Cultivation: Being Immortal - Chapter 153
The deep wilderness.
“Useless, all useless! If you can’t refine the Shengyuan Pill, I’ll eat all of you.”
A man shouted angrily at several cultivators, who cowered in fear and dared not resist. They faced the shape-shifting Moon Howling Heavenly Wolf King.
Among the demon clan, to be called a Demon King, one must be at least at the fourth rank. But even the fourth rank is not enough. They must have the strength to conquer other fourth-rank demon beasts and make them submit, only then can they be called a Demon King.
The Moon Howling Heavenly Wolf King is the top Demon King in the Wilderness area, ruling over an area of tens of thousands of miles. It has more than ten fourth-rank demon beasts under its command.
“Honorable Heavenly Wolf King, it’s not that we haven’t tried, but the Shengyuan Pill is a sixth-rank elixir. We are just ordinary alchemists and we really can’t refine it.”
A cultivator spoke with a forced brave face and said. Heavenly Wolf King, once had one of its claws severed by a human Nascent Soul cultivator. Although Heavenly Wolf King used a secret technique to grow a new claw, it is unable to fully integrate with its Dao. Not only does it prevent it from exerting its full power, but it also affects its advancement.
In retaliation, Heavenly Wolf King captured many human cultivators. From the mouths of these captives, Heavenly Wolf King learned that humans have an elixir called the Shengyuan Pill, which can regenerate severed limbs and make them exactly the same as before, without any problems.
After that, Heavenly Wolf King began to capture cultivators on a large scale. Those who could refine pills were kept alive, while those who couldn’t were devoured. However, the problem was that the cultivators captured by Heavenly Wolf King were either at the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core stage. The most talented alchemists among them were only at the fourth rank and simply couldn’t refine a sixth-rank Shengyuan Pill. In Heavenly Wolf King’s rage, many cultivators were eaten.
“Then tell me, who can refine the Shengyuan Pill?”
“Pill King Li Ruoxu, the Pill Hall Masters of the Five Elements Sect, Zhonghang Sect, and Cloud Sword Sect. Those four people can definitely refine it.”
“What cultivation level are all four of them?”
“Nascent Soul stage”
“Yuan…, I don’t care, if you can’t refine the Shengyuan Pill within three years, you will all die, my children are starving.”
The Heavenly Wolf King hesitated, he might not be able to defeat someone at the early stage of cultivating the Nascent Soul, so he could only continue roaring at them.
“Heavenly Wolf King, I…”
“Crying noisily.”
Before the person could say anything else, the Heavenly Wolf King slapped him against the wall so hard that he couldn’t even move.
The others felt even more like crying. The Heavenly Wolf King was the only fourth-level Alchemist among them, and now you have killed him. We won’t be able to refine the Shengyuan Pill anymore. We’re done for.
·····
Inside the base of the Five Elements Sect, Zhang Shuhua found Lin Jiang and asked for money.
“No way, senior brother, are you asking me for money?”
“I truly have no money left.”
“Where’s your money? Did you spend it on damaging Chunfeng Tower?”
“No way, I’m not that kind of person.”
Zhang Shuhua spit disdainfully. From his perspective, could he appreciate those old constructions of Chunfeng Tower?
“I understand now, you were also robbed by Master.”
“Even my dad borrowed money from you?”
“He did.”
“How much do you want to borrow?”
“Five hundred thousand spirit stones.”
“Why are you so rich?”
Zhang Shuhua was shocked, unable to see that his junior apprentice brother was actually a wealthy person.
“Rich my foot! Several years of savings, all taken by our master.”
Lin Jiang was speechless. In the blink of an eye, it was their fifth year in the Wilderness. Zhang Wanjing saw that Lin Jiang had earned a lot of money, so he came to borrow from him. Thankfully, Lin Jiang was clever and divided his wealth into several portions, otherwise he would have been drained.
“You definitely still have money. Please lend me a little. I’ve spent all my money supporting my father’s medical treatment.”
“First, tell me, why is our master making so much money? It’s not like he wants to find you a second wife, does he?”
“Nonsense, my father, sigh.”
“Don’t sigh, speak up, leave half of your words, there won’t be a partner in the future.”
“Without any surprises, my father is planning to attack the Heavenly Wolf King.”
“The Heavenly Wolf King, is the Purple Origin Taoist Fruit, and my master wants to steal the Purple Origin Taoist Fruit.”
Lin Jiang quickly realized that the Wilderness’s monster races basically choose mountain peaks with spiritual veins as their habitats, and mountain peaks with spiritual veins will inevitably give birth to spiritual herbs. The stronger the monster race, the stronger the spiritual veins they occupy, and the more powerful the spiritual herbs they have.
It’s no secret that the Heavenly Wolf King’s lair has a Purple Origin Taoist Fruit. It has long been known that this Purple Origin Taoist Fruit is an extremely precious treasure that can help a golden core cultivator increase their chances of forming a baby core and help Nascent Soul stage cultivators enhance their cultivation.
The three overlords of the Yun State have all tried to covet this Purple Origin Taoist Fruit, but they have all failed. Apart from the fact that the Heavenly Wolf King is extremely powerful, another reason is that the Purple Origin Taoist Fruit has not matured yet. If it is moved recklessly, it could wither and die. Therefore, the three sects have not used their full strength to snatch it.
“Yes, the Purple Origin Taoist Fruit. My father has just arrived at the base and has already started inquiring about it. There is already clear news that the Purple Origin Taoist Fruit will mature within five years.”
“Master has only achieved perfection in the golden core stage. Can he defeat the Heavenly Wolf King? Can he defeat other Nascent Soul cultivators? By then, all the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Yun State may mobilize, including the Five Elements Sect. But will the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Five Elements Sect support Master?”
Lin Jiang raised several questions. The Nascent Soul cultivators of the Five Elements Sect, Zhang Wanjing has offended most of them, so it’s impossible to hope for their help. Just don’t cause trouble and drag us down.
“I don’t know, I’m just laying the groundwork, but my father definitely borrowed money from you for preparations.”
Zhang Shuhua said, his father had been away from the stronghold for over half a month, definitely planning something.
“Besides a special symbol with my master’s real name, what other cards does he have?”
“I don’t know, don’t keep asking me. I don’t know much, my father won’t tell me everything.”
“What about your mother, can she help?”
“No, my mother’s family is just starting out, they have weak power.”
“Oh.”
Lin Jiang sighed heavily, once again hating his own lack of strength. Over the past few years, even though he had been consuming medicine like crazy, he still only had intermediate cultivation in laying the groundwork, he couldn’t be of any help at all.
It’s impossible to persuade Zhang Wanjing to give up. Zhang Wanjing came to the Wilderness for the chance to form a bond, how could he possibly give up when it’s right in front of him.
“Don’t think too much, just take it step by step. We still have a few years ahead.”
“Can you achieve the Pill Formation stage within five years?”
“I can reach the later stage of the Foundation Establishment stage.”
“You’re also worthless.”
“You…”
“Why rush? I’m also worthless, there’s not much difference.”
Lin Jiang rolled his eyes. In fact, Zhang Shuhua wasn’t considered worthless anymore. He had been in the Foundation Establishment stage for about ten years and was already close to the later stage. This speed was quite fast.
The real worthless one was him. He had been cultivating for over two hundred years and was only in the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment stage. Even if he used the Plastic Bone Pill, compared to others, his talent was only average and couldn’t be considered a genius.
Zhang Shuhua fell silent, feeling quite worthless and sad.
“Here is the True Spirit Pill for you. Take it slowly and I’ll go now.”
Lin Jiang threw down two bottles of True Spirit Pill and quickly left.
After a moment, he appeared in Chunfeng Tower, a stronghold. Sister Hua, Yue Qing’s old sweetheart, saw Lin Jiang and burst into laughter.
“Sister Hua, I didn’t come for fun. Where is Yue Qing?”
Without waiting for her response, Lin Jiang immediately expressed his purpose. After spending years in the stronghold, Chunfeng Tower’s reputation had made him cautious.
“He should be in the workshop outside.”
“Send someone to inform him. I have something important to discuss.”
“Is it something very important?”
“Tell him to come back and arrange a room with some food and drinks.”
Lin Jiang casually said that he has visited Chunfeng Tower many times for meals. The girls here are not great, but the food is good.
Two hours later, Yue Qing came back.
“Senior Brother Xiao, what’s the rush?”
“I want to discuss something with you. The workshop, inn, and other shops will change the way bonuses are divided. Instead of yearly, it will be every three months.”
Lin Jiang said that his collaboration with Yue Qing is extensive. It’s not just one wine-making workshop, inn, and restaurant, but a total of more than ten stores dealing with the collection of rare beast and herbal materials. The annual bonuses amounted to nearly two hundred thousand.
“Alright, let’s start dividing from this month.”
Yue Qing immediately agreed. He had understood Lin Jiang’s tone. Although it was a discussion, there was no room for doubt. His business within the stronghold relied entirely on Lin Jiang’s protection, or else he would have been taken advantage of a long time ago.
“Do you still have connections in Medicine City?”
“My ancestor is still in Medicine City.”
“Keep half of the earnings, ask your uncle to help collect Demon Cores. Take as many as you can from flying demon beasts.”
Lin Jiang said, in these past few years, he has been wealthy and has taken good care of Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao. He gives them each a Demon Core every year, worth around a hundred thousand in total. This is even more than his own expenses.
But now, Lin Jiang is preparing for a sudden attack to see if he can push Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao to the fourth level. If they become fourth level demon beasts, they can help Zhang Wanjing.
Lin Jiang is not doing this out of pure kindness, but because he knows that his business in the stronghold is actually thanks to Zhang Wanjing. If he wasn’t Zhang Wanjing’s personal disciple, people would have already targeted his profitable business. Would they let him, a mid-level building foundation cultivator, make money?
Is being a mid-level building foundation cultivator powerful?
Let Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao break through, it’s also risky because once the Master-servant Contract surpasses two major realms, the beast pet could potentially devour its owner. This kind of situation has happened many times in the cultivation world, but Lin Jiang is confident that Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao won’t do that because he personally hatched them and they have been together for over two hundred years.
“Hey, Junior Brother, do you have a pet?”
“Don’t ask about this matter, just do as you’re told.”
Lin Jiang said, he had always kept the matter of Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao a secret, even Zhang Wanjing didn’t know. But this time, he had to take the risk of exposure.
“Yes, I understand.”
Yue Qing kept quiet. Junior Brother Xiao was not the same Junior Brother Xiao he used to sleep in the same courtyard with. This was dealing with higher-ups, so it was best to not ask too much.
“How’s business this year?”
Lin Jiang asked again. He needed to take stock of his wealth. In truth, he had made a fortune in these past few years.
In the first year at the stronghold, his income reached three hundred thousand spirit stones. It kept growing in the following years, already exceeding six hundred thousand spirit stones last year. Even though Lin Jiang used a lot himself, he still managed to save a million spirit stones. Of course, half of it had been borrowed by Zhang Wanjing now.
“Business is good. The dividends this year will be a little more.”
“Can the dividends reach three hundred thousand?”
“It’s hard to say.”
“I changed my mind. Find a way to get me a fourth-grade Demon Core. If you can get it, I’ll give you a ten percent stake.”
Lin Jiang immediately said. Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao want to breakthrough to the fourth level, but to surpass their bloodline limits, they must take strong medicine. The third level is probably not enough, they need a fourth level Demon Core.
“Senior Brother Xiao, it’s almost impossible to find a fourth level Demon Core, right?”
“You have a wide network, why not ask around? Just in case.”
Lin Jiang said. Yue Qing’s business level hasn’t declined. Not only is he familiar with all the disciples from the Five Elements Sect’s stronghold, but he has also made connections with a large number of independent cultivators. Without this strength, his business wouldn’t be doing so well in recent years.
In the Wilderness, there is hope for low-level disciples to obtain a fourth level Demon Core. Fourth level beasts are not immortal; the old ones, who are about to pass away, will hide in a secret place and wait for death. Cultivators have accidentally found these places before and earned a huge profit by obtaining intact fourth level beast bodies.
After arranging everything, Lin Jiang quickly left. He had his own network, not just relying on Yue Qing. He needed to make more preparations.