Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

The brows of the many Nascent Soul Monks relaxed.

"With that said, five billion low-grade Spirit Stones really don't seem like much... Huh, why do I have this strange thought?"

"Great, opening the window has blown the roof off, and it's landed right on our heads."

Realizing what had happened, the crowd laughed and cursed, "Dinghai, Liexing, you two old fellows were planning this all along, weren't you?"

"Haha, no such thing," they denied with a chuckle.

Immortal Liexing gave an awkward smile.

"But without saying, it indeed makes sense."

Many people sobered up and began to seriously ponder.

"The Great Sun Sword Master of those years was too strong, a peak battle force in the domain. Even just getting a brush with it, this investment is necessary; if it fails, then it fails—research has always been this way."

"A sliver of hope is worth this price."

The buzzing of discussion filled the air.

Divine Sense shuttled back and forth in the great hall, and the amount of information contained within each Divine Sense was so vast that mortals couldn't learn or remember one ten-thousandth of it in their entire lifetimes.

Discussing, calculating, and assessing the project's feasibility, whether the project leader is qualified...

Numerous academic seniors mobilized various materials and dealt with a variety of issues with the hyper-efficiency of Nascent Soul-level experts.

"We are currently voting on Proposal Number Three by Immortal Dinghai, 'Great Sun Swordsmanship Research Project Proposal (City Level)'..."

The voice of the Array Spirit came through.

"72.14%, vote passed."

"In the next hundred years, we'll invest five billion low-grade Spirit Stones and fifty million library credits in 'Great Sun Swordsmanship Research Project Proposal (City Level).' Please strictly use the research funds and do not, under any circumstances, engage in embezzlement, corruption, or unauthorized reallocation of funds..."

...

After several days of flight.

Trailing white lines, a hundred and eight Air-Space Warplanes returned once again to the Canghai Steel Floating Island Base and landed on the airfield.

"The six Seven-book Nail Arrows have been sent to the Base's Array Spirit. The results should come out in about a day."

"The criminal citizen Gu Shixiong too. There's a bit of potential new intelligence in his Divine Soul, but we need to await the sentencing of the death penalty and stripping of lifelong political rights to examine it. Because he violated military regulations, the process can be completed in one day."

Jin Lingfeng checked the time after communicating with the base Array Spirit.

"You all can choose to visit the Canghai Steel Floating Island or rest here. We'll regroup in twenty-four hours."

"Understood."

One by one, Escape Lights flew down from the Air-Space Warplanes, heading to various parts of the base.

These past few days, everyone had become somewhat fatigued, mentally on edge.

Back in the safety of the base, everyone relaxed at once, unfolded their maps, and set off in pairs to tour and experience the various shops and attractions within the base.

Jin Lingfeng and her companion searched and found Jiang Ding seated cross-legged on an open space.

"We're going shopping. Are you coming?"

They asked him.

"No."

"Figures, you're such a homebody."

The two shook their heads and, hand in hand, flew off toward the distance.

Jiang Ding continued his cultivation without opening his eyes.

A banyan tree root quietly poked a small hole in the ground near him, maintaining the level of a Second-Order Top-Class Spiritual Vein around him.

Warplanes continuously arrived and departed from the airstrip, occasionally a warship would whoosh down, stirring up a warm, fierce wind, rustling loudly. None of these bothered him.

With each breath in and out, the Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi was gathered, flowing into the Elixir Field, and transforming into strands of liquid mana.

"From the mid-stage of Foundation Building to the later stage, it seems the time required has increased."

Jiang Ding intently examined his Inner Vision Dantian for a long time, silently calculating.

"It will probably take... about twenty years. Should I consider using an Elixir?"

He was somewhat hesitant.

Even the Elixirs crafted by the Xianmen Sect could have a minuscule amount of pellet poison. Although it was expellable, it still didn't feel quite right.

If it wasn't necessary, he didn't really want to rely on them.

"Go back and ask Immortal Dinghai."

A day quickly passed.

Jiang Ding opened his eyes and glanced at an Air-Space Camp that was whistling down at the nearby airport.

Within the range of his Divine Sense, a familiar person appeared.

Mid-stage Foundation Building, good-looking, always looking down on others with a sense of superiority.

Xu Jianian.

The third-generation direct descendant of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator he had once encountered during the College Entrance Exam.

"Remember, our Yuanlao Academy is second to none compared to any top-notch university," Xu Jianian declared as he descended from the war machine, facing a group of foundation-building cultivators who were respectfully listening, "Whether it's now or in the future!"

"Because you are descendants of the Xu and Wang clans, the glory of Nascent Soul Cultivators shines upon you!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

The group of Foundation-building cultivators responded with resolve.

Xu Jianian coldly cast a glance at the Qingfeng University team that was assembling not too far away and led his group of Foundation-building cultivators into the distance with a neat and efficient formation.

This attracted many disdainful gazes.

Everyone was very restrained, only discussing it in the group chat of the command center, without making it public.

"Future, future my ass!"

"Aside from Xu Jianian, all these foundation-building cultivators are over fifty years old, the majority practicing Magic-Level techniques, with only two having Classics-grade methods, and as for 'Scripture' Level, Xu Jianian's method is unclear."

Ou Daocheng mocked unreservedly.

"We can't tell what Xu Jianian's is either, @An Siyan, do you know?"

Many classmates asked.

Her Divine Sense was quite precise, and all three of her Magic Tool Embryos enhanced that aspect.

"I don't know, he has some treasure on him that conceals his aura, but the Dari Swordsman would definitely know," An Siyan shook her head.

"It's 'Scripture' Level."

"The aura of All Heavens Beidou Classic, he's actually quite strong, having successfully achieved the mastery on his own without the help of any top university teachers," Jiang Ding curiously asked, "What is the Yuanlao Academy?"

It wasn't any of the thirty-nine institutions of the Xianmen Sect.

"A privately-run university with a Cultivation Department," An Siyan explained as she boarded the Air-Space Warplane, "They only admit students with Xu or Wang clan lineage, even a trace is enough."

"Those with exceptional talent or who have made significant contributions to the two clans can also be admitted."

"There are none of the former, as anyone with exceptional talent wouldn't choose a privately-funded institution; it's hard enough for them to find one or two barely passable faces to keep up appearances every year."

"Xu Jianian's failure in the practical part of the College Entrance Exam, not making it into Qingfeng or Beidou, must have been the reason he angrily entered Yuanlao Academy. He is the first student they've taken in years capable of studying 'Scripture' Level Techniques."

"Got it."

Jiang Ding nodded.

Searing white light prisms emerged between the Air-Space Warplanes, forming a formation within seconds, and then vanished into the horizon with trailing white streaks.

One day later, Air-Space Warplanes began appearing within the radar's search range, starting to connect with the command system.

Ten Air-Space Camps,

suddenly appeared in the same stretch of sky!

This had already become a brigade-level military force.

"Jiang Ding, Mister Dari Swordsman."

"Our internship was halfway done when we were forced to abandon it and rush here," the voice of Liu Mei, the commander of Beidou University's Sky Celestial Group, was soft and tender, "After the battle is over, you owe us a hand with our mission."

"No problem,"

Jiang Ding answered without hesitation.

In front of him floated a compass-like Artifact, its needle occasionally spinning around, guiding the direction.

"A Late Golden Core cultivator from the Xuanwu tiangong's Yingsha Palace."

"If you want to kill me, then die."

He muttered to himself.