Chapter 1459: The Dao-Attaining Ground of a Future True Immortal

The sect's transfer orders came very quickly.

Barely more than twenty years later, the Second Front Fleet of True Venerable Zhenjun Shenji had already withdrawn from the battlefield, passing through multiple Zhong Senior Qian Shi Gao Jie nodes via super teleportation arrays, and finally arrived within the Ancient God Domain realm passage.

"Welcome, welcome,"

"Senior Zhenjun Shenji, it has been many years."

Jiang Ding personally welcomed them at the starport, gripping True Venerable Zhenjun Shenji's hands with both of his own and shaking them vigorously several times.

His gaze swept over the Second Front Fleet group.

After hundreds of years of fierce fighting, many warships carried an air of weathering; their decks were patched with numerous repairs, looking utterly murderous, and the fleet's appearance was clearly a cut above that of the Ninth Front.

These repeatedly repaired warships were treasures of the battlefield, precious assets of the sect, their strength far surpassing that of brand-new warships.

If they were upgraded generation after generation, fitted with new materials, equipped with new technologies, and refined by cultivators over the generations, they would eventually more easily give birth to planetary-grade warships, or even stellar-grade warships.

These were the sect's inherited treasures, refined by citizens over the generations.

"If it were my true body,"

"It truly has been a long time."

True Venerable Zhenjun Shenji said with a wry smile: "You're far too dangerous now, kid. If I were still serving in the Central Army Group, I wouldn't dare approach you at all, to prevent any danger befalling the sect's Central Army Group."

He was open and candid, hiding nothing.

"Hahaha!"

"You seniors truly are seasoned strategists who plan for the nation."

Jiang Ding laughed heartily, unbothered.

The sect was the citizens' sect, not some bandit gang's outlaws or a Shanzhai chief's mountain stronghold running on loyalty alone; it had to have a strict set of systems — that was the foundation for the citizens' survival.

The two conferred briefly, then began the handover of the various military affairs of the Ancient God Domain realm passage.

After Jiang Ding went out, True Venerable Mieri would temporarily assume the duties of Ninth Front Commander-in-Chief. Though he lacked field combat ability, with the support of fixed formations he could still operate the Ninth Front's army formation; he was an important force in the realm passage and could coordinate with True Venerable Master Canghai and True Venerable Zhenjun Shenji.

After the various handovers were completed, Jiang Ding took his leave of the crowd and set out on the road for his century-long homecoming leave.

Light flowed through the teleportation array, and the world around him changed once more.

Jiang Ding arrived once again at Jiao Jiao Mingyu. With a sweep of his divine sense across the Zhong Senior Qian Shi Gao Jie Nine Spirit Realm, and that thriving seventh-tier divine tree Shenmu Shenmu Futianrong — the sect's foundation.

The entire Jiao Jiao Mingyu was just as it had been when he last came; the only difference was that the tax revenue from each Minor Thousand World had increased, sometimes reaching as much as ninety percent, with everything to be spent supporting the war.

The only thing that could be guaranteed for the native cultivators was that they could live, never lacking food or drink, and have their dignity respected — nothing more.

It was impossible for citizens to be fighting for their lives while secondary-civilization cultivators lived in peace and plenty, their cultivation steadily climbing, breaking through realm after realm.

That would be irresponsible toward the sect's citizens.

Additionally, after the sect blockaded the Ancient God Domain realm passage, the sect imposed a war tax against the Ancient God Domain on the Badaxian Sect's territories, indirectly obtaining many resources, likewise used to support the war.

Many secondary-civilization cultivators of reliable character and morals were likewise conscripted, entering the Ten Territories of the Myriad Clans Alliance to assist citizens in managing Minor Thousand Worlds and share in part of the war dividends.

After all these measures, Jiao Jiao Mingyu remained relatively peaceful; no rebellion had broken out simply because the sect had concentrated heavy forces on the front line.

"Central Formation Spirit Computer,"

"Requesting highest-level concealment."

Jiang Ding stepped beneath the Shenmu Shenmu Futianrong, gazing at the brown trunk that resembled a wall of the world, and said softly.

"…Emergency state, highest-level concealment, activating…"

The Central Formation Spirit Computer verified the authorization and responded.

The surroundings turned hazy; heavenly secrets, rules, and space were all concealed, consuming enormous reserves of spiritual energy and even affecting the safety of the Nine Spirit Realm's grand formation.

One had to understand, this was the sect's second-most powerful Shenmu Shenmu Futianrong specimen, possessing strategic significance.

"Warning,"

"Councilor, you must afterward state the reason for activating the highest-level concealment formation, or else you will violate the sect's constitution and endanger the safety of the sect's citizens."

The Central Formation Spirit Computer said.

"Understood."

"I am submitting a strategic-grade material — eighth-tier Heaven-Human cultivator divine soul essence."

Jiang Ding carefully took out the Heaven-Human remnant soul essence that had attempted to seize his body and failed, stored within the Cangtian Pavilion, and transmitted it into the Central Formation Spirit Computer's treasury, for the sect's research into exploration beyond Dao Merging.

This item was far too important for the Central Formation Spirit Computer's advancement beyond Dao Merging — it now had a reference subject.

The instant Jiang Ding obtained this item, he decided to deliver it personally to the Central Formation Spirit Computer, not entrusting it to anyone else for transfer, to avoid any mishap.

"Heaven-Human divine soul aura detected!"

"Incomplete Heaven-Human divine soul essence detected!"

"Detecting…"

In an instant, at the moment this deep-blue Heaven-Human essence appeared, the Central Formation Spirit Computer's layered formations activated, drawing the item into layer upon layer of protection, its computational response increasing several times over.

"Citizen submitting eighth-tier Heaven-Human divine soul essence."

"Calculating reward plan…"

The Central Formation Spirit Computer fell into calculation, but after a short while it stalled.

"Unable to reward."

"No eighth-tier heavenly materials and earthly treasures exist within the sect's warehouse."

Its logic for a moment did not

know what to do.

Citizen contribution and exchange — this was one of the sect's principles; the sect would never freeload any citizen's contribution, under any banner of great righteousness.

But the sect truly had nothing that could be mentioned in the same breath as an eighth-tier Heaven-Human divine soul essence.

Unlike immortal-technique fragments, which were intellectual property, the sect had not yet legislated on this matter; a citizens' assembly would need to be convened to establish new rules and regulations.

"Please wait, awaiting the citizens' assembly's response; this may take several decades…"

Finally, the Central Array Spirit Computer said.

"No matter, take your time."

Jiang Ding waved his hand, not minding at all.

The interests of the immortal sect were bound to him at a very deep level—nearly that of an original stakeholder. His limit was the sect's limit; when the sect developed, he could obtain the greatest benefits, and when the sect weakened, he would suffer the greatest losses.

The merit-reward system only applied to mid- and low-level cultivators. For him, his Dao path had almost merged into one with the sect, so this merit-reward procedure was nothing more than a mere formality.

Anything he wanted, so long as it was legal and the sect had it, he could certainly obtain within the sect without any extra reward.

Likewise, anything the sect did not have—no matter how much extra reward, no matter how much merit—would not be granted.

Jiang Ding stayed in place, assisting the Central Array Spirit Computer in absorbing the eighth-tier Heaven-human divine soul essence.

After everything was done, he bid farewell to the Central Array Spirit Computer's Nine Spirits sub-branch and flew toward the Nine Spirits Domain. It took several days, and at last he once again arrived at the starry sky of the Dao Le Gao Jie domain.

The instant he passed through the domain passage, a familiar feeling welled up in Jiang Ding's heart.

This domain's Heavenly Dao held an immense fondness for him; here he could exert even greater strength, and the Heavenly Dao was especially kind toward him.

No—not toward him.

The Heavenly Dao of the Nine Spirits Domain had always been especially kind toward every generation's Great Sun Sword Master.