Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Heavenly Tribulation thundered down, shattering space, breaking through protective shields, and fiercely battling with the warship’s artillery.

Amidst the thunderclouds and lightning, the warship bobbed heavily, occasionally firing deafening shots that repelled the Heavenly Tribulation’s lightning by a fraction.

After enduring for a long time, despite repeated bombardments, the artillery ultimately failed to stop it.

Crack!

The lightning, like a sharp sword, pierced the warship’s protective shields, tearing apart the deck made from high-rank spirit composite metals, melting it into a pool of liquid metal that dripped down from the sky.

In the center of the warship, a Nascent Soul the size of a fist looked serious, its small hands waving as it continuously manipulated mana techniques to reinforce the warship, preventing further damage, and then casting one magic after another.

Void array patterns spread continuously, greatly amplifying the strength of the warship and the power of its artillery fire. Amidst the Heavenly Tribulation and battle, the warship’s core transformed towards the Nascent Treasure.

Everyone watched the scene with bated breath, eyes glued to the action.

Jiang Ding was also learning.

For Xianmen cultivators, from the Golden Pill stage onwards, their main treasures were no longer heavy objects like mountains, steles, or metal Ruyi –

it was warships!

Their warships were their Life Treasures, sharing in their glory and damage.

Wu Mengsha was having her own cultivation base breakthrough, while also allowing her warship to advance, inching closer to the Air-Space Mothership.

Over the years, she had accumulated many high-rank materials and built array patterns, radars, artillery, and other parts for the Air-Space Mothership in advance. At this moment, they underwent a qualitative change.

Gradually, the final wave of Heavenly Tribulation struck, almost tearing the warship in two, its aura fading.

Clouds spread over hundreds of miles began to disperse.

”She succeeded,”

Immortal Gulin pronounced, ”Wu Mengsha’s foundation is deep enough. She has gained much from the domain wars, and with some danger, yet no harm, she has achieved a Nascent Soul, extending her lifespan by twelve hundred years; a Nascent Soul of medium grade.”

”Surpassing the low grade, in the future, it’s plausible for her to achieve Divinity Transformation.”

”Thank goodness, senior Wu is one with immortal fortune,”

Jiang Ding let out a sigh of relief.

Over the centuries, old acquaintances had withered away or fallen into deep slumber. Now, seeing a familiar face advance to the next realm, taking another step on the Great Dao, he felt sincerely happy.

”Senior Wu’s Nascent Soul Dao has succeeded.”

”Fortunate indeed, it sets a great precedent for us all, undoubtedly a symbol of good luck,”

Golden Pill Monks around were also exhilarated.

The assembly waited in silence, daring not to disturb.

Until several months later.

Rosy clouds surged on the horizon as a tall woman emerged from the clouds, her presence exuding an immense pressure that caused a slight suffocation in everyone’s hearts and made their mana flow awkward.

She had just broken through to the Nascent Soul and was yet to perfectly control the mana and Divine Sense within her body.

”Congratulations,”

”Immortal Mengsha, your Nascent Soul Dao is finally complete!”

Immortal Gulin led the congratulations.

”Congratulations, Immortal!”

”Wishing you an extended lifespan of twelve hundred years...”

”Immortal, please don’t forget about us...”

One by one, the Golden Pill Monks at the peak bowed in a grand gesture, their actions solemn and uniform, presenting an impressive sight.

”Haha, you guys quit it!”

Wu Mengsha rolled her eyes, ”I’m stepping ahead. When you reach Nascent Soul, we can then exchange our experiences. Don’t you dare say that this old senior is putting on airs then.”

”Hahaha...”

Everyone laughed.

The atmosphere among them was relaxed; unlike Immortal Sect practitioners who changed their form of address and relationships upon advancement, they were all without restraint.

Next was the Nascent Soul preaching and other ceremonies.

Jiang Ding and Immortal Gulin, along with other cultivators, listened attentively and then said their goodbyes.

...

Another five years had passed.

One day, the newly-advanced Immortal Wu was invited to the Great Sun Relic Laboratory. She met many familiar and unfamiliar members of the laboratory. After they became acquainted with each other, the two walked through the lab, which was full of bullet holes and sword marks.

”How stable is your cultivation base, Senior Sister?”

Jiang Ding casually asked.

”Pretty much there,”

Wu Mengsha replied with a hint of regret, ”If it weren’t for my life energy nearing its end, I really wanted to wait for the Yin and Yang Void to appear. By then, if I followed you and clung to your coattails, perhaps I could achieve a Superior Nascent Soul and have more possibilities to undergo Divinity Transformation in the future.”

”It doesn’t matter, in the Immortal Path, nothing is an absolute restriction.”

”Continuous research and exploration will gradually solidify the path to Divinity Transformation,”

Jiang Ding consoled her, ”What are your plans for the future, Senior Sister? Will you join the military, go into business, or take up our old profession and become a professor for the Great Sun Relic Major?”

He was very eager to see the last possibility come true.

However, the opinions of the person in question were still the primary consideration, and if she was not willing, he did not intend to force the issue.

”Naturally, it would be the Great Sun Relic Laboratory. I’m used to all of this.”

”Of course, the main reason is that the compensation is good. At Qingfeng University, it’s almost impossible for a newly ascended Nascent Soul to serve as a professor due to insufficient experience,”

Wu Mengsha said somewhat embarrassedly, ”Jiang Ding, by doing this, won’t I be taking your position? If so, I plan to spend some time in the military to accumulate military exploits and wealth, to fulfill my military service at the Nascent Soul Stage, and to lay the foundation for future research work.”

”Not at all; it is what I’m hoping for,”

Jiang Ding smiled and said, ”Senior Sister doesn’t know, but I have many responsibilities and am very busy. Yet the Great Sun Relic Major is extremely important. In the absence of a successor, I cannot abandon it, which is quite troubling.”

”If Senior Sister could take over, it would be more than perfect,”

”Really? Then I won’t be polite,”

Wu Mengsha thought for a moment, realized that was indeed the case, and agreed.

Her junior brother, a professor of the Adult Sword Dao Department and the Sword Dojo laboratory, also followed the studies of Heavenly Monarchs and more; indeed, he had many responsibilities and was spread thin, like an octopus.

”That would be best.”

Jiang Ding smiled and said, ”I will apply to the superiors right now. I estimate that in about two months’ time, the transfer orders from above will arrive. Then, I will introduce you to the new colleagues and students in the lab and complete the handover.”

”Thank you.”

...

Months later, Jiang Ding completed the handover, tidied up a bit, and returned to his Silver Sky Island dormitory.

”I’m back here again.”

”It always feels a bit cramped.”

Jiang Ding commented.

Having spent a long time in the Great Sun Relic Laboratory, he felt somewhat unaccustomed to being back here.

However, he didn’t plan on changing it.

”I’ll think about it after reaching the Nascent Soul stage,”

Jiang Ding planned in his mind, ”After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, I can retrieve the Great Sun Heavenly Pond. The Great Sun Heavenly Pond will be my cultivation site for a long time to come, and it should also be the main structure for my Super Mothership and future Starry Sky Fortress. A massive construction effort will be based on it.”

After returning to the dormitory, he didn’t have much to arrange, simply sitting cross-legged, releasing the Taiqing Flying Sword and the Super Warship Great Sun, allowing them to frolic around—

Usually, the Super Warship Great Sun would play around, visiting the warship maintenance center or interacting with other Ship Spirits.

The Taiqing Flying Sword only ever appeared within the range of Jiang Ding’s Divine Sense and never strayed far.

Jiang Ding connected his Divine Sense to the network, participating in various research projects of the Sword Dao laboratory, teaching in the Adult Sword Dao Department, consulting on Sword Dao techniques for the sword-casting research of Heavenly Monarch Wanji, studying the Fourth Realm of Sword Dao, the Undying Realm, and so forth.

In addition, with more free time available, he began studying Army Formations in accordance with Immortal Luling’s instructions, occasionally seeking advice from old predecessors skilled in that art like Sun Extinguisher Heavenly Monarch.

Although he didn’t make progress as astoundingly fast as in Sword Dao, he was competent and made steady advancements every day.

In this way, time flowed gently by. Before he knew it, seventeen years had passed, and the Yin and Yang Void realm began to emerge in the universe.