Forget Feng Ziyong and Feng Zishan, even Feng Ziqian did not expect that he would win this battle. Princess Ruo Li’s affirmation of his answer was basically her official announcement that she would marry him.
To Lin Jin, this was quite a formal diplomatic event, so what they promised earlier wouldn’t change.
What’s more, the Thousand Island diplomats didn’t seem like they were going to go back on their promise.
“Congratulations, Third Prince.” Ambassador Liu bowed with a smile.
Princess Ruo Li had already made her intentions clear. If nothing out of the ordinary happened, the third prince of Heavenly Spiral Kingdom would be marrying Princess Ruo Li and become the son-in-law of Thousand Island Country.
Hence, it was only natural for the diplomat to congratulate Feng Ziqian.
As if he was being blessed by fortune, Feng Ziqian was glowing with happiness. In comparison to him, both Feng Ziyong and Feng Zishan wore gloomy expressions.
After investing so much effort into planning their road to victory, they did not expect to fall behind their youngest sibling.
They found the result hard to accept.
Even so, what could they do?
Feng Zishan was grinding his teeth in anger. One question continued to baffle him and gnaw at his patience. Finally, when he could stand it no more, he spoke up.
“I may not be an official beast appraiser but I have some basic knowledge of the study. How could anyone in this world possibly contract three beasts at once?”
He was casting doubt on Feng Ziqian’s answer.
Still, it was reasonable that he did so. Second beast blood contract methods did exist in this world and according to rumors, there were plenty of them too. Some methods had terrible setbacks, while others were relatively acceptable.
Yet, contracting a third beast was completely unheard of.
Hence, Feng Zishan raised his question without holding back. He had a bold personality, so he was eager to find out the truth of the situation, which confounded him.
Also, with Feng Zishan’s keen observation, he found something of greater value.
The third beast blood contract method.
If there really was one, Feng Zishan could present it to their father, who would surely grow fonder of him. By then, Feng Zishan would have a greater chance of winning the throne.
Feng Ziqian had no idea how to answer Feng Zishan’s question. He turned to Lin Jin and the latter smiled. “Indeed, a third beast blood contract method is extremely uncommon in this world. However, just because it’s a tightly-kept secret doesn’t mean it does not exist. Also, what amounts to common sense isn’t always fixed. There will be exceptions and Princess Ruo Li and her three chilongs is one such exception.”
In fact, when Lin Jin went over to examine the beasts, he had already figured out the answer.
Even Rank 5 appraisers couldn’t compare to his Museum of Deadly Beasts, because what Rank 5 appraisers couldn’t confirm, the museum would give a firm answer.
One of the answers he obtained was the fact that all three chilongs were Princess Ruo Li’s pet beasts.
That was the museum’s conclusion.
The museum had even listed out several ways to contract a third beast, so the most valuable discovery here would be these official third beast blood contract methods.
However, unlike the museum’s previous reward of a perfect second beast blood contract method, these third beast methods were all flawed and had their own unique side effects.
Despite this, they would be considered priceless by many. Once made known to the world, chaos might ensue and god knows how much blood would be shed as a result.
In Lin Jin’s opinion, Princess Ruo Li did not use the techniques as provided by the museum. Rather, her contract with her three dragons was created through an ingenious strategy and shortcuts.
The museum’s explanation and what Lin Jin had deduced based on his experience were somewhat similar.
Chilongs were oviparous creatures, and in most cases, one egg hatched one dragon, that was a given. However, there would be exceptions when multiple dragons would hatch from the same egg.
In such a unique situation, before the egg hatched, one could use a secret blood contract technique to form a blood contract with the egg, so when it finally hatched, all three dragons would be bound to the same person.
Princess Ruo Li must have used this method instead.
Lin Jin further verified this possibility in the museum.
He knew that people would get suspicious of him, and they would demand an explanation from him, so it was time to reveal this fact. Lin Jin rose from his seat and started elaborating on the technique he had just figured out.
As a Rank 4 beast appraiser, his elaborations certainly made sense, and once he finished, the faces of the other Rank 4 appraisers lit up as they nodded in agreement.
“I had a similar suspicion too but I didn’t think it would turn out to be true!”
“This is the only explanation. There may not be any third beast blood contract method known to the world yet, but this special exception Appraiser Lin has mentioned is arguably reasonable.”
These Rank 4 appraisers may have been hired by different employers and were supposedly rivals in this situation, but when it came to beast appraisal discussion, there was no such thing as competition.
Right was right, and wrong was wrong. They should learn what was right and refute what was wrong.
That was a virtue displayed by true beast appraisers.
The three princes came to a realization too. The theory wasn’t too difficult to understand. Though, no one had thought of doing things this way before.
“Appraiser Lin is very well-informed and I am impressed. You are right. These three chilongs were bound to me when I was very young, with our country’s state preceptor personally conducting the blood contract ceremony. I was lucky to have gotten these three dragons as my pet beasts.”
Princess Ruo Li’s response had affirmed Lin Jin’s deduction.
Lin Jin smiled faintly and saluted her before returning to his seat.
His job here was done. He had said what he needed to, and all that’s left was to eat. After eating, he would leave.
Shu Xiaolou wasn’t curious about his deduction because she had already figured out the truth before him. She couldn’t even be bothered to speak up. She was here to join in the fun anyway, only to realize it was a boring event later on. The food was only average too. She didn’t want to eat, so she secretly urged Lin Jin to hurry up so they could leave.
Thankfully the beast appraising segment had passed. The banquet was drawing to an end and Lin Jin noticed the sky darkening outside so he pondered before getting up to bid the other guests farewell.
The other appraisers seemed reluctant to stay longer as well so they followed suit. This came as a relief to Lin Jin. Otherwise, his and Shu Xiaolou’s departure might make their hosts feel awkward.
Outside the hall, Appraiser Yan and the other Rank 4 appraisers didn’t leave but were waiting for Shu Xiaolou. At the sight of her, they quickly bowed.
Shu Xiaolou merely snorted in response and then… that was it.
She was insufferably pompous.
Lin Jin couldn’t help it either. Such was Shu Xiaolou’s character. If she found you pleasing, she could stick around all day, trying to talk to you, but if she didn’t, she really couldn’t be bothered to even spare you one glance.
After dismissing the other three appraisers, only Lin Jin and Shu Xiaolou were left walking in each other’s company. Suddenly, Shu Xiaolou’s voice turned into a woman’s. Lin Jin looked back and before he knew it, Shu Xiaolou had reverted to her female form.
Lin Jin was rather envious because this transformation ability was indeed mystifying. Perhaps Shu Xiaolou was the only one in this world who could pull off such a feat.
All of a sudden, Shu Xiaolou said, “Lin Jin, you have to be careful of that Appraiser Yan.”
“What?” Lin Jin was stunned. He glanced at Shu Xiaolou, confused as to why she would suddenly say this.
