Law-Breaking Immortal Gold

Jiang Ding's trembling hand clicked open the encyclopedia entry for Supreme Clarity Divine Iron before Law-Breaking Immortal Gold.

"Conduct it with rites and righteousness, establish it with Supreme Clarity. Cheng Xuanying's commentary: Supreme Clarity is the Dao of Heaven."

"Supreme Clarity Divine Iron, the supreme immortal gold of the soul path. Obtaining it can strengthen the foundation of one's divine soul; the rest is unknown. It was first produced at Sword Dao Mountain of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion, one of the Nine Outer Immortal Sects. One tael formed every ten thousand years, and a Dao Child appeared once every ten thousand years.

"In 8526, it was annihilated by the Immortal Sect. It has vanished without trace ever since."

He was numb.

Jiang Ding was numb all over.

Though Law-Breaking Immortal Gold was precious, with the Immortal Sect at one's back, Nascent Soul Cultivators still had some hope of obtaining it. But a supreme treasure like Supreme Clarity Divine Iron, which strengthened the foundation of the divine soul, would likely make even Deity Transformation Cultivators covet it, yearning for it beyond reach.

"A sect-defending cultivation method, a sect-defending cultivation method."

Jiang Ding let out a long sigh. "Even in a great sect like the Nine Outer Immortal Sects, only people such as Sword Children and Dao Children would be qualified to cultivate this Seed Sword Refining Technique while still mortal. Once every ten thousand years."

"It can forge a supreme immortal foundation, with hope for the Great Dao!"

Jiang Ding's eyes burned with envy.

Trapped by his aptitude and struggling in cultivation, if he could refine this foundational sword, perhaps he might rise in the future and stand no weaker than the heavenly geniuses.

No wonder the Great Sun Sword Pavilion had attacked the Immortal Sect with such madness, sparing no amount of death and injury, only to have its sect destroyed and its members die in the end.

The mouse wheel turned, and the screen scrolled downward.

His breathing caught slightly.

"Supreme Clarity Divine Iron ore is dark in color, though some is white like starlight. A divine object concealing itself, invisible to cultivators. When mortals approach, they hear faint singing; listening to it may grant insight into methods."

Jiang Ding's heart churned like rivers and seas, while his face struggled to remain calm.

"A coincidence?"

"Why does it resemble the Heavenly Sound Stone stolen from the Seven Profound Sect so much? No, there are countless ores that can make singing sounds. The possibility of it being Supreme Clarity Divine Iron is extremely low."

"Extremely low? On what basis is it extremely low!"

He roared inwardly.

"A supreme treasure capable of crossing worlds—why did it have to bring me there? Is that a coincidence too?"

Only after more than ten minutes did Jiang Ding barely calm down and continue browsing the cultivation method.

Page after page, he flipped faster and faster, eventually skipping straight to the end.

"I can't understand it."

Jiang Ding admitted it helplessly.

Though the Seed Sword Refining Technique was a cultivation method of the "Method" grade, it had been split from a "Scripture," making it extraordinarily difficult. It was not something a high school student could comprehend.

This was a cultivation method belonging to the top heavenly geniuses.

"But there are gains as well. Professor Zhang Junsheng of Pure Breeze University used archaeological deduction to derive an inferior Sword Refining Method, using Thousand-Year Soul Nurturing Wood and Geng Metal as substitutes. Even Golden Core cultivators may be able to obtain..."

"But to me, they're all the same—things far beyond what I can hope for."

With a sigh, he saw that the sky outside had already gone completely dark.

Jiang Ding checked the time. It was already past nine at night. Going back to practice his sword a few times before sleeping would be just right.

Sunlight shone lazily down.

The shade of the trees blocked the sunlight. Jiang Ding reclined in a lounge chair, holding a thick book temporarily printed from photocopy paper, its cover bearing several incomprehensible words.

Divine Firmament Hundred Pace Flying Sword.

He had photographed and uploaded it to the library, earning twenty Library Points. That was the most basic method; afterward, there were ways of earning Library Points through translation, correction, and the like, but he lacked the ability to make money that way.

Unexpectedly, in only a few short days, the book had been fully translated.

Jiang Ding guessed that Library Points were also valuable to high-level cultivators. They could use them to submit calculation requests to the Central Array Spirit Computer concerning their own cultivation methods and magical treasures.

No one's wisdom could be underestimated.

For example, this Divine Firmament Hundred Pace Flying Sword was divided into three levels: talisman sword, wooden sword, and iron sword.

In the initial stage, one used blood as ink to write and fold spiritually infused talisman paper, then continuously refined it with essence blood until it could be controlled as easily as one's own arm. In the end, one obtained a Talisman Seed.

The Talisman Seed was fused into a Spirit Wood Seed and watered with Great Medicine Spirit Liquid. After several years, it would grow into a spiritual plant connected to one's own heart's blood.

Cut it down and forge it into a wooden sword. The wooden sword would continuously absorb essence blood and Golden Essence Qi, eventually becoming an iron sword capable of killing even an Innate Martial Artist.

He absolutely could not consume large amounts of his own essence blood.

Jiang Ding thought that he would familiarize himself with it and learn a little. Knowing more could do no harm.

Knock, knock!

After lightly knocking twice on the door, Huang Deyou came over in small steps, holding a ledger.

"Master, our store only has three taels of silver left. Here is the account book. Please take a look..."

Over these past days, he had come to understand something of this young master's unpredictable comings and goings. Thus, he would not enter the rear courtyard unless its door was open. Today, he had finally managed to find him.

"Mm, wait a moment."

What made Huang Deyou's heart jump was that this young hero, who looked like someone unconcerned with trivial matters, actually took the ledger and flipped through it page by page.

In a field of vision Huang Deyou could not see, Jiang Ding used the miniature computer built into his tactical camouflage uniform, projected through his contact lenses, to make a table. Income, expenses, inventory, totals—all were matched one by one.

More than ten minutes later, Jiang Ding took out paper and brush, wrote down seven sets of account figures, and handed them over.

The moment Huang Deyou saw them, cold sweat sprang out all over him.

"On March 2nd, Year 67 of Yuanhe, one stalk of Purple Spirit Grass was entered into the accounts for one wen. Why was the Purple Spirit Grass never received?"

"On March 1st, Year 67 of Yuanhe..."

Entry by entry, item by item—some involved several hundred extra wen, others one or two missing wen—and every single one was precisely correct, clearer even than Huang Deyou's own bookkeeping.

"Master, spare my life..."

Huang Deyou's legs went limp. He dropped to his knees and begged, tears pouring from the corners of his eyes.

For this kind of embezzlement, Jiang Ding would not even need to act. As long as word spread, Huang Deyou would never find even a remotely respectable occupation for the rest of his life.

He had made the mistake of relying on experience.

Who could have known that this wandering young hero, who clearly had an impressive background, could read account books, would not overlook even a single wen, and could truly uncover everything?

"It's fine."

Jiang Ding handed him a four-column bookkeeping form. "Make up the shortfall yourself. Use this format for future accounts. Also, I'll replenish the cash reserves soon."

Everyone harbored a gambler's hope.

He was no exception. At times, he too could not resist wanting to slack off and practice his sword one time less.

But once was only human nature. Twice would be inexcusable.

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master! In my next life, I'll be your ox and horse to repay you!"

Huang Deyou was overjoyed and knocked his head against the ground repeatedly.

Jiang Ding waved his hand. "Don't do that. I don't like it. Go do your work."

After Huang Deyou left, he gently stroked his sword hilt and stepped out through the rear courtyard gate for the second time in over two weeks.

Compared with when he had first arrived, the front courtyard had changed considerably.

In the main hall stood a counter that smelled faintly of fresh lacquer. Huang Deyou sat behind it, along with an apprentice he had hired to specifically record the plant specimens already in stock.

Before the counter, two or three herb gatherers sold specimens, occasionally arguing over their completeness.

Elsewhere, the gate, ground, and windows had all been renewed. A signboard had also been put up, bearing the name Rotten Board Street General Store.

Seeing him emerge, Huang Deyou hurried over to greet him, only to be stopped by a wave of Jiang Ding's hand.

He strolled along the street, his steps light as he avoided puddles and brushed past the passing crowds. Unpleasant smells drifted over from time to time, and he tried his best to grow accustomed to them.

Suddenly, Jiang Ding spotted several familiar figures. With a flicker of his steps, he arrived before them.

Liu Qi, who had been drinking tea by the roadside, revealed a smile uglier than tears. "Young hero, I swear to heaven that my brothers and I truly haven't gone to your shop to shake you down lately."

After being severely wounded by that one sword strike, he had not dared report it to the gang either. He had merely treated Jiang Ding as an ordinary merchant who had come to the neighborhood. Better fewer troubles than more.

Now, at the sight of Jiang Ding, his calves trembled uncontrollably.

"There's something I want your help with." Jiang Ding smiled. "I want to go to the Four Seas Merchant Guild, but I don't know the way. Could you send one of your brothers to guide me?"

Liu Qi let out a breath of relief and pointed at the thick-browed man beside him. "That's easy. Xiao Liu, go show the young hero the way!"

After crossing the boundary between dirt roads and Stone Tablet streets, the streets became broad and clean once more.

Xiao Liu was quite eloquent. He led Jiang Ding around turn after turn, occasionally introducing famous taverns, brothels, gambling houses, and the like along the street.

"Please look, young hero. This is the Brocade Dragon Trading Company. Another hundred or so steps ahead is the Four Seas Merchant Guild." Xiao Liu pointed at a magnificent six-story trading house. "This Brocade Dragon Trading Company is much more famous in East Spirit Prefecture than the Four Seas Merchant Guild. It has plentiful goods and cheaper prices too, though its reputation is a little worse."

"Reputation?" Jiang Ding asked curiously.

"I heard some people bought fake medicinal ingredients here. They have no taboos when buying or selling goods, and many Black Daoist figures like coming here. There have even been deaths."

Xiao Liu hurriedly added, "Of course, that's just something passed around among the brothers in our gang. It may not be true."

After a while, a three-story building appeared by the roadside, its plaque inscribed with the gilded words Four Seas Merchant Guild.

Its decorations were relatively simple, lacking the Brocade Dragon Merchant Guild's dazzling splendor and overbearing wealth. Yet it looked quite tasteful. There was a pond before the store, while mountains and trees stood within, creating a beauty of harmonious feng shui.

Xiao Liu said respectfully, "Young hero, this is the Four Seas Merchant Guild."

"Mm, thank you."

Jiang Ding took out a corner of silver, worth around a hundred wen, and handed it to him.

Xiao Liu was delighted. "Thank you for the reward, young hero!"

Though they received a tael of monthly pay at a time, most of it was actually taken by those above them. They could not keep much at all each month, and it was never enough for the occasional meat and drink.

Otherwise, they would not have tried to extort a newly opened shop the moment they saw one. If the gang's higher-ups learned of this sort of draining-the-pond-to-catch-the-fish behavior, there would be no good outcome for them.