A powerful magic had been cast over these relief carvings. Some parts were carved from beast bones while some stone slabs were embedded with beast carcasses. Energies of beasts with different attributes were present. Thanks to a binding spell, a harmonious balance was struck, creating hidden energy. During times of emergency, one just had to activate the spell to stun all enemies in the vicinity of the square.
Of course, the enemy would first have to enter this square.
It was obvious that the place was designed by an expert. Its use was to prevent infiltrators from entering the palace and arriving at the great hall where His Majesty would usually be found. This was a formation made to kill. Once activated, it could even kill thousands in the blink of an eye.
This was a Hundred Beast Formation.
Lin Jin figured that a senior from Heavenly Spiral Academy must have helped lay down this formation.
With Yan Quan leading the way ahead, Lin Jin stepped into the square. Speaking of which, Lin Jin was somewhat worried. Yan Quan may not be fully aware of what he was stepping on, but Lin Jin did. Anyone who knew he was walking through a minefield would be just as unnerved.
This was what Lin Jin felt at the moment.
At times, Yan Quan would turn back to look at Lin Jin with concern.
Due to how composed Lin Jin appeared earlier during their interaction, Yan Quan thought he wouldn’t be intimidated at this point. When he noticed how paranoid Lin Jin was behaving, Yang Quan mused, ‘That’s more like it.’
The other Rank 4 appraisers weren’t able to keep their composure too when meeting with His Majesty. Although Rank 4 appraisers were highly dignified individuals, the Emperor of Heavenly Spiral Kingdom was just as noble. What’s more, there was only one emperor for all the Rank 4 beast appraisers in their nation.
Lin Jin’s reaction was nothing but normal.
Both of them thought in silence as they slowly made their way to the hall. Just then, a cloudy fog appeared before them. Lightning sparks lit up the greyish fog before a large creature emerged from it.
A gigantic lion head revealed itself.
Unlike ordinary lion heads, this creature’s face was massive with eyes as large as dinner plates, and a nose as large as a ball. One could see the pearly white teeth through the crack of its lips. Half of its body was flesh and blood while the other half was cloud and lightning. Its abrupt appearance brought on an indescribable sense of pressure.
This had to be a Rank 5 beast.
What’s more, this beast had achieved Rank 5 for quite some time now.
It possessed domineering strength and seemed to be highly intelligent as well.
“Stand there!”
The strange thunder lion spoke.
Frightened, Yan Quan bowed immediately.
“Greetings General Sky Lion, I am Yan Quan, high steward of the palace!” Yan Quan was surprisingly respectful toward the massive lion and this puzzled Lin Jin.
As a Rank 4 beast appraiser, Lin Jin noticed at once that this Rank 5 beast wasn’t a pet beast, but a monster class beast.
Only monsters possessed this level of spiritual intelligence and the ability to refine their hyoid bones to speak the human language.
Due to restraint by the blood contract, pet beasts were unable to refine their hyoid bones so that was the biggest difference between monsters and beasts.
Lin Jin heard rumors of Heavenly Spiral Kingdom being guarded by quite a few guardian beasts.
Clearly, only Rank 5 creatures were worthy of becoming Heavenly Spiral Kingdom’s guardian beasts, and among them was General Sky Lion. Being a lecturer of Heavenly Spiral Academy, Lin Jin had gathered at least this much information.
Yan Quan started explaining the situation. He was probably curious as to why General Sky Lion would suddenly show up here.
“His Majesty’s summon? Alright, I’ll let him through. However, his pet beast has to stay and be my playmate,” said General Sky Lion cheekily.
“Uhm…” Yan Quan was stunned. Not a fool, he quickly noticed that General Sky Lion was trying to make things difficult for Appraiser Lin.
For a moment there, countless thoughts ran through his mind.
As a veteran of the palace, he knew many secrets. General Sky Lion boasted a powerful status as one of the nation’s guardian beasts. Without His Majesty’s permission, he couldn’t possibly come here to harass people.
In other words, he was most likely carrying out His Majesty’s order.
‘His Majesty is trying to take revenge,’ Yan Quan realized. After his invitations failed twice, he was obviously still resentful toward Lin Jin. Sending General Sky Lion was his way of getting back at Lin Jin for the humiliation.
Although it wasn’t open hostility, it was still clear that he intended to embarrass Lin Jin a little.
For instance, he would get Lin Jin to leave his pet beast here to be punished or intimidated by General Sky Lion. The emperor was notorious for doing this, and Yan Quan knew it well.
In the past, when His Majesty was in the mood for such tricks, he would even show up personally and feign concern as he asked about his victim’s state of mind. Of course, he would be laughing on the inside.
Looks like His Majesty was planning to use this trick on Appraiser Lin today.
Yan Quan was only a high steward of the inner palace. He wouldn’t dare to convince His Majesty to stop, so he merely pretended as if he saw and heard nothing.
Yan Quan glanced at Lin Jin. The latter stared at General Sky Lion for a moment before asking, “May I ask if this is the rule of the palace?”
“Of course!” General Sky Lion straightened up.
It was Lin Jin’s first time meeting Heavenly Spiral’s emperor so he didn’t know the rules. But since they said it was, so be it. Although Lin Jin could also tell that General Sky Lion was up to no good, after thinking it through, he realized that he wouldn’t actually suffer a loss.
With this in mind, Lin Jin raised his arm, and a ball of flames condensed above it, taking the form of a fire wolf.
This fire wolf wasn’t too big. It was just the regular size of a fire wolf but its fur was brightly colored like radiant flames.
“Xiao Huo, stay here,” Lin Jin instructed before following Yan Quan into the hall.
Xiao Huo was quite obedient, and he stayed motionless as instructed. General Sky Lion’s massive face twisted with delight. After he saw Lin Jin and Yan Quan enter the hall, he turned to Xiao Huo who seemed so much like a child in his eyes. “Little Guy, don’t blame me, okay? If you want to blame someone, blame your owner for offending His Majesty.”
Cackling strangely as it spoke, the lion slowly approached Xiao Huo.
Xiao Huo stared back at the lion with an innocent expression.
Inside the hall, Yan Quan felt most conflicted. He had a good impression of Appraiser Lin. The fact that Lin Jin did not hesitate before leaving his pet beast behind proved just how sincere he was.
Hence, Yan Quan decided to warn him about the impending disaster in secret.
He said, “Appraiser Lin, your pet beast looks quite normal, like a fire wolf. Since it is a Rank 4 beast appraiser’s pet beast, I’m sure it has some unique traits, right?”
Lin Jin smiled. “You’re right, Officer Yan. My pet beast is really just a fire wolf.”
He wasn’t lying. However, Xiao Huo was anything but your run-of-the-mill fire wolf.
Yan Quan added, “General Sky Lion is a rare beast, born with the nobility as king of all beasts so he could easily intimidate others. Appraiser Lin’s pet beast might be affected if you leave it behind with him. I heard that beast appraisers know many spells and one of them is able to reinforce a pet beast’s mind. Why don’t Appraiser Lin try casting this spell to support your pet beast so that it wouldn’t be frightened by General Sky Lion?”
Stunned, Lin Jin looked at Yan Quan. The old officer chuckled without meeting his gaze.
