Chapter 22
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Chapter 22: Departure
Lin Ying brought the Green Rock Pill, which provided an ideal disguise for Lin Jiang.
With the addition of the previously used Appearance Fixing Pill and some intentionally grown sideburns, Lin Jiang was able to convincingly appear as a middle-aged man.
Time flowed swiftly, and before long, ten years had passed since he began guarding the tomb. During the tenth year, Lin Jiang bid his farewells to Lin Hai, the fifth elder.
Lin Hai, who was six years older than Lin Jiang, passed away at the age of 92, a lifespan considered quite long. In truth, cultivators in the Qi Refining Period didn’t live much longer than ordinary people, but their old age was more comfortable due to the nurturing effects of spiritual energy, which kept them healthier and less prone to sickness.
Five years later, in the fifteenth year, the seventh elder, Lin Feng, also passed. A few months younger than Lin Jiang, he too lived to nearly 90 years.
At the age of 94, Lin Jiang reached the seventh level of Qi Refining in the eighteenth year, advancing into the later stage of the Qi Refining Period.
It was around this time that Lin Jiang began making preparations to leave the Lin family. He purchased several Inedia Pills from the family market—these pills, which could suppress hunger for a month, were crucial for traveling cultivators. He also bought other necessary supplies.
The most important part of his preparation, however, was his decision to share his final wish with a number of people. Lin Jiang desired to see the wider world. Many agreed with his decision.
In this world, most mortals spent their entire lives within a hundred-mile radius of their birthplace. Cultivators, on the other hand, could venture farther, but even most Qi Refining cultivators in the Lin family never traveled further than a thousand miles. Anything beyond that was considered far too dangerous and unfamiliar.
But the world was undeniably vast. In Yun State alone, regions stretched tens of thousands of miles. Beyond that lay the Immortal Cultivation Realm, a vast unknown that beckoned to all cultivators.
At Lin Jiang’s age, there was nothing left to hold him back. It was a brave decision to explore the world beyond before his life came to an end.
A year passed, and during Lin Ying’s seclusion, Lin Jiang made his way to the Lin family ancestral hall. His appearance immediately caught the attention of Steward Wu, who, like many others, had grown old.
“Sixth Young Master.”
“Steward Wu, I’ve come to say goodbye.”
“Are you not going to inform Miss Ten?”
“If she finds out, she’ll never let me go.”
“You’re braver than I am.”
Steward Wu nodded in admiration, impressed by Lin Jiang’s resolve to step into the unknown.
“I need to take my Soul Lamp with me.”
“Sixth Young Master, there’s no need.”
“I don’t want Lin Ying to know that I’ve died. She won’t be able to see the Soul Lamp, so she’ll always hope that I’m still alive, that something extraordinary happened. If she sees it, she’ll be deeply saddened, and I don’t want to cause her that pain.”
Lin Jiang spoke these words while silently apologizing. In that moment, he realized that he was deceiving the one person who was closest to him.
“I understand. I’ll support your decision. Do you wish to see your father?”
Steward Wu hesitated, deeply moved by Lin Jiang’s sincerity. It was a bond that reminded him of his own sister, one that could move mountains.
“No, as a father, I can’t bear to watch my son die. It’s a sorrowful moment when the elder generation buries the younger generation. No one wants to witness such a thing.”
“The head of the family can live for many more years.”
Steward Wu paused and said, “Lin Batian has achieved Golden Core cultivation, which allows him to live for five hundred years. He’s in his early two hundreds now, so he has over three hundred years left to live.”
“That’s just an example, but the principle remains the same.”
“Yes, I lost a son two years ago. It still breaks my heart.”
“Please, fulfill my request, Steward Wu.”
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
With a solemn nod, Steward Wu agreed, personally handing over the Soul Lamp to Lin Jiang.
“Father, I’ve been unfilial. I didn’t get the chance to care for you in your old age.”
Lin Jiang knelt before the ancestral hall, performing three deep bows. His movements were filled with purpose. Steward Wu was deeply touched by this gesture.
Having secretly left the Lin family grounds, Lin Jiang summoned Big Shadiao from the Spirit Beast Bag. Climbing onto its back, he urged it to ascend higher. The enormous bird, a later-stage first rank beast, spread its wings and soared, its flight swift and powerful.
Big Shadiao and its smaller counterpart took turns carrying Lin Jiang, flying north. They passed Anhua City, continuing on their journey since the city was too close to the Lin family and not Lin Jiang’s intended destination.
Lin Jiang’s ultimate goal was Yunzhong City, the largest city in Yun State, located more than 100,000 miles away. Yunzhong City was known as the crowning jewel of Yun State, home to millions of cultivators. Cultivation levels here were diverse, and even Golden Core cultivators were common.
After nearly a month of travel with numerous stops, Lin Jiang finally arrived outside Yunzhong City. The sheer scale of the city left him in awe.
“Big Shadiao, your free days are over. Come inside.”
Lin Jiang recalled Big Shadiao into the Spirit Beast Bag, ensuring it stayed there for its safety. There were too many cultivators in the city, and letting it roam freely could result in it being harmed or even killed.
In the first three miles of Yunzhong City, flying was prohibited. Lin Jiang obeyed the rules and walked, observing the many cultivators and merchant carriages drawn by large beasts.
He eventually reached the city’s entrance, where he exchanged five spirit stones for an identity token that allowed him to reside there. This token was valid for one year; to stay longer, he would need to invest in a permanent residence.
After learning the exorbitant housing prices, Lin Jiang couldn’t help but grumble. A small courtyard of about a hundred square meters cost over two hundred thousand spirit stones—far beyond his means.
Having worked in the Lin family for over forty years, with some inheritance from Zhuang Rong, Lin Jiang had only fifty thousand spirit stones to his name—far from enough to afford a small courtyard.
Once settled in a cheap inn, Lin Jiang spent the next two weeks familiarizing himself with Yunzhong City. The city was much like Anhua City, but on a grander scale. It featured mature commercial districts, large markets, and distinct areas divided by cultivation realm.
After learning his way around, Lin Jiang found a place to rent. The apartment was small—only fifty square meters—but the rent was high, costing him four thousand spirit stones for the year. Despite the steep cost, he was left with little choice.
After settling down, Lin Jiang had to consider his income.
In the Lin family, he wasn’t worried about income because he had a monthly salary from the family, although not much.
He also had a Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa that generated an income of at least eight hundred spirit stones per year, which was enough for his expenses.
But here, all these incomes were gone. Luckily, he still had the skill of drawing symbols.
Lin Jiang had been practicing symbol art for decades, and his level was far beyond comparison.
He could already draw eighteen types of high-quality first-grade spiritual talismans, and the success rate was extremely high. At least eight out of ten could be drawn successfully.
The price of a high-quality first-grade spiritual talisman was not high.
In the Lin family market, it was about three spirit stones, and in Yunzhong City, it was a bit higher and could be sold for five spirit stones.
The cost was less than one spirit stone.
The cost of spiritual talismans mainly lay in the practice stage, with a large number of failures and the time spent. The actual material cost was not high.
“With my Qi Refining seven-layer divine sense and spiritual power, it’s no problem to draw three high-quality first-grade spiritual talismans a day.
After deducting possible failures and material costs, the profit is approximately twelve to thirteen spirit stones.
Without resting for a month, that’s about four hundred spirit stones. In less than a year, it’s less than five thousand spirit stones.
Damn it, the rent alone takes four thousand, I can’t make a living.”
Lin Jiang calculated and almost spat blood.
It turned out that he worked his ass off and basically worked for the landlord.
Just the rent alone took up ninety percent of his income.
After reaching the later stage of Qi Refining, Lin Jiang’s expenses also increased a lot.
Qi Gathering Pills were no longer useful for him, he needed to switch to a type of pill called Spirit Gathering Pill.
One Spirit Gathering Pill cost ten spirit stones.
Based on his previous cultivation habits, he used about six pills a month, which added up to over seven hundred spirit stones in a year.
In addition to Spirit Gathering Pills, he also needed to use Energy Nourishing Pills, which cost three to four hundred spirit stones a year.
This didn’t include other expenses.
Altogether, he needed over a thousand spirit stones a year.
His income was completely insufficient, he would end up with nothing.
“Yunzhong City, not an easy place to live in.”
Lin Jiang sighed, he now doubted whether he came to Yunzhong City by mistake.
With his level of expenditure, he simply couldn’t save any money.
He needed to know there were many places where he would need money in the future.
Once he reached the Qi Refining Grand Completion, he would have to find a way to buy the Foundation Building Pill.
The Foundation Building Pill cost tens of thousands of spirit stones, which he could afford, but he also needed to find a place for quiet cultivation.
It seemed he would have to go to an advanced cave dwelling, but the rent there was expensive.
Once he reached the Foundation Building stage, he would have to change his equipment.
The equipment used in the Qi Refining Period was called a tool, while the equipment used in the Foundation Building Period was called a spiritual tool.
The price of a spiritual tool was several times higher than a tool.
To get a complete set of equipment, it would cost at least tens of thousands of spirit stones.
The pills used for cultivation in the Foundation Building Period were even more expensive.
In Anhua City, a True Spirit Pill cost around thirty spirit stones.
If he didn’t save some money for the Foundation Building Period, what would he do when the time came?
“Never mind, never mind, I don’t want to think about it too much.
I still have enough savings for a few years.
I should focus on improving my cultivation and skills.
If I can draw first-grade premium spiritual talismans, I can sell one for ten spirit stones. Then I won’t have to rely on my savings for a living.”
After thinking it through, Lin Jiang shook his head and pushed away his distractions.
He had already come this far and didn’t want to keep running.
He decided to settle down in Yunzhong City.
If things didn’t work out, he could figure it out later.
