Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

At the top of Jinlingshan Mountain.

A youth in blue clothes appeared once more, closing his eyes to sense the surroundings for a moment.

"Huomai at Huolongfeng Peak, he's there, hasn't left the Sect."

Jiang Ding muttered to himself, abandoning the thought of pursuing the kill.

To be honest, his Second Brother had been quite good to him; running to his territory to kill someone felt a little awkward.

Even though Zhou Kunlong deserved to die.

Not only had he attempted to assassinate him, but he also showed no signs of remorse, harbored resentment, and was a minor yet significant hidden danger.

Although he couldn't pose a threat to Jiang Ding, he was still capable of sabotaging his plans, such as with the Lanshan Spirit Mine.

It's best to deal with him sooner rather than later.

"Qiyu Sect is actually not the safest place for me now."

Jiang Ding was reminded of something he had been pondering over for quite some time.

"Two Golden Pills and the Sect's Big Array can't protect me, but they might lead to troubles I cannot handle."

"As the saying goes, don't put all your eggs in one basket."

"I'm here, and I can't guarantee Qiyu Sect's prosperity, but when I grow stronger in the future, I can ensure that Immortal Qiyu's legacy continues unbroken for a thousand years."

"In the Cultivation World, where high-level cultivators decide everything, I am the Sect's big picture."

Jiang Ding plotted in his heart.

"The Nanoscale Liquid State Robot – Armor-25 can stay within the Mountain Door; it's enough."

"It will handle the collection of specimens, Gray Iron Stones, and the strategic mineral Quicksilver Spirit Gold related to the Dyson Sun Mirror Sword Domain, and I will set up a teleportation Formation to communicate and transfer materials."

"Finally, I will casually pick a spot in Yue Country to be my secret base and arrange four escape teleportation Formations around it."

"For regular cultivation, just stay in the mining area dormitory."

Jiang Ding pointed with his finger,

A puddle of basketball-shaped silvery-white liquid metal flew out from the Storage Jade Pendant, landing on the ground, spreading into a large area several meters across, smooth as a mirror.

After a moment,

A silver-white figure rose from the ground, identical in height, appearance, and even clothing to the person watching him.

As the light shifted, the silver-white color faded, and the skin gained elasticity.

A cold-eyed, handsome youth in blue clothes appeared before him.

"The eyes are too cold, somewhat different from my sunny, cheerful disposition."

Jiang Ding carefully scanned, comparing to himself.

"However, it's fine; moods fluctuate, and it's perfectly normal for one's gaze to turn cold occasionally."

"Moreover, I'm hardly ever seen by others, so it's unlikely they would recognize the difference."

Armor-25 swept its gaze around and then sat cross-legged at the spot he usually cultivated, inhaling the nearby Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi into its body, converting it into an energy reserve.

"Stay here and don't move."

Jiang Ding said with satisfaction.

He tossed the Golden Pendant, a symbol of Jinmai inheritance, to Armor-25 to wear at its waist.

Even though this object had been thoroughly inspected and had no tracking Formation Methods, it was best to eliminate any chance of unexpected incidents, as he didn't lack for such storage space anyway.

"Keep an eye on this place, and don't go out carelessly."

Jiang Ding began to operate the Electromagnetic Light Wave Stealth Technique and the Electromagnetic Stealth Robe, his body becoming a Transparent Haze, vanishing from sight.

Even a Late Golden Core cultivator using Divine Sense to meticulously scan the area wouldn't detect the slightest trace.

An invisible Escape Light flew through the sky,

Intangible and insubstantial, even the wind could pass through the Escape Light without any disturbance,

and with great speed, after merely seven or eight breaths, it crossed the Mountain Door Formation unnoticed by the cultivators on guard, causing no distortions or visual illusions whatsoever.

"Qiyu Sect, I probably won't come back before reaching Foundation Establishment."

Jiang Ding took one last look at the place he had lived for decades, and without any attachment, flew away into the distance, gradually disappearing into the horizon.

Boom!

Suddenly, the sky was filled with dark clouds, and there was lightning and thunder, accompanied by the faint sounds of dragons and tigers. The Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi within a radius of several tens of kilometers converged, forming a huge funnel.

Whoosh!

An invisible Escape Light flew in from a distance, silently watching.

"The roar of the dragon and the cry of the tiger!"

"Someone is undergoing Foundation Establishment."

Jiang Ding's gaze turned toward the direction of Tianleifeng Peak, carefully searching and sensing through the volatile and restless Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi: "It's the aura of Lei Linghe. He's older than Zhou Kunlong; this must be his final gambit."

"Foundation Establishment involves three steps: gathering the Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi to produce the phenomena of forming the foundation, facing the Internal Demon, and weathering a heavenly tribulation."

"Many Foundation-building Peak Cultivators will not be able to reach the first step in their lifetime, lacking sufficient purity and quantity of mana, which is related to their Cultivation Method. Han Lin will encounter such troubles in the future."

"As the Sect Leader of Qiyu Sect, Lei Linghe managed to reach this step. He can be considered a genius in this region; he was also a notable figure in his younger days."

The Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi within a radius of several tens of kilometers continued to converge, and the energy funnel above Tianleifeng Peak became more solidified.

Jiang Ding understood.

At this moment, inside Lei Linghe's Elixir Field, the thick and mixed Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi was being compressed wildly.

Within the Elixir Field, the goal was to condense a Golden Pill, a mix of solid and energy, from nothing, and then to absorb the baptism of heavenly thunder, solidifying the Golden Pill to bring about a transformation of mana.

By utilizing transformed mana to refine the soul and body, one could extend their life span to six hundred years.

Seven days later.

The convergence of Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi stopped, the clouds in the sky grew darker, and brilliant snakes of electricity slithered across, with the terrifying presence of Heavenly Might spreading everywhere.

The entire Qiyu Sect was shrouded in darkness, passing from midday to dusk in an instant.

Suddenly, the clouds and lightning dispersed, shining brightly.

"The tribulation of the Internal Demon, failed to overcome, the Divine Soul dissipated into nothingness."

Jiang Ding let out a sigh.

Bearing witness to such a scene, his heart too was shaken.

No wonder the teachers repeatedly cautioned that in cultivation, one must not rush; striving for the title of 'A Hundred-Year Prodigious Golden Pill'.

The tribulation of the Internal Demon is truly terrifying, killing invisibly, especially for the younger ones, those with less experience, which is particularly dangerous.

Atop Tianleifeng Peak.

Lei Linghe's eyes were lifeless and dull, his head drooped to one side, and his body collapsed powerlessly on the ground, unable to even maintain a seated position, utterly devoid of vital signs.

"Lei Linghe, my disciple, may your journey be peaceful."

Cultivator Baimei heaved a long sigh, poured a cup of wine onto the ground, gathered the remains, and looked toward Huolongfeng Peak.

Boom!

Once again, lightning flashed and thunder roared as dark clouds converged; the surrounding area darkened, and Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi from several tens of kilometers around gathered toward Huolongfeng Peak.

"Zhou Kunlong."

This time, Jiang Ding did not need to discern anything else, as the strand of imitated Taiyin Sword Intent resting on the other's shoulder guided him.

"In terms of the scale of gathering Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi, it is indeed a bit greater than Lei Linghe."

Jiang Ding's reaction was indifferent.

Whether one establishes a foundation or not, the change in combat power is just so.

It doesn't warrant any emotional fluctuations.

"If you die in the process of Foundation Establishment, then all grievances will be resolved."

"That would be good for both you and me."

Jiang Ding muttered to himself, "If you succeed in Foundation Establishment, I will no longer ignore you. I'll only slay you when it's convenient, and I will certainly not waste time to go looking for you. It's not worth it."

"A newly formed Foundation-building Cultivator will have earned my attention. I will surround and stakeout, watching for an opportunity to catch you alone."

"As compensation, in the coming years, I will slay an enemy of the Qiyu Sect who is an Early stage Golden Elixir Cultivator, as a way of settling matters."