Chapter 128

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Chapter 128: Master Is a Brick

Five Elements Sect, Inner Sect

Lin Jiang moved out of Zhang Wanjing’s cave. Even though Zhang Wanjing tried to persuade him to stay, he still moved out. During the Foundation Building Period, one has the right to establish their own cave dwelling. This is a benefit not to be missed.

However, there are no more places in the Inner Sect of the Five Elements Sect where you can establish a new cave dwelling. All the good spots have been taken by others, unless it’s a garbage place with extremely weak spiritual veins.

So, when choosing a cave, we can only choose the caves left by our predecessors. The Five Elements Sect has been passed down for thousands of years, and replacing and updating has become a cycle. If there are caves left after the previous generation’s passing, the sect will take them back and leave them for the newly promoted cultivators who are building their foundation.

But Lin Jiang doesn’t have the opportunity to get a good cave. Lin Jiang casually chooses one of medium quality. The process of moving is very simple. He asks a few outer disciples to clean the cave and do some minor repairs to the building.

After moving into the cave, Lin Jiang, like other disciples, plants spiritual herbs inside the cave. However, Lin Jiang only plants herbs that mature within 150 years. This is because Lin Jiang cannot guarantee that he will be able to break through to the Golden Core Period within the normal cultivation time. When the time comes, he will probably have to flee, and if he’s going to flee, he shouldn’t make it easy for others.

"Junior Brother Xiao, the spiritual herbs you’re planting in your cave are not very good. Why are they all at the second or third level? Does our Five Elements Sect not have any good seeds for spiritual herbs?"

Yue Qing comes over to visit and sees the spiritual herbs in Lin Jiang’s cave. He shakes his head in disappointment. They are too low-level. The Five Elements Sect relies on spiritual herbs to establish itself, even the seventh level ones.

The main sect doesn’t restrict the seeds of spiritual herbs, and even sells them at very low prices, practically giving them away for free. This is because ordinary forces and cultivators, even if they spend thousands of years cultivating higher-level spiritual herbs, don’t have the ability to refine them into pills and still have to rely on the main sect. In the end, the main sect still holds the majority of the profits.

Unless Pill King Li Ruoxu suddenly appears, the high-grade pills in Yun State are monopolized by the three major sects. But even Pill King Li Ruoxu understands the rules very well and never touches the benefits of the three major sects. Instead, he cooperates with them.

"I’m not sure if I can break through to the Golden Core Period in my lifetime. Even if I reach the Building Foundation Period, I can only live for two hundred years. Currently, I still have over one hundred and fifty years of lifespan left. Planting these herbs is just right. If I can’t break through, I can sell these herbs and spend the remaining time in the Sweet Red Building. Senior Brother Yue, isn’t this wonderful?"

"Junior Brother Xiao, you have great insight. Senior Brother is not as good as you."

Yue Qing shook his head, he didn’t think that way. If he couldn’t break through the Golden Core Period on his own, there would still be descendants. He could have more children and choose the most talented ones to cultivate. Once they reached the Building Foundation Period, they could inherit the family business without giving it away to others.

"Brother Yue is visiting today, is there something you want to tell me?"

"Haha, Junior Brother Xiao is getting smarter."

"So let’s be frank, we’ve been sleeping in the same courtyard for three years."

"Senior Brother wants to know what position Junior Brother is currently holding, and if he can help Senior Brother find something to do."

Yue Qing said. There are at least hundreds of disciples in the Building Foundation Period of the Five Elements Sect, but I’m not sure of the exact number. It’s a secret of the sect that only the higher-ups know.

However, whether it’s Medicine City or the institutions within the sect like Chuangong Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, Internal Affairs Hall, and Foreign Affairs Hall, they can’t arrange everyone. There are still many people who don’t have positions and are freelancers.

Freelancers have their benefits, they have no restrictions in their actions, but they also lack a source of income. The treatment given by the sect to those in the Building Foundation Period is 500 spirit stones per year, two bottles of True Spirit Pills, and some spiritual paddy and other things. This is not enough for their cultivation. If they hold a position in the sect, they would receive another salary.

Of course, salary is secondary. If it’s a position with lucrative benefits, even a small amount would be multiple times their salary.

"Senior Brother Yue, come, sit, let’s talk."

"Junior Brother, what’s wrong today?"

"Just chatting."

"Alright, Junior Brother, what do you want to ask? I will tell you everything I know."

"Senior Brother Yue, when we were in Medicine City, you already knew about my master’s situation in the sect, right?"

Lin Jiang asked. Yue Qing’s uncle and Zhang Wanjing have known each other for a long time. He definitely knows what kind of situation Zhang Wanjing is in now, but he didn’t say anything. He’s just being intentional.

"Yes, I have known for a long time."

"Then why didn’t you tell me? I don’t think I have done anything wrong to you, Senior Brother."

"Junior Brother Xiao, I’m doing this for your own good."

"Tell me, how can you help me?"

"Junior Brother Xiao, I’ll be blunt. In our sect, people like you who have no backing or support are only among the ordinary disciples. Although Zhang Martial Uncle is not favored by the elders, he holds real power. By following Zhang Martial Uncle, you may not become extremely wealthy, but you will definitely be better off than being a nobody. Now that you’re in the Building Foundation stage, without Zhang Martial Uncle, you would have had to buy the Building Foundation Pill. Senior Brother has saved you tens of thousands of spirit stones. Isn’t that good enough for you?"

Yue Qing said seriously. Junior Brother, why don’t you know what’s good for you? If you don’t cling to the leg of Zhang Martial Uncle, how can I find ways to benefit you?

Lin Jiang looked at him, his scheming mind resurfacing. This guy sure knows how to talk. Clearly, he’s not helping but claim it’s for your own good. Impressive.

"Senior Brother, I want to know the true situation of my Master in the sect."

Lin Jiang said again. Zhang Wanjing hasn’t assigned him any tasks yet, but according to Zhang Wanjing, he really wants to cultivate him to become an esteemed member of the Five Elements Sect.

"As for Zhang Martial Uncle, well, he currently holds the position of Deputy Master of the Internal Affairs Hall. He has a high status and influence, but his responsibilities often change according to the needs of the sect. He is sent wherever the sect requires him."

"My Master is like a brick, always needed wherever there’s work to be done."

"Junior Brother, you summarized it well."

"What a load of nonsense, my master also wants me to be like him, a brick of the sect."

"Junior Brother, Senior Brother is speaking the truth, there’s nothing wrong with it. Following Martial Uncle will always keep you busy, and the sect won’t mistreat you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiang’s interest in exploring increased once again. You’re just looking for opportunities, yet you’re advising me to work hard. Is that so?

"Does Senior Brother Yue think that Junior Brother is someone who is honest, modest, and keeps to himself?"

Lin Jiang took a deep breath to prepare himself for an encounter with Yue Qing. This guy must have ulterior motives for coming here today.

"No, it’s based on Junior Brother’s skills at the Medicine Conference. Even if Senior Brother tried his best, he couldn’t catch up with him."

Yue Qing quickly said. He thought Lin Jiang was going to cooperate with him. But he didn’t expect him to have several other projects. If it weren’t for Zhang Shuhua messing up the final airship transport, he would have made even more money. This method of his, he truly admire Lin Jiang.

"Then why did you push me towards Zhang Wanjing?"

"Junior Brother, you shouldn’t dwell on this matter. Besides, it didn’t harm you. As long as you don’t behave as rigidly as Martial Uncle Zhang, making some money won’t be difficult, you know?"

"Can you explain more carefully?"

"Let me put it this way, my uncle, who is Zhang Wanjing’s right-hand man, is just like Zhang Wanjing – always willing to work hard, but he never misses out on the money he deserves. Zhang Martial Uncle is not the kind of person who doesn’t know how to be flexible. The benefits of the sect are meant to be enjoyed by people, and resources are meant to be used by people. It just depends on who they are given to. As long as the person doing the work doesn’t go too far and understands the boundaries, Zhang Martial Uncle won’t say anything."

"So basically, as long as we’re not too greedy, my master won’t interfere."

"Of course, if the benefits are too obvious, things wouldn’t go well within the sect. It’s the same for everyone. If the ones doing the work don’t get any benefits, who would be willing to do it? Zhang Martial Uncle wants capable people. He doesn’t mind if you take the money, but he minds if you take the money and can’t do the work."

Yue Qing said. The reason Zhang Wanjing can thrive within the sect is because he has a group of capable people under him. They may not have strong backgrounds, but they have good abilities and a strong drive for success. As long as there is a future, they are willing to work.

For Zhang Wanjing, it doesn’t matter if these capable people take some money. It’s better than having those freeloaders eating everyone’s share. After all, if the meat rots in the pot, no one would feel upset.

"If that’s the case, then it’s acceptable."

Lin Jiang nodded. He was most afraid that Zhang Wanjing would be the kind of moral saint who expects perfection from his own people. That would be too miserable.

"So, little brother, have you finally come to terms with this?"

"The master bowed down, and he even took the Building Foundation Pill. I can’t understand the use of it."

"What is the junior apprentice preparing to do? Let me tell you, Martial Uncle Zhang is incredibly powerful. In all areas of the sect, as long as he nods, no one can be excluded."

"What’s the use of being included? Going in as a soldier, earning just a little something."

Lin Jiang sneered at Yue Qing. Your perspective is still limited. Do you really think that joining a certain department will make you rich? Believe it or not, after going in, you’ll really become an old workhorse, grazing on grass while others drink milk.

"That’s true, but the junior apprentice…"

"I don’t have any ideas for now. Let’s talk about it later."

Lin Jiang waved his hand. He hasn’t decided yet whether he wants to join Zhang Wanjing or not. Zhang Wanjing is an honest person from the Five Elements Sect. Following him, the future is uncertain. It’s a gamble.

Seeing this, Yue Qing didn’t say much anymore. He just kept emphasizing that if there are benefits, don’t forget him.

After seeing off Yue Qing, Lin Jiang seriously pondered for a long time and decided to join Zhang Wanjing. Even if the sect disciples are not great, they’re still better than being an independent cultivator. Besides, Zhang Wanjing is a backing.

But Lin Jiang was not as great as Zhang Wanjing. Yue Qing was right. Everyone in the Five Elements Sect is making money, so why can’t he?

"Everyone hates scumbags, and everyone wishes they were scumbags themselves. Everyone scolds corrupt officials because they are not the ones being corrupt. If they became officials, they would be even more corrupt. That’s human nature."

Lin Jiang sighed. He was just an ordinary person, how could he resist the temptation of human nature?