Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery
Chapter 439 - 397: Power Cannot Be Transferred Along Bloodlines

"Power and riches,"

"How can they be passed down through bloodlines?"

"If everyone did this, the Xianmen Sect would turn into various family clans, united internally but aggressive against others, with citizen's rights completely eradicated."

Jiang Ding looked at the starry sky outside the window and murmured, "How can such a thing happen to me? This is not right; it shouldn't be."

"Nephew, this is my final gift to you."

"I wish you all peace and safety."

The figure disappeared without a trace.

...

Amidst the sprawling Molten Gold Vine, a young man dressed in blue was sitting cross-legged.

"Uncle Master."

Monk Fa Zheng bowed with respect and said, "The chaos of war in the Northern Plains has grown more frequent over the past three years. Many Foundation-building cultivators have sought refuge here through the Lingbao Commerce Association, and there have even been five Golden Pill Monks who have come here to reside, causing a sharp deterioration in public order."

"Fortunately, due to the intimidation of the elder, so far no members of the Law Enforcement Hall have died."

"Here is the information on those five Golden Pill Monks. Due to our limited abilities and the need to avoid any improper actions, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information."

He handed over a jade slip, looking uneasy.

Jiang Ding scanned the jade slip with his Divine Sense.

Five Golden Pill Monks, one at the Middle Jindan Stage, four at the initial stage.

It seemed that cultivators at these two levels were more likely to flee.

Post-golden Alchemists were top figures within their own powers, having more self-protection and potential for advancement. They were unwilling to abandon the bustling world of immortal cultivation in the Northern Plains to come to this remote location.

"Vajra Tuduo..."

Jiang Ding turned his gaze to a portrait.

This was the name of the Middle Jindan Stage Monk, who was dressed in tattered monk robes, always clasping a wooden fish in his hand, striking it from time to time, embodying the image of an ascetic monk.

"Uncle Master,"

Monk Fa Zheng suggested, "Perhaps we should forbid Golden Pill Monks from entering the Immortal City in the future? Although they are generous and have brought many spirit stones and Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures to the city, they are too dangerous. It might be better to earn the spirit stones from Foundation-building practitioners steadily instead."

"Forbidding Golden Pill Monks from entering?"

Jiang Ding considered the feasibility of this carefully.

After a while, he shook his head.

"I have thought poorly,"

Monk Fa Zheng also felt that his suggestion was not quite right, showing a look of remorse: "No matter how many spirit stones the transactions with Foundation-building Qi Practitioners bring, it is not of much use to the elder. Only by attracting more Golden Pill Monks to come here would it benefit the elder's path in Dao."

"Let it be so."

"Treat all guests with courtesy, that's enough."

Jiang Ding waved his hand.

"Yes!"

Monk Fa Zheng bowed respectfully and withdrew.

There was another consideration he hadn't voiced.

Golden Pill Monks, wielding great power, if not provided with a place for cultivation here, would wander off elsewhere, posing a huge security risk to the Third-order Spirit Mines across the Demon Country.

Even if the Sword Cultivators of Tushan were strong, if the Golden Pill Monks did not confront them directly but instead snatched and fled, what could be done?

Therefore, these Golden Pill Monks must not be forced into desperation until the very last moment.

"It's better within the Formation Method,"

Jiang Ding talked to himself.

Tushan Immortal City was guarded by a top-grade third-order Formation Method, making it his strongest fortification, not fearing much of anything.

A moment later,

Gong Caiyu, along with Qiu Guo, Chun Shi, Dong Xue, and twelve other maids arrived, accompanied by one hundred and twenty maid candidates, who flocked around him forming two circles.

Xia Tu was rotated to guard the Poisonous Liquid Silver Mine.

"My lord."

Before the lecture started, Chun Shi, the First Maid of Spring, rose to her feet and knelt in courtesy: "We have found a candidate maid with a Heavenly Wooden Spiritual Root in the mortal world of Tushan, would you like to meet her?"

Jiang Ding was taken aback.

He scanned with his Divine Sense and soon noticed a timid little girl standing behind the charming Chun Shi.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Chun Jian."

The little girl was somewhat nervous and stammered, "My father is a great physician from the Tushan State, and he said... he said I should come to the Immortal City to pursue the Dao..."

"Keep it up, study hard."

Jiang Ding nodded, not saying anything more.

If she truly had talent, she would naturally rise from the ranks of the reserve maids. He wouldn't show any special favoritism.

Everything was ranked according to merit and academic performance.

Chun Shi felt somewhat disappointed.

She had thought she might be taken as a direct disciple by the Supreme Elder of the Qiyu Sect, just like him, and that she would also gain some benefits by association.

"Today, we will discuss the Dao Heart."

Jiang Ding began to speak in a calm voice.

"We must not bully the weak."

"When facing bandit cultivators, xiexiu, demon cultivators, man-eating monsters, etc., if we can defeat them, we must immediately eliminate them. If we can't, we should either call for companions or immediately flee."

"Towards mortals, we must show greater care..."

The lesson on the Dao Heart was very important in his eyes.

If any maid or reserve maid failed in this course, she would immediately be eliminated and transferred to join institutions such as the Law Enforcement Hall, regardless of her talent.

If their values didn't align, they weren't of the direct lineage.

Gong Caiyu, Chun Shi, and other maids, as well as a large group of bewildered reserve maids, listened attentively and occasionally took out jade slips to record something.

...

Time flowed like water, and before one realized it, another five years had passed.

Underneath the Bluegold Large Tree, Jiang Ding opened his eyes, his mana completing a perfect Zhou Tian cycle. After scanning with his Divine Sense to ensure that his grandparents were fine a few kilometers away, he stepped outside to start making breakfast for the family.

The Taiqing Flying Sword was busy bustling about, bringing milk, bread, and eggs to the three of them.

"Brother, why won't you agree to see Xiaolin and Xiaoling even once?"

At the dining table, Jiang Yuan complained.

The dragon and phoenix twins from back then were now five years old, running and jumping around, incredibly naughty, often causing the grandparents to laugh heartily and feel much happier.

The only thing she truly regretted was that these brother and sister had still not seen their uncle even once.

Every time, it was sheer coincidence that they missed each other.

"I always have something on."

Jiang Ding shook his head, not wanting to talk about this topic.

"But they are your nephew and niece."

Jiang Yuan didn't give up, pleading, "Big brother, at least we should meet once, no matter what, it would be good to meet once."

Jiang Ding silently shook his head.

"Please, just meet them once, I'm begging you..."

Jiang Yuan persisted, tugging at his sleeve, unwilling to let go.

Long silence.

"Sister."

Jiang Ding sighed softly.

"How old are you now?"

"Sixty-one, why do you ask?"

Jiang Yuan was confused.

"Sixty-one, at the Seventh Level of Qi Practicing, not even as strong as mom at Qi Practicing Level 8," Jiang Ding said indifferently, "How much time do you have left, and how many chances do you have to get through your Foundation-building phase?"

"If you continue like this, there isn't much time left in your life."

"The Immortal Path values privacy; even parents and children shouldn't interfere, nor should they. If you still have the slightest hope, you'd better refocus your mind on cultivation as soon as possible."

"Otherwise..."

Jiang Ding closed his mouth, not continuing.

He didn't say anything more and left the room, heading toward his grandparents' house.

"I..."

Jiang Yuan was stunned, somewhat at a loss.

It was the first time she had seen her brother be so severe.

Even more than forty years ago, when she gave up her studies in the Daoism Department of Qianling University, she had not seen him like this.