Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Jiang Ding did not panic, refraining from any futile actions, his expression calm.

He continued to watch, collecting any useful intelligence.

”Here...”

Jiang Ding let out a light exclamation, focusing his attention on a memory of Immortal Yuling, on a banquet held at night in the Xuetu Hall palace.

Before this banquet, Immortal Tiankuang had already secured the support of a Middle Jindan Stage Bai Gui Patriarch and an Early Golden Core Patriarch Du Jiang, secretly infiltrating into Xuetu Hall.

Furthermore, by using his Shangzong identity and the Cultivation Methods he had left behind, he successfully subjugated the Late Golden Pill Cultivator Mu Tiansnow, making her subservient.

Five Golden Pill Monks sat opposite each other, despite their similar or even superior cultivation levels, the three Golden Pill Cultivators from Xuetu behaved like servants, busily pouring wine for the two Golden Pill Monks from Liudao Sect, continuously agreeing and laughing heartily.

The two occasionally spoke, listening attentively with care.

”Cultivator Hua Xue, come sit over here.”

Immortal Tiankuang was a burly man with a full beard, who hugged Mu Tiansnow in his arms, taking a deep sniff as if he were casually pulling in a maid, rather than a Late Golden Core Cultivator of the same cultivation level.

Here, Immortal Yuling showed no sign of surprise, as such things were common within the Liudao Sect.

”Envoy of Shangzong, please show some respect!”

But then, Mu Tiansnow, a girl in a white dress with skin as pale as snow, showed a cold demeanor, and with a faint flash of bloodlight, she broke free, spreading a hint of killing intent.

The atmosphere of the banquet instantly turned icy.

”You...”

Immortal Tiankuang was astonished, seemingly unprepared for such a reaction, his face showing extreme irritation, but he said no more.

After a few breaths, he straightened his position and repeatedly apologized to Mu Tiansnow.

The banquet returned to normal.

”Uh-oh.”

”This Immortal Tiankuang harbors killing intent, I wonder if Mu Tiansnow has noticed it.”

Jiang Ding chuckled lightly.

In the memories of Immortal Yuling, even among Golden Pill Cultivators, those with the last name of Liudao were entirely different from other surnames, the former naturally being the masters’ position, treating Golden Pill Cultivators of the same level as servants.

Golden Pill Cultivators of different surnames also recognized and adapted to this rule.

Those who didn’t accept it were long dead, and without a Nascent Soul, that was original sin. For countless years, all Cultivators of the Northern Plains had become accustomed and didn’t feel any discomfort.

As the strongest entity in the Land of Three Countries and pampered since childhood, Mu Tiansnow seemed not to be used to this.

Rejecting an embrace was not a major issue.

However, this subtle display of defiance and disobedience was a major concern for masters and wouldn’t go unaddressed, often preferring to concede to an ally rather than a household slave.

”But, it’s not certain.”

Jiang Ding fell into thought: ”If Mu Tiansnow succumbed, it still could be remedied. Women have a natural advantage in this regard, and a Late Golden Pill Cultivator is still a precious bargaining chip either way.”

”Forget it, I am unable to change this outcome now.”

”There’s no meaning in ambushing the Chiyan Fox King anymore. I should return, collect Armor-25, go into hiding, and make further plans. However, I don’t plan to leave this area right now to venture into dangerous territories frequented by Nascent Souls.”

He shook his head.

Jiang Ding concealed his figure, flying into the hidden caverns below, activating the teleportation formation, disappearing from sight.

After teleporting more than a dozen times and repeatedly confirming his safety, the figure of a youth in blue clothes appeared on the teleportation formation of Lanshan Spirit Mine. His Divine Sense swept the area, seeing that the foundation-building disciples from Qiyu Sect were still there, as were the other disciples and miners, with no signs of collapse.

”Has Immortal Tiankuang not made his move yet?”

A thought occurred to Jiang Ding, sensing that there might still be a chance for intervention. He took out the Qiyu Sect’s communication jade slip from the storage of Armor-25, intending to sound the alarm.

Buzz Buzz!

As soon as the communication jade slip left the storage, it buzzed nonstop, with the Spiritual Light flashing urgently.

”It seems I am too late.”

Jiang Ding sighed, his Divine Sense entering it.

It was sent directly by Li Qingyun, without going through the maid, Chang Xiatu. It seemed extremely urgent.

”...Junior Uncle, Qiyu Sect and Tushan Monster Country were defeated at the Xuetu battlefield,”

”After attacking the Xuetu Hall for many days and with mana depleted by more than half, just when the formation method was about to collapse, a mysterious post-golden alchemist suddenly appeared with powerful mana. King Chiyan was severely injured in an instant...”

”...That mysterious post-golden alchemist held a very high position; the three Golden Pill Monks from Xuetu Hall showed him extreme respect. He was particularly interested in the post-golden alchemist, King Chiyan, ordering the majority to besiege him, trying to capture him alive...”

”...Master and Patriarch Zhou were lucky to escape with severe injuries, while Patriarch Kun Long died in battle...”

”...Junior Uncle, hide well. The sect is in danger this time, facing a situation it has not encountered in three thousand years. The seeds of our sect’s legacy have already been scattered, and so have your maids. You must not return to the sect.”

This was from a month ago.

Because of the tens of thousands of kilometers’ distance, Armor-25 had not been able to contact its master and therefore had not reported the situation.

”...Xuetu Hall’s Mu Tiansnow and two other Golden Pill Monks, the mysterious post-golden alchemist, and the enslaved Red Flame Demon King simultaneously besieged the sect,

With three post-golden alchemists attacking, the sect’s big array was no match and was breached. All disciples at the gate died at the hands of the diabolical rogues...”

”...Master and Patriarch Zhou hid and healed outside, narrowly escaping disaster...”

”Junior Uncle, please remain hidden, no matter what. Do not expose yourself. If you have the ability in the future, please do not forget to restore the sect and avenge our disciples.”

In the end, Li Qingyun wrote this passage with a strong emotional turmoil, seemingly without hope, crying uncontrollably.

”It has come to this after all.”

Jiang Ding shook his head, casually handed the golden pendant to Armor-25, and stepped into the teleportation formation, disappearing from sight.

”Tidy up the ends.”

With a flash of white light, his figure appeared under the water pool in the teleportation formation, with the intent of not going out again until he had significantly increased his strength.

Within ten thousand kilometers, it was all under the control of Armor-25.

Jiang Ding closed his eyes to cultivate, activating the wisp of divine sense placed in the core of Armor-25.

In the Lanshan Spirit Mine, the youth in blue clothes closed his eyes and then opened them again. There was a slight warmth in his gaze that was nearly imperceptible unless examined closely.

”Come here.”

Jiang Ding’s divine sense spread out, reaching the ears of two foundation-building cultivators.

As if startled, Li Mingda and another foundation-building cultivator stopped their cultivation and patrol, and with flying escape light, they quickly reached the core of the formation covered in mist, their faces showing panic and unease.

It seemed they had heard some rumors and had brought all their possessions with them.

”You’re prepared; that’s good.”

Jiang Ding nodded and gave them each a copy of the message sent by Li Qingyun.

”The sect... is gone?”

After reading, Li Mingda turned pale. Looking at the youth in blue as if looking at a life-saving straw.

”That’s right,” said Jiang Ding as he casually handed him twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones and three quasi-third rank talismans—one for escape, one for attack, and one for defense.

The other foundation-building cultivator received a reward of three thousand low-grade spirit stones and was done with it.

”You may leave now. Relay the situation to the disciples and miners; let them choose whether to stay or go. Award them the ores; they can take as much as they can carry.”

”I need to flee for my life, too. Fellow Daoists, I wish you a safe and smooth journey.”

A gentle force pushed away Li Mingda and the other who hesitated to speak, and ushered them out of the array core.

The two glanced at each other, gathered the disciples and miners, briefly informed them, and without minding their reactions, each transformed into a beam of escape light and flew in different directions, concealing their forms and vanishing from sight.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ding sent out waves of silver-white sword qi, slicing the transportation formation into dust, collecting it into a storage bag.

While the array could be dismantled and reused, it was not necessary and posed a safety risk.

”My true self can hide in an absolutely safe place, but that’s not the fate I have,” murmured Jiang Ding. ”I’ll find a gathering place for loose cultivators, or somewhere that cultivators occasionally appear. I’ll hide well and try to collect as much information from the cultivation world as possible. That way, I won’t be completely ignorant of the outside world.”

With a flick of his toe, he transformed into a beam of silver-white escape light. His figure glimmered and shifted, becoming transparent and hazy, then disappearing without a trace.