Upon leaving the cloud sea, Lin Jin saw the Xuan Yue Zhenren and the other immortals eagerly waiting for him outside. It was at this point that a sense of embarrassment set in. Before this, to ensure the success of Xiao Huo’s evolution, he ran out here to borrow several priceless treasures from these people.
Now that his emergency was resolved and Xiao Huo successfully advanced to Rank 7, it was time for Lin Jin to repay his debt.
He had yet to figure out how to do that, which was the main reason for his embarrassment.
The fairies Xuan Yue and Piao Yun might be easier to handle compared to the debt Lin Jin owed to the beautiful male immortal, Xuan Hang. If Lin Jin were to repay his debts, he would start with Xuan Hang’s first.
However, the first thing he needed to do was to explain the ruckus he stirred up earlier.
He just needed to tell the truth.
There was nothing to hide, nor was it necessary for him to do so
He bowed at Xuan Yue Zhenren first and then handed her the evaluation report he had prepared.
At first, Xuan Yue Zhenren didn’t understand what it was. However, she started reading the report and her expression turned grave. No doubt, she had now realized what the report was about.
“Mr. Lin, this report you have provided is of great significance,” said Xuan Yue Zhenren.
Lin Jin nodded.
What she said was true. While it did not contain any special information, if no one possessed it, problems were bound to arise in the future.
Most of what the Immortal Cloud Sect knew about the Storm Beast Cave turned out to be incorrect. Any strategy formed from this incorrect knowledge would be incorrect as well. Some of the countermeasures might even result in terrible consequences.
This was where the value of Lin Jin’s evaluation report came in.
Like a proper manual, the report clearly stated what they could and couldn’t do. It even listed out the Storm Beast Cave’s habits in great detail.
This report was practically priceless to the Immortal Cloud Sect.
No doubt, it was worth more than the inferno crystals Xuan Yue Zhenren gave to Lin Jin. Thus, Lin Jin believed that he had repaid part of his debt through the evaluation report.
Piao Yun marched up to Lin Jin and declared, “Mr. Lin, henceforth, I shall study the art of beast appraisal as your student.”
She had planned this long before Lin Jin’s return. She had even prepared a few gifts to officialize her apprenticeship.
Could Lin Jin turn down her request?
Of course not.
Still, he was strongly against accepting Piao Yun as his apprentice. This stemmed from the fact that Piao Yun had too high a status to be considered his apprentice. She was also hundreds of times older than he was. Even if she wanted to become his apprentice, Lin Jin did not. Wouldn’t that place him higher than Xuan Yue Zhenren on the hierarchy?
This was nonsense!
Lin Jin wasn’t that conceited to think he deserved such a title.
However, he was willing to teach Piao Yun beast appraising without the master-apprentice relationship.
Piao Yun didn’t particularly mind as she only wanted to learn more about beast appraising. She could do it without the apprenticeship too. Unlike regular people, she couldn’t be bothered to follow tedious social rules.
With this, Lin Jin managed to repay Piao Yun’s favor too.
He just had to teach her how to evaluate beasts, and that just happened to be Lin Jin’s forte. Now, only Xuan Hang remained. He wasn’t interested in beast appraising nor did he have any requests. This would be a difficult favor to repay.
Perhaps Xuan Hang noticed the woeful expression that Lin Jin wore, so he said, “Mr. Lin, please do not worry. I just wanted to befriend you, as I was impressed by your bold personality, and I was envious of your focus on the art of beast appraising. It only makes sense for friends to help out one another in times of trouble. A mere Vulcan Jade cannot compare to a genuine friendship, so please don’t take it to heart.”
He spoke in such a suave and masculine manner that it took Lin Jin by surprise.
Even then, Lin Jin found his response difficult to accept, especially when it came from such a pretty face.
“What Brother Xuan Hang said makes sense. I have learned much from this experience.”
Lin Jin then saluted the man and bowed his head to indicate his gratitude.
Since he had promised Piao Yun that he would teach her about beast appraising, Lin Jin did not leave the sect immediately. He also found it difficult to reject their kind offer to stay, since Xuan Yue Zhenren and Piao Yun had so many questions to ask him about the Storm Beast Cave.
His stay lasted for a month.
In this one month, aside from entering the Visitation Hall once every seven days to communicate with the visitors, most of Lin Jin’s time was taken up by Piao Yun.
She called herself Lin Jin’s student, and although Lin Jin never verbally acknowledged it, he gradually accepted his role as her teacher.
Of all his students, Piao Yun was undoubtedly the most talented individual by far. After all, her cultivation level and vast knowledge made a significant difference. What she could learn in one day far exceeded what others could achieve in several months.
Immortals were amazing after all. Their intelligence was far above mortals and they had photographic memories. As a teacher, Lin Jin loved having bright students like her.
The teaching process was quick, and Piao Yun found it effortless to keep up with Lin Jin’s pace.
In just one month, Piao Yun had made Lin Jin cough up whatever he could offer. She was such a competent learner that if Piao Yun had the Museum of Deadly Beasts, her achievements would certainly be higher than his.
He had nothing left to teach her.
One month was the limit for Lin Jin. Ninety percent of the sect’s immortals were female, and the remaining male ones looked equally beautiful. Aside from their attire and accessories, they looked no different than female immortals.
This was the main reason why Lin Jin couldn’t stay here anymore.
After conducting some research, Lin Jin discovered that their effeminate appearance wasn’t a coincidence. Instead, it was caused by the Storm Beast Cave.
Immortals also belonged within the five elements, and those who were capable enough to overcome the basic elements had already gone extinct during the great immortal tragedy.
The longer they stayed at the Immortal Cloud Sect, the more they would be affected by the Storm Beast Cave. Keep in mind that the Storm Beast Cave wasn’t just limited to the cloud sea. Every cloud that surrounded the Immortal Cloud Sect was a part of its body, even the ones they were treading on daily.
Since ancient times, men were known to be of the Yang element, and for women, the Yin element.
The Storm Beast Cave was a creature that could stir and convert elements. Coincidentally, it was mainly a Yin attribute creature. This meant that no matter how masculine a man was, he would develop androgynous features, like Xuan Hang.
Lin Jin was only mortal and his cultivation couldn’t compare to immortals. If he stayed here any longer, he would be affected, just like Xuan Hang.
At present, Lin Jin felt his skin texture improve significantly, and his features had softened considerably too.
“I can’t stay here anymore. I must hurry up and leave!”
Lin Jin had made his decision. He made sure to inform Xuan Yue Zhenren about the Storm Beast Cave’s ability to convert Yin-Yang elements. Of course, he told only her about it.
This wasn’t something he could announce to everyone without consequences.
