Chapter 163
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Chapter 163: Opening New Territory
Wilderness, Five Elements Sect’s base
Without Zhang Wanjing’s supervision, Lin Jiang returned to his original lazy nature. He spent a full three months in Medicine City, doing nothing every day, just hanging around and listening to music. It was not until Zhang Shuhua couldn’t bear it anymore and came to take Lin Jiang back.
"Senior Brother Xiao, you finally came back. If you didn’t come back, I would have been so worried."
When Yue Qing saw Lin Jiang, he screamed in an exaggerated manner. It’s not his fault because Zhang Wanjing left, and Lin Jiang and Zhang Shuhua returned to the sect’s base. There was no one in the base to protect them. With such a big business, he couldn’t handle it.
"I went back to repair the spiritual weapon, it took a little time."
Lin Jiang casually mentioned that his amazing quality special weapon was custom-made and couldn’t be repaired by regular craftsmen. It took a lot of time and spirit stones.
"Anyway, I’m glad you’re back. Without you here, I was worried and scared."
"And what about people trying to steal our business?"
"What do you mean there’s no one? There are plenty of people circling around us. Who knows what they’re up to."
"Don’t worry, I’m back. I promise everything will be fine."
Lin Jiang comforted Yue Qing, saying that Zhang Wanjing had only run away, not died. As long as Zhang Wanjing’s Soul Lamp was still lit, those people wouldn’t dare to harm him. But if Zhang Wanjing really died, their business would be in trouble.
Afterwards, Lin Jiang asked about the business. Yue Qing’s response was very good. Three months ago, there was a big battle for the Purple Origin Taoist Fruit, and many independent cultivators made a fortune. With money in hand, spending increased, and spirit stones came pouring in.
Now, Lin Jiang and the others had a complete business. The wine they brewed in the workshop was low-end but had a large quantity. Besides that, they also sold mid-range and high-end spiritual wine, but those were not produced by themselves. They were sourced from Medicine City and other places.
Additionally, they were involved in things like Pills, Talismans, Items, and Formations. They couldn’t compare to Xingyuan Building, but the profits were still impressive for someone in the Building Foundation Period.
However, the expenses are not small. Lin Jiang has connected the entire network, and he doesn’t cut corners when it comes to rewards. Everyone gets their fair share, and it’s not just a few of them who are getting paid.
After understanding the situation, Lin Jiang didn’t say much. He didn’t try to show off any clever business ideas because that’s all nonsense. The people in the cultivation world are not foolish. Besides, Lin Jiang’s success in business relies on personal connections. No matter how talented someone is at running a business, it’s useless without connections.
What is the most profitable business in the world? Is it innovation? No, it’s monopoly, having strong backing, and holding power.
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"Uncle Wei, Uncle Zou, and Uncle Yu, why are you here?"
After a few days, Lin Jiang saw the three Martial Uncles at the base and greeted them.
"Xiao Yi, didn’t you receive the news?"
"No, my master left, and the sect assigned an unfamiliar Martial Uncle to temporarily manage."
Lin Jiang explained that now someone else is temporarily in charge of the base, but he and Zhang Shuhua still handle all the important matters. The reason is simple: after ten years of operation, everyone in the base is loyal to Zhang Wanjing.
"The martial sect intends to establish another base in the Wilderness, and they have set their eyes on our base."
"Free ride?"
"That won’t happen. They will compensate us, and we also want to take a break."
Wei Yunshen said. They have been established at the base in the Wilderness for ten years. During these ten years, they have made a lot of profit. It’s time for them to retire and take the money back to cultivate and improve their abilities.
"Martial Uncle, your base seems to be good. Why did you retreat?"
"The casualties were too high. Many people have died over the years. Pay more attention to it. Your benefits will not be spared in the future."
Wei Yunshen said. These ten years have been fine for the three of us, but many of our subordinates and even personal disciples have been lost. The Wilderness is still too dangerous.
The three of them quickly left. Lin Jiang immediately sought Zhang Shuhua’s counsel. Zhang Shuhua said. I have heard a little about this matter. The three sects are acting together this time. The Heavenly Wolf King is already dead. Before a new king-level beast appears in the Wilderness, they want to suppress the survival environment for the Wilderness beasts as much as possible.
"Senior martial brother, I’m not worried about that. I’m worried that if the sect takes big actions, we will be used as cannon fodder. Have you forgotten how Guo Yunfeng targeted us before?"
"Junior apprentice, to be honest, if it’s really like this, we have no choice. Even if it’s my father, we can’t go against the sect’s orders. We are not special people. Dangerous missions always need someone to carry out. It’s not fair that others can go but we can’t."
"Senior apprentice, I’m not afraid of battle, but I don’t want to die in vain. If there was a mission that would surely lead to death, would you go?"
"Junior apprentice, you’re being extreme."
"In any case, we need to be cautious. Senior apprentice, to tell you the truth, I have a way to save myself, but I’m worried about you."
Lin Jiang said. With the Explosive Element Technique and excellent quality equipment, he will be unbeatable in the Building Foundation Period. Even in a mission where others would die, he’s confident he can escape, but the same cannot be said for Zhang Shuhua.
"Let’s discuss it later. This matter won’t progress quickly. It’s not as simple as advancing the stronghold. We have to choose a location, clear the surrounding high-level beasts, and slowly establish the stronghold. It might take three to five years."
Zhang Shuhua thought, in three to five years, maybe my father will be back. Who knows who will end up sacrificing themselves.
Since Zhang Shuhua couldn’t be convinced, Lin Jiang stopped talking and just walked on. He wasn’t afraid anyway.
In the following days, the news gradually spread. Everyone in the stronghold was discussing it, including the independent cultivators. The independent cultivators were naturally very unhappy because the sect was competing with them for resources. However, their protests were useless against the Five Elements Sect.
Half a month later, the Five Elements Sect gathered hundreds of people again, not the previous batch, but new recruits, almost all of them skilled soldiers. It shows how powerful the Five Elements Sect is.
After several discussions within the sect, the base established by Wei Yunshen and his two companions was acquired by the sect. They don’t know the exact compensation, but they know that the three of them happily handed over the base.
Using the current base as a starting point, the sect began to build a new base. The first task was to clear the fourth-level monsters in the Wilderness.
After the death of the Heavenly Wolf King, the fourth-level monster group in the Wilderness was left without a leader. Based on past experience, it wouldn’t take many years for someone among them to advance and become a new monster king. It was said that they were suppressed by the Heavenly Wolf King before, so they couldn’t break through. Now that the Heavenly Wolf King was gone, they might find opportunities to break through. Of course, there could also be powerful monsters emerging from deeper within the Wilderness to rule this area.
But no matter what, this is a vulnerable period for the monsters, an opportunity for the three major sects in Yun State to push forward and suppress the base together.
Dealing with the fourth-level monsters doesn’t require the Building Foundation Period. That’s the job of Nascent Soul Ancestors. Even for other monsters, there are experts with golden cores in charge. Lin Jiang and his companions were not assigned to fight.
"Junior Brother, the news from above has been confirmed. We’re safe and won’t be sent to battle."
A few days later, Zhang Shuhua returned from the sect with information and told Lin Jiang that not only was he worried about being used as cannon fodder, but others at the base were also concerned. They were all Zhang Wanjing’s people, so Zhang Shuhua had to take on the responsibility to appease everyone, because he was the eldest senior brother.
"I also received the news. We’re safe now, but we’ve been neglected."
Lin Jiang nodded, but Guo Yunfeng still didn’t dare to harm them. However, they were being neglected. After the new stronghold was built, other people would be assigned to guard it, while Lin Jiang and his team would continue to stay at the old stronghold. When everyone moved to the new stronghold, there wouldn’t be many independent cultivators coming here to rest and recuperate anymore. Without independent cultivators, this place would be left empty. Lin Jiang’s business would also be ruined.
"Being neglected is better than losing our lives. Do you know how many people have died during this time? Besides, you’ve made a lot of money in these years."
"Okay, just let me vent."
Lin Jiang replied, he was just venting. The new stronghold couldn’t be built in a short amount of time. He could still make some more money. Besides, Zhang Wanjing was the most important. If he came back with Nascent Soul cultivation, would there still be a problem finding a place to make money?
Afterward, Lin Jiang had a long chat with Yue Qing, telling him to constantly monitor the flow of people in the stronghold. If the number of people significantly decreased, they should reduce their investment. It didn’t matter if they didn’t make money, but they couldn’t afford to lose money.