Law-Breaking Immortal Gold

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

"Proceed with rites and righteousness; establish it through Grand Purity. Cheng Xuanying's commentary: Grand Purity is the Heavenly Dao."

"Grand Pure Divine Iron, the supreme Immortal Metal of the soul path. Obtaining it can strengthen the foundation of one's divine soul; all else is unknown. It was first produced at Sword Dao Mountain of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion, one of the Nine Great Immortal Sects beyond this world. One liang formed every ten thousand years; a Dao Child emerged every ten thousand years.

"In the year 8526, it was destroyed by the Immortal Sect and vanished without trace thereafter."

He was numb.

Jiang Ding was numb all over.

Though Law-Breaking Immortal Gold was precious, with the Immortal Sect at one's back, a Nascent Soul Cultivator could still hope to obtain it. But a supreme treasure like Grand Pure Divine Iron, which strengthened the foundation of the divine soul, would likely stir even Spirit Transformation cultivators into covetous desire, only to remain forever beyond their reach.

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

Jiang Ding let out a long sigh. "Even in a great sect like the Nine Great Immortal Sects beyond this world, only Sword Children and Dao Children could qualify to cultivate this Seed-Sword Tempering Art during their mortal years. Once in ten thousand years."

"It can forge a supreme immortal foundation, with the Great Dao within sight!"

Jiang Ding's eyes burned with envy.

He was trapped by his aptitude, and cultivation came to him with great difficulty. If he could forge this foundational sword, then perhaps he might rise in the future and stand no weaker than the favored geniuses of heaven.

No wonder the Great Sun Sword Pavilion had attacked the Immortal Sect with such madness, heedless of countless deaths and injuries, only to end in the destruction of the sect and their own deaths.

The mouse wheel turned, and the screen scrolled downward.

His breathing tightened slightly.

"Grand Pure Divine Iron Ore is dark in color, though some is white as starlight. Divine objects conceal their own brilliance; Cultivators cannot see it. When mortals approach, they hear a faint song, and listening to it allows them to comprehend the Dao."

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

"Coincidence?"

"Why does it sound so much like the Heavenly Sound Stone stolen from the Seven Profound Sect? No, countless ores can produce song. The possibility that it is Grand Pure Divine Iron is extremely low."

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

He roared inwardly.

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

More than ten minutes passed before Jiang Ding barely calmed himself and continued browsing the cultivation art.

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

"I can't understand it."

Jiang Ding helplessly admitted it.

Although the Seed-Sword Tempering Art was a cultivation art of the 'method' rank, it had been split from a 'scripture.' Its difficulty was exceedingly high, far beyond what a high school student could understand.

This was a cultivation art belonging to the very greatest heaven-blessed geniuses.

"But there are gains. Professor Zhang Junsheng of Clearwind University used archaeological deduction to derive an inferior sword-tempering art, using Millennium Soul-Nourishing Wood and Geng Metal as substitutes. Even Golden Core cultivators might obtain..."

"But to me, it's all the same. All of it is beyond hope."

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

Jiang Ding checked the time. It was already past nine at night. 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 that had been printed on short notice. Several incomprehensible words were written across it.

Divine Firmament Hundred-Step Flying Sword.

He had photographed it and uploaded it to the library, earning twenty points. This was merely the most basic method; later there were methods such as translation and correction for earning library points, but he lacked the ability to earn them.

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

Jiang Ding guessed that library points were extremely valuable even to high-level cultivators. They could use them to submit calculation requests to the Central Array-Spirit Computer concerning their own cultivation arts and magical treasures.

No one's wisdom could be underestimated.

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

In the initial stage, one used blood as ink and wrote upon spiritual talisman paper, folding it afterward, then continuously refined it with essence blood until it could be controlled as smoothly as one's own arm. In the end, one obtained a talisman seed.

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

It was then felled and forged into a wooden sword. The wooden sword continuously absorbed essence blood and the qi of metal essence, eventually transforming into an iron sword capable of killing even Innate martial artists.

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

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, Huang Deyou came over in small steps, holding an account book.

"Boss, our shop only has three liang 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 boss's habit of appearing and vanishing like a ghost. Thus, unless the rear courtyard gate stood open, he would not enter of his own accord. 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 seemed like the sort not to fuss over small matters, actually took the account book and flipped through it page by page.

Beyond Huang Deyou's sight, Jiang Ding used the miniature computer in his tactical camouflage uniform, projected through his contact lenses, to create a spreadsheet. Income, expenditure, stock entries, totals—each was matched one by one.

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

The moment Huang Deyou looked at them, cold sweat broke out across his body.

'Second day of the third month, sixty-seventh year of Yuanhe: one Purple Spirit Grass entered into the accounts, recorded as one wen. Why was the Purple Spirit Grass not received?'

"First day of the third month, sixty-seventh year of Yuanhe..."

Entry after entry, item after item. Some differed by several hundred wen, others by merely one or two—but every single one was accurate beyond question, clearer even than the man who had kept the accounts.

"Boss, spare my life..."

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

For this sort of embezzlement, Jiang Ding would not even need to act. If word spread, Huang Deyou would never again find even a slightly respectable line of work for the rest of his life.

He had made the mistake of relying on experience.

Who could have known that this young martial hero, who clearly had a great background, could read account books? Not even a single wen escaped his notice, and he could truly uncover everything.

"It's fine."

Jiang Ding handed him a four-column bookkeeping form. "Make up the losses yourself. Use this format for the accounts from now on. Also, I'll replenish the cash kept by the accountant soon."

Everyone had a gambler's heart.

Jiang Ding was the same. Sometimes, he too could not resist wanting to slack off and practice his sword one less 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!"

Huang Deyou was overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed.

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

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

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

The main hall now held a counter smelling faintly of fresh lacquer. Huang Deyou sat there, with an apprentice he had recruited beside him, specifically recording the plant specimens already in stock.

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

Everywhere else—the gate, the floor, the windows—had been completely renewed. A signboard had also been put up, bearing the name Rotten Plank 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 down the main street, lightly avoiding puddles beneath his feet as he brushed past the passing crowd. Unpleasant odors occasionally drifted over, and he did 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, drinking tea by the roadside, revealed a smile uglier than crying. "Young hero, I swear to Heaven, these past few days, my brothers and I truly haven't gone to your shop to shake you down."

After being severely wounded by that single sword strike, 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; the less trouble, the better.

Now, just seeing Jiang Ding made his calves tremble.

"There's something I want 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 the thick-browed man beside him. "That's easy. Xiao Liu, go show the young hero the way!"

After passing the boundary between the dirt road and the stone-paved street, the roads became broad and clean once more.

Xiao Liu was an eloquent fellow. He led Jiang Ding through twists and turns, occasionally introducing famous restaurants, brothels, gambling dens, and the like along the roadside.

"Young hero, look. This is the Golden Dragon Trading Company. Another hundred or so steps 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 plenty of goods, and its prices are a little cheaper too—though its reputation is somewhat worse."

"Reputation?" Jiang Ding asked curiously.

"I heard that people have bought fake medicinal herbs here before. They have no scruples when buying or selling goods, and many underworld figures like to come here. People have even died here."

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

After a while, a three-story building by the street came into view. The signboard bore four gilded characters: Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

Its decorations were relatively simple, lacking the dazzling splendor and oppressive wealth of the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce. Yet it had a refined air to it. There was a pool before the shop, while inside there 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 received monthly wages of one liang after another, in truth, most of it was taken away by those above them. They barely had anything left each month, not nearly enough even for the occasional meat and wine.

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 such draining-the-pond-to-catch-the-fish behavior, there would be no good outcome for them.

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