All For The Sect

Inside the main hall.

The two held their tea cups. Lin Chang'an lazily looked at the ledger in his hand, while Zhang Qing, though appearing calm, was clearly unsettled.

Upon seeing another ledger, Lin Chang'an frowned, "Recently, the rampant robber cultivators have impacted business in the market town, and consequently, the sect's industries."

Zhang Qing had initially felt the pressure and burden, but seeing Lin Chang'an's nonchalant demeanor, he gritted his teeth. After all, if something happened, they would face it together.

"Then, junior brother, shall we take another five percent from the residential area rent and shop rents?"

A greedy glint appeared in Zhang Qing's eyes. Although he knew it was wrong, what if he used these resources to break through himself? As a cultivator in the late Qi Condensation stage, doing so would be for the sect.

However, this time Lin Chang'an shook his head, "No! Because of the rampant robber cultivators, the demand for pills, talismans, and magic items among cultivators will actually surge. Therefore, we absolutely cannot tamper with this."

"Even for the residential areas, senior brother, you need to dispatch more patrols. We must let these cultivators know that within our sect's territory, there is absolute safety."

Speaking of this, Lin Chang'an looked at Zhang Qing and said tactfully, what can be taken, and what cannot.

"Senior brother, everything has its principles. So many people are watching us."

If you only know how to take and have no achievements, you are a waste. But if you can manage the sect's industries beautifully, it's not called greed, but receiving what you deserve.

Even the higher-ups know this and will turn a blind eye.

"Junior brother, brilliant."

Zhang Qing was not a fool. This immediately connected everything. He would first suppress the robber cultivators, then strengthen the patrols within the sect's territory in the market town. As a result, the industries would flourish even more. This was a merit.

As for suppressing the robber cultivators, a little loss was normal, wasn't it? If he didn't do this, how could other cultivators see that sense of security?

"Brilliant!" At this moment, Zhang Qing couldn't help but give a thumbs-up, saying admiringly. He had only thought about taking benefits, but he hadn't considered these aspects.

Lin Chang'an chuckled, "Senior brother, life is long. Don't always focus on the immediate sesame seeds; broaden your horizons. Elder Lu has already prepared the spirit herbs for the breakthrough pill for me."

Breakthrough pill!

Upon hearing this pill, Zhang Qing's face turned red and his neck bulged. This pill was too tempting for him. He had been stuck at the mid Qi Refining stage for too long. If he could truly take this pill, he had a seventy to eighty percent chance of breaking through.

"Junior brother!"

Zhang Qing looked at him with red eyes, while Lin Chang'an smiled and nodded, "Senior brother, this breakthrough pill is a rare item."

How could Zhang Qing not understand? He had colluded with Lin Chang'an all these years precisely for this day. He had been greedy for so much precisely for the hope of a breakthrough.

"Senior brother toasts you with tea!"

Zhang Qing, with a face full of excitement, drank it down in one gulp. He was almost forty, and if he didn't attempt a breakthrough soon, the older he got, the smaller his chances would be.

The two looked at each other and smiled. Lin Chang'an seemed to recall something and reminded with a smile, "If there are any loopholes in these inflated losses, you can induce some ignorant robber cultivators to burn one or two batches of the supply teams."

Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Zhang Qing's eyes, and he appeared enlightened.

Lin Chang'an's meaning was very clear: the inflated losses were all fake. If anyone suspected and saw through it, then he could make some arrangements for certain material escorts, turning the fake into an irretrievable loss, and thus there would be no problem.

As for the losses, with the chaos in this area, were there not always outsiders crossing the border and robber cultivators living on the edge of a knife? If they dared to rob their material transport teams, burning these materials to prevent them from falling into the enemy's hands would be normal, right?

As for how much was lost, that was Zhang Qing's business. Not to overstate, but at least fill in the problematic gaps, right? Did this need to be taught?

"Junior brother, the two people under you handle matters quite efficiently."

Zhang Qing suddenly said with a smile, looking at him. How could Lin Chang'an not understand the meaning behind his words? Zhang Qing was taking such a big risk, and the benefits they would share must be borne together.

Dragging Li Han and Qi Feng into this meant they were all on the same boat. After all, everyone knew that Li Han and Qi Feng were your people.

Lin Chang'an laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Senior brother, I am in the market town every day. If you need manpower, feel free to dispatch them."

In three years, Lin Chang'an's cultivation had reached the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, and with his identity as an Alchemist, he was no longer much inferior to Zhang Qing. They were respectively responsible for the sect's industries in the market town, and there was almost no distinction between main and deputy. Elder Lu had also become much more relaxed in the past two years.

"Haha, junior brother likes listening to music. I'll get you some dancers from the mortal royal palace another day."

Lin Chang'an smiled and nodded. Zhang Qing's face flushed, and he couldn't help but rub his hands together, looking at Lin Chang'an, he began to calculate.

Others might not know his junior brother's alchemy talent, but he had witnessed his growth over the past three years. His potential was too great.

Thinking that even if he could break through, this would be his limit in this life, and he still had many descendants. Zhang Qing gritted his teeth and showed a solemn expression.

Instantly, a soundproofing spell barrier appeared before them. Lin Chang'an looked at this scene with confusion, "Senior brother, what is this?"

Zhang Qing lowered his voice and said in a deep voice, "Junior brother, meet me tonight under the big locust tree at the west gate."

Looking at Lin Chang'an's confused gaze, Zhang Qing said solemnly, "Junior brother, don't doubt me. You've been in seclusion cultivating alchemy recently. You just came out, so naturally, you don't know some things."

"Old Man Li is in trouble!"

Zhang Qing revealed a meaningful smile and said no more. He had originally expected Lin Chang'an to ask curiously, but to his surprise, Lin Chang'an smiled as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Senior brother, since you're here today, shall we have a few drinks at noon?"

"No, there are too many worries in the market town recently. How can I be as leisurely as junior brother?"

After discussing important matters, Zhang Qing felt relieved and stood up with a smile, ready to leave. He was very busy now.

"In that case, junior brother will not insist."

"Haha, who are we to each other?"

The two looked at each other with smiles. Lin Chang'an watched the other's figure leave before retracting his gaze. The moment he turned, the corners of his mouth slowly curved, revealing a smile.

"Senior brother, this breakthrough pill is not something only you need."

Lin Chang'an, dressed in a brocade robe, chuckled like a young master from a noble family. The spirit stones, with hardness comparable to low-grade magic items, made a crisp cracking sound in his hand as he crushed them with sheer force.

The next moment, with a suction force from his palm, the shattered spirit stones instantly turned into dust and disappeared into the air.