Uncle

"Ding Ding has grown taller again."

"Yuan Yuan, you've gotten fatter."

Uncle Lin Yong and Aunt teased, causing Jiang Yuan to protest unhappily.

The family's dinner table was filled with drinks like Sprite and orange juice. Except for the brief period she lived with Father Jiang, Lin Wanqiu's family, from her grandparents' generation onwards, had never been fond of alcohol.

Dropping his smile, Lin Yong asked, "Ding Ding, how have your grades been recently?"

Jiang Ding didn't feel annoyed hearing this.

Uncle Lin Yong had a square face and a tall build. Because he was a teacher, he was good at understanding the awkward thoughts of junior and high school students, offering them appropriate listening and patience, thus he was very popular.

"It's the same old story."

Jiang Ding honestly replied, "I got a high score in moral character and feel I can still improve, with some confidence of getting close to full marks. As for other cultural subjects like math, physics, and geography, my progress is minimal."

"In cultivation class, I can advance to the Inner Qi Realm within a few months at most."

He had no intention of telling his family about the matters of the other world for now.

It was true that the Immortal Sect was a society governed by law, and array spirit computers in public areas constantly monitored everything. Historically, high-level cultivators who seriously violated criminal law were quickly punished or even executed, making it extremely reliable.

However, if the benefits were large enough, there would still be people who would take the risk.

The Immortal Sect wasn't a demonic sect with direct killing restrictions.

Therefore, the fewer people who knew, the lower the risk of exposure.

"Moral character is close to full marks?" Lin Yong was stunned, knowing his nephew wasn't bragging.

He knew the importance of getting a near-perfect score in moral character.

This meant extreme approval of the Immortal Sect's ideology. At least, that's how society and the central array spirit computers viewed it, allowing one to easily occupy the high ground of political correctness in the Immortal Sect.

Whether it was job or study opportunities, if the difference in scores wasn't significant, it would cause controversy if superiors didn't choose Jiang Ding.

Are you not supportive enough of the Immortal Sect? Do you have other intentions?

"Alas, what a shame."

Lin Yong sighed again. The cultural subject scores were a bit low. While cultivation class was decent, it clearly couldn't make up for the huge deficit in cultural subjects.

"Wow, Jiang Ding, you'll be able to slice a whole potato into shreds with one sword soon." Jiang Yuan exclaimed, focusing on a different aspect.

Lin Wanqiu gently patted her, signaling her not to interrupt the adults' conversation.

"Sis, there's something I want you to consider."

Lin Yong pondered for a moment and said, "You know, Yuanwang has more or less settled down at Spirit Veil University. Yesterday, he told me there's an opportunity in his department to exchange for an Azure-Flower Foundation-Nourishing Spirit Pill. He's also earned some Spirit Coins to cover his part, and he's still short of 200,000 Mortal Coins to exchange for it for Ding Ding. What do you think?"

"If you're short on Mortal Coins, I can lend some too."

There were two types of currency in the Immortal Sect: Spirit Coins and Mortal Coins.

The difference was simple: any goods involving the labor of cultivators and spiritual materials had to be settled with Spirit Coins. Conversely, goods involving the labor and materials of mortals were settled with Mortal Coins.

Many goods often required both.

The Immortal Sect's industry was highly developed. Many refining, alchemy, planting, and talisman-making processes involved a large number of mortals and immortal industrial machines for preliminary processing. For example, at the Rongcheng Steel Plant where Lin Wanqiu worked, the production of many semi-magical artifacts was carried out by Inner Qi Realm martial artists using optical array engraving machines.

"Azure-Flower Foundation-Nourishing Spirit Pill?"

Lin Wanqiu was taken aback and asked eagerly, "Is it the Azure-Flower Foundation-Nourishing Spirit Pill that can improve a martial artist's aptitude without any damage?"

There were many spirit pills and elixirs on the market in the Immortal Sect, but once one took some potent medicine that damaged their foundation, even with high cultivation or good grades, they wouldn't be accepted by the Dao cultivation department.

Lin Yong said with some pride, "Yes, sis, it's the Azure-Flower Foundation-Nourishing Spirit Pill."

Aunt felt a bit uncomfortable but didn't stop her husband.

"This pill is too precious."

Lin Wanqiu hesitated, "Yuanwang's aptitude is much better than Ding Ding's, and so is his future achievement. If it delays his cultivation..."

"Don't worry, sis!" Lin Yong waved his hand. "Yuanwang is in the Dao cultivation department at Spirit Veil University. These Spirit Coins are nothing to him, and this is his cousin. What's wrong with helping out?"

"He brought it up himself, otherwise how would we know about these things?"

Towards the end, a smile appeared on his face, feeling greatly gratified.

"That's right, sis," Aunt chimed in. "You and Lin Yong are siblings, don't be so polite about it."

"Then... thank you so much."

Lin Wanqiu nodded hesitantly. "I still have some savings. I'll transfer it to you tomorrow. Sigh, thank Yuanwang."

After seeing her uncle's family off.

Lin Wanqiu sighed, "It's still more reliable to have a brother."

"Mom, do we have enough money?" Jiang Ding asked, perhaps he should speed up his exploration of the other world, at least to acquire some wealth.

"It's almost enough, it's just that we'll have to be frugal for a while."

Lin Wanqiu sighed. For her, she could save on clothes and necessities, but she couldn't stand saving on food.

"I have some savings..."

Jiang Yuan hesitated for a long time, then painfully raised her hand, her small face contorted into a knot.

"Great!"

"You're in charge of the grocery money from now on!"

Jiang Ding and Lin Wanqiu said in unison.

Jiang Yuan had a mournful expression.

The family cleaned up the dinner table, tidied the house, and threw out the trash together. Afterward, Jiang Ding returned to his room.

He put on his gear and opened his eyes.

Vast mountains stretched out before him, and the mountain wind swept through, creating waves of green. The traces of yesterday's bonfire were still visible through the drone's camera.

He stood still for a moment, resting his hand on his sword, then walked onto the path and headed in the direction of the outside world.

Several hours later, the mountain path gradually widened. The small grasses that occasionally grew in the middle of the road disappeared, and more and more pedestrians appeared. Most of them were farmers from the countryside, gathering grass or chopping wood.

Seeing the young man in a blue shirt with a long sword at his waist, they all made way, and no one approached.

Jiang Ding's expression shifted slightly.

From the drone's perspective, on the main road a few hundred meters away, people were fighting, drawing blood. People were falling one after another.

Zooming in, one side had over a dozen donkey carts and more than ten people, their carts laden with goods. They were using the carts as cover to resist the attacks of dozens of masked men. Not far behind these masked men, a tiger-skin banner several meters high fluttered imposibly.

It seemed like more people were attacking fewer, but the situation was not one-sided.

This was all because, within the caravan, there was an Inner Qi Realm martial artist whose life force was only slightly weaker than Gong Caiyu's.

The other workers were also quite capable.

Among the masked men, there was also an Inner Qi Realm cultivator. Most of the others, apart from a few, had tattered clothes, and their combat effectiveness was questionable. They only had courage to commend, but they were numerous.

Under the siege, caravan workers were continuously killed or injured. The Inner Qi Realm manager also sustained multiple wounds. With no hope of escape, his face was filled with despair.

Jiang Ding was surprised: "There are actually Inner Qi Realm martial artists weaker than Gong Caiyu?"

He walked to the edge of the battlefield in a few steps, resting his hand on his sword, and faint roars could be heard.

"Who are you? How dare you rob the goods of my Four Seas Merchant Guild?"

"Good sirs! My Four Seas Merchant Guild does business all over Yue Country. We have always valued harmony and prosperity, and we have many connections with people in the underworld. Is there some misunderstanding here?"

The masked men did not answer, and instead intensified their attacks.

Especially the masked Inner Qi Realm cultivator, who wielded an iron spear with great force, striking heavily and ferociously. If one wasn't careful, a fist-sized bloody hole would be opened in their body.

"Who's there?"

Jiang Ding was engrossed in watching the show when a shout came from beside his ear.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The shout was not a warning. Taking advantage of the noise, two crossbow bolts whizzed through the air. Then, three tall and strong masked men, wielding long spears, charged forward in a triangular formation, clearly well-trained.

Clang!

He drew his sword and executed the "Unfolding Sword Stance"!

A bright, curved arc slashed diagonally, deflecting the two powerful crossbow bolts. His sword pointed diagonally towards the ground.

"I'm just passing by."

Jiang Ding looked at the three charging at him, a certain bloodthirsty desire quietly growing within him.

"Die!"

The three mountain bandits thrust their spears simultaneously towards his throat and sides of his chest and abdomen, as if a giant with six arms was attacking at once.

Most importantly, they did not sense the unique internal energy aura of an Inner Qi Realm martial artist.

"Killing people so readily..."

Jiang Ding frowned, disliking this kind of social atmosphere.

He took a sideways step, easily avoiding being surrounded by the three.

With a sword thrust, he deflected the tip of the last spear that was still aimed at his chest. Then, he suddenly took a step forward, almost touching the corner of the masked man's clothes.

"Step Sword Stance"!

The tip of his sword slashed diagonally. The masked man's eyes widened in horror. Before the two long spears that had already been thrust could be retracted, he swung his sword horizontally again.

He sheathed his sword and walked towards the center of the battlefield without looking back.

Perfect, he felt that even if he tried his best to conceal himself, he would still be too conspicuous alone. He wanted to find some companions to travel with into the city, and these people before him were just right.

Behind him, the three masked men stiffened and fell softly to the ground. The spearheads clanged against the ground. Three almost identical bloody wounds appeared on their throats, and large amounts of blood flowed out, quickly soaking the ground.

Along the way, if anyone happened to block his path, a flash of his sword would clear the obstacle. The same applied when several people attacked him; there was only one wound.

If someone dodged, he ignored them, simply walking straight ahead.

"Who are you?"

Soon, the situation here caught the attention of the bandit leader. He smashed his spear back, shoving the caravan leader aside, and roared, "This is the Fierce Tiger Stronghold! Non-involved parties, get lost!"

Jiang Ding ignored him. Wherever his long sword reached, blood splattered, and bandits fell to the ground, powerless.

If it were some army, sect, or faction, he would have seriously considered his next move. A name like Fierce Tiger Stronghold, which sounded insignificant at first hearing, wouldn't interrupt his plans.

"Ghosts!"

Bandits fell one after another, unable to fight back. Soon, their morale was half-broken. Only because their leader was still present did countless eyes turn towards Jiang Ding.

They were all dead men!

The bandit leader glanced at the corpses on the ground, his heart chilling.

This was something even he couldn't accomplish.

A clear space formed around Jiang Ding. No one dared to step forward. He shook the blood from his sword and turned his gaze to the Inner Qi Realm martial artist holding the iron spear.

"It's too dangerous! Let's get out of here!"

The bandit leader didn't even look back. The surrounding bandits also scattered like startled birds.