Shu Xiaolou was clearly showing interest in Lin Jin’s astonishing needle manipulation skills. However, he was also aware that to ask for it directly would come across as greedy and inappropriate. Hence, he offered one of his spells in exchange for Lin Jin’s information.
Lin Jin was intrigued as well.
Indeed, the pulse-seeking technique was an incredible needle manipulation technique. Though, since Mr. Shu was a Rank 5 appraiser, Lin Jin figured that his spell would be just as extraordinary.
Coincidentally, Lin Jin did not know many spells. The Spirit Energy Finger was one, and then there was Fire Spirit Possession and Spell Negation, both of which needed his blood contract to be utilized.
He also knew Carrier Cloud, Camouflage, the Five Elemental Edict Amulets, and Dragonfire which he created on his own.
Compared to other Rank 4 appraisers, the number of spells Lin Jin was able to cast wasn’t much. Lin Jin valued quality over quantity, so in relation to spells, he would either use them to their greatest potential or not learn it at all.
Lin Jin looked forward to what Mr. Shu, a Rank 5 beast appraiser, would offer him.
“Appraiser Shu, what spell are you offering to trade with?” Lin Jin corrected his posture and a hint of anticipation made itself clear in his eyes. Mr. Shu gave it a thought before saying, “I have this small storage spell. If Appraiser Lin is interested, we can trade.”
Small storage spell?
Lin Jin’s heart started racing.
Storage spells were quite fascinating and Lin Jin would actually find them useful.
After all, the number of magic tools in his possession was growing and he had a magic treasure too. To carry them around would be rather inconvenient. His needles were usually hidden in his sleeve, and the Immortal Binding Rope would either be wrapped around his wrist or his waist. If he were to obtain more items in the future, he would have to find a way to store them efficiently.
With a storage spell, he would not have to worry about that anymore.
And so, Lin Jin was tempted to accept the offer.
However, Lin Jin stopped himself from showing his excitement. Although the items were unique, this was still a bargaining process. Lin Jin could not reveal the fact that he needed the storage spell, otherwise, he would lose out on potential gains.
For Mr. Shu to initiate the trade offer, it showed how highly he valued the acupuncture technique. Hence, Lin Jin had a feeling that he could get more out of him.
Lin Jin smiled. “Appraiser Shu, truth be told, this needle manipulation technique is capable of both offense and defense. Its greatest use is in medical treatment, for mending veins, and for acupuncture. Considering the diversity of its uses, it cannot possibly be of the same value as a small storage spell.”
In other words, Mr. Shu had to raise his offer.
Shu Xiaolou became much more intrigued by Lin Jin’s needle manipulation technique. After a thought, he said, “I can teach you the study of beast appraising.”
Lin Jin shook his head.
No doubt, Appraiser Shu’s beast appraising skills were above his, but Lin Jin had the Museum of Deadly Beasts. In time, it shouldn’t take much for him to surpass Mr. Shu.
This was why Lin Jin turned down his offer.
Shu Xiaolou got anxious. He contemplated again before a twinkle flashed through his eyes. “Appraiser Lin, take a look at this.”
Having said that, he held out his palm. On it was something small.
The moment Lin Jin saw it, he was dumbstruck.
In the palm of Appraiser Shu’s hand was a black bead. The bead was so tiny it looked like an ink-colored pearl, though much rounder and evenly shaped.
“What is this?” Lin Jin couldn’t tell at first glance, but since Appraiser Shu had presented it with such vigor, it should be rather special.
Appraiser Shu wore a pained expression as he explained, “This is my Cosmos Ink. This ink is so valuable that I don’t have too many of them in my possession as well.”
“What does it do?” Lin Jin’s interest was piqued upon hearing this.
“Look at this.” Appraiser Lin reached over and grabbed Lin Jin’s wrist. The next instant, black energy surged below their feet and the two men disappeared.
From Lin Jin’s perspective, the world around him was momentarily engulfed in darkness. When he finally regained his vision, he was no longer at Peach Blossom House but in a loft.
“This is…” Finding it familiar, Lin Jin looked down to examine the structure of the three floors below them.
The Beast Appraisal Pavilion.
They were actually at the Beast Appraisal Pavilion.
Lin Jin was visibly shocked.
Although Peach Blossom House wasn’t too far away from the Beast Appraisal Pavilion, it was still a distance of several hundred meters. To be able to cover such a distance in the blink of an eye was magic to Lin Jin, who had never come across such a thing before.
“How’s that? Amazing, isn’t it?” Shu Xiaolou seemed pleased with himself. “This Cosmos Ink is extremely useful. Once you’ve mastered how to use it, you can use it on any paper. With just a tiny spot, the size of a coin, you can house an entire room of items, convenient for storage. Apart from that, you can teleport through a painting. Even if it’s thousands of miles away, you’ll still be able to get there in a flash. Now, what do you say? Is this worthy of your needle manipulation technique?”
Teleport by painting?
Lin Jin came to a realization. Looking around, he noticed that he and Mr. Shu were on the Beast Appraisal Pavilion’s fourth floor. This place had tons of paintings hanging around.
Did this mean he had just teleported here with Appraiser Shu through a painting?
Just then, Lin Jin noticed a rather strange painting on the wall. It was an image of a room, and inside this room, there were several other paintings. One of them was completely blank while the second painting was of a maiden in green.
She seemed familiar.
At that instant, Appraiser Shu reached over to grab Lin Jin’s wrist, teleporting them once more back to Peach Blossom House.
The moment they disappeared, a door on the Beast Appraisal Pavilion’s second floor opened. Out came Zhong Zifeng who peered upstairs curiously.
Realizing that nothing was there, he shook his head and returned to his room.
Lin Jin once read in ancient texts that immortal cultivators were able to soar in the skies, tunnel underground, and teleport thousands of miles away. Lin Jin had suspected the books to be exaggerating, but after this experience, he finally realized that perhaps such magical abilities did exist in this world.
Should he accept Mr. Shu’s offer?
Of course!
The pulse-seeking technique may be valuable but it surely couldn’t compare to this teleportation ability. Strictly speaking, Lin Jin was on the winning end of this deal.
Next came the main agenda. How was he supposed to use this tiny bit of Cosmos Ink?
“For the storage seal, I have a booklet here that teaches you how to use it. It’s not that difficult.” Shu Xiaolou took out a thin book from his sleeve and handed it to Lin Jin.
“As for using Cosmos Ink to teleport, that’s a little trickier. You’ll need to draw a painting with the ink, refine and imbue your psyche into the painting before you can use it to teleport.” Having said that, Shu Xiaolou put the Cosmos Ink on the table.
Lin Jin thought, ‘Appraiser Shu must have hidden a painting here in Peach Blossom House that allowed him to teleport here.’ He recalled seeing a painting in the main hall’s walls and another one in his study.
As for which one was his painting, Lin Jin didn’t have time to figure that out now. The main point here was him securing an advantageous deal.
Lin Jin studied the storage seal first. The booklet only had a few pages so he finished it quickly. With Lin Jin’s comprehension ability, it didn’t take much for him to digest the information. In less than fifteen minutes, he understood the principle behind the spell.
He looked at the Cosmos Ink on the table and flicked out a needle. The needle took a dab of the ink before swiftly weaving a seal on Lin Jin’s sleeve.
