Of course it couldn’t be stopped. The great white ape was a Rank 3 beast with special traits. In addition to its massive size, it possessed the Berserk ability. To put it bluntly, once its rampage starts, no one here could stop this creature.
Not even Lin Jin.
However, that didn’t mean it was completely unstoppable. A Rank 4 pet beast could easily stand up to this great ape, but such a pet beast might not exist in Maple City at all.
The great white ape was visibly agile. Instead of destroying buildings, it stuck to wide roads and in mere moments, it was already nearing the city walls.
This supposedly towering fortress was nothing but a slightly higher mud wall to the great white ape. Effortlessly, it leaped over the barrier.
As they watched the great white ape escape, the Grassy Continent natives went into a frenzy of screaming and cursing. But that didn’t change the fact that they let the great white ape flee before their eyes.
Maple City’s city guards happened to arrive at this time. Lin Jin obviously wouldn’t get involved as he wasn’t in the position to be concerned anyway.
Tan Lin couldn’t provide any assistance either so she bid Zuo Wentang farewell to allow him to tend to his duties.
In relation to the capture and aftermath of this incident, both of them had no obligations whatsoever. However, this exhibition was now ruined because of this unfortunate event.
On the way back to the association, Lin Jin and Tan Lin exchanged their opinions about the Grassy Continent beasts they appraised. In summary, while the Grassy Continent beasts were powerful, it wouldn’t be easy to form blood pacts with them. Also, the asking prices were quite expensive, rendering them all less-than-ideal bargains.
Back at the association, Lin Jin bumped into the trio, Zhao Ying, Lu Xiaoyun, and Han Dong. His apprentices seemed to have just came back from the Grassy Continent’s caravan campsite as well but they didn’t cross paths on the way back here.
The three apprentices were in the middle of a conversation about the escaped great white ape.
“I heard that experts from the Grassy Continent caravan and Maple City’s best fighters will be teaming up for the pursuit. The great white ape should be recaptured before long,” Han Dong could be heard saying.
“That may not be the case!” Zhao Ying disagreed.
“I think so too. But it’s best if we don’t recklessly leave the city for now. It’ll be nothing but trouble if we run into it,” Lu Xiaoyun added.
Lin Jin walked into the room and cleared his throat. The trio immediately turned around and saluted their master.
Seeing as he still had time, Lin Jin taught them some beast evaluation techniques before leaving for the Friar Association.
Lin Jin had chosen to learn the Fire Spirit Possession and knowing one offense spell should be enough.
However, that alone shouldn’t make up his entire arsenal.
Even the other disciples in the association had researched and studied spells far longer than Lin Jin had, much less Yang Jie. And Lin Jin knew full well that some spells could restrain each other.
If one of his opponents had a spell that could subdue his Fire Spirit Possession, wouldn’t Lin Jin be in trouble?
Hence, on the shelf containing higher-leveled spells in the Spirit Library, Lin Jin found something to learn.
“Spell Negation!”
Flipping it open, on the first page and the first sentence, this was written: Those with a spiritual power of fewer than twenty stones cannot cultivate this spell.
This spell obviously had a limitation to it.
Ordinary disciples do not possess twenty stones’ worth of spiritual power so a significant portion of disciples was barred from learning it.
Lin Jin quickly became engrossed when he started reading.
After a long while, Lin Jin finally raised his head and rubbed his eyes, musing, ‘It’s a pity this Spell Negation has nothing to do with pet beasts. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that there is no direct relation between the two. Otherwise, the museum should have been able to provide a more detailed explanation on the spell.’
And that would make it so much easier for Lin Jin to learn.
The spell explanations found in the Friar Association’s Spirit Library were extremely mystifying. To put it bluntly, it was so obscure that after reading it for such a long time, Lin Jin still struggled to understand it thoroughly.
It was then that Lin Jin realized that someone was seated right next to him, cradling her chin as she stared straight at him.
It was Xue Bao’er.
Lin Jin’s body jolted in shock. ‘Doesn’t this little lass make any sounds when she walks? When did she get here?’
“Brother, are you researching Spell Negation?” Xue Bao’er’s crisp voice sounded just like taking a bite out of a crunchy apple.
Lin Jin felt his heart soften.
“I am, but I don’t understand it at all. This Spell Negation is so hard that I don’t think anyone in the Friar Association understands it completely.”
Lin Jin was deliberately saying this because, after his last encounter with Xue Bao’er, he learned that this little lass was a complete spell maniac.
She shouldn’t be underestimated despite her young age. Lin Jin wasn’t trying to praise her by downplaying his intelligence but it remains a fact that he couldn’t compare to Xue Bao’er when it came to understanding how spells worked.
He only managed to fool the little girl last time because the Museum of Deadly Beast provided him a detailed explanation. Without the museum, he wouldn’t even be fit to carry Xue Bao’er’s shoes.
Lin Jin wasn’t a proud man.
The best quality a person could have in this world was knowing where they stood, and Lin Jin knew this well.
Hence, he said what he said.
Sure enough, when he said that Spell Negation was too difficult that no one in the Friar Association understood it, Xue Bao’er immediately looked displeased. “That’s not true.”
Lin Jin chuckled. “And what do you know, little girl? Forget it, I don’t understand it at all. The worst that could happen is not learning it anyway.”
Having said that, he was about to put the book back.
Xue Bao’er reached out her arm to stop him, saying cheekily, “If you don’t understand, you can always ask me about it.”
Lin Jin stared at her. From her expression, he could see complacency, anticipation, and slyness that sounded like, ‘Even if you ask me, I won’t tell you.’
This was where his age advantage came into play.
It was as the saying went, ‘man becomes more cunning with age’.
Lin Jin shook his head, ignoring Xue Bao’er, and got ready to leave.
Xue Bao’er was dumbstruck. Things weren’t turning out the way she expected. Wasn’t he supposed to ask for her guidance?
Or did he not believe her?
Xue Bao’er flared up in anger.
She hurried forward to block Lin Jin’s path. “Big brother, I really understand it. If you don’t believe me, you can try asking me some questions.”
“Stop fooling around. Be a good girl now will you?” Lin Lin patted Xue Bao’er on the head before continuing forward.
Xue Bao’er was going red with anger. To prove herself, she reached into the pouch around her waist and pulled out a small notebook. “If you don’t believe me, look! This here has detailed notes of what I know about Spell Negation. I’ve been researching it for more than a year now. Even Teacher Beihe praises me for being a prodigy.”
Lin Jin took the notebook with a skeptical look on his face. When he flipped it open, he was shocked.
This notebook was filled with explanations on Spell Negation.
Written in fine detail.
There was an obscure incantation for the spell and Xue Bao’er even deciphered that clearly. This level of comprehensibility was practically on par with the explanations Lin Jin found in the museum.
Despite his awe, Lin Jin maintained a look of skepticism and asked, “Do you really know it?”
“If you don’t believe me, ask away. If there’s anything about Spell Negation that I struggle to answer, you win.” In a fit of pique, Xue Bao’er was anxiously eager to prove herself.
Before she knew it, she had fallen into the trap Lin Jin laid for her.
Lin Jin and Xue Bao’er continued discussing Spell Negation until it was dark outside.
He clarified all that needed to be clarified so what’s next was to practice the spell on his own.
Lin Jin then said, “Bao’er, it seems like I’ve wronged you. You do know this spell and have a profound understanding of it too. I’d like to apologize for my misunderstanding.”
Having said that, he held his hands up to show his respect.
Xue Bao’er looked proud. “Now you believe me, don’t you?”
“I do! I do!” Lin Jin then got up. “It’s getting late, I should be heading back.”
It was now that Xue Bao’er sensed that something was off but she couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was.
Seeing Lin Jin about to leave, she suddenly remembered something, “Big brother, I heard that you entered the Friar Association to have a duel with Senior Yang for the sake of winning a lady’s affection, is that true?”
Lin Jin almost tripped over when he heard that question coming from her mouth. His expression went dark instantly.
However, it was inappropriate for him to lash out since Xue Bao’er was genuinely curious.
He sat down and explained it to Xue Bao’er, saying that someone was trying to defame him by spreading these rumors.
It looked like she understood but also as if she didn’t. While Xue Bao’er was skilled in spell-casting, she was a blank sheet when it came to complex situations like these.
“So big brother, you’re here to join the disciple’s tournament and fight for number one?” Xue Bao’er finally got the gist of it.
Lin Jin nodded.
“But I want to get number one too. Doesn’t that mean we’ll have to fight each other during the tournament?” Xue Bao’er came to realize this possibility. At first, Lin Jin assumed that Xue Bao’er didn’t want to battle him, but after seeing her bloom with excitement and anticipation, he realized he had been thinking too much.
“But getting number one will be very tough. Senior Yang is very strong.” As if she recalled something, Xue Bao’er suddenly seemed upset.
This got Lin Jin curious. From what he understood, other than her young age, Xue Bao’er excelled in many other aspects. Although her pet beast was only Rank 2, with the incredible spell-casting knowledge she possesses, she should be able to hold her ground against Yang Jie.
What Xue Bao’er said next made Lin Jin rather concerned.
“Ever since Senior Yang Jie entered the Friar Association, he has never lost a battle before.”
It was obvious that even Xue Bao’er respected Yang Jie.
Lin Jin had a peculiar look on his face but then he patted Xue Bao’er’s head with a smile and said, “That’s because he has yet to face me!”
Before he left, Lin Jin wrote Xue Bao’er an evaluation report.
The contents were obviously about Xue Bao’er’s exotic fire wolf. Having learned Spell Negation with her help, Lin Jin felt terrible for tricking her, so to ease his conscience, he gave her an evaluation report.
Besides including an evolution method in the report, there was even a tutorial on how to help her exotic fire wolf attain pure green flames for its attribute.
It was a priceless evaluation report but Lin Jin was rather fond of Xue Bao’er. To him, spending time with her was like suddenly gaining a younger sister. Hence, Lin Jin was willingly offering her the report.
Lin Jin took the opportunity when Xue Bao’er was engrossed in reading the report to slip away.
He had to. By the time Xue Bao’er came to, she would have a mountain of questions and Lin Jin wouldn’t be able to leave the entire night.
***
In a forest in the wild.
The moon glowed. A soft and steady breeze blew into the night as birds and insects had their rest. Staring up at the sky, it was a beautiful night.
Outside the fox cave, Lin Jin sat cross-legged as he gave his lecture. The fox cubs gathered around intelligently, focused on his lessons. Whenever one of them started spacing out or dozing off, they would get smacked on the head by tree leaves thanks to Shang’er’s Object Manipulation. This seemed to do the trick as they would instantly regain their focus.
“… and that was the essence of the Beast Energy Formation. Have you remembered them all?”
Lin Jin was feeling quite relaxed as he smiled at the foxes who were nodding their heads.
After spending time together in the past several nights, Lin Jin and the foxes couldn’t be any more familiar with each other. Once the lessons ended, they would start jumping and crawling all over Lin Jin, enjoying their fun little playtime.
And Little Five was among them.
Only Shang’er was composed as she stood aside. Her figure graceful as always and her features divine under the luminance of the moonlight.
