Cultivation: Being Immortal

Chapter 140

The Five Elements Sect, Outer Sect.

Hundreds of apprentice disciples were holding various tools to dig trenches and canals. This process is actually not difficult. No matter how complex the terrain is, they can handle it. Even some hard rocky mountains cannot resist their attacks, and if things get tough, there's always Zhang Wanjing.

The most troublesome are Lin Jiang and the others, because they are in charge of communication and negotiation. Trenches and canals take up some of the spiritual land. How can it be done without discussing it with the landowner?

As for the farming disciples in the Outer Sect, it's easier. With Zhang Wanjing's Golden Core cultivation, once he asserts his identity, few people would refuse. The trouble lies with the sect. There are people causing troubles, saying this can't be done and that can't be done, seriously affecting the progress of the project.

Every time, it's Lin Jiang and the others who have to negotiate. It starts off with begging and pleading, and eventually it leads to arguments. Lin Jiang has a good temper, but Zhang Wanjing can't be controlled. He would resort to fighting. With his cultivation level, anyone below the Deputy Hall Master rank is no match for him.

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😠)

But because of this, Zhang Wanjing has received numerous disciplinary measures from the Law Enforcement Hall. They don't dare to do much to him, except deduct his salary. Zhang Wanjing's salary for the next thirty years is gone.

"Master, losing my salary is not a big deal. I can support you in the future, disciple will take care of you."

Lin Jiang confidently said to Zhang Wanjing, showing his support for him.

"Probably."

This question seemed to lack confidence.

"Is that so? Let me calculate then. The cultivation pill for the Golden Core Period is called the Yuanye Pill, and it costs three thousand spirit stones per pill. I probably use twenty-four pills in a year. But there's also an auxiliary pill called the Jingyuan Pill, which costs two thousand five hundred per pill. I would need forty-eight pills in a year, and..."

"Master, I was just joking."

Lin Jiang quickly said. Never mind, forget it. I take it back, alright?

"Kid, let Master teach you something today. Don't go around saying you can support anyone. You can't afford to support anyone. Do you think feeding someone and keeping them from starving is enough?"

"Master is right. I have learned my lesson, but I have something to attend to, so I'll be going now."

Lin Jiang had a lucky escape, and Zhang Wanjing's words sounded familiar, like an internet meme.

The man said. I will support you," and the woman presented a list including clothes, shoes, makeup, skincare products, rent, and food expenses. After calculating the total, she spread her hands and asked. Can you afford to support me?

········

The water project had some difficulties, but it was mostly completed. There were only some minor issues left. At the same time, Lin Jiang's idea of promoting farming tools was also put into action. With Zhang Wanjing's investment, Zheng Yi's team was able to update their tools, increasing their quantity tenfold. Zhang Wanjing recruited apprentices to operate the tools and offered low-cost farming and fertilizing services for other apprentices.

Overall, Zheng Yi and his team's income decreased, so Lin Jiang provided them with additional support. Instead of giving them spirit stones, he offered other things like better guidance and some secret techniques.

Lin Jiang saw this as something natural. Even in modern society, agriculture receives government subsidies, and developed countries do the same.

However, many people didn't understand and thought they were foolish.

Instead of explaining, Lin Jiang told Zhang Wanjing that if he gained power in the future, this subsidy should be paid by the sect.

As time passed, it was time for another year's harvest of spiritual paddy. Zhang Wanjing, Lin Jiang, and others randomly arrived at a piece of spiritual land. There was a cultivation version of a harvester working, using spirit stones as its energy source and magical arrays on its circuit board instead of regular wiring. It was developed by more than ten craftsmen following Lin Jiang's ideas, with only three units in total.

"Senior Brother Xiao, your design is amazing. This will definitely be a big business in the future."

Some of the alchemists were also there, and one of them noticed a business opportunity. He was very enthusiastic about Lin Jiang and could foresee that this thing could be marketed. The entire Yun State is so big, with many sects and families, all growing spiritual paddy. The business will be huge.

"Senior Brother, I'll give you this design for free. Let's not charge for these harvesters."

"Ah, Senior Brother, that's not possible. I..."

"Then I'll sell the design tomorrow. I'm sure many people would want to buy it."

"Senior Brother, please let me buy your design. Is that okay?"

The alchemist's face changed dramatically. This thing is not difficult to refine, as long as there is a blueprint. Even an ordinary second-level alchemist can make it.

"That's about right. Senior Brother, don't worry. We belong to the same sect as brothers. I definitely won't leak it privately. But if someone manages to decode it, it won't be my responsibility anymore."

"Of course, Senior Brother. Let's keep in touch more in the future."

The craftsman nodded his head. In the cultivation world, there is no such thing as patents or copyrights. In the future, someone will definitely figure it out, but as long as he takes advantage of the opportunity, making a large profit won't be difficult.

"Okay, okay."

Lin Jiang casually said, his gaze focused on the harvested spiritual paddies.

The harvested spiritual paddies were sent to a drying formation. In less than an hour, the moisture would be completely dried.

"Seven hundred and twenty-one pounds, too high, too high. Last year I was only four hundred and eighty pounds, haha."

"Brother, it's an output of seven hundred and twenty-one pounds per mu of spiritual paddies, not your personal weight, otherwise you'd be a big fat pig, haha."

After weighing the spiritual paddies, a few farming disciples burst into laughter.

"Let's go, to the next place."

Zhang Wanjing didn't stay, quickly moving to another location.

There is no harvester here, but there are people who can harvest like a humanoid. Many disciples control the sickle with their spiritual awareness and harvest the spiritual paddy with a swishing sound. They are not slower than a harvester, but they can't last long. They have to stop after a while and ultimately resort to manual labor.

"The previous harvester had great potential and could be popularized in the entire Yun State, even in the entire cultivation world. Xiao Yi, you will go down in history."

"Master, I signed your full name."

"You..."

"Master, as a disciple in the Building Foundation Period, what do I need a reputation for?"

Lin Jiang shook his head. Even if Xiao Yi was his name, it would be a waste to write it.

"Master owes you too much."

"Then let me repay a little. Master, help me find some seniors who practice the Five Spirit Manual. Those folks in Chuangong Hall are all inferior goods."

Lin Jiang rolled his eyes. The Five Spirit Manual was the sect's top cultivation technique, but the Library Pavilion not only lacked cultivation techniques, but also insights. The only option was to seek guidance from Chuangong Hall or exchange Merit Points for lessons.

Someone wanted to deal with Zhang Wanjing, and Lin Jiang got caught up in it too. After several attempts, the people from Chuangong Hall were overwhelmed. Lin Jiang didn't get any answers to his questions, which made him so angry that he wanted to fight, even though he couldn't win.

"Don't worry, from now on I'll find a golden core, no, Nascent Soul to teach you."

"Why don't you find Soul Changing instead?"

Lin Jiang refused to believe Zhang Wanjing's big talk. The task was too difficult and he couldn't handle it.

The master and his two apprentices went to seven or eight different places the whole day. These places were all planted with new spiritual paddy seeds, along with adequate fertilizer and well-established irrigation systems. The average yield per acre reached nearly 700 pounds, while before, it was less than 500 pounds. (Don't bring modern concepts into the world of cultivation.)

"Martial Uncle Zhengong is renowned through the ages, and Zheng Yi represents the vast number of outer disciples. Zheng Yi thanks Martial Uncle Zhengong."

When Zheng Yi heard this data, he almost cried and immediately kneeled down to Zhang Wanjing.

He also came from a farming background and understood how hard it was for the farmers. With the increase in average yield per acre of over 20%, this amount of money would not be valued by the inner disciples, but for them, it was crucial.

Zhang Wanjing waved his hand and a burst of spiritual power lifted Zheng Yi up. He said. Why do you thank me? I didn't move a single rock, dig a single shovel for the water ditch, or apply fertilizer for you. Wasn't it all done by yourselves?

"Martial Uncle"

"Every grain of food is the result of your hard work, and you deserve it."

"Martial Uncle"

Zheng Yi was deeply moved, so much so that he couldn't speak for a while.

"Master, there are a lot of people outside Cold Crow Mountain."

"Who are they?"

"Outer disciples."

"Go and have a look."

At this moment, Zhang Shuhua came and informed everyone that there were a lot of people outside. Everyone went out to see.

A large group of disciples came to the gate, and when they saw Zhang Wanjing, they all kneeled down and shouted. Thank you, Martial Uncle!

"Don't kneel, please stand up."

Zhang Wanjing didn't have enough spiritual power to support so many people, so he had to shout loudly.

"Martial Uncle, please let us kneel. We have been disciples for 23 years, working on the fields for 15 years. The sect has never paid attention to us, treating us like mere tenant farmers. Only Martial Uncle sees us as human beings."

"Martial Uncle, we all know that the sect doesn't actually allocate that much money. It's you who have personally paid hundreds of thousands of spirit stones. Only you see us as human beings."

"Martial Uncle..."

Each disciple expressed their thoughts. They were a marginalized group within the Five Elements Sect. They were called outer disciples, but they had no connections, average intelligence, emotional intelligence, and aptitude. They led very difficult lives.

The most important thing was that they had never been valued by anyone before. Zhang Wanjing was the first one, the first high-ranking member of the sect who considered them. They were deeply moved.

More people were coming from afar, and the entrance of Cold Crow Mountain couldn't accommodate them anymore. Lin Jiang stood behind Zhang Wanjing, deeply moved as well.

Their hard work paid off, as the new magical rice plants yielded nearly 700 kilograms per acre. Even those who didn't use the new seeds saw an increase in their harvest, ranging from a few tens of kilograms. But next year, they can definitely promote the new magical rice seeds, as long as the sect doesn't increase their tasks. They will greatly increase their income and surely someone will stand out. Their hard work for over a year and the many spirit stones they invested will not go to waste.

"Master, I have something to tell you."

Just when Zhang Wanjing felt a bit lost, Lin Jiang whispered.

"What's the matter?"

"I made a promise to the sect leader that this year, the yield of magical rice per acre will increase by 30%. If I don't achieve it, you'll be punished."

"What?"

"Come on, Master, don't hit me. If I don't make the promise, how can I earn 200,000 merit points?"

As soon as Zhang Wanjing heard this, he was about to lose control and hit Lin Jiang. Lin Jiang quickly ran away, thinking that his master couldn't be trusted. He could report the abuse, right?