Chapter 182

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Chapter 182: a Hundred Years in Retrospect

Five Elements Sect – The entrance of the mountain gate.

It has been an ordinary five years. Lin Jiang is now a young man of 305 years old, and it is also the year of the Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration.

The Five Elements Sect has a base in Yunzhong City. It serves as a contact point for the Zhonghang Sect and the Cloud Sword Sect, like a diplomatic embassy. At the same time, it also has a business in Yunzhong City, collecting resources that the Five Elements Sect doesn’t have.

Every time the Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration takes place, members of the Five Elements Sect participate. This time, it is led by Zhang Wanjing, who is the youngest Nascent Soul disciple in the Five Elements Sect. He needs more communication and to meet many Nascent Soul disciples from the Yun State.

As Zhang Wanjing’s personal disciple, Lin Jiang naturally follows him without needing to apply in advance. Additionally, Zhang Shuhua, who has achieved the golden core stage, is also with them.

Zhang Shuhua received a Spirit Integrating Pill from Lin Jiang. Zhang Wanjing personally protected him, and after a year and a half, he successfully broke through and became a new golden core disciple of the Five Elements Sect, serving as the Deputy Hall Master of the Black Clothes Hall.

There are over a hundred people participating in this official mission of the Five Elements Sect, and there may be even more participating privately. Many people want to try their luck at the Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration, as good things always appear during this celebration that are normally unavailable in the market.

"Let’s set off."

With a command from Zhang Wanjing, the large airship of the Five Elements Sect slowly ascended and flew towards the distance.

"During the last Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration, I was 21 years old and really wanted to witness it. But my cultivation was too low, so I couldn’t go. This time, I can finally see the charm of Yun State’s largest city."

"It turns out that my senior is already 121 years old, so old. I am only 101 years old, really young."

"I am a golden core, I have lived longer than you."

Zhang Shuhua smiled slightly and said. You, a building foundation, dare to compare longevity with me, a golden core. Are you serious?

Lin Jiang gave a mysterious smile and said. Young man, it’s better not to compare with anything else. Can you compete with me in terms of longevity? You are just a small fry.

"If you have that time, it’s better to practice more."

Zhang Wanjing turned around and said. He knows a lot of secrets about Lin Jiang, but he didn’t say much. Everyone has their own opportunities. If his disciple has some adventures, he won’t expose them either.

Lin Jiang quickly ran away and went to play with other disciples. There were quite a few young building foundation disciples on the flying boat, only in their twenties or thirties. He liked to play with young people because he was also young.

Within the Yun State area, hardly anyone dares to rob the flying boats of the three major sects. There have been some who tried, but their entire families were exterminated by the three major sects. Now, those bandits have become smarter. After all, they are only after money, not fools.

The flying boat landed safely outside Yunzhong City. Zhang Wanjing put away the flying boat, and the group entered the city. The Five Elements Sect had a base there, so they didn’t have to spend money renting houses. They settled in the base.

"Looking back, it has been one hundred years. Yunzhong City, here I am again."

Lin Jiang looked at Yunzhong City and sighed. A strange yet familiar feeling rushed through his heart.

·······

"Junior brother, what’s wrong with you? Today, my father led a group to visit Zhonghang Sect, and you are here at the big market stall?"

Zhang Shuhua found Lin Jiang at the big market in Yunzhong City, his face full of bewilderment.

"Senior brother, you don’t understand. This is called an opportunity. I will get familiar with the big market first. When the real celebration begins, I’ll be able to find some hidden treasures."

Lin Jiang blabbered nonsense. How could he not know what Zhang Wanjing was up to today? He knew he needed to avoid Zhonghang Sect, that’s why he came here.

"You don’t seem like a fool."

"Ha, it’s like seeing only what’s right under a lamp. Others may think there won’t be any treasures at the big market, but with my keen eye, I might just find something valuable. Senior brother, don’t you think I’m right?"

"You can do whatever you want, right? Isn’t Zhonghang Sect not going anymore?"

"It’s boring. Our Five Elements Sect is also one of the three major sects, and we stay here every day without anything special."

"It’s up to you. Just don’t cause any trouble."

Zhang Shuhua shook his head and couldn’t do anything about it, so he just left.

Lin Jiang let out a sigh of relief, packed up the stall, and left directly.

Lin Jiang chose to revisit familiar places. Spring Coming Tower is still there, and so is Baihua Tower. So many familiar places.

After a while, Lin Jiang walked out of the gate of Spring Coming Tower with a flushed face, muttering to himself, "It’s too ordinary, too ordinary. Palace Banquet is much better. That’s where literati should go."

After leaving Spring Coming Tower, Lin Jiang took another stroll around the bustling market in the eastern part of the city, bought a lot of snacks, and happily ate them back at the residence of Five Elements Sect.

"Senior Brother Xiao, it would have been better if you were here."

Not long after, a disciple from the Five Elements Sect entered.

"What’s up?"

"There’s a visitor. Martial Uncle Zhang has taken a team to the Zhonghang Sect. The other Martial Uncles are not at the base, so you’re the only one here. Why don’t you go and meet the guest?"

"Look at what Junior Brother is saying, what do you mean by meeting the guest? It’s called receiving the guest."

"Yes, yes, yes, Senior Brother is right. Well then, please?"

"Let’s go."

Lin Jiang wiped his mouth and went to the reception hall to receive the guest, uh, no, to meet the guest.

"It’s you."

"Ahem, well, you can go ahead and busy yourselves first."

Lin Jiang arrived in the front hall and saw Lin Die talking to other disciples from the Five Elements Sect.

"Um, Third Auntie, why are you here?"

"I came from Anhua City, from the Lin family, to participate in the Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration. Is there a problem with that?"

"No, just wanted to ask, where is the head of the family?"

"My dad doesn’t know where he went. He hasn’t been seen for years. Lin Ying is guarding Wilderness Town. I came here with a team to Yunzhong City. Little Yu also came. Would you like to meet them?"

"Who is Little Yu?"

"Your pet, of course. Are you planning to call it Big Shadiao forever?"

"Ah, I call Big Shadiao Little Yu."

Lin Jiang instantly became confused. Isn’t Big Shadiao a nice name?

"Nonsense, she’s a girl, so how can she be called Big Shadiao?"

"Okay, makes sense."

"Little Yu really likes eating fish. Originally, it was called ‘small fish’, but upon further consideration, that wouldn’t do. So, we named it Little Yu, taking my last name, Lin Yu. What do you think? Does it sound nice?"

"Sounds good. Third Auntie picked the name. Whoever dares to say it’s not good, I’ll punch them."

"Stop it. Whether you see it or not, if you see it then I’ll go call it."

"Forget it, don’t see it. In case it sees me and remembers the past, and refuses to leave, what should we do?"

Lin Jiang shook his head. He was afraid he couldn’t handle that kind of scene. Just by looking at the name Lin Die gave it, he knew that Big Shadiao wouldn’t endure hardship in the Lin family.

"You’re right. When you left back then, it caused a commotion for a full three years."

"Help me apologize to it."

"It’s all over now, oh right, almost forgot the important thing, where is the leader of the Five Elements Sect?"

"He went to Zhonghang Sect to pay respects, I don’t think he’ll be back so soon. He also has to go to Cloud Sword Sect. Is there something you need?"

"It’s not a big deal, this time during the Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration, there are many good things. I just wanted to let you know so that our two families won’t fight each other. Instead, we can join forces against other sects and independent cultivators."

"Did you guys always play like this before?"

"Of course, if we didn’t take those treasures, would the independent cultivators and smaller forces be able to afford them? Would they be sold for such high prices? This is how we do it with all the high-level treasures in the cultivation cities of Yun State."

Lin Die said. Those high-level treasures are shown off to attract the attention of smaller forces. The main buyers are still the few major forces. Anhua City now qualifies to participate in this game.

It’s not just during the Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration, this is how it works in other cities’ high-end auction houses too.

"What an eye-opener!"

Lin Jiang said. The advantages of the major sects are really terrifying. It’s really difficult for regular cultivators, even some intermediate forces, to obtain high-level resources. They have to pay a higher price.

"Since your master is not here, I will leave first. I’ll let him know when he comes back, and I’ll visit again later."

"Or else, can you tell me?"

"Can someone with a basic understanding of building construction make decisions?"

"No, but my master listens to me for many things."

"Okay, then I’ll tell you."

Lin Die thought for a moment and took out a piece of jade scroll. Inside were the names of various auction items announced by the businesses in Yunzhong City. The items that the Lin family wanted to acquire were marked, mostly focusing on advanced breakthrough treasures.

"The Lin family can’t handle so many, right?"

"Definitely not. That’s why we need to discuss with the Five Elements Sect. During the auction, our two families should cooperate and raise the prices first, but we shouldn’t stubbornly compete against each other."

"I understand. If the Lin family has any specific items they’re interested in, you can tell me, and I’ll discuss it with my master."

"The Lin family will eat as much as they can, but let’s wait for your master to come back and discuss it in detail."

Lin Die said. This is a complicated matter that involves bidding procedures. The one in charge must make the decision, and we must also coordinate with the Five Elements Sect. We don’t want to end up fighting amongst ourselves and let the seller take advantage.

"Do you cooperate with other forces?"

"Definitely, we have an understanding. You’ll find out later. I won’t tell you anymore. I have to visit other places."

"I’ll walk you there."

"No need, I live on the street next to yours. The Lin family also has a residence here. If I want to see Little Yu, I’ll come secretly. Remember, don’t expose your identity and don’t go see Cao Ying, okay?"

"Okay, I got it."

Lin Jiang nodded, Lin Die had warned him a long time ago that something was wrong with Cao Ying. He shouldn’t expose himself, otherwise the Zhonghang Sect might kill him to break Cao Ying’s Heart Demon.