Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Jiang Ding wore a longsword at his waist as he walked on the bustling streets.

The mysterious disappearance of some beggars did not impact Dongling City at all. On the contrary, as the Sihai Trading Company coordinated efforts from various powers to begin mining operations on Donglingshan Mountain, large quantities of herbs and exotic beasts were brought back daily.

The price of commodities such as herbs and beast meat decreased to different extents, adding even more energy and bustle to the marketplace.

Many blacksmith shops, clinics, tea houses, and brothels, which usually struggled to make ends meet, now enjoyed a constant stream of customers, making a handsome profit.

Many jobless idlers, who used to alternate between meals and hunger, suddenly found various kinds of work, such as moving goods, assistant labor, menial tasks; and those with courage even ventured into the mountains to hunt beasts and catch butterflies, earning wages higher than before.

Against this backdrop, the occasional news of someone dying in the Donglingshan Mountains hardly caused any ripples.

"This might be what they call the stimulation of the economy through investment..."

Jiang Ding had an epiphany as he remembered some things from his textbooks.

He only invested the equivalent of fifty to sixty thousand taels of silver. Leveraging the Sihai Trading Company's campaign, an economic storm swept across the surroundings of Dongling City, far exceeding the purchasing power of the fifty to sixty thousand taels.

Passing by the splendidly decorated number one trading company in Dongling City, the Jinlong Trading Company, he noticed it had become significantly more desolate.

The previously bustling and noisy situation was gone, and it took a long time before a single customer appeared.

The properly dressed, eternally smiling groups of male and female attendants had become mere decorations, outnumbering the customers by far.

The Sihai Trading Company knew well not to monopolize profits.

By capitalizing on the opportunity provided by the opening of Dongling Mountain, they shared the profits with the city's major powers. The precious materials, minerals, and exotic beasts obtained during the mining process were distributed among the powers based on their contributions, with everyone benefiting.

With such goodwill established, naturally, when making purchases, the priority would be given to the Sihai Trading Company, hence their business thrived day by day.

"Qixuan Martial Club!"

In contrast, a large estate nearby that once had an unclear purpose now became the main club for Qixuan Martial Club, with young men and women bustling about, exuding vitality and vigor.

These were the young and talented individuals sent by various branches of the club from all over Dongling City. It was said that within just over a month, several exceptionally gifted youths had been promoted to Qixuanshan Mountain and became disciples of 'Iron Eagle Sword' Zhang Ziteng, the acting head of the Qixuan School, a true leap to the heavens.

"Perhaps, in the real world, evil and beauty are doomed to coexist."

"Just like the yin and yang in all things."

Jiang Ding watched the people around him overflowing with joy, full of anticipation for the future, and then he thought about the nearly kidnapped beggars on Lanban Street, contemplating this contrast.

As if he had an understanding, the circulation speed of his Inner Energy seemed to have slightly quickened.

In the past month, he had diligently cultivated without slack, opening more than six hundred minor meridians of the twelve primary channels. He had now opened a total of over seven hundred and twenty meridians, and it would take at most another month to meet the requirement of one thousand two hundred meridians for the 'Small Circle of Vital Energy' realm.

The Art of Small Concealment cultivation reached proficiency (68%), and both the Vajra Print and Thousand Threads Traction reached minor achievement.

Only his foundation technique, "Eagle Taking Off Sword Technique," had reached minor achievement (99%) half a month ago but failed to make a breakthrough.

Such a bottleneck in cultivation technique was mentioned in the books; it was due to the young martial artist's insufficient understanding of martial arts and the Immortal Path. They needed to study more, understand thoroughly, or experience a variety of different events, which might suddenly lead to enlightenment.

Many people remain stuck before this bottleneck for their entire lives.

Like Jiang Chaoyang, who at nearly fifty years old, had only reached the proficiency level in the "Eagle Taking Off Technique," and had been firmly locked by the bottleneck for decades.

Maintaining the Contraction Technique deliberately, Jiang Ding pondered various martial arts problems, and unknowingly he arrived at the doorstep of the small shop.

"Who is this important person?"

"Hurry up, we still need to buy rice and rush back to the village..."

Jiang Ding looked up and couldn't help frowning.

For several days now, the influx of people continuously transporting unknown specimens had blockaded the entrance to the small shop with a group of robust servants dressed in silk and satin.

Each one of them was full of vitality and had an air of arrogance; several even emanated the aura of Inner Qi.

A multitude of foragers and mountain villagers were blocked outside the door and dared not advance, some growing so impatient that they left on their own.

Seeing their agitated mannerisms, it was clear that they had been waiting for quite some time.

Jiang Ding felt displeased and walked towards the entrance.

He was always known for his good temper.

Huang Deyou, Long Shi, even if they offended him, it did not matter as long as it didn't interfere with his cultivation. Mistakes could be corrected, and viewpoints could be reconciled.

However, it must not affect his cultivation!

Library points were very important to him; no one should obstruct this matter for any reason!

"This young master, please pardon us."

The two servants at the door, who distinctly had the aura of the Internal Qi Realm, saw Jiang Ding approaching, clasped their hands together, and said, "Our master is in an important meeting with the shop owner; please wait a moment, or come again another day."

Jiang Ding's hand rested on the hilt of his sword and he said indifferently, "Step aside."

The two Internal Qi Realm servants were about to say something, but a chill went through their hearts, and they dared not block his way, letting him enter.

"Young Master Jiang!"

A steward by the side door shuddered, suddenly remembering something, and finally recognized the guest, he hurried to Jiang Ding's side with a smile on his face, "Our master, Manager Ding of the Jinlong Trading Company, has been waiting for you for a long time."

His words were humble, yet they involuntarily revealed a hint of pride.

Jinlong Trading Company,

The foremost trading company in Dongling City, its leader, 'Spring Wind Hand' Ding Feng was a well-known hero throughout Dongling City, one who enjoyed making friends from various parts of Jianghu. He had close ties with leaders such as the head of the Yiqi Gang and the master of Longhu Martial Arts Hall among other notable figures.

The Sihai Business Association was simply a moderately-sized trading company in Dongling City.

"Hahaha!"

A burst of hearty laughter came from inside the house.

"I've long heard that a new hero has emerged in Dongling City, and Ding Feng couldn't help but visit uninvited; I ask for the young master's forgiveness."

A robust, fat man dressed in a brocade robe embroidered with golden toads hurried over from inside, bowing deeply from a distance.

Jiang Ding ignored him and scanned the interior of the house.

The original counter and square stools were gone, replaced by a valuable redwood Eight Immortals table in the center of the main hall, covered with a brocade cloth, surrounded by incense, and silk curtains had mysteriously appeared on the windows.

On the Eight Immortals table, faint wisps of tea fragrance filled the air, invigorating one's spirit, incomparable to the inferior tea previously served to Dragon Three.

A cramped and dilapidated old sundry shop had been transformed to resemble the living room of a wealthy residence.

Huang Deyou cowered in a corner like a quail.

Jiang Ding fixed his gaze on the tall, stout fat man in front of him, glancing at the two iron balls spinning in his hand with an expressionless face, "Manager Ding, is this your house or mine?"

He did not appreciate this style of decoration.

More importantly, this style of decoration did not consider utility, completely abandoning the original functionality of the sundry shop, and it would take time to restore it.

Many specimens had been lost as a result.

"Young Master Jiang, we just did a little cleaning..."

Ding Feng was taken aback; in his mind, this was similar to visiting someone's house when the owner was absent and doing some cleaning with a broom.

Not to mention that items like the Eight Immortals table and the silk curtains were all valuable, equating to giving away dozens of silver without lifting a finger.

In Jianghu, 'Spring Wind Hand' earned his name just like this.

There was nothing else,

It was all about spending money, giving money right upon meeting, the cruder and more direct, the better, and the more the brothers liked it.

"Young master, please forgive me!"

Seeing the hidden fury in Jiang Ding, Ding Feng suddenly understood and showed an embarrassed look, "It was my mistake for behaving as I usually do with friends in the market, I admit my fault."

He bowed deeply.

"I made a mistake, please punish me as you see fit."

"It's alright."

Jiang Ding found a seat and sat down, suppressing his emotions and gaining a new understanding of these people who had made a name for themselves in Jianghu, pliable as water.

But he didn't have time to delay while specimens were lost.

"Manager Ding is here, may I know the matter?"