This world had many variants of pet beasts and some of them were creatures that existed only in myths. Anyhow, the discovery of this ‘zombie cthulhu’ amazed Lin Jin.
Just like Madam Ghost Child’s babyface spider, this zombie cthulhu was injured by the same being, though not as heavily wounded as the babyface spider. Unlike the babyface spider who lost its Rank 5 status, in spite of its injuries, this creature managed to remain a Rank 4 beast.
There were two reasons why the zombie cthulhu was still alive and kicking. Number one was its unique constitution and secondly, it was being sustained by the symbiosis method.
The available treatment methods were also different from the babyface spider’s.
However, it was much easier to treat compared to the babyface spider. Different creatures had different attributes and capabilities, so it made sense that their treatment methods differed as well.
Still, there was one common procedure they couldn’t miss. The symbiosis had to first be broken. Otherwise, its blood-contracted owner wouldn’t be able to live much longer.
After deciding on a method, Lin Jin glanced at Ghost Child. Sensing the Curator’s gaze on her, she immediately bowed.
“Saving him will be easy!” Lin Jin’s statement displayed his great confidence as the Curator.
Ghost Child was excited. “Please teach me, Curator!”
“The zombie cthulhu is of wood and earth attributes, nurtured by death’s aura and born in the land of the dead. It’s an immortal creature that has been absorbing centuries’ worth of yang energy. Find your friend a shadow tree, and dig nine feet below it. Bury the pet beast and before filling the hole, sever the symbiosis link. I will give you some medicine for him and his zombie cthulhu. In about five days, it should recover and resurface from the earth.”
That was it.
Madam Ghost Child was stunned.
Was it that simple?
Had someone else told her this, Madam Ghost Child would never believe them. But since it was the Curator, she had faith in his words.
After careful thought, she realized this method wasn’t as simple as she thought it to be. First of all, only the knowledgeable and experienced could come up with a solution like this. It was as the saying ‘if you know how to handle it, it wouldn’t be difficult’. Had the Curator not mentioned it, she and Coffin Man wouldn’t have come up with this solution, as simple as it seemed.
Still, if the Curator said it would work, it would work.
Madam Ghost Child thanked him ceaselessly.
“But there’s something I’d like to say before all else,” Lin Jin added, sounding stern.
“Please tell me, Curator. I will listen carefully!” Madam Ghost Child responded with caution. She knew the Curator wouldn’t just dish out a treatment method for nothing in return. There were probably conditions they had to meet.
In Lin Jin’s mind, both Madam Ghost Child and the owner of this zombie cthulhu were definitely powerful figures. Perhaps he would have use for them in the future.
Of course, he was thinking in the capacity of Lin Jin the beast appraiser, not the Curator.
The Curator’s might was only limited to the Visitation Hall and Lin Jin knew this well. All powerful beings had to behave in the Visitation Hall where Lin Jin reigned supreme.
But things were different in the real world.
Out there, Lin Jin was still too weak. There was a need to plan for the future, for any obstacles that may come his way, and the visitors of the Visitation Hall might come as valuable assets when that day arrives.
But to use them, he had to make sure that they were trustworthy. For people like Madam Ghost Child, both grace and power must be used to influence her. He had to build absolute prestige for his Curator identity.
And how would he do that?
The target would have to listen to his orders.
“I’ve previously instructed you not to take lives. Did you adhere to my instruction?” Lin Jin asked.
He honestly didn’t know if she did or not so he planned to give her a little scare.
Startled, Ghost Child immediately said, “I’ve never forgotten the Curator’s instructions. Ever since returning the last time, I’ve never taken a human life. If I ever lie, I shall be doomed to die a horrible death.”
Based on his observation, she was probably telling the truth.
Lin Jin’s rule for her was that she couldn’t kill humans. If Madam Ghost Child complied, this proved that she feared and respected the Curator.
Just like how beast tamers restrict beasts with red lines. The goal was not to stay behind the line but to teach the creature fear and how to take orders.
“Alright. Tell your friend that he can be saved but under one condition. He has to stop killing the innocent or taking lives indiscriminately. If either of you ever disobeys the rule and kill even one person, be prepared to face grave consequences.”
It didn’t cost anything to frighten people anyway so Lin Jin said something extreme.
Madam Ghost Child’s heart was beating rapidly. She agreed to it at once.
The Curator was exceptionally domineering today. As a renowned villainous expert in the real world, it was always others who feared Madam Ghost Child, not the other way around.
Even when facing enemies more powerful than herself, she had never been afraid.
And yet, she actually felt apprehensive at the Curator, who was hidden behind his ominous mask inside this Visitation Hall.
Meanwhile, her pet beast, the babyface spider had been snoozing the entire time, not daring to make a sound because of the Curator’s intimidation.
Also, the Curator was undoubtedly a supernatural being. How else could he have figured out that the blood in the bowl belonged to a ‘zombie cthulu’? Probably no one else but the Curator could achieve this.
These little bits of details proved how powerful the Curator was.
Inducing deep-rooted respect in her.
Madam Ghost Child began telling him about her past of how her pet beast got hurt.
Everyone here knew of her identity so there was nothing to conceal. After she was done, Lin Jin was unfazed while the others were left with their jaws agape.
Black Crow seemed shocked while Ye Yuzhou looked grave.
‘Who knew this Madam Ghost Child used to be one of the five Lingnan Deities,’ Ye Yuzhou exclaimed internally. It was difficult to conceal his surprise.
The reason was, when the Lingnan Deities became famous, he was still an unknown fledgling. Back then, Ye Yuzhou was still in his teenage years. Everyone knew about the Lingnan Deities back then but one day, they suddenly disappeared without a trace. This was a strange occurrence that many have speculated about but not a single person knew the truth.
Who knew that Madam Ghost Child would be a member of the group?
After so many years, all members of the Lingnan Deities should be over a hundred years old by now but why does Madam Ghost Child still look so young? She seemed only to be in her thirties.
Did she truly attain immortality through cultivation?
After all, they did address themselves as Lingnan Deities, but everyone knew it was just a nickname. Immortals have long extinct from this world.
Madam Ghost Child’s subsequent elaboration was even more shocking.
“Back then, we were invincible in the Lingnan region, across all seven states that it eventually made us arrogant. We coincidentally heard about a place with immortal’s ruins so we ventured there. However, instead of treasures, we came across grave trouble. An ancient demon was actually sealed in that immortal’s ruins and we accidentally let it out, resulting in a terrible accident. Had we known about it, we would’ve never gone there.” At this, Madam Ghost Child’s expression was filled with regret.
Having heard this much, Lin Jin was both curious and excited.
“Are there many immortal’s ruins in this world?” He asked a rather dumb question. Before Madam Ghost Child could answer, Black Crow beat her to it. “Curator, there are a number of immortal’s ruins in this world but a genuine ruin would never have a demon sealed in it. What Madam Ghost Child and her group encountered was probably not an immortal’s cave but a prison cell.”
It was easy to tell that an expert like Black Crow must have raided quite a few tombs.
Madam Ghost Child nodded, agreeing with Black Crow’s supplementary explanation. “That’s right. It was a prison cell that we unknowingly unlocked.”
What happened after that was simple. The demon sealed in the cell was too powerful and of the five Lingnan Deities, one died while the other four were injured. The defeat was so bad that it caused them to go into hiding after that.
Madam Ghost Child’s pet beast was hurt during that time and she had no choice but to save it by using symbiosis. However, this solution brought about another problem.
Her pet beast’s blood was slowly eating away at her life.
The years of suffering from backlash tormented her, agonizing her to no end. Had she not entered the Visitation Hall, her days would have been limited.
She was incredibly lucky to have come across this chance to meet the Curator.
“That old friend of mine is also one of the five Lingnan Deities. I won’t mention his previous name but everyone now knows him as Coffin Man!” Right after Madam Ghost Child said that Black Crow’s eyes lit up while Ye Yuzhou frowned hard.
This Coffin Man’s notoriety was on par with Madam Ghost Child.
Everyone felt goosebumps after hearing Madam Ghost Child’s story, feeling an innate fear for the demon she mentioned. After all, it was a creature that easily overwhelmed the then invincible Lingnan Deities.
However, Lin Jin’s next question shattered this pressuring and chilling atmosphere.
“Do you still remember where that place is?”
Madam Ghost Child was baffled.
Lin Jin added, “When I have time, I’d like to visit the place.”
The group didn’t know what to say. The Curator seemed indifferent to the demon and spoke casually as if he was planning a vacation to a tourist spot somewhere.
As expected of the Curator. He’s indomitable after all, taking risks despite knowing the dangers that lie ahead.
Madam Ghost Child roughly told him where it was but Lin Jin had never heard of the place. Also, it was deep within the mountains of Lingnan’s seven states, possibly thousands of miles away from Maple City where Lin Jin was based.
Lin Jin’s burning excitement was immediately extinguished by this information.
Seems like this trip would require long-term planning.
Now that he had resolved all that needed to be resolved, with the materials for Xiao Huo’s perfect evolution in hand, Lin Jin planned to research them well at home. It’d be best if he could help Xiao Huo evolve before the disciple tournament.
When that time comes, obtaining number one in the competition would be easy as pie.
Suddenly, Old Tian who had been quiet the entire time abruptly spoke up. “Curator, I have something I’d like to ask.”
Lin Jin cast him a glance.
The old man was insufferably arrogant the last time. Also, Lin Jin issued them a mission to collect medicinal ingredients so he should have brought even a little to show some respect. But Old Tian brought nothing and still wanted to make requests. Lin Jin obviously wouldn’t pay him any mind.
“Leave it for next time.”
He dismissed him with one sentence.
Old Tian’s expression stiffened. He was clearly angered but dared not say anything. Despite his reluctance, he knew well that the Curator shouldn’t be offended.
Even Madam Ghost Child was compliant and respectful of him. If Old Tian, with his Rank 3 pet beast, annoyed the Curator, there may be hell to pay.
