Chapter 338: Fifteen Years Flew By

Deep within the mine.

It is quite spacious, more than enough to accommodate four galloping steeds.

Pitch black, not a single ray of light.

However, Foundation Establishment cultivators have night vision, so it poses no real issue; the air is thick with a pungent odor, slightly draining spiritual power.

"To mortals, this is a deadly poison; even Qi Refining cultivators cannot stay here long."

"The cost of extraction is extremely high."

Jiang Ding gazed at the piles of white bones by the roadside.

Human bones, bones of various demonic beasts—piled together, faint ghostly energy lingered; it seemed these places had recently hosted some yin-aligned specters.

"Rest assured, Young Uncle!"

Wu Ma Kong, standing beside him, hurriedly said: "I've already ordered the sect's artificers to design poison-resistant gear usable by mortals and Qi Refining cultivators—no mortal warriors or Qi Refining miners will suffer excessive losses."

He dared not speak too confidently.

"No need."

Jiang Ding opened his Storage Gold Pendant; a hazy glow spread, and one by one, Spider-Mine-3 models emerged, their six sharp legs twitching as they scattered in all directions with a rustling sound.

One after another,

Two hundred spider-shaped mining golems in total.

The other eight hundred were dispersed to eight other third-rank spirit mines across the Demon Kingdom, testing their ability to extract various metal ores under different environments to gather data for factory improvements before full-scale mass production.

These suddenly appearing intricate golems drew the full attention of all cultivators.

Their six legs moved nimbly; their two front claws, slightly shorter, could shift form—transforming into hammers, iron picks, and drill heads—that thrust into the mine walls with flashes of magical light.

Walls several steps wide collapsed, revealing the black-gray, semi-liquid toxic Silver Poison Ore, which another claw swiftly collected—efficiency far surpassing that of mortal warriors and Qi Refining cultivators.

"Could these be the golems brought from the Northern Plains cultivation realm by that Elder Ancestor?"

Wu Ma Kong exclaimed in awe: "With such devices, we may no longer need mortal warriors or Qi Refining miners at all."

"Perhaps."

Jiang Ding gave no definitive answer, tossing him a spherical object: "This is the control core for these golems. You need do nothing but replace the spirit stones once a month. If all goes well, more golems will arrive here within a year."

"I will later set up a second-rank supreme array here to guard it. If you encounter an enemy too powerful to resist, record it and flee. If no such enemy appears, then…"

Jiang Ding paused.

Things are fine now, but once thousands or tens of thousands of golems arrive here, losing them would truly break my heart—I wouldn't sleep for months.

Though others couldn't use them anyway—they require my own master unlock.

"Young Uncle, rest assured!"

Wu Ma Kong solemnly said: "If this place is lost without an enemy's assault, I shall present my head!"

"Good enough."

Jiang Ding nodded: "Do this well, and I cannot promise you a Golden Core opportunity—but your Foundation Establishment cultivation path will become smooth sailing."

"I will install a second-rank superior Spirit Gathering Array here for you. If you need a breakthrough pill, serve me for thirty years, and you may have one—but this will drain your potential. You understand."

"Disciple understands!"

Wu Ma Kong's eyes burned with fervor.

Foundation Establishment breakthrough pill!

In the Seven Feather Sect, only the top one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators with high status and power could possibly obtain one. Now, merely guarding this place for thirty years was far too easy.

"Then so be it."

Jiang Ding's spiritual sense swept once more over the mine, checked thoroughly, found no oversight, then rose and departed.

He spent another seven or eight days setting up a second-rank supreme array and a second-rank superior Spirit Gathering Array here—both activated simply by inserting spirit stones.

Then, amid the respectful gazes of Wu Ma Kong and others, he vanished.

…

On the way back, he took a wide detour, slaying demonic generals of late Foundation Establishment or higher that the Seven Feather Sect and wandering cultivators had discovered, striving to clear the Demon Kingdom's environment to make it more habitable for humans.

An invisible aura of movement flew over endless forests, pausing briefly.

Below, a small city several li long and wide clung to the mountainside, built mostly of wood, stone, and earth; its population barely exceeded ten thousand, yet it was the only human settlement within a hundred li.

In the city, men ran through the streets, banging copper gongs and shouting loudly.

"The Beast Tide is coming!"

"Dr. Lin Shi has ordered: all able-bodied men take up arms! All women must come out and assist!"

Soon, numerous strong men and soldiers climbed the walls, gripping spears and sharpened wooden stakes, their faces tense as they stared at the dense, rushing shadows beyond the city.

As they drew closer, they were clearly ferocious beasts—rhinos, apes, and other demonic creatures; most were mortal beasts, but several were at Qi Refining level.

This was common in the Demon Kingdom—no, in all wild, beast-filled wastelands: whenever humans gathered too densely without the presence of a demonic general's aura to deter them, the forest beasts' innate hostility would surge, forming a Beast Tide, often killing thousands or tens of thousands until the human city was destroyed.

"Immortal Master, please look…"

Dr. Lin Shi was a burly, powerful man, a Primordial Realm cultivator, bowing respectfully toward the three Daoists.

"The Tu Mountain Dao Hall has ordered: we will not leave unless the situation becomes utterly hopeless. You mortals need not worry."

One old Daoist stroked his beard, speaking coolly.

"The Immortal Master speaks truly."

Dr. Lin Shi's face turned pale.

He knew this well enough—yet the scene outside the city was far too perilous.

He longed to beg them to take him along when they departed, but such a request was impossible.

He felt a pang of regret.

He had been content as chief of a clan in the Eastern Ling Prefecture of Yue State—why had he been blinded by greed, accepting Tu State's colonization decree? For a territory that could pass down for three hundred years, he'd brought his followers into this wild, dense forest, where death at the jaws of ten thousand beasts was ever imminent.

But now, regret was useless.

Three hundred years of wealth and honor were not easily won.

…

"This resembles ancient Chinese 'Guoren' and 'Yeren'—a grand feudal division."

Jiang Ding pulled out a jade slip Li Qingyun had silently handed him, poured his spiritual sense into it, and instantly understood the situation.

The Demon Kingdom had too few people.

Vast lands, sparse population, constantly plagued by demonic and wild beast attacks—the centralized feudal system of Yue State could not adapt to Tu State's current conditions.

Thus, Li Qingyun, drawing from history, initiated a grand feudal division: gathering powerful clans, martial sects, and warlords from across Yue State, and sending them to settle human enclaves, gathering the humans previously kept by the Demon Kingdom, breeding, expanding territory.

The Tu State court was merely the nominal sovereign, overseeing rituals and enfeoffments, commanding only the Six Armies—its power severely restricted.

"Li Qingyun is indeed a talent—he can handle any situation. Had he been born in a better environment, he might have reached Nascent Soul."

"But alas…"

Jiang Ding shook his head, unleashing a hundred silver-white sword qi, slaughtering most of the beasts in the Tide. Ignoring the worshipful bows of the cultivators and mortals below, his aura vanished into the distance.

Several days later, he returned to Tu Mountain Dao Hall.

He planted the third-rank "Melt-Gold Vine Seeds" he had obtained from the Immortal Gate, one by one, along the third-rank superior spiritual vein, watering and fertilizing them.

Fed by the abundant spiritual energy of the third-rank superior vein, these Melt-Gold Vine Seeds bore fruit once every ten years; the third-rank Melt-Gold Fruits could be used to temper spirit swords, forging third-rank Gangqi, upgrading the already decorative second-rank Gangqi.

Time passed day by day.

Three years later, the Demon Kingdom's spirit mines, spirit herb gardens, spirit tree forests, spirit beast enclosures, and spirit fish lakes were all preliminarily established and began producing first-, second-, and third-rank resources.

Thereafter, all spirit mines and spirit herbs entered full production, yields rising steadily, with vast quantities of resources flooding into Tu Mountain Dao Hall each year.

The entire nation's resources were collected by one man—no disciples needed cultivation, no parasitic class existed beyond paying cultivators their due.

Unconsciously, fifteen years had passed.

I partied too hard today—I'll stay up late.

Probably won't update until two or three in the morning.

(End of Chapter)