Chapter 260

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Chapter 260: Returning to Yun State

Central Province, where the Lin family is based

Lin Jiang didn’t visit the Lin family very often. It was usually every three to five years, when he could reunite with his elder sister and younger brother, Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao. At the same time, he would also see Zhang Shuhua. Zhang Shuhua had been an envoy of the Five Elements Sect in the Lin family for many years.

"Junior brother, I’ve received news that most of the four major families have withdrawn their forces from Yun State. You can go back and take a look now."

"The four major families are no longer interested in Yun State?"

Lin Jiang was surprised. He had always thought that the four major families intended to take over Yun State. He didn’t expect them to withdraw.

Yun State is very remote. The four major families only need Qing State for their purposes. However, they left because Qing State also has many problems.

Although the four major families repeatedly told their disciples to treat the vassals well, their disciples still acted very arrogantly and oppressed the vassals. Many vassals resented this and secretly helped the former members of the four major sects. In addition, the Lin family kept harassing them from behind. The power of the four major families in Qing State is not enough anymore, so they can’t monitor Yun State too much. Most importantly, after almost a century of hunting by the four major families, there are not many descendants of the Lin family left.

Zhang Shuhua explained that there were several reasons for the four major families withdrawing from Yun State. The descendants of the Lin Batian lineage were either killed or fled. The four major families also needed to protect their base in Qing State, so it was natural for them to withdraw.

"So, I can go back now?"

"Almost. It’s generally safe to go back now, just don’t attract too much attention."

"Then I should go back too. It’s been almost a hundred years."

Lin Jiang sighed. He had reached the golden core stage after the Yunzhong City Centennial Celebration and not long after that was the big battle in Yun State. He had never returned to Yun State since then. Now, he was already over four hundred years old, and calculating the time, it had been almost a hundred years.

"It has been many years. I should go back and see. Perhaps some of my old friends are still alive. In a few more years, they might be gone."

"I will go back in a few days."

Lin Jiang nodded and decided to go back while he had nothing else to do.

He wanted to see his old friends and the place he had lived for a hundred years. He also wanted to see Palace Banquet, a place where many battles had taken place.

Three days later, Lin Jiang set off to return to Yun State with Small Shadiao by his side. Crossing the Wilderness between the two places was no longer dangerous. Lin Jiang arrived safely in the realm of Yun State.

"Yun State has changed a lot over the decades. There are more and more strongholds in the Wilderness."

Lin Jiang paused in the air above the Wilderness and saw more and more strongholds below his feet. It was much more prosperous than when he was in the Wilderness a hundred years ago. The Wilderness reflected the strength of the three major sects of Yun State. Besides them, it was difficult for other forces to have the strength to develop the Wilderness. As for independent cultivators, forget about it. They were basically cannon fodder just there to make trouble.

"Excuse me, who are you looking for, taoist friend?"

When Lin Jiang arrived at the gate of the Five Elements Sect, he was stopped by a young disciple on patrol. Lin Jiang greeted the disciple warmly and showed his identity token.

The disciple still didn’t recognize Lin Jiang, but he no longer made things difficult for him. Lin Jiang smoothly entered through the gate.

Lin Jiang’s cave dwelling was still there, even the same one he had when he reached the Building Foundation stage. He had left shortly after breaking through to the golden core stage, so there was no time to change the dwelling. Lin Jiang just glanced at it before going to see Zhang Wanjing.

Zhang Wanjing is not here, Lin Jiang didn’t see anyone, so he went to Zhang Shuhua’s cave. Zhang Shuhua’s wife also looked old, with silver hair. Lin Jiang remembered how she looked when she married Zhang Shuhua, but now her youth is gone.

"It’s my junior brother who has returned."

"He came back to visit. This is a letter and a gift that my senior brother asked me to bring. Where are Zhang Wenchen and Zhang Wenxin?"

"They are both here. I will go get them."

Zhang Shuhua’s wife was very happy and quickly called Zhang Wenchen and Zhang Wenxin back.

Zhang Wenchen already looks like a sophisticated middle-aged man. He has a young wife and a child with him. Lin Jiang had heard about them when he was in Central City, but this was his first time seeing them.

Zhang Wenchen knows Lin Jiang. When Lin Jiang left, Zhang Wenchen was already an adult, while Zhang Wenxin was still very young. She tried to open her eyes wide, looking at Lin Jiang, trying to find some memories, but couldn’t seem to find any. She looked confused.

"Sister-in-law, do they look like how you and senior brother looked back then?"

"Yes, junior brother. Back then, every time you came, you would play with Wencheng and make him call you ‘father’. Now, Wencheng’s son is already this big, so we can’t play that anymore."

"Haha, sister-in-law, let’s not talk about past matters. Can’t you see Wenchen’s face has turned black?"

"Who cares? I’m old now, and I no longer listen to my daughter’s words. It serves me right."

"Let’s not talk about that. It’s been many years since I had a taste of your cooking, sister-in-law. Can we have a meal tonight?"

"Of course we can, but aren’t you waiting for my father?"

"Our master is always busy with important matters, so we don’t need to worry about him."

Lin Jiang waved his hand, why bother with so many things? He came back this time to visit friends, not to report back to the sect. Let’s eat and drink first.

That night, Lin Jiang had dinner with the Zhang family. He talked to Zhang Wenxin and Zhang Wenchen’s son about many interesting things in other states. Not only Yun State cultivators, but cultivators from other regions are the same. Most cultivators spend their whole lives within their own region, and 90% of cultivators never leave their own state.

Only a small number of cultivators can travel between several states. Lin Jiang, with his golden core cultivation, is already a rare case. This is mainly because he has the beast pet Small Shadiao with him. Otherwise, he would face countless dangers. Ordinary cultivators don’t have such privileges.

The next day, after meeting many old friends inside the sect gate, Lin Jiang learned that Zheng Yi, who used to be a disciple farming outside, had passed away, but his grandchildren are now inside the sect. Some of them have even achieved the Building Foundation Period, thanks to the efforts of several generations. This allows them to ascend to a higher level.

Yue Qing and Yue Lin, who were once here, have also passed away. They were not able to advance to the golden core, but Yue Qing’s younger brother Jiang Shu unexpectedly broke through the golden core, which surprised Lin Jiang.

"Senior Brother Xiao, it’s been decades. Where have you been?"

Jiang Shu was shocked to see Lin Jiang. Since the war in Yun State, Lin Jiang had disappeared and no one knew where he had gone. Jiang Shu had asked Zhang Shuhua and others, but they didn’t tell him.

"I went on some secret missions for the sect. Your fortune is better than Yue Qing and the others because you broke through the golden core."

"It’s also thanks to Senior Brother’s guidance. Without Senior Brother’s help, I would never have been able to break through."

Jiang Shu said that he did have a share in Lin Jiang’s business, although it was small. Over the past hundred years, he had accumulated enough to buy a pill, and it was with some luck that he made the breakthrough.

"It’s all because of your own good fortune. It has nothing to do with me, so don’t think too much about it."

"Still, I have to thank Senior Brother."

"How have those businesses been in recent years?"

"Everything is still good…"

Jiang Shu talked about his business, and instantly felt much better. Lin Jiang’s business was still going on, including the business that Zhang Wanjing had obtained after the sect’s reform.

The business continues, but the boss has changed many times. If the bosses behind these businesses are still alive, then the businesses continue to belong to them. But if they have passed away without successors, then the businesses will be gone. Finding a successor doesn’t simply mean having a heir, it means having the ability to manage the money.

For example, the former Nascent Soul expert, Guo Yunfeng, had countless industries within the sect. After he passed away, his descendants couldn’t break through to Nascent Soul stage, so his industries were gradually taken away. However, he still had connections remaining, so not everything was taken away. What needed to be left behind was still left behind.

In contrast, Yue Qing and Yue Lin were different. They were able to pursue lucrative business, relying on Lin Jiang. When Lin Jiang left their state or when they passed away, their shares would all be gone.

"Then, who has taken over my shares now?"

"For the time being, Zhang Shuhua Senior Brother holds them under his name, but I know that Zhang Shuhua Senior Brother didn’t take them. It should be Zhang Wanjing Martial Uncle who took them, using them to subsidize others. Now, Zhang Wanjing Martial Uncle has a lot of power and a number of golden core disciples by his side. In the past few decades, dozens of disciples in the Five Elements Sect have advanced to the golden core stage, and half of them were nurtured by Zhang Wanjing Martial Uncle."

"Impressive."

Lin Jiang nodded in agreement. He didn’t find this surprising, as Zhang Wanjing was not a narrow-minded person. He had listened to Lin Jiang’s advice years ago.

If you want to hold real power in the sect, you must have a strong support base. It’s not just about deceiving others with words; you have to use concrete benefits to win them over. Without any advantages, who would selflessly work for you?

Lin Jiang and Jiang Shu had a drink, then they saw Yu Wanke again. He still had a strong core, but his life force was fading rapidly. In the past, the three of them with strong cores fought together. Zou Yu died on the battlefield, and Wei Yunshen passed away within a few years due to severe injuries. Now, only Yu Wanke was left alive.

Yu Wanke has now retired and no longer holds any positions at the sect. He focuses on enjoying his old age and raising his children and grandchildren. When he sees Lin Jiang, he feels very nostalgic.

"Your master, well, I suddenly didn’t know what to say."

When talking about Zhang Wanjing, Yu Wanke didn’t know where to start. All he could say was that over time, people change and it’s not fair to judge them as simply right or wrong anymore.