Jiang Ding cultivated in silence, refined his flying sword, took part in the Immortal Sect's various immortal-path research projects, and worked out the five embryonic immortal sword arts of his own, all while watching the Thunderflame Domain develop.
Another thirty years passed.
That day, the Immortal Artifact Sect's Attendant completed the millennium's tax collection in the Thunderflame Domain and entered the Golden Sea Domain, seen off by the two True Sects' Void Refining cultivators.
Traveling with the Immortal Artifact Sect's Attendant were the Daoist troops of the Nine Firmaments Divine Thunder True Sovereign and Blood Lake Bone Mountain.
And it wasn't just the troops of those two True Sects. Troops from several nearby domains had also been conscripted to march on the Golden Sea Domain. The immortal armies advanced in a vast tide, their imposing presence overwhelming. There was no concealing the news.
"What a double standard."
"Celestial Lord Shuo Yang... No, True Venerable Shuo Yang and the others are in trouble."
Jiang Ding spoke with undisguised glee.
Blood Lake Bone Mountain had fought battle after battle, with wars dragging on for thousands of years, yet the Immortal Artifact Sect had done nothing but issue warning after warning. It had never actually intervened.
But the moment True Venerable Shuo Yang and his companions' Golden Radiance Sect began to overturn the established order, it immediately drew a thunderous crackdown. The Golden Radiance Sect's submission and bribes were useless.
The Immortal Artifact Sect's Attendant ignored them completely.
"It would be just as well if those people died. Things would be quieter."
"Since the Immortal Artifact Sect's envoy has left, and the sect's gaze has turned away from this place for now, then..."
Jiang Ding slowly rose.
The searing white light in his eyes could no longer be restrained. It shone through his