Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery
Chapter 457 - 415: Soul Searching

"Let's not even mention that there are quite a few mistakes in what you've said."

"Even if that is the case."

Xu Jianian scoffed coldly, "Even if the team has some shortcomings, does that mean the scientific research achievements won't materialize? Who defined such a rule? Ridiculous."

"Whether it's ridiculous or not isn't for you to decide."

Liu Yan calmed down and, with a respectful bow, said, "Fellow daoists, our department suspects that Tianfang Group has concealed a large portion of its own research and development achievements, and after paying patent fees, recklessly utilized our company's, along with various new research results from the Xianmen Sect, to monopolistically dominate the scientific research field."

"The result is, the more our company researches and develops, the more we end up handing over the fruits of our labor to them."

"Over these hundreds of years, every time our company develops a new achievement, right when it's about to be finalized and released, Tianfang Company always manages to take a step ahead, rendering our years of accumulation and effort completely fruitless."

Liu Yan's eyes reddened, and tears began to form, clearly showing his genuine emotions.

If Liu's Military Industry were to collapse, with his qualifications, reaching Foundation Establishment would be completely hopeless.

One could say that the company passed down by his great-grandfather was no different from his own life, and he'd dare to contend with even Divinity Transformation in its defense.

"This kind of unfair competition that violates the first principle of the Xianmen must be terminated!"

"I ask you fellow daoists for a clear discernment."

With another bow, he bent deeply at the waist.

"Concealed a large part of the research achievements?"

Jiang Ding and Luo Zhongfu exchanged a glance, their expressions becoming grave.

To other Immortal Sects and organizations, this might not seem significant, as it is within human nature and understandable.

Who would want to disclose their hard-earned achievements just because of some patent fees?

Isn't monopoly sweet?

But in the Xianmen, this is an enormous crime!

No one is allowed to wantonly enjoy benefits or access advanced scientific research outcomes from the Xianmen without following its rules.

If such a situation is left unchecked, the current excellent state of knowledge sharing will crumble in an instant.

"My Xu's are clear and innocent!"

Xu Jianian stated coldly.

The two officials did not respond, silently waiting instead.

More than thirty days later, the members of the Economic Investigation Department returned, handing over stacks of materials that formed a small mountain before the two officials, an enormous quantity.

Jiang Ding swept over them with his Divine Sense, transmitting the information into the legion's channel.

"The investigation revealed some tax evasion and avoidance,"

a member of the Economic Investigation Department reported, "as well as the pilfering of bonuses and other issues, involving roughly one billion low-grade Spirit Stones. As for evidence touching upon the first principle of Xianmen..."

He seemed troubled.

"It has not yet been discovered."

"What do you mean 'has not yet been discovered'?"

Xu Jianian revealed a trace of satisfaction, "Fellow daoist, please mind your words. We admit to the tax evasion and avoidance, but an infringement upon the first principle of Xianmen is absolutely unheard of."

Tax evasion involving ten billion low-grade Spirit Stones and related fines was once a momentous event, but now seemed rather insignificant, taking a secondary position.

"…Yes, you are correct."

The employee of the Economic Investigation Department said helplessly.

"This is impossible!"

Liu Yan's face turned deathly pale.

"Impossible?"

Xu Jianian gave a cold laugh, his gaze carrying a hint of murderous intent, "Chief Luo, Swordsman Jiang, it's time we discussed the matter of libel."

Liu Yan and the senior executives of Liu's Military Industry shivered.

An accusation against the first principle of Xianmen is a grave offense, and if substantiated, not only would Liu's Military Industry face total destruction, but he would also have to spend the latter half of his life in prison.

Luo Zhongfu's brow furrowed.

The detailed investigation report surfaced, and the personnel matters within the Xu Organization were even worse than what Liu Yan had described.

Over thousands of years, even the direct lineage had proliferated into a substantial population, all of whom needed to be accommodated. Besides a barely adequate research team, Xu's R&D capabilities were frightfully low.

A single breakthrough could be acceptable, with luck as an explanation, since many scientific research matters are like that.

But breaking through every hundred years is completely unscientific.

'Could it be the work of Divinity Transformation?'

Luo Zhongfu looked towards Xu Jianian's confident expression and began to waver.

If it was the work of Divinity Transformation, all of this would make sense. A Divinity Transformation would only need to spend twenty or thirty years every century without any assistance and could accomplish it on their own.

This person was a top figure in the industry back then, and Tianfang Group was established on the vast scientific wealth he left behind.

Of course, after betraying the Xianmen Sect, the top Immortal Path scientific research had stopped collaborating with him, and he had to explore on his own.

"Do you two intend to pervert justice?"

Seeing the prolonged silence and the lack of replies, Xu Jianian's gaze turned unfriendly. "The public tools of the Xianmen Sect are not for you to abuse and frame others, and the Xu's are not weak and easily bullied!"

"This…"

Luo Zhongfu hesitated somewhat.

"Wait a moment."

Jiang Ding frowned, having not found any issues, and asked, "Senior Luo, is it possible to show the relevant scientific research data to the top scientific talents of the Xianmen Sect?"

He absolutely did not believe that any high-level cultivator, after already leaving behind such a vast wealth for their family, would spend so much time on research in basic military formations that were of no use to their own cultivation base.

It also didn't make logical sense for the Xu's to conduct their own research.

Clearly, the lack of discovery was due to their own inadequate scientific research level.

This was also normal, as neither he nor the people from the Economic Investigation Department had enough level in Immortal Path scientific research.

"Oh, oh!"

"That's possible."

Luo Zhongfu woke up from his reverie: "The Xianmen Sect is giving this case a lot of importance. It's possible to request assistance from the upper echelons of the Xianmen Science Institute."

His thinking had fallen into a blind spot.

Even within the Xianmen Sect, Nascent Soul Monks were among the top cultivators. If the lower-level cultivators called for help with every issue they couldn't solve, it would easily become irritating. If done too many times, they could immediately lose their positions and face a bleak future.

Not to mention the excuses that emergency situations are rare, and the occasional help wouldn't take up much time.

With the multitude of departments in the Xianmen Sect, each one encounters one or two emergency situations every year. If higher-ups helped with all of them, then Nascent Soul Monks would have nothing to do but work for the lower-level cultivators all day long.

"That, Dari Swordsman."

Luo Zhongfu was about to report when he paused, gave an awkward laugh, and said, "May I put your name at the very beginning of the report list? It would draw more attention from our seniors that way."

"And, it won't deduct the brothers' year-end bonuses."

The Golden Pill and Foundation-building cultivators of the surrounding Economic Investigation Department were all eagerly looking this way.

"That's fine."

After a moment of thought, Jiang Ding agreed.

He had no salary at the moment, so he wasn't afraid of deductions.

"Generous!"

Luo Zhongfu was overjoyed and quickly filled in the report with "Jiang Ding" at the very top before sending it off.

The case was of the utmost importance and elicited an immediate response.

"It's the Dean of the Xianmen Science Institute, Immortal Count Spirit who has taken up the matter!"

Luo Zhongfu's spirit lifted: "With this big shot's intervention, as long as there is something wrong with Tianfang Group's scientific research data, it is bound to be noticed."

Everyone looked over tensely.

Liu Yan was full of hope.

Xu Jianian still appeared overly confident.

With the speed at which a Nascent Soul Monk's Divine Sense operates, in less than half an hour, the investigation report had already been sent back.

"There really is a problem."

Luo Zhongfu looked up, excitedly saying, "Immortal Count Spirit says, every hundred years, there are logical flaws in Tianfang Group's research data, and the inherent conditions are insufficient to derive its results. This situation has occurred five times."

"This conclusion is undergoing layer-by-layer verification by the Xianmen Science Institute, and once it is legally confirmed, this will be significant evidence allowing us to request a harmless Soul Search of the core scientific researchers by the Central Array Spirit Computer."