Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

"After the fierce battle between the Six Dao Saint and Scorching Sun Swordsman, the Six Dao Saint, Yin Dao, once again used a secret technique to flee..."

"Since then, the Six Dao Saint concealed his presence and did not show himself before others, and the Scorching Sun Swordsman did the same to avoid detection by the Six Dao Saint. Both of their whereabouts are unknown."

Jiang Ding flew in the sky.

The ever-increasing number of Golden Pill Monks within a radius of a thousand miles served as his eyes and ears, bringing him a constant stream of information, including the locations and types of Elixir plants. Their abundant number and variety could have piled up to bury a Golden Pill Monk.

Unfortunately, his cultivation did not require the aid of Elixirs; he merely needed to naturally absorb the Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi, so the fluctuations in his Lake of Heart were not significant.

"Third-order metal-type Elixir plants can be used to refine the Flying Sword, much like the third-order Gold Dragon Bamboo given to me by Hua Xiaohua... To foster the growth of the Taiqing Flying Sword, it needs to consume various metal-type materials to enhance its sharpness and spirituality."

Thinking of these matters, Jiang Ding allocated uses for a hoard of metal-type Elixir plants in the storeroom.

"The Blood Cloud Eighteen Knights have been spotted. Through an internal friend, it is known that their numbers range from one hundred thirty to one hundred fifty, including the Northern Plains' formidable Blood Cloud and other Blood Riders. Heeding your instructions, we dared not to approach and scout the powerful enemy and have already retreated three hundred miles."

At this moment, a Golden Pill Monk transmitted scenes through the One-Eyed Cicada.

Jiang Ding grew interested and opened the transmitted images.

The perspective seemed to be from a Golden Pill Monk close to the core of the Blood Cloud Eighteen Knights.

This was not strange; the Blood Cloud Eighteen Knights were a mixed bag of characters, not much stronger than his own newly-formed organization. It was not difficult to obtain intelligence with appropriate rewards.

In the images, a man in his seventies or eighties, with gray hair and a face full of overlapping wrinkles looked into the distance, pondering something.

Though his figure was somewhat stooped, one could still feel an ascending and forthright aura about him that made people involuntarily draw near, eliciting a sense of goodwill.

"Is that Blood Cloud?"

Jiang Ding frowned slightly and recalled the relevant information from his Sea of Consciousness.

A young man with remarkable presence and a handsome, spirited appearance was contrasted with the old man with white hair in front of him.

"It's him."

"For some unknown reason, his Life Energy has drastically depleted, and so has his potential."

After a moment, Jiang Ding deduced the situation and felt somewhat displeased.

Blood Cloud was someone he had invested his attention in, hoping he would cause unrest in the Northern Plains' family rule in the future and draw more attention, allowing Jiang Ding to grow more smoothly and, eventually, making it easier to take over the Northern Plains.

Now, it seemed like Blood Cloud's life was about to be cut short?

"Forget it, it doesn't matter; the world doesn't belong to one person."

"The same goes for the elite."

Jiang Ding thought about it and soon came to terms with it.

"There is no shortage of talents in this world. Immortal Baimei, Blood Cloud's third rider Vajra Iron Bone, fourth rider Blood Spear General Hei Loucheng, and many other Golden Pill Peak Cultivators. Their talents and abilities are naturally a bit inferior, but they are numerous. With Nascent Soul Cultivation Methods and accumulation, Nascent Soul Monks will eventually emerge, capable of taking on the historical mission."

"Now, let's go meet this renowned and formidable figure of the Northern Plains."

"If he is willing to work for me, he lives; otherwise, he dies."

"The charges will start from Tushan Immortal City; by allowing your subordinates to attack me, you are also responsible."

Jiang Ding accelerated his pace.

At the moment he increased speed, various commands were dispatched in all directions. Golden Pill Monks, whether they were in battle, gathering herbs, or breaking formations, quickly finished their tasks. Those unable to complete their tasks immediately used magic to seal them off.

One by one, Golden Pill Monks began to fall in under their own systems, Qian, Kun, Xun, Dui, Gen, Zhen, Kan, and Li, each unit identified by the Eight Diagrams Commanding Flag, streaks of Escape Light converging towards a single center.

"Qian section, the practice of formations must take the Heavenly Heart as the key, resonating with the Heavenly Heart..."

"Kan section, water disperses and gathers, entering and leaving formlessly, your practice of formations need not be forced; it naturally happens.

Immortal Wudong, when you stood on the Heavenly Gang Big Dipper, the seventh, the one hundred second, and one hundred fourth times were incorrect; correct them as soon as possible..."

Jiang Ding divided his Divine Sense into over two hundred strands to inspect the situations of the two hundred plus Golden Pill Monks, guiding them to practice Formation Dao during their journey to achieve greater proficiency.

With no other choice, because his temporary organization was busy with breaking formations, treasure hunting, and combat on a daily basis, they could only practice formations in these fleeting moments.

"Yes, Lord Tushan!"

"Sir, I am clumsy..."

The reply from the Golden Pill Monk in Divine Sense was tinged with nervousness; they adjusted quickly but, due to limited ability, even after dozens of attempts, they still couldn't get it right and couldn't help but feel increasingly panicked.

"Just continue practicing."

Jiang Ding didn't say much.

In his eyes, many of the Golden Pill Cultivators' Formation Dao level didn't even reach the second order; not to mention the first order, which they had crammed after reaching Golden Pill status, their fundamental Immortal Path qualities were terribly weak.

Having evaded Formation Methods for several days, a cluster of thunderclouds and lightning sliced through the sky, heading towards them.

"Sir."

Immortal Baimei said respectfully, "Twenty-one Golden Pill Cultivators from the Hei Clan collateral lineage have been brought here and are willing to accept the Tushan Sword Order."

The thunderclouds parted, revealing the disheveled appearances and tattered clothing of the Hei Clan Golden Pill Monks, including Hei Louxi, who now looked toward the sky with nervous eyes at the ordinary-looking young man.

"We pay our respects to Lord Tushan!"

Starting with Hei Louxi, the twenty-one Golden Pill Monks knelt on one knee, their respect unparalleled, showing none of the arrogance typical of clan cultivators or their usual disdain for Loose Cultivators.

"Hei Louxi..."

Jiang Ding's gaze rested on the figure before him, a seductive woman with a pair of pitch-black wings on her back, resembling a death angel.

Half of her body was a blur of blood and flesh, crow feathers muddled with her wounds wrapped around her, barely maintaining a basic form, creating an eerily strange sight.

Clearly, she had been severely injured by Immortal Guichi and had not yet healed.

For a moment, Jiang Ding felt somewhat... listless.

She didn't look as good as the first time he had seen her.

'Am I, perhaps, a visual creature?'

Jiang Ding shook his head slightly.

"Sir, we are willing to accept the Tushan Sword Order."

Upon seeing this, Hei Louxi's heartbeat stuttered, and she quickly spoke up.

Before coming here, she had learned that the unremarkable-looking youth before her was the City Lord of Tushan City who had escaped from the Divine Crow Immortal, the ancestor, and had slain Immortal Guichi!

He had old grievances with the Hei Clan that cultivated spirits.

"Of course, that is acceptable."

Jiang Ding nodded, "You will be dispersed and integrated into different divisions. Then, the injuries of Immortal Baishi and the other two must be healed by you. If you fail to heal them, choose three others to come forward and bear the same wounds."

"How does that sound?"

"If it is your command, Sir, we shall follow without fail!"

Hei Louxi and the other Hei Clan Golden Pill Monks rejoiced deeply, bowing again and truly seeing a glimpse of hope for survival.

"Let it be so."

Jiang Ding's Sword Intent pressed down, leaving a mark of Sword Intent on the Divine Souls of each Hei Clan Golden Pill Monk, then distributed twenty-one One-Eyed Cicadas among them.

"We thank you, Sir. We shall take our leave!"

Hei Louxi and the others took out precious life-saving Elixirs. They quickly healed the three injured Golden Pill Monks and scattered in all directions to report to the designated locations without any delay.

Days later, these people were gradually positioned, dispersed into the formations like Qian Kun Xun Dui Gen Zhen Kan Li, the images of Eight Trigrams emerging. After a brief period of practice, they mastered the relevant formations and blended into them.

"These clan Golden Pill Cultivators have a much stronger level in Formation Dao, at least they are of superior quality in the second order."

"The strength of the Eight Trigrams Breaking Banned Formation has increased somewhat."

Jiang Ding closed his eyes to sense for a moment and revealed a pleased expression.

As the Spiritual Light of the Golden Pill Monks converged, Qian Kun Xun Dui Gen Zhen Kan Li—the image of Eight Diagrams formed—an aura gradually interconnected into a vast synergy, imposing pressure in all directions, slowly advancing.