Cultivation: Being Immortal

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The State of Yun, The Sect of the Five Elements

Inside the cave of Zhang Wanjing, Lin Jiang personally picked a mature Purple Origin Taoist Fruit. Lin Jiang planned to wait for another mature one before coming back, but now he doesn’t want to wait anymore.

"Dad, there are still small ones there. Let’s pick a few more and bring them back."

Small Shadiao encouraged from the side, saying that there are more than just one or two Purple Origin Taoist Fruits. There are now twenty or thirty of them, all transplanted from previously mature ones. The Five Elements Sect has skilled Spiritual Farmers, so this is not difficult to achieve.

"Why do we need that thing? It’s barely 200 years old as medicine, who knows how long it’ll take to mature."

Lin Jiang said that it takes at least a thousand years from the seed germination of a Purple Origin Taoist Fruit to the seedling stage, then to the mature fruit, and it takes hundreds of years for the tree to bear fruit again. These Purple Origin Taoist Fruits are still quite tender and not very useful.

"They look so fresh and green, let’s take them home to cook."

"Are you serious?"

"We can, but this thing is only good for stir-frying bird wings."

"Haha, I was just joking, Master. Please don’t pick it. I was really just joking."

Small Shadiao panicked, the Master was really going to pick it, his bird wings won’t survive.

"It’s almost ready."

Zhang Wanjing’s voice came, he didn’t show up in person, out of sight, out of mind. He promised to give Purple Origin Taoist Fruit to Lin Jiang. It was a big decision for him. These seedlings were also carefully planted by the sect. It took hundreds of transplants to make them survive this little. Don’t always take advantage of the sect.

"Thank you, Master."

Lin Jiang felt a bit embarrassed, the old man was staring at him. He only picked two and put them in a jade box. They would still survive when planted later.

"If there’s nothing else, go back early and don’t forget what I told you."

"Yes, Master."

Lin Jiang bowed and left. Zhang Wanjing, being cunning and sly, talked to Lin Jiang about the Lin family, inferring from Lin Jiang’s tone, expression, and details of their conversation that there was a sense of estrangement between Lin Jiang and the Lin family. Zhang Wanjing immediately expressed that the Five Elements Sect will forever be the Lin family’s home.

Later, he told Lin Jiang that he had no ill intentions towards the Lin family. He just wanted to know their approximate strength in order to cooperate better. In other words, he wanted Lin Jiang to be an insider and provide accurate information. Lin Jiang agreed to everything, but in truth, he was just being perfunctory; otherwise, it would not be easy to obtain the Purple Origin Taoist Fruit.

In Yun State, in the city of Anhua.

Wen Xing had been ruling over Anhua City for several decades now. Anhua City seemed to have become accustomed to Wen Xing’s authority. As for the absurd things he did in the past, not many people cared. After all, in the cultivation world, having multiple spouses was quite normal. Besides, over the years, Wen Xing seemed to have awakened from matters of love and focused on alchemy and city management. He had become a qualified City Lord.

"Greetings, City Lord Wen."

Lin Jiang bowed to Wen Xing. This was the first proper exchange between the two since they arrived in Anhua City. Although they had crossed paths a few times, they didn’t have much involvement with each other.

"How shall I address you? Are you a member of the Lin family or Zhang Wanjing’s disciple Xiao Yi from the Five Elements Sect?"

"Any will do, but today I am here on behalf of the Lin family."

"Understood, please speak."

"This is a small token of appreciation from the head of my family."

Lin Jiang took out a bag and placed it in front of Wen Xing.

During this visit to Yun State, Lin Jiang had another task, which was to convey some intentions to Lin Batian, although Lin Jiang was unaware of when Lin Batian had been in contact with Wen Xing.

"Thank you, Lin Family Leader, is there anything else to say?"

"There is no verbal message. Everything that needs to be said is within this jade scroll."

Then, Lin Jiang took out another jade scroll and handed it to Wen Xing, who received it and scanned it with his consciousness.

"I understand. Please reassure your family head that I will do as he says."

"Yes, I’ve delivered the message, goodbye."

"No rush, the guest is welcome. Please have a meal before leaving."

"Um…"

"I surely wouldn’t dare to harm you, I’m afraid it might be me who gets in trouble."

Wen Xing said, with his identities as a member of the Lin family and a disciple of Zhang Wanjing, being just a small Nascent Soul, how could he dare to offend?

"Then I’ll trouble you."

Lin Jiang nodded, deciding to stay for a meal, just to see what Wen Xing was up to.

That night, Wen Xing hosted a luxurious banquet for Lin Jiang, with high-ranking officials from Anhua City as the company. There were performances of singing and dancing, and two beautiful singers accompanying Lin Jiang.

What surprised Lin Jiang was that among the high-ranking officials, there were Wen Xing and Li Ruoxu’s own children. He remembered that those people were sent away by Wen Xing, so how did they come back?

The conversation was very polite, just some casual talk. Both Wen Xing and Zhang Wanjing were intentionally trying to find out information about the Lin family, and Lin Jiang calmly responded.

The banquet went on until late at night. Wen Xing left and Lin Jiang said goodbye, but instead of leaving immediately, he stayed at Wen Xing’ mansion. The two accompanying singers had already slipped into their beds.

"Dad, I want to go too. There are two things you can’t handle."

Small Shadiao also wanted to follow them into the room, but Lin Jiang kicked him out. Sometimes you have to desperately grasp something that you can’t fully control, can’t you?

The next day at noon, Lin Jiang left with Small Shadiao looking resentful. They passed by the Five Elements Sect and Zhang Wanjing appeared.

"Why is the master here?"

"I’m here specifically waiting for you."

"Is there anything else the master wants to teach me?"

"Did you go to Anhua City yesterday?"

"Yes"

Lin Jiang nodded, there was nothing to hide.

"With your intelligence, can you guess what I’ve been waiting for?"

"Could it be related to Wen Xing?"

"Yes, but not entirely."

"Could it be Li Ruoxu?"

"You guessed it right."

"Grass on Li Ruoxu’s grave must be several feet tall by now."

Lin Jiang said. It has been decades since Li Ruoxu passed away, so it’s not surprising that the grass on his grave has grown several feet tall.

"Yes, but well…"

"Has the master learned to keep secrets?"

"Wen Xing is Li Ruoxu, and Li Ruoxu is Wen Xing."

"Possession?"

Lin Jiang was surprised and blurted out.

"Guessing, but most likely…"

"With what you just said, I pretty much agree."

"Oh."

"As far as I know, Wen Xing is quite fond of women. Am I right?"

"As good as the head of the Lin family"

"Ahem"

Lin Jiang coughed, disrespecting his father as a son. This is not being a good child.

"During the first ten years after Li Ruoxu’s death, Wen Xing had many wives and even boasted about marrying all the influential women in Yun State. But in the tenth year, his personality suddenly changed. He stopped taking new wives and focused on his spiritual practice and managing Anhua City. There were also rumors that Wen Xing considered killing his own son, the child of Li Xianxian, Li Ruoxu’s daughter."

"Wen Xing didn’t behave as recklessly as he did before last night."

Lin Jiang nodded. He also thought that Wen Xing behaved like a gentleman last night. Wen Xing arranged a singer for them, but Lin Jiang didn’t have one by his side. Previously, Lin Jiang thought it was because Wen Xing wanted to maintain a certain dignity in front of his son. But now, Lin Jiang realizes it was something else entirely.

Wen Xing is not the kind of person who would take many wives after his father-in-law dies. Why would he be afraid of this? It would have been good enough without any banquet. He’s not that honest.

"So, basically, that’s it."

"But as far as I know, taking over someone else’s body is not something that can be done casually."

Lin Jiang said that possessing someone’s body requires certain conditions. Firstly, one must have a very strong spiritual awareness. Even after the physical body dies, the spiritual awareness should still retain some power because possession involves eliminating the opponent’s soul and fighting within their body. It cannot be done without a certain level of strength.

Secondly, the person who wants to possess another’s body must have a certain compatibility with the body they want to possess. Otherwise, there will be a strong rejection reaction, resulting in the simultaneous collapse of the physical body and soul.

Lastly, one must consider the talent of the person being possessed. It would be a disastrous situation if a genius possessed a talentless person.

"Don’t you think Li Ruoxu and Wen Xing meet all the conditions?"

"Both Li Ruoxu and Wen Xing are Nascent Souls, spiritually…"

"So, this is Lin Batian’ role. The Lin family must have some secret techniques."

"Yes, they do, but the four major families haven’t heard of possession. It’s very rare in the entire world of cultivation."

"Possession is also considered a forbidden method in the world of cultivation. It may not be openly acknowledged, but who knows what happens secretly?"

"So, what is the purpose of Master today?"

"I wanted to take over Anhua City."

Zhang Wanjing said that Anhua City is becoming stronger and has a close relationship with Five Elements Sect. They need to eliminate any threats that could endanger the sect.

"Has the master changed his mind again?"

"Yes, I don’t know how close Li Ruoxu is to Lin Batian. Void Achieving, I can’t afford to provoke Five Elements Sect."

Zhang Wanjing said that if Five Elements Sect doesn’t even have one Void Achieving, they must consider Lin Batian’ influence. Otherwise, they would have taken action long ago.

"Are you going to make things difficult for me again?"

"I’m not making things difficult for you. Give Lin Batian a message. If Li Ruoxu really takes over, he can consider leaving Yun State. Five Elements Sect is willing to pay a certain price to take over Anhua City."

"Okay, I will pass on the message."

Lin Jiang nodded. Under Zhang Wanjing’s leadership, Five Elements Sect has become stronger, and expansion is normal. Expanding towards Anhua City is not a strange thing.

Lin Jiang is not prepared to deal with this matter, whether it’s about possession or not. As long as it doesn’t take away his place, he will pretend not to know.