Chapter 61: Capture and Public Order

Small courtyard.

Jiang Ding drew line after line on the paper; in an instant, a dense, complete array diagram appeared, and after channeling internal force, a flicker of spiritual light flashed.

“Done.”

He exhaled softly.

After more than ten days of practice, the final array—the first-rank flight array—was finally completed.

The four array diagrams: first-rank Great Sun Spirit Gathering Array, Special Refined Metal Array, Floating Array, Flight Array.

The four array diagrams were folded with specific techniques, infused with a single drop of blood essence, and thus formed the first layer of the Great Sun Seed Sword Refining Method: the Talisman Sword.

He said calmly, accepting this small favor.

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Jiang Ding fell silent. This was surely a euphemism—someone must have died, either by falling off a cliff or being killed by beasts.

“To be honest, many Qi Refining cultivators wield far greater strength than ordinary people, and in daily life, they often act tyrannically; the common folk dare not speak out, even if they are furious.”

For over three months, he had practiced array diagram engraving without pause; today, he finally reaped results—his Dao Foundation Sword was about to take its first step.

He didn’t know if this was needless worry, but this young master, clearly of great stature, was someone the Marquis House would not lightly offend.

Without additional external forces, this step would still require about three months.

With a sigh, Jiang Ding closed the drone’s video feed.

…

“Compensation tripled; same for injured parties—drawn from my deposits at the Four Seas Trading House.”

Most Qi Refining cultivators were bound and captured before they could react, shouting loudly, their mouths stuffed with rags, then dragged back to the Marquis House dungeon.

“Arrest… on what grounds?”

Anger, but not that much.

At least, in recent math classes, Jiang Ding had found the teacher’s lessons less difficult, and even began deriving real pleasure from mathematics.

Long San bowed respectfully: “The Blue Fluorescent Butterflies have been delivered today—four thousand two hundred seventy-eight pairs. Fewer than originally estimated. They’re growing scarcer, harder to catch; meeting your requested quantity may take longer.”

According to Long San, this wasn’t just in the capital city—similar situations occurred across all prefectures and counties; it was a wide-net operation.

“Yes, I understand.”

“As long as I can forge the Dao Foundation Sword, I’ll gain the foundation of a Dao Heir of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion—my future talent won’t fall short of prodigies; the Dao is within reach.”

Jiang Ding gripped the sword hilt, steeling his heart.

“If one day I ascend to the pinnacle of this world…”

It was the Marquis House’s heavy-armored elite guards!

“The other fifty percent may forever remain stuck at Qi Refining’s peak, perhaps becoming a Jiang Teacher teaching moral philosophy at some school, or a Jiang Instructor skilled in cold weapons.”

“This future, this situation—it’s not enough!”

After studying the Hundred-Step Flying Sword for so long, he knew better than anyone how vital blood essence is to young cultivators.

These Qi Refining cultivators rarely engage in production; most earn their silver, medicine, and lofty status through direct violence.

“Not enough!”

!.

“But it can be more!”

He couldn’t bring himself to press further.

Once all twelve primary meridians and their thousand fine branches are refined, the vast internal force stored in the twelve meridians’ total twelve thousand large and small branches can forcibly breach the Eight Extraordinary Meridians’ barriers, entering the latter half of “Great Heavenly Cycle” cultivation.

If a particularly powerful cultivator resists and cannot be subdued immediately, they signal for backup and hold their ground.

Then,

“It may still take another twenty days,” Long San said reluctantly. “Now we must venture deep into Dongling Mountain to catch them—outside the perimeter, they’re nearly extinct. Herbal gatherers keep getting injured.”

“The justification is solid enough.”

Long had long understood his temperament; after a pause, he said: “Young Master, lately, the Marquis House has been arresting scattered Qi Refining cultivators unaffiliated with any major faction in the city. You… should be careful.” “Why hesitate?”

From the drone’s viewpoint,

Knock knock knock! Long San didn’t wait for Huang Deyou’s announcement—he knocked lightly on the small door, familiar with the routine.

In just one night, due to Dongling Prefecture’s prosperity, the government’s weak enforcement, and greater freedom, the large number of scattered Qi Refining cultivators had vanished entirely.

Long San took his leave.

Even though the Great Sun Seed Sword Refining Method is one of the highest achievements of Great Sun Sword Pavilion’s immortal technology, profoundly mysterious, it requires only a single drop of blood essence—no need for the continuous blood infusion demanded by ordinary Hundred-Step Flying Sword techniques.

A group of armored guards, their faces entirely concealed by iron armor, split into several ten-man squads. Guided by members of the Yi Yi Gang, Zheng Mansion, or Longhu Martial Arts Hall, they fanned out across the city, surrounding the residences of scattered cultivators.

Yet, this place was already the relatively safest—outside the city, the chance of encountering demonic cultivators rises sharply, especially in remote forests.

Over fifty Qi Refining cultivators were arrested, over twenty killed, leaving only one corpse.

Amidst turbulent emotions, Jiang Ding made his decision.

Jiang Ding felt a strong urge to leave the prefectural city.

“I understand. Thank you, Master Long.”

“Human talent, foundation, and intellect have limits. Teachers Zhang Dingjun, Guo, they are no different—not for lack of effort, but because they are bound by their own nature.”

“My lord.”

Jiang Ding pulled up the drone’s surveillance footage from the past period; the images flashed rapidly.

“A single drop of blood essence…”

Doors shattered, iron nets thrown, chains snatched—each move flowed like water, unmistakably a specialized coordinated technique designed for handling martial artists.

Jiang Ding frowned: “How long?”

“The risk is worth it.”

Fire burned in Jiang Ding’s eyes: “I can stand higher, do more! I might even push the immortal sects further in their exploration of the Dao!”

“Right now, my grades are decent—I should comfortably enter the Qianling University Dao Studies Department, which favors our province’s students. There’s a fifty percent chance I’ll reach Foundation Establishment in the future.”

Jiang Ding stiffened, recalling the blood pool in the underground cave of the Tiger Den.

Long San recalled: “Improving Dongling’s security, clearing old cases, restoring a clear sky to Dongling… and we received much praise from the common folk.”

“This way…”

Skilled martial artists, including those from the Yi Yi Gang’s patrons, were also targeted; surrounded by multiple attackers, few escaped. When resistance was too fierce, only a corpse remained—its squad leader would bellow orders, and the body would be taken back to the Marquis House.

“Who is it?!”

Within half a minute, multiple squads would rush in from all sides, surrounding the target—no escape possible.

“This future isn’t bad. The pioneers paved the way, and I’ve benefited. Becoming a Jiang Teacher to pave the way for others in the future isn’t unthinkable.”

“Golden Core? The chance is extremely slim.”

“Enter.”

The gains weren’t only this—through deep study of the four array diagrams, his array art had been greatly honed; his math scores would inevitably surge.

Two carriages approached the general store; Jiang Ding gradually calmed his emotions, resuming internal force cultivation to refine the fine branches of the twelve primary meridians.

“I must also benefit my family—let Mother, let Jiang Yuan—even if they just loaf around and do nothing—become Foundation Establishment cultivators!”

Jiang Ding mentally reviewed the blood infusion technique several times, still hesitating.

Even a single drop would severely damage his primordial energy, and there’s a slight chance it could harm his foundation, halting further progress.

In this process, countless lives were lost because they stood on the opposite side—right or wrong was not a concern.

Today, if you’re killed by someone stronger due to inferior strength, you must accept your fate.

What he truly sympathized with were the common folk—the creators of the world’s wealth—who had done nothing wrong yet bore all the consequences.

Yet, with such power, all he could do was sigh.

(End of Chapter)