Chapter 59: Nine Years Later

Yue Kingdom, Grand Mount Tai Range, Yellow Maple Valley Alchemy Pavilion.

Time flies like an arrow; nine years have passed in the blink of an eye, and throughout these years, Lin Yang has been entangled in endless affairs. At first, he had hoped to be a hands-off manager, but the ever-expanding scale and negative effects of frequent staff changes prompted Patriarch Linghu to order Lin Yang to personally oversee the Alchemy Pavilion. Though Patriarch Linghu had spent ten years forging a talisman treasure for Lin Yang’s cultivation, one capable of unleashing the mightiest strike of a Nascent Soul cultivator at mid-stage, three times in succession—a bargain Lin Yang found well worth several years of effort.

After all, in nine years, he could only advance his cultivation by a little over one stage; had he not managed the Pavilion, he might have reached about the mid-late stage of Foundation Establishment. Now, as he stood on the verge of reaching the late stage, he knew that after returning today, he could attempt a breakthrough.

The Alchemy Pavilion itself had grown vastly in scale. It was no longer merely a place for concocting pills; it had become a hub for procurement, distribution, and external trade—a truly commercial center. Yellow Maple Valley had become the sect that treated its disciples and peripheral members the best.

Lin Yang had standardized the prices of most medicinal pills in the Valley, as well as those of various magical instruments, formations, and talismans. He recruited countless cultivators skilled in the Four Arts of Immortal Cultivation and established a market resembling a modern supermarket. This shop, immune to price fluctuations, became a haven for many and caused the bazaars of other sects to dwindle. Eventually, after negotiation, Yellow Maple Valley sold sixty percent of its market to the other major sects, with loose cultivators and clans acquiring ten percent, while the Valley retained twenty percent, and the last portion went to Patriarch Linghu. Moreover, none of the sects were permitted to cause trouble in this Purple Gold Town; any troublemaking cultivator would be jointly hunted by the seven major sects.

Yellow Maple Valley’s generosity in sharing its profits won the admiration of the other six sects, and now, most decisions were led by Yellow Maple Valley.

With an influx of new disciples and a large number of affiliated cultivators, the sect’s talented newcomers increased. Though none possessed a Heavenly Spiritual Root, there were two with variant roots—one of wind and one of ice, a boy and a girl.

Both children hailed from families subordinate to Yellow Maple Valley, one surnamed Wu, the other Hu.

Lin Hu, too, had come to Yellow Maple Valley and, over the past few years, had distinguished himself. Under Lin Yang’s careful guidance, he was lauded as a disciple likely to reach Foundation Establishment by the age of twenty. Over nine years, Lin Hu advanced one cultivation layer per year, reaching the ninth layer of Qi Refinement at fifteen. No longer the chubby youth he had been, he had grown into a handsome and spirited young man, reminiscent of Linghu Chong.

Lin Yang’s son, Lin Shu, possessed only three spiritual roots—fire, wood, and earth. Though not gifted, with Lin Yang’s relentless nurturing, he achieved the third layer of Qi Refinement in three years. His future Foundation Establishment was all but assured.

Yun Ting, a dual spiritual root cultivator, had borne Lin Yang a daughter three years prior—a girl named Lin Shuang’er. Last spring, Yun Ting became the second Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Lin family. Now twenty-three, she was known throughout Yellow Maple Valley as a prodigy.

Lin Yang continued to lecture at the Alchemy Pavilion, though now only for two fixed hours a month, and only for a handful of core disciples.

Today was the sole day of the month for Lin Yang’s lecture, limited to two hours—typically a session where disciples raised questions and Lin Yang answered. Only true core disciples could attend: some were disciples of Golden Core elders, others were talented newcomers—altogether eight, with Lin Hu making nine.

“Uncle Lin,” a disciple asked, “why can blood-red flower and ice spirit grass be used together in this recipe? Aren’t their properties in conflict? I know some ingredients can counteract poison with poison, but after dozens of attempts, I have yet to succeed.”

“That’s simple,” Lin Yang replied, “the blood-red flower must be added first, and the ice spirit grass last. Only after the blood-red flower has fully blended with the other ingredients and the pill has formed, do you add the ice spirit grass to merge with the pill. This way, neither property is compromised.”

“So, the pill doesn’t actually absorb the liquid of the ice spirit grass; it’s more like leaving it outside, and when you take the pill, you consume the grass’s liquid as well.”

“Exactly. Thank you for your guidance, Uncle,” the disciple said, stepping back.

“That’s all for this session. Next month, bring me your questions,” Lin Yang concluded, leaving immediately—he refused to linger, no matter how much the disciples wished otherwise. He had far too much to occupy his days.

Lin Yang then made his way to the Commerce Hall, for today he would hand over all affairs to Master Zhong. Zhong Lingdao had been studying management and trade by Lin Yang’s side for four years now; had he not, some might have even wanted Lin Yang as sect leader.

Though four years was only enough for Master Zhong to grasp the basics—a mere surface level—of Lin Yang’s management skills, this was not Lin Yang’s fault. He himself had learned by hearsay and trial and error, only forming a systematic approach over these years.

Yet, the gap in thinking is not easily bridged. If not for working alongside Zhong Lingdao nearly every day, it would have taken even longer.

By now, Zhong Lingdao understood that rules were essential, and thus he became impartial, especially toward ordinary disciples and most Foundation Establishment cultivators. As a result, his reputation among the lower ranks experienced a remarkable turnaround.

Upon arriving at the Commerce Hall, Lin Yang sought out Zhong Lingdao and, before everyone, handed over the token for managing the market and the token for controlling the town’s formation array. This signified that Lin Yang would no longer oversee these affairs; everything now belonged to Zhong Lingdao. Of course, Vice Mayor Mo Yang would remain in his post, since his relationship with Lin Yang meant Mo Yang would not be marginalized.

Many cultivators could not fathom Lin Yang’s decision. These positions were lucrative, offering the chance to amass wealth—a means to accelerate one’s cultivation. Yet Lin Yang willingly relinquished this golden opportunity.