Medicine City, the third day of the Medicine Conference.
Lin Jiang stood on a tall balcony, looking into the distance. His eyes were still filled with a crowd, like a popular tourist spot during a holiday.
"These are moving people, no, these are moving spirit stones!"
Lin Jiang was in a great mood. Three speculative projects, all of them were successful. The most profitable one was selling boxed lunches. By selling them at a low price, they outdid the small vendors in the city and even managed to put some lower-end restaurants out of business.
The sixteen Qi Refining Period disciples who tried selling boxed lunches to Lin Jiang and his friends, each of them got hit twice. They were disliked by many people. But Yue Qing wasn't one to be taken lightly. He brought in a senior relative from his family to teach those attackers a lesson.
Half of the frozen meat from three warehouses had already been used up. While Yue Qing continued to restock, he went to places farther away from Medicine City. Every night, his close friends were thrilled and stayed up all night counting their spirit stones.
Have you heard the saying "Closed for three years, open for three years, and that's how it goes"?
"Pill, Talisman, Item, and Formation. I've got a touch of each. Except for the clothing industry, I'm involved in everything related to food, shelter, and transportation. Today, it's time for the fourth speculative project, which is about transportation."
Lin Jiang thought to himself, this time at the Medicine Conference, he engaged in four risky projects, each one carefully planned. He collaborated with the people from Talisman Hall, not only to make money but also to win over a group of people from Talisman Hall.
As for the residence, he worked with a group of people including Zheng Yi. He valued the unity of Zheng Yi and his group. Lin Jiang had been at Qingyang Mountain for twenty years, and apart from those who left the sect after reaching a certain age, Zheng Yi's group remained unchanged. They had always been old comrades, demonstrating their strong unity. This kind of team was quite powerful. Most of them had descendants who could cultivate in the future, and they might be able to help each other. At the very least, they could establish a good relationship.
On Yue Qing's side, the main focus was on making money. Moreover, there was a bit of flattery involved. Yue Qing was good at researching and had many friends in the Building Foundation Period, which brought many benefits to Lin Jiang's risky undertakings.
The fourth project was about traveling. Lin Jiang had participated in the Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration twice and knew the current situation outside the city. Thieves were rampant, most of whom were ordinary cultivators within the city. It was only the temptation of huge benefits that turned them into thieves. Every time such a large gathering took place, it turned into a slaughter outside the city. One could only imagine how many lives would be lost.
Since there was danger, there would also be a need. And the demand was very high. Lin Jiang had already made arrangements a long time ago.
"Junior Brother Xiao, I'm at the City Lord's Residence. Come quickly."
In the afternoon, Lin Jiang received a message using the Sound Passing Talisman. Inside was a single sentence. Lin Jiang immediately went to the City Lord's Residence.
"Junior Brother Xiao, I'm here."
A serious-looking strong man waved his hand at Lin Jiang, who eagerly walked over.
"Hello, Uncle Zhang Martial."
Lin Jiang greeted a person named Zhang Shuhua, who was a cool disciple he had brushed Merit Points with before. Later, Lin Jiang and Zhang Shuhua had worked together a few times, so they were somewhat familiar with each other.
Afterward, Lin Jiang asked a guide to find out which Building Foundation Period experts were powerful within the sect. The guide introduced Zhang Shuhua and listed his brilliant achievements.
Zhang Shuhua was a well-known Merit Points hunter among the outer disciples. Within the Qi Refining Period, he almost single-handedly took over more than half of the difficult and high Merit Points tasks, especially killing evil cultivators and hunting down traitors. He had a record of killing those at the early stages of the Building Foundation Period, but nobody knew how he did it.
In short, most people described him in two words: ruthless and incredibly strong.
This made Zhang Shuhua an excellent partner for Lin Jiang. So Lin Jiang approached him and, with his persuasive tongue, successfully convinced him.
However, Lin Jiang had a small share in this venture. Firstly, because he didn't have much money left after investing in three previous projects. Secondly, because Lin Jiang's own abilities were lacking, if he had a larger share, there would inevitably be troublesome disputes later on. Therefore, he only took a small portion, leaving the rest to Zhang Shuhua and his fellow disciples as a way to make friends.
"Junior Brother Xiao, I am sorry."
"Ah"
Lin Jiang was confused. Who wouldn't be, hearing this for the first time? What is this guy up to? Is he planning to deceive me and take away my shares?
"I told Zhang Martial Uncle about our matter."
"What matter? Don't make things up, we don't care."
Lin Jiang's face changed, he immediately turned around to run, but as soon as he did, he saw Zhang Wanjing and abruptly stopped in his tracks.
Fine, can't run away. If we were outside the city, we could rely on Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao to escape. But here, forget it.
"Hello, Martial Uncle Zhang."
"Xiao Yi, we meet again. It's quick, isn't it?"
"Yes, look, the weather is really nice today."
Lin Jiang felt embarrassed, as he was caught red-handed being scheming. Did the Five Elements Sect actually commit the crime of scheming and betrayal?
If not, then I won't be in vain.
"Come in, Martial Uncle Zu invites you for tea."
"Martial Uncle Zu, let's just talk here."
Lin Jiang frowned. Drinking tea isn't just a casual thing. This statement has multiple meanings. Please don't make me guess randomly, I might misunderstand.
"Don't be afraid, I..."
"I'm not afraid."
"Martial Uncle is speaking, please don't interrupt."
Zhang Shuhua said. What's going on? Have you no manners? Don't you know you shouldn't interrupt others while they're speaking?
"Please don't scare him, Shuhua."
"Yes, Martial Uncle."
"Xiao Yi, I'm not blaming you for coming, but to tell you that your business is gone, taken by the sect."
"Martial Uncle, I don't understand."
Lin Jiang continued pretending to be dead, but he had already guessed what was going on.
"It's okay if you don't understand, Martial Uncle. Anyway, thank you for your support. I will repay you the money you lent me, and I will also give you credit. Your suggestion was great, and I've already talked to the sect about it. I'll try to see if I can apply for a Building Foundation Pill for you."
"Building Foundation Pill! Oh, Martial Uncle, I understand now. It was my idea, my suggestion!"
When Lin Jiang heard this, he couldn't help but smile. The Building Foundation Pill was worth at least thirty thousand spirit stones. With his one-tenth share from Zhang Shuhua, how could he possibly receive so many spirit stones?
"Shuhua, you young people talk it out. I have something to do, so I'll leave first. After you finish talking, come get support from me with the spirit stones."
"Yes, Martial Uncle."
"Young man, work hard. I have high hopes for you."
Before leaving, Zhang Wanjing gave Lin Jiang an encouraging look.
"Martial Uncle, may I ask, who is Martial Uncle Zhang to you?"
"He is my father."
"Oh."
"Are you surprised?"
"Then why don't you call him 'father'?"
"My father said that within the sect, we must address each other by our official rank (level of cultivation)."
"Still not right, I asked about you. Without a powerful backer in the sect, if your father is a highly skilled steward with a golden core, you should have entered the inner sect. Why stay in the outer sect and take on dangerous tasks?"
Lin Jiang shook his head. The news from the pimp should be very reliable, there shouldn't be such a mistake.
My father looks down on disciples who enter the inner sect right away. Inner sect disciples don't have to do tasks for the sect, and they receive ten times the salary compared to outer sect disciples. So they never understand the hardships of lower-level cultivators, they don't know about the ways of the world. Even if their cultivation level is high, they think they're useless. That's why he specially applied to the sect, so that I could start from the outer sect.
(Translated by Gravity Tales 😢)
As for my identity, it's simple. My mother is not a disciple of the Five Elements Sect. I joined the sect through her. My father and I didn't say anything, so naturally no one knows."
"Martial Uncle Zhang has great integrity, Xiao Yi greatly admires him."
When Lin Jiang heard this, he was filled with respect. Being in a high position but not profiting from his own people, how selfless he must be. Could it be that Zhang Wanjing is the justice of the cultivation world?
Lin Jiang knew he couldn't be so selfless himself. He was just an ordinary person, consumed by worldly desires. But he greatly admired such individuals.
"Many people still don't know about this, please don't spread it."
"Don't worry, no one else knows for sure."
"Come with me to collect the spirit stone, I'll give yours back to you."
"Okay."
"Don't be sad, my dad noticed you, you're lucky!"
"Ahem, we need to be clear when we talk, we can't be vague and let people misunderstand."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing, just kidding, let's go, Martial Uncle."
Lin Jiang shrugged, this person is really cold, doesn't even know how to joke.
On the other side of City Lord's Manor, Lin Jiang took the spirit stone and saw twelve large flying ships. He couldn't help but ask, "Does the sect want to expand our business?"
Lin Jiang and Zhang Shuhua's cooperative project was to jointly buy a large flying ship and start a transportation business. They would have Zhang Shuhua, a strong cultivator in the Building Foundation Period, as the transporter, and the backing of the Five Elements Sect. Lin Jiang believed that no bandit would dare to attack them.
With this large flying vessel, we can easily fit hundreds of people inside. Each person could even receive ten spirit stones. If the journey is long, the fare could be even higher. By making three to five trips a day, we can easily earn tens of thousands of spirit stones.
"You have a narrow perspective."
"Then please, Martial Uncle, enlighten me."
"It's free. My father applied to the sect for it. In order to host a successful Medicine Conference and allow it to continue, he specially requested twelve large flying vessels. Each vessel will be guarded by a cultivator at the Golden Core Period, with a Nascent Soul Ancestor available for support. Twelve routes have been selected, and anyone traveling on these routes can ride for free. Though we may not be able to cater to all the visiting cultivators, we can accommodate around seventy to eighty percent of them."
"Martial Uncle, I... I can only say that I admire you."
Lin Jiang took a deep breath. This time, he was truly astonished by Zhang Wanjing's move. It was something he never expected, a grand strategy beyond the ordinary.
"Father, well...forget it. I am also a guardian disciple and don't have time to chat with you. I will find you after the Medicine Conference."
Zhang Shuhua shook his head. His father had faced severe criticism regarding the transportation of the flying vessels. It required a significant expenditure of spirit stones to operate the twelve vessels and allocate personnel for protection. Originally, this could have been a great opportunity for the sect to earn a large amount of spirit stones.
With hundreds of thousands of cultivators attending, if each person could contribute three to five spirit stones, imagine how much that would amount to. However, due to his father's narrow perspective, that money was lost, and who knows how many people now resent him.

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