[{"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-6":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},2342017,4578,"Chapter 6: Temple","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>6:30 a.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His limbs and knees ached slightly, but it wasn’t significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He got out of bed, dressed, picked up the practice sword beside him, and quietly left the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning air was cool; workers were still asleep, and the neighborhood streets held only a few elderly exercisers, a breakfast vendor, and a handful of sanitation workers—none in the park.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found an empty flower bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keng! A bright silver blade-light flashed, carving a near-perfect circle centered on himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without the training room’s real-time display, he could clearly feel his “Ju Ying Qi Fei Sword Art” had improved slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This novel is originally published here: please visit the official site to read!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword form shifted; 639 muscles flowed like water, turning, redirecting, channeling countless small muscle forces into larger ones, finally converging into his sword-holding arm—the blade’s speed surged abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These traces resemble those of cultivators from the Outer Realm’s Xuanwu Heavenly Palace—they’ve always been hostile to the Immortal Sects…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day equals sixteen points; ten thousand library points would take nearly two years!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan rolled her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two bonfires crackled on the open ground, roasting dried meat, sweet potatoes, and other items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Foundation Establishment cultivator…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he returned home, Jiang Yuan was already up, yawning as she washed her face, hair messy; Lin Wanqiu was preparing breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Filthy Blade Form!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing his gaze, he saw dozens of people entering the drone’s surveillance zone five kilometers away; over ten triggered the drone’s alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Real people!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mule deer appeared and vanished; several forest wolves followed, appearing and disappearing; the sky shifted from scorching sunlight to dusk, then night—still, the infrared view kept constant watch over the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid laughter, someone pulled out a gourd of wine; by the firelight, they passed it around, one sip at a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helmet on, camouflage uniform, drone, gloves, sword, pistol—all checked; he re-entered the other world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the quiet park, Jiang Ding felt an inexplicable emotion stir within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s risky, but if he misses the college entrance exam and fails to enter the Daoist Studies department, he’ll still have to serve conscription, guarding the Immortal Sect’s outer military bases—without strength, he’ll face the same risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun had fully risen; streets bustled with people; the entire city had regained its vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding showered, changed clothes, packed his bag, and sat at the dining table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a powerful figure one realm above him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keng! He drew his sword; blade-light danced, even producing a hissing sound as the edge cut through air—he completed a full sword routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the ruined building were deep pits, several meters wide, radiating outward, their bottoms fully vitrified; faint red stains appeared intermittently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss it, and the Dao path is severed—you’ll spend your life as a humble foundation stone of the Immortal Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at class, he placed his bag containing the long sword and pistol into the classroom’s password-locked locker—students weren’t allowed to carry weapons on campus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The college entrance exam is the greatest opportunity for Immortal Sect citizens without connections to enter the Dao path—only one chance in a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which noble’s son is out for a stroll?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He toiled for two hours under the blazing sun, barely managing to harvest eight plant specimens despite being proficient—turning them in earned eight points, a distant dream from ten thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Turn, harmonize, rush, conceal…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s camouflage uniform rapidly shifted color and pattern, finally settling into the shape of an ancient blue long robe, its hue now fixed, no longer changing with the environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sweet potato was fully cooked; the old farmer peeled away its charred skin, revealing fragrant flesh, which he handed to his grandson, then roasted a piece of dried bread and swallowed it whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding scanned his surroundings warily, detecting no suspicious people or objects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon, he ate in the school cafeteria, practiced swordplay briefly, then napped for an hour—Jiang Ding insisted on adequate sleep every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad luck? Jiang Ding gripped his sword hilt, refusing to join their conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding closed his eyes to rest, ignoring her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding was startled—he wasn’t just hearing people; he suddenly understood the woodcutters’ words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding joyfully realized he could now comprehend parts of his once-inscrutable classroom lessons; he no longer had to force himself to focus—he naturally sank into the teacher’s lecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan ran around with messy hair, her slippers slapping against the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s heart lurched—he hadn’t done anything!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a freak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, the big men roared with laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A seven-story building had been cleanly sliced in half, one end collapsed to the ground, its cut smooth as a mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, silently finding a corner to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… beast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The big men’s eyes gleamed with admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Eastern Spirit Mansion’s Seven Sword Sect has been wiped out by the Golden Knife Clan—this was a sect with centuries, even millennia of history, possibly older than today’s martial supremacy, the Bodhi Temple and Green Ox Abbey. What a pity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step in, prove yourself worthy, and you might even receive treatment rivaling that of a Nascent Soul disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wore invisible contact lenses, confirmed normal image reception from three drones overhead, tucked the pistol into a hidden pocket, and put on a pre-prepared wig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, brother, where are my red-and-white shoes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wanqiu placed breakfast on the table, retrieved a pair of shoes from Jiang Yuan’s room, handed them to her, smoothed her hair, and sighed, “Can’t you learn from your brother? He wakes at 6:30 every day and finishes everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s every adult citizen’s duty—no escaping it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s heart trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eastern Spirit Mountain was steep and treacherous, spanning multiple provinces, home to ginseng, ancient herbs, and rare beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the woodcutters, several armed men passed through the ruined temple and rested for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding paid no mind, arranged his books, and asked softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The preparatory stance shouldn’t be a deliberate sword technique—it should be a state: a relaxed, orderly posture in non-combat, instantly tensing when needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This drew countless herbalists and martial artists deep inside; if lucky enough to find a rare treasure, every guild, martial school, sect in Eastern Spirit Mansion—even the governor’s officials—would pay top prices, lifting one to instant fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding inwardly whistled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murdering entire families, seizing wives and daughters, looting wealth—these people saw nothing wrong; did the imperial government turn a blind eye? Drip, drip! Suddenly, several red dots appeared in his invisible lenses, rapidly multiplying to over ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He missed the college entrance exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed! The Golden Knife Clan, one of the Six Great Sects, needs only its eldest disciple—Wei Xian, ninth on the Dragon Phoenix List, the ‘Rending Sea Knife’—to wipe out a whole sect, claim their accumulated wealth of gold, silver, jewels, and martial manuals, and take beautiful women as playthings. Now that’s true heroism!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Much smoother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True treasure!” Jiang Ding secretly rejoiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No! Impossible—if I were exposed, it wouldn’t be mere mortal martial artists chasing me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Probably just a coincidence.’ ‘Lin’er, look at these blue glow-butterfly wings—the fine blue stripes must be intact to fetch a good price; ginseng too—the roots must be dug out bit by bit…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This won’t do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just their bad luck…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people inside the temple were startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beauty? I heard the Ninety-Eighth on the Dragon Phoenix List, the Snow-Flower Immortal, came from the Seven Sword Sect—said to have skin as white as snow and an ethereal aura. Could she already be in Wei Xian’s chambers…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an immense opportunity!…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the left sat grandfather and grandson, dressed in coarse hemp tunics, patched and worn, faces dark and thin, weathered by wind and sun; beside them were two herbal baskets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When traveling, don’t meddle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One sword after another, silver blade-light appeared and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a language utterly unlike Immortal Sect speech—clumsy and awkward—but he understood it without hindrance, and felt he could speak it too; it was astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding even doubted whether he slept four hours a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire body was spotless, untouched by dust or travel grime, exuding elegance and charm—utterly out of place in this environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not many people—seven or eight, roughly divided into two groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, his tactical helmet synced with the overhead drones, replaying the past twenty-four hours of footage in rapid succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the fire, the old farmer held a pair of butterfly wings, murmuring softly; his grandson, face reddened and soot-streaked, nodded occasionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just now, each sword strike brought a thread of inspiration—the forms flowed effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afternoon brought geography class and the two fixed cultivation sessions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not an illusion!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Arm Blade Form!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three Inner Qi cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After breakfast, the family parted at the bus stop, each heading their own way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clean-featured youth walked in slowly, long black hair reaching his waist, dressed in a blue cotton robe and cloth shoes, fabric smooth and fine, a black-sheathed long sword at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, voices returned to the ruined temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wretched!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the right stood five or six large men, all armed and dressed uniformly in black martial attire; most striking was the bearded giant in the center, whose steel crescent axe rested on the ground before him, glinting with cold light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ruined temple was the last place to rest before entering Dongling Mountain; herbal gatherers and martial artists passing through often chose to pause here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the pity? Living longer does nothing—martial artists ultimately speak with strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man is strange—he came in without speaking a word or drinking a drop of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding gripped his sword hilt and exclaimed in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passengers on the bus murmured among themselves; Lan Ying Star had no division between mortals and immortals, and much knowledge was openly accessible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding quickly calmed down, stood up, and turned toward the temple entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding took a deep breath and touched the rusted tip of his sword in his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Step-Sword Form!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They surrounded him rapidly from all directions—their target clearly this ruined temple! ‘Have I been exposed?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extreme power converged without imbalance; his left foot shifted diagonally, his body moving like a ghost, guiding the sword to slice a falling leaf cleanly in two, the cut perfectly smooth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s gaze hardened. In the surveillance footage, a woodcutter and a child carrying firewood flashed past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped back several paces, ducking into the nearby shrubbery; his camouflage suit shifted color, quickly mimicking the appearance of branches—unless one looked closely, no human shape could be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s pupils contracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, a new bus driver took the route—no detours, straight through the place where the incident had occurred yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s peripheral vision flickered over the bearded giant and the two beside him; he tightened his grip on the hilt, slightly tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver blade-light retracted, its edge drawn inward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding halted his step, a pang of pity rising in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precious treasure!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the precious treasure in hand, the path to immortality becomes at least ten to dozens of times harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people inside the temple glanced over and returned their gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He practiced swordplay for nearly an hour, then sheathed his blade and went home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Preparation stance… Extend the sword…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contact lenses flashed red light several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Ding brought his prepared samples, tactical helmet, and backpack home, contacted Little Cuiniao for pickup, and then charged the nearly depleted drone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps drew a few glances from those inside the temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, though diligent and guided by his teachers, his sword practice always felt veiled in fog—no matter how hard he trained, he merely mechanically imitated the calculations of the Array Spirit computer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does the class seem a bit gloomy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Junhao had arrived early and was solving problems, eyes fixed on the test paper, not glancing sideways once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light and shadow shifted; a shadowy figure appeared silently in the corner beneath the tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More than that—I heard his mother’s beauty surpassed many others, and she has already been captured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He considered himself diligent enough—outside necessary sleep and cooking, he spent all his time practicing swordplay and pondering sword techniques—but still fell short compared to the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the morning, there were two classes: Chinese and Mathematics, covering runes, cultivation technique principles, array structures, and naturally occurring rune patterns in heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one final glance around, Jiang Ding left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless, specimens must still be collected—it’s the only visible stable income right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Jiang Ding’s mind appeared a faint blue translucent figure; each muscle was a different-sized mechanical formula, rotating and converging at varying angles, culminating in a constantly shifting total value—any twist or redirection of a single muscle altered the final number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if flesh had been crushed under ten thousand tons of pressure; even after multiple cleanings, traces remained visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, he intended to make contact with the local natives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scanned the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A classmate from next door… died yesterday,” Li Junhao sighed, eyes and hands never leaving the test paper: “We mortals are far too weak compared to cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as school ended, Jiang Ding rushed home, quickly cooked for Jiang Yuan, then entered his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old man, if there’s trouble at home, you should return quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he ignored any possible reply and swiftly departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old farmer froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding big men’s eyes flickered; cold glances occasionally fell upon him, but ultimately they did nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2271,"2026-06-20T23:34:14.007Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","42de28ac45c4bbd81da973bc9bb5046a6ca14d0c54e18d87c7345258c8f3618a","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-7","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-5",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-cover.jpg"]