Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

”Why are they sneaking around like that...”

”They look so timid.”

Jiang Ding held his forehead with his left hand, feeling a bit embarrassed to watch.

These Sword Intent Cultivators were naturally from the cohorts of Xiaohua and the others from the Xianmen Sect.

As of today, there were over ten thousand Sword Intent Cultivators in the Xianmen Sect, and it was no longer as easy as just clicking to receive them from the Cultivation Department; the competition was fierce. Each year, there were only three hundred and ninety slots for new students, ten for each university, just enough to form a department.

Of course, this wasn’t a reason for students to join the battle—not to such an extent.

It was Jiang Ding who had applied for an exception to allow the adult cultivators from the Sword Dao Department of Xianmen to freely choose whether to sign up for the domain wars.

Even if they didn’t sign up, it wouldn’t matter; there was no deduction in credits or benefits, it was all entirely up to personal will.

Jiang Ding believed that, although the crazed approach of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion was wrong, Sword Dao Cultivators still needed a certain degree of warfare, which was more conducive to their own paths.

Therefore, after much consideration, he applied for this opportunity in his capacity as the first dean of the Cultivation Department of Xianmen.

If nothing unexpected happened, this would become a precedent; adult cultivators of the Cultivation Department could freely sign up for wars, and it would become part of the learning life.

In the current organization of the Xianmen army, one ground division was paired with a Foundation Building Sword Intent Sword Cultivator, and one Air-Space Group with a Gold Core Sword Cultivator.

They piloted Stealth Sky Warplanes and Stealth Sky Warships; their main job was to scout and guide tank divisions and Air-Space Groups to bomb precise targets.

The latter were temporarily vacant, because there wasn’t a second Gold Core Sword Cultivator.

”However, this combat method that doesn’t involve any contact with the enemy, just calling on tanks to bombard the opponent...”

Jiang Ding felt a bit uneasy in his heart, unsure if this was right.

He had realized that, compared to swordsmanship, the Sword Dao Cultivators of Xianmen seemed to prefer learning Sword Escaping techniques and Concealment Spells, elevating the importance of the latter two by a notch.

The Sword Intent also leaned towards this aspect, with notions like Fire Concealment Sword Intent, Water Concealment Sword Intent, Wind Hidden Sword Intent... It didn’t sound like they were for direct combat.

Of course, there were those with the ability for direct combat, and they were very strong.

But there was a preference for sudden concentrated outbursts; after one strike, regardless of the state of the opponent—how injured or dead—they would instantly retreat and go into hiding. Their subsequent combat ability was far weaker than that of other Sword Cultivators at the same level.

In ordinary sword fights, the moment two Xianmen Sword Cultivators entered the arena, they would cast invisibility and Concealment Spells, sneaking towards the opponent with various detection and anti-detection spells quietly cast. Once they detected the trace of the opponent, they would burst out with all their mana in one sword strike.

And then, that would be it.

It was usually the Xianmen Sword Cultivator who found the opponent first that would win, with few exceptions.

This method of combat was something they had figured out themselves, compatible with the Xianmen’s system of combat, and Jiang Ding didn’t interfere much.

”It should work.”

”Should the sword be such an inconvenient object?”

Jiang Ding pondered deeply and finally let out a sigh of relief. ”No one can define what a sword is, only the Sword Cultivators themselves can define it. A sword that can cut through obstacles on the path is a good sword.”

After a bit of cultivation, a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Hum!

The thirty-sixth Star Boundary Formation emerged from the ground, connected to the earth’s pulse and Spiritual Vein, impregnable.

Looking around, the thirty-six Boundary Heaven Pillars stood tall within a range of ten thousand miles, connecting the power of the heavenly stars, providing anchor points for the Immortal Sect Army Formation from outside the realm, strengthening the power of the Immortal Sect Army Formation, and even affecting the Refinement Void Level battlefield to a certain extent.

”The staff department has completed the formulation of the combat plan; please review it.”

Ouyang Hui boarded her flagship and, along with army staff members and dozens of Air-Space Group officers, projected her image before Jiang Ding.

”Our plan is to first take down the Boundary Array Foundations of the northwestern Xuanwu tiangong, and then concentrate our forces to attack the East Sea Boundary Array, where Heavy Zhong Yuanzi, the Xuanwu Daoist, is most likely to be stationed.”

”This is the combat plan; please give your instructions.”

Army Chief of Staff An Siyan adjusted his black-framed glasses and handed over a combat plan.

”You have all worked hard.”

Jiang Ding nodded slightly.

He took it, quickly flipped through it with his Divine Sense, and contemplated a little.

Overall, there were no clever strategies; it was just a matter of bombing and pushing forward in a boring and monotonous manner. The focus was on guarding against Zhong Yuan’s possible escape to avoid him guerrilla fighting throughout the Small World and defeating them by breaking points, ultimately bringing down the entire fleet.

It was orthodox and standard, a typical strategy of the Xianmen Air-Space Fleet for dealing with extremely powerful individual Daoist disciples in combat.

”Proceed like this, begin the attack,” Jiang Ding closed the combat plan.

Commanding the Air-Space Troops was not Jiang Ding’s strongest suit; as long as there were no major flaws, he was agreeable.

”Yes!”

The dozens of Air-Space Troops officers saluted in unison and exited the communication meeting.

Suddenly, forty-eight Air-Space Troop divisions began to move, obscure Space Formation Patterns appearing between the warships and Air-Space warplanes, calling out to the fortresses in the starry sky, preparing the fleet for spatial warp.

A few days later,

”...The fleet is undergoing spatial warp; please Commander, do not extend your Divine Sense beyond the range of the fleet’s Formation...”

Ship Spirit Cloud Day of the Super Sun Vessel spoke in a clear voice.

”Currently warping...”

In an instant, a hazy white light obscured all vision.

Thought and body momentarily froze, unaware and unfeeling of how much time had passed, the surroundings changed abruptly, and they were amidst boundless yellow sands and widespread storms.

”Warp complete.”

Ship Spirit Cloud Day announced.

Jiang Ding’s Divine Sense swept the four directions, and through the Spirit Particle Sonar of the Air-Space Corps, he quickly located thirty-six Boundary Heaven Pillars standing amidst the yellow sand thousands of miles away.

The radar indicated that while the fluctuations of the formation here were considered extremely strong among those with a Nascent Soul, it was much weaker compared to the formations presided over by the Fire King and the Rain King in the south.

”Is it a Concealment Array?”

Ouyang Hui’s heart grew cautious, her gaze shifting towards the young man at the center of the fleet.

”I do not know.”

Jiang Ding shook his head slightly, ”Break through the formation within a range of thousands of miles, then bomb it.”

”Whatever schemes and tricks there are, they will reveal themselves under the bombardment of the ship’s guns. There’s no need for needless worries, nor to plot anything.”

”Yes!”

Ouyang Hui took a deep breath.

A cloud-like Air-Space Corps fleet pierced through thousands of miles.

Hum!

The thirty-six heaven pillars gleamed simultaneously, the sky filled with yellow sand forming a Ten Thousand Mile Yellow Sand Great Formation. The fierce winds, mixed with Spirit Sand, blew towards the fleet with a sharpness surpassing the later stages of Nascent Soul.

”Open fire!”

”Fire!”

”...”

Ouyang Hui, unflinching, calmly issued her orders, complying fully with the commands from above.

One by one, the Air-Space war machines and main guns of the Air-Space Warships emitted beams of light, intricate and complex as building blocks. Among countless mysterious runes, the Army Formation combined them into destructive light projectiles, tens of kilometers in size, thunderously shooting towards the front.

Boom!

Boom, boom!

The ship’s guns bombarded again and again, an endless onslaught.

The Ten Thousand Mile Yellow Sand Great Formation resisted for a brief moment before shattering to pieces, revealing the scene within.

There, astonishingly, was only one core disciple from Xuanwu Heavenly Palace, along with tens of thousands of cultivators from the Heavenly Palace army.

”Spare us...”

The words begging for mercy had barely left their mouths when they, along with the immortal mountains’ formations they were in, were utterly destroyed by the saturated bombardment of the fleet’s guns, not a trace left behind.

Crack!

Crack, crack...

Following that, the thirty-six Boundary Heaven Pillars broke and collapsed.

It happened very cleanly, without any force of resistance.

Ouyang Hui was stunned for a moment.

”Commander, the Taoist disciples from Xuanwu Heavenly Palace may have already abandoned this place, retracting their forces to the East Sea, preparing for a desperate resistance.”

She quickly regained her composure, her heart somewhat worried.

With the cultivators from multiple Array Bases congregating, the East Sea was bound to be a tough nut to crack. She wondered how many lives from the Immortal Sect Army it would take to conquer it.

”Ease your mind.”

”Proceed as usual.”

Jiang Ding, noticing the worry amongst the staff officers, smiled, ”It’s better this way with Zhong Yuanzi. It saves us time and reduces the variables in the war.”

”Yes, Commander!”

Many officers saluted, their hearts settling down.

Indeed, this was not like before.

With the Dari Swordsman here, let them scheme whatever they want.

Presently, everyone began to smooth over the geomagnetic Realm and Spiritual Veins as usual, constructing the Star Boundary Formation, dispatching fleets and ground troops to sweep the area and establish Immortal Sect rule.

Months later,

Thirty-six Star Boundary Heaven Pillars pierced through the clouds, reaching into the starry sky.

”To the west.”

Jiang Ding spoke succinctly.

”Yes, Commander!”

The fleet continued its spatial jumps, appearing on the western side of the Geomagnetic Realm and crushing the Boundary Formation of Xuanwu Heavenly Palace there with swift efficiency.

The situation was identical to the north, with Xuanwu Heavenly Palace leaving behind only one core disciple and tens of thousands of cultivator troops as guards.

”We are willing to surrender.”

Differently, this core disciple led his army out of the formation, hands bound, kneeling on the ground.

”Great Sun Swordsman, the Taoist has sent me to deliver a message to you.”

The remaining core disciple from Xuanwu Heavenly Palace, a woman of clear beauty, handed over a blue letter with a bitter expression, ”The Taoist says he has prepared a table of fine wine in the East Sea, awaiting your honored presence.”

”He also left many words in this letter, which I do not know.”

”Hmm.”

Jiang Ding drew his sword, slicing the letter before him to pieces, uninterested in reading it.

”I will go.”