Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Gong Caiyu and the other left on their mission.

All around, the void became hazy, and forty cultivators with cultivation bases at or above the latter stage of foundation building appeared, bowing to the young man in green before following their respective chief maidens away.

After the Hei Clan took over the original sect lands of the Qiyu Sect and Xuetu Hall, they implemented their rule there too, with one or two Golden Pill of the direct Hei lineage stationed there, plus a formation method of approximately third-rank superior grade. The investment was not significant, with most of their strength focused on Tushan Immortal City, which was closer to the Northern Plains.

The strength of the two teams of maidens was enough to cope, while the formation method could be countered with sword talismans.

In fact, this was still an overestimation of the necessary force, as it was assumed that the Hei Clan Golden Pill there had already fled, and it was virtually impossible for them to foolishly wait for their elimination, just as many years ago when the Divine Crow Immortal appeared, and individuals fled everywhere.

Finally, seven maidens appeared and bowed.

”Young Master.”

The leader, a maiden in a dignified palace dress, asked softly, ”What should we pay attention to during the process of restoring the rule of Tushan Immortal City?”

Her name was Wan Zhoulings, and she was the most capable of handling political affairs among the maidens of the Three Kingdoms; the six maiden cultivators behind her were also skilled in this area.

In one to two hundred years’ time, as long as they had talent and a willingness to dig deep, all kinds of talented individuals could be found, with high cultivation aptitude as well.

”Just as in the past,”

”Ensure fairness while developing Tushan Immortal City with maximum efficiency to create the most wealth,” Jiang Ding replied without a second thought.

Over the years, he had grown accustomed to setting goals and then finding people to achieve them; if they couldn’t, he would simply replace them.

”Moreover, we need to integrate demon race cultivators without the habit of human blood consumption into our governance system, allowing them to showcase their unique skills—whatever the Rabbit Tribe cultivators are good at, what the Snake Clan cultivators excel in, and what the Bull Clan cultivators specialize in—and provide them with fairness... Yet, we must not allow their combined power to exceed one-fifth of the human force.”

Just as Wan Zhoulings was about to respond, another voice spoke, causing her to pause in surprise.

”Do you know how to do it?” Jiang Ding asked.

It was a novel aspect of governance.

”I do not know,” Wan Zhoulings replied gracefully shaking her head, not as cautiously as the other maidens, ”I haven’t learned it nor seen it, but there are talents employed by the Hei Clan within Tushan Immortal City, perhaps we could learn from them about this matter?”

”The Hei Clan’s management is not very good,” Jiang Ding frowned.

”First, remove the demon race cultivators with the habit of consuming human blood, including those from both the direct and collateral lineages of the Hei Clan, as well as diabolism practitioners and cultivators with high public grievances among the loose cultivators. Deal with these quickly, cleanse thoroughly, and then spread this approach throughout the entirety of Tushan.

Maintain the current state of the demon race for now; I will think it over and inform you later.”

”Yes, everything will be dealt with within three months at the latest,” Wan Zhoulings responded as the seven Foundation-building maidens bowed and retreated.

While they were few in number here, just having them stand in the city would immediately attract a large number of Foundation-building cultivators to join them, mostly old cultivators accustomed to the Tushan Law. In the blink of an eye, they would have hundreds of thousands of cultivators at their disposal and would thereby control all the spiritual vein key locations throughout Tushan.

The maidens dispersed in different directions, and the palace regained its tranquility.

”Oh, and there’s Senior Li Mingda,” Jiang Ding, who sat upon the Black Crow Throne, suddenly recalled something and with a flick of his finger, a black jade soul pearl shot out, landing in the distant hands of Gong Caiyu.

”Take Senior Li with you to reclaim Qiyu Sect,” he said.

After repairs, the senior’s Divine Soul could barely exist in this world; however, the lifespan limit of a Foundation-building cultivator was inevitable — he had at most eleven or twelve years left to live. Jiang Ding couldn’t bear to let him depart with regrets.

”Yes, Young Master,” Gong Caiyu bowed.

In Qiyu Sect, she had not received much affection but rather faced cruel competition, so her attachment was not profound.

All arrangements were complete.

Jiang Ding closed his eyes, entering a standby state for cultivation.

He was somewhat fond of this state now. He had sown the seeds and was quietly waiting for time to pass so he could then reap the fruits and simply reach out to pluck them.

...

Time flew like a shuttle, and all things evolved.

In the first month of Jiang Ding’s seclusion,

Tushan Immortal City had basically restored its rule, and institutions such as the Law Enforcement Hall, Agriculture Hall, and Wealth Hall were swiftly established, with personnel quickly put in place.

Those chosen were naturally the foundation-building cultivators who had pledged their loyalty first. Although they could not influence the outcome of battles, they were considered politically reliable and were given important roles.

In the second month, foundation-building clans and powers throughout the country of Tushan pledged their loyalty, expressing willingness to abide by Tushan Law and to accept the guidance of Tushan Immortal City in resuming production and clearing out demon cultivators and man-eating monsters in various areas.

In the third month, the entire territory of Tushan was reclaimed, and stable tax revenue began to be provided.

In the fourth month, the First Servant Girl of Winter led her Heaven Light Dao Troops in exterminating the Hei Clan’s Xuetu Hall, reclaiming Chu Country. They then stationed themselves there, starting to restore the rule of Chu Country.

In the fifth month, Gong Caiyu led her Heaven Light Dao Troops in wiping out the Hei Clan’s Qiyu Sect forces, reclaiming Yue Country and the Qiyu Sect, thus fulfilling the promise Jiang Ding had once made in his heart to ensure the Qiyu Sect’s legacy would not fail.

This time, there was no longer any obstruction in the land of Yue Country, and no need for any compromising reforms.

While ensuring the name of the Qiyu Sect and the worship of its ancestral masters remained unchanged, the order of Tushan Immortal City spread throughout Yue Country, reaching every inch of land, influencing every mundane person.

One year.

In one year’s time, the land of the Three Kingdoms was completely transformed.

No matter what cycle any mundane kingdom was in, it would enter into a golden age, where those who obstructed were executed if they should be, and imprisoned if they should be, ensuring all policies could be advanced with the numbers of Qi Practitioners reaching into the hundreds of thousands.

The number of demon cultivators who killed and robbed treasures within the powers and Spiritual Veins of various regions decreased significantly, with the remaining ones liable to be caught and executed by Law Enforcement Hall cultivators if not careful.

Occasionally, running into patrolling Tushan maids and maid candidates would result in immediate capture, with no chance of escape.

Of course, there were also those who resisted.

Some foundation-building powers in certain regions were dissatisfied with Tushan Immortal City’s far-reaching influence over their territories and with the need for more ruling power over the common people, or they secretly hindered Tushan Immortal City’s Tushan Law due to concealing certain secrets.

They weren’t looking to rebel or directly confront, but instead to subtly shirk responsibilities, coming up with all sorts of plausible excuses.

In such cases, no one could catch them red-handed.

For this, Wan Zhoulings had a clear strategy.

If any power failed to implement Tushan Law adequately, regardless of the reason, their control over their territory would be immediately revoked. The entire family, from foundation-building cultivators to Qi Practitioners, was given three days to leave their territory; failure to comply within the time limit would be deemed rebellion and be cleared out, with foundation builders executed and Qi Practitioners guilty of dire crimes also executed.

The world might lack many things, but there was never a shortage of foundation-building cultivators without territories.

After handling dozens of foundation-building forces this way, the land of the Three Kingdoms was filled with dread; there were no longer any double-dealings or obstructionist tactics, and Tushan Law was enforced everywhere.

There were naturally those who were overzealous, or made mistakes, or were corrupt—and many of them, at that. There existed a large number of blind spots in supervision that couldn’t be unearthed immediately.

However, the land of the Three Kingdoms was mostly stable and no major upheavals occurred again.

”This year’s tax and financial report is out.”

At this time, Jiang Ding, who sat on the Black Crow Throne, opened his eyes, ending his year-long seclusion in standby mode.

”After the turmoil of war and chaotic order, and with production plans still underway in various regions, combined with additional investments, the overall surplus tax revenue from the land of the Three Kingdoms this year amounts to twenty-seven million low-grade Spirit Stones.”

It was somewhat low, mainly due to the effects of war and infrastructure investment.

”Once production is restored everywhere and no further investments are needed, the expected annual income could reach sixty million low-grade Spirit Stones.”

”Assuming there are no accidents, this revenue should continue indefinitely.”