Monsters and demons were different.
The former had no obsessions while the latter was born out of their obsession.
Monsters who became demons were harder to deal with and to put it in simpler terms, the difference was akin to a mentally unsound person and a mentally healthy person.
One could see demons as monsters who had a few screws loose in their heads.
Of course, this description was rather lop-sided but it was easy to understand.
For example, being wrapped in the magma rock was a monster who was mentally ill. Wouldn’t this explanation be easier for others to understand?
After retrieving the Thunderfire Needle, Lin Jin looked at Zhao Jingyan. She understood what he was trying to say immediately.
“The seal our Phoenix Palace senior placed is down below. To undo it and release the exotic fire, we have to clear away what’s above it,” she said.
It was clear that right above the exotic fire seal was this sealed demon. To release the exotic fire, they would have to remove the demon, just as Zhao Jingyan had said.
There was no other way to go around it.
“However, I recommend that we remain patient. It’s best if we prepare ourselves first,” Zhao Jingyan said, but if one read between the lines, she was trying to say something else.
For her phoenix to achieve Nirvana, it had to bathe in exotic flames. In other words, she would normally be anxious to have it handled as quickly as possible.
For her to suggest for them to wait only meant she didn’t trust Lin Jin enough. She wanted to wait until Curator was here.
It went without saying that Lin Jin was able to read her mind.
If an expert such as ‘Curator’ truly existed in this world, Lin Jin wouldn’t mind waiting. However, he knew full well there was no need for Zhao Jingyan to wait at all.
“There’s no need to wait. Let us begin now.” Lin Jin was not in the mood to waste his time. Every minute was precious to him right now because after he was done, he had to travel to the royal capital and meet with He Qian as Curator before he could set out for Heavenly Spiral Kingdom.
This was his plan.
If Zhao Jingyan hadn’t shown up, he would have left Maple City in the afternoon, but now that she was here, it was best to quickly get it over with.
“Chief Lin, you must think twice. That thing down there has been locked up for more than a hundred years, so if you’re not confident, we should indeed wait a little longer.” Elder Mo was hesitant as well.
After all, right above them was the Beast Appraisal Association and the entire Maple City.
If they slipped up, a grave tragedy would befall Maple City.
Elder Mo was truly worried.
Lin Jin smiled. “Elder Mo, have you forgotten that I am also a member of the Defense Department as well? Protecting the country is also my duty and I will never accept a task that I am not confident in.”
Indeed, Lin Jin did have faith in himself.
Through the Thunderfire Needle, Lin Jin had already gained the information he needed on the enemy. Moreover, the Thunderfire Needle was no average needle too. That shot earlier had sent a bolt of thunder into the monster’s body. After it was released from the seal later, Lin Jin had a plan to deal with it, even if it was a Rank 5 demon.
He was sure that he could handle it well.
“Open the seal!” Lin Jin ordered.
Elder Mo did not hesitate to carry out the order. Since Lin Jin was the chief, he had the authority to issue such orders. Furthermore, his status and influence were factors that lent their weight to his decision.
Elder Mo invoked and chanted a spell.
The fire amulet on the rock began to fade away.
The seal was now undone.
The underground cave began to vibrate, emitting loud rumbles. The black rock vibrated too as it cracked. As the split grew larger, a wave of cold energy was released.
Both Zhao Jingyan and Elder Mo were surprised to find out that the demon was of the ice attribute. However, after careful deliberation, it did make sense. It was precisely due to its attribute that it was sealed in the Earth-Fire Spirit Stream. Both the earth-fire and fire amulet worked together to suppress it.
The senior who sealed this demon here was clearly an expert too.
A jade dragon with a crystal clear body crawled up from below.
An ice jade dragon!
This was the demon being sealed here and it was Rank 5.
Its body made the air freeze and blue flames seemed to dance in its crystal clear eyes. After it emerged from the cracks, the Earth-Fire Spirit Stream’s temperature fell drastically until it was not even remotely warm.
Under this overwhelming cold air, they felt a chill crawl down their spines.
It was quite amazing how the strength of a Rank 5 monster so readily overpowered the Earth-Fire Spirit Stream.
Elder Mo’s face turned pale. It had been more than twenty years since he started guarding this place, and it was his first time seeing the demon. The Rank 5 monster’s aura had paralyzed him. His Rank 3 fire lizard was also the same as it curled up stiffly on the ground.
Zhao Jingyan was able to hold herself together since she had much more experience. However, as her pet beast hadn’t achieved Nirvana yet, she was useless as well.
Of course, it was never a part of Lin Jin’s plan that he would rely on their strength.
Only he could handle this opponent.
A Rank 5 monster was a formidable foe, even for Lin Jin. However, it was such a coincidence that he recently gained a wonderful magic treasure.
It wasn’t a magic tool, but a magic treasure.
The immortal binding rope.
Lin Jin had gotten this from Insect Taoist only a few days ago, but every time he had time to spare, he would try to research this item. There was still a lot to understand about the magic treasure but he was definitely making progress.
Although Lin Jin hadn’t completely mastered it yet, he could control it within a small area of effect. Spirit energy was useless in controlling this magic treasure. It was only receptive to one’s mana.
Lin Jin was fortunate to have Xiao Huo’s Dharma body to convert his spirit energy into mana. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to use the item at all.
Given Lin Jin’s current mana level, he could only activate the immortal binding rope once a day.
But once was enough.
Once this item was activated, no matter who the target was, they would be bound effectively.
Lin Jin had been tied up by this rope before and the memory was still fresh in his mind. Had Shang’er not been around, he would have failed terribly.
By now, the ice jade dragon had emerged completely from the crack, and it exuded a strong icy aura. The underground cave immediately became the scene where ice and fire clashed.
The roar of a dragon shook the walls.
Everyone including Lin Jin was momentarily stunned by the dragon’s roar. Not only them, but everyone within the walls of Maple City heard the dragon’s cry.
“What’s going on?”
“Did you guys hear that too? What was that?”
“I don’t know!”
More knowledgeable individuals, like the mentors of the Friar Association, were able to tell that it was a dragon’s roar, and their faces were drained of blood immediately.
The experienced mentors like Ye Yuzhou, Huangfu Ming, Mr. Yi, and Miss Beihe, hurried back to the Friar Association at once.
They feared that something bad might happen.
Meanwhile, from Lin Jin’s manor, Shang’er darted out like a shadow with Little Five following closely behind.
Little Five’s cultivation saw tremendous improvement as of late.
At a secluded corner in Maple City, a small jade dragon with a deep green color who stood on all fours poked its head out to listen to the roar.
