I Cultivate Immortality With Scientific Thinking

Chapter 4: Manuscript

Azure Cloud Peak.

It is three thousand zhang high, with clouds and mist swirling on top of the mountain peak, adorned with white clouds.

This is where the main hall of the Azure Cloud Sect is located.

However, what is unique is that within a few thousand zhang radius on the mountainside, there are not various buildings and palaces, but various ancient trees reaching a hundred zhang in height!

Outside of Qingquan Peak, flying objects with white fluff, large in size, and resembling dandelions from a previous life, are landing one by one on the flat ground of the mountainside.

The Azure Cloud Sect is not only famous for its powerful influence in the entire Lingnan region, but also for its modification and application of spiritual plants!

The predecessors of the Azure Cloud Sect have transformed various spiritual plants into the appearance they desired according to their needs.

For example, the Langgan Tree used for living and absorbing spiritual energy, the Diwu Tree used for defending the sect, the Sound Transmission Flower used for delivering messages, and the dandelion grass that Lin Chen is currently riding on!

"Sigh, it costs one spiritual stone for each ride, equivalent to the daily earnings of an ordinary cultivator in the sect. No wonder cultivators are more homebodies. The higher-ranked ones need to cultivate, while the lower-ranked ones can't afford the cost of going out!" Lin Chen sighed lightly and used the Sound Transmission Flower to inform himself of the next stop.

Soon, the formation on the mountainside activated, creating a strong wind that disturbed the wind of communication echoing in the valley, causing the dandelion grasses carrying Lin Chen and other cultivators to slowly descend on the hillside.

The Azure Cloud Sect covers a vast area. In the previous world, its area even surpassed the combined area of several large cities.

The distance between each peak, as well as between the Cave Mansions and the main hall, can be said to be extremely far. Even if one continuously uses teleportation symbols to rush from the easternmost point to the westernmost point, it would still take at least a day, assuming it is on a flat road without rest.

Moreover, the terrain between the peaks is treacherous, with cliffs and valleys everywhere. If one were to rely on their own two legs to travel, who knows how much time it would take.

Therefore, in order to facilitate travel, the elders of the sect changed the terrain, causing a wind of communication to echo between the peaks, and then using the dandelion grasses for transportation, which greatly saves time.

Lin Chen quickly got off the dandelion grass and used his movement technique to head towards the main hall.

In the Immortal Cultivation World, wealth refers to spiritual stones, elixirs, and other cultivation resources.

Within the Azure Cloud Sect, the sources of cultivation resources are the monthly salary and the contribution points obtained through completing tasks issued by the sect.

The former can be received as a monthly salary, but one must complete a sect mission within six months. Otherwise, the salary will be canceled, and if one fails to complete a sect mission for two consecutive years, they will be expelled from the sect.

The contribution points can be obtained by meeting certain conditions and putting in effort, and then exchanged for corresponding cultivation resources based on the contribution points.

Although there are tedious tasks to be done and it is not possible to achieve the so-called eternal freedom like ordinary people say, even so, countless independent cultivators yearn for it and wish to take their place.

After all, in this day and age, it is rare to see something where hard work pays off, let alone in this Immortal Cultivation World.

At this moment, there are already disciples walking in groups or alone on the road in the mountains. Some are energetic, some are half-asleep, all heading towards the mountain.

Occasionally, there are flashes of spiritual light in the sky, which are the inner disciples flying on their flying objects.

Of course, occasionally, one can also see Foundation Building Stage elders flying in the air, causing envy among the people below.

Lin Chen arrived under a huge ancient tree.

At this moment, vines fell from the tree, forming a vine ladder, allowing a cultivator to enter the tree.

What came into view was a screen of spiritual light. The words on it kept changing until they formed a complete prompt: "Number 135, please go to the second main hall to handle miscellaneous tasks..."

"Every time I come here, it feels like I'm going back to my previous life to handle business..." Lin Chen couldn't help but sigh.

Azure Cloud Sect has tens of thousands of people, and the Comprehensive Hall is an important existence that maintains the operation of the sect. At any given moment, there are at least hundreds of people here. Unless hundreds of windows are opened, it is impossible to meet the needs of everyone at the same time.

Of course, queuing is also an option. But let's not talk about how cultivators with different levels of cultivation would be willing to queue together. Just the exchange of cultivation resources is a very privacy-involved issue.

After all, in this Immortal Cultivation World, plundering resources is the norm. If some disciples envy the spiritual objects exchanged by others, even if the sect prohibits infighting among disciples, it is inevitable that there will be acts of coercion and temptation.

To ensure fairness, at least superficial fairness, the elders of the sect have set up this system of taking numbers, queuing, and exchanging resources.

However, Lin Chen did not go to the counter in the hall to inquire and accept tasks. Instead, he walked into a corridor, turned left and right, and finally entered a room.

There was a cultivator surnamed Lu who once said, "Where there are people, there are privileges."

This is also true in Azure Cloud Sect.

The tasks on the screen in the hall have been filtered, and those that are truly easy and profitable have already been taken. The remaining tasks are mostly labor-intensive.

Only disciples with extraordinary talent or connections have the opportunity to receive these filtered tasks.

Lin Chen was only informed after he ranked in the top three in the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

"I'll first accept a task from the Medicinal Garden or Pill Hall, then go down the mountain and sell the talismans I've made during this time, earning enough spiritual stones to support my research on the [Soul Nurturing Incense 3.0] version..."

Lin Chen walked into the room. Behind the counter in the room, an old man with a white beard seemed to be looking at something interesting. He was completely absorbed, occasionally making clicking sounds with his mouth, completely unaware of Lin Chen's arrival.

Lin Chen didn't pay attention either and walked straight over.

"Master Uncle, I'm here to accept a task. Master Uncle?" Lin Chen softly called twice, but seeing that the other party didn't respond, he couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly and leaned over to take a look.

What are you looking at so intently?

Because from his angle, the text was reversed, so it took him some time to translate.

Shadow of the Flower Behind the Curtain?

"Huh?! Why does the name of this book feel familiar?" Lin Chen continued to glance at it.

Hmm?!

Lin Chen admitted that he had read many cultivation techniques for research, and he could be considered outstanding among his peers in this aspect. But no matter how he translated this passage, he couldn't help but feel...

Whoosh!

"Great!" The old man enthusiastically turned to the next page, but suddenly paused because the next page was completely blank, with no continuation.

"What the hell! Where's the continuation? Where's the continuation? Which damn author only writes half of a story?" Seeing this scene, the old man in charge was so angry that his face turned red, and he trembled as he held the book tightly.

Just as the old man in charge was about to explode with anger, a voice suddenly came from the side, "Master Uncle, since there's no continuation, can we get back to business?"

"Oh my god!" The old man suddenly became alert, cursing like a cat with its tail stepped on, he jumped up and pointed at Lin Chen with a trembling voice, "When... when did you come over..."

"Just arrived not long ago. I did remind Master Uncle earlier, but it seemed that Master Uncle was too focused and didn't pay attention to me, so I stood by and waited for a while." Lin Chen said calmly, "But on another note, looking at the time on duty..."

The old man in charge quickly interrupted Lin Chen, "Ahem, ahem, nephew, don't misunderstand. This is my grandson's book. I... I was just curious and opened it to take a look!"

"Although I don't really want to say it, I feel it's necessary to remind Master Uncle." Lin Chen said expressionlessly, "Young cultivators nowadays are more impatient and prefer to read popular and easy-to-understand novels, rather than those obscure ancient texts. So, books like 'Shadow of the Flower Behind the Curtain,' 'Spring in the Jade Tower,' 'Nine-Tailed Turtle,' and the like, are already outdated..."

Outdated...

Outdated...

"How is that possible?!" The old man's face turned black, he stretched his neck and shouted, "I spent a whole ten spiritual stones on this, how could I buy outdated goods?!"

"Oh? Ten spirit stones? Shishu, you really are at a loss..." Before he could finish speaking, Lin Chen's body suddenly froze, and his eyes widened.

What? Ten spirit stones? This kind of trash book is worth so much?!

The two stared at each other in shock, and the room fell silent.

"Cough cough!" The old man realized something was wrong and quickly changed the subject. "Shizhu, you're here to take on a mission, right? Whatever mission you want, Shishu will definitely help you find it!"

Lin Chen let out a sigh and said, "I see... Shishu, I won't hide it from you. I had a lot of menial tasks last time, with little money and limited opportunities. So this time, Shidi hopes to find a good menial task in the medicinal garden."

Lin Chen deliberately emphasized the words "limited opportunities."

Upon hearing this, the old man immediately understood what his disciple meant. It was nothing more than finding a task with fewer responsibilities, more money, and especially more benefits!

So he immediately started searching.

"It's a coincidence. The sixth garden in the C class is still missing a disciple to coordinate with Pill Hall for the spirit herbs. It's a six-month assignment, and you'll start in three days. What do you think, Lin Shizhu?"

Soon, he arranged a task for Lin Chen to take care of the medicinal garden.

Azure Cloud Sect divides its spirit medicine gardens, which are used to cultivate spirit medicine, into four levels: A, B, C, corresponding to the Gold Core stage, Foundation Building stage, and Qi Refining stage respectively. They correspond to the cultivation levels of cultivators. For example, the B-level garden usually cultivates spirit medicine suitable for Foundation Building stage cultivators.

"This..." Lin Chen was somewhat surprised.

The main task of this mission was to deliver the spirit medicine from the garden to Pill Hall and report the daily consumption of spirit medicine in Pill Hall.

Although this position was just a delivery job, as long as one took care of the upper and lower levels, the benefits were quite substantial!

Could he really get such a good job?

But when Lin Chen saw the old man's face smiling like a chrysanthemum, he suddenly understood why.

Oh, it's a hush fee, I get it, I get it. So Lin Chen nodded.

The old man quickly registered everything and gave Lin Chen a bronze token. With this token, he could activate the formation restriction of the medicinal garden. The token had to be returned when the mission was over.

Lin Chen took the token and turned to leave but was suddenly stopped.

"Um, that, Shizhu, the books you mentioned just now..." The old man smiled slyly, rubbed his hands together, and asked in a low voice.

"Oh." Lin Chen was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood and explained, "I've only heard about those books... I just know a little bit because I read a lot, but I never read those kinds of things. I'm a serious person."

After speaking, he immediately turned and left.

"Young people these days, they don't know how to share good things." Watching Lin Chen's retreating figure, the old man sneered, "Well, I happen to have a grandson, maybe..."

...

After leaving the comprehensive hall, Lin Chen hurriedly headed towards the sect's outskirts.

"I was still worrying about how to get enough spirit stones to support my cultivation and research after my cultivation level improves, but unexpectedly, I received this news..." Lin Chen stroked his chin, lost in thought, on his way to the market.

Scientific research is very expensive. The production of Soul Nurturing Incense, the breakthrough in simulating the Foundation Building stage, the consumption of exploring the laws of spiritual energy, and so on, all require a large amount of spirit stones.

Even though he had become a talisman maker and secretly sold some of his research results, earning a good amount of spirit stones, he was still barely making ends meet.

If it weren't for his previous battles, where he killed many Demonic Cultivators and earned some extra income, he really wouldn't be able to make it.

As Lin Chen's cultivation progresses, the consumption of resources becomes increasingly significant, becoming an unavoidable problem.

Some people say that one can kill others to seize treasures.

But what's the point of robbing the poor? How much profit can be gained from them?

Even if you rob the rich to help the poor, the problem is that in this Immortal Cultivation World, there are a large number of spirit stones. If it weren't for powerful cultivators or those with strong backgrounds, who would have a multitude of elders protecting them?

Furthermore, research and experimentation require a significant amount of time and energy, as well as a substantial investment of spirit stones.

During the Qi Refining Stage, research and experimentation are not too profound, and results can be achieved quickly, so he can manage.

But what about the Foundation Building, Gold Core, and even Nascent Soul stages?

Research and experimentation on the soul and primordial spirit may take hundreds of years, with an unknown amount of investment. Does that mean he will have to go on killing and robbing every time he goes into seclusion?

Therefore, he must find a sustainable way to make money.

Originally, Lin Chen thought about specializing in various immortal cultivation arts to earn spirit stones.

However, after observing for many years, Lin Chen realized that whether it was alchemy, artifact refining, or any other immortal cultivation art, they may seem impressive, but in reality, they are just ordinary jobs!

And working for others? Are you kidding? Is there any future in working for someone else these days?

Not only do they lack autonomy, but even if they do a good job, they will ultimately be exploited!

To truly become wealthy and have a "future," one should become a controller of a platform, acting as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, and taking advantage of both sides. Only in this way can one do the least amount of work and gain the most!

However, within the sect, platforms for alchemy, spirit weapons, and other immortal cultivation items have long been divided among the major factions of the sect.

Although with Lin Chen's potential, after advancing to the Foundation Building Stage, he could join one of them and, after several decades of hard work, obtain a portion of the platform.

But not to mention the time and energy consumed, even if he succeeds, with many people and limited resources, he won't get much.

Moreover, Lin Chen estimated that the share he would obtain would be far from enough to support his immortal cultivation research!

He had been troubled by this matter all along, but the recent incident with the old manager gave him a direction!

"I didn't expect this type of book to have such a market within the sect, and it costs ten spirit stones. The content is not even that good, not as exciting as what I read on a certain website in my previous life..."

"In that case, can't I just copy and sell the articles from my previous life in this world?"

"A book can be sold for ten spirit stones? With over a hundred thousand people in the entire sect, even if I sell to only one percent, wouldn't that be a huge profit?"

"And as I gradually gain fame through continuous sales, I can find some writers to help me write and then sell to other disciples, acting as an intermediary to earn the price difference and monopolize the market. In that case..."

The more he thought about it, the brighter Lin Chen's eyes became.

Lin Chen suddenly realized that the wealth of a transmigrator not only lies in scientific thinking but also in the extensive knowledge gained from browsing various websites, as well as methods to benefit the vast number of lower-level cultivators... ah, no, I mean methods to help them!

Moreover, whether it's alchemy or artifact refining, they both require a sufficient amount of spirit stones as startup capital, but writing books is different!

As long as he copies the content he saw on the website in his previous life, wouldn't that be a huge profit?

As for whether the books he writes can compete with others in the sect's spiritual book market...

Are you kidding? Our modern knowledge in this area is no less than that of ancient people!

Lin Chen made a decision in his heart.

"When I reach the Qi Refining Late Stage [Qi Cyclone Realm], I must copy the knowledge from the website in my previous life to benefit my junior and senior disciples!"

(End of this chapter)