Law-Breaking Immortal Gold

Jiang Ding's trembling hand clicked on the encyclopedia entry for Grand Pure Divine Iron before Law-Breaking Immortal Gold.

"Proceed by ritual and righteousness; establish it through Grand Purity. Cheng Xuanying's commentary stated: Grand Purity is the Dao of Heaven."

"Grand Pure Divine Iron, the supreme immortal gold of the soul path. Obtaining it can strengthen the foundations of one's divine soul; all else is unknown. It was first produced on Sword Dao Mountain of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion, one of the nine great immortal sects beyond this world. One tael formed every ten thousand years, and a Dao Son appeared once every ten thousand years.

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

He was numb.

Jiang Ding was numb all over.

Law-Breaking Immortal Gold was precious, but backed by the Immortal Sect, Nascent Soul Cultivators still had some hope of obtaining it. But a supreme treasure like Grand Pure Divine Iron, which could strengthen the foundations of the divine soul, would likely stir even Spirit Transformation Cultivators to covet it, only to seek in vain.

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

Jiang Ding let out a long sigh. "Even in a great sect like one of the nine immortal sects beyond this world, only Sword Sons and Dao Sons had the qualifications to cultivate this Seed-Sword Tempering Art while still mortal. One appeared every ten thousand years."

"It can forge a supreme immortal foundation. The Great Dao is within reach!"

Jiang Ding's eyes burned with desire.

He was shackled by his aptitude, and cultivation came hard to him. If he could forge this sword of foundation, perhaps he could rise in the future and stand no weaker than the heavens' favored.

No wonder the Great Sun Sword Pavilion had attacked the Immortal Sect with such madness, disregarding countless casualties, only to see their sect destroyed and their people die.

The mouse wheel turned, and the screen scrolled down.

His breathing tightened slightly.

"Grand Pure Divine Iron ore is dark in color, though some pieces are white like starlight specks. Divine objects conceal their own brilliance and cannot be seen by cultivators. When mortals draw near, they hear faint singing; listening to it can bring enlightenment in the Dao."

Jiang Ding's heart churned like rivers and seas overturning, though he struggled to keep his face calm.

"Was it a coincidence?"

"Why did it sound so much like the Heavenly Sound Stone stolen from the Seven Profound Sect? No, there are countless ores that can make music. The possibility of it being Grand Pure Divine Iron is extremely low."

"Extremely low? On what grounds was it extremely low?!"

His heart roared.

"Why did a supreme treasure capable of crossing worlds have to bring me there? Was that a coincidence too?"

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

Page after page, he flipped faster and faster, until he finally skipped straight to the end.

"I can't understand it."

Jiang Ding admitted helplessly.

Although the Seed-Sword Tempering Art was a "method"-grade cultivation art, it had been split from a "classic," making it extraordinarily difficult. It was not something a high school student could comprehend.

This was a cultivation art meant for the foremost heavenly geniuses.

"Still, there were some gains. Professor Zhang Junsheng of Clearwind University archaeologically deduced an inferior sword-tempering art, using Millennium Soul-Nourishing Wood and Geng Metal as substitutes. Even Golden Core Cultivators might be able to obtain it..."

"But it's all the same to me. Both are beyond what I can hope for."

With a sigh, he saw that the sky outside had already turned pitch-black.

Jiang Ding checked the time. It was past nine in the evening. It was just right to go back, practice his sword a few times, then sleep.

Sunlight shone lazily down.

The shade of the trees blocked the sun. Jiang Ding reclined in a lounge chair, holding a thick stack of photocopied paper printed out temporarily, its cover bearing several incomprehensible words.

Divine Firmament Hundred-Step Flying Sword.

He had photographed it and uploaded it to the library, earning twenty points. This was only the original text; there were also ways to earn library points through translation, correction, and more, but he lacked the ability to earn them.

Unexpectedly, in just a few 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 computational requests to the Central Array-Spirit Computer concerning their cultivation arts and magical treasures.

No one's wisdom could be underestimated.

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

In the beginning, one used blood as ink, writing and folding upon spiritual talisman paper, then continuously refined it with essence blood until it could be controlled as though it were part of oneself. In the end, one would obtain a talisman seed.

The talisman seed would merge into the seed of a spirit tree, watered with medicinal spiritual liquid. After several years, it would grow into a spiritual plant connected to one's heart's blood.

It would be felled and forged into a wooden sword. The wooden sword would continually absorb essence blood and the qi of metal essence, eventually becoming an iron sword capable of killing even innate martial artists.

His own essence blood absolutely could not be expended in great quantities.

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

Knock, knock!

After lightly knocking twice, Huang Deyou approached in small steps, holding a ledger.

"Boss, there are only three taels of silver left in the shop. Here's the ledger, please take a look..."

Over these past days, he had gained some understanding of this young boss's habit of appearing and vanishing like a ghost. Therefore, he would not enter the rear courtyard unless its gate was open. Today, he had finally managed to find him.

"Mm, wait a moment."

What made Huang Deyou's heart leap was that this young hero, who seemed like someone who did not fuss over trivialities, took the ledger and began flipping through it page by page.

In a view Huang Deyou could not see, Jiang Ding used the tiny computer projected through his tactical camouflage contact lenses to create a table, matching income, expenditures, stock intake, totals, and other categories one by one.

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

The instant Huang Deyou saw them, cold sweat broke out.

"'Second day of the third month, Year 67 of Yuanhe: one Purple Spirit Grass entered into the accounts, recorded as one wen. Why was the Purple Spirit Grass never received?'"

"'First day of the third month, Year 67 of Yuanhe...'"

Entry by entry, item by item—some discrepancies amounted to several hundred wen, others only one or two wen—yet every one was perfectly accurate. He understood the accounts even better than Huang Deyou, who had kept them.

"Boss, spare my life..."

Huang Deyou's legs gave out. He dropped to his knees and begged, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.

For this kind of embezzlement, Jiang Ding would not even need to act. If word got out, Huang Deyou could forget about ever finding even a slightly respectable line of work for the rest of his life.

He had made a mistake born of experience.

Who could have known that this wandering young hero, who clearly had an extraordinary background, could read ledgers—and would not overlook even a single wen, while truly being able to uncover everything?

"It's fine."

Jiang Ding handed him a four-column bookkeeping form. "Make up the difference yourself. Use this format to keep accounts from now on. Also, I'll add more silver to the shop's funds soon."

Everyone harbored a gambler's hope.

He was the same. Sometimes, he could not help wanting to slack off and practice his sword one fewer time.

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

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

Overwhelmed with joy, Huang Deyou repeatedly kowtowed.

Jiang Ding waved a hand. "Don't do that. I don't like it. Go back to 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 greatly.

The main hall now had a counter that carried the scent of fresh varnish. Huang Deyou sat there, with an apprentice he had recruited beside him, specifically tasked with recording the plant specimens already in stock.

Two or three herb gatherers stood before the counter selling specimens, occasionally arguing over their completeness.

Everything else—the front gates, the floor, the windows—had been thoroughly renewed. A signboard had also been put up, bearing the name Rotten Plank Street General Store.

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

He strolled down the main street, lightly avoiding puddles and brushing past the crowds. Unpleasant odors drifted over now and then, and he did his best to grow accustomed to them.

Suddenly, Jiang Ding spotted several familiar figures. With a flash of movement, he arrived before them.

Liu Qi, who had been drinking tea by the roadside, showed a smile uglier than crying. "Young Hero, I swear to Heaven, my brothers and I really haven't gone to your shop to shake you down lately."

After being severely wounded by a single sword strike that day, he had not dared report it to the gang. 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'd like your help with." Jiang Ding smiled. "I want to go to the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, but I don't know the way. Could you send one of your brothers to guide me?"

Liu Qi breathed a sigh of relief and pointed at a thick-browed man beside him. "That's easy. Xiao Liu, take the young hero there!"

After crossing the boundary between dirt roads and paved stone streets, the roads became broad and tidy once more.

Xiao Liu was quite eloquent. He led Jiang Ding through turn after turn, occasionally introducing famous roadside restaurants, brothels, gambling dens, and the like.

"Young Hero, look—this is the Golden Dragon Trading Company. Another hundred steps or so ahead is the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce." Xiao Liu pointed at a magnificent six-story trading house. "The Golden Dragon Trading Company is much more famous than the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce in Eastspirit Prefecture. It has abundant goods and somewhat cheaper prices, though its reputation is worse."

"Reputation?" Jiang Ding asked curiously.

"I heard someone bought fake medicinal herbs here before. They have no scruples when buying or selling goods, and many underworld figures like coming here. There have even been deaths."

Xiao Liu hurriedly added, "Of course, that's only what we brothers in the gang say among ourselves. It might not be true."

After a while, a three-story building appeared by the roadside, its plaque bearing the four gilded characters: Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

Its decorations were relatively simple, without the resplendent splendor and wealth that pressed upon the eye like the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce. Yet it appeared quite refined. There was a pond before the shop, and within it were hills and trees, creating a beauty of harmonious geomancy.

Xiao Liu respectfully said, "Young Hero, this is the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce."

"Mm, thank you."

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

Xiao Liu was overjoyed. "Thank you for the reward, Young Hero!"

Though they supposedly received one tael a month in wages, most of it was taken away by the people above them. In truth, very little remained in their hands each month. It was not even enough for the occasional meal of meat and drink.

Otherwise, they would not have tried to extort a newly opened shop the moment they saw it. If the gang's higher-ups found out about such draining-the-pond-to-catch-the-fish behavior, they would not be let off lightly.