Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

”Reporting to Uncle-Master.”

Wu Makong respectfully said, ”Over the past year, the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, Liu Hongshao, the head of the Tax Hall, and a relative of the Supreme Elder, Li Xiu, have been involved in corruption, acceptance of bribes, and other matters. Furthermore, there are cultivators from the Law Enforcement Hall...”

He presented a magic tool bead, which recorded the entire investigation process.

”Is that so?”

Jiang Ding frowned.

He took the magic tool bead and swept over it with his Divine Sense.

The investigation employed several underhanded methods, but it indeed unveiled related misconduct with clear evidence.

”So there really is something.”

Jiang Ding felt surprised, ”I saw no issues in the ledger; it seems there are quite a few capable people among the cultivators, colluding with each other to form a network that enables them to embezzle tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones with just a reach of their hands.”

”They’re at least giving some face, not reaching the level of a million.”

”It would probably take another decade of repeated probing to reach that amount.”

He seemed not so much angry as intrigued.

Wu Makong felt a chill in his heart.

”You may leave, Witch Horse. You’ve worked hard.”

Jiang Ding said no more, put away the magic tool bead, and cautioned, ”In cultivation, peace is most valuable. You should just gather information, and not do anything rash to avoid hurting yourself.”

”What we should have, we will have.”

”Yes!”

Wu Makong respectfully said, cupping his fists before leaving.

Silence settled in the room.

”Sigh!”

A sigh escaped.

”The human heart...”

”The compensation I offer is already twice that of the Qiyu Sect and Hua Xue Palace; the heads of each hall receive more than ten times the spirit stones and related elixirs.”

Jiang Ding shook his head, took out a talisman, and sent the intelligence within it to the newly appointed manager of the dojo, Monk Fa Zheng, for him to deal with.

”If the water is too clear, there are no fish; if the water is too clear, there are no fish.”

”It’s quite normal.”

”Loose cultivator Liu Hongshao will be executed directly.”

”The head of the Tax Hall, Li Xiu, is my senior brother’s relative. Forget it, give him another three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones and send them together to Tianleifeng Peak at Qiyu Sect.”

”Why don’t the others understand that Foundation-building cultivators are not irreplaceable resources.”

He shook his head.

...

In the room.

Jiang Ding opened his eyes, his Divine Sense scanning the surroundings.

Without changing the layout of the room, a spatial formation had been arranged at some unknown time, turning the modest room into one thousands of meters wide. Roots from the Heaven-Covering Banyans draped in through the window side, enhancing the concentration of Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi to a second-order supreme level.

Behind him, a Bluegold Large Tree over fifty meters tall with glittering branches and leaves, and a Blue Gold Big Sun nestled in the shade of the trees, remained unaffected in its absorption of Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi and Great Sun Essence within the room, thanks to specially arranged designs.

This was the result of having a Third-Order Array Master from the Xianmen Sect remodel his room a month ago.

For a considerable time to come, he would be at home, keeping to the same routine as his family, but his cultivation could not stop, hence this modification.

The Bluegold Large Tree shrank and flew into his forehead.

Jiang Ding got up and opened the door to his room.

At seven in the morning, the sky outside was still dim, with some light seeping through, and the temperature had dropped significantly.

Whoosh!

The Taiqing Flying Sword flew out adeptly, heating milk, simmering soup, chopping green onions and garlic, and preparing rice noodles, amongst other things.

After a moment,

everything was ready, various ingredients and bowls floated to the dining table unaided, with a constant temperature magic applied between them, maintaining the optimal temperature at all times.

”Big brother, up so early again?”

After a while, Jiang Yuan got up sleepily, rubbed his eyes, and greeted groggily.

”... Aren’t you a Late-stage Qi Practicing cultivator? Is it good to sleep so late?”

Jiang Ding was somewhat speechless.

He hadn’t needed much sleep since reaching the Xiantian realm; a mere half-hour of rest each day could completely relieve him of fatigue.

”I got up at seven; quite early.”

”And it’s winter now!”

Jiang Yuan wasn’t convinced.

”That makes sense.”

Jiang Ding was too lazy to talk to her.

After washing up, Lin Wanqiu, who had gone out for exercise, also returned.

The family sat together for breakfast, blanching the rice noodles just purchased from a few kilometers away with hot water, then putting them into a pot of bone broth. They added chopped green onions and cilantro, chili oil, Sichuan pepper powder, salt, and chicken stock, stirring everything evenly.

Accompany that with an egg and a cup of milk.

This was today’s breakfast.

For the past month, Jiang Ding had been living this kind of life. Aside from practicing cultivation in his free time, he was no different from an ordinary person, and he had even intentionally learned how to cook Spirit Food from a chef.

”Dingding is so amazing.”

As Lin Wanqiu joyfully slurped her noodles, she said contentedly, ”It tastes even better than the best chef’s in Rongcheng City. I think if you opened a restaurant, it would definitely be packed with customers.”

”Making a fortune wouldn’t be a problem.”

She seriously contemplated the feasibility of this idea.

”Mom, forget it.”

Jiang Yuan rolled her eyes. ”The salary of a Foundation-building cultivator could bankrupt any restaurant in Rongcheng City; it’s a sure loss.”

”That’s also true.”

Lin Wanqiu thought about it and felt it made sense.

”Is your wedding house ready?”

As Jiang Ding slurped his noodles, he remembered something and asked.

Their old, small, and rundown home naturally couldn’t serve as a wedding house. He wouldn’t allow it, not wanting outsiders to disturb his family.

”It’s all set; my pocket money is more than enough.”

Jiang Yuan’s eyes shone with anticipation. ”It’s in the city center, near the library, and it’s a big villa, much larger than our house. Oh, right.”

”In a few months, I’m going to be engaged, and the man and his family will be there. Will you come?”

She asked, hopeful.

”I wish you the best.”

”I won’t.”

Jiang Ding replied simply.

”Why not?”

Jiang Yuan’s expression dimmed. ”You’re my brother.”

”Because, farewells are very painful for me.”

”I try to avoid such things as much as possible.”

Jiang Ding explained softly, ”For cultivators, there are two paths to maintain the stability of the Dao Heart. One is to experience the ups and downs of life while still preserving an innocent heart; the other is to have few desires and avoid karma as much as possible.”

”I’ve chosen the second path.”

”...”

Lin Wanqiu heard this and, opening her mouth, decided not to persuade further.

”You can always come home, you know. Getting married doesn’t make a difference.”

”As Grandma said, marriage, having children, they can give life a sense of completeness and add more meaning.”

Seeing Jiang Yuan’s morale dip, Jiang Ding comforted her. ”Just don’t neglect your cultivation amid these trivial matters. The Immortal Path is a personal journey, and no matter what, one shouldn’t give up accumulating knowledge; it should be like this at all times.”

”...Okay.”

Jiang Yuan said quietly.

She knew she couldn’t persuade her brother. It had always been like this from when they were little. His decisions were irreversible, just like the time she tried to embezzle the grocery money when she was a child.

After breakfast, Jiang Yuan and Lin Wanqiu each went off to school.

Yes, they were still pursuing their education, continually learning about language, mathematics, and other Immortal Path knowledge to enhance their understanding of the way.

The place was still Rongcheng No.1 Middle School.

More than a decade ago, Rongcheng No.1 Middle School received a significant amount of funding. Without changing the original teaching staff, they added dozens of Foundation-building teachers from various Xianmen Sects renowned for their teaching skills and who had coached many outstanding students.

For some reasons, they came to this small city to become teachers, causing Rongcheng No.1 Middle School to leap to the forefront as one of the strongest high schools in Qian Province.