Chapter 469

Jiang Ding silently gazed at Master Tushan Xiancheng, which he had nurtured for over a century, now reduced to molten rock and ash, the Master Tushan Demon Palace gone.

Some memories surfaced in his heart.

Over a century ago, this land belonged to the Master Tushan Demon Kingdom, ruled by three fox-lineage demon kings.

Baihua Yao Wang and Princess Chiyan Yao Wang were both powerful Jin Dan cultivators; Kong Que Yao Wang's strength among early-stage Jin Dan cultivators was also noteworthy.

Foxes, five-colored peacocks, ape demons, fox demons, ox demons, and other demonic creatures roamed freely across the demon kingdom's land.

They raised humans as food, like pigs and dogs, developing elaborate culinary methods—steaming, boiling, frying, roasting, grilling—each age and gender of human having its own ideal preparation.

This had become a cultural custom among the demon race: whenever there was a birthday, wedding, sworn brotherhood, or military campaign, they slaughtered living humans as offerings to petition the demon gods for safety.

Different major events demanded specific requirements for the age, gender, and cooking method of the offerings.

At the time, the demon kingdom had tens of millions of people; few lived past seventeen—most were slaughtered at sixteen, except for a select few breeds.

After arriving in the demon kingdom, he slew Baihua Yao Wang and Princess Chiyan Yao Wang, conscripted countless Foundation Establishment cultivators to exterminate all man-eating demonic beasts, liberated the captive humans, trained cultivators of all levels, and developed every industry within Master Tushan Xiancheng.

He endured all this hardship without complaint.

Only thus did Master Tushan Xiancheng become what it is today.

With an annual income of over thirty million low-grade spirit stones, Jiang Ding accepted it without guilt—who else could?

"Shen Ya Master Dinghai Zhenjun."

"Shen Ya!"

Jiang Ding's expression remained calm, revealing no joy, anger, sorrow, or delight.

His flying sword appeared in his hand without warning; he flicked it lightly with his index finger, producing a resonant clang.

"Shen Ya, you're doing well."

"Really well."

"My guy relies on these thirty million low-grade spirit stones every year just to keep the pot boiling—to buy No. 21 Synthetic Synthetic Gengjin, priority materials like gold-copper stone, to begin laying the groundwork for sword-lineage inheritance, anticipating massive returns centuries or millennia hence, accumulating foundation for my future Dao path…"

"You just smashed it all to pieces in one go."

"Nascent Soul early-stage!"

This was the clear perception granted by the residual Annihilation Sword Intent lingering on Jia-25, under life-or-death crisis.

The Annihilation Sword Intent had already reached minor completion; combined with Po Fa Xian Jin and Taiqing Divine Iron, it had birthed a miniature sword domain capable of severing space—chances of misjudgment were vanishingly small.

"Hunting a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator…"

"Can't let him escape—could he truly be trapped so completely that even a Nascent Soul cannot flee, and cannot send a message?"

Countless specks of thought surged within Jiang Ding's soul, plunging him into intense calculation.

He absolutely must be killed!

Nascent Soul cultivators always have connections—friends, old comrades, same sect, a whole mess of ties.

Especially when facing lone cultivators without sect backing, they love to gang up.

"Kill the Nascent Soul."

"First: stabilize space—prevent him from breaking it, teleporting, or using such troublesome methods; strict sealing is mandatory."

Jiang Ding calculated rapidly.

"This… the Super Battleship at the center, with one thousand and twenty-four drone swords forming the initial version of the Dai Sen solar mirror sword domain—designed from the outset with spatial-locking capability, capable of sealing space."

"Second: the Nascent Soul is half-spirit-energy, half-space construct—its escape ability is terrifying; it must be restricted… the Immortal Sect has something for this."

Jiang Ding searched his soul and quickly found the relevant data.

"Jin Ying Net, single-use Ying Treasure, price six hundred million low-grade spirit stones, requires at least twenty percent payment in fourth-rank heavenly treasures, requires merit review, forbidden to trade with out-of-realm cultivators… not an issue for me."

"Problem: no money."

"Solution?"

"What solution?"

"Online loan!"

Jiang Ding gritted his teeth:

"My credit limit is extremely high—whether official Immortal Sect loans or private institutions, none will refuse me. I'll borrow first, worry later."

His figure flashed and vanished.

…

Central Bank of the Immortal Sect.

"Loan… sigh…"

"Great Jiang Canghai Tianjun has sunk so low he can't even afford the twenty-nine million low-grade spirit stones annually to buy No. 21 Synthetic Synthetic Gengjin—can't pause sword refinement, must borrow to survive."

Jiang Ding sighed.

"Shen Ya Master Dinghai Zhenjun, you're a damn good crow—I'll remember you."

His spiritual sense entered the network, accessed the Central Bank's website, submitted credit report, personal data, loan purpose… a whole mess of paperwork—but spiritual sense processed everything swiftly.

"Ding!"

"Your credit limit: ten billion low-grade spirit stones."

"Note: Immortal Sect loans must be used exclusively for the stated purpose. Any violation of the loan contract grants the Central Bank the right to immediately reclaim remaining funds and retain legal recourse."

The array spirit of the Central Bank spoke.

These words carried legal force.

"Confirm."

Jiang Ding sighed: "Apply for a ten-billion-low-grade-spirit-stone loan; twenty percent must be paid in fourth-rank spirit currency capable of purchasing fourth-rank heavenly treasures."

Fourth-rank spirit currency.

This was the Immortal Sect's digital currency, circulating only among Nascent Soul cultivators and above, usable at fixed price to purchase Nascent Soul-level heavenly treasures, backed by the entire Immortal Sect, with strict issuance and recall regulations.

"Applying for you now..."

"Loan amount: 800 million low-grade Spirit Stones, 200 million Tier-4 Digital Currency.

Loan term: 50 years.

Loan purpose: Cultivation, purchasing Immortal Sect goods.

Annual interest rate: 4.3%

Triggering Soul Transformation-level Merit Holder privileges: Immortal Sect Central Bank loan interest -80%

Actual annual interest rate: 0.86%"

"Immortal Sect Central Bank system review passed."

"Waiting for manual audit; this process takes three to five years. Please wait..."

"Three to five years..."

Jiang Ding was not surprised.

One billion low-grade Spirit Stones; this wealth is enough to make Nascent Soul cultivators extremely covetous, so naturally it requires extreme caution: background checks, bank staff interviews, repayment plans... none of these can be missing; it is very troublesome.

Three to five years is still on the short side.

The manual procedures have already been streamlined to the limit; basically, just going through the motions is enough; this is the privilege of Immortal Sect Merit Holders.

For an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, skipping the process for decades is impossible, and even after completing the process, the chance of rejection is quite high.

Because the Immortal Sect is poor, every loan carefully considers the applicant's repayment ability; they cannot lend money recklessly.

Of course, once the money is lent, do not think about not repaying it.

If it happens even once, you will basically be blacklisted by all Immortal Sect banks, your Immortal Sect Merit will drop significantly, various political assessments will be scrutinized, and you will no longer be easily assigned to important positions.

It will be impossible to be short of money and apply directly again, getting the loan approved after just going through the motions as today.

"The loan takes three to five years."

"The Super Battleship will still need over twenty years to be completed... if necessary, adding money power can finish it within ten years."

"Divine Crow, just wait... I'll go collect some interest first."

Jiang Ding muttered to himself.

(End of this chapter)