Five Elements Sect，Internal Affairs Hall
"Get lost! If you have guts, tell Guo Yunfeng to personally come and talk to me. How dare he ask the sect for fifty thousand spirit stones? You can ask if Guo Yunfeng has gone mad. If he hasn't, tell him to get lost..."
Zhang Wanjing's roaring voice echoed from the Deputy Hall Master's office, and everyone around wanted to block their ears, afraid to listen to Zhang Wanjing's curses. That Guo Yunfeng he was cursing at was a powerful figure in the Nascent Soul stage of the Five Elements Sect.
After a while, two disheveled individuals with golden cores stumbled out of Zhang Wanjing's office. They stomped their feet, cursed a few times, and left directly.
"Has your father always been this brave? How can someone with only a golden core dare to curse in front of a Nascent Soul cultivator?"
Lin Jiang asked Zhang Shuhua who was standing nearby, saying that Zhang Wanjing was extremely brave. If he guessed correctly, then Guo Yunfeng's presence must be enveloped here and Zhang Wanjing heard every word he cursed.
(Translated by Gravity Tales ?)
"My father has never been afraid of anything. It's Elder Guo's fault. If he wants to celebrate his birthday, he should pay for it himself. Why should he make the sect pay for it?"
Zhang Shuhua said that he had already gotten used to it. Every Nascent Soul in the sect, they have either been scolded or confronted face to face by his father.
"Why ask so much? My father is alive for a reason."
Zhang Shuhua shook his head, certain that there must be someone backing him, otherwise he would have been killed long ago.
Soon, Zhang Wanjing's voice came through and Lin Jiang and Zhang Shuhua walked in.
"Shuhua will keep an eye on the treasury. I'll take responsibility for this matter. If the treasury dares to allocate funds, you bring Law Enforcement Hall over and arrest the people."
"Dad, is it true that Elder Guo doesn't have many years left? This is his 900th birthday celebration."
Zhang Shuhua quickly said. That Elder Guo Yunfeng is the oldest among the many elders of the Five Elements Sect. He's already 900 years old. According to the lifespan limit of the Nascent Soul stage, he might not have another big celebration.
The so-called lifespan limit of a thousand years is just an estimate. It can vary by a few decades, which is normal and within the usual range.
That's nonsense! Guo Yunfeng is the most timid. He has consumed many longevity treasures and can live past 1100 without a problem. He just wants to make money. Once the sect organizes a grand celebration for his birthday, there will be a big feast with guests. It's so embarrassing for a Nascent Soul cultivator to rely on receiving gifts for money.
This trend shouldn't be encouraged. Once he sets a precedent, what if other elders also make such demands? If 900 years is considered a celebration, then 800 won't be, and neither will 500.
"Yes, Dad. Then I'll go first."
Seeing that persuasion was futile, Zhang Shuhua didn't care anymore and immediately fled.
"Xiao Yi, how long have you been with me?"
"Almost three years, Master."
Lin Jiang said. Time passes so quickly. In the blink of an eye, I have been working as Zhang Wanjing's secretary and assistant for three years.
"It has been three years, and I am ready to set you free. Are you confident?"
"What are you afraid of? Haven't you seen me scold people with Nascent Soul? When you go out on your own, if anyone dares to stop you, just complain about them."
Zhang Wanjing said that he was in desperate need of more staff. It wasn't that there were no talented individuals, but their talent would quickly be corrupted. The people he promoted wouldn't last long before they were influenced and corrupted by others, making them unusable.
After observing Lin Jiang for a long time, he realized that Lin Jiang was more flexible and composed in his actions than his own son. He thought that he should nurture him with great effort.
"Master, complaining won't help. I can't handle everything by myself."
Lin Jiang said, unless he became the head of a department where he could make all decisions, he wouldn't go. If he went without anyone supporting him, what could he achieve on his own?
"Sigh, there are people everywhere, but not a single one is usable."
"Master, please don't worry too much. The sect cannot be sustained by just one person."
Lin Jiang tried to persuade and comfort Zhang Wanjing again. Zhang Wanjing's sense of responsibility was too strong, he wanted to take care of everything and make sure it was done well. But as a result, he was almost working himself to death, and things didn't necessarily turn out better.
In the past few years, Lin Jiang had actually gathered quite a bit of information about the Five Elements Sect. Well, if we were to compare the Five Elements Sect to a mortal empire, then it had already passed the most prosperous stage in its beginning. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ noveⅼfire.net
Various problems started to arise, such as factionalism, bloated bureaucracy, and declining efficiency. It might be a bit of an exaggeration to compare it to the declining period of a dynasty, but they had definitely lost their momentum for progress.
In this aspect, the three major sects in Yun State were the same. For many years, none of them had expanded further. The most they did was to maintain their dominant positions and the status quo.
"If you don't support it, and I don't support it, then who will? Someone has to take care of things."
"Yes, Master is right."
"You can consider which department suits your talents the best. I can arrange for you to be transferred there. Even if you become a senior steward, it wouldn't be worse than your current position. You can also form your own team, I trust you."
"I still want to stay with Master for a few more years."
Lin Jiang wouldn't speak, he has been living a comfortable life these years, why would he go looking for discomfort?
"Junior Brother Xiao, heard that Zhang Martial Uncle scolded Guo Patriarch face to face?"
"Nonsense, he scolded only his disciples."
"Well, what's the difference?"
"Senior Brother Yue, stop nosing around for gossip, making more money is the right way."
Lin Jiang shook his head, this matter has caused a big commotion. Zhang Wanjing, being so disrespectful, the entire Internal Affairs Hall has heard about it. This means that the entire sect knows now.
Guo Yunfeng is an experienced Nascent Soul cultivator, he has many disciples and grandchildren. Guo Yunfeng doesn't say much, but those disciples and grandchildren are clamoring for Zhang Wanjing to face consequences.
Even Lin Jiang is curious now, who exactly is Zhang Wanjing's backer? Could it be a never-before-seen Soul Changing Ancestor? Otherwise, how could he survive until now?
"Junior Brother Xiao said it right, so what good news does Junior Brother have this time?"
"There's news from the Outer Affairs Hall that there's a conflict between the Five Immortals Sect and Qingyang Sect for the spiritual mountain in Ruiyang Mountain area. It's unstoppable and you can make arrangements."
Lin Jiang said. Both the Five Immortals Sect and Qingyang Sect are vassals of the Five Elements Sect. Lin Jiang has been to the Five Immortals Sect and has acquaintances there.
"It seems like the Five Immortals Sect has been growing too fast, and our sect has taken action against them."
"Don't say that recklessly."
Lin Jiang rolled his eyes. Although it's true, the three major dominant sects are trying their best to maintain their dominant positions. The most important thing is to suppress the growth of other sects, including their own vassals.
The Five Immortals Sect has not been around for long, but they are very strong. The higher-ups of the Five Elements Sect are already unhappy. So, in this dispute between the two sects, the shadow of the Five Elements Sect is actually there, but such matters cannot be spoken openly.
Now, Lin Jiang thinks about the territory of the Lin family and suddenly admires Lin Batian. His strategy is very powerful. Anhua City is outside the influence of the Five Elements Sect, and it is even farther from the Zhonghang Sect and Cloud Sword Sect. Otherwise, the Lin family would never have risen and would have been wiped out long ago.
"I understand, I will make arrangements. When the time comes, Junior Brother will definitely receive plenty of spirit stones."
"Don't do too much, remember what I said, just earn the money we should earn."
Lin Jiang reminded again, during these three years, he has made a lot of money, but none of it was obtained through corruption, but by using differences in information.
For example, in the dispute between the Five Immortals Sect and the Qingyang Sect, which has not yet erupted, Lin Jiang has already received news. He notified Yue Qing and told him to prepare in advance.
When the fighting starts, the two sects will consume a tremendous amount of war supplies. Even if Yue Qing sells them at market prices, he can earn a lot of money.
Lin Jiang has done many similar things, such as when the sect is lacking something and needs to make large-scale purchases, he would inform Yue Qing and let him prepare. As for how to build connections and such, it depends on Yue Qing's own abilities. Lin Jiang only provides information and only takes money in return for providing the information.
Yue Qing is not the only partner of Lin Jiang. Zheng Yi and others have also collaborated before. Everyone has made a lot of money. Now they all know the dangers of information differences and are trying to win over Lin Jiang.
This is also one of the reasons why Lin Jiang is unwilling to take a position at a certain branch. If he goes to a certain branch, it won't be easy to gather information. However, with Zhang Wanjing, things are different. All the branches, both inside and outside the sect, have to go through Zhang Wanjing, and as Lin Jiang's disciple and assistant, he is basically like a secretary. He can access most of the information. With this advantage, Lin Jiang can earn a lot of money.
"We have cooperated before, so you can trust me."
Yue Qing smiled. He felt that forming a partnership with Lin Jiang was the best investment with a high rate of return. Now his development momentum has surpassed even his own uncle. Even his uncle often seeks him out for information.
"Our future focus will be Medicine City. Remember, Medicine City has great potential."
Lin Jiang mentioned again how Medicine City's reputation has surpassed Yunzhong City after the Medicine Conference. With its huge size, the city gathers unlimited wealth. They have planned ahead and when the time comes, they will make a tremendous fortune.
"Junior Brother Xiao, I am having difficulty with the situation in Medicine City. We only have the strength of Building Foundation. In Medicine City, there are always eighteen powerful individuals called Golden Core who have their own interests. If we plan too ambitiously, we might be overwhelmed. Zhang Wanjing cannot be relied upon in this matter because what we are doing is secretive."
"Then let's adjust our goals, don't aim too high. Making money is a steady process, we shouldn't expect to earn it all in one day. Our wealth will gradually grow, and our strength should grow with it. If we don't manage our finances properly, there will be consequences."
Lin Jiang said that their wealth was growing too quickly, but their strength couldn't keep up. That's why Lin Jiang would always remind them to only earn the money they should earn.
When their cultivation reaches a certain level, they will have abundant wealth, without needing to go through so much trouble. Just like those Nascent Soul Ancestors, they don't need to use all kinds of strategies and planning.