Cultivation: Being Immortal

Chapter 178

Five Elements Sect, Mountain Gate

Outside the Internal Affairs Hall, a large screen projected the new rules of the Five Elements Sect.

"New Restaurant Rules: Starting next month, both the inner and outer sect restaurants of the Five Elements Sect will no longer provide free food. All food will be purchased at a price, and the sect will provide meal allowance as a salary on a monthly basis. For specific amounts, please consult the Internal Affairs Hall..."

"New Rules for using Spiritual Land: From this year onwards, all spiritual lands below the second level, and tasks assigned by the sect, will be settled with spirit stones. Merit Points remain unchanged. For specific details, please pay attention to the Internal Affairs Hall..."

"New Rules for the Pill Hall..."

"New Rules for the Talisman Hall..."

"·····"

Under dozens of new rules, all outer sect disciples were bewildered. Many had been with the sect for decades, and their food and accommodation were provided by the sect. It was difficult for them to accept this change.

"How much money does the sect provide? Will it be enough for me to eat?"

"This is great. For someone like me, fasting for two or three days is no problem. It saves me some money."

"Protest! I don't agree. Throughout history, sects have never charged for meals. Why does the Five Elements Sect want to collect money while others don't?"

The disciples were discussing with different opinions. Some agreed, some opposed, and some didn't care, all expressing their own views.

·······

"Da Hu, Er Hu, don't say that I, as your Martial Uncle, don't help you. Now we have taken over the restaurant, and from now on, you guys will provide the spiritual paddy for the restaurant·····"

"Yue Qing, you will be in charge of the vegetables for the restaurant. I don't care who you use, but you must ensure the quality and price for me."

"Senior Yue Lin, if you have people, they can also join. We can all benefit if there is money····"

"Remember, we only make money that belongs to us. Don't touch even a single spirit stone that doesn't belong to us..."

Lin Jiang was also rallying his team. He didn't have many people, mainly Yue Lin and Yue Qing, but there were also others like Zheng Yi' two sons, Da Hu and Er Hu, and so on. Further down were the people who were previously in the stronghold.

"Senior Brother Xiao, don't worry, I will definitely handle this matter well. I have also made arrangements with Talisman Hall. We will provide the first-level spiritual talisman papers, and the rest will be divided among us."

Yue Lin said, as the new rules were constantly being promulgated, he also realized the huge business opportunities. Outer disciples receive a monthly meal allowance of at least two spirit stones. With tens of thousands of people, isn't that a business worth hundreds of thousands of spirit stones?

Moreover, they can also develop mid-range spiritual meals, which are even more expensive. There is no shortage of wealthy people among the outer disciples. Currently, they are the only ones doing this. It's a damn monopoly.

"I have already made arrangements with Talisman Hall, and I am still in negotiations with Pill Hall. If I can make a deal with them too, it will be different."

"Can we still make a deal with Pill Hall?"

"Not sure yet. I haven't contacted several stewards. If Zou Yu Martial Uncle can become a Deputy Hall Master in Pill Hall, then there won't be a problem. It depends on the decision from above."

Lin Jiang shook his head. During this period, there was a frenzy of dividing the sect's assets in the Five Elements Sect. Although they were all low-level resources, the top management wasn't stupid. When the quantity is large, it becomes a terrifying force of interest.

They could only eat some scraps, while the real big portions were eaten by those powerful elders with Nascent Soul. But even if it's just some scraps, it's enough to make their mouths oil up.

Lin Jiang was not surprised or envious about this. People should have self-awareness and earn the money they deserve. If he were to have a complete golden core now, it wouldn't be worth it. But who made him only in the later stage of building foundation.

"Zou Yu Martial Uncle's alchemy is not very advanced."

"Being a Deputy Hall Master doesn't necessarily mean being a master alchemist. Things have changed now. Also, there's a chance to take a bite from the Spiritual Herb Garden. I've been learning from a Martial Uncle in Spiritual Herb Garden recently. I've already talked to a few of his disciples, and they will sell us the surplus low-grade spiritual herbs at a much lower price. If any of you have good alchemy talents, we can concentrate resources to train a few of them."

Lin Jiang continued, all of it was about exchanging benefits. He had already established several connections. If he missed this opportunity, it would be gone. He wanted to eat up everything he could.

"Senior Brother, I will find a few people to try it out."

"Alright, I won't say much more. I have already made arrangements with the upper management. You go handle the specific matters. Remember, don't violate the rules, everything must be reasonable and compliant. Don't give others a handle to hold against you."

"Senior Brother, don't worry, we know what to do."

Yue Lin nodded. He had done this kind of thing many times. For people like them, the most important thing to eat this bowl of rice is to be familiar with the rules and know how to find loopholes in them.

After their discussion, Lin Jiang told them to go their separate ways. It was now time to prepare and there was a lot to do. Everyone was very busy.

·····

"Wanjing, I heard that the elders have reconciled with you?"

Shi Yuntang appeared next to Zhang Wanjing and said to him. He had just received the news as well.

"Yes."

"How did you manage to do that?"

"Sharing the benefits."

"What about the new rules?"

"Yes, Martial Uncle."

"I don't understand, are we going back to the old ways again?"

Shi Yuntang said. Zhang Wanjing took such a big detour, aren't we going back again? Hasn't the Elder's benefits been affected?

"No, Martial Uncle, listen to my explanation. Firstly, the sect's intention is to have more and more experts, rather than evenly distributing the benefits of the sect, right?"

"That's correct."

"The sect invests millions of spirit stones in Nascent Soul cultivators every year, but that's not enough to help them break through Soul Changing. We still need to allocate resources to them. Instead of giving them resources for free, it's better to let them earn it. And the benefits are on their side, it's only fair to give it to someone, right?"

"So it's still the same as before?"

"No, it's not the same. Before, they used to brazenly take the sect's benefits without any consequences. They felt entitled to it. But now, it's given after everyone compromises, and it can also be changed if needed. The rules are in place. If their descendants are not capable, they can be replaced anytime."

"It's a bit confusing, I don't understand. Maybe I've been out of touch with worldly matters for too many years and can't keep up with the current times."

"Martial Uncle, although it seems similar, it's actually completely different."

Zhang Wanjing said, Shi Yuntang shook his head and said. Listening to your words is like listening to another person's words.

"Let me put it simply. The elders of the sect used to focus on the benefits within the sect, but now, through reforms, the sect is investing more power externally to generate greater benefits. This is something that benefits everyone in the sect."

"Can it really be achieved?"

"We'll have to wait and see," Martial Uncle said. "Reforms in the sect are not always guaranteed to be good. They could also make things worse. But we can't choose not to do anything just because there is a possibility of failure. We must continue to try and make improvements when necessary."

"Alright, I don't care anymore. Do whatever you want."

Shi Yuntang shook his head. He had been away from the sect and secular affairs for too long, so he was not accustomed to such changes. He couldn't be bothered anymore, as he had no intention of staying in the sect for long.

"If Martial Uncle's descendants need any help, I'm here."

"No need. My sons and grandsons have long passed away. Those descendants have no emotional connection anymore. Living a plain and simple life is enough."

Shi Yuntang immediately refused. He was over a thousand years old and all of his children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren had died. He had hardly ever met the remaining members of his clan and had long lost any emotional attachment. He didn't want to be bound by family ties anymore. His biggest goal now was to pursue immortality.

"Okay, when Martial Uncle leaves, you can get money from the sect. Martial Uncles are the pillars of the Five Elements Sect."

Zhang Wanjing said. In this change, the benefits of the Nascent Soul haven't really been affected. There were some changes in the beginning, but they were compensated later on. And the Soul Changing Ancestor won't be affected at all.

"Ordinary resources are no longer effective for us. I don't want spirit stones or anything like that. I only want spiritual medicine. Please cultivate more."

"In the Wilderness, we have also discovered some precious minerals. We will invest more in the coming years, which will surely be useful for the Martial Uncles."

"Alright, you take care of it. I won't leave in these years."

"Do Martial Uncles have something else to do?"

"Yes, in a few years, other Martial Uncles will also come back."

"Is something important happening in Yun State?"

"Maybe, but you don't have the strength to handle it. We will take care of it."

Shi Yuntang nodded. Yun State hides a fierce tiger and it's not even a cub anymore, it has become a disaster. Not only is he worried, but Zhonghang Sect and Cloud Sword Sect also feel the same. They have already discussed it and in the coming years, Cloud Sword Sect will also have Soul Changing to deal with it together.