Wilderness, old base
The flying boat descended and the disciples of Five Elements Sect in the base bid farewell one by one to Lin Jiang and Zhang Shuhua, boarded the flying boat. The number of people in the old base dropped drastically, now less than five hundred per day. The disciples of Five Elements Sect in the base no longer needed so many people, they were all dismissed.
"Senior Brother Xiao, Senior Brother Zhang, remember to come find me when you return to the sect."
"Senior Brother Xiao, Senior Brother Zhang, take care."
"Go back and focus on your cultivation. Don't worry too much, we'll return as champions."
Lin Jiang also gave them individual advice and personally sent them onto the flying boat, then watched as they departed.
"Stop looking, they're all gone."
"Such a big base, but less than fifty people remain. The prosperity and silence are just a thought away."
Zhang Shuhua shook his head. Not long ago, this base was overcrowded, with over a thousand disciples from Five Elements Sect alone, plus independent cultivators and disciples of small factions, totaling tens of thousands of people. The whole base was very crowded, but now, the total number of people in the base is less than a thousand, and it's already very deserted.
"Isn't this great? There are so many houses in the stronghold, you can just pick any of them."
"Some find it hard to accept."
"I think you're silly. Isn't it nice to live a peaceful life for a few years? Goodbye."
Lin Jiang waved his hand and walked away. He had a positive mindset and with his influence and power, he could live comfortably. Even if he was alone, he could manage. With such a long lifespan, he could adapt to any environment.
From then on, Lin Jiang started living a leisurely life. The number of visitors to the stronghold decreased each day, and the remaining disciples could handle it completely. During the day, he checked in, painted spiritual talismans, or secretly slipped out of the stronghold to go fishing by a lake.
He released Small Shadiao to continue being a useful bird, hunting around and bringing back prey. He could also study the art of spiritual cuisine.
Spiritual cuisine was a complex knowledge. One pot of stew made with various foods and medicinal ingredients with spiritual energy would be called spiritual cuisine. With hundreds of different ingredients carefully combined, it possessed various extraordinary effects.
Lin Jiang had someone buy books on spiritual cuisine and studied them diligently. Combined with his willingness to experiment without regard to cost, his culinary skills in making spiritual cuisine kept improving, and even Zhang Shuhua enjoyed the benefits.
To the north of the old base, there was a lake. It wasn't big, maybe only a few thousand acres, but it was very deep, at least a few hundred meters.
This place is abundant in a kind of fish that is completely white. It tastes amazing. Before, it was selling very well at the base, almost disappearing. Now that the base has declined, in just two years, these fish have become more plentiful again.
Lin Jiang loved eating fish. This lake was not as terrible as the Yuntuo River, so of course he wanted to eat as much as he could. That's why he would sneak out every once in a while to go fishing.
"These days are so great. I don't have to work nine to five, I still get my salary. I can leisurely fish during work, and no one cares. It's like being a god!"
Lin Jiang lay on the grass by the lake, next to him was the fish grilling machine he had made. Actually, it was activated by a spell, making the grill constantly rotate so that the fish wouldn't be overcooked. There were more than ten fish on top.
"Fish, fish..."
Small Shadiao stood by the lake, looking at a row of fishing rods in front of him. Some of them were shaking, indicating that a fish was caught. Small Shadiao reminded Lin Jiang, but he pretended not to hear.
Small Shadiao got angry and snorted, then dove into the lake and later emerged with a large fish in his mouth.
It walked up to Lin Jiang, waved the fish in front of him a couple of times, then tossed it up in the air. It opened its mouth, and the fish fell right into it. With a "gulp" sound, the entire fish was swallowed.
"What a silly creature!"
After looking at it, Lin Jiang burst into laughter. Did the little silly creature really think he would get angry?
After a while, the fish was cooked. Lin Jiang took out a bottle of special drink and started barbecuing with some wine. The little silly creature leaned over and tried to snatch the drink.
"Little silly creature, you are a magical animal, you can't drink alcohol, really."
"Drink, drink, drink!"
"If you try to grab it from me again, I'll get really angry. This is something I bought with great effort from Medicine City, it cost eighty special stones."
"I'll hit you!"
The little silly creature ignored everything and just snatched the drink and tried to run away. Lin Jiang approached, they fought playfully, and that was the end of it; the silly creature pressed Lin Jiang to the ground and rubbed against him.
"Damn it, third level is nothing! Once I advance to the golden core, I'll pluck all your feathers!"
Lin Jiang patted off the dust on his body and complained. He couldn't really beat Small Shadiao, unless he used the Master-servant Contract magic. That thing was like the tightrope spell that Tang Sanzang used on Sun Wukong, it couldn't be undone.
But Lin Jiang had never used it before, it hurt his feelings.
Small Shadiao rolled its eyes at Lin Jiang, holding its spiritual wine and went to enjoy on the side. After finishing the spiritual wine, it imitated Lin Jiang and lay beside him, basking in the sun. Lin Jiang pulled its bird leg and used it as a pillow.
"Ying, ying..."
Lin Jiang was about to take a nap when suddenly, Small Shadiao got up, made a sharp cry, and directly flipped Lin Jiang over.
Lin Jiang stood up and expanded his spiritual awareness, seeing ripples appearing in the formation he set up.
"Come out."
Lin Jiang growled lowly, warning anyone who dared to approach him stealthily.
"Lin Wu"
In the ripples, a person appeared, and it was Lin Die.
"Three, three..."
Lin Jiang was startled and didn't know whether to call her Third Sister or Third Auntie.
"You Shadiao, can't even recognize your own people, looking for trouble."
Lin Jiang quickly gave Small Shadiao a bump on the head, then stuffed it back into the Spirit Beast Bag, not giving it a chance to protest. Only then did he open the formation.
"Life is going well."
"It's okay, how did you find me?"
"My father said, how did you infiltrate the Five Elements Sect? It wouldn't be at my father's orders, right?"
"No, it's all for the cultivation techniques."
"The cultivation method of the Five Elements Sect indeed has its uniqueness, especially when it comes to the Five Spiritual Roots. So, how is your cultivation progress?"
"Great! Not just a little good, but very good. The cultivation method and my own nature are extremely compatible. The future looks clear, and as long as I follow the steps, at least I don't have to worry about bottlenecks before reaching the Nascent Soul stage."
Lin Jiang said, Lin Jiang was not lying. The compatibility of the cultivation method is truly important. Although the previous Sitting Zen Classic also suited his situation, it was nowhere near as compatible as the Five Spirit Manual.
"As long as you're doing well, I can rest assured."
"How is the Lin family? This time we've offended three major sects. Everything okay?"
"It's okay, everything has been resolved."
"I haven't heard any news from the Lin family, so I think everything should be fine."
Lin Jiang said. Before, Guo Yunfeng was very angry. He thought that the Five Elements Sect would launch a major attack on the Lin family, but now it has been a while and there is no movement. I wonder how Lin Batian resolved the situation.
"I came today mainly to see you, and also to bring you something. Please take it."
"Peach, magical peach?"
Lin Jiang took the storage bag handed to him by Lin Die, filled with magical peaches.
"This is from Lin Ying, your biological aunt. These magical peaches come from Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa, the place where your father lived for several decades."
Lin Die said, causing Lin Jiang to shiver as memories flooded back.
"Lin Ying also mentioned that if you return to the Lin family, she will give you back the Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa. It originally belonged to your father and should be passed down to you."
"I can't go back."
"I understand. This time, my father asked me to relay a message to you. He doesn't want you to return to the Lin family."
"Ah!"
"The Lin family will face a great disaster in the future. Everyone in the Lin family could possibly die. Father said you should continue to live in hiding, staying with the Five Elements Sect and keeping your connection to the Lin family strictly confidential."
"What happened? Wasn't the Lin family thriving? Why did they encounter a major disaster?"
"I don't know. Dad didn't say. Just listen to him."
"Why, why on earth?"
"There's no need for so many whys. Just listen and follow. You don't have to fulfill the promises you made to my dad before. Just live your life well."
"You're playing games with me, saying half and leaving half. Are you trying to trick me?"
Lin Jiang became worried. He couldn't understand why the Lin family would face a major disaster and why he was being told not to go back.
"Don't ask me. I don't know either. Just do as you're told."
"What about Lin Ying? Where is she?"
"She's in seclusion, preparing to break through to the Nascent Soul stage."
"This, this..."
"I won't be able to visit you anymore, and nobody from the Lin family will be seen by you. Take good care of yourself from now on."
"Three, Third Auntie, please don't be like this, I'm a bit scared."
"What are you scared of? Just pretend you don't know anything, things will be the same as before."
"No, I mean the big disaster, can we avoid it?"
"I don't know, dad hasn't said anything."
"How can he not say anything? It's better to be prepared if he did."
"We are already preparing, practicing is preparation. The big disaster won't happen so soon, it will take a long time."
"I..."
Lin Jiang was feeling anxious and restless, his emotions were very complicated, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.
"I'll warn you again, don't go to the Zhonghang Sect to meet Cao Ying, something terrible will happen. I have said my piece, and now I'm leaving."
Lin Die finished speaking, lifted her flying sword, and flew away directly.
"Third Sister, please explain clearly."
Lin Jiang whispered, but Lin Die had already disappeared. Lin Jiang stomped his foot in frustration; Lin Die was really getting on his nerves.
Giving him such a vague and confusing message was not fair. It was making him unable to sleep at night.

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