Cultivation: Being Immortal-Chapter 522:

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Xia Kingdom, Xia Palace

When Lin Jiang returned in the 92nd year of Xia’s calendar, the news he received prior to going to Qing State took him a few months, but the return journey took almost three years.

Traveling lightly when he left, Lin Jiang came back with many more people, including a group of disciples from Wangxian Sect and their families, totaling hundreds.

Along the way, Lin Jiang also inspected several vassal tribes, causing a delay. By the time he reached Xia Palace, it was already summer in the 96th year of Xia’s calendar.

Lin Jiang made sure to settle the brought cultivators properly, treating them fairly and providing everything they needed at once. The social development in Xia Kingdom was much better than in Qing State, ensuring they would live more comfortably.

After being away for a few years, Lin Jiang asked about the situation in Xia Kingdom. There were no major events happening in Xia Kingdom, and society was still quite simple. If it were a highly centralized feudal dynasty, the emperor wouldn’t dare to leave the capital for a few years without an heir, as the dynasty would have been replaced.

Of course, this is also the reason why Zhang Ran has no ambitions. If he really had ambitions, the few years that Lin Jiang has been away would have been enough for him to scheme for the throne.

"Zhang Ran, I will be leaving in four years. What do you think would be the best way to arrange things?"

"Your Majesty, why does it have to be four years? Do you really have to wait for a full hundred years in the Xia calendar?"

"Yes."

Lin Jiang said, he was a bit obsessive like that. When he said a hundred years, he meant a hundred years, no compromises.

"It’s okay to delay for a year or two."

"No, I’ll be leaving soon. What if I can’t bear to give up this power by then? Should I really rule as a king for thousands of years?"

"That might not be a bad idea. Besides, do you even like it?"

Zhang Ran always thought it was normal for emperors to rule for thousands of years, because that’s how cultivators are. Which ancestor retires after just a few decades? They all rule for life – the longer you live, the longer you rule.

He was more worried that Lin Jiang wouldn’t value the little power he had in his hands. Even Zhang Ran himself wasn’t valued by Lin Jiang. After experiencing the luxury of the cultivation world, how could Lin Jiang value the power of a primitive tribe? It’s like being loved by a lion, how could you value a wild dog?

"Forget about that, tell me, among the candidates I chose, who would make a better emperor?"

"Currently, three individuals are quite capable, but personally, I think the one named Yao is more remarkable."

"Oh, our opinions are quite similar. When I was at the Martial Arts Academy, I preferred him. He has a calm temperament, not eager for power or conflict."

Lin Jiang nodded. A face flashed in his mind – handsome, composed, yet agile in his thinking. This was the emperor candidate he had valued from the beginning.

"If Your Majesty truly plans to retire by the end of the summer millennium, then it’s almost time for Yao to ascend the throne. Give him a three-year transitional period, to avoid any sudden surprises."

"Sounds good. Next year, in the summer year of ninety-seven, I will announce it. What about you, Zhang Ran, any plans?"

"What plans could I possibly have? Just getting by each day. Anyway, there’s no hope for me to become immortal in this lifetime. Maybe I can achieve that in the next life."

"Okay, I will give you another task later."

"What task?"

"From now on, including the future, awakened cultivators cannot become emperors. When the time comes, you will lead the Martial Arts Academy. Remember to strictly adhere to this rule. Whoever tries to take over the throne, kill them."

Lin Jiang said coldly. Lin Jiang was afraid that some cultivators might awaken prematurely. If they still had hundreds of years left to live, what would happen? Being an emperor for too long is not good for a country because no one can guarantee to always be wise and competent without making mistakes. The succession of power for an emperor is an excellent opportunity for a dynasty to correct itself.

"Your Majesty, why?"

"No why. Just follow the order. This command also applies to you."

"What if my son or grandson wants to usurp the throne?"

"Doesn’t matter. The descendants of cultivators are irrelevant. Anyway, cultivators are not allowed. If I find out, there might be exhumation and punishment in the future."

"Wait, I sense something different. Your Majesty, are you planning to be away for a long time?"

"Oh, I am actually going to sleep."

"Oh, Your Majesty, can you keep on sleeping?"

Zhang Ran exclaimed, this was not right, he had asked Lin Hongjin before, he wanted to keep sleeping but he couldn’t.

"Of course you can, don’t forget who did this."

Lin Jiang laughed, restarting the sleeping spell requires at least the martial arts cultivation of a Martial Saint, because this inner strength is pure enough to activate something, and the key is that the treasures in the sleep must be of a certain level, those from the Qing State won’t do.

········

In the year 97 of the Xia Calendar, Lin Jiang chose the new monarch Yao, but Lin Jiang has not abdicated yet, it can be considered as a temporary dual reign.

Over the next three years, Yao mainly studied by Lin Jiang’s side, handling Xia Kingdom’s issues from the perspective of a monarch.

Such as conflicts between tribes, these issues cannot be resolved based on logic alone, but rather from a balance perspective, supporting the weak and holding back the strong.

For example, when supporting some technologies, we shouldn’t just focus on the costs. Some necessary waste is unavoidable, and leaders should be more generous.

There are also some issues of privilege. Knowing when to pay attention to small details and when to focus on big picture is important. These are things that rulers need to learn.

The art of ruling, Xia Kingdom may not grasp this concept yet, but Lin Jiang is already familiar with it. Of course, Lin Jiang won’t teach him all the techniques of ruling, some are unnecessary, and teaching them in advance could cause trouble.

Ya is a very clever person, quickly adapting to his current role. Lin Jiang just needs to provide a little guidance. By the ninety-eighth year of the Xia calendar, Lin Jiang almost handed everything over to Ya to coordinate with Zhang Ran.

In the ninety-ninth year of the Xia calendar, Lin Jiang trained two Martial Saints for Xia Kingdom. They became powerful warriors through practice in the indigenous tribes, not awakening cultivators.

This is very significant, proving that indigenous tribes have the strength to resist awakening cultivators. With a hundred years together with the widespread use of the Huaxia Language, Lin Jiang can now leave without worrying that the Huaxia Language will be undermined.

"With these two Martial Saints, Xia Kingdom is safe. Your Majesty, you can also leave with peace of mind."

"But you still need to be vigilant."

"If Your Majesty is still worried, you can keep some cards up your sleeve. I know you Void and Tao Achievers are very crafty, and you have plenty of tricks."

"Zhang Ran, you’re being a little impolite to me."

"Next year you won’t be the king anymore, what are you afraid of?"

"You’re really arrogant, not giving face like this, then I won’t show my strongest card either."

Lin Jiang laughed and said. Zhang Ran isn’t on the same level. Lin Jiang is actually quite easy to talk to once you get to know him.

He really had no more trump cards, he couldn’t use the things of a cultivator anymore. What a useless trump card. Relying on the strong power of Xia Kingdom is enough – two Martial Saints, dozens of Martial Arts Masters, Grand Masters, and at least hundreds of Innate Martial Artists. With this strength, unless all the dormant cultivators of Qing State wake up and attack Xia Kingdom at the same time, otherwise Xia Kingdom is not in any danger.

"Can these Martial Saints extend their lives?"

"Yes, if we don’t count external things like spiritual talismans and supernatural abilities, an Innate Martial Artist is equivalent to the initial stage of Qi Refining, a Martial Arts Master is equivalent to the middle stage, a Grand Master of Martial Arts is equivalent to the later stage, and a Martial Saint is almost like reaching the pinnacle of Qi Refining. If they are properly maintained, living to a hundred or hundred and fifty years is not a problem."

Lin Jiang said, with the condition being proper maintenance. If they have been in battles all the way, with many hidden injuries, then they will be similar to ordinary people, maybe living for about a hundred years.

"If there is spiritual energy recovery, can a Martial Saint advance to the Building Foundation Period?"

"Almost there, practicing martial arts to achieve enlightenment is not very uncommon."

"That’s true, but unfortunately becoming a Martial Saint doesn’t extend our lives."

"Almost finished, you have lived longer than others."

"That’s right, just don’t know how long His Majesty can live."

"Not much longer, just a little bit."

Lin Jiang chuckled, his lifespan was a secret, but no one could outlive him anyway.

Zhang Ran shook his head with a smile, he already knew that Lin Jiang was the most mysterious person in the Xia Kingdom, no, in the whole world. It’s really exciting to wonder if Lin Jiang will be the first immortal cultivator, as it is the wish of all cultivators.

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