Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

A touch of displeasure didn’t affect the interest in the discussion among the Nine Great Daoists, as everyone spoke of profound principles and exchanged experiences in cultivation practice, each gaining a great deal.

The Immortal Sect Disciple of Green Wood Immortal Sect was skilled in wood-attribute magic techniques; the Immortal Sect Disciple of Wanshou Immortal Sect excelled in the raising, training, and controlling of Spirit Beasts; the Immortal Sect Disciple of Shangqing Lingbao Sect specialized in Artifact Refining.... Admiring these skills, Jiang Ding learned many things.

In the span of more than ten days, the discussions at the meeting proceeded with great enthusiasm.

”Jiang Dingzi,”

During the discussions, Qingmu Daoist Ji Liuyue asked a question.

”In your opinion, the pursuit of eternal life is the only path of the Great Dao, and everything else can be abandoned. Does this make sense to you?”

”It does, but it’s not comprehensive,”

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Ding said, ”Eternal life is important, but the ’self’ is equally important.”

”And the self comprises a cultivator’s ideals, beliefs, and emotions, which differentiate a person from inanimate objects.”

”Just like that stone,”

Jiang Ding pointed to a meteorite flying past the immortal gardens, ”It has existed since time immemorial and will continue to exist, turning into dust, into soil, changing in form but always existing. Isn’t that a form of eternal life?”

”Yet, what good is such an eternal life for an inanimate object?”

These remarks moved the other Daoist disciples, who felt a kinship with the ideas and fell into deep thought.

”That makes sense,”

The usually reticent Daoist Wanshou, Liu Kuang, expressed his agreement: ”The enlightenment of an inanimate object is not what we cultivators seek. To be completely detached and devoid of desires, to practice Supreme Forgetfulness, is not the Righteous Dao.”

”On the contrary,”

”The two of you are being too extreme, assuming an absolutely radical stance,”

Xuanwu Daoist Tianxuan Zi looked at Jiang Ding and slowly said, ”Of course, a cultivator is not an inanimate object and certainly needs emotions. However, one does not need to hold on to everything, to comply with everything. That is not in accordance with the Heavenly Dao. All things require trade-offs; nothing can be completely perfect.”

”Sometimes, the appropriate abandonment is also part of the Heavenly Dao.”

”It makes sense that we can’t be wholly perfect.”

Jiang Ding agreed and looked back at him.

”So, Jiang Dingzi, you might consider some matters,”

Tianxuan Zi felt a hint of discomfort inside but suppressed it and continued indifferently: ”In our lives as cultivators, we must not fail our sect, not fail the Great Dao. We must weigh our choices and make trade-offs.”

”Oh?”

Jiang Ding was curious: ”How so?”

”You and the other six Daoist friends, remain as mere observers, not participating in the war.”

”What do you think?”

Tianxuan Zi suggested indifferently: ”By restraining six Daoists by yourself, you would have fulfilled your duty to the sect. No one within the sect could criticize you, and you might even be praised more for it.

No matter how the battle unfolds from then on, it will be considered a great achievement, and you won’t have to face any risks.”

”In doing so, you won’t fail the sect, won’t fail the Great Dao!”

”The path to immortality is thus assured.”

The surrounding Daoist disciples all looked toward Jiang Ding, eager to hear his response.

To them, this choice completely conformed to their Dao Heart.

It fulfilled their obligations to the sect while ensuring their absolute safety, a perfect solution that seemed to have no downsides.

”It’s nothing much,”

Jiang Ding didn’t hesitate much and smiled as he spoke: ”I anticipate that Daoist Tianxuan, will never break his promise for any reason, as doing so would not conform to a cultivator’s path of integrity.”

If he were in the Northern Plains, he would never fight an evenly matched opponent; rather, he would just wait and wait. As time passed, the seemingly invincible foe would gradually become vulnerable, involving no risk at all.

This too conformed to his Dao Heart.

No one stipulates that a Swordsman Cultivator must be a reckless fighter who becomes frenzied at the sight of blood and rushes headlong into death in pursuit of a breakthrough.

Sword Intent should follow the heart, Sword Intent should follow me.

However, the Xianmen Sect is different.

This place is the foundation of his Great Dao, where his beloved family, friends, and teachers are; the place he enjoys, where he can sleep peacefully... he had no retreat.

’Sigh...’

In the unknown, countless sighs were heard.

This was not out of fear.

Magic cultivators will avoid any unnecessary and risky wars; face isn’t the primary consideration, it doesn’t even make the top three.

Being spat upon is merely trivial; the everlasting nature of the Immortal Path is the essence.

’Great Sun Swordsman...sword...’

For a time, there were no words. Many people chewed on the term, the intense desire to kill uncontrollably surged in their hearts and was then skillfully concealed as they continued to smile cordially, drinking with guests and discussing the mysteries and the Tao.

The method and the person of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion’s Great Sun Swordsman,

must be eradicated, utterly exterminated!

Otherwise, one cannot rest easy.

...

More than a month later, the talks were over.

”Divine Mechanism brother, take care, take care...”

”Dingding brother, please wait. When we have leisure time again, let us drink and rejoice once more...”

Divine Mechanism Heavenly Monarch left the palace gates amid the repeated persuasions of the Immortal Sect Master of the Eight Great Immortal Sects. His face showed an enthusiastic smile as he repeatedly declined, finally excusing himself and returning with Jiang Ding.

Within the intermediary space of the Tai Xu Fantasy Realm, the smile on Divine Mechanism Heavenly Monarch’s face slowly faded.

The Tai Xu Fantasy Realm is the crystallization of Immortal Technology, which is a top-notch invention of the Xianmen Sect’s Divine Soul Path, with features like spiritual soul attack, spiritual soul defense, and concealment; it is not just a plain gaming space.

”How did it go, Commander?”

Jiang Ding asked.

Even as he asked, he already had the answer in his heart which he deduced from the fragmentary words of the Eight Great Daoists.

”The talks have collapsed.”

”As expected.”

Divine Mechanism Heavenly Monarch said indifferently, ”In the end, they were only willing to concede to Xianmen Sect’s retreat back to its original territory, without further compensation. That’s it; they were not willing to take a step back anymore.”

”Is that possible?”

”So many people died for us to occupy eleven Minor Thousand Worlds. To just up and leave without anything in return, if I dared to agree, the cultivators below would immediately riot, shouting ’Execute the traitor of the nation!’”

Divine Mechanism Heavenly Monarch laughed heartily.

”Furthermore, I was the one who pushed for this war with all my might.”

”Prepare for war.”

”This time, we defend. There are many places in the Starry Sky Battlefield that we may not be able to cover, and the Small Worlds will be invaded. From then on, it’s all up to you.”

Divine Mechanism Heavenly Monarch looked at the young man in front of him and said seriously, ”I will allocate forty Fourth Order Forbidden Nuclear Weapons to you. Do you need them?”

He was unsure of the path the person in front of him walked, whether it would have any impact, and whether his Dao Heart would become unstable, hence his question.

Jiang Ding fell silent for a moment.

Warships are nothing but sword scabbards.

This was an undeniable truth, a natural conclusion, and could never be an extraneous item. Those who claimed otherwise were ill-intentioned, trying to shake his Dao Heart.

But Forbidden Nuclear Weapons...

Had it been against High-Rank Cultivators, that would have been one thing.

To go to any extreme for victory is natural; a swordsman cultivator only needs victory, no matter where it comes from.

Even against those of the same level...

He truly couldn’t persuade his Dao Heart.

”Leave it to commanders like Ouyang Hui; let them handle it.”

Jiang Ding spoke slowly, ”The condition for activation is my death in battle. This must be set in the activation protocol of the Forbidden Nuclear Weapons, and cultivators cannot defy it.”

”This is what I hope for.”

”Elder, please respect my decision.”

Jiang Ding begged respectfully.

This did not comply with the Xianmen Sect’s combat regulations and was a major violation; it was something that would send one to a military tribunal.

But it aligned with his Sword Intent, with his Dao Heart.

Divine Mechanism Heavenly Monarch was silent for a long time.

”Alright.”