Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Chapter 1356: Chapter 1324: The Population of Mother Star Will Increase to a Trillion

“Alright, hold on a moment.”

Jiang Ding spent some time handling various administrative tasks.

All of this appeared quite skillful: every matter was addressed with exceptional efficiency, comparable to the capabilities of a Refining Nothingness Divine Soul. Coupled with the cooperation of the Central Array Spirit Computer and the highly effective bureaucratic system of the Xianmen Sect, administrative tasks posed no difficulty.

“Teacher, after the inaugural address, how has public sentiment within the sect shifted?”

Jiang Ding asked.

Outside the military context, titles and forms of address tended to be casual, without stringent restrictions.

“It’s alright.”

“Most citizens are supportive; this is the result of the excellent education provided by the Xianmen Sect.” Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch chuckled. “Of course, the fact that this policy doesn’t affect the majority’s immediate interests is also a key reason.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Jiang Ding slightly nodded. “In another decade, following approval from the citizens’ assembly, the sect will implement policies to incentivize childbirth. At that point, the population of the Xianmen Sect will grow rapidly. It is estimated that in a thousand years, the population will stabilize at around ten trillion.”

“The education department will have a heavy responsibility moving forward, and you must pay particular attention.”

“Citizens’ education is a matter of life and death for the Xianmen Sect. It concerns everyone’s Dao path and collective destiny, so no level of attention would be excessive.”

“Understood!”

Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch’s breath slightly hitched.

Ten trillion people!

That represented a population increase of thirty-fourfold for the Xianmen Sect!

On the surface, this seemed astronomical, but placed within a millennium-long timeline, it appeared relatively gradual, with an average doubling of the population occurring in less than a century.

The sect’s top-level cultivators had already reached a consensus.

The foundation of the Xianmen Sect—its citizenry—needed to grow to ten trillion. Otherwise, not only would aspirational goals like venturing into the Ancient Divine Domain fail, even maintaining control over their existing territory would prove inadequate.

Ten trillion was, at minimum, sufficient.

“This may have an impact on your Great Sun God Transformation Strategy.”

Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch voiced some concern. “With a sufficient citizen population, we may no longer need external elites for supplementation, which could increase resistance to the policy.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Elite outsiders were never intended to replace the primary focus; citizens are the true foundation, and the inclusion of external elites must remain extremely limited.”

Jiang Ding showed little concern and said, “Their wisdom and inherited knowledge are what we desire, but regardless, we must solidify our foundation first.”

“That’s the foremost issue.”

“I was narrow-minded after all…”

Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch laughed awkwardly.

After finishing the report, Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch left with a large stack of documents, and the area returned to tranquility.

In truth, as a leader of a Harmonization-level sect, Jiang Ding only needed to handle administrative tasks once every hundred years in the absence of emergencies. Normally, he dispatched avatars to oversee departmental execution, making his workload quite leisurely.

Behind him, a Sun God Wood sprouted from the ground, radiating dazzling brilliance.

The Sun Abyss, Moon Creek River, River of Sun Flame, and other terrains began to overlap with the secret realm of the Immortal Gate Deputy Governor’s office, enveloping the area and transforming into the cultivation environment Jiang Ding was accustomed to.

In the sky, a flying sword of Bluegold shone brightly, successfully smelting a piece of top-grade Sixth Order Synthetic Geng Metal. Within it, runes of restrictive rules extended continuously, forming a spinning rule-rune light cluster that gradually condensed into a Rule Divine Prohibition.

The Refining Void Space Treasure—Taiqing Flying Sword—successfully refined its second Rule Divine Prohibition!

“One thousand three hundred seventy-four years.”

“Thirteen hundred years of effort!”

Jiang Ding gently stroked the Taiqing Flying Sword, sensing the changes it had undergone.

Within the flying sword, following the metamorphosis of the Great Sun Destruction Order into the Great Sun Destruction Rule, the Primordial Magnet Order was beginning to evolve into the Primordial Magnet Rule. It was estimated to complete its transformation at the moment the third Rule Divine Prohibition took shape, granting the flying sword a significant increase in power, especially when deploying sword techniques based on elemental magnetism.

“The refinement progress is so slow.”

“I’m so wealthy right now!”

Jiang Ding scanned his resources with his Divine Sense, letting out a sigh.

The various Spirit Stones and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were mere numbers to him. What truly mattered were the Refining Void battle merits and related high-grade treasures.

Years ago, he possessed fifty-four Refining Void battle merits and seventeen Refining Void-grade treasures.

Now, he had sixty-four Refining Void battle merits and thirty-four Refining Void-grade treasures.

After over a thousand years of refining his flying sword, he not only avoided becoming poorer but had become even wealthier!

Was this a good thing?

No, it wasn’t. Especially not for a Sword Cultivator.

Poverty is the most valuable trait for a Sword Cultivator.

It signifies that Sword Cultivators possess exceptional resource digestion capabilities—able to absorb any amount efficiently, without waste, like a Gluttonous Beast devouring every shred.

This is what defines a Sword Cultivator with limitless potential!

“Back in the day, Xi Yuan was impoverished, and I can’t let myself fall behind him.”

Jiang Ding mused aloud.

Currently, he could boast of being wealthier than Xi Yuan.

Xi Yuan was merely the master of the Nine Spirits Realm Refining Void Sect, whereas Jiang Ding ranked among the wealthiest few in the Harmonization Sect category, far exceeding Xi Yuan by an entire tier.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ding’s cultivation was still in the Nascent Soul Stage and had yet to reach Refining Nothingness.

This was precisely why Jiang Ding, already far stronger than Xi Yuan in his Nascent Soul Phase, was nevertheless so wealthy.

“The main issue is the slow refinement efficiency of the flying sword.”

“And this is after leveraging the Great Sun Sacrificial Sword Technique to its fullest—I’ve already pushed this method to its utmost limits, yet the efficiency has only improved by about five hundred years.”

“Even considering that refinement speed slows as progress is made, I still need twelve thousand years to achieve perfection with the Taiqing Flying Sword.”

Jiang Ding silently calculated.

The growth of his flying sword was critically tied to his potential, combat ability, and cultivation speed—its importance could not be overstated.

“Should I try… the Sun Sacrifice Sword Technique?”

Jiang Ding’s gaze fell upon the scripture.

This technique originated from a Near Immortal-level force in the Upper Realm, far surpassing the Great Sun Sacrificial Sword Technique. That was to be expected; while the Great Sun Sword Masters were undoubtedly exceptional, their cultivation level reached only Refining Nothingness. Even though the Great Sun Swordsmanship was superior, it could not compare.

However, the technique presented two challenges.

First, it required the Taiyin Swordman; without this complement, the Great Sun Sacrificial Sword Technique grew highly dangerous. Though Jiang Ding saw this as a minor issue—weakness due to disrupted Yin-Yang balance was a concern for lesser cultivators—he believed that as long as his Great Sun attribute was strong enough, he could easily resolve imbalances with a single strike. If he couldn’t, he would die; it wasn’t a complicated problem.

Jiang Ding himself wasn’t fearless but saw the imbalance as being beneath his notice.

The key issue was the second challenge.

The Sun Sacrifice Sword Technique was created in the Upper Realm and required numerous unique materials native to the Upper Realm for cultivation. These materials might not be valuable but were distinct to that realm.

Given that the senior Sword Cultivators of the Great Yin-Yang Sword Realm surely leveraged the materials around them, they wouldn’t have tailored the technique specifically for the Nine Spirits Realm.

Jiang Ding was already seeking substitute materials.

Relying on the Xianmen Sect’s robust Immortal Path synthesis industry, he had made partial progress; yet the prospect of complete substitution remained far off. A few especially unique materials showed no hope of artificial synthesis within the next ten thousand years.

“Should I ascend to the Upper Realm for a visit?”

A thought stirred in Jiang Ding’s mind.

“I wouldn’t cause trouble, just buy some of those special materials. They’re probably cheap in the Upper Realm, maybe even common.”

“And if danger arises, I’ll simply make my escape.”