tiny currents of Sword Qi slid across the touchscreen, unlocking the phone.

He scrolled to the Library APP and found the emergency alert button.

This was a button that citizens could press only when they faced life-threatening danger, allowing direct communication with the Central Array Spirit Computer.

Pressing it frivolously meant facing legal consequences, including possible imprisonment for several years and lifelong bans from using the feature.

”Ding!”

”You are reporting to the Central Array Spirit Computer citing life-threatening danger. Please wait. This feature is only permissible for citizens in life-threatening emergencies. Otherwise, you will be in violation...”

”Alert successful.”

In less than half a second, the Central Array Spirit Computer made a successful connection. Jiang Ding could distinctly sense a scanning force entering through the window and into the room, examining all nearby suspicious objects.

This wasn’t because he was sensitive enough to detect scanning by a Nascent Soul-level being, but rather, the Central Array Spirit Computer made it obvious on purpose, signaling that, after the application, surveillance extended from public areas to personal spaces.

”...The citizen is not in life-threatening danger.”

After a thorough scan, the Central Array Spirit Computer issued its judgment.

”...According to Xianmen law, citizen 5227...89, Jiang Ding, has falsely reported life-threatening danger. With conclusive evidence, a sentence of three years incarceration is recommended. As he is a minor... a sentence of eighteen months incarceration is suggested... near the time of the College Entrance Exam, he may choose to serve the sentence after the exam.”

”If there are no objections, this recommendation will be forwarded to the Rongcheng Court.”

”If you disagree, please state your reasons and apply for administrative reconsideration.”

The Array Spirit’s mechanical and cold judgment was unswayed by any subjective circumstances.

Jiang Ding was not surprised; indeed, high moral and ethical scores would attract more attention from the Central Array Spirit Computer, but this was not an excuse to violate the law, and there would be no sheltering. Everything operated within the logical procedures set by the forebears.

”Request a rescan of the ore in my hand, keyword Taiqing Spirit Iron, murder, and robbery.”

Jiang Ding spoke with a heavy voice.

In his heart, he actually felt a bit nervous.

He fully trusted the Central Array Spirit Computer, but given the thousands of years, it wasn’t easy to ascertain whether any ambitious Nascent Soul cultivators with personal agendas had ever invaded the database.

”...Request approved, conducting search with keywords Taiqing Spirit Iron, murder, robbery...”

”Divine Soul-grade treasure: Taiqing Spirit Iron mine detected!”

The Taiqing Spirit Iron naturally possessed strong concealment properties; many cultivators could not recognize it even if they saw it for many years.

”Alert!”

”This item has an extreme level of chaos. Please ensure concealment adequate against a Nascent Soul-level or higher threat, or it may trigger severe societal upheaval and put your life in great danger!”

”...Within a radius of one kilometer, no Foundation-building cultivators are present; within ten kilometers, no Golden Pill monks are present; within a hundred kilometers, no Nascent Soul monks are present; within a hundred meters, no Qi Practitioners are present... Please do not remove the Taiqing Spirit Iron ore from this area...”

These distances represent the limit of most cultivators’ Divine Sense.

”Reconsideration approved, no illegal activity detected.”

Jiang Ding let out a sigh of relief.

Without the Central Array Spirit Computer, he wouldn’t know how to deal with the precious Taiqing Spirit Iron mine. In the presence of such treasures, all would be futile.

”I wish to trade part of the Taiqing Spirit Iron ore for Magic Arts-Breaking Immortal Gold, a number of fifth-order Divinity Transformation-level auxiliary spirit ore materials, as well as having a Nascent Soul fourth-order Master Refiner craft a sword embryo for me, ensuring absolute secrecy in the process. Could you provide some related advice?”

Jiang Ding tentatively asked.

This was actually a sneaky attempt to exploit the computational power of the Central Array Spirit Computer.

”Ding!”

A full fifteen minutes later, the Central Array Spirit Computer sounded forth once again, which suggested the enormity of the data involved in this calculation.

”Preliminary calculations indicate that the Taiqing Spirit Iron ore weighs 4152.52672kg. After refining, it can yield 1.62475kg to 1.65487kg of Taiqing Spirit Iron. The optimal ratio for crafting the Great Sun Sword Embryo is 0.90000kg, with the remainder exchangeable for Magic Arts-Breaking Immortal Gold and sixty-six varieties of fifth-order natural and synthetic spirit ores.”

Eighteen taels.

Jiang Ding took a deep breath.

This was the Taiqing Spirit Iron required at eighteen times the amount by the Sword Boys during the zenith of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion.

The effect would certainly be extraordinary!

”Suggestion 1: Trade with the Central Array Spirit Computer and entrust it with the sword embryo’s crafting. Benefit: Extremely low risk, virtually zero probability.”

”Drawback: Unable to obtain a premium; Taiqing Spirit Iron ore is by nature a divine treasure, inherently possessing a huge markup value.”

”Note: The Central Array Spirit Computer is among the finest Nascent Soul-level Master Refiners in the surrounding domains when it comes to crafting artifact embryos. It has crafted a sixth-order Void Treasure, the Five Elements Law Ring embryo, for the Master of Refining Nothingness of the Five Elements Heavenly Sect, which was a clause of the alliance treaty between Xianmen and the Five Elements Heavenly Sect.”

”Suggestion 2: Trade with the current head of Xianmen governance, ’Yuan’, who is also a moral role model. ’Yuan’ has established an illustrious battle record since succeeding Xianmen governance, eradicating the Great Sun Sword Pavilion and forging an alliance with the Five Elements Heavenly Sect during his term, officially making it one of the Overlord-level Forces of the Domain. Risks are relatively low.”

”Benefit: Ability to gain a substantial markup; the resources and treasures obtainable through the exchange will be at least three times more compared to the Central Array Spirit Computer. Furthermore, the Xianmen ruler possesses a massive number of Xianmen Library points, which can also be used to commission the Central Array Spirit Computer to refine the artifact embryo.”

Jiang Ding nodded as well.

The moral character of ’Yuan’, the Xianmen ruler, was indeed trustworthy within Xianmen.

”Suggestion 3: Trade with the Spirit Beast of Xianmen, the fifth-order Spirit Beast, the black and white panda known as Hua Lingling, who resides in Shu Province. Hua Lingling has a relatively simple and kind nature, extremely friendly towards humans. For over eight thousand years, Hua Lingling has endured a lowly survival under the rule of the Xueyun Sect alongside Xianmen, rising against the odds, and participating in various decisive battles of Xianmen, with a remarkable record.”

”Risk: Moderate; its nature is somewhat naive, overly trusting of Fairy Gate citizens.”

”Benefit: Ability to exchange for approximately three times the premium value, and likewise can commission the Central Array Spirit Computer to carry out the refining.”

”Suggestion 4...”

There were a total of eighteen suggestions, with the first eight targeting trades with God-transforming-level powerhouses, while the remainder targeted trades with top Nascent Soul Monks.

The level of risk varied from relatively low to extremely high, especially when dealing with some Nascent Soul Monks who were in a bottleneck nearing the limits of their Life Energy; ’extremely high’ barely sufficed to describe the danger they posed.

In terms of premium, the highest ones were the Xianmen ruler and Hua Lingling, and a few other Divinity Transformation elders who had the assets to offer a threefold markup.

This was a threefold markup on the most supreme Divine treasures, a wealth that many entire Small Worlds couldn’t amass even if they sold all their people and cultivation resources!

”I choose to trade with the Central Array Spirit Computer!”

Jiang Ding declared in a firm voice.

The prospect of a threefold markup was indeed tempting, and it was a resource so vast that it could allow him to cultivate to the Nascent Soul Peak with plenty to spare. However, these things paled in significance compared to the safety of himself and his family.

Even if it was just a small probability difference from low to virtually zero.

Don’t test a cultivator’s conscience, even if it is close to that of a saint.

Moreover, judging from the Central Array Spirit Computer’s longing for Taiqing Spirit Iron, this material greatly facilitated its growth, something Jiang Ding was very willing to see and promote.

Human emotions constantly fluctuate and are unreliable.

It is only by relying on the Central Array Spirit Computer, forged by the Sages, that Xianmen can prosper continuously. This prosperity ensures that ordinary people and low-level cultivators also have a chance at a happy and stable life, without the fear of widespread bloodshed caused by the wrath of High-Level Cultivators.

This is beneficial for everyone.

Even Nascent Soul Cultivators, before rising in power, were once lesser cultivators subjugated by others, and there’s always a possibility they could be surpassed later.

Abusing the mighty power of High-Level Cultivators and indulging in one’s selfish desires and darkness will only lead to a lose-lose outcome.

”Trade successful.”

”Please wait; a God-transforming-level stealth unmanned vessel will arrive above Rongcheng City in seven minutes and forty-two seconds to receive the Taiqing Spirit Iron ore.”

”The sword embryo is expected to be refined in one month.”