[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals":3,"chapter-cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-12":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Cluster Artillery: Shattering the Immortals",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2342023,4578,"Chapter 12: Four Seas Caravan","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-12",12,"\u003Cp>No pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding pressed his hand against the sword hilt, eyes half-closed, sensing the blood-soaked battlefield—the stench of blood thick in his nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His spine tingled faintly; in just a few minutes, his Bone Refinement had advanced another notch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter the martial art, its true value and alignment with one’s life essence can only be found on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The caravan’s attendants watched the boy amid the corpses with awe, unwilling to approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Young Master, for saving my life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, the caravan manager finished bandaging his wounds and hurried over, bowing deeply: “I am Long San, a distant branch of the Long family of the Four Seas Caravan. I humbly greet you, Young Master. I shall repay you handsomely in time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding blinked. “In time? Why not now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San’s scalp prickled; coldness shot through his body, especially his throat—he instinctively reached for his waist knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This novel is originally published here: please visit to read!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big sects always act with arrogance. Even the imperial authorities haven’t interfered much in recent years—who could possibly know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go, let’s go! Young Master, rest assured—Dongling City is just a backwater place for someone ranked ninth on the Dragon Phoenix List. If not for his master’s orders, how could ‘Split Sea Saber’ Wei Xian ever have come here?” Split Sea Saber?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s heart stirred—he seemed to recall something, but when he focused, nothing came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All three are renowned peak Inner Qi experts. Even without their fame or influence, an Inner Qi cultivator like me would be lucky to survive one blow from them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, the caravan paused frequently at small towns and villages to replenish food and water, rest the beasts, and Jiang Ding got to see some local customs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few months ago, there was even the Seven Mysteries Sect—stronger than the three major powers, ruling Dongling Prefecture for over a thousand years. Unfortunately, Wei Xian, the eldest disciple of the Golden Knife Sect, led a massacre and wiped them out completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Body Refinement cultivators possess hundreds of jin of strength in a single arm; Inner Qi cultivators are even stronger. Yet they seem to have no interest in applying this power to agriculture or handicraft production to boost productivity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, we beg you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding smiled. “Is the Golden Knife Sect’s eldest disciple still in Dongling City? I’m starting to think I’d rather not go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San paused, then added: “With your skill, small gangs and factions mean nothing. Only three men could be called true masters: Yang Dongsheng, the leader of the Righteous Brotherhood, known as ‘Righteous as the Heavens’; Yuan Lao Yezi, the master of Dragon Tiger Martial Arts Hall, whose disciples dominate both the legal and criminal underworlds of Dongling Prefecture; and Zheng Ye, the head of the Zheng family, nicknamed ‘Mixed Gold Saber.’ Rumor says the Zheng family has marital ties to the Marquis’s household.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the city gate, people lined up to enter—wood carriers, merchants, opera performers, night soil collectors—all orderly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San thought for a moment, then added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s enough,” Jiang Ding smiled. “You’re a merchant—you know value is never fixed. Once both parties agree, the transaction is complete. No further claims.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there are rumors in the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding recalled something: “Didn’t the Seven Mysteries Sect also have a Dragon Phoenix List prodigy? Something like ‘Snow Fairy’? Was she also taken by this ‘Split Sea Saber’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San stepped back half a pace, waving his hands frantically: “Young Master, you humiliate me! You saved my life—these small matters are yours to command. Why go to such lengths?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, specimens have strict requirements, so pre-training is provided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides the Marquis’s office in the prefectural capital, who else are the unapproachable masters I should watch out for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the city gate, tax clerks charged one copper coin per person to enter, with goods charged separately. Long San’s expression was calm—neither overcharged nor undercharged, no signs of hidden extortion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, it’s only a few dozen taels of silver…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, it resembled the feudal society of ancient immortal sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five hours later, just as Jiang Ding was considering whether to stay up all night, a towering city came into view in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Why so?” Jiang Ding asked, intrigued. “I thought the Golden Knife Sect was a major sect near the capital—why travel so far just to exterminate a sect here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Body Refinement and Inner Qi cultivators are still mortals. If trapped in cities or plains and surrounded by armies armed with powerful bows and crossbows, no matter how strong, they will die without fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closer still, he saw the walls stood eleven to twelve meters high and fifteen to sixteen meters wide. At the gate, dozens of armored soldiers stood guard, unmoving even in the scorching heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most cultivators choose violent professions—escort guards, bodyguards, gang members, soldiers—that produce nothing directly. Even with constant danger, they’re not stable. Long San relaxed, smiled, bowed, and returned to the attendants, borrowing silver from each until he gathered over thirty taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding also asked him about nearby matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding had no copper coins; Long San paid for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San was overjoyed—he had feared the Tiger Mountain bandits wouldn’t let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Jiang Ding said seriously. “I already said it: since I’ve accepted your generous gift, this matter is settled. Don’t mention it again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San said solemnly: “The Marquis of Zhendong was one of the Twelve Heavenly Cloud Generals who helped the founding emperor seize the realm. Ranked ninth in the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion, his military skill and martial arts are legendary—he has never declined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San’s face tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was still Tiger Mountain territory; no one dared linger. Long San had his attendants clear a donkey cart for Jiang Ding and, despite his wounds, accompanied him personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, hey hey…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. It’s enough. They struck first. I didn’t specifically come to save you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting Jiang Ding’s gaze, he halted mid-motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Some say the Golden Knife Ancestor coveted a treasure from the Seven Mysteries Sect called the Heavenly Sound Stone—left behind by the ancient martial overlord Qi Xuan Shiren a thousand years ago. Under moonlight, it emits celestial music that aids cultivation insight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the city, Jiang Ding bowed to Long San: “I intend to open a general store in the city. Manager Long, could you help me find a way? I don’t need prime location—just somewhere to settle temporarily. I won’t shortchange you on commission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In short, everyone has their own tale,” Long San sighed. “We small folk hear all kinds of nonsense—only good for drinking and passing time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, forgive me—I only have thirty taels on me now. I’ll bring you more gifts once we reach the prefectural capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She was the dream woman that men like Yuan Lao Yezi and Zheng Ye spent their youth chasing—luckily, the Seven Mysteries Sect’s master won her heart. Now… alas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The city claims three major powers, but none compare to the Marquis’s household.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s what a true man looks like!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! Young Master, please wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding studied the soldiers closely, his expression turning serious: “The city’s troops are quite elite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the scenery of mountains and fields passed slowly outside the window, the two chatted casually—Jiang Ding now had a rough impression of Dongling City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He showed a look of reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean ‘Snow Fairy’ Gong Caiyu, ranked ninety-eight on the Dragon Phoenix List? She’s the daughter of the Bell Sound Immortal—her beauty is peerless. I didn’t see her that day, and I’ve heard nothing since.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San said longingly: “I saw it with my own eyes—just the gold, silver, and plunder looted from the Seven Mysteries Sect filled over a dozen carts. The final cart, piled high with beautiful women, was especially tempting. Rumor says the sect master’s wife, the Bell Sound Immortal, was among them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Others say the Golden Knife Ancestor had an enemy tied to the Seven Mysteries Sect, so he sent his eldest disciple to slaughter them all in revenge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding took the silver and shook his head. “I have another request—I’m heading to the prefectural capital too. Could you allow me to travel with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his plan: open a general store and buy specimens from locals who dig or capture them for a set price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And some say it’s connected to a beauty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is your repayment just empty words?” Jiang Ding said, displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding was speechless—these people dared to boast so wildly. Even a Golden Core True Person wouldn’t dare claim to split the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh, Young Master, I can’t argue with you. Since you want to open a shop, I’ll send a trusted attendant to help you later. No need to mention commission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long San smiled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small-time general store owner didn’t fit at all with this bloodstained, green-cloaked, sword-wielding boy—it was too incongruous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he didn’t press further—it was none of his business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1513,"2026-06-20T23:34:14.007Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","87b0505de6106a915346cb391ee50597000843778516c7066e5d42b2a791de05","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-13","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-11",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-cover.jpg"]