Chapter 1190: The Shadow of the Upper Realm's Great Tribulation

The instant Jiang Ding spoke, the Soul Transformation–rank administrative heavy artifact Ten Thousand Li Beacon Fire Platform of Master Tushan Master Tushan Zhongting transmitted a single voice to every cultivator in the three armies of Master Tushan.

"Master Tushan Master Tushan Zhongting. Master Tushan Tian Jun has violated the law and broken discipline. The punishment is as follows."

"Thirty years of salary shall be fined, and distributed according to military rank and cultivation, to every cultivator in the army."

The surrounding several million Nascent Soul True Lords, Jin Dan True Persons, and Foundation Establishment cultivators were all stunned.

Clearly, they had never encountered such a situation and did not know how to respond. Those with nimble minds began composing in their hearts how they ought to answer, to win the Tian Jun's favor.

However, the next announcement from the Ten Thousand Li Beacon Fire Platform swiftly threw them into a state of blazing eyes.

"... Hun Yuan Fa Tiandu Ninety-Seventh Battalion Battalion Commander, Mu Ling Master Dinghai Zhenjun. According to your rank, you have received three portions of fourth-grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures, one qualification for a cultivation chamber, one fourth-grade dharma treasure, three vials of fourth-grade pills..."

"... Great Sun Long Sword Capital Fifty-Fourth Battalion Regular Soldier Li Tiangang. You have received five portions of second-grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures, one qualification for a second-grade cultivation chamber..."

"... Master Tushan Maid Corps Twenty-Seventh Battalion First Squad Leader Senior Jin Liu. You have received four portions of third-grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures..."

One reminder after another fell into the ears of every person in the three armies of Master Tushan.

Every single person received a share, and every single person instantly obtained an enormous fortune—at least half of their current household wealth!

This is the terrifying aspect of thirty years' salary from the Lord of Master Tushan Master Tushan Zhongting.

"Tian Jun!"

In that instant, the hearts of every cultivator in the three armies of Master Tushan burned hot, their eyes filled with fervor, and their loyalty shot up with a whoosh.

So many spirit stones!

So many heavenly materials and earthly treasures!

Everyone was instantly conquered.

Not to mention, they had grown up since childhood immersed in the legends of Master Tushan Tian Jun. Theoretically, each person's direct object of loyalty was Master Tushan Tian Jun—there was an enormous foundation of natural sentiment.

It was only that this natural sentiment was enshrined upon an altar, lofty and remote, removed from the human world. Because of this, the army cultivators hesitated, lacked mutual trust, and did not dare entrust their lives and fortunes.

And now, beneath such a massive tide of spirit stones, that hesitation vanished in an instant.

Someone who gives me so many spirit stones—could the Tian Jun possibly be a bad person?

No, absolutely impossible!

The Tian Jun is trustworthy!

"Tian Jun, ten thousand victories!"

"Ten thousand victories!"

"Ten thousand victories…"

At this moment, the three armies of Master Tushan erupted in cheers, and military morale was once again unified.

This is the immense prestige of a founding lord!

"Hahaha, fellow daoists are too kind."

Jiang Ding smiled faintly.

Carelessly stumbling into a military restricted zone?

This was naturally just an excuse he had found.

The three armies of Master Tushan were of great importance to him; they were not a swarm of ants that could be ignored.

Because he hailed from an immortal gate.

An immortal gate that rose to power through military formations, suppressing realms!

Regarding military formations, regarding armies, he possessed a natural keenness. He could not allow such a state of estrangement between superiors and subordinates, of mutual distrust, to persist for long.

Standing within a military formation, his strength could be raised by ten to twenty percent.

This was still the Beiyuan military formation. If it were an immortal gate's military formation, a surge of eighty percent in strength would be effortless.

Unfortunately, to this day he had not encountered an opponent that required him to merge into an immortal gate's military formation. They were either too weak or too strong, leaving no room for the formation to come into play.

Winning over military morale was not solely about lavish rewards.

Next, he would strictly enforce military discipline, punish and execute the corrupt, restore the clean and upright style that Master Tushan Master Tushan Zhongting ought to have, open up the channels for upward promotion, develop industries such as pill refining and artifact forging… and so on. There would be a complete set of procedures—this was the instinct imparted by the immortal gate's compulsory education.

Immortal gate citizens, every single one of them, were cultivated as rulers.

This was not propaganda; it was fact.

The three armies of Master Tushan cheered three times, and only then, restrained by their officers, returned to their own formations to continue the military mission of suppressing the East Sea Blood Demon Abyss.

"Many thanks, Master!"

"Many thanks, Tian Jun…"

Soul Transformation cultivators such as Ice Snow Tian Jun, Lou Xi Tian Jun, Qing Yun Tian Jun, and Great Love Tian Jun hurried over, their faces beaming, looking as though they had struck it rich.

They too were members of the three armies of Master Tushan, and naturally would not be left out.

"Congratulations, Tian Jun, on advancing further in cultivation and returning triumphant after slaying a powerful foe!"

Great Love Tian Jun and the others bowed deeply.

"I've merely taken one step ahead, that's all."

Jiang Ding smiled, looking at this Great Love Tian Jun before him, who was gentle as jade and whose very presence greatly inspired goodwill: "Fellow daoist's future prospects are boundless. In the days to come, you and I should still exchange pointers from time to time."

"In the presence of the Tian Jun, I dare not speak of valor."

Great Love Tian Jun replied modestly.

The surrounding Ice Snow Tian Jun and the others, witnessing this scene, felt some uncertainty and suspicion.

In their view, Great Love Tian Jun was nothing more than an ordinary Soul Transformation cultivator, only somewhat skilled in artifact forging and pill refining. Why would she receive such favored treatment from Master Tushan Tian Jun?

No one asked, merely engraving this scene deeply in their hearts.

"This Blood Demon Abyss…"

Jiang Ding placed his hand on the sword hilt, and A Heavy Weight of oppressive might rippled outward in all directions.

"Sword Child!"

Lieyang Canghai Tianjun and the Ice and Snow Canghai Tianjun started to speak, but dared not actually open their mouths.

This Blood Demon Abyss is very beneficial for the growth of sword cultivators, and for their own growth.

?? Sword cultivators should not lose the war.

However, Tushan Tian Jun undoubtedly knew, yet still chose to ignore it; clearly, he believed the benefits of keeping the Blood Demon Abyss were far outweighed by the drawbacks.

If it were anyone else, the two of them would naturally not accept it.

Unfortunately, it was…

Clang!

A brilliant sword light appeared between heaven and earth.

Within this light, there was faintly a terrifying meaning of six orders of reincarnation, birth and death, and it carried a power that many Soul Transformation Canghai Tianjun could not comprehend.

This sword light flashed and vanished.

The ten-thousand-li Blood Demon Abyss sea region froze solid, the waves no longer rolled, heaven and earth fell silent, the wind, the rain, even space stopped flowing—terrifying beyond measure.

Many Soul Transformation Canghai Tianjun held their breath.

The next moment,

Bang!

Like an illusion, the Blood Demon Abyss crumbled into clusters of spiritual light and vanished. The sea returned to the East Sea's original azure color, waves rolling, spiritual energy abundant.

"Victory!"

Millions of troops cheered; in that instant, their reverence for Tushan Tian Jun reached its peak.

Lieyang Canghai Tianjun and the other sword cultivators' faces darkened.

Bai Bing Canghai Tianjun and the other law-cultivator Canghai Tianjun breathed a sigh of relief.

This Blood Demon Abyss had tormented them quite severely; now that they were freed in one stroke, it was naturally for the best.

However, they noticed that the green-robed youth's expression was somewhat unsightly.

"Indestructible…"

"This is an indestructible existence…"

Jiang Ding gripped his sword hilt tightly, staring fixedly at the void.

After several breaths, a fist-sized blood-colored vortex appeared once again in the East Sea, spreading outward with an extremely slow, but unstoppable, trend.

Within it, a blood-colored twelve-tiered lotus seemed to flash and vanish, carrying a terrifying aura that made even Refining Void cultivators feel dread.

Jiang Ding's whole body turned icy cold, not moving at all.