Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery
Chapter 1097 - 1066: Blood Path Can Also Be Used

Upon the earth, devastation reigned, mountains crumbled, great rivers ceased to flow.

In the Demon Leaf Family Territory of the Magic Vine Minor Realm, the Moye Family met their extinction after countless years; all clan members perished, leaving behind a land littered with corpses and a thick mist of blood, alongside various gigantic body cultivation weapons clanging to the ground, creating deep pits upon impact.

In the heavens and earth, countless blood flowers and mists of blood bloomed from the corpses.

These flowers, drenched in blood-red, each bore twelve petals, carried aloft on lotus pedestals as red as blood jade, flying towards the sky.

'Blood Lotus Flower...'

A thought emerged in Jiang Ding's mind, then vanished.

These blood flowers, born from the corpses of the powerful Moye family members, fluttered around the Blood-robed Taoist like charming little sprites.

Clang!

Jiang Ding unsheathed his sword, unfolding the blood jade-like blade.

The blood flowers circling the Blood-robed Taoist emitted a cheerful, sword-like chiming as they leaped and rushed into the Blood Sword, as if finding their homeland.

The first blood flower fell, leaving a pattern on the blade.

The second, the third, the fourth...

Each life turned into a blood flower had the right to leave a trace of blood on the Blood Sword.

From all directions, a sea of blood flowers surged towards this place, endlessly and continuously, until eventually, everything vanished, leaving only the increasingly vibrant and spirited Blood Sword.

'Body cultivators, abundant in vital essence and blood, excellent sword refining material...'

'A treasure for Blood Dao Cultivators.'

Jiang Ding thought.

He gazed at the Blood Sword in his hand, with countless fine blood marks intertwining on the blade, together forming something similar to the Heavenly Gang Ban of Treasures, yet distinct.

This was the legacy of the Blood River King's unique encounter, a forbidden Blood Dao refining technique named "Blood River Slaughtering Spirit Sacrificial Sword Divine Ban."

This sword refining technique was derived from the method of Magic Cultivators refining treasures, excelling in requiring few Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures, swift in refining, and powerful in might.

The only restriction was that the materials must use the life of sentient beings, the stronger the better.

If the life of the sentient being was too weak, the effect would be extremely poor, or even non-existent.

This was a typical Demonic Path Cultivator inheritance, using the blood of sentient beings as materials.

Thus, it also possessed the intrinsic flaws of Demonic Path inheritances: unstable foundation, easily leading to demonic possession, and a low success rate in surviving Heavenly Tribulations, among various negative effects.

'I feel like my bottom line is shaking.'

'If it's alien race cultivators who have committed massacre, or human cultivators who have committed capital crimes, perhaps their lives can be used for sword refining...'

'Demonic inheritance, used right then it is righteous, used wicked then it is evil.'

Jiang Ding could distinctly feel, while the power of the Blood Sword in his hands enhanced, numerous negative emotions transmitted from the sword aimed to invade his Sea of Consciousness, various plausible and logical voices whispered within.

The critical point was, he himself found these quite reasonable too.

These surging negative emotions could instantly lead a newly ascended Divinity Transformation Heavenly Monarch to demonic possession, exploding to death. As cultivation continued, these internal demons were bound to grow further.

This is the plight that troubles Demonic and Blood Dao Cultivators throughout their lives, pervading their entire cultivation journey, making it impossible to escape. Ninety-nine percent succumb to their internal demons, and the remaining ones aren't exempted; they too could lose control at any time.

The Demonic and Blood Dao paths' shortcut to quick success comes precisely at this price.

'Exactly, it is this ease of losing control, various seemingly reasonable justifications.'

'The demon in Demonic Path is just so, with a highly tempting appearance, presenting a logical narrative, used right then it is righteous.'

'In reality, ninety-nine percent will succumb.'

Jiang Ding silently thought.

'However,'

'It is just so.'

'Compared to the intense craving in Great Sun Sword Dao to indulge in blood-thirst and seek formidable adversaries in a death battle, these blood dao demonic thoughts are far too weak.'

Clang!

The Sword Intent gently chimed, cleansing all of Jiang Ding's distracting thoughts, leaving his Sea of Consciousness clear and bright.

"Blood Dao can be used."

"After all, it is a brilliant accomplishment of Immortal Path civilization, if not used by oneself and employed by enemies, it would result in falling behind, and falling behind would jeopardize the survival of both oneself and the civilization."

"However, it must be limited to a narrow scope, becoming a minor branch of the Xianmen Sect, and not be widely disseminated."

"Ordinary people, without going through multiple steadfast tests of Dao Heart, should not inherit it."

Jiang Ding resolved this issue with his Dao Heart and no longer concerned himself with it.

As cultivators increase their cultivation base and lifespans, the stability of their Dao Heart and Divine Soul becomes more and more important. It can be said that if the Dao Heart cannot be maintained and one deviates into demonic paths, significant weakening of strength and inability to advance further in one's lifetime are common.

Therefore, cultivators must constantly cleanse their Dao Heart to keep it clear, ethereal, and flaw-free.

Jiang Ding slowly walked into the Demon Leaf Family's territory.

Around him, the void exuded attractions, numerous storage treasures and single-horned storage artifacts, as well as the various vaults of the Demon Leaf Family, spontaneously opened up. Vast amounts of Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasures emitted captivating glows, ranging from First-order to Fifth-order, arranging themselves into rivers and spontaneously flying into his storage treasures.

Occasionallly, he would encounter a vault's protection, but a blood-colored Sword Qi would swiftly handle it.

The storage treasure of the Blood River King was continuously filled, and eventually even became full, forcing him to find a fifth-order single-horned storage treasure in the hidden vault of the Demon Leaf Family and continue collecting.

"Your Highness,"

"Instantly rich!"

Jiang Ding took a deep breath.

The prosperity of the Horned Ming Realm was indeed not just an exaggeration.

From merely this one Demon Leaf Family's wealth, he roughly estimated about 230,000 top-grade spirit stones, not counting the increased value of exotic specialties.

The Divinity Transformation cultivators of the Northern Plains, whether the Ice Field Heavenly Monarch or the Bai Zu Heavenly Lord, appeared as paupers in front of the Demon Leaf Family!

Such a wealthy place, occupied by such a cruel and evil race as the Horned Demon Imperial Clan, who enslaved thousands of clans and ruthlessly slaughtered them, was truly intolerable by heaven's law.

The light of the Human Race's Righteous Dao must envelop this place, bringing undeniable justice to the Horned Ming Realm through the regional domain.

Jiang Ding strolled among the ravaged lands of the Demon Leaf Family, admiring the scenery severely damaged by war and slaughter, feeling a sense of beauty in the transition and change of order within the realm.

Finally, he stopped in front of the majestic Family Ancestral Hall of the Demon Leaf Family.

Here, ancestors of the Horned Demon Imperial Clan were worshiped, the 'Ancient God'—an unknown being shrouded in the darkness of Youming, formless, faceless, seemingly akin to a fundamental essence of the universe.

Below the 'Ancient God' were statues of various Great Emperors, carved from a dark demonic stone.

The Demon Leaf Family had a long heritage, historically boasting eighteen Great Emperors, the most recent being prior to the Flame Stone Great Emperor, the Green Flame Emperor.

This was not unusual, nor unique.

In each family of the Horned Demon Imperial Clan, over 90% who still shine in the present day are descendants of historical Great Emperors, representing a battle race where power can be passed through bloodlines.

Below the numerous Great Emperors was a vividly carved statue of a red-haired old man with lifelike vital energy, with a green single horn piercing the sky, his gaze filled with resentment looking at the Blood-robed Taoist before him.

This was the king of the Demon Leaf Family, Demon Leaf King.

"Lord Demon Leaf King,"

"It really has been a long time since I last saw you."

Jiang Ding wore a flattering smile, bowed deeply, and said, "Five hundred and seventy-six years ago, you instructed me to refine a Blood Life Pill for you that could extend the life of a General Stage Cultivator, which has now been prepared using the fresh blood and divine soul of your son Mo Ye Wu."

"Look, when will you come to collect it, so you can use it to extend the life of which General Stage Cultivator?"

Jiang Ding flipped his hand, and a blood-red elixir appeared in his palm, radiant with blood lights, refined using the blood souls of many beings, emitting a strong tempting scent, capable of extending the life of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.

Demon Leaf King's statue looked even colder, with strands of murderous intent and resentment almost solidifying into reality.

"Oh!"

Seeing this, Jiang Ding suddenly realized and exclaimed in shock, "You wouldn't want this Blood Life Pill for that ant, Mo Ye Wu, would you?"

"You should have said so earlier!"

"Oh dear!"

Jiang Ding slapped his thigh, filled with regret, "Had you spoken earlier, I wouldn't have accidentally refined your son, grandson, granddaughter, daughter, nephew… all of them."

"Can't help it, they kept calling themselves slaves, over and over."

"Of course, none of this matters much, Your Majesty is very generous and never minds these trivial matters."

"The key point is, they actually defied the will of the Emperor—an intolerable act—and I was just helplessly defending myself."

"This was not my intention!"

Jiang Ding lamented, "How about you have another one?"

"Rest assured, I will definitely keep this Blood Life Pill for you, Lord Demon Leaf King, you may boldly go ahead and have more heirs."

Jiang Ding patted his chest in guarantee.

"You this slave…"

As the parting spirit statue of Demon Leaf King in the Ancestral Hall blushed red, suddenly, without any attack, it explosively shattered into countless pieces.

Faintly, Jiang Ding saw at a distance an old man with red hair continuously coughing up blood and then disappearing without a trace.