Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Jiang Ding walked within Tushan Immortal City.

Around him, the Immortal City was as prosperous as ever, if not more so.

The only thing missing was the once orderly state it had been in.

Chaos occasionally crept in, with Cultivators wielding Diabolism Magic Tools like Imperial Envoy Skull Heads and Evil Spirits openly coming and going, fights between Cultivators breaking out on the streets with casualties occurring from time to time. Victors would quickly flee the scene before the monks from the Law Enforcement Hall arrived—

Most of these monks of the Law Enforcement Hall were still from the original Tushan Immortal City; it was just the higher-ups who had been replaced.

Occasionally, someone would get caught and immediately be detained, stripped of all their money, and sent to toil in the mines. Without the puppets of the previous City Lord of Tushan Immortal City, there was a severe shortage of mine slaves.

If someone paid a large sum of money, they could be redeemed and spared.

In the city, auction houses brazenly sold furnace cauldrons, Vital Souls, and other high-profit items associated with Diabolism.

No one knew from which city they had plundered these items, taken from hundreds of thousands of commoners; yet, they had managed to escape the scrutiny of Beast Dao Cultivators who regarded these commoners as Forbidden Tutorial subjects and were openly laundering them in the auction houses.

The style of this Immortal City had suddenly changed, and short-term profits had risen.

”The world is always filthy...”

Jiang Ding glanced at some Law Enforcement Hall Monks who looked vaguely familiar and shook his head.

He didn’t blame these people for pledging allegiance to a new master.

Because he himself had never considered them as part of the Direct Lineage to cultivate; it was purely a professional relationship. It was entirely reasonable and should bear no moral responsibility for them to pledge loyalty to others.

He headed towards the center of the city where the Triple Grade Superior Spiritual Vein was located.

After dozens of steps, he came to a halt.

In front of him, at the site where the Tushan Demon Palace used to burn like magma, stood a dense forest, with pavilions, towers, and cloisters scattered about, interspersed with flower and bird pavilions amidst swirling white mists.

Immortal cranes danced in the sky, Spiritual Monkeys leapt nimbly through the trees, elks nibbled on dew-covered leaves, and the sweet singing of orioles filled the air...

All kinds of rare and exotic beasts were a feast for the eyes, creating an impression of an ethereal Immortal paradise, a fabled land of happiness.

However, if one cultivated Divine Abilities like the Heavenly Eye, a single glance would send shivers down their spine, chilling them to the bone.

”Beast Dao... quite fitting to its name,” Jiang Ding remarked lightly as he looked at the rare and exotic beasts.

With his beginner-level Magnetic Concealment Skill activating all over his body, he stepped forward into these buildings.

Tight Formation Methods, hidden lookouts at various places, and even the guard of several Golden Pill Monks—all went unnoticed, as if invisible. They were still diligently fulfilling their duties, their Divine Sense sweeping the area occasionally.

Jiang Ding’s gaze focused on a lively white crane.

Beneath the illusion of the ethereal Immortal energy, the Divine Soul of a graceful woman was bound within the crane’s body; blood tears emerged in her eyes as she cried out in pain, desperately trying to break free from the crane’s body.

Just as she nearly separated herself a step away, the Youlan restraining runes flickered, pulling her back, repeating the cycle over and over, with no chance of escape.

Every few hours, her eyes filled with hatred would become hazy and confused.

Unconsciously, she would operate the ”Spirit Crane Skills” within her body, absorbing the Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi, refining the crane’s body and feathers, and especially a layer of membrane that was being tempered to extra fine detail as though it were her life’s greatest love.

The other Spiritual Monkeys, elks, and Demon Bears were in the same plight, each holding a soul that had come from who knows where and had been processed through several procedures.

Underneath this dazzling Immortal landscape lay the bones of innumerable Cultivators.

While admiring the surrounding scenery, Jiang Ding strolled casually along a well-trodden path toward the very center of this Third-tier Spiritual Vein, where the Spiritual Energy was richest.

...

”The entire Qiyu Sect from Yue Country has surrendered to us, but their Supreme Elder Immortal Baimei, Zhou Sanyan, and Sect Master Li Qingyun are nowhere to be seen. It seems they don’t trust our Beast Dao’s Hei Clan,” said a voice.

”Similarly, the Hua Xue Palace of Chu Country. Blood Transforming Immortal and members of the Direct Lineage have fled, leaving the surrendered Sect people behind...”

Inside the main hall, a man in black robes, Hei Chengwu, laughed scornfully as he took the secret report from his subordinates: ”These barbarian minor sects seem not to trust our Saint Sect, eh? What use are a few Foundation Building and Qi Cultivating disciples?”

”They are indeed smart,” remarked another beautiful woman, her voice indifferent.

”This place has been designated by the Saint Sect as the most forbidden of the forbidden. How could we possibly allow them to remain here? They will definitely be subjected to restrictions and sent to the battlefields of the Northern Plains. If they distinguish themselves, there will be rewards.”

”Of course, the chance for Infancy Formation is definitely not on the table.”

”If they show valor in battle and loyal compliance, bestowing them a position within a vassal family is not out of the question.”

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”It should be so,”

Hei Chengwu stroked his long beard, smiling and said, ”The Northern Plains belong to our clans, and for these barbarians and Golden Pill monks to dream of forming their Nascent Souls is simply delusional, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth.”

”Indeed...”

The beautiful woman nodded her head.

”In a few more years, this entire cultivation world will be brought under the control of Saint Sect. Infants, many of the second and third tier heavenly materials and earthly treasures will become more abundant, granting us somewhat more leeway.”

With Divine Crow Immortal not present, the two of them got along quite harmoniously, without any sign of tension or hostility. They had many things in common.

Between their glances, occasional flashes of affection could be seen.

”Cheng Xiu,”

Hei Chengwu hesitated for a moment, but still spoke.

”The division between legitimate and illegitimate is a deep and turbulent water, it involves many things, it’s not as simple as you think.”

”After the defeat in the Northern Plains, the family has also reflected. In the future, more members of the close branches will be added to this rank; close branch members no longer need to hand over infants to support the direct lineage, and the matters of cultivation will have more security, and the status of some collateral lineage members will be uplifted.”

”Cheng Xiu, we have known each other for many years. I advise you, stop.”

He earnestly said.

”Although the old ancestor is sentimental for the decline of the clan’s talents and wants to reform, thus pushing you forward, ultimately he can’t withstand the pressure from Rule Mountain Iron Family and the other clans.”

”If your influence grows even larger, he may very well not protect you anymore.”

The beautiful woman remained silent.

”Nascent Soul...”

After a long time, she uttered two words.

”Sigh.”

Hei Chengwu slightly shook his head, no longer trying to persuade her, and changed the subject, ”The sword cultivators from Tushan Immortal City have a mysterious origin, having suddenly risen over a hundred years, the old ancestor has ordered us to investigate...”

”Investigate...”

He suddenly froze, motionless.

The beautiful woman sitting opposite him also did the same, her mouth slightly open, about to say something, when she stiffened.

Time,

froze at this moment.

”Interest...”

A young man in green clothes walked into this heavily guarded main hall, as if returning to his own home. His Divine Sense swept around, finding nothing of note.

Jiang Ding gently touched the foreheads of the two people with his finger.

Instantly, a transparent and hazy Sword Intent, imitating the Taiyin Sword Intent, flew into the Divine Souls of the two, silently lurking within.

”Although you ruined my livelihood, turning me into a pauper, I am too kind to kill you,”

Jiang Ding magnanimously said.

”In twenty or thirty years, find an opportunity for yourself, go awry with your cultivation, and commit suicide.”

Having said that, he no longer looked at the two of them and walked out.

Inside the main hall, quietness prevailed once again for a long while.

”...Investigate”

”Investigate their whereabouts, origins, and such,”

Hei Chengwu continued speaking, oblivious to the passing time, ”This is a personal order from the old ancestor, if you’re negligent, and the old ancestor blames you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

”There’s no need for your reminder.”

The beautiful woman let out a light laugh.

```