WU DONG QIAN - KUN
Chapter 118: Sinecure and Burden

The large group rushed back to Yan City after a fruitful trip. Due to the fact that they had quite an abundant harvest, the atmosphere around them was rather carefree. As they were on their way back, Xia Wanjin asked Lin Dong's origin, with the hidden intention of ensnaring him.

Against Xia Wanjin's interest in her, Lin Dong thought about it a little and did not directly reject her. Since he had helped the Thousand Gold Association in defeating the Blood Wolf Guild, given the latter's style and mannerisms, they would most likely hold a grudge against him. Therefore, at this moment, fostering a close relationship with one of the other top factions in Yan City, the Thousand Gold Association, was undoubtedly a wise decision.

Therefore, he did not hide his origin. After all, with the strength of the Thousand Gold Association, they would find out after a bit of investigation.

"The Lin Family from Qingyang City?"

After hearing that Lin Dong was from the Lin Family of Qingyang City, Xia Wanjin did not react much while Xuan Su was a little surprised. Immediately after, he covered his mouth and laughed: “The Yang Yuan Stone that the Lin Family recently sold was mostly collected by our Thousand Gold Association. I never expected that our young friend Lin Dong was actually from the Lin Family. When we return, I will instruct our people to be careful when doing business with the Lin Family in the future. ”

“Hehe, then I should thank Manager Su.” Lin Dong chuckled as he politely clasped both his hands towards him.

“The Lin Family...I recently heard that the Blood Cloth Sect from Yan City has a grudge with you? Moreover, in about a month, the leader of the Blood Cloth Sect, Wei Tong, had agreed to a death match with your Lin Family in the dueling arena of Yan City? As if she suddenly remembered something, Xia Wanjin asked.

After hearing this, Xuan Su, Xia Zhilan and the others were also shocked as their gazes turned to Lin Dong. Although the Blood Cloth Sect could not compare to their Thousand Gold Association in Yan City, the former was still a fairly powerful faction and Wei Tong was an advanced Yuan Dan Stage expert. Can the Lin Family fight this level of strength?

"Yes. There are indeed some complaints among us.” In response to their astonishment, Lin Dong simply smiled as he calmly continued: "Furthermore, the one who will have a death match with Wei Tong is me."

"Oh?"

After hearing this statement, even Xia Wanjin's brows slightly raised. On one hand, Xia Zhilan couldn't help but comment: “Does a brat like you not want to live anymore? Wei Tong was an advanced Yuan Dan Stage expert, he was nothing compared to the half-baked Jiang Li from today!”

“Yes, Zhilan is right. Dueling to death in the dueling arena was no trivial matter. If necessary, I can intervene to mediate.” Xuan Su also nodded as he offered.

“I'm afraid it'll be difficult. The Blood Cloth Sect was led by the Blood Wolf Guild. Now that Lin Dong has caused them to lose the Celestial Dan Pool, even if our Thousand Gold Association intervenes, it will be very difficult to make the Blood Cloth Sect surrender.” Xia Wanjin muttered.

“Hehe, this was originally a problem no one else should bother with. Still, thank you very much to both of you. ” Lin Dong slightly smiled as he replied.

"How did you offend the Blood Cloth Sect?" Xia Zhilan could not help but ask.

"I think it's because I killed their vice-head, Gu Ying." Lin Dong casually said.

When these words were spoken, the surroundings became silent. When Lin Dong turned his head, he discovered that Xia Zhilan and the others were looking at him in astonishment.

"Gu Ying should be the Second Seal Symbol Master, right?" Xuan Su was also surprised. Soon after, he regained his wits and somewhat helplessly asked: “Young man, to think that you really have killed him. No wonder it is impossible to interfere. ”

"The disgusting man." Xia Zhilan muttered in a low voice. It could be said that the Second Seal Symbol Master was equivalent to an early Yuan Stage practitioner. Yet such a powerful figure was actually killed by Lin Dong. No wonder Lin Dong did not panic at all when facing Jiang Li earlier. After all, he was already confident of his victory.

Lin Dong spread his hand. He knew he had no choice in that. After all, if he did not kill Gu Ying, it would result in even greater trouble in the future. However, now that the deed was done, there was nothing to regret. As for Wei Tong, it was too early to discuss who would win or lose in a death duel one month later.

“Hehe, our young friend Lin Dong is very brave. Gu Ying was a terrible person, it was good news that he was dead. ” Xia Wanjin laughs. Soon after, he changed the topic and asked: “I want to invite our young friend, Lin Dong, to take an unsafe position as an officer of the Thousand Gold Association. Are you ready?”

After hearing Xia Wanjin's words, Lin Dong was slightly stunned. As he stared at the former's smiling expression, all of a sudden it clicked together in his head. Xia Wanjin wanted to secretly help their Lin Family by allowing them to establish a relationship with the Thousand Gold Association. Then in the future, the Lin Family would be able to receive help in Yan City and not worry about retaliation from the Blood Cloth Sect or the Blood Wolf Gang.

"Then I will thank President Xia for his good intentions."

Lin Dong thought about it for a moment, before he clasped his hands together. To the current Lin Family, the Thousand Gold Association was like a huge tree. If it was him alone, he would be fine alone. However, right now, he had to consider the needs of the entire Lin Family as well. Therefore, he decided to accept this kind of goodwill.

After witnessing that Lin Dong had received, Xia Wanjin burst into laughter. Although the current strength of the former might not be able to move him, Lin Dong's potential had become extremely important to Xia Wanjin. Ever since he started out as a trader, he knew very well about the benefits of long-term investing. If he were to give up this opportunity, perhaps their Thousand Gold Association would no longer have the qualifications to express goodwill to Lin Dong in the future when he finally showed his potential ...

After witnessing this scene, Xuan Su also chuckled. He had always thought highly of Lin Dong. Therefore, he was happy to see that the Thousand Gold Association could establish a relationship with him

……

Right after he reached his room, Lin Dong's body stumbled. Although he had reaped an abundant harvest today, it was not a walk in the garden. Furthermore, towards the end when he was at the bottom of the pond, he had practically given all of his Yuan Power to that little marten. Moreover, he had been trying to maintain his spirit on the way back. Now that he could finally relax, it was only natural that a feeble sensation began to spread throughout his body.

As he was in this weakened state, Lin Dong did not immediately start studying the Yin Yang Pearl he had just obtained. Instead, he chose to endure fatigue and weakness, as he sat on his bed and slowly entered a state of cultivation.

It was half a day's time, before Lin Dong once again opened his eyes, only to discover that it was already late at night.

After cultivating for half a day, his dantian who had almost run out of Yuan Power had mostly recovered. That weak sensation also gradually faded away.

Feeling that he had mostly recovered, Lin Dong took the three 'Yin Yang Pearls' he had obtained today at the bottom of the Heavenly Dan Pool from his Qiankun Bag.

These three round, black and white pearls floated in front of Lin Dong. The powerful and pure energy surged and continued to spread from within, before rippling throughout the room.

Lin Dong had a somewhat hot gaze as he stared at the three 'Yin Yang Pearls'. He could sense that even the energy within one of the 'Yin Yang Pearls' was more than the combined energy that the four of them had absorbed from the Celestial Dan Pool today.

"This is the true treasure of the Celestial Dan Pool!"

Lin Dong chuckled softly, fortunately the layout of the bottom of the Celestial Dan Pool was very complicated. Otherwise, this kind of treasure would never be taken away by him. Given the characters of Xia Wanjin and Yue Shan, they must have long since inspected Celestial And Pool. If not for the fact that there were many paths at the bottom of the pond, perhaps the treasure had long since been discovered by the two of them.

Ordinary people only knew that the Celestial Treasure Dan Pool was the energy within the pool water, yet they would never have expected that the Celestial Dan Pool would also be able to produce such a mysterious object 'The Yin Yang Pearl'.

After being happy for a while, Lin Dong carefully stored the two Yin Yang Pearls, while leaving one and moving it to the middle of his palm before once again closing his eyes. As he activated Qingyuan Art, he also used Mental Energy, condensing it into a 'Qi Transformation Vortex' on top of his dantian.

"Wu!"

As Lin Dong began to absorb, the Yin Yang Pearl began to tremble. Furthermore, a shocking pure energy that looked like a column of black and white alternating water flew out from the Yin Yang Pearl before finally being absorbed by the suction force emanating from Lin Dong's body!

Under Lin Dong's frantic absorption, a moist fog of energy seemed to curl up all over his body.

This sort of absorption was practically several times better than in the Celestial And Pool from before.

However, this absorption only lasted half an hour, before Lin Dong sensed that the Yuan Power Qi ball within his dantian was already overcrowded. Immediately, he stopped his greedy absorption and started operating the Qingyuan Art to condense Yuan Power Qi balls.

This level of condensation was unsatisfactory to Lin Dong, however, he had no alternative. Qingyuan Art was only a third level Secret Art and this was already the limit. In order to increase the absorption speed and compaction of Yuan Power, one had to look at the root of the problem, which was to replace it with a higher level Secret Art!

Of course, he could only miss him because he was currently unable to obtain a higher level Secret Art. Thus, Lin Dong could only bear it for now.

…

Life was much more peaceful for Lin Dong over the next few days as he spent most of his time immersed in cultivation. With these Yin Yang Pearls, Lin Dong's Yuan Power cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. He could sense that he was now approaching the boundary separating him from Yuan Dan's Stage. All he needed to do, was wait for the day when he naturally broke through.

Given his current progress, that day shouldn't be too far away.

While he was developing his Yuan Power, Lin Dong did not ignore his Mental Energy. After using a large amount of funds to purchase and refine a fifth grade herb into an elixir pill, his Mental Energy cultivation had also made rapid progress. The crack on the Fate Soul Symbol in his Niwan Palace had also become increasingly clear and it seemed like it would split into two at this moment…

However, this trend only lasted until the tenth day before suddenly stopping. This was because Lin Dong awkwardly realized that only half a month after he had arrived in Yan City, he had actually expended the thousand Yang Yuan pills he had brought. Hence, he no longer had the funds to purchase fifth grade potions.

This kind of expenditure would probably cause Lin Zhentian and the others to be stunned if they found out. The entire Lin Family would not be able to afford cultivation just him alone.

“I think it's time to get the money..”.

As he stared at his empty Qiankun Bag, Lin Dong could not help but laugh bitterly, shaking his head.