Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

After the feast, Rongcheng City gradually quieted down.

Even for the College Entrance Exam top scholars, with future prospects as limitless as the skies, there were a few or perhaps one each year.

If it wasn’t for Rongcheng City’s very first occurrence of such an event, people would have forgotten about it after seeing the news, and it wouldn’t have caused a sensation.

Even so, after causing a period of heated discussion, everything returned to normal.

Those who should work, worked; those who should slack, slacked.

Jiang Ding’s life remained the same as always, a mundane routine between home, library, and school cultivation room without any change.

Each time during the summer vacation, Jiang Yuan, who played games and watched television, would feel a sense of guilt upon seeing him.

After several days, he completely adapted.

Unknowingly,

two months passed.

”I wish you all a prosperous path on the Immortal Path!”

Jiang Ding walked out of the coffee shop next to the library, bidding farewell to the friends with whom he had studied for several months.

From this point on,

it might be five or six years before we see each other again. A year in the Cultivation Department is five years, and everyone is so focused on studying that they might not have time to meet.

”I wish the Dari Swordsman a promising future on the Immortal Path!”

Hua Bing said with admiration.

Over these two months of studying and progressing together, this guy’s learning pace was frightening.

At first, we could still catch a glimpse of each other and discuss things, but later it was just him studying alone, solving any formation method or rune problems without even needing to think.

”Haha, I wish myself, Li Junhao, no need for the Immortal Path, but a Nascent Soul is within reach, and I wish you all the same.”

Li Junhao laughed.

”Same wishes, same wishes.”

...

Everyone left with a hint of melancholy, going back to their own homes.

Tomorrow was the time to board the train, leave their hometowns, and head to various parts of the country to study.

Jiang Ding did not take the bus, but slowly walked on the streets, passing through the city where he had lived for sixteen years, all too familiar with every street corner, every shade of the trees.

Many memories from the past surged in his mind.

”It’s the feeling of farewell again.”

”In my lifetime on the Immortal Path, how many more times must I experience such farewells?”

Jiang Ding sighed wistfully.

Between the lines, he glimpsed a figure, one that bid farewell time and time again, until it succumbed to the eternal solitude, facing the unchanging river of time alone.

He partly understood why many high-level cultivators had peculiar temperaments, often unpredictable.

When all the people he knew had aged and there was no one left to confide in, could he still maintain the pure heart of his youthful days?

”Sword Boy, no need to worry.”

”Reaching the pinnacle of the Immortal Path allows one to single-handedly dictate for eternity, reversing time and life and death as if they were trivial matters.”

A refined middle-aged cultivator with gold-rimmed glasses, wearing a cerulean silk robe and exuding the air of a scholar, approached with a smile.

”Good day, senior.”

Jiang Ding bowed slightly.

Within his sleeve, the Taiqing Flying Sword buzzed and trembled.

”Sword Boy, may I have the honor of your company for a cup of tea?”

The refined middle-aged cultivator had a gentle smile on his face, ”My name is Liu Zhiyuan, a professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Qingfeng University. I greatly admire that the Sword Boy, coming from humble beginnings and with average talent, was able to rise against the odds.”

”Good day, teacher.”

Jiang Ding greeted him again, his heart stirring.

Since he did not mention the Cultivation Department, he must be a professor from a regular department.

That was still very valuable, undoubtedly a highly skilled senior and expert in academics, possibly with great strength as well.

There was no need to be apprehensive about anything.

This place was under the gaze of the Central Array Spirit Computer!

An antique tea house.

It was expensive to patronize, with each visit costing at least one hundred spirit coins, frequented only by rich cultivators; Jiang Ding had never been there before.

After a round of cordial greetings and small talk, the other party revealed his purpose.

”I have served in the Xianmen Elder Council,” Liu Zhiyuan said with a hint of pride, ”Sword Boy, are you aware of what the Xianmen Elder Council is?”

”What is it?”