Chapter 10

"Lord Dingding has grown taller again."

"Yuanyuan, you've gotten fatter."

Uncle Lin Yong and his wife teased each other, making Jiang Yuan protest in annoyance.

The family dinner table was filled with Sprite, orange juice, and other drinks; except for the brief time Jiang Ding lived with his father, Lin Lin Wanqiu's family had never liked alcohol since their grandparents' time.

Lin Yong's smile faded as he asked, "Lord Dingding, how have your grades been lately?"

Jiang Ding didn't feel any resentment upon hearing it.

Uncle Lin Yong had a square, upright face and a tall build; as a teacher, he understood the awkwardness of middle and high school students and offered patient listening, making him very popular.

"Same as always."

"Good!"

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This implies extreme endorsement of the Immortal Sect's ideology and system — at least society and the Central Array Spirit computer all believe so — easily securing the high ground of political correctness within the Immortal Sect.

Seeing the three figures charging at him, a bloodthirsty craving quietly stirred within Jiang Ding.

All who saw the boy in green robes, sword at his waist, quickly moved out of his way; no one dared approach.

"Sis, there's something you should consider."

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

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

Jiang Ding replied honestly: "Moral character score is high; I feel I can still improve, with a slight chance of nearing full marks. For other cultural subjects like math, physics, geography — progress is minimal."

Along the way, whenever someone blocked him, a single flash of his sword eliminated the obstacle; even when surrounded by several attackers, there was only one wound each.

"That's right, sis," his wife chimed in. "You and Lin Yong are siblings — don't be so formal."

The Immortal Sect is a rule-of-law society, and urban public areas are constantly monitored by regional Array Spirit computers — historically, even high-level cultivators who seriously violated criminal law were swiftly punished, even executed; it's extremely reliable.

Are you not sufficiently loyal to the Immortal Sect? Do you have other intentions? "Ah, what a pity."

Lin Lin Wanqiu sighed: "A younger brother is truly reliable."

Jiang Ding frowned; he disliked this social atmosphere.

His wife felt uneasy inside but did not stop her husband.

Jiang Ding was absorbed in watching the spectacle when a thunderous shout reached his ears.

He stepped to the edge of the battlefield, hand resting on his sword, silent, yet a faint roar seemed to echo.

The shout was not a warning — using it as cover, two crossbow bolts flew through the air, then three burly masked men, armed with long spears, charged forward in a triangular formation, highly trained.

"You can nearly reach full marks in moral character?" Lin Yong froze; he knew his nephew wasn't boasting.

The Immortal Sect's market has many spiritual pills and herbs, but if one takes any harsh, foundation-damaging potions, no matter how high their cultivation or how good their grades, the Dao Studies department will never accept them.

He stepped sideways, easily avoiding the encirclement.

The Immortal Sect uses two currencies: Spirit Coins and Common Coins.

The Immortal Sect's industry is highly developed; many alchemy, artifact forging, cultivation plant cultivation, and talisman-making processes involve large numbers of commoners and Immortal industrial machines for preliminary processing — for example, at Lin Lin Wanqiu's Rongcheng Steel Mill, many semi-artifact components are engraved by Inner Qi cultivators using optical array engraving machines.

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

By the end, a smile appeared on his face — he felt deeply relieved.

Zooming in, there were over a dozen donkey carts, more than ten people, heavily laden with goods, using the carts as cover to resist dozens of masked attackers; behind them, not far off, stood a towering flag, several meters high, made of tiger fur, majestic and fearsome.

Therefore, fewer people who know means less risk of exposure.

He knew well the importance of nearly full marks in moral character.

Most importantly, they felt no trace of the distinctive Inner Qi energy.

He stood still, hand on his sword for a moment, then stepped onto the narrow path, walking toward the direction beyond the mountains.

Jiang Yuan pouted. The whole family cleared the table, cleaned the house, and threw out the trash; Jiang Ding returned to his room.

Especially the masked Inner Qi cultivator — his iron spear whirled with fierce force, heavy and brutal; a moment's inattention left a fist-sized blood hole in a victim's body.

Many goods require both currencies.

"Wow, Jiang Ding, you'll soon be slicing a whole potato into threads with one sword!" Jiang Yuan exclaimed, drawn to another direction.

The masked men didn't answer; instead, they attacked even more fiercely.

"Who are you? Daring to rob the Four Seas Trading Company's cargo?"

Perfect — he felt that even if he concealed himself, he'd still stand out too much alone; he wanted companions to enter the city together — these people were just right.

Step-Sword Style! The sword tip slashed diagonally; the masked giant's eyes widened in horror. Before the two spears could retract, another horizontal slash cut through.

"Who are you?"

"Great hero! The Four Seas Trading Company operates across Yue State; we always seek harmony for profit and have good relations with many on the road — is there some misunderstanding here?"

Lin Lin Wanqiu sighed; for her, clothes could be saved, use could be saved, but food — she couldn't endure cutting back.

Behind him, the three masked men stiffened, then collapsed softly; their spearheads clanged against the ground. Three nearly identical blood trails appeared on their throats, thick streams of blood gushing out, quickly soaking the earth.

"Ghost!"

Lin Yong sighed again; cultural subject scores were too low, cultivation subjects were decent, but clearly couldn't make up for the huge gap in cultural subjects.

The difference is simple: any goods involving Immortal labor or spiritual materials must be paid in Spirit Coins; conversely, goods involving commoner labor or materials are paid in Common Coins.

He had no intention of telling his family about the other world — not yet.

Vast mountains stretched endlessly; the mountain wind stirred a sea of green. The remnants of yesterday's bonfire were still visible via drone. Lin Yong smiled proudly: "Yes, sis — it's the Blue Flower Foundation-Establishing Spirit Pill."

Some dodged aside, others ignored him entirely; he walked straight ahead.

Three bandits thrust their spears simultaneously — one at the throat, two at the sides of the chest and abdomen — like a six-armed giant striking all at once.

"I'm just passing through."

Lin Lin Wanqiu hesitated: "Lin Yuanwang's talent is far superior to Lord Dingding's; his future potential is greater too. If we delay his cultivation…"

"Then… thank you very much."

Lin Lin Wanqiu nodded hesitantly: "I still have some savings—I'll transfer them to you tomorrow. Ah, thank you, Lin Yuanwang."

All were throat cuts! The bandit leader glanced at the bodies on the ground, his heart turning cold.

"If you don't have enough ordinary coins, I can lend you some."

Jiang Ding ignored him; wherever his long sword struck, blood blossomed, and one bandit after another collapsed helplessly.

Among the masked men, one was at the Inner Qi stage; the rest, except for a few, wore tattered clothes and were weak in combat, their only merit being raw courage—but they were numerous.

Shh-shh!

Jiang Ding and Lin Lin Wanqiu said in unison.

Under the siege, the caravan guards kept dying and injuring; the Inner Qi overseer bore multiple wounds, escape impossible, his face filled with despair.

From the drone's viewpoint, hundreds of meters away along the road, people were fighting, blood was spilled, and someone kept falling.

If it were some army, sect, or school, he would seriously consider retreating—but "Tiger Mountain," a name that clearly sounded insignificant, wouldn't disrupt his plans.

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

Though many surrounded few, the situation was not one-sided.

Immortal sects aren't the Mo Sect—what forbidden techniques could directly kill?

!.

"Don't worry, sis!" Lin Yong waved his large hand: "Lin Yuanwang's from the Dao Studies Department of Qianling University—this amount of spirit coins means nothing to him, and besides, this is his own cousin. What's wrong with helping out?"

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

Soon, the bandit leader noticed the situation, smashed his spear to drive back the caravan leader, and roared: "Tiger Mountain's business! Stay clear!"

He thrust his sword to deflect the last spearhead still aimed at his chest, then stepped forward abruptly, nearly brushing the masked giant's sleeve.

Lin Yong paused, then said: "You know, Lin Yuanwang's settled in at Qianling University. Yesterday he told me there's an opportunity in his department to exchange for a Blue Flower Foundation-Establishment Spirit Pill—he's earned some spirit coins to cover part of it, but he still needs two hundred thousand ordinary coins to get it for Lord Dingding. What do you think?"

Jiang Yuan hesitated a long while, then reluctantly raised his hand, his small face scrunched into a knot.

But if the profit is great enough, there are always those willing to risk everything.

Whether for work or study opportunities, whenever the performance gap isn't significant, if the superior doesn't choose Jiang Ding, criticism will follow.

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

Bandits fell in waves, unable to fight back; soon, morale began to collapse, but all eyes remained fixed on their leader.

"Blue Flower Foundation-Establishment Spirit Pill?"

"This pill is too precious."

…

"Killing so readily…"

"About right—we'll have to cut back on expenses for a while."

Several hours later, the mountain path gradually widened; the small grasses growing along the road vanished, and travelers became more common—mostly farmers from the hills gathering firewood or cutting grass.

It was all because the caravan had an Inner Qi cultivator whose life energy was slightly weaker than Gong Gong Caiyu's.

"You're in charge of buying vegetables from now on!"

"Who are you?"

"I have some savings…"

Saw off his uncle's family.

Jing! Drew sword, assumed sword stance!

Jiang Ding's expression shifted slightly.

A brilliant, curved arc slashed diagonally, deflecting two powerful crossbow bolts; his sword pointed slanting toward the ground.

The other guards were also fairly capable.

"Die!"

Put on gear, opened eyes.

Lin Lin Wanqiu froze, urgently asking: "Is that the Blue Flower Foundation-Establishment Spirit Pill—the one that can enhance a cultivator's talent without damage?"

This was something even he couldn't do.

Around Jiang Ding, the space cleared—no one dared approach. He shook the blood from his blade and turned his gaze toward the Inner Qi cultivator holding the iron spear.

"Wind's picking up! Run for it!"

The bandit leader didn't look back; the surrounding bandits scattered like birds and beasts.

Update time: 15:30

(End of chapter)