Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

"Liu Suanban, you've been going on about Fierce Tiger Village for three days now, isn't that annoying?"

The story-teller was spitting words passionately on the stage when someone in the tea house's private booth grew impatient and slapped the table.

"Exactly!"

"Our ears are all calloused from hearing nothing but Sihai Eight Deserts Hall and Iron Horsemen of the West Desert, with their three heads and six arms, green-faced fangs—sick of it."

The other patrons also chimed in with teasing ridicule.

"Please forgive me, Sixth Master!"

The storyteller, Liu Suanban, was not one to shy away, "Isn't it because Fierce Tiger Village has been eliminated, the commerce routes are fluent, and the price of rice, flour, oil, and salt has dropped a bit? Seeing that you sirs can prosper from here on out, Old Liu is just happy!"

"That's true."

"Good news, yes, good news indeed, but prospering... It's uncertain."

Sixth Master revealed a slight smile, then mused aloud.

Jiang Ding noticed that several other well-dressed patrons showed similar expressions.

The region of Dongling City is chaotic by nature, a natural gathering place for bandits and thieves.

Previously, it was only Fierce Tiger Village that gathered and subjugated them, but without Fierce Tiger Village, other bandits will still exist, just not as powerful.

If one truly desires eradication, it depends on how the government handles its governance to ensure no large numbers of landless peasants find themselves unable to survive.

"Gentlemen, Fierce Tiger Village was merely a plague upon Dongling City. Are you aware of the momentous event that has recently shocked the world?"

Liu Suanban clapped his sounding block, drawing the attention of the tea house's customers.

"Do you sirs know what the 'Three Sects' are among the 'Two Towers, Three Sects, Six Schools, and Eight Great Heroes,' and what kind of figures lead them?"

He diverted to a different topic.

"Who doesn't know that? Qingniugong, Prajna Temple, Wolf God Cult—the Three Sects hold exceptional status. Schools like the Jindao School may be strong, but they are nothing compared to these sacred martial arts sanctuaries. I fear only the royal family might exceed them."

A regular patron joined the conversation.

"The royal family? Heh, maybe at the time of the founding, but it's been three hundred years. Nowadays, the royal family isn't even fit to carry the shoes for the Three Sects!"

The crowd glanced sideways,

Knowing is one thing, but speaking such words out loud is quite unusual. If the constables overheard this, the speaker might find themselves thrown into prison on the spot.

Moreover, there was actually an off-duty constable in the tea house looking for diversion.

"Who is this madman..."

The constable first stood up in anger, but upon seeing who had spoken, he sat back down even faster, pretending as if he had seen nothing.

It was a strikingly handsome middle-aged Confucian scholar, holding a folding fan, waving it casually with a touch of suave elegance.

The steward from the Zheng Mansion, Chen Chen!

The person seated next to him was no less extraordinary: clad in a black robe, young and handsome, with an expression that unconsciously bore a hint of condescendence, surely of noble birth.

"It's him! How could he say such a thing, is he muddled by wine..."

Upon recognizing the man, including Sixth Master, the wealthy patrons felt a surge of shock, a torrent of thoughts rushing to their minds.

The Zheng Clan is a noble household by marriage, having taken a legitimate daughter from a marquis's household, and maintaining close relations on a regular basis. Much of the marquis's matters are managed by the Zheng Clan—how could a steward from such a house speak such treasonous words?

"This sir! You only know part of the truth,"

Liu Suanban also looked momentarily flustered, he coughed a few times as if nothing had happened, "The name of the Three Sects is not merely a term but represents the respect the Jianghu have for the three Masters of the Sects."

He bowed to the heavens in awe and said:

"The three masters are the Wolf God Cult's Langzhu, Prajna Temple's Master Ku Shi, and Daoist Qing of Qingniugong."

"These three masters are akin to celestial beings standing at the pinnacle of the martial world within Jianghu!"

Jiang Ding's expression was also solemn.

As far as he knew, after reaching Xiantian in Xianmen Sect, there were no more paths to follow, one could only turn to cultivation. Could it be that there truly existed exceptional heroes who had forged a brand-new path?

Regardless of whether they could compare, martial artists who made such breakthroughs were worthy of respect. They represented humanity's step towards exploring the unknown and extraordinary sciences.

"Half a month ago, Langzhu challenged Daoist Qing to a duel at the peak of Dongshan Mountain in Yuejing. Many sect leaders, heroes from all walks of life, as well as many outstanding figures from the Dragon and Phoenix List, all went to watch the battle."

"In that battle, sand and rocks flew, the sun and moon dimmed; demons' shadows were everywhere, and a green Immortal Crane Sword came from beyond the heavens, sweeping away the hordes of demons..."

Liu Suanban's spittle flew as he described the battle with great flair and suspense, evoking deep thoughts among the listeners. The tea drinkers were so entranced that they continuously tipped copper coins and silver taels.

Jiang Ding listened intently for a while, then turned his gaze away.

One could say it had some literary value, but as for the value in martial arts, there was none.

"In the end, Langzhu was heavily injured by a sword from beyond the heavens and fled in defeat. As a result, the activities of the Southern the Eighteenth Demon Sect quieted down for quite some time." Liu Suanban loudly praised, "Qingniugong truly lives up to its reputation as the leading righteous sect!"

"Excellent!"

A crowd of tea drinkers cheered loudly, their applause accompanied by an abundance of copper coins.

"It is said that when Daoist Qing was young, Immortal Cranes delivered Lingzhi mushrooms as a gift to celebrate his birth. He truly is a Banished Immortal. If only my child could be accepted into Qingniugong."

"Wishful thinking, Qingniugong is a sacred land in martial arts. Countless nobles' descendants would do anything just to find an entryway."

...

Jiang Ding left the money for the tea and turned to leave.

Behind him, Chen Chen and a black-clothed young man withdrew their gazes.

"Is this the one you mentioned, who is suspected to have a Xiantian background from a major clan?"

The black-clothed young man frowned slightly: "He seems quite ordinary, and his Inner Power appears to be only at Minor Completion of Internal Qi, quite mediocre."

Chen Chen knew that the other party was referring to young martial artists in their own circles, and being young with Minor Completion of Internal Qi was not that easy.

"Being able to produce several Breaking Stage Pills, and being related to the deaths of two martial artists with Internal Qi Perfection, there must be no mistake."

Chen Chen respectfully said, "Young Master Hei Jin, you are a disciple of a Xiantian great figure and one of the 'White Bone Blade Evil', your insight is naturally extraordinary. Can you discern which power or clan this person hails from? Will he interfere with our grand affairs?"

If someone overheard their secret conversation, they would be greatly startled.

Ranked twelfth on the Dragon and Phoenix List, 'Black Flame Blade' Hei Jin!

Legend has it that his actions are exceptionally mysterious, and those who have seen him are all dead.

Nanling Mansion had a sect called Chiyan School, more powerful than the former Qixuan School, wiped out overnight. The wounds bore signs of burning and decay, creating terror throughout Nanling Mansion as everyone feared for their safety, almost believing it to be the work of ghosts.

It was not until Tianjilou revealed that he was ranked twelfth on the Dragon and Phoenix List that the name 'Black Flame Blade' became known to the world.

"A Level-breaking pill? It could also be gained by chance."

The black-clothed youth scoffed, apparently not finding Breaking Stage Pills too difficult to obtain either.

However, he had to admit that the possibility Chen Chen mentioned existed and was not small enough to overlook.

"No."

He pondered carefully: "I've neither seen nor heard of such a person, at least not one who is a disciple trained by the very top sects."

"In that case, that's for the best."

Chen Chen bowed and thanked the other party.