Cultivation: Being Immortal

Outside Bing State, Min Mountain

After trading resources with Lin Jiang and Lin Ying, they didn’t go directly back to their territory. Instead, they headed east towards Wilderness, where Small Shadiao was waiting to receive them.

"Brother, why are you here? Didn’t you just arrive a few days ago?"

"Lin Ying has been following me. Quickly, command your monster tribe to drive her away."

"Oh, what’s going on?"

"Hurry up, don’t expose ourselves."

"Alright, I’ll go now."

Without hesitation, Small Shadiao immediately gave the order. In no time, his monster tribe started to grow restless. As a fifth-tier Demon King, Small Shadiao had a group of fourth-tier monsters and some fifth-tier monsters under his command.

The forest creatures were getting restless, so Lin Ying decided not to chase them into the wilderness. If she got stuck deep in the wilderness, Tao Achieving might not be able to come out.

"Sister, I sense the presence of many powerful forest creatures. The other side must be a fifth-level Demon King."

Big Shadiao told Lin Ying that she was very sensitive to the scent of forest creatures and had already detected a very strong one.

"Let’s retreat for now."

Lin Ying nodded and turned to run away.

"Lin Yu, do you know who they are? How can a Nascent Soul have a fifth-level Demon King as their backer?"

"I don’t know."

"Could it be a traitor among the humans, controlled by the forest creatures?"

"I don’t know."

"·····"

Lin Ying was speechless. She had spent so much money to help Big Shadiao increase his intelligence, and now his intelligence was just like everyone else’s. But he still didn’t want to use his brain, and what could she do about it?

"Lin Yu, if I elevate you to the fifth level, will you become smarter?"

"Sister, do you think I’m stupid?"

"No, you’re the smartest."

"Really? Thank you, sister."

"Let’s go, let’s go home."

Lin Ying didn’t want to talk anymore. Talking with Big Shadiao made her furious. Big Shadiao had no problem with his intelligence now, but he still managed to be so infuriating.

"Brother, a little monster under your command came to report, the person has left."

After an hour, Small Shadiao received news that Lin Ying had left the Wilderness.

"It’s good that she’s gone."

"Brother, why don’t you reveal your identity? If our own sister kills you, it would be too unfair."

"If I reveal my identity, you’ll help me explain and take a beating for me?"

"Haha, let’s forget about that then."

"Lin Ying won’t harm me for now, she’ll just investigate my identity and find out about my connections in the Wilderness. I can’t meet Lin Ying again next time, or else I’ll definitely be exposed."

Lin Jiang said, he needed to come up with a plan. He had to continue cooperating with Yun State while ensuring his own safety. Lin Jiang couldn’t expose himself yet, because he needed to hide in the shadows to avoid being discovered by Yang Luo.

"Living is too tiring, brother. It’s better to come to the Wilderness and hang out with me, I’ll protect you."

"You’ve said enough. Come back and protect me when you become the Demon Emperor."

Lin Jiang pouted, saying that the mere fifth-level Demon King in the Wilderness was nothing, and that they should try reaching the seventh or eighth level.

·····

After going around in a big circle, Lin Jiang returned to his own territory, bringing back a large amount of resources to distribute among his subordinates.

The second group of disciples now only numbered forty people, all of them at least in the middle stage of Qi Refining. Lin Jiang needed to provide them with resources for cultivation. The number of people Lin Jiang directly supported had already exceeded one hundred.

"These are the inheritances of Pill, Talisman, Item, and Formation. Take one each and you don’t have to master them all, but you should have a basic understanding. Then choose the area you are good at to study. If you make progress, I will definitely reward you."

Lin Jiang handed a pile of jade scrolls to more than ten people around him. The disciples still in the elimination round were not required to study these. Their task was to improve their cultivation and complete various obedient tasks for Lin Jiang.

The group of disciples who were eliminated had to start other tasks. In fact, this was another form of elimination. If they achieved something in Pill, Talisman, Item, and Formation, Lin Jiang would naturally increase their training.

Lin Jiang didn’t expect them to be all-rounders. It would be great if they could learn just one skill, at least then they wouldn’t need to buy low-level resources from outside.

"Yes, sir."

Everyone received a jade token and quickly dispersed. They were used to Lin Jiang’s simple and efficient style, and even their work habits were focused and efficient.

"We need to give our group a name. Otherwise, it will be troublesome if things remain unclear. Ah, coming up with a name is so difficult!"

Lin Jiang thought about giving their group a name, but he realized he was not good at it. He couldn’t even come up with a proper name for his beast pet, Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao.

After much consideration, Lin Jiang finally decided to name their group Wangxian Sect. The name meant "Yearning for Immortality" in the cultivation world. It was a common name, just like the name Li Changsheng in the cultivation world.

Three days later, the plaque of Wangxian Sect was hung up. Those who had been eliminated were made inner disciples, while the second and third batch of young boys and girls became outer disciples. They were given positions and the structure of a sect was established.

Lin Jiang also asked them to interact with the surrounding groups to make Wangxian Sect appear more normal.

Soon, representatives from the dominant Pure Jade Sect in Bing State arrived. Lin Jiang acted appropriately and immediately expressed that Wangxian Sect could become a subsidiary of Pure Jade Sect. He even bribed the steward of Wangxian Sect.

And so, Wangxian Sect became one of the many subsidiaries of Pure Jade Sect, just an ordinary member among many. After all, Pure Jade Sect had too many subsidiaries and didn’t pay much attention to them. As long as they paid their annual tribute, everything was settled.

"Our Wangxian Sect has been established. Our strength is insignificant in the cultivation world, not even considered a third-rate force. We can only be considered a bottom-tier force. The task of expanding and enhancing our sect will be entrusted to all of you…"

Lin Jiang spoke to the junior disciples of the Wangxian Sect. From now on, there is an additional principle of respecting and honoring the teacher in the Wangxian Sect. As the sect leader, whatever Lin Jiang says goes, even if it’s wrong, it must be followed.

······

Yun State, Anhua City

Void Achieving Ancestor Feng Zhang from the Zhonghang Sect came to find Lin Batian. This time he came for Cao Ying. Cao Ying is already over 1,600 years old and has been at the peak of Soul Changing for many years. If she doesn’t break through soon, once her vital energy starts to decline, she will have no chance of achieving Void Achieving.

This is an unforgivable loss for the Zhonghang Sect. Apart from the massive resources invested in Cao Ying, there is no one else in the sect with certainty to achieve Void Achieving.

"Brother Feng, Cao Ying’s issue lies not in resources but her own state of mind. She has a strong Heart Demon. If we don’t solve this problem, no matter how many resources we pour in, it won’t be useful."

"I know that, which is why I’m here to ask for your help."

"It seems like we can’t help with the state of mind issue, right?"

"We can. Cao Ying’s foster father, Lin Wu, who was from your Lin family, deceived Cao Ying. Your daughter Lin Die and our Ouyang Qing from the Zhonghang Sect told her that Lin Wu had already died, which caused Cao Ying’s temperament to change dramatically."

"Is that true?"

Lin Batian was unsure. He really didn’t know about this matter. It was too insignificant for him to pay attention to.

"Really, I didn’t know at first. It was Ouyang Qing who noticed that Cao Ying was acting strange and told me. But by then, it was too late, so we had to come up with a plan."

"But the problem is, Lin Die has been missing for many years, and we don’t know if she is alive or dead. And Lin Wu, he really is dead."

"What I’m thinking is, since we already lied once, why not lie again and tell Cao Ying that Lin Wu isn’t dead?"

"Brother Feng, do you think this will work?"

Lin Batian looked at Feng Zhang in astonishment, wondering if he had lost his mind. In the past, they could deceive Cao Ying when she was just a little kid, but now she’s over a thousand years old. Can she still be fooled like this?

"We’ve tried everything else. We have no choice. There’s no one left to continue the Zhonghang Sect."

"Alright, but if this plan fails and Cao Ying goes mad, don’t blame me."

"Don’t worry, if Cao Ying completely loses control, I will personally take care of it, and it won’t involve any of you."

"Okay, I will go and fetch someone."

Lin Batian nodded, and then called Lin Ying over. He explained the situation to her, and Lin Ying was immediately confused.

"Little Ten, I know you are an honest child. I know it’s not right to lie, but Zhonghang Sect is our ally, and we need your help."

"Enough talking, I will take care of this matter."

Lin Ying said directly, her confusion stemmed from finding the situation too coincidental, without any other thoughts.

"Thank you, Lin Ying, rest assured, if this works out, I will definitely repay you generously."

Feng Zhang also immediately expressed that this matter was too difficult, and if it succeeded, he would definitely give a generous gift.

Lin Ying quickly arrived at Zhonghang Sect with Big Shadiao. Cao Ying was still living alone, and Big Shadiao looked a bit bewildered upon entering and seeing many Aurora falcons.

"Stop playing, come with me."

Big Shadiao was eager to try playing with these fellow creatures, but was taken away by Lin Ying.

"What does Taoist Friend Lin want to see me for?"

"I came to break your Heart Demon."

"I don’t have a Heart Demon."

"Your uncle didn’t die."

Lin Ying wasted no words and got straight to the point, this sentence greatly shocked Cao Ying.

"Is Taoist Friend Lin joking with me on purpose?"

"I’m not joking with you, your uncle’s name is Lin Wu, also known as Lin Jiang, also known as Xiao Yi, and now maybe called Li Changsheng."

"Explain clearly."

"Okay, but you have to promise me that no matter what I say, only you will know about today’s events, and you must not tell anyone else."

"I promise, go ahead."

"Your uncle is my real brother, ranked as the sixth brother, named Lin Jiang…"

Lin Ying told Cao Ying everything she knew, some things were confirmed, while others were her own guesses.

For example, Lin Ying wondered if Lin Jiang had encountered something extraordinary that gave him a longer lifespan, or if he had his own reasons for hiding in the Wilderness. That’s why Lin Ying didn’t tell Lin Batian about the possibility of her brother hiding there, she wanted to keep it a secret for her brother.

"So, you mean my uncle gained a longer lifespan because of an extraordinary experience. He left the Lin family, went to Yunzhong City, then disguised himself as his own son and made contact with you. He later joined the Five Elements Sect, changed his name to Xiao Yi, and had contact with you for several hundred years before faking his death in Xuanmiao City?"

"Yes, that’s pretty much the process."

Then tell me, why hasn’t my uncle come back to find me? He promised me. Why has he been in the Five Elements Sect for hundreds of years without coming back?

Why does your sister Lin Die want to deceive me with my master, and why does he not recognize your Lin family, why…

Lin Ying thought she had explained it clearly enough, but Cao Ying’s series of questions left her speechless. Yes, why? Why does her brother distrust others so much? He doesn’t trust their own father, their own sister, or even their adopted daughter. Why is that?