Chapter 69: A Delicious Treat
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since Cao Ying joined Zhonghang Sect. Lin Jiang came to Zhonghang Sect again to visit Cao Ying.
After going through several layers of notifications, Lin Jiang was allowed to enter Zhonghang Sect. It was his first time visiting Zhonghang Sect and he kept observing the surroundings.
When gathering information about Zhonghang Sect before, it was mentioned that the range of the sect's main entrance was about five hundred miles, but it was not just a simple mountain, it was a continuous range of mountains that made up the main entrance.
The influence of Zhonghang Sect was even broader, radiating for at least tens of thousands of miles. That's why it was known as one of the leading powers in the Yun State.
Everywhere Lin Jiang looked, he saw spiritual land. There were thousands of spiritual paddies being cultivated, while some places were covered in mist, making it unclear what was being grown there.
After walking for about four hours, Lin Jiang finally arrived at the inner gate of Shanxue School. Cao Ying was still a disciple of Shanxue School, a beginner learning the basics of the cultivation world.
"Uncle"
Cao Ying saw Lin Jiang and jumped up in excitement. She ran straight towards him and hugged him.
"Come down, come down, it's not proper like this."
Lin Jiang quickly pulled her down. Now, Lin Jiang could feel at least a hundred pairs of eyes watching them, and he knew that there were even more people paying attention to them.
"Uncle, why did you take so long to visit me? You said you could visit every half a year."
"I was worried you would become lazy, so I wanted you to learn more skills here."
"But I didn't become lazy at all! I ranked first in Shanxue School!"
"Really?"
"Yes, it's true! They are so slow. Some people have been in Shanxue School for a year and they are still at the Qi Refining level one. I'm already at Qi Refining level three. Even the school master of Shanxue School asked me to slow down and build a strong foundation. Otherwise, maybe I would have reached Qi Refining level four by now and I could fly!"
"Your school master is right. It's important to build a strong foundation and not rush things."
Lin Jiang quickly said, he was extremely tired, one whole year, at the third level of Qi Refining, is this fair? Is the gap between people really greater than the gap between humans and monsters?
"I know, I have decided, break through in another three months, no rush."
Cao Ying smiled and said, she had already heard, she reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, she couldn't stay at Shanxue School anymore, once she left Shanxue School, there would be so many things to do, it's very annoying, she needed to stay a little longer.
"How is it here? Have they been bullying you?"
"No, senior brothers, senior sisters, and our master have all been very nice to me."
"That's good."
Lin Jiang nodded, when you become powerful, the whole world treats you kindly, he understood this very well. Cao Ying isn't strong yet, but she has incredible potential. Very few foolish people would dare to offend Cao Ying, unless they are absolutely certain they can defeat her in one go.
"Uncle, I missed you."
"Missed my cooking, huh?"
"Ah, you found out!"
"Let's find a place to rest, I brought you some food."
"Great!"
Cao Ying took Lin Jiang to her home, where he enjoyed a special treatment as a genius. He had a whole courtyard to himself, while others had to share a dormitory and a small courtyard with three other people.
Lin Jiang cooked Cao Ying's favorite dishes, filling up the table quickly. Cao Ying devoured the food in no time. Before she started cultivating her spiritual powers, she could only take a bite, as her body couldn't handle more. But now that she has reached the third level of Qi Refining, she can eat without worries.
"I can't take it anymore. The spiritual energy is too intense. Uncle, please wait for me for two hours. I need to meditate and absorb the spiritual energy."
After finishing the food, Cao Ying couldn't resist anymore. She left a quick remark and rushed back to her room to meditate.
Seeing how Cao Ying managed to close the room's protective formation despite the urgency of the situation, Lin Jiang nodded approvingly. It seemed that Cao Ying was highly aware of the need for self-protection.
"Taoist Friend Lin, could we have a conversation?"
As soon as Cao Ying left, Lin Jiang heard a secret whisper in his ear.
"Where is the senior?"
"Right next to you, just turn left when you go out."
"Okay."
Lin Jiang nodded, then went out, turned left, and saw a person waiting for him. He looked to be in his twenties, very handsome.
"I, Lin Jiang, greet the senior."
"We are relatives, call me Lin Xuzi."
"How are you, Senior Lin?"
"Seems like you don't recognize me."
"I'm sorry, I don't go out much and I don't know your name."
"I'm currently at the middle stage of golden core cultivation. My master's name is Xiao Dingsheng. He is the fifth elder among the thirteen elders of the Zhonghang Sect. My master wants to take your niece as a disciple. Can you help persuade her?"
Lin Xuzi said with a commanding tone. Although he asked for Lin Jiang's help, his words carried an air of superiority, which Lin Jiang didn't like.
"As a Nascent Soul Ancestor's disciple, why would you need my help as a mere Qi Refining cultivator? As long as you treat Cao Ying sincerely, she will naturally agree."
"It seems that Taoist Friend Lin doesn't want to help with this favor."
"I..."
"Senior Brother Lin is bullying the junior. If this gets out, it would be quite embarrassing."
Before Lin Jiang could respond, another voice came. Lin Jiang turned around and saw another handsome young man. Lin Jiang didn't dare to underestimate him, suspecting that he was also a powerful cultivator at the golden core stage.
"It's so lively here! What are you two senior brothers doing?"
As soon as the words were spoken, a middle-aged lady walked over and smiled at Lin Xuzi.
"Qin Yan, Li Yunchong, why are you here?"
"Look, Brother Lin, why can't I come to this Shanxue School?"
"Yeah, even though Brother Lin is busy running Chuangong Hall, I don't see anything wrong with me taking a stroll here. It's perfectly reasonable, right?"
The middle-aged lady was called Qin Yan, and the handsome young man was named Li Yunchong. They echoed each other's words, making Lin Xuzi look displeased.
Lin Jiang really wanted to use an invisibility spell, to hide himself. Let the powerful Golden Core cultivators fight among themselves, without involving me, a small fry. I can't afford that, just a sneeze from them could kill me.
"Taoist Friend Lin"
"Here, junior is here."
"Lin Xuzi wants to take on disciples, and I'm wondering what to do."
Qin Yan looked at Lin Jiang and said with a smile, Lin Jiang glanced at her and suddenly felt dizzy, thinking to himself, "This woman is using tricks on me."
People who often go to Spring Coming Tower to talk to the fairies know that some fairies have the power of enchantment, they can often charm even strong men and make their pockets and waist empty.
Lin Jiang, who has also trained as a warrior at Spring Coming Tower for a long time, had no resistance at all at this moment, his willpower was rapidly disintegrated.
"Ahem"
Just as this happened, a cough sounded, Lin Jiang trembled all over and instantly regained clarity.
"Qin Sister, using illusions to deal with a master of the golden core stage is already enough, but using it to bully a little Qi Refining stage cultivator, isn't it too much?"
"Hmph, can't I develop interest in him?"
"If you develop interest in him, I have objections if it's his niece."
"Well, what about developing interest in me?"
Qin Yan looked at Li Yunchong and said, her eyes immediately lit up. This is not a seduction technique, that's all just basic stuff. What she used was illusion, a very powerful illusion.
But Li Yunchong turned his head and didn't look into her eyes, immediately breaking her spell, and said, "Taoist Friend Lin, I am a straightforward person. Let me be honest. The three of us came here for your niece.
Lin Xuzi's master is Xiao Dingsheng, the fifth elder. Qin Yan's master is Ouyang Qing, the thirteenth elder of our Zhonghang Sect. My master is Qi Yunzhao, the third elder of Zhonghang Sect.
Our masters all see great potential in your niece and want to take her as their personal disciple. What do you think?"
"Li Senior, I'm afraid I can't make that decision."
"You can't make that decision? That won't work. We asked Cao Ying, and she said the decision lies with the elders. She didn't dare to decide, so she pushed it onto you. You have to make a decision for Cao Ying."
"Um..."
Lin Jiang was speechless. He really wanted the three of them to leave for a while so he could teach Cao Ying a lesson. This was like blaming him for everything. How could they do this to their uncle?
"Senior, Cao Ying is young and uncertain. She is afraid to hastily agree. As for me, I am completely in the dark about the situation in Zhonghang Sect. It wouldn't be responsible of me to make a decision now. How about I have a good talk with Cao Ying first and see what Cao Ying thinks?"
"Hehe, Taoist Friend Lin makes sense. I'll wait for Taoist Friend Lin's good news."
Qin Yan happily agreed and, when she turned and left, she didn't forget to whisper a string of secrets to Lin Jiang's ear.
Li Yunchong and Lin Xuzi were the same. The three of them made promises to Lin Jiang that were very beneficial.
"Is the competition for talents within the Zhonghang Sect really so cruel?"
Lin Jiang, seeing the three of them leave, wondered if it was the right choice to bring Cao Ying to the Zhonghang Sect. If there was a lot of infighting within the Zhonghang Sect, Cao Ying could easily become a pawn.
Filled with worry, Lin Jiang waited for Cao Ying to come out again and then asked about Cao Ying's apprenticeship.
"Uncle, I'm worried too. They've been so good to me, I want everyone to be my masters!"
Cao Ying gave Lin Jiang a signal and continued talking non-stop. Lin Jiang immediately understood that it wasn't the time to discuss this.
The people eavesdropping laughed when they heard this. What a foolish child, wanting to have it all! You wouldn't even qualify as a servant if it weren't for your exceptional talent.
Lin Jiang also took the opportunity to educate Cao Ying about the seriousness of being a personal disciple, telling her not to have unrealistic ideas. But quickly changing the topic, he asked about Cao Ying's life in Zhonghang Sect.
Speaking of this, Cao Ying was not tired at all, and she started chattering away, except she didn't mention those first five days when she cried every day. She wanted to share everything with Lin Jiang that happened afterwards.
