Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery
Chapter 505 - 490: The Divine Crow Immortal of the Beast Dao

Jiang Ding glanced at the two items and tossed out a fourth-rank, low-grade Soul Searching Talisman.

It was very expensive, nearly ten million low-grade spirit stones plus many third-rank Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures just like that were gone.

Even this was considered cheap.

Thanks to the developed educational industry, the Xianmen Sect produced some Golden Pill Monks with fourth-rank talisman masters' professions, driving the prices down, otherwise it would cost several times more and still not be available for purchase.

But it had to be done.

Following the clues from Immortal Tiankuang and others, it was known that the divine souls of the direct lineage of the great families contained prohibitions, and only with a fourth-rank Soul Searching Talisman could there be a possibility of breaking through them.

The fourth-rank Soul Searching Talisman emanated a faint light, spreading out and enveloping Hei Shan's divine soul and Golden Pill, with two forces inside in a deadlock, the faint light flickering uncertainly.

After a long while, the faint light dissipated, revealing a continuously rotating blue gas cluster.

Jiang Ding drew it into his hand and closed his eyes to read it.

"... 'Cultivation Manual of Ten Thousand Beast Spirits,' selecting those with outstanding spiritual roots and comprehension, those with exceptional spiritual roots, to cultivate the 'Crow God Skill,' 'Spirit Leopard Skill,' 'Thunder Bull Skill'..."

"... And then through the method of creation, transform them into livestock such as pigs, cows, sheep, and dogs, raise them for many years... build the foundation, peel their skin, steam for thirty years, boil for thirty years, refine for thirty years... a hundred skins form one top-quality excellent hide, with this cultivate, progressing a thousand miles in a day…"

"... creating livestock, that's ruthless..."

Even though he had been through countless battles, Jiang Ding was still shocked by the various secret techniques described, as a hint of killing intent surfaced and then hid away.

He continued to read on.

"Divine Crow Immortal, the only Nascent Soul of the Hei Clan in the Beast Dao of the Liudao Sect, cultivation base unknown, Hei Shan doesn't know, only that he is at least nine hundred years old..."

"... The center of rule for the Beast Dao, Beast Spirit Immortal City, its residing cultivators by day appear as humans, prim and proper, living in pavilions, inns, and caves; by night they become beasts, dwelling in pig pens, cattle sheds, sheep corrals, dog dens, and birdcages..."

"... Hei Shan, this person is the twenty-ninth son of Divine Crow Immortal, Nascent Souls are prolific in the Northern Plains, they have secret techniques related to this... importance is not the word, it's just that a Nascent Soul-level imprint is left behind, standard practice for descendants of bloodlines."

"If a Nascent Soul killed his son, it wouldn't provoke a desperate retaliation, Hei Shan exaggerated his own importance."

"Isn't that right, fellow daoist?"

Jiang Ding indifferently observed a faint black imprint in the Sea of Consciousness of Hei Shan that hadn't been activated yet, impossible to see without a Nascent Soul-level Divine Sense.

"Indeed,"

"How could a mere descendant cause us to take up arms on a grand scale?"

The faint black imprint blurred and changed, drawing on the surrounding soul force to strengthen itself, and after a moment, it transformed into a pure black crow with a flaming golden crown on its head and lively eyes, saying in a hoarse voice.

"Nascent Souls are prolific in the Northern Plains... I wonder where you come from? Could it be like the Great Sun Sect, coming from the East Sea?"

His voice betrayed no emotion but carried a tone of curiosity.

"I cannot inform you of that, fellow daoist."

Jiang Ding smiled slightly.

His Divine Sense and Sword Intent enveloped an area of fifty kilometers, instantly severing hundreds of attempts to communicate with the outside world through talismans, communication jade slips, miniature Formation Methods, and other means.

"If only it were the East Sea."

Divine Crow Immortal's expression remained unchanged, ceasing the attempts to communicate inward and outward, somewhat disappointed: "The Great Sun Sect is aggressive and overbearing. If daoist friends from the East Sea could lend a hand or two and achieve some battle results, our Righteous and Demonic Alliance would be truly grateful, even so much as offering Nascent Soul Stage-breaking pills as a reward."

"Even if you are not from there, it doesn't matter."

"The Righteous and Demonic Alliance has opened up twenty-eight treasuries and is presently recruiting guest officials. If fellow daoist can slay a Nascent Soul of the Great Sun Sect, within the treasuries, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures of your choosing await."

He tried to tempt with all his might.

"Fellow daoist, how goes the battlefield in the Northern Plains?"

Jiang Ding did not respond to his words.

"Of course, the Righteous and Demonic Alliance holds a great advantage and is about to achieve victory."

Divine Crow Immortal earnestly said, "The Great Sun Sect, after all, is an outsider with insufficient heritage. After years of protracted warfare without victory, their defeat is certain."

"Our Alliance has already perceived their flaws, and within a hundred years, we will breach the Great Sun Sect's Great Sun Heavenly Pond. At that time, all daoist participants will have whatever they desire, sharing in the inheritance."

"If fellow daoist wishes to gain a foothold in the Northern Plains, it will naturally be a piece of cake, just establish a family. The twenty-eight families of the Righteous and Demonic Alliance will welcome you with open arms, a mid-grade fourth-level Spiritual Vein is trivial, and should you achieve military exploits, even a high-grade fourth-level Spiritual Vein could be yours."

"Indeed, the Righteous and Demonic Alliance has gained a significant upper hand and is about to secure victory,"

Jiang Ding nodded.

Clang!

The Taiqing Flying Sword was unsheathed, the Minor Stage Destruction Sword Intent locked and sealed its target, with one strike being made.

"Fellow Taoist, why must you be so heartless..."

The expression of the Fire-crowned Crow changed, about to do something, when its lively pupils suddenly stiffened.

From its sharp beak to its head, and then its entire body, a vivid blue line appeared, the Sword Qi and Minor Stage Destruction Sword Intent erupted, completely erasing that wisp of Divine Soul imprint.

A Nascent Soul Divine Soul imprint.

In front of lower-ranking cultivators, it could act as a deity and do as it pleased; for Jiang Ding, it was merely the matter of a single sword strike.

"These old things that have lived for nearly a thousand years..."

After confirming it was thoroughly cleansed, Jiang Ding placed the Taiqing Flying Sword into his brow, shook his head, and said, "Their words are a mix of truths and lies, completely useless information. Listening to them is not only unhelpful, it could even lead to false misguidance; it's better to keep communication to a minimum."

"I, a naïve sixteen-year-old youth, can hardly withstand their manipulation."

"Hei Shan is better, after all, pouring his heart out, telling everything."

Jiang Ding continued to examine the memories of this direct lineage member of the Hei Clan: "He came here under the orders of his older brother, the Golden Pill Peak cultivator Hei Long, to clean up the mess for the Beast Dao of Liudao Sect. There was no given reason, but he vaguely suspected that a great war was imminent, and regardless of the outcome, preparations needed to be made early."

"If that's really the case... regardless of the outcome, the Three Kingdoms region is no longer safe."

Jiang Ding fell into deep thought.

If victorious, the direct threat of Liudao Sect's frontlines would be eliminated, naturally allowing them to divert more forces for retaliation. After all, this place saw the death of a direct descendant and several Golden Pill cultivators.

If defeated, the entire Liudao Sect would retreat to foreign lands, and it was possible that one or two Nascent Soul cultivators would emerge from the survivors of the battlefield.

He currently lacked the power to prevent fleeing Nascent Soul cultivators from escaping and killing them.

If he were to be surrounded, he would die.

"However, Tushan Immortal City is crucial to me, with over thirty million low-grade Spirit Stones each year... Having built super warships, I've run out of money, and for a cultivator, being without funds can be quite inconvenient."

"Let's see how it goes; after all, I have the teleportation Formation and the sharp danger perception of Taoist disciples. If a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator arrives, I can still run away."

Jiang Ding unleashed a Sword Qi, shattering Hei Shan's Divine Soul and Golden Pill, and after one last glance towards Chu Country, his figure disappeared.

...

Tushan Immortal City.

He summoned Gong Caiyu and Qiu Shanggong, the head maidservants for the four seasons.

"Speed up the dispersion and undercover plan."

Jiang Ding spoke calmly, "Ideally within one year, everyone, including you, should be scattered across the Three Kingdoms and the Northern Plains; it's no longer feasible to remain in Tushan Immortal City. All affairs should be handed over to the various halls."

"People like Fa Zheng, Wu Makong, and others who are on good terms... transfer them to remote locations, far from Tushan Immortal City. If they are unwilling to leave, let them be. There's no need to say more."

As for the rest, their fate would depend on Liudao Sect's intentions.

Generally, aside from making a statement and serving as a warning, execution is not the primary course of action.

Cultivators are also wealth, especially since Tushan Immortal City is a commercially prosperous city. Indiscriminate slaughter means giving up the massive annual tax revenue from Spirit Stones and the many staff members involved in managing affairs.

Of course, the original masters of Tushan Immortal City would not be included in the list of those spared.

"Yes!"

Gong Caiyu, Qiu Shanggong, and the other maidservants stiffened, responded with a bow, and followed orders.

This sort of plan wasn't a secret; activities like this had always been happening, they were just waiting for the moment to initiate. In the world of cultivation, no one is powerful from the start; when weak, one must have the ability to hide and go undercover.

"Young Master."

Gong Caiyu was about to leave when she suddenly paused.

"Li Qingyun of Qiyu Sect has come to visit. Do you wish to see him, or not?"