Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

After the official from the Xianmen Sect’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs left.

Only two people remained.

”Do you know why True Monarch Bo Ming was so angry?”

Immortal Dinghai put away the sleeping Yu Qianzi, summoned an unmanned drone from the Immortal City Police Headquarters, placed him inside, gave some instructions, and casually asked.

”I don’t know.”

Jiang Ding shook his head.

He had never been involved in the inner circles of the Xianmen Sect and did not understand the complexities involved.

”Because you’ve brought him, and the entire Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a huge trouble.”

Immortal Dinghai explained, ”For the next several decades, they might have to work overtime every year. They have to explain to the Five Elements Heavenly Sect, clarify with Shangqing Lingbao Sect, and soothe several other neutral Immortal Sects... and so on.”

”That’s one thing, as cultivators do not fear fatigue.”

”What they fear is that even after all this busywork, the result might turn out even worse, affecting his accumulation of merits for Divinity Transformation, which might then impact his cultivation base, his lifespan!”

Other than martial achievements, research, commerce, diplomacy, and the like could also earn merits, but the bar was set extremely high, only attainable by those at the very top, to match the sacrifice of those who shed blood.

A tiny bit less, and you’re merely eking out a living on a death’s wage.

”I see.”

Jiang Ding nodded slightly.

He didn’t look the least bit apologetic.

It seemed only natural that the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be arduous.

But!

In the Desolate Bronze Small World, in the Canghai Small World, he and many of the Immortal Sect Army fought and sacrificed, risking death. Wasn’t that also tough?

The difficulty in carrying out diplomatic work was a fact.

However, did that mean he had to let his enemies, who repeatedly tried to kill him, go free, just for the so-called greater good?

Ridiculous.

All Outer Realm cultivators liked to bully the weak and fear the strong, to take advantage when they could!

If it really came to that,

he genuinely feared that one day, while passing by Shangqing Lingbao Sect or Green Wood Immortal Sect, even a dog from these sects would dare to attempt an ambush on him.

After all, there would be no danger, right?

Should they succeed, they would immediately be richly rewarded by Heavenly Palaces such as Xuanwu tiangong, with chances for breakthroughs from Golden Pill to Nascent Soul, and from Nascent Soul to Divinity Transformation bestowed upon them.

Neutral Immortal Sects like Shangqing Lingbao Sect would naturally severely reprimand and produce scapegoats, letting the matter slide lightly.

”Don’t be angry, it is human nature.”

”Everyone focuses on their own field, with themselves at the center.”

”True Monarch Bo Ming, you, and I, are the same.”

Immortal Dinghai was not surprised.

”Don’t think I’m always calm and collected, but if someone greatly impacts the training, promotion rate, and success rate of undergraduates and postgraduates at Qingfeng University, you think I wouldn’t be upset?”

”I might even be more distressed than True Monarch Bo Ming.”

This was related to his accumulation of merits for Divinity Transformation.

”As you advance and become stronger, this kind of situation will occur again in the future.”

”Many cultivators are thrilled and full of anticipation over this.”

”Yet there are many who despise it due to their own interests being harmed, or they feel unease and pessimism about the likelihood of the Eight Great Immortal Sects forming an encirclement again, and thus become somewhat hostile.”

”Everyone is struggling for their own path.”

Immortal Dinghai spoke slowly.

”But.”

”Such struggles must have a bottom line.”

”That is the law of the Immortal Sects, along with the collective interests of the Immortal Sects!”

”Once anyone crosses the line, the laws of the Immortal Sects will suppress them immediately with iron-blooded ruthlessness. It’s not something that can be lightly glossed over with a few words about equality and freedom; this is the bottom line, remember that.”

”Understood, Teacher.”

Jiang Ding nodded solemnly.

He knew this was both a warning and reassurance.

The environment within Xianmen Sect wasn’t as malevolent as that of the Extra-terrestrial Immortal Sect, where conspiracies and assassinations were everyday occurrences, where life and death battles were fought on the dueling platform, and where Great Experts would slay from the skies without any reason.

But all the same, there were various struggles for interests, some of which were equally ruthless, just with a much higher line that should not be crossed.

”It’s enough to just know about these things, no need to take them too seriously,” said Immortal Dinghai with a wave of his hand, ”For us cultivators, our cultivation base is the most fundamental thing. As long as that improves, many of the problems that initially seem insurmountable suddenly become as simple as a breeze brushing against your face.”

”Naturally.”

Jiang Ding nodded.

...

Fifteen days passed in a blink of an eye.

Within the dormitory of the mining area.

The Blue-gold Large Tree shone brightly, inhaling and exhaling the Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi and Great Sun Essence, transforming them into myriad sparkling lights that rained down.

Jiang Ding, seated cross-legged beneath the tree, received the latest version of the Core Formation Secret Technique from Zhang Junsheng via the Array Spirit.

”There are about twenty places that have been modified.”

Jiang Ding silently compared it with the original version, meticulously comprehending the differences and the impact these changes had: ”It improves some aspects of the cultivation base after Core Formation, enhances the effects of the Divine Soul Qualitative Change slightly, and the compatibility with the Nascent Soul secret techniques...”

He simulated it multiple times within his Divine Soul.

Striving to leave no room for doubt about every detail so that he could execute it instinctively.

...

”Is it really okay to have such a simple environment for Core Formation?”

Outside the mining area dormitory, Jin Lingfeng spoke incredulously.

”This will suffice,” nodded Immortal Dinghai lightly. ”He is different. His refinement of mana and Divine Sense has already reached profound depths, almost comparable, no, purer than many Golden Pill Monks.”

”He doesn’t need any assistance.”

”All he needs is a safe place with some Spiritual Energy. Even a Third-tier Spiritual Vein isn’t necessary.”

”But Teacher Zhang, forming a Golden Pill in the dormitory seems too casual,” An Siyan still voiced some concern. ”Shouldn’t we find a more secure place, like a secret chamber? It would be safer.”

”For him, anywhere within Xianmen Sect is the same,” Immortal Dinghai said, shaking his head slightly without further explanation.

Around them stood a silent group of cultivators, mostly classmates like Huang Yan and others. They were at the Peak of Foundation Building, present to witness the event and gain experience for their future Core Formation.

Xianmen Sect encouraged this practice.

Generally, each Core Formation attracted a considerable number of Foundation-building cultivators on the verge of reaching the next stage.

Beyond them, Immortal Luling, Zhang Junsheng, other teachers, and even officials from the Beidou University, Foreign Affairs Department, and other Nascent Soul Monks had come out of curiosity.

”The Dari Swordsman is about to form his Golden Pill!”

Beside Immortal Luling, an excited middle-aged man with a golden crown declared, ”Old Cyclops, what do you think, has the Geomagnetic Realm already fallen to the Xianmen Sect?

This place produces Geomagnetic Iron Mother, an excellent material for Electromagnetic Main Guns. It significantly enhances the strength of the electromagnetic Formation Method patterns. The Dari Swordsman will like it.”

”Damn it, Old Cyclops!” Immortal Luling kicked the man to the ground, creating a large crater, and cursed furiously, ”It hasn’t been two hundred years since I lost this eye, and you’ve already come up with a nickname for me, quite the fast worker, aren’t you?”

”Are you looking for a fight?”

He knew that if he didn’t nip this trend in the bud, soon others would start calling him by that nickname, and he might as well say goodbye to his dignified title of Immortal Luling and become Old Cyclops.

”No, my mistake!”

”Your magnanimity knows no bounds,” the man with the golden crown said as he climbed up, dirt smudged across his face. ”Come on, tell me, you’re his mentor. Will the Dari Swordsman be able to form his Golden Pill? I need to figure out how to lure him to the Geomagnetic Realm.”

”Whether he can or not?”

Immortal Luling let out a scoff.

Roar! Roar!

Suddenly, the sounds of dragon cries, howling winds, and roars filled the air. Spiritual Energy within a several dozen kilometers radius began to stir restlessly and converge toward a central point. The clear sky quickly filled with dense clouds.

”Core Formation has begun.”

Everyone stared at the sky, holding their breath.