Chapter 352: The Decision of Yun Lan Sect!
Yun Lan Sect and the Refining Guild have been 'out of contact' for many years, don't you all know the reason behind it?
We all know very well!
At first, Yun Lan Sect wasn't completely disconnected from the Refining Guild, but after the old sect leader of Yun Lan Sect went into hiding, the sect began to engage in various shady activities, operating in black markets, which ultimately caused the Refining Guild and Yun Lan Sect to gradually lose contact. When Jiang Lin visited Yun Lan Sect as a member of the Refining Guild, it was a huge event for Yun Lan Sect. At the same time, Yun Lan Sect's interests had been severely impacted by an attack in Yancheng, which left the senior members of Yun Lan Sect no choice but to start thinking about their future.
This is why, at the time, Jiang Lin, a mere refining master, caused such a stir among the elders. It signified that Yun Lan Sect was about to enter a period of change! Especially when people later realized that the new leader of the Mo family, Mo Lan, who had integrated and united the Mo family with an iron fist, had some mysterious connection with Jiang Lin, many people began to suspect that the Refining Guild might be planning something big.
Although no one knew exactly what Jiang Lin discussed with Sect Leader Yun Yun at the time, which led to Yun Yun giving Jiang Lin the Yun Lan Token allowing him to freely enter and exit the Yun Lan Mountain's protective barrier, once the small bet was made public, and it was revealed that Sect Leader Yun Yun would personally attend, it was clear to anyone with sharp eyes that something big was going to happen.
Only Elder Yun Leng, who took the most, ate the most, and was most stubborn, failed to see the truth.
Perhaps he wasn't unaware, but even if he knew, he refused to believe it.
"I don't believe it! I don't believe it!" Yun Leng screamed, his face twisted in disbelief. After Yun Yun's explanation, he immediately understood that the so-called duel was part of Jiang Lin's plan from the beginning. Jiang Lin had approached Yun Yun beforehand and laid out his entire 'integration' plan. The fight between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran was merely a way to attract attention in the Gama Empire, showcasing the strength of the Refining Guild, while also paving the way for the introduction of the Crystal Pills!
This was why, when Xiao Yan climbed Yun Lan Mountain, he suddenly realized that he no longer felt as hostile toward Nalan Yanran, but still chose to ascend to the mountain to meet her. It was because Xiao Yan subconsciously understood what Jiang Lin was trying to do. Although he had some suspicions about being used, just as Nalan Yanran had said, who wouldn't want to get a high-grade Xuan Qi set for free? Moreover, Xiao Yan had gained much more than that.
But why did Jiang Lin insist on reforming Yun Lan Sect?
This had something to do with the positioning of the Refining Guild itself.
In the Dou Qi Continent, there are generally three major guilds: the Refining Guild, the Alchemy Guild, and the often-overlooked Mercenary Guild.
The Refining Guild and Alchemy Guild are production units, while the Mercenary Guild is a force of violence. The Mercenary Guild exists at the grassroots level in the form of a guild, but its presence at the higher levels is weak, as many 'mercenaries' wash their hands of their past and form their own forces—yes, sects.
At the higher levels, the Mercenary Guild functions more as an intelligence agency that connects various sects across the regions, and sects, in turn, become mercenaries within the Mercenary Guild system.
Jiang Lin's attempt to integrate Yun Lan Sect was an attempt to recruit 'mercenaries' to act as violent units for the Refining Guild.
Although the Gama Royal Family's power is also strong, the Royal Family's strength is more focused on maintaining stability. Only a sect like Yun Lan Sect, a 'mercenary' sect, would be the most suitable violent force for the Refining Guild!
This is why Yun Lan Sect had a good relationship with the Refining Guild in the past. During that era, there was a competition for weapons, and all the regional refining guilds were highly tied to local sects. The refining guilds would handle the crafting behind the scenes, while sects would engage in battles. The battle data would provide new data for the refining guilds, which in turn would help develop new techniques and equipment, and push the sects to fight more.
Whether the technology exploded, Jiang Lin wasn't sure. He had only seen records in books, but over the next century, the refining guilds were cut down to mere dog guilds, with the core forces being regularly transferred to the headquarters to prevent local forces from growing too strong and creating powerful kings.
Now, the Refining Guild, under Jiang Lin's leadership, had clearly transitioned from a military-industrial enterprise to a civilian enterprise with the potential to expand. At the same time, the larger the enterprise, the more it needed 'private soldiers' to protect its interests. Yun Lan Sect, as an independent force within the Gama Empire, was a target Jiang Lin could either integrate or create conditions to integrate.
Only after solidifying his control over the Gama Empire could Jiang Lin ensure the protection of his 'technical patents.'
From the start, the nature of Jiang Lin and Xiao Yan's paths led them to different developmental directions.
Although Xiao Yan was an alchemist, which is also a production unit, the limitation of an alchemist is that high-grade herbs are scarce, which restricts the production output. Moreover, Xiao Yan didn't need much output; he only needed to maintain a few high-level combatants.
But Jiang Lin was different. Although the refining system had been reduced to nothing over the past century, it didn't directly improve combat power, meaning there were many substitute materials for the same weapon. Changing alchemy formulas could easily lead to deadly results, but changing materials in weapons might just blow up a furnace, and even if the furnace exploded, the materials could still be recovered. Combined with the material sciences of various regions, once the technology was updated, it could massively boost productivity.
Just to give a simple example, if Xiao Yan developed a flying 'Feather Sheath Pill,' then it was certain that, besides Xiao Yan, no one else would have the opportunity or ability to make it. However, Jiang Lin's Feather Sheath Wings? According to official statistics, more than two hundred people have learned to craft the Double-Leaf Feather Sheath Wings, with one hundred of them being former Refining Guild members from Gama, and the rest being new members or other refining masters from different regions who came to learn.
This number is rapidly increasing, and as the Feather Sheath Wings spread further across the Dou Qi Continent, the numbers will grow exponentially.
This is also why Jiang Lin gave Xiao Yi Xian a recommendation letter, because his reputation could provide her with significant help in the Chu Yun Empire.
Xiao Yan's strategy is to pull in the higher-ups, while Jiang Lin's strategy is: "I want it! I want it all!"
"I want to see the old sect leader! I want to see the old sect leader!" Yun Leng, unwilling to believe he had brought this upon himself, howled with a twisted face.
Unfortunately, Yun Yun didn't give him the chance. She moved forward, delivering a chop to his neck, knocking him out cold as he went mad.
"If it weren't for the face of my teacher… you'd be dead already!" Yun Yun sighed, holding the unconscious Yun Leng, then quickly flew towards Wutan City.
(END CHAPTER)
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