Chapter 184

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Chapter 184: Zhang Wanjing’s Inference

Yun State，Yunzhong City

After spending a few days wandering in Yunzhong City, Zhang Wanjing finally returned. He had visited the Zhonghang Sect and the Cloud Sword Sect, and only arrived at the base camp the night before the great celebration. Lin Die came to his door that day and they talked for a long time.

"Xiao Yi, are you a member of the Lin family?"

"Yes, Master."

"I won’t ask you about the extra details, but I’ll tell you some news – things seem to be going wrong for the Lin family."

"Master, what happened?"

Lin Jiang became worried immediately, what did Lin Die say to Zhang Wanjing?

"I’m not sure of the specifics, but it’s what I figured out. It’s best for the sect or the family to have stable annual expenses and income. Even if there’s sudden expansion and they gain a lot of benefits, they need time to gradually digest it.

I’ve seen the list from Lin Die, and it’s abnormal. The Lin family is overextending their resources, which is very unusual for a power. Something bad might be happening to the Lin family."

Zhang Wanjing said, as he held power in the sect and knew roughly how much income the major sects in Yun State earn each year, the actions of the Lin family are already overextending their resources.

This is a very foolish choice for a power. For example, let’s say the Lin family currently has five disciples in the Golden Core stage. Buying infant treasures for them costs five million spirit stones. If they were to buy all at once, it would require a resource of twenty-five million spirit stones. If all of them were to breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, they would naturally make a big profit.

However, this is rarely the case. Usually, they would choose one or two individuals to focus on cultivating, and the rest would find their own paths. The extra resources should be saved for the next batch of disciples. This is what a qualified power should do.

And now, the Lin family seems to be taking a desperate gamble. This all-in approach is meaningless, no matter how many times they succeed, because one failure could be irrecoverable.

"Master, what should I do?"

Lin Jiang asked, recalling the words Lin Die told him, that the Lin family is in great danger.

"How long has it been since you paid attention to the strength of the Lin family?"

"What?"

"According to reliable information, Lin Batian most likely has already broken through the Soul Changing stage. Both of the Lin family’s twin beauties are now at the Nascent Soul stage, and the Lin family has sixteen people with golden cores. Even if you cultivate in place right now, it wouldn’t be much help to the Lin family if you were to go all out."

"Soul Changing, Master, were you not lying to me? Is it really so easy to break through with Soul Changing?"

Lin Jiang was dumbfounded. Was his father really that powerful? Is Soul Changing as easy for him as drinking water and eating food?

"Why would I deceive you? Lin Batian’s background is extremely mysterious. The Five Elements Sect has been investigating for many years without any conclusion. Shi Yuntang Martial Uncle might know, but he won’t say. Over thirty years ago, Lin Batian single-handedly fought against eleven opponents in the Wilderness, and even killed the Heavenly Wolf King. At that time, he was already in the late Nascent Soul stage or even complete. As for how he broke through with Soul Changing, I would also like to know. If you have a chance, could you ask him for me?"

"Ahem, Master, to the Lin family, I am just a minor character. I’m not even considered a legitimate child."

"Is that so? But I see that Lin Die has shown great concern for you."

"Maybe it’s because of my higher status. The Lin family is on the verge of extinction for three generations now."

Lin Jiang said, in the second generation of the Lin family, which includes himself, Lin Die, and Lin Ying, there are only three people left. The second child, Lin He, stopped at the Building Foundation Period and passed away.

As for the third generation of the Lin family, there aren’t many people left. Except for those who have reached the golden core stage or are very young, most of the third generation of the Lin family, born during Lin Jiang’s time, have already passed away. After all, Lin Jiang is over three hundred years old.

"Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore. The reason I told you this is to say that if something happens to the Lin family one day, don’t foolishly rush out. It’s useless. Preserve yourself, improve your cultivation, that’s the most sensible and correct choice, you know?"

"I know, Master."

Lin Jiang nodded. Zhang Wanjing’s words were correct and very wise, but if Lin Jiang didn’thing, perhaps he wouldn’t be able to achieve anything.

·······

The Centennial Celebration officially began. The Five Elements Sect split up and the various golden core cultivators led their own teams to participate in the auction held by different businesses. Meanwhile, Zhang Wanjing participated in the auction co-hosted by Duobao Pavilion and Picking Stars Tower, which should be the largest in Yunzhong City.

"If any of you find something you like, you can bid together in the name of our sect. There are discounts and you basically don’t need to pay the transaction fee."

"Thank you, Master."

"Thank you, Martial Uncle."

"Thank you, Martial Uncle Zu."

Lin Jiang and the others were instantly overjoyed. They thanked Zhang Wanjing and the buyers and sellers at the auction, who had to pay an additional five percent as a handling fee and tax. If the amount was large, it would be quite a substantial sum. If they could avoid paying this money, they could save a lot of spirit stones.

"Master, I want to buy all of these."

Lin Jiang secretly took out a list of items up for auction and marked the ones he wanted to bid on, then handed it to Zhang Wanjing.

"Xiao Yi, how much money have you made over these years?"

Zhang Wanjing was amazed. If Lin Jiang managed to buy all the items, he would have more wealth than him. Could his disciple really make so much money?

"Master, ‘made’ is the right word, not ‘made a fortune.’ This is hard-earned money, you know?"

"Hehe."

"Master, please don’t look at me like that, and don’t try to rob me again. I, Xiao Yi, am determined and will not compromise."

"Immature."

Zhang Wanjing looked away, thinking about the Lin family’s words. Forget it, I’ll let you off, kid.

"Dear Taoist friends, I am Cloud Sword Sect’s He Ruoxu, the auctioneer for today’s Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration. We have many new faces this time…"

As the auctioneer took the stage, he began to speak. During the once-in-a-hundred-years celebration in Yunzhong City, there would be many unfamiliar faces. Old friends pass away, and new ones appear, so he needed to explain the rules.

However, he didn’t waste time and quickly started the auction. On the first day, both sects brought out many valuable treasures, including various resources needed by cultivators.

Each item was brought up on stage, and the people below started bidding. When something Lin Jiang needed came up, he didn’t hesitate and raised the price.

Independent cultivators and small faction cultivators below quickly became desperate. They thought that by putting all their wealth on the line, they would be able to acquire the resources they needed at the auction. However, they soon realized that their prideful wealth was nothing more than a joke compared to the larger sects.

"Next item, the sixth-grade Endless Energy Pill, refined by Pill King Li Ruoxu. The effects and features of the Endless Energy Pill are written on the wall behind me. There are a total of twenty pills, sold in sets of two. Starting at 100,000 spirit stones, the top ten bidders will win. Please write down your prices, Taoist friends. You have 15 minutes."

"Three hundred thousand spirit stones"

Lin Jiang decisively wrote down his number. The sixth-level Endless Energy Pill was the best healing pill available in the Yun State market, and only Li Ruoxu could produce it for sale. Lin Jiang didn’t have enough of his own, and the price wouldn’t be low.

After a quarter of an hour, the auctioneer made an offer. The three hundred thousand spirit stones were just the tenth highest bid, which made Lin Jiang breathe a sigh of relief.

The auction continued, one good item after another. Not all of them were within Lin Jiang’s budget though. Some items were just too expensive, and Lin Jiang didn’t want to be taken advantage of.

"The Centennial Celebration lasts for many days, there’s no rush. Take it slow."

Lin Jiang comforted himself, believing that good things wouldn’t all appear in one day. He still had a chance.

It wasn’t until dawn that the auction finally ended and everyone dispersed. Lin Jiang followed Zhang Wanjing to deliver the auctioned items. There were indeed no handling fees, just like during the Medicine Conference held in Medicine City. The Three Sects really knew how to play the game.

"In a few days, I will be attending some exchange meetings. I will bring two people with me. Which one of you junior brothers will go, and the other spot has already been filled."

Back at their residence, Zhang Wanjing asked Zhang Shuhua and Lin Jiang. As the team leader, he couldn’t always be accompanied by his own disciples. The others also deserved a chance to broaden their horizons.

"Senior brother, you go, my skills are too low, going there won’t be of any use."

"Junior brother, are you going to miss out on such a great opportunity?"

"Boring, besides, I haven’t finished buying the things I want, I have plans."

Lin Jiang refused. He wasn’t interested in those high-level exchanges. When it comes to discussing skills, he can’t understand it. As for sharing information, it’s useless to him. Without reaching a certain level, he can’t digest or absorb such information. As for trading items, he doesn’t have any treasures on him, he just has a lot of spirit stones. It’s better not to go and instead participate in other auctions to see if he can get anything good.