Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery-Chapter 2012 - 1981: The Xianmen Sect’s Great Dao Encounters a Bottleneck
The Vermilion Bird Daoist blinked, looking at the two people in front of her.
"Ve... Vermilion Bird Daoist, hello..."
The Fusang Saintess was somewhat nervous.
She had never seen the Vermilion Bird Daoist when she was young and could only communicate with her in an inexperienced manner, just like how one would with an ordinary disciple.
At the same time, she couldn’t help but open a protective shield to protect the newborn Vermilion Bird Daoist, as even a trace of sword intent or mana from a Sword Cultivator could instantly kill this little being without any resistance.
The Vermilion Bird Daoist looked at her in confusion.
"I, teacher." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Jiang Ding gently pushed aside the Fusang Saintess’ shield, pointed at himself, then at the woman beside him: "She, Fusangzi, your friend."
"Yiya..."
The Vermilion Bird Daoist babbled something.
Despite her size, she was just born, with a mind as blank as a piece of paper. Her brain and body were at the initial stages of development, with the inheritance memories from the Vermilion Bird Holy Land still sealed, no different from a human infant.
However, Jiang Ding could accurately interpret the babbles.
The title of the highest achiever in Immortal Sect pedagogy wasn’t earned without reason; all his expertise was genuine, entailing both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
The little one’s babble expressed two meanings: she wanted a hug due to a lack of security, and she was hungry.
"There, there..."
Jiang Ding picked her up in the most scientifically comforting way, rocking her in his arms until her impending tears gradually ceased.
Soothing melodies of nursery rhymes resonated around, making the little one begin to giggle.
The Fusang Saintess’ mouth slowly opened, forming an O shape.
Her eyes widened, as if she had seen something shocking.
What did she see?
The butcher between domains, the executioner, ruthless sword cultivator responsible for the slaughter of millions, now coaxing a child, coaxing an infant with such skilled efficiency.
This made one doubt their eyes, suspecting an illusion.
The Fusang Saintess felt an impulse to pinch her face, wanting to confirm if she was dreaming.
Until a hand appeared before her, outstretched.
"What?"
The Fusang Saintess was somewhat bewildered.
"The fruit of the Fusang Divine Wood,"
"Her food."
Jiang Ding looked at her somewhat peculiarly: "The food for the infant period of the Vermilion Bird Daoist is precisely the fruit of the Fusang Divine Wood from your Fusang Holy Land. You didn’t know?"
"It’s clearly written in the Vermilion Bird Holy Land’s Daoist inheritance."
"Oh!"
"Oh oh oh!"
"Here you go."
The Fusang Saintess hurriedly retrieved a jade-like fruit from her storage ring and placed it in the hands of the green-clothed youth.
Jiang Ding casually placed it in the little Vermilion Bird’s arms, observing her.
This fruit, as per his scan, held the strength of a Fifth Order Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure; even a Refining Nothingness Cultivator would struggle to break it in a short time. It was one of the core treasures of a Holy Land, possessing excellent foundational effects.
"Yiya..."
The Vermilion Bird Daoist suddenly became extremely excited.
She displayed a blissful expression, grabbing the white jade fruit with her tiny hands and bringing it to her mouth, biting open the peel and sipping it like drinking milk.
This skill seemed almost innate.
Jiang Ding observed carefully and noticed that the moment the fruit came into contact with her teeth, it split open, like a lock completing a password verification.
The inheritance memory sealed within the Divine Soul.
Various instincts.
Growing instantaneously to six years old.
Such elements induced a sense of familiarity.
"Bloodline Divine Beast?"
Jiang Ding speculated.
"Yes."
"That’s how it is in the Vermilion Bird Holy Land."
Despite the chaos in her heart, the Fusang Saintess habitually explained: "The Vermilion Bird Primordial Ancestor was originally a runaway slave from the Phoenix Clan. After exterminating the Phoenix Clan, she largely adopted their methods of nurturing progeny for her own Daoist, giving the Vermilion Bird Daoist some characteristics of the Phoenix in certain respects."
"These traits are acquired postnatally in the Vermilion Bird Holy Land."
"Truly impressive."
"The Vermilion Bird predecessor was indeed an unparalleled elite of the human race, one who makes you wish you were in the same era to engage in meaningful dialogue and exploration."
Jiang Ding displayed genuine admiration.
These elements inspired many insights within him.
Could this technology, if it considerably lowered its cost, be applied to the cultivation of Immortal Sect infants?
To be honest, although the mind and soul cleansing potions for Immortal Sect infants within the first seven days of birth have gone through numerous iterations, their effects seem inadequate, incomparable to ancient Immortal Sects with longstanding heritage.
The technology from the Vermilion Bird Holy Land might allow for a leap in the fundamental qualities of Immortal Sect citizens.
The two stayed here for a few days. After the lively Vermilion Bird Daoist fell into a deep sleep, Jiang Ding left a clone here to take care of her and then departed.
Rarely outside, Jiang Ding didn’t immediately return to the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Palace but traversed multiple spaces and secret realms to reach a fragrant and vibrant world.
"The beginning of heaven and earth lies in order."
"The order of heaven and earth is the Tao Rules; the order of the Human Dao lies in the law..."
The tender sound of reading rang through the world.
This was the Vermilion Bird Taixue Hall, the highest academic institution in the Vermilion Bird Star Realm.
Every disciple here was a child with the potential of a Daoist, who would come to study in the Taixue Hall after turning seven. After reaching five hundred years old and advancing to the Nascent Soul level with self-preservation ability, they could begin their journeys outside.
Currently, thirty-nine children were here, divided into several classes.
Some were in kindergarten, some in elementary school, some in junior high, and the oldest was already in college, currently at the Golden Core Period in cultivation base.
The Fusang Saintess looked at those children.
In every classroom, there was a green-clothed youth, patiently and meticulously teaching each child, sometimes authoritative, sometimes stern, sometimes gentle, always just right, earnestly imparting the principles of cultivation and life to these little ones.
This was a peculiar morality, distinctly different from the Vermilion Bird Star Realm, a Dao Heart.
"Is this how your sect cultivates disciples?"
The Fusang Saintess pursed her lips and asked.
"Not exactly."
"My sect doesn’t invest enormous resources to cultivate a single individual."
Jiang Ding, while repetitively inferring teaching plans by observing the classrooms, casually replied.
"Not concentrating all resources on cultivating one individual?"
"Won’t that lead to extinction?"
The Fusang Saintess was taken aback.
In her view, all sects should concentrate resources to nurture a Daoist, using the Daoist to support the sect. This seemed an obvious and efficient method; deviating from this mainstream method would often lead to gradual disappearance over time.
"No."
"The strength of the collective is equally powerful, especially when there is a collective consciousness, but... this entirely new human Dao path may have many twists and turns."
Jiang Ding slightly shook his head.
The Immortal Sect is also a pathfinder in collective cultivation.
This path’s development to the present indeed presents some new problems that need resolution, such as the contradiction between super-individuals and emphasis on collectivity and equality.
This problem is a significant bottleneck on the Immortal Sect’s Great Dao.
If resolved, it could soar into the sky, possibly becoming the strongest fleet collective consciousness Emperor of the Endless Universe Starry Sky, even achieving immortality.
If unresolved... if future developments are favorable, it can still accompany the Great Sun Swordsman, supporting the emergence of many Supreme beings and creating the most formidable force in the Endless Universe Starry Sky.
The second path is also infinitely glorious.
But, it ultimately relies on external forces and accomplishments; the Immortal Sect is no longer the protagonist.
