Chapter 138

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Chapter 138: Persevering and Striving for Self-Improvement

Five Elements Sect，Cold Crow Mountain

Hello, everyone. My name is Xiao Yi. Many of you may already know me, but for those who are new, let me introduce myself.

My name is Xiao Yi and I am fifty years old. I started with the Building Foundation stage and have the Five Spiritual Roots talent. Just like you, I was once an outer disciple with no important family background in the sect. I had no one to rely on, so I spent twenty years farming on Qingyang Mountain.

Lin Jiang spoke loudly to the hundreds of farming disciples and before he finished his words, there was a commotion below. The mention of Five Spiritual Roots and farming disciples gave them something in common. But how come Lin Jiang was already at the Building Foundation Period while they were not?

"Quiet down, listen to me. I am an outer disciple who started as a farming disciple, so I understand how difficult it is for all of you. Every year, we work hard to cultivate some spiritual paddy, but almost eighty percent of it goes towards sect tasks. We only end up with a few spirit stones. After three or five years, our cultivation level doesn’t improve at all, right?"

"Yes, Martial Uncle, I haven’t improved my cultivation for five years now."

"I can’t afford to buy elixirs. I rely on the sect for a few."

"If I buy elixirs, I won’t have money for anything else, let alone getting married."

As soon as Lin Jiang finished speaking, someone echoed his words. Lin Jiang silently approved of Zheng Yi who stood beside him. These few followers were obedient and understanding.

With more and more people nodding in agreement, they became interested in Lin Jiang. They empathized because they were also poor. They worked over fifteen hours a day to cultivate a small plot of land. Almost eighty percent of the spiritual paddy they harvested went towards sect tasks. How many spirit stones were left?

They wanted to buy medicine, swords, talismans, and even get married and start a family with these spirit stones. But it’s not enough.

"I know that all of you, my fellow disciples, are poor and struggling. That’s why after I entered the inner sect, I specifically fought for benefits for everyone. I convinced my master, Martial Uncle Zhang Wanjing Zhang, and negotiated with the sect to obtain a sum of spirit stones to help all of you escape poverty and become prosperous. Now, please welcome Martial Uncle Zhang Wanjing Zhang to speak."

Lin Jiang’s voice suddenly became louder, drowning out their voices, then Zhang Wanjing stepped forward in front of everyone.

"Fellow disciples, I am Zhang Wanjing, with a perfected cultivation in the Golden Core stage. I was not aware that the outer sect disciples were leading such difficult lives until my disciple Xiao Yi enlightened me. Therefore, I came to the outer sect to understand.

After investigating, I learned about your hardships. So, I specifically negotiated with the sect to obtain 300,000 spirit stones for you. However, this money will not be given directly to you. If you receive the spirit stones and spend them, they will be gone, which is unfair to the disciples who enter later.

Therefore, this money is meant to help you earn more. I want you to harvest more spiritual paddy every year and sell more to earn more money. How can we achieve that? Naturally, we need to start from the seeds, tools, and…"

Zhang Wanjing gave a speech to the crowd, speaking directly in front of everyone. He was not pretending; he had done this many times before.

"Martial Uncle Xiao, wasn’t it supposed to be 100,000 spirit stones? How did it become 300,000 now?"

"My master paid for it himself."

Lin Jiang sighed. Last night, he discussed the details with Zhang Wanjing, including the words Zhang Wanjing said now, which were all written by Lin Jiang. But Zhang Wanjing knew that he refused Lin Jiang’s way of tricking people into giving them money and chose to pay himself.

"This is Martial Uncle Zugaoyi."

Zhang Yi was also shocked. He only knew that the higher-ups in the sect asked for money from the sect, and he had never seen someone paying money by themselves for the sect’s work.

"Now do you understand why I did something foolish?"

Lin Jiang said, with his personality, if he had met someone else, would he have put in this effort? He would have run away already, or at least he would have acted crazy. Isn’t it better to make money by drawing talismans by himself?

But Zhang Wanjing really conquered him. Lin Jiang couldn’t resist his charismatic personality, so he could only be foolish with him.

"Martial Uncle Xiao, you can use any of these ten or so people around me, don’t talk about money. Talking about money means looking down on me."

Zheng Yi, moved by this, gritted his teeth and decided to go all in. If the big shots can give their all for the sect, why can’t Zheng Yi?

"Let’s see first."

Lin Jiang shook his head. Today’s plan was carefully designed by him, using all his limited knowledge and skills. He wanted to impress and move them by displaying his abilities and taking advantage of the admiration cultivators have for the strong.

Lin Jiang felt confident. As long as no one interfered, this plan would surely succeed. To put it bluntly, those who are willing to work on the outer gates are honest and reliable people. Those who are clever and resourceful have already found other opportunities.

"Therefore, in the future, we will construct water facilities between each magic land. I don’t need you to contribute money, but I hope you can help. If we accidentally damage a bit of the magic land during the construction process, please understand. The water channels will pass through your magic land, and you can loosen the array if necessary…"

"Brothers, I am Zheng Da Hu. I also cultivate eight hundred acres of land at San Yang Hill. Allow me to say a few words. Martial Uncle Zhang, as a respected Deputy Hall Master of the sect, is willing to work for our benefit. This shows that he values us. Think about it, when has a Golden Core Martial Uncle ever held us in such high regard? The inner disciples, not to mention the Foundation Building Period, even a Qi Refining Period cultivator looks down on us. Therefore, I, Zheng Da Hu, fully support Martial Uncle Zhang. I may not have much else, but I still have some spiritual rice paddies left. So, I am willing to contribute fifty thousand catties of spiritual rice to support Martial Uncle Zhang. Consider it a small gesture from me, Zheng Da Hu."

"Brothers, I am Jiang Yuan. I cultivate in the southern part of Qing Xi. Zheng Da Hu raised valid points. Once we have a well-constructed water channel and drainage system, along with properly made tools, we can cultivate more spiritual rice and earn more money. I also support Martial Uncle Zhang, and I am willing to donate fifty thousand catties of spiritual rice."

"Brothers, I am…"

After Zhang Wanjing finished speaking, a few supporters called by Lin Jiang began to speak, igniting the atmosphere completely. Their words were unnecessary, as numerous disciples had already pledged their spiritual rice.

Zhang Wanjing didn’t want spirit stones; he didn’t want those who pledged spirit stones. However, he did want spiritual rice.

Lin Jiang quickly asked the steward of Cold Crow Mountain to bring paper and a pen, to have them sign their names. Words alone were unreliable; with written proof, they wouldn’t dare to go back on their words. Additionally, he planned to create a tablet and place it in various locations to commemorate and praise these individuals.

······

After seven more days, the construction of the water project began after intense preparations. They now had only seven months until they could start farming again next year, and they had to get everything roughly finished within those seven months.

"These three lakes, according to what Xiao Yi said, will be turned into reservoirs with dams built. They will collect water during rainy days and release water during droughts. They will also be connected to water channels. If there is a flood, it can be directly discharged into the Yuntuo River."

"Master, there’s really no need for such a high standard. Our sect won’t have major floods."

Lin Jiang stared at the blueprint and said. These standards were set by him. Now he thinks they’re too high. The cultivation world is different from the mortal world. If it rains for more than ten days in the mortal world, it would be a huge flood disaster. But that’s not possible in the cultivation world. We can simply ask the Nascent Soul Elder to disperse the clouds. That’s the ability the cultivation world should have.

"No, if we’re going to do it, we need to do it well. I can’t guarantee that there will be someone like me in the future, so we need to build a project that can last for hundreds of years."

Zhang Wanjing flatly refused. He was becoming more and more disillusioned with the sect. He only believed in himself now and was determined to do things perfectly.

"Alright, Master, you have the final say. Senior Brother, have all the miscellaneous disciples arrived?"

"Yes, they have. There are three hundred of them, and they’re all here."

"How is the response from the junior disciples over there?"

"So-so."

"No problem, in a while they will come rushing over. From today onwards, the senior brother and I will work overtime at night. The senior brother will explain cultivation issues to them, and I will teach them about drawing symbols. Each person will have two hours."

Lin Jiang said. After implementing this for some time, there will definitely be people who make progress. We will make them examples and promote it widely. I’m not afraid that those people won’t come.

"Count me in on this, I’ll give them a sermon too."

"Master, you should let it go. Even the junior disciples need rest, you can’t deprive them of their time to sleep and cultivate."

"Then let’s reduce their working hours. Ten hours a day is too long, let’s decide on eight hours."

Zhang Wanjing shook his head and refused. How can people cultivate when they have to do ten hours of physically demanding work? Why is your heart so black?

Lin Jiang sighed bitterly. Alright, you’re the master. If you say let it go, then fine, it’s settled.

To do a good job, one must first prepare the tools. Zhang Wanjing found a blacksmith and made a batch of tools. Soon, they began their work. The engineers in the cultivation world are called builders and they also hired a technical advisor.

Zhang Wanjing personally supervised the work, while Lin Jiang and Zhang Shuhua were in charge of logistics. They solved the problem of meals for the workers. In order to do this, Lin Jiang brought the whole set of boxed meal factory.

"From now on, our nightly lessons will be arranged like this. After work in the evening, everyone will have dinner and rest for an hour, and then we will come to Cold Crow Mountain. No, we will go to where you live to save you from traveling back and forth. First, I will explain the cultivation techniques to you. I will explain them book by book. I will inform you one day in advance about what will be taught. If you haven’t practiced a certain technique, then go to my junior brother and let him teach you how to draw symbols. The lesson will be two hours long. After that, my master will give you a sermon and adopt a question and answer format. Prepare your questions in advance…"

On the first evening, Zhang Shuhua was the first to give a sermon to three hundred disciple workers. Everyone listened attentively. Because the wages provided by Lin Jiang were very low, physical labor work would not be paid this much. But they all came, seeking knowledge and hoping to cultivate immortality.

Starting from the second day, Lin Jiang went to where they lived to give lectures. Many people who didn’t work for them also came to attend the classes. Lin Jiang and the others didn’t mind. As for Zhang Wanjing, he took out his own private flying boat to pick them up.

It was Zhang Wanjing’s sincere approach that touched many people. There was no need for Lin Jiang to promote it. More and more disciple workers volunteered, including many outer disciples, especially those hundreds of farmers. As long as they had time, they came to help without even discussing wages.

"Trying to scheme and manipulate others, it turns out I’m the clown."

Lin Jiang was moved by this scene. He had been trying to manipulate others throughout this matter, but he realized that there was no need for manipulation. As long as you treat others with sincerity, in terms of perspective, he was far inferior to Zhang Wanjing.