Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Under the night sky,

the wind howled through the heavens, while countless lights from homes passed beneath one’s feet.

”An Siyan, you...”

Jiang Ding asked softly, ”How are your grandparents doing?”

As for Jin Lingfeng, Immortal Yueling’s daughter, she had no such worries.

”They passed away before I was born.”

An Siyan shook her head: ”My parents are both Foundation-building cultivators who chose to have me after realizing that their path to the Golden Pill was hopeless, so I have no memory of my grandparents.”

This was actually quite common among cultivators.

Only when one hits a bottleneck in their path and can no longer make a breakthrough do they consider leaving descendants as a contingency plan.

”However, I think the problem you’re facing is one that I will sooner or later encounter too.”

An Siyan sighed: ”My parents are both 190 years old, which isn’t far from that day. It’s the destined fate of all cultivators, something we can only get used to. There’s no other way.”

Jin Lingfeng was taken aback and fell deep into thought.

Then she shook her head.

If she couldn’t break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, only her mother would bid her farewell, and there would be no chance for her to fare thee well to her mother.

”The destined fate of cultivators...”

Jiang Ding murmured but said nothing more.

The three flew through the sky, and soon they arrived at the hotel where the two women were staying. After dropping them off, Jiang Ding turned and left.

”Um, Jiang Ding.”

Jin Lingfeng suddenly spoke out: ”May I stay in Rongcheng City for five years? Something has come up.”

She looked expectantly at the person in front of her.

”Me too.”

”I also have something I want to do and would like to stay in Rongcheng City for five years!”

An Siyan immediately raised her hand, which drew a rather dissatisfied look from Jin Lingfeng.

”Why are you asking me where you want to go?”

Jiang Ding laughed and cried: ”But you should still prioritize your studies. Five years isn’t too long or too short. It might seem trivial now, but you might regret missing these few years for the rest of your life.”

”You agreed?”

”That’s great!”

Jin Lingfeng and An Siyan exchanged a glance as if they hadn’t heard anything and immediately made a decision: ”We’ve decided to cultivate here for five years, whether you welcome us or not.”

”Let’s get one thing straight, your welcome won’t change the outcome.”

”...”

Jiang Ding was speechless.

”Welcome.”

He sighed.

”Yay!”

An Siyan and Jin Lingfeng showed smiles and made a victorious gesture.

...

Demon Palace.

”The way of the sword comes from specialization, comes from singularity...”

Amidst the sprawling Molten Gold Vines, Jiang Ding narrated slowly.

Surrounding him, two rings of a total of over one hundred and forty maids were formed, with the inner ring adding two Foundation-building cultivators, now the second maid of Summer and the second maid of Spring.

In the outer ring, late-stage Qi Practicing cultivators had gradually increased as well.

The most eye-catching was the section where the Spring Maid resided, the waiting maid Spring Jian with the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Root.

Just five years had passed, and she had now become the Third Level of Qi Practicing Cultivator. The aura of the Heaven Light Shining Sun Sword Canon, a low-tier Fa-Level Technique, became palpable around her. At seventeen or eighteen years old, she had grown graceful and elegant.

During these years, her Dao Heart class grades had always hovered between seventy and eighty, neither good nor bad.

All the maids listened attentively, realizing more and more what a great opportunity this was.

Exaggeration aside, even the direct disciples of Qiyu Sect might not have advantages over them in terms of Immortal Path teachings and cultivation methods, and all this required no achievements—just one’s own hard work and good academic results were enough.

Achievements would only determine one’s status and the resources they could obtain.

Over the past five years,

the number of maids practicing Magic-Level cultivation techniques had reached seventeen.

No one has yet been able to master the Classics-grade practice methods.

Three hours later.

”Let’s call it a day.”

Jiang Ding said softly.

Divine Sense swept over the maids again.

It was estimated that in another fifty to sixty years, most of the maids and substitute maids would become Foundation-building cultivators.

Of course, whether they would still be the same people was hard to say, as every year young girls from all over would pass the assessments to enter the Tushan Immortal City, creating enormous competitive pressure.

Once they lost their last ranking, they could only transfer to other institutions to serve.

These were the substitute maids.

As for the maids, once appointed, as long as they didn’t make any major mistakes, they were qualified to be maids for life; even if their abilities were insufficient, they would keep their original treatment, take on other roles, and never be eliminated.

”Young Master, we shall take our leave!”

A large group of women stood up, curtsied, and left one after another, only starting to chatter after they were far enough away.

Shortly after, a monk in a kasaya entered.

”Uncle Master.”

Monk Fa Zheng said respectfully, ”Seven years from now, Lingbao Commerce Association plans to hold an auction that occurs once every fifty years, inviting cultivators from all over, as well as Golden Pill Monks. They revealed that there will be multiple treasures and third-stage elixirs as the finale of the event.”

”The presence of numerous Golden Pill Monks might impact the security of the Immortal City.”

”For this, besides dispatching Golden Pill Monks from the Shang Clan, they are also willing to offer twenty percent of the profits as compensation for the Immortal City; should we agree?”

”Agree.”

Promoting the prosperity of Immortal City and increasing revenue had been a policy set in stone and would not change.

...

Five years drifted slowly by.

At home, by the bedside, a large circle of people had gathered, eyes red and swollen, with occasional soft sobs.

A sad and heavy atmosphere permeated the room.

Even the two ten-year-olds involuntarily put down their football, feeling at a loss, unsure of what to do.

”Dingding, am... am I going to die?”

Elder Lin Gang struggled to move his lips, his voice softer than a whisper of flies.

Over the past year, his body had visibly become frail and weak, unable to enjoy any kind of delicacies, relying solely on nutrient solution for sustenance.

Under his dark brown skin, every bone was clearly visible, and he weighed less than a child.

By another bed, Grandma was similarly afflicted. Both of them were near the end of their lives.

”Grandpa, you’re going to be alright…”

Jiang Ding bowed his head in silence.

As a child, his mother was busy working, so it was Grandpa and Grandma who raised him, from learning to speak to guiding his growth.

All the memories from his childhood flashed before his eyes, over and over, until he didn’t realize his eyes had become moist.

”Grandson, do not be sad.”

”It is but the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.”

Lin Gang’s lip movement was barely noticeable as if he was trying to smile, ”I wish for my Jiang Ding, the Heavenly Monarch, to achieve eternal life and ascend to immortality.”

”Grandpa is leaving first.”

”You must live safely in the future…”

His eyelids trembled, slowly closing, and never opened again.

On the other side, Grandma let go of her final breath.

She took one last look at her children and family with an affectionate gaze and slowly closed her eyes.

The last trace of faint life dissipated.

”Dad, Mom!”

Lin Wanqiu and Lin Yong burst into loud cries, no longer able to restrain themselves, with tears flowing like fountains.