Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

The crowd exchanged puzzled looks.

After a while, at the indication of a young Taoist priest wearing a robe embroidered with thunder patterns, a short-haired boy nervously stepped onto the stone platform, starting from the 108th place on the Dragon and Phoenix List.

Jiang Ding’s eyes flickered, recalling the list he had seen before.

Number 108 on the Dragon and Phoenix List, ”Broken Water Blade” Liu Zheng, at the Minor Completion of Internal Qi Realm, had fought alone against a Martial Artist of Great Achievement of Inner Qi.

Although they were only at the bottom of the list among the young men and women here, in places like Chizhong Mansion and Dongling City, they were the top talents and even had a glimmer of hope for Xiantian.

Buzz!

The stone platform vibrated slightly, and beams of light in five colors—gold, wood, water, fire, earth—shone upon the boy’s body, finally remained fully intact without fading away.

”Five Spiritual Roots, Mortal, without destiny for the Immortal Path.”

”Take a Breaking Stage Pill and leave on your own,” said a disciple of the Qiyu Sect with a shake of his head.

”How is that possible?”

The boy’s face turned pale.

”I’ve always cultivated very quickly since I was young. How could I be a Mortal? Immortal teacher, is there some kind of mistake?”

He pleaded.

”Please let me test it again!”

”No Spiritual Root means no Spiritual Root!”

The disciples of the Qiyu Sect, running out of patience, outright lifted him up and threw him off the platform, declaring coldly, ”Next, anyone else who persists will be killed without mercy!”

The brilliant contender of the Dragon and Phoenix List, who was capable of battling a Martial Artist of Great Achievement of Inner Qi, was like a fledgling in his hands, utterly powerless to resist.

The crowd shivered, none daring to make a sound.

Jiang Ding noticed that when he spoke of killing without mercy, the expressions of other Qiyu Sect disciples around him remained completely unchanged—a clear indication that this was quite ordinary for them.

Including the previously rather carefree and Immortal Path-like figure of Master Jiucaobi.

’Is this what they say when they mean mortals are like ants?’ Jiang Ding took a deep breath, gaining some understanding.

This would be unimaginable within the Xianmen Sect.

Hua Bing and other classmates, though they were cultivators, did not differ much from other citizens aside from cultivation and battle.

”Number 107...”

”Number 99...”

...

Several were tested in succession, all in vain; they were all Five Spiritual Roots Mortals, causing Master Jiucaobi’s complexion to become increasingly unsightly.

”Is there something wrong with the Immortal Successor’s Dragon and Phoenix List?”

”As guardians, how did you and your disciple handle this? You have Qingyi Building and Tianjilou at your disposal, yet you neglect your duties so much?”

”Disciple admits his fault,” Zhou Kun admitted, his forehead swollen and dripping with cold sweat.

His teacher, being busy with foundation building, indeed neglected the second floor’s affairs, and with the disturbances from Xuetu Hall disciples, the quantity and quality of potential Immortal Successors were far less than in the past.

”Number 98, Gong Caiyu!”

Buzz!

Five-colored lights shone down, leaving only earth, wood, and water colors, along with a girl who looked bewildered.

”Three Spiritual Roots! Blessed with a destiny for the Immortal Path!”

”Junior Sister, please wait aside for a moment,” said one of the Qiyu Sect disciples, smiling slightly and with a suddenly much warmer attitude.

Other disciples immediately ushered her to the side.

”Finally, someone is fated for the Immortal Path!”

The area below the platform instantly erupted into excitement, especially those on the Dragon and Phoenix List after the 98th position, who all heaved a sigh of relief.

To them, it was inconceivable that the 98th could have a destiny for the Immortal Path while they did not.

”So it’s someone from the Qixuan School, a descendant of Ancestor Zhongxing. The spirit of Ancestor Zhongxing in heaven is still watching over the sect.”

Master Jiucaobi seemed somewhat more pleased.

”Number 97...”

A confident girl stepped onto the stone platform.

”Five Spiritual Roots, Mortal!”

The disciple of the Qiyu Sect announced with an expressionless face, not appearing particularly surprised.

”How can this be?”

The girl looked incredulous as she walked down from the platform, utterly disheartened.

”Number 96...”

”Mortal.”

”Number 52...”

”Mortal.”

Such declarations continued, with dozens of young men and women leaving with ashen faces.

”I’ll take this up with the sect master. From now on, the position of guardian should not be filled indiscriminately, no matter the relationships or favors involved,” said Master Jiucaobi with a sigh.

”Uncle Master Zhou would likely not object,” he added.

Zhou Kun bowed his head in shame.

”Number 47, Quadruple Spiritual Root!”

A boy in blue robes rejoiced upon hearing a different response and looked expectantly at the Qiyu Sect disciple.

Yet the disciple appeared hesitant and did not speak immediately.

”There are too few Immortal Successors, it doesn’t look good on me. Let’s just accept them for now. In the future, we will probably need to send out envoys to conduct Spiritual Root tests in the major cities to make some amends.”

”The sect has lost many disciples this time, they all have their uses,” relayed Master Jiucaobi gloomily.

”Quadruple Spiritual Root, blessed with a destiny for the Immortal Path!”

The boy in blue followed the guide off the platform with a face full of joy.

”Number 30...”

The testing continued at a swift pace, with young men and women taking their turns on the platform.

Jiang Ding quietly calculated that from 108 to 30, there had only been one with Three Spiritual Roots and two with Quadruple Spiritual Roots.

Within the top thirty, the probability seemed to have increased to about fifty percent for Spiritual Roots, including two with Three Spiritual Roots and even more with Quadruple Spiritual Roots.

”Number 20, Han Lin.”

”Quadruple Spiritual Root!”

”Nineteenth, Chen Xi.”

”Three Spiritual Roots!”

”Eighteenth, Long Xiuyun.”

”Three Spiritual Roots!”

Chen Xi gave Jiang Ding a teasing smile as if she had anticipated this; she must have had an early test through her royal connections.

Among the top twenty, the chance of having three spiritual roots increased to about thirty percent.

”Tenth...”

Entering the top ten, three spiritual roots were almost standard, except for a boy at ninth place who was unfamiliar and had Quadruple Spiritual Roots, having taken too many elixirs during his growth.

”Fourth, Monk Fa Zheng!”

The voice of the disciple from Qiyu Sect rose a notch.

Not just him, even Master Jiucaobi’s gaze was fixated on the scene, unblinking.

Monk Fa Zheng, calm and composed, stepped onto the stone platform.

After a moment,

The light of two colors flickered.

”Earth, Metal, Dual Spiritual Roots!”

The disciple from the Qiyu Sect who was in charge of the testing said in a sharp voice, which had become much more respectful, ”Junior Brother, this way please, the testing is almost over.”

”Thank you,” Monk Fa Zheng said, bringing his hands together in a gesture of gratitude and stepping down from the platform.

”Earth gives birth to metal, not bad.”

”With this, I can barely fulfill my duty,” Master Jiucaobi let out a sigh of relief.

”As expected of ’Vajra’ Fa Zheng,” many exclaimed, with hardly any surprise.

The top four on the Dragon and Phoenix List were much stronger than the others, capable of fighting tens on their own without exaggeration. They must have some qualities that far exceeded those of ordinary people.

”Third, ’Half Ghost’ Wu Makong.”

”Water, Fire Dual Spiritual Roots!”

”Not bad.”

Master Jiucaobi finally relaxed completely, satisfied with having two dual spiritual roots, deeming this round successful.

The sect’s reward was secondary.

As someone at the foundation building stage, he didn’t lack much.

What was most important was that the sect’s long-held Immortal Successor Dragon and Phoenix List had not gone wrong; three spiritual roots might not be picked out, but dual spiritual roots could not be hidden no matter what, as long as one provided them with cultivation methods and taught them literacy, there was no fear that they would not excel.

”Second, ’Banished Immortal’ Li Qingyun.”

A boy with an ethereal presence stepped onto the stone platform, his expression calm.

The crowd couldn’t help but be drawn to him.

This was the undisputed number one of the Dragon and Phoenix List for many years until recently when it was taken over by ’Dream Eating Sword Demon’ Jiang Ding.

Multicolored lights brightened,

then the water-colored light shined brilliantly, illuminating the area.

”Heaven, Heavenly Water Spiritual Root!”

The disciple in charge of testing trembled with his lips.

”What? A Sky Spiritual Root!”

Master Jiucaobi jumped to his feet, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the boy with an ethereal presence, placing his hand on his shoulder. After scanning with his divine sense for quite some time, he confirmed, ”Indeed, it is a Heavenly Water Spiritual Root!”

”Blessings of the ancestors, the sect will greatly prosper!” He exclaimed excitedly, trying to keep his voice gentle, ”Young friend, come with me, and wait a moment.”

This was a nearly guaranteed Golden Pill-stage Sky Spiritual Root!

The Qiyu Sect had not encountered such an immortal seedling for a thousand years, and its emergence now, when the sect was in grave danger, must surely be divine providence.

”Thank you, senior!” Li Qingyun bowed with his hands clasped.

All eyes were envious as they looked at him, knowing even a blind man could see his exceptional talent. The title ’Banished Immortal’ was not undeserved.

”First, ’Dream Eating Sword Demon’ Jiang Ding.”

The testing disciple did his best to maintain a respectful tone.

Master Jiucaobi looked over eagerly,

Knowing it was impossible but still unable to help imagining the prospect of having two Sky Spiritual Roots.

Li Qingyun was also curious about the one who had taken his number one spot on the Dragon and Phoenix List.

On the stone platform,

Jiang Ding stood calmly, ready to accept whatever result came his way.

Multicolored lights shined upon him.

Then, they lingered without moving.

After a moment, still the same.

”Five spiritual roots, a mortal?”

The testing disciple rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.

”How is that possible?”

Master Jiucaobi could hardly believe it, ”How could a five spiritual roots possibly have a Xiantian stage at such a young age? No amount of magical elixirs would make a difference.”

Chen Xi and Gong Caiyu’s eyes bulged with surprise.

Clang~

At that moment, the sound of a sword cry clearly reached everyone’s hearts.

Following that, a deep blue light exploded in brilliance!

An endless glow spread in all directions!

A shadowy figure of a true immortal with a sword appeared in the void, its features blurred, the terrifying sword intent rippling out in all directions, plunging everyone present into an endless fear.

Vaguely, behind the figure, nine colossal pillars that reached the heavens could be seen, with nine dark holes flickering uncertainly.

Crack!

The stone platform couldn’t withstand such a mighty force, a crack appeared in the center, and with a loud bang, it turned to dust, and the shadow likewise vanished.

”Xiantian... Sword Body!”

Master Jiucaobi murmured, dazed and lost in thought.