Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

The Sun God Wood towered over a thousand meters high, casting a shade that stretched for several kilometers, its brilliance spectacular, commanding the Great Sun Essence and Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi within a hundred kilometers radius. With each breath, it stirred up vast storms, as if the heavens were born of its own accord.

”Heavenly Monarch Wanji!”

”You truly are a seasoned and prudent elder! The work you do is so reliable!”

Jiang Ding exclaimed excitedly.

”When you say eighteen years, it means eighteen years, not a minute more, not a minute less.”

His joy naturally spread out within a hundred kilometers radius, instantaneously clearing the skies and softening the sunlight, with gentle breezes blowing, an environment extremely suitable for life.

Before him floated a palm-sized piece of gold iron, covered in numerous sword patterns—the Sun Gold Iron.

Merely looking at it brought a piercing sensation to the eyes that could easily annihilate hordes of Foundation-building Qi Practitioners, obliterating both body and Divine Soul.

If a Golden Pill Monk dared to look longer, they would instantly be injured, blood streaming from their eye sockets with no defense against it.

If one were to probe with their Divine Sense, the consequences would be even more dreadful.

This piece of Scorching Sun Spirit Iron contained tens of thousands of Sword Dao wills, sharp and chaotic, instantly piercing the Golden Pill Divine Sense with countless holes, and possibly even spreading to the Divine Soul within, causing permanent damage to the Golden Pill Monk.

This object was none other than Scorching Sun Spirit Iron!

And it was a special version for the Dari Swordsman!

With its extreme heat and sharpness, it also contained an aura of electromagnetism. With ten thousand wills of the Sword Dao mixed within, it was nothing short of poison for Magic Cultivation and the vast majority of Sword Cultivators.

Not to mention using it to refine a Flying Sword, even being close to it for too long was problematic, leading to regression in Cultivation Base and severe injury to the Divine Soul.

”This is the first piece of Scorching Sun Spirit Iron.”

The aged and metallic gears-like voice of Heavenly Monarch Wanji sounded: ”The cost includes all industrial equipment, the wages of three hundred and seventy thousand research and production personnel, patent fees, and the usage fees for the Central Array Spirit Computer.”

”The factory is named Scorching Sun Spirit Iron Number One Factory, located in the outskirts of Xiandu, with production workers and management staff comprising Qi Practitioners, Foundation-building Cultivators, and seventeen thousand Golden Pill Monks, with six Nascent Soul Monks taking turns on guard duty.”

”In total, the first piece of Scorching Sun Spirit Iron costs an estimated one hundred and twenty-seven billion Low-grade Spirit Stones and thirty-two billion library points.”

”Here’s the list.”

One hundred and twenty-seven billion Low-grade Spirit Stones!

Jiang Ding took a sharp breath of air.

But he felt nothing wrong.

This was a massive industrial project, and since there was only one user, with all the equipment specially made and independently developed without the ability to share costs in the market, the high cost was justified.

Moreover, based on previous calculations, this was still a discounted price, not the market rate.

”In subsequent refinements, each Dari Swordsman version Scorching Sun Spirit Iron will cost five billion Low-grade Spirit Stones, including parts of fourth-order Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, and personnel wages.”

The aged mechanical voice of Heavenly Monarch Wanji sounded again.

”If one piece is refined each year, it’s just this price.”

”If a piece is refined every other year, the cost is seven billion Low-grade Spirit Stones, and the longer the interval, the higher the cost.”

This was quite normal.

The start-up cost for Scorching Sun Spirit Iron Number One Factory was very high, and once initiated, one had to continue refining production. Once stopped, various losses would ensue.

Moreover, if you refine once every year, during that idle year, at least sixty percent of the workers’ wages need to be paid, otherwise they’ll look for new jobs, as one cannot simply wait around with them.

Feeding a family, one’s own cultivation and Treasure refinement—all require money. One cannot afford to sit back and watch the reserves dwindle.

”On the other hand, if more Sword Dao cultivators place orders, refining a simplified version of the composite Sword Refining Material, the cost for each Dari Swordsman version Scorching Sun Spirit Iron can be reduced to less than five billion Low-grade Spirit Stones.”

”The more orders from Sword Dao cultivators, the cheaper it gets.”

”If there are enough Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators placing orders, perhaps refining a batch of Scorching Sun Spirit Iron could even be profitable, which in turn could fund your cultivation,”

”Of course, pay attention, many of the materials and technologies used here are regulated, and cannot be exported to Outer Realm Immortal Sect Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators, they can only be provided to Xianmen Sect Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators,”

Heavenly Monarch Wanji reminded him.

The Scorching Sun Spirit Iron Factory Number One was the property of the Dari Swordsman, he was only responsible for setting it up. Many Heavenly Monarchs had come to help, and there was indeed a bit of the God Transformation Strategy’s intent within this.

In the Xianmen Sect, any factory must adhere to the laws of the Xianmen Sect, or else even the Dari Swordsman would get you locked up,

”Senior, rest assured, I understand!”

Jiang Ding readily agreed, taking the expense list passed to him by Heavenly Monarch Wanji.

It included an expenditure of 12.7 billion Low-grade Spirit Stones and 3.2 billion library points, with every item detailed with data, recordings, and involved the wages of workers and R&D personnel, purchase of research materials, patent licensing, and so on. The amount of information was so vast that it could burst the Sea of Consciousness of a Foundation-building cultivator in an instant.

Jiang Ding went through the list item by item without missing a single detail, not assuming overall responsibility just because his senior had helped, showing that he absolutely trusted him.

”You’re not bad, kid.”

”This is what a nearly perfect moral character looks like.”

Heavenly Monarch Wanji not only wasn’t angry upon seeing this but actually had an appreciative look, ”Among brothers and sisters, parents and kin, fellow Daoists and seniors, what’s most forbidden is uneven distribution of benefits.

The same price, I might think it’s too much, you might think it’s too little, this is a common occurrence.”

”It’s okay for a while, as feelings can cover up the contradictions.”

”But if it happens too many times and the issues remain unresolved, buried in the heart, then the affection is also gone, and even larger conflicts emerge, leading to outcomes that are both saddening and regrettable.”

”Senior, you flatter me too much.”

Jiang Ding touched his head, feeling embarrassed, but his actions did not show any embarrassment as he pointed out what he thought were inappropriate and excessive expenses.

Of course, he also identified areas where expenses seemed too low, not in line with market prices, and suggested increasing them.

The two then began to argue.

Some points Heavenly Monarch Wanji agreed with, while others he completely disagreed with and took time to explain calmly.

Several days later, everything was settled.

The final total price came to 12.1 billion Low-grade Spirit Stones and 3.4 billion library points, with various adjustments.

”Thank you, Senior Wanji.”

Jiang Ding paid promptly, watching as Spirit Stones and Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures streamed out of his account. He felt a twinge of pain in his heart and regretfully said, ”The wages of everyone else can mostly be paid in full, but for you, Senior, and for many other Heavenly Monarch seniors, I simply can’t afford it at the moment. I can only pretend to forget about this matter.”

The wages of a Spirit Transformation Heavenly Monarch are not a matter of how many Spirit Stones, they require Fifth Order Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures.

”Hahaha...”

”You’re quite honest, you little thing!”

Heavenly Monarch Wanji smiled indulgently, ”But that’s not a problem. When our Great Sun Sword Master reigns over the myriad realms, we can take back our wages a hundredfold, a thousandfold. There’s no rush for now.”

”That’s... too far away.”

Jiang Ding gave a wry smile.

”Far is far, just take it step by step.”

”Just like the path of Refining Nothingness in the Xianmen Sect, it’s hard, but we take it step by step. Even if our generation doesn’t make it, the next generation will take over, continue the work, and one day we will succeed,”

Heavenly Monarch Wanji said unconcernedly.

”Alright, you little fellow, start refining your Flying Sword. I have other matters to attend to, hang up now.”