Chapter 641

Huaxia Federation, Haigang City

Lin Jiang finally brought Cao Ying back to Haigang City. Under Lin Jiang’s leadership, experts from various fields of research were gathered to establish the Institute of Spiritual Energy Research.

This institute focuses on studying spiritual energy, including its applications, integrating it with the practice of immortality.

Lin Jiang not only invested a lot of money in this institute but also contributed over ten cultivators who had recently started their cultivation journey and were at the level of Qi Refining below the third layer.

Lin Jiang valued the Institute of Spiritual Energy Research greatly, which is why he arranged it in Haigang City. He personally supervised it and hoped for significant breakthroughs in their research.

"Uncle, this time the spiritual energy recovery seems unusual. Take a look at these breakthroughs. These are photos of medicinal herbs taken by your people. This medicinal herb is called the Three Calamities Azure Cloud Flower. It was extremely rare even in the Green Emperor era."

Cao Ying gradually took over the tasks assigned by Lin Jiang and managed some affairs. For them, cultivation was quite simple now, and breakthroughs came effortlessly, not taking much time.

As a former sect leader, Cao Ying had a wide range of information resources and had read many ancient books. With extraordinary insight, he quickly noticed some unusual occurrences.

"I know about this. I saw many mysterious elixirs that I don’t recognize, which must have disappeared in our era."

"Uncle, I suspect that the Celestial Way is awakening, restoring spiritual energy, equivalent to reopening the world of cultivation, similar to the mythical Chaos Primordial."

"I also have this suspicion. If that’s the case, then the opportunity to become an immortal should be in this lifetime."

"The Celestial Way, does it really lean towards the Yao Clan?"

"In theory, yes, Little Ying. Don’t be careless. If Demon Emperor Feng Jiu returns, you are no match for him. Besides, the Yao Clan has many Demon Emperors, and our human race is still weak."

Lin Jiang said, this is what worries him the most. The Yao Clan has not appeared yet, those who have transformed into Yao are at most Yao beasts, not considered part of the Yao Clan.

"Uncle, why not awaken others together?"

"There is no need for that. The spiritual energy is still weak now. We should wait until they can break through their previous realms at least. They cannot afford to waste time."

Lin Jiang shook his head. This is the most important reason why he didn’t awaken others. They cannot afford to waste time. We must wait for the spiritual energy to be rich enough for them to come out and break through.

"Alright, there are still many people in Zhonghang Sect sleeping. Uncle, has the demon clan come looking?"

"They have searched, but no sign. Not sure where they are hiding."

Lin Jiang said. He must have sent people to search, but couldn’t find them.

"Enough about the demon clan. Our own strength is what matters. I want to retrieve all these spiritual herbs. The Spiritual Herb Garden must be reestablished."

"Are you going yourself?"

"Spiritual herbs are not like regular plants. Only skilled Spiritual Farmers can handle them. I worked for several years under my master, who was a decent Spiritual Farmer when I was young."

"Alright, I will have Wu Jiang arrange it. We will try to ensure your safety. Don’t underestimate the current ordinary people. The Building Foundation Period is not yet dominating. Additionally, I will train relevant talents as soon as possible."

Lin Jiang nodded. Professional Spiritual Farmers are rare among high-level cultivators, but most high-level cultivators have some skill as Spiritual Farmers. Since there is no one available now, if Cao Ying is willing to go personally, then let her go.

······

"Teacher, there’s a message from Zhou Liao. Someone wants to meet you."

"Who?"

"A person named Zhou Bang. His identity is very secretive, I don’t have the authority to access it."

"It’s him. I know. What does he want?"

Lin Jiang said he knows Zhou Bang. Over the past few decades, Lin Jiang has deeply infiltrated Zhou Liao, with many of his people. Lin Jiang didn’t stop most of the things that Zhou Bang did.

Because Zhou Bang has not shown any hostile actions towards him so far, and he is indeed very talented. The biopharmaceutical group under his command is highly skilled.

"I don’t know the specifics, he just wants to see you. And he suggested meeting at a neutral location, the place can be decided by you."

"Let’s pick a location at the border between Huaxia and Zhou Liao. Figure out which city to go to and have Wu Jiang make the arrangements in advance. Also, investigate Zhou Bang and the people around him thoroughly before the meeting. I want to see detailed information."

Lin Jiang said that although he doesn’t know what this guy is up to, his subconscious tells him that this lad might be rebellious. Need to make arrangements in advance. If he dares to bare his teeth, he’ll be taken care of.

The secretary team works very efficiently. They arranged the meeting place in just one day, but the meeting itself was set for half a month later. Wu Jiang began investigating Zhou Bang and others.

Cao Ying is also very efficient. In about ten days, she traveled to over thirty places around the world and gathered dozens of valuable medicinal herbs. Half of them are herbs never seen before from the era of cultivating immortality. They are all planted in the Yunshan Villa, where the Spiritual Herb Garden has been built.

Without any major events, Lin Jiang and Cao Ying worked together to organize information. Years ago, they transcribed the knowledge of the immortal cultivation system from the jade slips onto paper, stored the information, and now after thousands of years, some of the papers are having issues. As for the jade slips found in the storage bag, many of them couldn’t withstand the test of time and became useless.

The most important thing is the lack of spiritual energy protection. Otherwise, it would be very easy to preserve things from the immortal cultivation era for thousands of years.

Now, their workload is very heavy. They have to sort out all the things related to martial arts secrets, pills, talismans, items, formation methods, and the bodies of Dharma. It’s unclear how much time this will take, so they can only deal with matters before the Building Foundation Period.

External chaos continues to prevail. More and more animals are turning into demons, and advanced demon beasts are increasing. All countries are busy exterminating them – it’s a must. Defenseless ordinary people are no match for them, and even ordinary firearms are ineffective. It’s necessary to use the power of the country to deal with them.

Within the human race, news about the reappearance of the cultivation world is becoming more and more frequent. No matter how they try to block it, the authorities have somewhat given up. The higher-ups are actively embracing this change because the return of the immortal cultivation era is significant to them.

For example, the emergence of medicinal herbs revived the declining Alchemists. These Alchemists, although not legitimate cultivators, can still research stronger elixirs based on their ancestral skills. Not to mention individuals like Zhou Bang, a genuine cultivator, who has been almost unobstructed on the upper levels of Zhou Liao in recent years using elixirs.

The time quickly arrived for the meeting with Zhou Bang, and unexpectedly, Cao Ying also had to go. Lin Jiang, feeling resigned, had to bring Cao Ying along as well.

The meeting place was at the border of two countries, on top of a mountain. When Lin Jiang and his friends arrived, Zhou Bang and Li Cheng were already there. Zhou Bang was surprised in his heart when he saw Cao Ying.

Before disappearing from the public eye, Cao Ying was once a famous figure in the world of Tao Achieving, the only big shot in the cultivation world. Very few people didn’t know Cao Ying.

"So Master Cao is awake."

After calming himself down, Zhou Bang spoke to Cao Ying.

"There is no Immortal Alliance now, and no leader."

"We should show respect. Master Cao was once a hero in the cultivation world, and all cultivators should be grateful to him."

"Stop talking nonsense. Why did you bring us here?"

Cao Ying didn’t like Zhou Bang’s hypocritical behavior, finding it fake.

"Senior Lin, you must have been awake for a long time."

"Zhou Bang, oh Zhou Bang, even the head of the sect doesn’t acknowledge you anymore?"

"Senior Lin, if you don’t care about our Wangxian Sect, then naturally we in the Wangxian Sect don’t care about you either. Do I need to explain this more?"

Zhou Bang said, everything is mutual. If the head of the sect cannot protect the sect and bring benefits to the disciples, why should the disciples acknowledge you as their head?

"You truly have a mysterious heart. I remember it was me who personally welcomed your ancestor into the Zhou family."

"Ancestors are ancestors, and I am myself. Since I didn’t receive any favor from you, there’s no need for me to acknowledge you."

"Not bad, just like your ancestor, shameless."

"You…"

Zhou Bang became very angry when his ancestor was insulted in front of him, but Li Cheng stopped him.

"No need for unnecessary words, Senior Lin. We don’t need to dwell on old matters from a different era. I called you here today to discuss how we can divide the whole world together."

"Dividing the whole world?"

"Yes, it’s about dividing the whole world, recovering spiritual energy. It’s the era of cultivation again, giving us more room to show our skills. But having too many cultivators is not a good thing. Resources are limited, if there are too many cultivators, there will be less for us.

"I know you control the Huaxia Federation, and have deep influence over Qingyun and Zhou Liao. We can withdraw from the Shen Continent, but we want the Ying Continent, Penglai. Let’s control the Fangzhang and other islands together, divide the oceans and the North and South Poles. Let’s limit the distance of cultivators together, control all the resources in our hands. What do you think?"

"Not good."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want me to explain it more clearly?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Fine, let me be blunt. What level are you at to share the world with me?"

Lin Jiang said coldly. The two of them immediately changed their expressions. Zhou Bang couldn’t hold back anymore. Lin Jiang was flaunting his status as soon as he opened his mouth, and Zhou Bang was already upset. He was about to make a move in the next moment, but before he could, someone else was faster. Before he could act, a glint of cold light appeared.