As if time had frozen, the snake monster didn’t move. It couldn’t proceed forward nor back away. Meanwhile, the two silhouettes remained still as well, and this stand-off went on for a brief moment.
Suddenly, the female silhouette took a step forward and the snake monster’s brave front simply collapsed. It curled up into a bundle at once as if it was begging for mercy.
However, there was a sudden eagle’s cry from a distance. Old Ji was distracted for a split second and when he came to, the two silhouettes were gone.
Immediately after, a large goshawk swooped down and began engaging in a vicious battle with the snake monster.
Old Ji recognized the large goshawk at first glance.
Anyone who was involved in beast appraising in Maple City couldn’t be any more familiar with this goshawk. This battle hawk belonged to the City Lord Manor. It was a Rank 3 pet beast and its owner was the City Lord Manor’s steward, Zuo Wentang, who was also once the commander of the city guards.
An expert from the City Lord Manor was here!
Old Ji was both thrilled and frightened.
His happiness obviously came from the prospect of rescue. At the same time, he was frightened because if he was caught stealing a pet beast, he might have to face repercussions from the law.
At this, Old Ji planned to make a break for it.
However, Zuo Wentang had already arrived at the scene. Besides him, a large group of city guards had also arrived and in the blink of an eye, they had the run-down temple’s area completely sealed off.
Old Ji knew he was done for.
Zuo Wentang was standing on a rooftop as he watched his pet beast battle the snake monster. There was clear displeasure written on his face.
“How could there be a monster hiding inside Maple City?”
His subordinates standing beside him dared not make a sound.
Zuo Wentang said no more. He could tell how powerful the snake monster was and it should be at least a Rank 2, equipped with knowledge in skills. It was a tough opponent.
Still, he had to do his best. Seizing control over his beast, Zuo Wentang supplemented it with enhancement spells.
But even so, his large goshawk was only on par with the snake monster at best. It wasn’t outrageous to say that the goshawk was at a disadvantage in this fight.
“Thunder goshawk, Lightning Beak!”
Zuo Wentang performed a spell. In an instant, the large goshawk who was fighting the snake monster let out a crisp and thunderous cry that resounded in the night sky.
A bolt of lightning came striking down out of the blue, pelting the black snake monster.
In terms of spellcasting, Zuo Wentang was considered an expert. With his blood contract at the fifth realm and his profound knowledge in spells, this bolt of thunder sent sparks flying, causing the already dilapidated temple to crumble even further.
The snake monster was completely scorched after that, visibly injured by the attack.
However, the lightning strike alone was far from enough to kill it.
On a rooftop a little further away, Lin Jin was squatting down as he watched. Shang’er mimicked his actions but of course, she did so in a much more graceful manner.
The two silhouettes Old Ji had noticed earlier belonged to them. The ones who petrified the snake monster earlier were also them.
“Master Lin, aren’t you going to help them?” Shang’er suddenly asked.
Lin Jin shook his head. “You’re underestimating the City Lord Manor. They have tons of experts there and Maple City still has a Friar Association as its backbone. A mere snake monster isn’t a big enough threat for them. They won’t need my assistance.”
His statement was true.
The snake monster had been in hiding all this while without anyone realizing it. And now that its existence was exposed, its fate was also sealed.
After Lin Jin had helped Shang’er and the foxes settle down at Mount Zoroku, he was suddenly reminded of the snake monster. Thinking that it was better to deal with it now than later, he brought Shang’er along in hopes of eliminating the snake monster quietly.
However, they showed up just in time to see the snake monster pursuing an old man. Lin Jin and Shang’er subdued the snake monster immediately with their deterrence abilities, and just as Shang’er was about to take action, they noticed the goshawk coming over so they retreated into the shadows.
Consequently, the large goshawk began fighting the snake monster while Zuo Wentang and the city guards arrived.
Lin Jin and Shang’er managed to evade them in time so they weren’t found out.
Suddenly, something came flying over from the direction of the Friar Association. At a closer look, it was a white peacock soaring in the skies, and standing on the back of this creature was a handsome and striking man.
He was none other than the Friar Association’s number one disciple, Yang Jie.
Standing tall with his hands behind his back, it only took him a brief moment to arrive with his pet beast.
“Steward Zuo, I have come on orders to provide my assistance in eliminating the monster,” Yang Jie announced with a salute.
Zuo Wentang smiled. “Ah, it’s Mr. Yuzhou’s prized student. Mr. Yuzhou is…”
“Master is currently in seclusion, researching a miraculous evolution method. I’m afraid he is unable to excuse himself. He gave me the task of giving Steward Zuo a hand!”
Having said that, Yang Jie invoked a spell, and bending down slightly, he leaped down beside Zuo Wentang. Simultaneously, his white peacock summoned wind-condensed blades and began pelting them down like torrential rain.
As the wind blades rained down, the snake monster let out tragic cries and slash wounds opened up all over its body.
Like a sharpened sword, the white peacock acutely swooped down. With its wings acting as blades, it made a decisive cut across the serpent’s neck. Unable to dodge this attack, the snake monster was decapitated in this one strike.
“That’s amazing!”
“That’s Yang Jie!”
The city guards around exclaimed.
A little further away, Lin Jin was frowning as he watched.
Yet, the fact remains that Yang Jie was indeed a capable fighter. Every spell was invoked smoothly and that decisive slash had come down at a perfect angle and at the perfect timing. The black snake’s attention just happened to be occupied by the large goshawk and it didn’t have time to care for anything else.
In other words, Yang Jie had snuck an attack when the snake least expected it.
Hence, although his performance was stunning and his spell-casting brilliant, Lin Jin thought it was an underhanded move.
“Let’s go!” Lin Jin suddenly said.
There was nothing left to see. Now that the snake monster was dead, its body was definitely not Lin Jin’s to loot so his priority now should be going home to sleep.
Shang’er obviously couldn’t return with Lin Jin as she had to go back to Mount Zoroku.
Lin Jin didn’t have to worry about Shang’er anymore. She was a Rank 4 monster who knew Object Manipulation. Tonight, Lin Jin even taught her some transformation skills so Shang’er was currently capable enough to stand on her own without Lin Jin looking over her.
They first headed to Lin Jin’s place and once Shang’er learned where he lived, she bid him farewell. Then, with her ever so graceful movements, Shang’er practically floated out of Maple City like a gentle breeze.
Shang’er had completely familiarized herself with Object Manipulation. She could even control leaves, which helped her mobility by allowing her to step on them, moving through the sky effortlessly like a deity.
With this enhanced speed, she soon returned to Mount Zoroku.
However, she abruptly sensed commotion down below and Shang’er quickly changed her direction. She propped herself onto a tree branch and began surveying the area.
Inside a nearby valley was a large creature curled up in a bundle. Perhaps it had sensed Shang’er’s demonic aura, the creature let out a warning growl.
Its voice was low and rich while its breath could rustle the nearby trees. It was definitely a huge creature.
Any ordinary person would be terrified of such a situation and definitely be too afraid of investigating the large creature that was hidden in the darkness of this valley.
After all, despite being curled up in a corner, the creature was the size of a tiny hill. It was nothing short of intimidating.
However, Shang’er wasn’t afraid.
She went over out of curiosity and finally saw the creature’s true appearance.
It was a great white ape.
***
Every time he returned, Lin Jin would first take a look at the beast pen.
The shadow wolf was doing very well and Lin Jin had begun letting it cultivate the Beast Energy Formation. Previously, Lin Jin had been worried about the shadow wolf turning into a monster as it currently didn’t have a blood-contracted owner.
But it seemed like Lin Jin’s worries were excessive.
Beasts that have formed blood contracts before wouldn’t turn into monsters after cultivating the Beast Energy Formation.
Lin Jin patted the shadow wolf on its head. Ignoring the fact that the creature most probably couldn’t understand him, Lin Jin said, “You should be fully recovered in two days. When the time comes, I’ll help you evolve.”
Having said that, Lin Jin turned to the large deer.
The deer he had rescued this morning seemed to be in a much better condition now. However, this deer’s injuries were much worse than the shadow wolf’s and it was only due to sheer luck that it survived.
Lin Jin had deduced the deer’s attacker to be its owner.
Or should he say, its former owner?
Even now, Lin Jin couldn’t fathom why someone would do this to their own pet beast. How could they be so heartless?
Lin Jin patted the deer on its head as well and said, “You just relax and recuperate. Don’t worry about anything else. Eat and drink well. No one can hurt you here in my territory.”
Talking to pet beasts was a habit of Lin Jin’s.
Goldy had gone off somewhere in search of food again, coming and going as he pleased.
Sitting down cross-legged, Lin Jin used the pulse-seeking technique on himself to remove his fatigue and sharpen his mind.
Lin Jin had been doing this for the past few days. Performing this thirty-minute acupuncture routine on himself was equivalent to having an entire night’s sleep. It was indeed mysterious and Lin Jin didn’t feel sleepy at all for the rest of the day.
This was one of the vein strengthening cultivation methods.
Many things have happened in Maple City tonight. Other than the City Lord Manor and the Friar Association teaming up to take down the snake monster, there was also the search team returning after failing to secure the great white ape.
Meanwhile, the entire Zu family was in turmoil when they realized their two-headed snake had been stolen. But soon, the city guards came to inform them that their pet beast has been found.
And not only that, they even apprehended the thief.
It had been a false alarm for the family.
After requesting that the government penalize the culprit heavily, Zu Tianhong instructed Zu Can to get Lin Jin at once before it was even bright outside. They needed Lin Jin to help Zu Can’s younger brother, Zu Yuan, form a blood pact with the two-headed snake at once, and this was a top priority.
Hence, the moment dawn broke, Lin Jin was invited into the Zu Manor by an anxious Zu Can.
The Zu family had not slept a wink last night. After all, it was a grave issue that their pet beast was stolen, and a Rank 2 rare beast at that. Thankfully they managed to get it back before it was too late.
“Appraiser Lin, we’re so sorry to have you come all this way so early in the morning!”
Zu Tianhong had been waiting at the door this entire time. At the sight of Lin Jin, he approached and greeted him at once.
Lin Jin waved. “It’s no trouble at all, Lord Zu.”
As they spoke, they moved into the Zu Manor’s yard.
Inside the yard was a metal cage. And currently locked inside this metal cage was the lost but recovered two-headed snake, seemingly depressed.
And why was it depressed?
The two-headed snake had been frightened out of its wits the entire night.
First, it was stunned and controlled by a beast control amulet. Then, it came across a black snake monster.
If that wasn’t a shocking enough adventure, a powerful Shang’er showed up later and her Rank 4 monster’s aura simply forced the two-headed snake’s mentality to shatter into bits. Up till now, it still hadn’t managed to recover so this snake was now as limp as a pile of noodles.
However, this wasn’t a huge issue. If they left it by itself, the snake would eventually recover on its own.
The yard was filled with members of the Zu family.
Even Zu Tianli was there and he surprisingly came over to greet Lin Jin in an ardent manner. “It’s such an honor to have Appraiser Lin visit our humble home.”
Lin Jin paid his respects in return. After all, there was no reason to be hostile to a smiling face.
