Chapter 68: This Person...
Outside the Zhonghang Sect's main gate, Lin Jiang walked with three thousand spirit stones in his hand, looking back every three steps. It was a custom of the Zhonghang Sect to provide settlement fees for disciples' families.
The low-ranking disciples only receive a few spirit stones. If their families are not cultivators, they may not even receive spirit stones. Instead, they might be given some money or food as a way of compensation.
The outer disciples' families would receive around thirty to fifty spirit stones, while the inner disciples' families would receive one hundred spirit stones. There was a distinction among the inner disciples as well. If they were exceptionally talented, they could receive three hundred spirit stones.
As for why Lin Jiang was given ten times the settlement fee, he speculated it was because of their backgrounds. Lin Jiang had inquired and learned that half of the disciples recruited by major sects came from affiliated families, similar to the Nalan family.
These disciples already had a camp when they entered the sect. Even if they had outstanding talent, it would be impossible for them to join the rival faction of the Nalan family. However, it was different for Lin Jiang, an independent cultivator without any background.
Talented disciples could join any faction, so Nalan De purposely formed a relationship in advance. Three thousand spirit stones were a lot for an independent cultivator. If Cao Ying joined Nalan De's faction in the future, it would be a good thing. Even if it was a different faction, it would still be considered a fortunate connection. Besides, he didn't have to spend his own money for the settlement fee. Why wouldn't he take advantage of the sect's funds?
"Forget it, forget it. I must remember that I am just a passerby in this mortal world. I must not get too deeply involved."
Finally, Lin Jiang let out a deep sigh and reminded himself that everyone has their own fate. Cao Ying also has her own life. The Zhonghang Sect will be her best destination, and he should be happy for her.
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"Hello, Taoist Friend Lin."
A month later, Lin Jiang was walking on the streets of Yunzhong City, when the patrol guards saw him and greeted him warmly. Lin Jiang smiled back in response.
Several days ago, news of Cao Ying joining the Zhonghang Sect's inner door spread. First among the disciples of Zhonghang Sect in Yunzhong City, and then Lin Jiang began to receive enthusiastic attention. Whenever Lin Jiang walked on the streets, disciples of the Zhonghang Sect would warmly greet him.
Lin Jiang felt helpless about this. He didn't want to receive this kind of attention, but he couldn't control other people's will. He could only reduce the number of times he goes out. After all, he usually doesn't go out much.
As he arrived at Yunlai Pavilion, the shopkeeper immediately welcomed him. Lin Jiang took out a spiritual talisman for him to count. Every ten days or so, Lin Jiang would come to Yunlai Pavilion to sell spiritual talismans. He sold them in batches of thirty, which were of the ordinary level made by a Talisman Maker at the late stage of Qi Refining. As for the extra spiritual talismans, Lin Jiang would secretly sell them to other shops after changing his appearance.
"Shopkeeper Zhang, you gave me too many spirit stones."
After the shopkeeper of Yunlai Pavilion counted them, he paid the spirit stones, but Lin Jiang realized that he had given him too many.
"No mistake. Taoist Friend Lin is also a loyal customer of our Yunlai Pavilion. Moreover, Taoist Friend Lin's spiritual talismans are of high quality, abundant in spiritual energy, powerful, and stable. Some of our regular customers specifically ask for Taoist Friend Lin's spiritual talismans, so we decided to give Taoist Friend Lin a higher price."
"This way you won't make any money."
Lin Jiang said. Spiritual talismans purchased from them only have a profit margin of about ten percent. But now, if he sell them at the retail price, they will be losing money because they still have to consider rent, labor, and other costs.
"Taoist Friend Lin, it may seem like we're not making any money, but in reality, we're not losing. This shop is our own, so we don't have to pay rent, and there are no labor costs. Plus, Taoist Friend's spiritual talismans are of good quality, which helps us retain our old customers. When you think about it, we are still making a profit, just a little less."
"Shopkeeper Zhang, we've been doing business together for almost ten years. There's no need for this. My niece has just joined the Zhonghang Sect, she hasn't become anyone important."
Lin Jiang let out a bitter laugh. Shopkeeper Zhang was just like him, even when lying, he always prepared in advance.
"Haha."
Shopkeeper Zhang awkwardly smiled and went on to say, "It seems Taoist Friend Lin hasn't received the news."
"What news?"
"Taoist Friend, your niece, on the fifth day of her training, she achieved Qi absorption in one night. Three days ago, she already reached the second level of Qi Refining."
"What is that?"
Lin Jiang's body trembled, he touched his ear, did he hear it wrong?
In just one night, she absorbed Qi into her body and reached the second level of Qi Refining in less than a month. It must be a deception. Lin Jiang, the original owner, took about eight months to successfully absorb Qi into his body, and it took many years to go from the first level of Qi Refining to the second level. Ah, it's embarrassing to even think about it.
"Taoist Friend Lin, you heard correctly. In just one night, she absorbed Qi into her body and reached the second level of Qi Refining in twenty-four days. It is said that this has alarmed the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Zhonghang Sect. At least three or more elders of the Nascent Soul level from the Zhonghang Sect want to take her as their disciple. There have been several arguments about it."
"This joke isn't funny."
"Taoist Friend Lin, what's your reaction? Shouldn't you be happy?"
"The main thing is that I know the abilities of my little sister, Cao Ying. She's not very stupid, but she's just an ordinary person."
Lin Jiang said that for the past few years, he had been teaching Cao Ying to read and write and teaching her martial arts, but he didn't really find her to be a genius.
"I have an uncle who is an internal steward of the Zhonghang Sect. My uncle's cousin is in charge of the Shanxue School, which is where the beginners in the Zhonghang Sect learn and cultivate their skills."
Mr. Zhang said that this matter has caused a sensation in the Zhonghang Sect. The Zhonghang Sect is not lacking in talented individuals, but they are lacking in top talents. And undoubtedly, Cao Ying is now a top talent.
Her talent in Spiritual Roots is one aspect, and another aspect is her understanding. In the cultivation world, there are many individuals with excellent talent in Spiritual Roots but poor understanding. Such people have limited potential.
And Cao Ying has excellent talent in Spiritual Roots and exceptional understanding. As long as she is not harmed midway, she can start at the Building Foundation Period and her potential is limitless. Even Nascent Soul and Soul Changing are possible.
"I still don't believe it."
Lin Jiang said, he was thinking that Cao Ying and Zhang Ruifang are not top talents either. Their talent is only slightly better than his, maybe even similar. Why should their daughter be so outstanding? This doesn't make sense.
"Taoist Friend Lin, I can't deceive you. You will become rich in the future."
Mr. Zhang said that Cao Ying is still young and her value has not been fully realized. When she reaches the Building Foundation and Pill Formation stages, she will be truly formidable. With connections, it will be easy for her to make money in Yunzhong City and buying a house will not be a problem.
"If it's true, then I definitely can't accept your spirit stones, Mr. Zhang. I apologize."
"Taoist Friend Lin, we have been friends for over ten years."
"Less than ten years"
"Cough cough"
Shopkeeper Zhang's face turned green. What does it mean? Is he looking down on them just because they are small businesses, not even giving them a chance to flatter him?
"Shopkeeper Zhang, please don't misunderstand. Business is business, friends are friends. Since Cao Ying is so talented, as her uncle, I can't hold her back, right?"
"Taoist Friend Lin, I didn't mean it..."
"I know, I know. Old Lin, you rely on your skills, not connections. How about this, from now on, I'll draw a few extra symbols each month. You'll earn some, and I'll earn some. How does that sound?"
"Alright, then Taoist Friend Lin must come often."
"Of course, I'm a person who values old relationships. I've enjoyed working with Shopkeeper Zhang, so I will definitely come in the future."
Lin Jiang said, he really didn't want to hold Cao Ying back. This money is not easy to come by. Whatever they give you, you'll have to give double or even more to others in the future.
Lin Jiang took out some extra magic stones and had a chat with the storekeeper before leaving.
In the following days, news about Zhonghang Sect recruiting a talented disciple gradually spread. All the independent cultivators envied this, as the rule for cultivators is that when one person achieves enlightenment, even dogs and chickens can ascend to heaven. In Yunzhong City, wealthy people who had connections with the two major sects were everywhere.
Many people mentioned Lin Jiang, but he kept a low profile and not many knew about his identity. However, within the Zhonghang Sect's system, Lin Jiang wasn't a secret.
When encountering disciples from the Zhonghang Sect while going out, people would greet and interact with them, even offering discounts when shopping at Zhonghang Sect's stores.
Of course, this only applied to the Zhonghang Sect. The Cloud Sword Sect wouldn't care. After all, Lin Jiang wasn't their disciple. At most, they would exchange pleasantries with him.
But even so, this brought Lin Jiang great trouble. He had too many secrets, and with such a high level of attention, it could cause big problems for him.
The most typical example was the Dark Night assassins. Lin Jiang had already dealt with about ten of them. Although Zhang Ruifang rarely went out with Cao Ying in the past, who knew if the Dark Night would know Cao Ying's name?
Even though Lin Jiang had long abandoned his identity as Lin Yang, some characteristics were fixed, such as being a Talisman Maker. If someone found Lin Jiang's previous spiritual talismans and compared them, it would be obvious. Many habits of a Talisman Maker were consistent.
"Let's move. Once Cao Ying has confirmed it, we can use the excuse of going on a journey and find a reason to move."
Lin Jiang made up his mind again. He couldn't continue using his current identity anymore. Once things settled down with Cao Ying, he would change his identity again. Otherwise, trouble would come sooner or later.
