Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 5

Five years had passed, and now at Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa.

A group of servants hauled sacks of spiritual paddy for weighing. Steward Wu meticulously noted down the amounts.

"Congratulations, Sixth Young Master! The harvest this year is abundant. We've already reached 100,000 catties."

Once they neared completion, Steward Wu instructed the workers to halt. The remaining spiritual paddy in the storage was minimal, and he planned to retain it for personal use.

"100,000 catties is truly remarkable."

"It's all due to the Sixth Young Master's superb management abilities; the spiritual land now yields results like those from cultivators themselves."

Steward Wu grinned, his eyes squinting. Everyone knew the Sixth Young Master struggled with cultivation, yet he excelled in oversight. In these years, Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa had thrived remarkably. Beyond the boosted spiritual paddy output, additional revenue streams had emerged.

"Just some casual organizing on my part."

Lin Jiang chuckled too. He had invested considerable effort into Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa lately. For instance, regarding the spiritual land, he established fresh guidelines for numerous tenants. Should their yields rise, he not only rewarded them with portions of spiritual rice but also vowed to secure their children's futures. Upon reaching twelve years of age, he would dispatch them to the Lin family for Spiritual Root testing. Should they possess Spiritual Roots, entry into the Lin family and pursuit of immortality cultivation awaited them.

As a consequence, the tenants' zeal surged, and their commitment to the spiritual land intensified. Lin Jiang procured spiritual talismans such as the Rain Talisman too, guaranteeing favorable conditions and plentiful harvests. At present, annual production hit tens of thousands of catties of spiritual rice.

"Sixth Young Master, with the Lin family expanding daily, consumption rises accordingly. Would you consider selling portions of your Iron-backed Pigs, Colorful Pigs, Silver Light Fish, and Silver Arrow Fish to the clan?"

Steward Wu inquired further. Lately, the breeding operations at Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa had expanded substantially. Lin Jiang acquired premium breeds like Colorful Pigs and Silver Arrow Fish. Numbers of Iron-backed Pigs and Silver Light Fish had multiplied as well. Rumors suggested Miss Lin Die and Miss Lin Ying frequently visited Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa for complimentary meals.

"We can part with the Iron-backed Pigs and Silver Light Fish, but the Silver Arrow Fish and Colorful Pigs stay."

"Why so, Sixth Young Master? There seem to be plenty of Colorful Pigs."

"I haven't grown weary of them yet, nor has Lin Ying. We'll discuss it once we do."

Lin Jiang dismissed it with a wave, rendering Steward Wu silent. Such logic proved impossible to counter.

Without delay, Lin Jiang captured fifty Silver Light Fish and processed twenty Iron-backed Pigs. He passed everything to Steward Wu, who gestured, and the goods vanished into his storage bag. Lin Jiang couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

Lin Jiang clutched his modest storage bag, limited to one cubic of space. Steward Wu's bag had to be a vast one to accommodate such volumes.

"Sixth Young Master, this oversized storage bag isn't personal; it's clan property. If the Sixth Young Master desires one, request the family to acquire it in Anhua City. It'll likely run about eight thousand spirit stones. Surely the Sixth Young Master can manage that?"

"Haha, no, I cannot."

Lin Jiang shook his head. Over recent years, Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa's earnings went straight to him. He netted two to three hundred spirit stones annually. Family allowances had resumed at twenty-four spirit stones per year. Across all this time, his savings barely topped one thousand spirit stones, nowhere near sufficient.

Steward Wu smiled without comment. Lin family second-generation members rarely wanted for funds, often possessing their own ventures. The third and fourth generations, lacking inheritances, truly faced hardship.

Soon after Steward Wu departed, Lin Die and Lin Ying arrived by flight from the distance, touching down near Lin Jiang with cheerful expressions.

"Sixth Brother, I've returned once more."

"What brings you here? Aren't you supposed to attend Fourth Sister's wedding?"

Lin Jiang questioned, "Lin Yuan, the Lin family's fourth child, is set to wed shortly? And both Lin Die and Lin Ying serve in the wedding entourage."

Lin Jiang held no high regard for Lin Batian, but one aspect earned his respect—his arrogance. Lin Batian held that the Lin family's status in Yun State stemmed from power, not pacts, thus he avoided compelling his offspring into betrothals. He allowed them free choice in love. In contrast, families like Lin Jiang's viewed children as tools for continuation, restricting their freedoms.

"That's for the elders to handle; we pay it no mind. Fourth Sister's affair is excessively elaborate, far too much hassle. It's preferable to visit Sixth Brother and enjoy ourselves. So, Sixth Brother, what treats await us today? Let's decide upfront. No more Silver Light Fish or Iron-backed Pig—we've had our fill."

"How about Silver Arrow Fish and Colorful Pig then? Both are premium spirit beasts with exquisite flavor. I'll prepare sour fish with pickled veggies for you today."

Lin Jiang gestured grandly and promptly began slaughtering the pig and fish. He even enlisted servant assistance. His personal servant remained absent, yet he had schooled the estate staff to serve as skilled cooks.

"Sixth Brother, whip up something special for Third Sister. Spare no effort."

"Simply state your desires. Politeness has no place at Sixth Brother's domain."

"I crave milk tea, plum juice, fruit juice, plus grilled sausages, and furthermore…"

Lin Ying rattled off over twenty items rapidly, and Lin Jiang consented to each. He directed the villa servants to prepare them. These recipes stemmed from Lin Jiang's recollections, though some varied due to unavailable ingredients.

Nevertheless, these delights captured Lin Ying's palate, and even Lin Die succumbed. Even esteemed Foundation Building cultivators trailed their younger sister here for meals. They deemed the amusements at Lin Jiang's far superior to the Lin family bazaar.

"Third Sister, devour it heartily—that's true enjoyment!"

Lin Ying lounged on a spread blanket, milk tea cup nearby. A head tilt allowed sips via bamboo straw. She gripped a bunch of grilled sausages, munching steadily. This differed from Lin Die's poised posture, nibbling delicately.

"It's fine to unwind amid cultivation, yet Ninth Sister mustn't overdo it and hinder advancement."

"Hehe, got it, Third Sister. We won't dwell on that amid Sixth Brother's company."

"Sixth Brother, you've led your little sister astray."

"Nonsense, she arrived of her own accord. How am I leading her astray? Third Sister, sample this jerky of mine. Crafted from Silver Light Fish, its flavor is superb."

"After fifteen years of cultivation, you've merely attained the second layer of Qi Refining. It's somewhat underwhelming. Consider employing top-grade Wash Marrow Pills to purify your meridians. If feasible, acquire six and consume one every ten days. It'll substantially boost your cultivation pace."

"Sixth Brother, Third Sister speaks truly. The family lacked funds earlier, so meridian cleansing wasn't arranged for us. Now, all clan youngsters with Spiritual Roots get this. It's a vast improvement over past times."

Lin Ying added swiftly, "Lately, the Lin family prospers more, with swelling revenues. They care better for young kin, utilizing Wash Marrow Pills to bolster constitutions."

"I've noted it. I'll purchase them when possible."

Lin Jiang acknowledged with a nod, committing it to memory. Elevating his cultivation held no downside. With almost three millennia of life already—surpassing the Soul Changing Ancestor—his low realm posed risks. This hidden truth demanded concealment. Life-preserving techniques became essential.

"No need to delay. Hand over the spirit stones. I head to Anhua City soon. The Lin family market lacks top-grade Wash Marrow Pills; only Anhua City stocks them."

"That suits me. What's the price for a Wash Marrow Pill?"

"A top-grade one could run five hundred spirit stones, but believe me, superior quality far outshines inferior. They're absolutely worthwhile."

"I lack sufficient spirit stones."

"How many do you possess?"

"About fifteen hundred."

Lin Jiang revealed. Residing at Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa meant no expenses for basics like sustenance, attire, lodging, or travel. Yet cultivation required spirit stones, plus herbal purchases and array upkeep. Thus, he had amassed one thousand five hundred spirit stones.

"Then fifteen hundred it is; I'll front the balance temporarily, and you repay me henceforth."

"Oh, that's generous indeed."

"I've savored plenty of your cuisine, and after all, we're blood siblings—it's trivial."

Lin Die dismissed it with a shake of her head, chiefly because her Foundation Building attainment had swelled her earnings. Were she still at Qi Refining, scraping together one thousand five hundred spirit stones would prove impossible.

"Sixth Brother, Third Sister, include me as well. I'll contribute five hundred spirit stones to support Sixth Brother."

"No need; retain them for your own use. Hastening to Foundation Building matters greatly. As the family enlarges, cultivation grows ever tougher."

Lin Die refused. The Lin family populace burgeoned swiftly. Second-generation unions multiplied, and third-generation nuptials scaled up. Though not all bore Spiritual Roots, the clan's numbers climbed steadily, nearing an explosion. Over a hundred members loomed soon.

"Lin Ying, heed Third Sister. Your Foundation Building breakthrough is vital. I manage Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa's inflows now. In five years, I'll surely reimburse Third Sister fully."

Lin Jiang advised Lin Ying. They had nurtured Colorful Pigs and Silver Arrow Fish beyond two years. Production commenced, promising surged villa revenues. Repayment to Lin Die lay assured within five years.