Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Sect Discussion Hall.

”Little Uncle Master, this really seems too much,”

Zhou Lingwu said indignantly, ”It might be alright under normal circumstances, but at this critical juncture of the sect’s survival, how could we reward a disciple whose hope of Foundation Building is so slim with something as precious as a Foundation Building Pill?”

No one paid attention to him.

Inside the hall, many foundation-building cultivators sat cross-legged and appeared exhausted. Many bore injuries, and it wasn’t uncommon to see those with missing limbs or severed arms.

”Such talk is unnecessary now.”

The Sect Leader of Qiyu Sect, a disciple of the Supreme Elder named Lei Linghe, with a cultivation base at the peak of Foundation Building, sighed, ”Little Uncle Master has made great contributions to the sect. Given his seniority here, even if a Foundation Building Pill were thrown into a fire pit, who else would dare to object?”

”Little Uncle Master, humph!”

”At a time when our sect is on the verge of collapse, even the Supreme Elders and Uncle Master Zhou are fighting desperately for the sect. We younger ones have also suffered countless injuries and deaths. What does it mean to be an ’uncle master’ then?”

”He’s just holed up in Jinlingshan Mountain!”

Zhou Lingwu said coldly, his tone filled with resentment as he clung to this issue and wouldn’t let go.

”This is a matter for the elders, it’s not for us juniors to meddle in.”

Sect Leader Lei Linghe’s attitude was ambiguous, seemingly advising but also like adding fuel to the fire.

The surrounding Foundation-building cultivators had a thought and pondered.

The Nine Apertures Golden Fruit,

It seemed that it would take only seven years to mature.

And it just so happened that Zhou Kunlong, a Foundation-building peak cultivator from the Zhou family, would be released from his imprisonment at that time.

Unfortunately, it didn’t have much to do with them, those at the early and middle stages of Foundation Building.

Many Foundation-builders sighed deeply, refraining from participating in the increasingly noisy debates within the hall.

...

Jinlingshan Mountain.

After Liu SanQi left, Jiang Ding summoned the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter three servant girls.

More than a decade had passed, and the former young girls had grown up, each with different figures and temperaments – some icy, others charming or cute or passionate – all exceptionally beautiful.

As for their cultivation, they were generally at the Seventh Level of Qi Practicing, with one at the Eighth Level. They all should be able to reach the peak of Qi Practicing before the age of fifty-five and begin their attempt to break through to Foundation Building.

They all stared at the youth in blue clothes in front of them, who had not changed in over ten years, the true master of Jinlingshan Mountain — their gazes filled with both overt and covert adoration.

”Steward Liu has returned home, and I do not wish to bring in new people and have to adjust to them again, so I need a new Head Servant Girl.”

Jiang Ding, with so many eyes on him, did not trigger his social phobia, but casually pointed to a plump woman who was at the latter stage of the Seventh Level of Qi Practicing with a warm and passionate temperament, ”Your name?”

”This servant’s name is Xia Tu.”

Xia Tu suppressed her excitement, curtsying deeply.

”From today onward, you will temporarily take on Steward Liu SanQi’s duties. Your compensation will be the same. If nothing significant goes wrong, let it be so,”

Jiang Ding said indifferently, not caring much about these matters.

”Yes, this servant will certainly do her utmost to accomplish the master’s major tasks.”

Xia Tu curtsied once again.

Jiang Ding’s Divine Sense briefly swept over the other eleven.

”Have met, Head Servant Girl Xia Tu.”

The rest of the servant girls, though unwilling at heart, had to salute her, their voices chirping like a flock of sparrows.

”Master,”

After the salutations, a woman with an icy demeanor and tall stature — remembered as Dong Xue by name, who was at the Eighth Level of Qi Practicing — boldly asked, ”Why did you choose Xia Tu to be the head servant girl? I am the one with the highest cultivation.”

”I need someone to handle affairs, not someone for their combat ability,”

Jiang Ding explained without anger.

”I see, thank you, Master.”

Dong Xue retreated with disappointment on her face.

It made sense, after all, a prodigy of the Sword Dao wouldn’t care about a mere layer of Qi Practicing cultivation level.

However, there were always times when a servant girl needed to handle situations that required actual strength.

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Thinking of this made her spirits lift again.

”In the matters of the mountain, handle them as usual.”

Jiang Ding waved his hand.

The twelve maids bowed on bended knee and each retreated.

The mountain top once again returned to silence.

Jiang Ding took out a sample from the storage bag Han Lin had sent, shining with silver light and shaped like a water droplet, while possessing the characteristics of both metal and liquid.

”Another high-value mineral, Second Order Spiritual Material, Poisonous Liquid Silver Mine, also known as Mercury Silver Magical Gold, a by-product of mining Gray Iron Stones at Lanshan Iron Mine.”

Jiang Ding talked to himself, excitement in his eyes.

A strategic specialty product!

Not for any reason, but because it was one of the main materials for one of Xianmen Sect’s heavy weapons, the main material for the Dyson Sun Mirror Fortress, which after layers of refining could be turned into some of the raw materials for the mirror surface coating of the Sun Mirror Fortress.

”When I entered the school, Array Spirit deduced that the technology of the Dyson Sun Mirror Fortress could be transformed into the Dyson Sun Mirror Sword Domain, with ten thousand eight hundred Flying Swords circling around.”

”I have a hunch that these Flying Swords also need Mercury Silver Magical Gold as one of the materials for refining.”

”However, in the Qiyu Sect, Mercury Silver Magical Gold is not the kind of waste material like Gray Iron Stones, it’s a Second Order material that can be refined into Du Fan class, misty poisonous cloud class Magic Tools, with the occasional production of Third Order Poisonous Liquid Silver Mine which in theory should be presented to the ancestors.”

Jiang Ding fell into contemplation, having accepted Han Lin’s request to visit that was submitted a year ago through a letter.

Days later, a blue Escape Light flew from the distance and landed a kilometer away, taking slow steps up the mountain.

A youth in an ash-grey Robe that had been washed to a white hue, with the cultivation of the Sixth Layer of Qi Practicing and the most ordinary looks, appeared in the distance, respectfully bowing, ”Greetings to you, junior great uncle master.”

”It has indeed been many years since we last met.”

Jiang Ding nodded his head.

There had been many exchanges through letters, and discussions on mysterious principles, but it had been almost ten years since they last met.

Although his reputation within the Sect was hardly notable, it was clear that his experiences over the past decade had been rich, and his demeanor had become much more steady and profound.

”Talk to me about this Poisonous Liquid Silver Mine.”

Jiang Ding had no intention of inquiring into the other’s private affairs or cultivation base.

Just as the other party had been collecting samples for him for years without ever asking a single question.

”Yes, junior great uncle master.”

Han Lin bowed, then began the introduction, ”It was found during the process of mining Gray Iron Stones by the disciples I led. It is quite abundant and has produced a pound of Third Order Poisonous Liquid Silver Mine. Its value was too high for me to keep, and Uncle Master Zhou Lingwu took it in the name of the Sect.”

”As per your instruction, I did not dare to interfere.”

”Well done, you’ve done well in preserving yourself.”

Jiang Ding nodded in approval.

Han Lin surreptitiously glanced upwards, not seeming to be sarcastic, and felt slightly at ease.

Despite his advancement in cultivation these past years, he felt no confidence whatsoever towards this junior great uncle master who was the same age as himself, even though the latter appeared to remain in the Qi Practicing Realm.

Just like himself.

”I have a request to make.”

Han Lin hesitated for a moment before cupping his fists.

”Let’s hear it.”

”May I please ask the junior great uncle master to bestow upon me one Golden Spirit Sword Token? I wish to visit the Sect’s Book Pavilion, not in search of secret manuals, but to read about some secret tales and... and information about the neighboring cultivation world.”

There really was no other choice.

This kind of intelligence often had a high level of secrecy, not sold anywhere else; only foundation-building cultivators with high status and power could access it, and it was highly dangerous.

”The neighboring cultivation world...”

Jiang Ding fell silent.

Han Lin’s heart thumped with trepidation.

He knew that none of the higher-ups in any Sect would like this kind of behavior.

But this was the safest route he could find.

”After you’ve found it, remember to copy one for me.”

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