Due to the breakneck speed, both the owner and the pet beast fell to the ground at once. The blood bat was covered in blood, its wings broken. Blood Bat broke her neck and it was now angled to one side. She could be seen only exhaling without inhaling.
They just crashed and died.
This was because Blood Bat was too frightened and in a hurry to get out. She was also too confident in her pet beast’s corroding blood that she ended up this way.
Now, Python Monk was left alone.
This large, bald man was currently shivering. The instant he saw Blood Bat’s tragic death, he cursed inwardly, ‘What a horrible woman!’
When they still had each other, no matter how devastating the situation was, they still had some strength left on their side. However, this woman clearly planned on escaping on her own just now, though she ended up dead. And so be it. But now, Python Monk was left all alone. He was like a weak little lamb trapped by a pack of hungry wolves who were sharpening their claws.
Other than begging for mercy, Python Monk had no other options left.
Black Crow and Ghost Child stayed quiet, waiting for the curator’s orders. Whether to release or kill, they would heed the curator’s instructions unconditionally.
Lin Jin made a grabbing gesture and a tiny golden flag appeared in his grasp. Simultaneously, the Nebula Barrier around began to disintegrate.
“Break your blood contract and leave,” Lin Jin stated.
He wasn’t very fond of killing. If the man had resisted, perhaps it would have been doable, but now that he was on the ground, begging for mercy, killing him in such a state was too cruel.
He had also instructed his visitors in the Visitation Hall not to kill after all.
Even though Lin Jin had no intention of taking the man’s life, punishment was still required.
Breaking his own blood contract was probably the most severe penalty there was.
He was asking the man to give up his own pet beast.
To modern-day experts, having them give up their pet beasts was equivalent to martial arts practitioners giving up their kung-fu. At times, this option was worse than death.
Hence, Python Monk trembled at this, looking hesitant.
However, he knew that he wasn’t in a position to choose.
If he didn’t obey, only death awaited him.
Compared to living life as a normal person, death was still scarier. Python Monk knew at once what he should do.
“Curator, you’re as mighty as your reputation and I’m sure you’d never go back on your word. I’ve committed a sin and I acknowledge that I must pay this price.” Having said that, Python Monk put his hands together, invoking a spell to severe his blood contract.
Crack… crack… Poof!
Following sounds of explosion, a bloody haze exploded from Python Monk’s body. Not only him but his piebald python also experienced the same thing.
This was the effect of breaking one own’s blood contract.
From now on, he and his pet beast would no longer be bound by a pact.
The python seemed intelligent enough to know what was going on. It glanced fearfully at Lin Jin and leaned forward, as if performing a bow before getting up and slithering away, ignoring Python Monk.
Meanwhile, Python Monk was pale as a sheet, his inner spiritual body clearly damaged.
“Go on!” Since the man obeyed, Lin Jin wouldn’t give him trouble. Delighted, Python Monk wasted no time and bowed in gratitude before getting up and running away.
Seeing this, Evil Scholar chirped, “From now on, the villainous experts ranking is two competitors short. Haha, my rank’s gone up quite a bit.”
Black Crow looked helpless. This Evil Scholar was a loyal friend but had a tendency to run his mouth. Curator was still here so how dare he spout nonsense?
And so, he could only shoot his friend warning glares.
But Lin Jin was quite fond of Evil Scholar’s character.
“What are your ranks on the villainous experts ranking?” Lin Jin asked.
This question was directed to everyone. Evil Scholar was the first to answer, “Curator, I’m not very skilled and my pet beast is average too so I’m ranked fifty-four. But now that Python Monk has severed his blood contract and Blood Bat has knocked herself to death, I should be fifty-two now. Haha, perhaps in the near future, I’ll be able to enter the top fifty.”
The man was actually excited.
Black Crow was next. “I’m ranked seventeen!”
Lin Jin turned to Madam Ghost Child and Coffin Man.
Madam Ghost Child answered, “Curator, I’m ranked number twelve, and Old Coffin is fifteen!”
Evil Scholar was clearly a distance away from the other three. Black Crow, Ghost Child, and Coffin Man were all ranked within the top twenty, but even still, Evil Scholar was strong enough. However, it seemed like greater experts lurked in this villainous experts ranking. Lin Jin knew full well how strong Ghost Child was. Had it not been for the curator’s might, based on his real strength alone, Lin Jin couldn’t possibly go up against Ghost Child. After all, that babyface spider in Ghost Child’s arms used to be a Rank 5 pet beast.
At this, Lin Jin wondered just how amazing the top ten experts of this ranking could be.
Then, he shook his head. Now wasn’t the time for this.
This time, he had to eliminate the old dragon no matter what so the more experts, the better.
Prior to this, Lin Jin wasn’t very confident. He felt the same even when he knew Black Crow and Ghost Child would assist him.
But now that he had knowledge of the Nebula Barrier and a refined nebula flag, his confidence in defeating the old dragon increased.
Now that Minister Yu was dead, the emperor of Jade Dragon Kingdom might be the next person to give him trouble. Hence, Lin Jin had to deal with this before that happened.
Fortunately, Lin Jin had a strong arsenal. Not only did he have assistance from villainous experts like Black Crow and Ghost Child, but he could also use his curator’s identity now.
Even if he caused trouble, that was ‘Curator’s responsibility. Lin Jin would still be Lin Jin.
Only, as the curator’s disciple, Lin Jin couldn’t possibly escape scot-free. Still, it had to be done. In a worst-case scenario, he would just have to leave Jade Dragon Kingdom and go somewhere else. Now that he had an army, what was there to fear?
Just then, Lin Jin recalled there being another person so he looked over.
His eyes met the old Taoist’s.
Old Taoist was visibly startled.
He had seen everything and knew that this man in a demon mask must be an absolute expert. Other factors aside, this barrier skill of his wasn’t something a normal person could do.
At once, Old Taoist braced himself and went over to salute Lin Jin.
“I’m Wu Qian from Mount Tianhe’s Cloud Sect. Greetings, my good sir.”
It was a cultivator’s salute.
Lin Jin didn’t know this Old Taoist. Amidst his curiosity, he noticed the monkey demon beside White Ape.
He immediately recognized this monkey demon to be the one he met outside on the capital’s streets. Lin Jin frowned. However, White Ape seemed to be on friendly terms with this monkey demon. He could even hear White Ape speak.
This struck Lin Jin dumb.
Calling White Ape over for an inquiry, Lin Jin soon learned that White Ape was able to speak because Old Taoist used an edict amulet to refine White Ape’s hyoid bone.
White Ape still didn’t recognize the masked man to be Lin Jin so he spoke respectfully.
After hearing White Ape’s explanation, Lin Jin knew that Old Taoist wasn’t an enemy, but a friend. He saluted in return and said, “This white ape is an apprentice my disciple took in. Mr. Wu, you’ve helped him refine his hyoid bone and was even caught up in this disastrous mess. Allow me to present you with a technique manual as an apology.”
Having said that, he took out the ‘Beast Energy Formation Part 1-3’ he had previously copied down and handed it to Old Taoist, Wu Qian.
Old Taoist wasn’t too enthusiastic to receive it at first but after a glance, he obediently received it with trembling hands.
He knew good stuff when he saw it.
Although it was just one peek, he knew it was a cultivation technique. The friars of this era focused on cultivating their blood contracts. But to Old Taoist, that was putting the cart before the horse. Hence, he never tried to cultivate his blood contract nor did he want to get a pet beast.
This ‘Curator’ was obviously a man of profound cultivation and possessed prominent skills. His gift must surely be valuable.
“I feel so embarrassed to accept something I’m not worthy of, so embarrassed!” Old Taoist echoed but his hands decisively put the treasure away. The monkey demon wanted to take a look but Old Taoist wouldn’t let him.
