Wilderness, Base of the Five Elements Sect
When the sect's logistics airship arrived, Lin Jiang quickly went up to greet them with his people. A familiar disciple gave Lin Jiang a signal and quietly handed him a package. Inside were eight large storage bags containing things that Lin Jiang needed.
A group of disciples in the Qi Refining Period stepped forward and started unloading things from the airship. Low-level resources took up too much space, so they were just piled up instead of being put in storage bags. Only valuable items were packed in storage bags.
"Grand Manager, the supplies are confirmed to be correct."
Someone on the side counted and eventually handed Lin Jiang a document to sign. As the person in charge, if the count was incorrect, it was Lin Jiang's responsibility.
"Alright, unload the cargo."
Lin Jiang waved his hand, and then the group of disciples moved bag after bag of supplies from the ground onto the airship. These were all collected resources from the base, mainly materials from demonic beasts, as well as a large amount of spiritual medicine, ore, and so on. After returning to the sect, there would be people who would refine them further to create weapons, pills, and many other items to make a huge profit.
"Xiao Manager, the supplies are confirmed to be correct. Let's sign together."
"Okay, will Senior Brother come next month?"
"That would be great, let's have a pleasant cooperation."
Lin Jiang took out a small storage bag and stuffed it into his sleeve. From now on, he could carry it for a long time, and not just simple spiritual paddy, but also other things.
After a while, Lin Jiang appeared outside the base, where Yue Qing and others were already waiting. The winery workshop was not crowded now, there were only three masters and nine assistants. Jiang Shu was in charge of security, and there were less than twenty people in total.
"When can we start producing wine at the earliest?"
"Alright, let's wait for two weeks then. Work hard, we won't let you down."
"Senior Brother Yue, you keep watch. I'll go first."
Lin Jiang left supplies and quickly departed. He had to go back to work because there were many things to do during the day.
"Master, you called for me?"
On that day, Lin Jiang received a message from Zhang Wanjing and came to visit him.
"I heard you mischievous boy. What trouble are you causing now?"
"No, I'm a very honest person."
"Isn't the brewery outside the base yours?"
"Yes, but is that against the rules?"
"Is it up to you to say whether it's against the rules or not?"
Lin Jiang was speechless. This kind of talk was a bit unfair. Saying you broke the rules means you broke them, do we still need to talk about the law?
"Alright, Master, just say it straight. If you want some shares, it's not impossible."
"As a master, I don't think much of your small achievements. But well, it's not impossible to do something else."
"What does Master want to do?"
"I know everything you've said to Shuhua. You're right. Your ideas have been right from the beginning. That's why I want to follow your method - first, accumulate wealth, then gather people. Only by doing so can we plan for something big."
Zhang Wanjing said, ever since he was instructed by the sect master to make changes, he has made one mistake after another. And every time, Lin Jiang gave different opinions, but he didn't listen. Now, looking back, he deeply regrets it.
So now Zhang Wanjing also understands that he needs to be more flexible in his actions and not be so rigid.
"Master, we cannot go against the rules of the sect."
"I didn't say we should go against the rules of the sect. Can't we find another way?"
"There are other ways, but we don't have enough people. My disciples have low cultivation levels, so there are many things they can't do."
"You may not have enough people, but I do."
"Master, isn't it just the two of us as disciples?"
There may only be two disciples, but there are many senior and junior disciples, as well as nephews. Honestly, after I was pushed out of the Internal Affairs Hall, the hall became chaotic. The people who can't achieve anything are taking all the benefits.
Before, when we were farming outside the sect, there was no hope. They were just watching. But now, things are different. I have control over this stronghold, and many people want to join me.
Zhang Wanjing thought that this group of people was the only remaining disciples of the Five Elements Sect who were still willing to do meaningful work. Others were either just filling positions or living aimlessly.
For the people carrying firewood, we must not let them freeze to death in the wind and snow. He wanted to save some energy for the Five Elements Sect, so he decided to help these people and find a way out for them.
"Are there many people?"
"There are dozens of them."
"Their focus is on building foundations, and they currently have four golden cores."
"That's enough. With this power, they can definitely accomplish things."
"So, what ideas do you have?"
"Let's start anew, Master."
Yes, in Wilderness, making wine is just making some pocket money. The real money comes from Pill, Talisman, Item, and Formation. And at the stronghold, no matter what we do, we can't win against Xingyuan Building. This is a business backed by the whole sect. How can we win?
So we start our own business, opening a stronghold directly in another place. Independent cultivators gather in groups of three to five, daring to open strongholds. Why can't we? Four Golden Core cultivators, dozens of Building Foundation cultivators, we are stronger than most small sects.
Lin Jiang said. In the stronghold, no matter what they do, they have to follow the rules of the Five Elements Sect. It's impossible to grow big there. We have to start our own business elsewhere.
In Wilderness, there are countless small strongholds. Many independent cultivators and small sects will establish their own strongholds. Even though the reputation and safety are not as good as the strongholds of bigger sects like the Five Elements Sect, they still make a lot of money.
"Establishing a stronghold by oneself is very dangerous. Do you know how many cultivators die in Wilderness every year?"
"Master, risks and rewards go hand in hand. There's no such thing as free lunch falling from the sky."
"Let me think about it."
"I think Master should ask for their opinions. If they are willing to take the risk, we shouldn't stop them. Everyone has the right to choose."
"Let's take another look."
Zhang Wanjing said that he didn't know what these people were thinking and that he needed to see for himself first.
Ten days later, four disciples from the Five Elements Sect with golden cores arrived at the Wilderness base. They came not as part of a mission from the sect, but as individuals. Before coming, they had resigned from all positions in the sect, keeping only their status as ordinary disciples.
Zhang Wanjing warmly welcomed them, and as they drank, the four of them talked about sect matters. Before Zhang Wanjing left the sect, he used to fear no one and supervised the work at various branches of the Internal Affairs Hall. Their accomplishments would be recognized as well.
But after Zhang Wanjing left, things changed. They were still the ones doing the work, but when it came time to receive credit, it went to someone else. At first, they still believed that someone would speak up on their behalf, but after a few years, they felt disheartened.
They didn't want to be tainted by those people or act foolishly, so they resigned and decided to go out and make a name for themselves.
"Senior Brother Zhang, please take us in and let us work with you."
"Yes, Senior Brother Zhang, even though it might be tiring to work with you, it is exciting to get things done."
"That's right, we're not greedy. We want to be paid according to how much work we do. We are willing to contribute to the sect, but we won't be foolish. Why do those people don'thing and get more than us? I refuse to accept it."
"Junior brothers, don't worry. One of my disciples has suggested something. I'm not sure if you would be interested."
"Brother Zhang, please speak."
"The four of you should build a separate stronghold outside, run it independently, and keep all the money you earn."
(Translated by Gravity Tales ?)
Zhang Wanjing said after considering for a few days, he thought this suggestion was feasible. The treasures for Nascent Soul cultivation in the Five Elements Sect are out of reach even for him, let alone others. The only way is to find a solution outside. No matter how you obtain it, sufficient financial resources are necessary.
"Brother, Wilderness is not the sect. Working alone is very dangerous."
"Yes, brother. Several golden core cultivators die in the Wilderness every year." Read complete versıon only at n̷o̷v̷e̷l̷f̷i̷r̷e̷.net
"I know this is dangerous, but I have thought about it. This is your only hope to advance to Nascent Soul. The sect's Nascent Soul Achieving Pill is out of the question for you, let alone for me. Even if there is one available, you won't have a chance to get it. The only opportunity lies outside, whether it's seizing it from the depths of the Wilderness or finding a way in other states. Both require a lot of money. Your current sect allowance won't be enough to cover your lifespan consumption."
The four of them hesitated immediately. Zhang Wanjing's words made a lot of sense, but the Wilderness was truly dangerous. People die every day during the Foundation Building stage, and even golden core cultivators are not exempt from danger. It won't be easy to earn that money.
"Brother, I'm sorry, but I won't go. Golden core cultivators can live for five hundred years, and I think that's enough."
"Senior brother, I'm willing to take a risk."
"I'm also willing to take a risk."
"I want to take a risk."
The four people thought for a long time. One person quit, and the other three were willing to take a chance. Those independent cultivators in the Qi Refining Period and Building Foundation Period dared to survive in the dangerous Wilderness. They all have the same courage, and no one is afraid of anyone.
"Junior Brother Wang doesn't want to stay in the Wilderness, but we can support the three junior brothers in Medicine City. We need to recover the resources from the Wilderness and sell them. We also need people to in Medicine City. What do you think?"
"Alright, let's discuss the details later. It's been many years since you've been to the Wilderness, and the situation has changed. Stay here for now and gather information before making specific plans."
Zhang Wanjing nodded. He also needed support from behind to convert the acquired resources and bring the whole operation together. If he could really accomplish that, then money would be plentiful, and the meager pay from the sect would be insignificant.
Finally, Spirit Qi started to disappear from this world. No one could cultivate for thousands of years and even tens of thousands of years. Mortals started to become the masters of the world, and science and technology began to develop. What will happen when the cultivators and demon beasts from the old times wake up in the new world of mortals? Can they withstand the power of nuclear weapons?
The cover for book 13 of the xianxia (cultivation) novel "Cultivation: Being Immortal" sold on Amazon