Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Jiang Ding gazed down at the Nascent Soul Immortals kneeling in surrender on the ninety-nine steps below.

All that could be seen were pitch-black crowns of heads, with no faces visible.

To the right were the Tushan maids.

Spring Maid Chun Jian, Summer Maid Shanggong, Southeast Wind Maid Hei Louxi, Winter Snow Maid, Lightning Maid, Thunder Maid...

In the past seventy years, the nine great maids had been filled in, and counting Gong Caiyu and the other political work maids, deputy officials, the Tu Shan Maiden Corps now had a total of seventeen Nascent Soul Immortals.

The reason so many were able to advance in rank was firstly because the cultivation method practiced by the Tushan Maiden Corps, ”Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning, Sun Nine Parts Dao Canon,” was a top-notch Classics-grade practice method, which helped in breaking through bottlenecks;

Second, these maids were all elites from the various noble families of the Northern Plains. They were originally the best of the best in terms of talent, will and Dao Heart, merely lacking a ladder for ascension. After enduring the bloody trials of the King’s Court’s battles, they returned from a hundred battles.

Third, there were the ample opportunities left behind by Shuoyang Heavenly Monarch in the Court’s Blessed Land, intended to cultivate his own bloodline’s descendants.

Shuoyang Heavenly Monarch had prepared many fallbacks for his descendants, built with the goal of enduring millions of years and never letting the family bloodline end, with abundant reserves of opportunities. In the end, they all benefitted these maids.

With these three factors combined, it was as if heaven and earth aligned perfectly with human endeavor, which is why so many Nascent Soul maids were born in just a few hundred years.

This was Jiang Ding’s imperial guard force, the Great Sun Dao Soldiers, who addressed their master respectfully and, relatively speaking, were the most reliable.

Jiang Ding turned to look to the left.

Kneeling on the ground were Tianyang Immortal, True Master Void Square, and the ardently worshipping Scorching Sun Sword Cultivator Scorching Sun Immortal, along with other Nascent Soul Monks, repressing their excitement and wearing expressions of joy.

The sword cultivators of the original Great Sun Sword Sect had fervent gazes, as if looking at a monarch, a father. Kneeling on the ground, their Sword Hearts felt not the slightest humiliation but considered it an honor instead.

Additionally, there were the Nascent Soul Immortals of the original Great Sun Dharma Sect, who also felt honored, but at the same time, they were slightly worried. They didn’t have the same purity as the sword cultivators and showed an almost instinctive sense of submission.

Their title was Swordsman, aligned with their sect, their inheritance.

They would forever be loyal to the Dari Swordsman.

The stronger one was, the more worthy they were of being the Dari Swordsman.

All they needed was the Dari Swordsman, regardless of who bore the title or even whether that being was human. They might not care.

”Equally reliable, they’re from the direct lineage,”

”As long as I remain the Dari Swordsman...”

Jiang Ding muttered to himself internally.

The Great Sun Sect now had thirty-two Nascent Soul Immortals, all of whom had arrived without leaving a single one to guard the home. Even if True Master Void Square issued a compulsory order in the name of the sect master, it was in vain; all the Immortals had run off here.

”Greetings, Tushan Heavenly Monarch!”

Belatedly, Yin Dao and the other sixteen Nascent Soul Immortals from the Northern Plains Families bowed respectfully in salutation.

Yes, sixteen of them.

Among them were those from the Mu Family of the Ice Snow Palace, Ice Rain Immortal, from the Joyous Union Sect’s Liu Family, from the Guishan Iron Family... In short, some Nascent Soul Cultivators from the Northern Plains Families were present here, bowing to the new ruler of the Northern Plains, not wishing to lose their place in this emerging dominant power.

That would be more terrifying than death itself.

Their daring to be here must mean they had some confidence, likely because they had achieved military exploits against the Demon Race, much like Immortal Yin Dao, ensuring they wouldn’t face death.

Furthermore, the reputation of the ”Immortal Tushan, a man of his word,” played a significant role too; even enemies acknowledged and were willing to trust him.

Otherwise, many of the Nascent Soul Immortals from the Northern Plains Families here would rather flee the Northern Plains, preferring a slim chance of survival over appearing here.

”Oh?”

Jiang Ding’s gaze fell upon the additional Nascent Soul Immortals from the Northern Plains Families, his oppressive might heavy as a mountain, enveloping them.

”Greetings, Tushan Heavenly Monarch!”

The ancestors of the Mu Family from the Ice Snow Palace, Ice Rain Immortal, and others trembled in their hearts, not daring to delay for even a moment, as they openly released their Divine Souls for inspection.

”We beseech the Heavenly Monarch’s compassion.”

The massive Sword Intent and Divine Sense enveloped them.

Moments later, as the anxious Nascent Soul Immortals of the Northern Plains Families watched on, the young man in green robes sitting on the Six Dao Throne opened his eyes and spoke indifferently, ”Within a hundred years, you will need to complete the task of slaying demons to redeem yourselves. Each person must slay at least three Demon Monarchs of the same level or three thousand Demon Kings. The methods are at your discretion, and there’s no requirement to fight alone.”

”Yes!”

”We will obey the Heavenly Monarch’s command!”

The Ice Rain Immortal and others sighed with relief.

Even the four Immortals Yin Dao felt the same.

In the newly established Northern Plains Immortal Path Court, their Northern Plains Families’ lineage of true immortals was undoubtedly the targets of exclusion. Seeking help to kill demons was unquestionably difficult, and even if the other party agreed, they would inevitably be severely exploited, far less reliable than the Nascent Soul Immortals of the same race and predicament.

’These people are not reliable; once the suppressive force is gone, they can bite back at any moment.’

’They can be used, but not heavily relied upon.’

Jiang Ding tagged them accordingly.

”Greetings, Tushan Heavenly Monarch!”

The last batch of Nascent Soul Immortals bowed reverently, without the usual unruliness of loose cultivators.

Leading them were the Blood Cloud Immortal Blood Cloud, Blood Hand Immortal Li Tu, Mu Tiansnow, Han Lin, and eleven other loose Nascent Soul Immortals.

Among these people, Blood Hand Immortal Li Tu was the most anxious and also felt both fortunate and honored.

I, back then,

actually survived a sword strike from a Heavenly Monarch?

Although it was a Golden Pill incarnation, although the Heavenly Monarch didn’t use full strength, and although it took two life-restoring Blood Lotus seeds from my older brother to save me...

But this was a sword strike from a Heavenly Monarch!

Besides myself, who else in this world has survived a sword strike from a Heavenly Monarch and lived to tell the tale?

Li Tu thought with considerable pride.

”Hello to you all.”

Jiang Ding nodded in salutation, giving them a certain amount of respect.

These people were not his subordinates by right, nor were they criminals who had been subdued; they were considered neutral parties.

Moreover, despite many chaotic, bloody, and naive aspects in these loose cultivators’ resistance against the Northern Plains Families’ tyranny, their courage was undeniably worthy of respect.

’Potential allies, cooperative parties.’

Jiang Ding tagged them as such.

”The Heavenly Monarch speaks too highly of us.”

Blood Cloud and others were flattered and bowed repeatedly.

Many loose Nascent Soul Immortals instantly felt a surge of ecstatic joy.

Tushan Heavenly Monarch, who always treated loose cultivators without prejudice and was known for his generosity and keeping his word!

Now, this was confirmed once again.

Many loose Nascent Soul Immortals, who had long been in despair about their cultivation paths, suddenly felt their hearts ignite with passion, entertaining various thoughts.

Cultivation Methods, Elixirs, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, spirit lands. And so on.

All these were ladders for cultivators to advance further, paths that had always been inaccessible, chilling their hearts and ambitions.

At that moment, hope seemed to appear.

”Greetings, Heavenly Monarch!”

”Congratulations to the Heavenly Monarch on his ascension to Divinity Transformation, may you live ten thousand years, and achieve eternal Dao!”

Finally, all the true immortals congratulated in unison, their voices uniform and loud, echoing through the skies.

”Very good.”

Jiang Ding nodded.

He sat upon the Six Dao Throne, quietly watching the immortals below.

The total number of Nascent Soul Immortals was seventy-six; most of the Nascent Soul Immortals from the Northern Plains were probably here—those absent certainly did not exceed ten.

These seventy-six Nascent Soul Immortals collectively expressed their willingness to submit, with no conditions, no reasons, willing to be commanded by a Heavenly Monarch.

Through them, the lands of the Northern Plains Human Race should now be stable.