Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Chapter 1289: Chapter 1257: Teacher of the Elite from the Ten Thousand Clans

The branches of the Divine Wood Heaven-Covering Banyan spread out, extending across the starry sky, intertwining to form a massive Super Transmission Array that enveloped the entire Great Sun Heavenly Pond.

Endless Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi converged, causing space to roil ceaselessly.

Buzz!

Buzzz!

Amidst the overwhelming glow of teleportation, the Great Sun Heavenly Pond vanished into thin air.

Soon, at a location separated by an unfathomable distance, nearly spanning half the Nine Spirits Realm, the illusory figure of the Great Sun Heavenly Pond reappeared in another starry sky, triggering a storm-like ripple across space.

Spatial Runes flickered uncertainly for a long time before stabilizing. The distorted mirage of the Great Sun Heavenly Pond transformed into a tangible entity, its terrifying and blazing pressure radiating outward, leaving anyone who witnessed this scene trembling.

Jiang Ding descended, accompanied by Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch and numerous Immortal strategists from the Front Army General Staff.

“Greetings, Vice Marshal of the Second Expeditionary Army of the Horned Ming Realm, Great Sun Heavenly Monarch!”

Taoqing Heavenly Monarch, along with the Celestial Lords and Immortals stationed at the gateway between the two realms, saluted in unison.

“Greetings to all.”

Jiang Ding returned the gesture.

The military is a place where the rule of law is paramount.

For in many instances, one faces life and death—excessive leniency or relaxation risks complacency, creating grave dangers for both oneself and the Immortal Sect.

All bonds of camaraderie must operate beneath the framework of military law.

After the formalities, the atmosphere between the parties relaxed slightly.

“Great Sun Heavenly Monarch, please take a look. These are the three million conscripted troops from the Minor Thousand Worlds trained per the orders of the Immortal Sect.”

Taoqing Heavenly Monarch and others led Jiang Ding aside and pointed ahead, transmitting their voices softly: “Their training… is passable. However, allow me to warn you—these troops are fit only for stationary defensive tasks. Place no expectations on their performance in open-field battles, especially against opponents at the level of Immortal Sect elites.”

“Understood,”

Jiang Ding nodded.

He followed Taoqing Heavenly Monarch’s indicating gesture and looked to the distant starry sky.

There, tens of thousands of warships and millions of fighters formed a colossal Starry Sky Army Formation, exuding immense pressure, meticulously ordered, chaotic Military Formation Runes scattered throughout the expanse.

At a glance, it seemed indistinguishable from the Immortal Sect Fleet.

Should an Immortal Sect level Divinity Transformation cultivator witness such a sight, they would undoubtedly flee in utter panic, igniting their Essence Blood without hesitation, terrified that even the slightest delay might result in instantaneous annihilation.

No—annihilation would be inevitable.

The moment an Immortal Sect cultivator’s Divine Sense touched upon the ship hulls of the Immortal Sect Fleet and laid eyes on the fleet itself, their demise would already be certain; survival would be a rarity.

However, if an Immortal Sect cultivator observed more calmly, they would immediately spot the flaws.

While grand in scale and potent in aura, this army formation was essentially hollow. The three million cultivators within were utterly incapable of merging their powers into unity. Although numbering three million, in reality, they were merely dozens of isolated individuals.

Viewing them as tens of Late Divinity Transformation stage cultivators would be entirely reasonable.

Moreover, they shared the general weaknesses common to army formations: sluggish mobility, inadequate responsiveness, limited endurance during prolonged marches across the starry sky, among other glaring shortcomings—altogether incomparable to the Citizen Fleet of a Domain Overlord.

Such massive disparities stemmed from two critical factors: the cultivators’ military skills and equipment.

From a young age, Immortal Sect cultivators undergo unparalleled Domain-level Immortal Path education—comprehensive resources, rigorous training, ample real-world experience, and constant mentorship from elders.

This apex-level Domain military quality cannot be bridged by a mere few decades of specialized training for conscripted troops from the Minor Thousand Worlds; the difference is as vast as heaven and earth.

The equipment disparity is even starker.

The warships and fighters owned by Minor Thousand World cultivators lag at least one era—if not three or four—behind the Immortal Sect standard. Many warships are little more than massive lumps of iron; though they may gleam with silvery brightness, this is largely due to later repairs and paint jobs. By at least seven to eight thousand years in Divine Sense terms, they are outdated relics.

As for combat morale? Let’s not even mention it.

Immortal Sect citizens can fight to the death—this isn’t mere encouragement or intimidation, but the plain truth.

Conversely, for these Minor Thousand World conscripted cultivators, you could never count on them not wavering or breaking under overwhelming disadvantage.

This explains Taoqing Heavenly Monarch’s advice: never treat these conscripted troops as elite open-field forces.

“No issue.”

“That’s entirely understandable…”

Jiang Ding murmured.

He took steady steps forward, heading toward the vast conscripted army of Minor Thousand Worlds.

At first, Jiang Ding’s figure was diminutive and inconspicuous—an effect of maintaining his Concealment Spell for years.

Yet, as he stepped forward, while his physical size remained unchanged—still the form of a sixteen-year-old human youth—his aura gradually began to transform. The terrifying and blazing pressure, infused with an immense intent of destruction, spread throughout the heavens and filled the Star River.

Though merely a tiny human figure, he resembled a towering Star River Behemoth, exuding the aura of a peak predator atop the food chain.

Under this might, all Divinity Transformation, Nascent Soul, and Golden Pill cultivators found their minds blank, teetering on the verge of suffocation.

An Immortal Sect powerhouse!

At this moment, profound reverence surged within every cultivator from the Minor Thousand Worlds.

“We pay homage!”

“We pay homage to the Great Sun Heavenly Monarch!”

Millions of Minor Thousand World cultivators bowed respectfully, their thunderous chants echoing like a mountain and a sea—morale vigorous, military spirit intense.

“Command: Advance.”

Jiang Ding nodded slightly.

His gaze rested upon the Skeleton Blood Vine Demon Emperor Son Vine Flower, Fire Spirit Dao Body Huo Baosan, Blood River King, and over a dozen Divinity Transformation cultivators, along with several thousand Nascent Soul Immortals.

Naturally, they were reverent, as the strength of an Immortal Sect Heavenly Monarch far surpassed their own.

At the same time, many of these Divinity Transformation cultivators and Nascent Soul Immortals displayed a look of respect and admiration—a hint of student-to-teacher affection intertwined with hierarchical fear.

The reasons for this were evident.

In the Fire Spirit Realm, at the Fire Spirit Academy, Jiang Ding’s incarnation had long been educating youth elites from the Minor Thousand Worlds—especially emphasizing moral values alongside guidance in the Immortal Path. This effort had continued for over a millennium.

The majority of these Divinity Transformation Nascent Soul cultivators from the Minor Thousand Worlds grew up under the tutelage of the Great Sun Heavenly Monarch, deeply influenced by his Great Sun God Transformation Strategy.

“Advance!”

“Yes, Vice Marshal!”

Millions of conscripted fleets from the Minor Thousand Worlds obeyed solemnly, maneuvering their warships and fighters according to orders from various Immortal Sect Commanders. They followed into the Great Sun Heavenly Pond, settling into their designated campsites.

“Greetings, teacher!”

“Greetings, teacher! We haven’t seen your true form in years—your excellence remains undiminished…”

Amidst their dutiful compliance, Vine Flower, Huo Baosan, and other Divinity Transformation and Nascent Soul cultivators eagerly greeted their mentor, their tones imbued with trust—a sentiment built upon the authenticity of a millennium-old bond.

This was indeed one of the considerations underlying the Immortal Sect Military Committee’s decision.

The conscripted army from the Immortal Sect bore a strong resemblance to feudal-era troops, requiring particular qualifications for their commander. Unlike the Immortal Sect Fleet, which could be directed seamlessly by anyone authorized and capable, this army depended heavily on its leader.

Under the Great Sun Heavenly Monarch’s command, this Minor Thousand World conscripted army would undoubtedly grow stronger.

“Hahaha!”

“It brings me great joy to see my fellow Daoists in such good health—I, too, feel immensely gratified.”

Jiang Ding laughed heartily.