Chapter 55 - 108-114

Chapter 108

Medicine City

When they arrived here, Zhang Ye was still talking about the kindness of Lin Jiang's wife, thinking that Lin Jiang had given too much. In the cultivation world, it's survival of the fittest. Not wiping out the Qi family is already a favor for them. Giving them so many resources, what if the Qi family prospers in the future? It would be a disaster. Don't you understand what it means to eliminate the root of the problem?

Lin Jiang was speechless about this. He also felt conflicted. Seeing that Master Qi had white hair, Lin Jiang really couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Wow, even the farmers are so ruthless."

Finally getting rid of Zhang Ye, Lin Jiang sighed. The Five Elements Sect is indeed a big player, but he didn't expect that even finding a random person would be a tough challenge.

Zhang Ye helped Lin Jiang with something, so Lin Jiang naturally had to fulfill his promise. He handed over the indenture of Fairy Xiaoyuan and her maidservant to Zhang Ye, and also helped them create a cozy nest by decorating the house a little bit.

At first, Lin Jiang thought that Zhang Ye was just playing around with Fairy Xiaoyuan. After all, it was just a casual fling, maybe just a stronger sense of novelty. But he didn't expect that after more than six months, the two of them would unexpectedly develop into true love.

In the story, Zhang Ye wants to marry Fairy Xiaoyuan. He asks Lin Jiang to be the witness, but he doesn't want to make a big fuss about it. He's even afraid to let his fellow martial arts brothers know. Lin Jiang is speechless when he finds out.

"Biao, Zi Wu Qing, Xi Zi Wu Yi, Zhang Ye Yao Fei Le."

"Biao, the heartless, heartless fool, Zhang Ye wanted to abolish."

"Biao, the heartless one, the ungrateful fool, Zhang Ye wanted to get rid of."

Lin Jiang thought to himself, he didn't know what Fairy Xiaoyuan was like, but he didn't trust people who played with true love in such places. Especially since Zhang Ye had a strong wife at home, this kind of thing couldn't stay a secret for long.

"Zhang Ye's wife at home is quite influential. He needs to find a chance to escape quickly so as not to harm himself. Even though it seems like I am also involved, it's not really innocent."

Lin Jiang, the instigator, plans to escape. If this matter is exposed, he will also suffer consequences. He still wants to slowly blend in with the Five Elements Sect.

Lin Jiang helped Zhang Ye with his wedding preparations. He found a tailor to make new clothes and arranged a table of food. However, there were no guests, only four people including Fairy Xiaoyuan's maid.

"Congratulations, Brother Zhang, for becoming a groom again!"

"Thank you very much, Brother Lin. Zhang Ye will never forget your great kindness."

"Actually, I pity you. You only get to be a groom for one night and lose the chance to be a groom every night."

"Oh, Brother Lin, you don't know. Zhang is actually a loyal and faithful person. Having one wife is enough."

"Brother Zhang's loyalty really leaves me in awe."

Lin Jiang rolled his eyes in annoyance You've also been to the Sweet Red Building, and you seemed to enjoy it. Ha, only someone with a thick skin can act so cool.

"Brother Lin's wife takes care of things at home, so Brother Lin doesn't need to go to Sweet Red Building often in the future."

"That's right, I am also a pure-hearted person."

"Very good, very good."

"Brother Zhang, I have a question that I need to consult you about."

"You tell me, Brother Lin's matters are also my matters."

"Here's the situation, my husband, you see, he has short-sightedness even though his hair is long. He thinks I am not capable of obtaining the Ascension Order, so he took the liberty to have our eldest son practice cultivation. Recently, I received a message saying that my son has already reached the Qi Refining stage. Will this have any impact on joining the Five Elements Sect as a disciple?"

"Why is sister-in-law so confused?"

"Will it have a big impact?"

"Yes, joining a major sect places a high emphasis on having a clean background. If you already have cultivation, the sect will suspect your involvement with other forces. Unless you and your family have been disciples of the Five Elements Sect for multiple generations and have a deep understanding, otherwise, even if you have the Ascension Order, you can only join the outer sect. You will be marked by the higher-ups and won't be able to become a core disciple. You won't be able to enjoy any benefits."

Zhang Ye said. There are hierarchy divisions within the sect. If you're not a core disciple, you won't have the qualifications to learn advanced techniques. Your achievements in this lifetime will also be limited.

"Is there a way to remedy it?"

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😄)

"Yes, there is."

"Please, Brother Zhang, tell me."

"Abandon cultivation."

"Give up cultivation?"

"Yes, abandon cultivation. How long has your son been practicing?"

"Less than half a year."

"That's good then. After abandoning cultivation, you can set up a special formation for him to live in for a few months. During this time, he must not come into contact with any spiritual energy, including food. This will help eliminate any traces of spiritual energy from his body."

"Can it be done like this?"

"Yes, someone has done it before."

Zhang Ye said. The Five Elements Sect once discovered spies from other powers, and they did it this way.

"If someone has done it before, can one who has been practicing for many years also do it? For example, someone like you and me who are at the Building Foundation Period."

"Of course it's possible, but it would require a longer time of isolating spiritual energy. For people at the Building Foundation Period like you and me, it could take at least three to five years, and the cost would be very high."

Zhang Ye said. Usually people at the Building Foundation Period wouldn't do this. With a lifespan of only two hundred years, wasting twenty years to abolish cultivation and isolate spiritual energy would be a huge price to pay.

"I see now, thank you for teaching me."

"Brother Lin wants your wife to abolish your son's cultivation as soon as possible. Don't cultivate anymore, and also teach him to forget the current techniques. When you go to the Five Elements Sect, don't expose this matter to avoid unnecessary trouble."

"Thank you, Brother Lin. I will write a letter back tomorrow."

"Brother Lin should bring his wife over to reunite early. Sweet Red Building is not a good place, so we should go there less."

"Brother Zhang taught me."

Lin Jiang replied, once again despising Zhang Ye in his heart. He thought, "Someone who wants to smash the pot after having a full meal is really not a decent person."

·······

"Master of the House"

"Met the Master of the House"

In Lin Jiang's shop, two assistants greeted Lin Jiang.

"I have some personal matters to attend to and will be going out for an indefinite period. The shop's lease still has over half a year left. If I don't come back in time, the landlord will take it back. You can sell the spiritual talismans in the shop. When I come back, if it's too late, let him take them back."

Lin Jiang said to the two of them, who had been diligent and had followed him for several years. Lin Jiang decided to leave them with something. The spiritual talismans in the shop were still worth some money, so if he didn't come back, they could split the earnings.

"Where is the host going?"

"Let's go home."

"The host must come back soon, the store can't operate without the host."

The assistant said that they had been living well with Lin Jiang these past few years. Their wages were never delayed, the workload was not heavy, and the host's attitude was gentle. It's difficult to find this kind of host in Medicine City.

"I will come back."

Lin Jiang gave them a kind lie, even if he came back, it wouldn't be Lin Hua, but someone else.

After quickly dealing with things, Lin Jiang left. He didn't inform the other friends and left Medicine City without knowing where to go.

If it was a market or something similar, he had places to go. If not, returning to Yunzhong City was also an option. However, if he wanted to find a place without spiritual energy, Lin Jiang currently had no direction.

"There is a group of refugees."

After meandering around for a couple of months, Lin Jiang discovered a group of ordinary people fleeing. Lin Jiang floated in the sky and observed that there were about a hundred people in the group, young and old, carrying their belongings. They were surrounded by fierce animals and occasionally, one of them would be dragged away.

Among these people were ordinary warriors who had learned spear fighting skills. However, there were only five or six of them, and they were unable to withstand the attacks from the fierce animals. They kept getting caught.

"Hey, Big Shadiao, your food supply is here. Go get it," someone said.

Lin Jiang decided to help them. He released Big Shadiao. The reason for helping them was that Lin Jiang saw that even in such a dangerous situation, the strong men among these people didn't abandon the elderly, weak, and young. This kind of spirit deserved his assistance.

Big Shadiao unleashed a few wind blades, killing all the fierce animals. However, Big Shadiao didn't bother to collect the bodies. These creatures were not even worthy enough to be eaten by it.

Lin Jiang felt a little embarrassed. Big Shadiao had gained quite a reputation now, and it no longer ate anything other than monsters. It had been spoiled.

·······

"Uncle Xiao, Uncle Xiao, there's a person up ahead," Fang Yuan ran back from afar and said to Xiao Yuan.

"Who is it? Can you see clearly?"

"I don't know, lying on the ground, seems to be dead."

"Xiao Fang, remember to look carefully next time. Come on, take me to have a look."

Xiao Yuan said, now he is in charge of the whole village. There are so many wild animals around, he usually doesn't leave the big group. He's afraid that if he leaves, those wild animals will come back.

Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan walked forward for hundreds of meters and saw a person lying on the ground. Xiao Yuan approached to check and found that the person was still alive.

"Friend, friend, wake up."

"Water, water..."

As Xiao Yuan patted him, Lin Jiang slowly opened his eyes and cried for water. He remembered seeing it in a TV show, so it should be right.

"Drink quickly."

"Drink slowly, don't choke."

Fang Yuan took off his waist gourd and handed it to Lin Jiang. Lin Jiang grabbed the gourd and chugged it down.

"Phew, thank you, two kind sirs."

"How should I address you, young fellow? Where are you from?"

"I'm called Lin Kai, from the Lin family in Xiaota Village."

"Where is Xiaota Village?"

"Just over there, very far, very far."

Lin Jiang casually pointed in a direction, not caring if there were other people with the same surname as the Lin family. After all, there were quite a few people with the surname Lin.

"Young fellow, where are your family members? Why are you here?"

"Monsters, they're dead. Fire-breathing monsters, wooo..."

Lin Jiang's acting skills exploded, and he became excited. He started speaking incoherently, showing various expressions like fear, panic, and anger.

"Monsters, your village was also harmed by monsters. Where is the fairy in your village?"

"What fairy?"

"Does your village not have a fairy stationed there?"

Xiao Yuan found it strange. Aren't there fairies in every village? Without a fairy stationed there, how can any village survive for more than a year without being eaten by monsters? Unless it's near certain big cities.

"Fairy Chief, you said it's the Fairy Chief. They're dead, burned to death by monsters."

"Uncle Xiao, so pitiful, just like our village."

"Ah, a fellow unfortunate soul, little brother. Are you willing to come with me?"

"Where to go?"

"I don't know, let's find a safe place."

Xiao Yuan shook his head. They needed to find a place near where humans gather, preferably with a fairy present. If they refuse, they will have to seek the protection of a fairy.

"Okay."

"Little brother, have you practiced martial arts?"

"No, but I am very strong. I can lift the millstone in the grain field."

Lin Jiang said. Back in the day, I, Old Lin, was a talented young man known for miles around. I could easily lift and carry the stones in the grain field.

"How heavy can the millstones in the grain field be? My Uncle Xiao is a master, no less powerful than a second-level Qi Refining fairy."

"It's okay if you haven't practiced martial arts. Can you walk now?"

Xiao Yuan said. Many strong men in the village have died. It would be good if we could have new people come in to help. They can protect the women and children on the way and also work hard when they settle down. Maybe they can even have more children since there are many widows now.

"Yes, I am hungry."

"I have some food. We can eat while walking, but we cannot stop. There are too many wild animals here."

Xiao Yuan said, as he helped Lin Jiang up and handed him two biscuits. Lin Jiang took a bite and immediately regretted being hungry. The biscuits were really terrible.

Chapter 109

"Let's go, let's go. Our village chief said you must leave today. Otherwise, we won't be polite anymore."

Outside a certain village, a strong man said to Xiao Yuan. He had more than ten villagers fully armed behind him, staring angrily at Xiao Yuan.

"We are leaving, right now."

Xiao Yuan didn't dare to be reckless. After apologizing repeatedly, he left.

"Uncle Xiao, are they willing to take us in?"

Back among the refugee group, Fang Yuan immediately asked, and this was a matter of life and death for all of them, all eyes were on Xiao Yuan.

But Xiao Yuan' shaking head disappointed them greatly. This was already the fifth village they had encountered in the past half month since Lin Jiang joined them. None of the villages were willing to accept them. The better ones would let them rest for a day and provide some dry food. The worse ones even wanted to devour them, killing the men and taking the women home.

Of course, with Lin Jiang here, they couldn't do that.

"Uncle Xiao, how about we start our own village?"

Lin Jiang suggested at this time. He didn't want to waste any more time. Once they were settled, he would give up his cultivation.

"Uncle Xiao, Lin Kai has a good idea. We don't need to rely on others. Let's build our own village."

"Villages and land are easy to find, but immortals are not. Without immortals protecting us, how long can we survive?"

Xiao Yuan said, as mortals in the cultivation world, they depended on cultivators for protection. Without cultivators, let alone demons, even wild beasts could kill them.

"Uncle Xiao, we young ones can endure, but just look at Aunt and the others, they're either already sick or on the verge of getting sick. If things continue like this, everyone will die."

Lin Jiang pointed to the women and children behind him and said, after spending half a month with them, he had already learned about their situation.

Xiao Yuan had more than a hundred people behind him, survivors from three villages. The three villages were close together and usually protected by two independent cultivators in the Qi Refining Period. However, not long ago, their village was targeted by monsters. One Qi Refining Period cultivator died, and the other was injured and eventually fled.

After that, people from the three villages were eaten by monsters one after another. They tried everything they could, but nothing worked. The remaining people started to relocate and became refugees. There were originally over three hundred people, but now only about a hundred remained.

Furthermore, there were no elderly or babies. The youngest were only seven or eight years old. Any younger would be a burden. There weren't many young and strong people either. They were eaten by wild beasts and monsters along the way or encountered various accidents.

Now, there aren't many good people left. Most of them are either sick or have reached their limits mentally and physically. This is the result of Lin Jiang secretly sheltering them for the past half month. Otherwise, half of them would have died again.

"But even without immortals, we still have to die."

"We can worry about dying later. First, let's settle down, and then Uncle Xiao can go find the immortals. Perhaps there will be a chance for a turnaround."

"Uncle Xiao, Lin Kai is right. We can't keep going. If we do, we'll all die."

"Okay, let's find a place to stay."

Xiao Yuan gave up, he also knew that the villagers had reached their limit, and they didn't have much food left. Even if they found a place to settle, they wouldn't have enough food until the next harvest.

Xiao Yuan decided not to continue walking. In less than half a day, they found a valley and decided to settle there. They built wooden houses on the ridges on both sides of the valley to defend against wild beasts. If they encountered a group of wild beasts, they could block the valley entrance and resist them. The flat land at the bottom of the valley could be developed into good farmland.

The following days were very busy. The young and strong refugees were gathered and divided into several groups. Xiao Yuan led a few people to patrol nearby, checking if there were any dangerous wild beasts or monsters. If there were, they would have to run again. This place was not suitable for settling.

Fang Yuan led a group of people to cut down trees and build wooden houses for everyone to live in. It hadn't rained in the past few days, but if it did rain and they had nowhere to take shelter, falling ill could be fatal. They also needed to fence off the valley entrance and needed a lot of wood for that.

The women and children were not idle either. They cleared the fields, cooked, gathered firewood, and repaired clothes, and so on. There were too many tasks to do. When they fled, they lost almost everything except for food. Now they were essentially building a village from scratch, starting everything from the beginning.

······

"Lin Kai, come and help, please."

"Okay."

After a month, beside the valley entrance, Lin Jiang and Xiao Yuan worked together to pull up a huge wooden gate, and the fence at the entrance of the valley was finally completed.

"With this gate, wild beasts won't be able to come in anymore, and everyone can have a good night's sleep."

"Uncle Xiao, are you sure there are no monsters around here?"

"I've been all over the area within a thirty-mile radius, and there shouldn't be any."

Xiao Yuan, who was skilled in martial arts and had light footsteps, said that he had walked around the area within a thirty-mile radius dozens of times and there were indeed no monsters.

Lin Jiang, who was standing next to him, smiled and said nothing. Within a two-hundred-mile radius, not to mention monsters, even large fierce beasts were all killed by Big Shadiao.

"That's great, we can survive here now."

"But let's talk later, there are still many things to do. In a few days, I need to go to other villages to exchange things. Who wants to come with me, Fang Yuan or Lin Kai?"

"I'll go."

Fang Yuan said immediately, a small village cannot sustain itself and needs to trade with other villages. They must establish trade routes, otherwise they won't be able to survive.

"Let Fang Yuan go, I'll stay here. My house hasn't been built yet."

"Let's squeeze together for now, these wood materials are fresh and will get infested with bugs in less than half a year. Let's wait for the wood to dry for a few months, then we can build a new house."

"No, I snore when I sleep. I don't want to disturb Uncle Xiao. I'll build a wooden hut as a temporary solution."

Lin Jiang quickly said, he didn't want to share a bed with another man. What if he encounters someone who is difficult to deal with? He doesn't want to be in trouble.

"Suit yourself, let's focus on building the temporary wooden hut for now. We can work on the permanent house later."

"Yes, Uncle Xiao."

"Let's go, back to the village. There's too much to do, we can't rest today."

Xiao Yuan waved his hand and led his people to hurry back to the village to help. As the strongest man in the village, he was the one people relied on now.

In the span of a month, more than thirty temporary wooden houses had been built in the village, and enough timber had been gathered. The extra wood had started to air dry.

However, this was not enough. They needed at least fifty to sixty wooden houses, not only for people to live in, but also for places like grain storage. As for the tasks, there were even more. They couldn't finish them all in a short time, so they would have to take it one step at a time.

During this time, Lin Jiang was surprisingly diligent. Lin Jiang promised that in his over two hundred years of living, he had never been this hardworking. He would go out early and come back late every day. He did as much work as Xiao Yuan and the others did. It even moved him himself.

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😘)

As each day passed, the village started to take shape. The wooden houses were erected one by one, and the arable land was slowly cultivated. Xiao Yuan even picked up wild chicken eggs to hatch. A completely new village appeared before Lin Jiang's eyes.

Chapter 110

Huangmu Village

Huangmu Village was the name given to the village by the refugees. Its inspiration came from a type of tree bark on the mountain that had a pale yellow color. This type of tree was very hard and was an excellent material for making furniture and constructing houses.

On this day, Lin Jiang, shirtless, paraded around the village carrying a wild boar weighing two to three hundred pounds. The women in the village looked at him with mouths watering, craving the wild boar meat in Lin Jiang's hands, and also longing for Lin Jiang's eight-pack abs.

"What are you trying to do, Third Aunt?"

If there are timid ones, there are also brave ones. Lin Jiang had only taken a few steps when a fierce old lady blocked his path. Lin Jiang looked at her and got scared, trembling.

"Lin Kai, when are you going to marry my daughter?"

"Third Aunt, your daughter doesn't even like me. Why should I marry her?"

"No, that won't do. You've already seen everything of my daughter. You can't just not marry her."

"Third Aunt, you can't make things up. Your daughter went up the mountain to chop firewood. Her clothes got torn, and one arm showed. Is that considered seeing everything?"

"Seeing the arm means seeing everything, right?"

"Alright, alright, alright. If it's just a craving for meat, come to my house later. I'll cut you a piece of pig's trotter, alright?"

"Haha, Lin Kai, you said it yourself."

"I did say it, but Third Aunt, next time if you want to swindle me for something, just tell me directly. Don't scare people with your daughter."

Lin Jiang reluctantly said, looking at the chubby girl behind Third Aunt. Lin Jiang was truly afraid.

"I'm serious. Look at my daughter's figure. She will definitely be able to have sons in the future. So many people want to marry her, and I am not willing."

"I'm going first."

As soon as Lin Jiang heard that, he quickened his pace and escaped back home. Third Aunt was really daring to pull him into her house. He would lose his innocence in this life.

"Lin Kai, you're really lucky. You never come back empty-handed when you go into the mountains."

"That's necessary."

When they reached the front door, they met Xiao Yuan, greeted him, and went fishing. Even if they went hunting in the mountains, they never came back empty-handed. Who made them have Shadiao as their cheat code?

"How should we divide the pork today?"

"I'll keep half, and the rest will be divided. I'll give Third Aunt a pig's trotter as promised. Uncle Xiao will help to skin it, and we'll exchange the skin for something else."

Lin Jiang said, it has been the third year since Huangmu Village was established. Two and a half years ago, Lin Jiang gave up his cultivation and now he is an ordinary person. But even as an ordinary person, his physical fitness is not comparable to ordinary people. If it weren't for his modesty, even Xiao Yuan, the Martial Arts Master, would not be as good as him.

Huangmu Village came here to seek refuge and they need to watch out for each other, so the neighbors get along very well. They would share almost anything and they stick together. Lin Jiang also really enjoys this atmosphere.

As soon as Xiao Yuan heard it, he went back to get his tools and came to help right away. Xiao Yuan is a skilled butcher. He can skillfully remove the skin of the prey. Whether it's making clothes after tanning the skin or selling it for money, it's all very good.

"Little Lin, don't you consider Auntie San's daughter? She definitely has a good figure and can surely bear sons."

Xiao Yuan chats with Lin Jiang while working, this helps to relieve fatigue.

"No, I'm afraid that if she turns over at night, she will crush me to death."

"You are such a funny kid. What about Xiufang? Although she is a widow, she is hardworking and capable."

"Uncle Xiao, it's you that Xiufang is interested in, don't push it onto me."

"I already have four daughters-in-law at home, I can't afford to have more. There are capable men in the village, but you are the only one who hasn't gotten married yet. This won't do."

Xiao Yuan said that their village doesn't need to pay taxes because there is no government. So after coming here for a year, they solved the problem of having enough to eat and drink.

This mountain is very generous. They can grow crops in the fields, there are wild fruits, medicinal herbs, and even game animals on the mountain. They are not lazy and after one year, they have become completely stable.

After having enough to eat and drink, they need to consider the issue of reproduction. There are many young men and girls in the village. As long as you can support them, you can marry as many as you want. In general, all the young men have wives, except for Lin Jiang.

"Uncle Xiao, haven't I told you before? I still have a fiance in my hometown. I got scared at that time and ran away. I don't even know if they are alive or not. If they are alive, I can't betray them."

Lin Jiang brought up this excuse again, mainly because he really looked down on these village women. After they solved the problem of having enough to eat and drink, they just ate a lot. After all, strong bodies can work hard. And Lin Jiang used to be a regular customer at the "Spring Coming Tower" and "Baihua Tower", where there were women who practiced immortality. He was used to eating delicacies from mountains and seas, how could he eat coarse grains now?

"You are a good kid, but you just won't be open-minded. People, when they're alive, should look forward."

"My father also taught me that a person should keep their word. How can we give up on a promised marriage?"

"But what if your fiance dies or gets married to someone else?"

"We can talk about it when that happens. Anyway, with my skills, I won't have trouble finding a wife, right?"

"Okay, you're right. After removing the skin, I'll take out the tendons and make a few more bows and arrows. Although there are no fierce beasts in this place, we still need to be cautious."

Xiao Yuan had already removed the skin while speaking. Next, he had to prepare the tendons. The village still needed a few more bows and arrows. This place was a rare treasure spot. It had been three years, and not only were there no monsters, not even fierce beasts had visited. However, he still had to be a little cautious.

"Take the skin and exchange it for some fabric. I need to make clothes or else those women in the village will all look like fierce beasts."

Lin Jiang said, in the village, many things couldn't be produced, so they had to be traded. They would use the skin, dried sausage, medicinal herbs, and so on, to trade. Xiao Yuan would go out once a month.

"Third Aunt and the others really can't do it anymore. If it were me, I would have sneaked into your bed in the middle of the night already."

"Hehe."

Lin Jiang rolled his eyes.

"Okay, we're done. How should we divide the meat? You decide. Just give me the kidneys and the precious parts."

Xiao Yuan finished the work quickly. He didn't ask for anything else, just set his sights on the two precious parts. He was getting older, and his natural talent as a master couldn't hold on anymore.

"Leave a bit for Fang Yuan and divide the rest equally."

Lin Jiang said that he didn't get close to anyone in the village except for Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan, so it's fine to divide things evenly.

In fact, there's no tax at all in the village, and life is quite decent. With Xiao Yuan, Lin Jiang, and Fang Yuan around, there's always plenty of game. Otherwise, how could those women weigh almost 100 pounds?

"Alright, I'll go call some people to divide the meat. Come over to my house tonight for a drink, and bring Fang Yuan along. We'll discuss inviting a fairy."

"Uncle Xiao, are we really going to invite a fairy to protect the village?"

"Yes, we have to. There's no way this place can go without ferocious beasts every year. I can deal with ferocious beasts, but I can't handle demonic beasts. I still remember how we escaped from the village back then. I don't want to go through that again."

Xiao Yuan shook his head and said that he didn't know why there were no ferocious beasts and demonic beasts here, but he knew they existed in the mountains. In order to prevent a tragedy from happening again, he had made a decision.

Lin Jiang didn't say anything more. Currently, Xiao Yuan is the leader in the village because he's the strongest, followed by him and Fang Yuan. Despite Lin Jiang losing his cultivation strength and not showing off, his body, tempered by spiritual energy, is not something an ordinary strong man can compare to.

Now, unless Lin Jiang demonstrates even stronger power to become the leader of the entire village, he can only listen to Xiao Yuan. But Lin Jiang has no interest in being the leader. There are too many problems and not much benefit.

That evening, Lin Jiang and Fang Yuan went to Xiao Yuan' house. The meat was wild boar meat that Lin Jiang hunted today, and the wine was made from wild fruits found on the mountain. Xiao Yuan' wife was a talented cook, and her cooking skills were excellent.

"The nearest big town to our Huangmu Village is called Qingshan Town. It's about 360 miles away from here. In that town, there is a Zhao family who are the biggest landlords. They have several cultivators. I've already spoken to the people from the Zhao family, and if there are other cultivators who are willing to come to our village, we will invite them.

"What are the usual requirements for a cultivator to be stationed in a village?"

"Lin Kai, how did you invite the cultivators from your village before?"

"I don't know. I was still young at that time and my family didn't tell me. How about the previous cultivators in your village?"

"The previous cultivators in our village were expensive to invite. They had to be given 3,000 kilograms of grain every year, 800 kilograms of meat, unlimited vegetables, and we even had to provide women for them, preferably young and pretty ones."

"And they also had to work in the fields, Uncle Xiao."

Fang Yuan added from the side, which made Lin Jiang a little surprised. If we invite a cultivator back, wouldn't that be like inviting an ancestor?

"Uncle Xiao, considering the situation in our Huangmu Village, can we afford to support such a cultivator?"

"I am also worried about this. Before, our village had over three hundred people, with over a hundred of them being young and strong. Now there are only a little over a hundred people, with less than thirty of them being young and strong. It's going to be tough to support them like this."

"Then let's not invite them, we're living quite well now."

Lin Jiang said that he really didn't want to invite the cultivator. It's not because he's afraid of the secret being exposed. Those independent cultivators at the early stage of Qi Refining wouldn't be able to find any clues. He just didn't want to give away his hard-earned harvest for free. That's much worse than the harsh taxes imposed by the government.

"We can't do without inviting one. If the demon beasts come, we'll be wiped out. It's already difficult to escape once. I never want to go through that again."

Xiao Yuan said, and Fang Yuan agreed. Over three years ago, they had to flee for over two months. It was too hard, too hard. They never wanted to go through that again.

"What do we do if we can't afford it?"

"That's why we have to have more children, Lin Kai. You have to work harder."

"We don't have enough time to have them tomorrow."

"Let's see first. The immortal won't arrive so quickly. Starting from tomorrow, Lin Kai and Fang Yuan will go to the mountains to hunt and gather herbs more often. I'll make a few more trips to exchange things. We'll also need to cultivate the fertile land outside the valley. I plan to go to other villages and recruit some homeless people to come back. With more people, we can afford to support them."

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😠)

Xiao Yuan said that the valley has been developed, but outside the valley, there are large areas of fertile land that can be cultivated. If he can recruit seventy or eighty strong men to come back, then he can afford to support the immortal.

Lin Jiang felt helpless about this. It seemed that he couldn't stop Xiao Yuan and the others. Lin Jiang didn't think about it for too long and decided to just go find them. After all, a cultivator in the Qi Refining Period posed no threat to him. He just needed to hide for another seven or eight years, and then he could leave without a trace.

Chapter 111

"Huangmu Village warmly welcomes the immortal"

In the fourth year since Huangmu Village was founded, Xiao Yuan invited an immortal from Qingshan Town, which was over 300 miles away. The entire Huangmu Village welcomed the immortal at the village entrance.

"Please don't stand on ceremony"

Huang Liang glanced at everyone in Huangmu Village and felt a bit helpless. He didn't think much of this weak village.

Most of the nearby villages and towns have cultivators overseeing them. Unless he defeated one of those cultivators, he wouldn't have any place here.

However, he only had a cultivation level of the fifth layer of Qi Refining. He didn't have many magical tools with him. Who could he possibly defeat? He could barely handle Huangmu Village.

"Please come into the village, immortal"

Xiao Yuan nodded and bowed deeply to Huang Liang, showing extreme flattery. Two years ago, he had planned to invite an immortal to stay, but when those immortals heard that Huangmu Village only had around a hundred people, mostly women and children, they all refused. Only this immortal didn't mind them, so they naturally wanted to curry favor with him.

Huang Liang followed Xiao Yuan into the village and felt even more disappointed when he saw the scenery. This Huangmu Village didn't have any special features at all. He started to doubt whether Huangmu Village would give him the promised rewards.

In the best location of the village, there was a magnificent house with a spacious courtyard. This was given to Huang Liang. He was somewhat satisfied with this as he could tell that Huangmu Village had put some effort into it.

Huang Liang settled in Huangmu Village like this, and within a few days, he asked Xiao Yuan for a woman, as they had agreed before. Xiao Yuan introduced some unmarried women from the village to Huang Liang, hoping to get lucky. This made Huang Liang furious and he started shouting and cursing.

Huang Liang felt that these crude village women were only suitable for doing laundry, cooking, and cleaning toilets. They were not qualified to bear children. Huang Liang had given up a promising path of cultivation to come to Huangmu Village, and his biggest goal was to have descendants.

Xiao Yuan had no choice but to take the money and go to Qingshan Town to find a woman for Huang Liang. It was actually quite easy. Even though Huang Liang looked to be in his fifties or sixties, he was still a cultivator. Following a cultivator meant never worrying about food and drink, and having a high status. This was already the highest requirement for many mortal women. Without much effort, Huang Liang married three wives.

After getting wives, Huang Liang wanted servants. Xiao Yuan arranged five villagers to serve their family's daily life.

From then on, there was no need to mention luxurious clothing or meat dishes for every meal. Xiao Yuan tried his best to satisfy Huang Liang's desires. The villagers of Huangmu Village also considered this to be normal because they had lived like this before. They even took pride in being servants to immortal families.

Three months later, Huang Liang discovered a weak spiritual vein about ten miles west of Huangmu Village. With this, he opened up thirty acres of spiritual land. Twenty-five acres were used to cultivate spiritual paddy, while five acres were used to grow low-level spiritual herbs.

Managing the spiritual herbs required higher qualifications, so Huang Liang took care of it personally. However, the villagers were responsible for the spiritual paddy. Spiritual paddy was more precious than regular food crops, and required much more labor. One-tenth of the labor force in Huangmu Village was immediately allocated to Huang Liang. This made the already scarce labor force in Huangmu Village unable to meet demands, and Xiao Yuan became worried to the point of getting white hair.

······

"Lin Kai, stop!"

In the eighth year of Huangmu Village, Lin Jiang returned from outside the village carrying small and large prey when he was stopped by a voice.

"Madam, what's the matter?"

Lin Jiang stopped and said to the person, who was Mrs. Xu, Huang Liang's legal wife. She was a beautiful daughter from a humble family in Qingshan Town. Her father refused to marry her off until he found a wealthy family for her. He finally found Xiao Yuan when he heard that an immortal wanted a wife.

"Give me the rabbit in your hand. My son wants to eat roasted rabbit."

"Madam, I have already given this month's offering. I cannot give you this rabbit."

"Lin Kai, do you want to die? It's the immortal's son who wants to eat."

Mrs. Xu became furious when she heard Lin Jiang's refusal and immediately mentioned the immortal.

"Lin Kai, give it to her, it's just a wild rabbit."

"Yes, Lin Kai, don't offend the fairy."

"Lin Kai, listen to your aunt..."

The villagers around saw Mrs. Xu getting angry and immediately tried to persuade Lin Kai. "It's just a rabbit, don't offend the fairy."

"This rabbit is for Third Aunt. Her daughter just had a baby last month."

Lin Jiang shook his head. This wild rabbit was promised to Third Aunt. Xiao Yuan brought some poor people from out of town, and someone married Third Aunt's daughter. And in fact, Third Aunt had been good to him.

"You, Lin Kai, just you wait. When my fairy husband comes back, I'll kick you out for sure."

Mrs. Xu, after hearing Lin Jiang's words, became even angrier. If it weren't for seeing the muscles on Lin Jiang's body, she would have physically attacked him.

"It's true that we invited Huang the fairy, but Huangmu Village was built by us with our own hands and feet. Who to drive away, that's not for him to decide."

Lin Jiang got angry too. Huang Liang was actually okay in these years, not a good person but not a bad person either. But his wife and mistress were not good people. They took advantage of Huang Liang's support and bullied the people in the village, often resorting to violence. They only treated Xiao Yuan a little more politely.

What made Lin Jiang unable to bear it the most was that Mrs. Xu and her group treated Huangmu Village as their own property. They believed that all the village's belongings belonged to their family.

Of course, this is also true in other villages and towns. Every guardian immortal in other places is not the founder, they are all failures on the path of cultivating immortality, with no hope of advancing. That's why they have fallen to live among ordinary people.

But there is a huge gap between cultivators and ordinary people. Once they have descendants, in just a few years, they can take over most of the village's belongings. It was the same for Lin Jiang when he bought the Ascension Order from the Qi family. And now Huang Liang is almost the same. It's just that his children have not grown up yet. In another ten or twenty years, Huangmu Village will truly belong to the Huang family.

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😚)

But this still makes Lin Jiang unable to bear it. Huangmu Village seems worthless to him. Ten spirit stones could buy everything in the village. Even though it may not have much value, his blood and sweat are in everything in this village.

Every wooden house, courtyard, farmland in the valley, and road in the village, he has participated in their creation. He has emotional attachments to all of them.

"Lin, you...Well, you dare to scheme against the immortal, I tell you, you're finished, you're done..."

Mrs. Xu pointed at Lin Jiang and yelled. Lin Jiang rolled his eyes at this foolish woman. She doesn't even know how to curse properly. If it weren't for Huang Liang backing her up, any woman in the village could easily make her blood boil with curses.

Lin Jiang ignored her and went to Third Aunt's house with his prey. When Third Aunt saw Lin Jiang coming, she smiled.

"Lin Kai, come here. I made you new clothes, take a look."

"There is no doubt about Third Aunt's skills. First process the prey, it's hot outside, don't ruin them."

Lin Jiang said, he put away everything from the cultivator. The things that have been mended in the house over the past few years were all done by Third Aunt. At first, she wanted to impress Lin Jiang and make him marry her daughter. But later on, she realized that Lin Jiang had no intention of doing so and had already gotten used to it.

"Alright, there is so much game today. Two rabbits and three wild chickens. That's enough to eat for several days."

"Take good care of yourself, rest for a few more days during confinement, so you won't suffer when you get old."

"Lin Kai, you really know how to care for others. Unlike... well, never mind. I'll go take care of it."

Third Aunt said, her daughter is looking for a son-in-law, a son-in-law who comes to their door. How many good men can become son-in-laws? She just finds her daughter's husband too dull and honest.

Lin Jiang doesn't talk much. He thinks Third Aunt's son-in-law is already good enough. It's sufficient to have someone who is honest and reliable. Why does he need anything more, like a bicycle? Who would bother becoming a son-in-law?

In the evening, people who went out to work started to return. Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan heard about the conflict between Lin Jiang and Mrs. Xu. They came to advise Lin Jiang, asking him to apologize to Mrs. Xu. If he does that, the matter will be over. After all, Lin Jiang is an influential figure in the village.

"No need to apologize, I'm not in the mood for it."

"Lin Kai, please don't act stubborn. That's the wife of a magical being."

"Uncle Xiao, Fang Yuan, I have a question for you."

"Go ahead, ask."

"Have you ever thought about your sons and grandsons becoming servants to Huang Liang's sons and grandsons in the future?"

"Um..."

The Huang family has taken over our village. If you're still alive, show some respect to Huang Liang. In another ten or twenty years, when you're gone, will anyone in the village dare to oppose them?

We went through hardships and escaped from far away just to survive. Is that all we're living for? When we asked other villages for help, why didn't we agree to become servants?

As human beings, we need to live, that's true. But we also need to live with dignity. We need to ensure that our future generations have dignity too. We are the masters of Huangmu Village, and Huang Liang was invited by us. We cannot let him become the master over us.

Lin Jiang said to them, other villages may not be able to change this outcome, but Huangmu Village absolutely cannot change it either, he won't allow it.

"Um..."

Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan were shocked, they had considered this before, but they were just ordinary people, how could they fight against immortals? The children of immortals might even become immortals themselves, but their own children were only ordinary people.

"Good kid, I didn't expect that out of your 100-pound body, 90 pounds would be rebellious. It seems like Huangmu Village is keeping you for a reason."

Just when Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan couldn't argue back, a voice exploded at the door. Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan turned around and their faces immediately changed. Huang Liang had actually heard their conversation.

Chapter 112

Huangmu Village

Huang Liang was very angry in his heart. Today, when he came back from the spiritual land, he heard his wife exaggerating the situation. He was only slightly annoyed, thinking that mere mortals were disrespecting his wife, which meant they were disrespecting him. This wind must not be allowed to rise, he had to teach Lin Jiang a lesson.

But outside the door, he heard Lin Jiang's words and was already furious. How dare a mere mortal utter such disrespectful words? He must be killed.

He, a great cultivator, graciously came to Huangmu Village to protect everyone. It was only right that the village's belongings should be offered to him. But this boy is so arrogant. How can he stay?

"I apologize, immortal. Lin Kai is still young. Please don't compare yourself to him."

"Immortal, Lin Kai didn't mean any harm."

"Lin Kai, quickly apologize to the immortal!"

Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan, upon hearing this, quickly begged for forgiveness from Huang Liang and urged Lin Jiang to do the same.

Lin Jiang looked at Xiao Yuan and the others, feeling both sad and understanding. They had always relied on cultivators for protection, and their way of thinking was ingrained.

So, looking back now, coming to the Lin family was actually quite fortunate for him.

"Lin Kai, if you kneel and beg for forgiveness, I will let you go today. Just leave Huangmu Village. But if you continue to be arrogant, I will show you the consequences of offending an immortal."

Huang Liang had already made up his mind. He would drive away this boy and kill him outside the village. This would preserve the loyalty of the villagers, considering this boy's relatively high status in Huangmu Village.

"I am not talented, but I am willing to go against the immortals as an ordinary person."

With just one sentence from Lin Jiang, the expressions on the faces of all three people changed drastically, and Xiao Yuan quickly grabbed hold of Lin Jiang.

"Lin Kai, don't do something foolish."

"Lin Kai, are you crazy? Get down on your knees and beg for mercy."

"Lin Kai, don't be silly. That is a celestial being."

Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan shouted in disbelief. Mortals going against the immortals, what an arrogant statement, what a foolish idea.

"Fine, fine, fine. This immortal is willing to spare you, but since you're looking for death, don't blame me. Since you're a mortal, you can make the first move."

Huang Liang couldn't help but laugh in anger. Mortals going against the immortals, it has been so many years since something like this has happened. Well, if that's the case, he will make his move and don't blame him for being ruthless.

"I was involved in building every house and brick in Huangmu Village. It would be a shame to see it all destroyed. How about a battle outside the village?"

"As you wish, haha..."

"Please wait a moment, I'll be right there."

Lin Jiang said, without hesitation Huang Liang also turned around and summoned his flying sword, flying away on it.

"Uncle Xiao, Fang Yuan, don't be alarmed, I'll be back soon, don't follow me."

"Lin Kai···"

"Help me warm up the wine and prepare the meat, I'll be back in an hour at most."

Lin Jiang said, in ancient times there was Guan Yu warming up wine to kill Hua Xiong, now there's Lin Jiang warming up wine to kill immortals, won't that be a great tale?

Lin Jiang activated his body technique and swiftly flew across the roofs in the village. His speed was so fast that ordinary people couldn't keep up, they only saw a black shadow pass by.

"Lin Kai has amazing lightness skill."

Xiao Yuan was also surprised, he really didn't know that Lin Kai had such a light skill.

"Uncle Xiao, do you want to come and see?"

"Ah, no, let's prepare food and drinks. We can go to mourn for Lin Kai later. He was indeed arrogant this time."

Xiao Yuan shook his head. He instinctively felt that Lin Kai was doomed, but what could he do? He couldn't stop it, he was helpless in the end.

······

Outside the village

Huang Liang, with his hands behind his back, saw Lin Jiang using light skills to swiftly approach. He quite liked this light skill. If more people in the village learned it, hunting and gathering herbs would be much easier in the future, and his descendants would have a more prosperous life.

"Lin Kai, are you ready to die?"

"Hmph, die? Who knows who will die. Just at the fifth level of Qi Refining, he dares to call himself a fairy. It's simply a joke."

"You..."

Huang Liang got very angry, but then suddenly he was shocked, because he had never told anyone in the village about his abilities, so how could this person know?

"What, is the cultivator really so easily scared by just one sentence?"

"Hmph, no matter what trick you're trying to play, a deity is still a deity, while a mortal is just a mortal. Today, you're doomed."

"Is that so? Maybe you should look behind you then."

"This kind of trickery can also... ah, ah..."

At first, Huang Liang didn't care, thinking it was just a small trick. But when a dark shadow covered him, he suddenly turned around and saw a huge bird face staring at him, making him scream in fright.

"Brother, I want to eat him."

Big Shadiao said, its mouth watering already. Since Lin Jiang arrived in this strange place, it hadn't had a good meal. It had eaten all the demon beasts within hundreds of miles, but those demon beasts were at most at the late phase of the first stage, which wasn't enough for it. It had been hungry for several years.

"Talking with mouth, a three-level monster"

Huang Liang's heart turned cold now. Oh, a three-level monster! This is equivalent to a three-level monster in the Golden Core Period. How can it be here? Huangmu Village has this ancestor. Why did they invite him?

"Big Shadiao, eating it will upset your stomach. It's not good to have vomiting and diarrhea later."

"Really?"

"Yes, by then you won't be able to defeat Small Shadiao anymore. It will press you down and rub against you on the ground."

"I won't eat, I won't eat."

Big Shadiao quickly covered its mouth with its wings. It must not eat, it's too scary. Otherwise, it could peck him to death with one bite.

"What do you think, are you convinced?"

Lin Jiang grabbed Big Shadiao's mouth, preventing it from killing anyone. He really had no interest in cultivating immortality.

"I admit my mistake, senior. I didn't know you were hiding here. Please spare me."

Huang Liang dared not mention what happened earlier. He only saw Lin Jiang as an old and mysterious creature, no wonder his spiritual sense didn't sense anything. Guess it's because of their profound cultivation.

"Why are you being so timid? How about recovering a bit?"

"I dare not, senior. Please spare me."

"You're not even a bit courageous. I feel awkward about killing you."

"Senior..."

Huang Liang was on the verge of tears. Where did this Shadiao senior come from? Why would they leave the prosperous cultivation city to be with ordinary people?

"Forget it, killing you would be pointless. So, do you know what to do then?"

"From now on, does the senior have the final say in Huangmu Village?"

"Really?"

"Ah, well, um..."

"From now on, you have the final say in Huangmu Village. I'm just an ordinary villager in Huangmu Village, understand?"

"Understood, understood, understood, elder."

"Choosing a virtuous wife is the key to the prosperity of our family in Huangmu Village. The life of the villagers is not easy, so I hope you take good care of yourself."

Lin Jiang nodded and left after saying a few words. He asked Big Shadiao to continue lurking nearby. Nobody has ever discovered Big Shadiao in these many years, probably because this place is remote and there aren't many cultivators around.

In Lin Jiang's home, Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan sighed while preparing food and drinks to offer as tribute to Lin Jiang. Suddenly, they were startled when they saw Lin Jiang return.

"Lin Kai, you, you..."

"I'm alive, not dead."

"Ah"

Both of them were shocked, they could truly feel Huang Liang's murderous intent, why did they let Lin Jiang go.

"Lin Kai, why didn't the immortal kill you"

"I think the immortal knew he was in the wrong. He told me, 'A wise wife keeps her husband out of trouble,' so it's his wife's fault."

"Um, um..."

"Really, the yellow immortal is a good person."

Lin Jiang continued to deceive, whether you believe it or not, I believe it.

"What sound"

"It sounds like Mrs. Xu's wailing"

"What's wrong with her?"

A little while after Lin Jiang finished speaking, they heard a sound of distress coming from the village, like the screaming of a pig. Wasn't that Mrs. Xu's voice?

"Get lost! I'm dealing with my wife. It's none of your business. All of you, get lost! Don't eavesdrop or spy."

Just as the three of them were about to go and enjoy the commotion, Huang Liang's loud shout came through. Xiao Yuan and Fang Yuan shrunk their necks and retreated.

"Come, come, come. Let's eat, drink, there's nothing interesting to see."

Lin Jiang wasn't interested. What's so interesting about beating your wife, unless it's in the bedroom?

After this incident, Huang Liang became more friendly in the eyes of many people. Although he continued to collect offerings as usual, when the villagers sent supplies, he would say thank you. The women and children in his household were also strictly prohibited from going out. He no longer oppressed the villagers and even helped with their medical needs. Even when Xiao Yuan went out to trade, Huang Liang would recommend reliable businesses.

Lin Jiang was very satisfied with this. He was really afraid that Huang Liang was foolish. Dealing with smart people was much easier than dealing with fools.

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😂)

As the days passed, Lin Jiang began to consider leaving. He didn't come to the mortal world to show off, but to prepare for joining the Five Elements Sect. Zhang Ye had said that after abandoning cultivation, one should avoid contact with spiritual energy. After three to five years, it would be difficult for others to notice. It had been almost eight years now.

"Forget it, stay for two more years, make it a total of ten years, just to be on the safe side."

Lin Jiang hesitated for a long time and felt it would be better to be cautious. Joining the Five Elements Sect was a big deal and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes. It wouldn't be a big deal if he couldn't become a disciple, but if the Five Elements Sect mistook him for a spy and got rid of him, that would be extremely bad.

After making up his mind, Lin Jiang started to enjoy his life. He worked on the fields, hunted animals, played with the children in the village, and became the king of the children. It felt quite comfortable.

Chapter 113

Huangmu Village

On the hill behind the village, Huang Liang cautiously approached Lin Jiang. He looked at the bird that was even bigger than him next to Lin Jiang and started sweating with cold sweat.

"I have seen the senior."

"Not bad, you came just in time."

"I wonder if the senior has any advice to offer."

"I am getting ready to leave Huangmu Village, and I need your help with a small favor."

"It is an honor for me to serve someone older and more experienced."

Huang Liang said flatteringly. Great! This "esteemed deity" is finally leaving. He no longer needs to be so careful.

"Here is a token. Use your spiritual power to activate it. Within three to five days, someone will come to pick me up. I want to join their group as a mortal. You must remember my identity: I am the son of an ordinary farmer from Machao Village. About ten years ago, Machao Village was destroyed by monsters, and we fled here with the villagers. I am fifteen years old this year, and the token was handed down by my ancestors..."

Lin Jiang said. Machao Village is Xiao Yuan's village. It was one of the three villages that were destroyed. There aren't many people left alive in Machao Village now. In a few decades, when these people have died out, his identity will be unquestionable.

"Um..."

Huang Liang was suddenly dumbfounded. This meant he had to infiltrate the sect as a spy.

"Let me explain. I have already planned everything for you. If you are discovered, I might be able to escape, but your whole family will definitely be wiped out. You have no choice now."

Lin Jiang said to Huang Liang. He must be over sixty years old now. In the past few years, he has had seven children in Huangmu Village. The oldest is almost six years old. Huang Liang has no time or energy to go elsewhere. His family is now his greatest vulnerability.

"Yes, yes, senior, I dare not."

"Give you two hours to think through the details you should, and then activate it."

Lin Jiang threw the Ascension Order to him. The Ascension Order has two ways of being used. One is to take the token to the Five Elements Sect, and the other is to activate it with spiritual power. Naturally, the Five Elements Sect will send someone to pick him up.

Huangmu Village is thousands of miles away from the Five Elements Sect. Lin Jiang himself can't make it unless he takes the Big Shadiao. And it's not reliable for Huang Liang to escort him. With only the strength of Qi Refining fifth level, he might be killed halfway. Having the Five Elements Sect come to pick him up is the most secure option.

······

"Greetings, senior."

Five days later, two disciples from the Five Elements Sect appeared in Huangmu Village, and Huang Liang welcomed them right away.

"Are you the resident cultivator here?"

"Yes, senior."

"Who triggered the Ascension Order of my Five Elements Sect?"

"Reporting to the senior, it was me, but I was triggered by someone else."

Huang Liang's heart tightened, he thought it was an Ascension Order from some small sect, but he didn't expect it to be from the Five Elements Sect. He's in trouble now, he's done for this time.

"Where is the person?"

"Oh, I'll call the person for you right away."

Huang Liang quickly called for Lin Jiang, who was busy working. Lin Jiang had just come back from the field and was covered in mud.

"Kid, is this token yours?"

"Yes, it belongs to me, sir."

"How did you come here?"

"What my father gave me before he died."

"Tell me in detail, what happened?"

"Yes, immortal."

Lin Jiang explained everything in detail, which was the story he made up earlier.

"Taoist friend, can you guarantee that what he said is true?"

"I think so. I'm the only cultivator in this village. They all moved from other villages because the previous ones were affected by monsters. If you don't believe it, you can investigate."

"Child, come here."

The disciples of the Five Elements Sect didn't have the time for this. He just listened carefully for a while and indeed heard some villagers talking about past events.

Lin Jiang approached the disciple of the Five Elements Sect, and the man directly placed his hand on Lin Jiang's shoulder, his consciousness entering Lin Jiang's body.

"His energy channels are different from ordinary people, but there are no other problems."

The person turned around and said to the others. There is no spiritual energy detected in his body, no cultivation level detected either, only his energy channels are stronger than ordinary people. However, this detection cannot determine how strong his energy channels are.

"Then there is no problem."

The others said. Some people have extraordinary talents, so their energy channels are stronger than those of ordinary people. It's not something rare, there are even more special cases.

"Child, would you be willing to join our Five Elements Sect?"

"Immortal, can I also become an immortal?"

"Of course."

"Then I'm willing. Immortal, does that mean I won't have to farm anymore?"

"Haha, that's not necessarily the case."

The disciple of the Five Elements Sect laughed loudly and said. The most common occupation in the Five Elements Sect is a Spiritual Farmer. They have to farm.

"Ah, so even after becoming an immortal, they still have to farm?"

"So, are you going or not?"

"I will go. In any case, it's all farming. I want to farm the fields of immortals."

"Okay, let's go back then."

One person said, without much investigation. Firstly, they didn't believe that a young child and an independent cultivator with Qi Refining dare deceive them. Secondly, even if they were to join the sect, it depends on the situation. If they are merely outer disciples, it doesn't matter, as they won't have access to the core. If they were to become inner disciples, for example, then others would naturally verify.

"This is ten spirit stones for your settlement fee. He doesn't have any family left, so we're giving it to you."

A disciple of the Five Elements Sect threw ten spirit stones for Huang Liang's settlement fee and then flew away. Huang Liang looked at the spirit stones in his hand and fell into deep thought.

That night, Huang Liang lit a huge incense stick at home. When the aroma of the incense filled the entire village, he carefully took away several children, carrying and hugging them. He was running away, leaving behind his wife and concubine. Women are everywhere, but the children are the hope.

"Cheep..."

However, not long after flying, he saw a huge creature appear beside him. He turned his head and saw a gigantic bird head beside him, and Huang Liang almost fell off.

······

"Name"

"Xiao Yi"

"Age"

"Fifteen"

"Spiritual Root"

"What?"

"What's happening? You don't even know your Spiritual Root? Come here, let's test again."

The disciple from the Five Elements Sect grumbled unhappily, then pulled Lin Jiang to the Spirit Measuring Platform. After pricking Lin Jiang's finger, he dropped a drop of blood into the Spirit Measuring Platform.

"All five elements are complete. Another Five Spiritual Roots."

"Immortal..."

"From now on, call me Martial Uncle or Senior Brother, not 'Immortal,' it's embarrassing."

"Yes, Martial Uncle."

"Five Spiritual Roots, you can be an outer disciple. Next."

The disciple wrote down the record on Lin Jiang's Identity Jade Disc and then called the next person.

"Martial Uncle, isn't our Five Elements Sect focused on nurturing talents with Five Spiritual Roots? Why is he still an outer disciple?"

A boy beside Lin Jiang said, Lin Jiang turned around and said thank you in his heart, he also wanted to ask this question.

"Joke, out of ten cultivators, eight either have Five Spiritual Roots or Four Spiritual Roots. If we consider Five Spiritual Roots to be superior, then everyone would be an inner disciple, wouldn't they?"

"But, Martial Uncle, that's what everyone outside says."

"It's just a rumor, but Five Elements Sect does indeed have the opportunity to become an inner disciple or even a true disciple. This is an opportunity that other sects don't have. Someone will tell you the specifics later, for now let's move on to the next one."

A disciple of Five Elements Sect casually explained a few words and hurriedly registered information for the next person. Lin Jiang held the Jade Disc and entered the outer gate of Five Elements Sect with a few others.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Yue Qing. I come from the Yue family in Nanjiang. I have an uncle who is a steward in the outer gate of Five Elements Sect. And what about you?"

"I'm Peng An. My ancestors were once disciples of Five Elements Sect, but now my family is independent cultivators."

"My name is Ji Wen, same as Peng An."

"I'm Xiao Yi, a farmer in the village."

Lin Jiang said that Xiao Yi is Xiao Yuan's son's name, which was originally chosen by Lin Jiang. Let Xiao Yuan have a little advantage because this name sounds cool.

"Farming?"

Yue Qing was speechless. The Five Elements Sect no longer accepts disciples from the ordinary world unless they discover a talented disciple. Why would there be farmers?

So quickly, the small team of four, Lin Jiang became the invisible person, and the other three naturally formed a group. This is called having a common topic.

The four of them lived in the same courtyard, each with their own small room. But they were very small, even smaller than the rented house Lin Jiang had in a certain village. There was hardly any space besides a bed and a small table.

On the first day of the Five Elements Sect, everyone was excited. Yue Qing also invited Lin Jiang to discuss cultivation together. The three of them had never formally practiced cultivation before. The oldest was only thirteen years old, but their families all had cultivators, so they were familiar with cultivation. Their wish was to become Building Foundation cultivators because Building Foundation Period was the highest cultivation level they could aspire to. In their eyes, Building Foundation Period was already very powerful and prestigious.

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😨)

The next day, a disciple from the Five Elements Sect led them to familiarize themselves with the outer sect, but only in a small area because the outer sect of the Five Elements Sect was very large.

The Five Elements Sect's main gate covers an area of thousands of miles, but the core area of the inner sect is only a few tens of miles. The other places are considered part of the outer sect.

When the disciple found out that all four of them could read, he lazily handed them a small booklet and told them to read it on their own. He didn't bother giving them any more instructions.

Yue Qing and his friends were very familiar with the outer gate area. They had done their homework at home and could recognize everything without looking. Only Lin Jiang was busy reading a book.

On the third day, Lin Jiang and his friends became members of the Shanxue School, which is part of the Five Elements Sect. They didn't need to attend a beginner class because they could read, so they went straight to the practice class.

However, the practice class wasn't all about practicing. They also learned some basic knowledge about cultivating immortality, such as meridians, acupoints, and different levels of cultivation.

These things were very basic but very important. If they couldn't learn them, their cultivation would be in danger. Losing control and getting possessed by evil spirits was a definite possibility.

Lin Jiang had learned about these things in the Lin family, but the teachings in the Lin family couldn't compare to those in the Five Elements Sect. The knowledge was the same, but the key was the quality of the teachers. The instructors in the Five Elements Sect were specially trained to teach newcomers. It was like having top-level teachers in Blue Star.

Yue Qing had also learned about these things at home, but it wasn't systematic. They had to start learning from scratch. This part, overall, was not difficult. It was simply a matter of studying and memorizing.

None of the four of them acted immature or restless like typical children. They appeared quite mature and were diligent in their studies. Skipping class was nonexistent; each of them was hardworking.

After about a month, Lin Jiang graduated from the practice class along with Yue Qing and his friends. This level of strength was already impressive to the instructors at the Shanxue School because they knew that Yue Qing and his friends had family teachings, while Lin Jiang was a complete beginner.

After graduating from the practice class, they continued learning real cultivation.

These cultivation techniques are selected based on your Spiritual Root. They may not perfectly match with you, but you can practice them for now. If they don't suit you in the future, you can choose different techniques. The techniques collected by our Five Elements Sect are the best in Yun State, and there are plenty of them.

It's worth noting, disciples with Five Spiritual Roots, the cultivation technique you will practice is called 'Five Elements Sitting Zen Classic.' It is a simplified version of our sect's main technique, Five Spirit Manual. If you can break through three layers in one year without external assistance, you can be promoted to the inner sect and learn the true Five Spirit Manual, or you can choose the Unity Art and Hunyuan Treasure Book. There is also a greater chance of becoming a true disciple.

"Master, if we can't break through three layers in one year, does that mean we won't have a chance to learn the main technique?"

"That's not the case. If you can build a solid foundation and contribute to the sect after entering the inner sect, relying on Merit Points, you can still obtain it."

"Thank you, Master."

Lin Jiang replied, he had made up his mind not to be a genius. Being a genius attracted too much attention and made it easy to expose his true abilities. He decided to follow the ordinary path of those with Five Spiritual Roots.

Chapter 114

Five Elements Sect

On the tenth day of his cultivation at Shanxue School, Lin Jiang once again guided his breath into his body. Of course, he did so with deliberate control. Otherwise, with his mid-stage Foundation Building cultivation, he could have done it in just one night.

Now Lin Jiang's speed is not much different from others. Yue Qing, who is in the same courtyard, took seven days. Qiwen took nine days, and Peng An, like Lin Jiang, took eleven days.

However, this is enough for Yue Qing and the others to look up to Lin Jiang because in their eyes, Lin Jiang started from scratch. Peng An also has a cultivator in his family. According to the statistics from the Five Elements Sect, it takes an average of two weeks for someone with Five Spiritual Roots to cultivate their energy.

Once they have achieved a certain level of cultivation, the outer disciples can receive a salary. They receive one spirit stone per month, along with a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills containing five pills. Lin Jiang checked them and found that the quality of the Qi Gathering Pills was very poor and they were full of impurities. Lin Jiang didn't eat them at all. He believed that it was better to continue his hard cultivation instead of taking such pills.

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😞)

But Yue Qing and the others were happy with their meals. Although they have support from their families, they cannot bring it here because Shanxue School doesn't allow it. They believe that if they receive support too early, it would not be beneficial for the disciples to build a solid foundation.

Shanxue School is the most comfortable time for new disciples. During this phase, new disciples don't have to do anything except learn and cultivate. However, once they reach the mid-term of Qi Refining or after three years, they will automatically leave Shanxue School and have to take on responsibilities. They will be given specific tasks every year, or else they will lose all rewards from the school.

"This time, Xiao Yi deserves the reward. Xiao Yi also has Five Spiritual Roots and had no previous cultivation foundation. However, he has been much more diligent than all of you. In less than two months, he successfully learned the Fireball Spell and his cultivation is progressing rapidly. He has already completed half of the first stage of Qi Refining..."

Two months later, Lin Jiang was praised publicly by the masters of Shanxue School. Among the many new disciples, Lin Jiang showed the most improvement, leaving a good impression on the masters.

During this period of time, Lin Jiang indeed worked very hard. It was a night-and-day difference compared to his time at the Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa. This is also why Lin Jiang doesn't really want to stay in Shanxue School. It's full of young kids, and he, an old monster of over two hundred years, doesn't fit in here.

The rule at Shanxue School is that rewards are given without punishment. Every three months, the person who makes the most progress will receive a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills and three spirit stones. For those who don't make progress, the school won't bother with them. They will be kicked out once three years have passed.

There are rules in the sect when you turn sixty. If you haven't built a foundation by then, the sect will abandon you. Most people will leave, but a few are allowed to stay.

Lin Jiang accepted the praise from the teacher nervously. Yue Qing and the others secretly made up their minds to surpass Lin Jiang next time and receive praise from the teacher.

Shanxue School is also very good at exams.

After class, Lin Jiang would actively seek out the teacher to ask questions. The teacher patiently answers. The disciples of Shanxue School are not qualified to go to the Library Pavilion to read books. Everything relies on the teacher's answers.

Lin Jiang's questions are deeper than what he learns in class, and the teacher teaches him many things that Shanxue School doesn't teach, under Lin Jiang's guidance.

·····

"Five Elements Sitting Zen Classic is a cultivation technique that combines elements from the Five Spirit Manual and Sitting Zen Classic. It is not of high quality, but it is especially suitable for beginners with poor talent. The key is that Five Elements Sitting Zen Classic can perfectly integrate with the three great mountain-sealing techniques of Five Elements Sect."

Inside Five Elements Sect, Lin Jiang summarizes the content of Shanxue School. Now it is his third year of initiation, and he is already two hundred and twenty-one years old. If he were an ordinary person who hadn't built a foundation, he would have reached the limit long ago, but Lin Jiang still looks like he's seventeen.

Inside the Five Elements Sect, as long as he advances according to the normal cultivator's schedule, there is no problem. He will build his foundation before 60 years old and form his core before 200 years old.

Of course, it's not so easy to reach the level of Pill Formation. But before that, he can find a suitable cultivation technique for himself and then run away.

The only thing Lin Jiang is worried about is the Soul Lamp. Outer disciples don't need a Soul Lamp but once they reach the Foundation Building stage, they automatically advance to inner disciple and have to leave behind a Soul Lamp in the sect. Before that, Lin Jiang needs to take care of this matter.

"The Five Spirit Manual should be the most suitable cultivation technique for me. It is balanced and peaceful, although it advances slowly and requires the most spiritual energy, it is the most suitable for me."

Lin Jiang thought to himself, the three major foundational cultivation techniques of the Five Elements Sect are suitable for those with Five Spiritual Roots, but not for every individual with Five Spiritual Roots. For example, the Unity Secret emphasizes everything returning to one, to practice this technique, one must identify a main Spiritual Root within their body and then transform the spiritual energy of other Spiritual Roots into the spiritual energy of the main Spiritual Root. It's complicated and dangerous, but it is faster than practicing the Five Spirit Manual. It can also compare to those with only two or three Spiritual Roots.

The Hunyuan Treasure Book requires all five types of Spiritual Roots to be balanced, and the cultivation environment must have all five elements present. Then, the five types of Spiritual Roots can be fused into the primordial energy.

This cultivation technique is the most powerful in terms of strength, but it also has the highest requirements and is equally dangerous. It requires a powerful awareness to merge the primordial energy. If one's awareness can't keep up, it's easy to be harmed by the primordial energy.

Only the Five Spirit Manual is the safest. Although the cultivation speed is slower, it doesn't matter to Lin Jiang. He has plenty of time, so he can take it slow.

·······

"Reporting to Martial Uncle, disciple Xiao Yi here to request leave."

After graduating from Shanxue School, the disciples have the opportunity to take a leave. The sect not only gives them a leave of up to one month, but also provides benefits such as those swords that are not of high grade in the cultivation world but are considered powerful weapons in the mortal world. There are also some herbal medicines that can improve health. In the cultivation world, they are considered basic medicines, but to ordinary people, they are still miraculous elixirs.

Lin Jiang didn't forget to take advantage of the situation. He took everything he could and then left the gate of the Five Elements Sect. He traveled for a whole day and then released the Small Shadiao. They flew all the way to Huangmu Village to pick up the Big Shadiao.

In the blink of an eye, after a long journey, Big Shadiao came out early to welcome them, calling out "Brother, Brother" non-stop.

Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao had reached the third stage for almost twenty years, but their intelligence grew very slowly. Lin Jiang wanted to give them some Benefit Spirit Pills to eat, but the price discouraged him.

However, Lin Jiang made a Master-Servant Contract with Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao. Through secret techniques, Big Shadiao could share some of its memories with Lin Jiang. Through this secret technique, Lin Jiang learned about what had happened in Huangmu Village during his absence.

Overall, Huangmu Village was developing well. The population had increased significantly. With the addition of newborns, the population had reached more than two hundred. It had been over ten years, and the original children had grown up. The issue of labor shortage in Huangmu Village had been effectively improved.

Huang Liang had tried to escape several times, but was scared back by Big Shadiao. Big Shadiao also taught him a profound lesson by breaking his leg. It took a year for Huang Liang to recover from his injury. Over these years, Huang Liang lived in constant fear and more than half of his hair had turned white.

Lin Jiang retrieved his former storage bag and took out two third-stage Demon Cores, giving one to Big Shadiao and one to Small Shadiao. They had gone through a lot with Lin Jiang over the past decade, so this was a small compensation.

After putting away Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao, Lin Jiang arrived in Huangmu Village. Huang Liang, Xiao Yuan, and others quickly became alarmed. Lin Jiang wasn't even hiding this time; he appeared openly and honestly.

"Lin Kai, you've come back!"

"Lin Kai, I heard you went to practice magic, have you become a wizard?"

"Lin Kai, can you fly?"

"Lin Kai····"

Many villagers had countless questions for Lin Jiang. They chattered nonstop, but Lin Jiang responded with the kindest smile.

"Uncle Xiao, I'm back. Let's gather the villagers for dinner tonight. I'll treat them and we can talk slowly."

Lin Jiang said, then he took out a piece of monster meat from his bag. It was minced and mixed with regular meat, not because Lin Jiang was stingy, but because their bodies couldn't handle too much. Eating too much would cause them to explode.

"Alright, alright, I'll go get people."

Xiao Yuan's face lit up with surprise. He quickly went to gather everyone, while Lin Jiang told Fang Yuan to disperse the crowd and went back to his busy work.

After finishing everything, Lin Jiang turned around and looked at the neglected Huang Liang. He also had to consider his own affairs. This cause and effect should come to an end.