CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 14: ISSUING THE GUNS

"Have you ever heard of Wang Family’s Wang Xiao? He possesses the Innate Divine Body and is ranked ninety-third on the Divine Body List as a Celestial Body! At birth, a Celestial Body can channel the power of the sun, moon, and stars, summon wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, as if a god descended to earth, with an unstoppable might!"

"In the ancient domain, who hasn’t heard of this Qilin Child of the Wang Family? Inevitably, in a few hundred years, the Wang Family will produce another Divinity Transformation cultivator."

"It is said that Wang Xiao from the Wang Family arrived in Hidden Dragon City just yesterday, traveling alone. Some saw him traverse mountains, roasting all sorts of Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts!"

Four months later, the major teahouses and restaurants in Hidden Dragon City were bustling with activity.

Time flies. It has been four months since Lin Jing arrived in Hidden Dragon City. During these four months, Lin Jing has been cultivating diligently.

He maintained and spread his reputation solely by auctioning off Mechanical Bamboo Spears.

Reputation requires time to digest. Frequent disturbances might have a counterproductive effect. Hearing a name too often can make people take it for granted.

Previously, his name was only circulated within Hidden Dragon City, but now, with the Lotus Pavilion auctioning his Mechanical Bamboo Spears in other cities and promoting them, he has gained a preliminary reputation in other cities in the ancient domain.

Many places’ cultivators have learned that a genius disciple from the Beast Taming Sect has emerged, once overpowering all heroes in the Grotto Heaven and battling Foundation Establishment in Qi Cultivation Stage in Hidden Dragon City, displaying great prowess! With the Beast Taming Sect being under ban, many cultivators became curious whether the Beast Taming Sect could be revitalized a hundred years later!

The progress of the Hidden Dragon Secret Technique steadily increased.

Moreover, because his progress in the Hidden Dragon Secret Technique was fast, while his own cultivation wasn’t high, he couldn’t consume too much Hidden Dragon Fortune while deducing Mechanical Technique and Alchemy.

After being in closed cultivation for four months, the increase and consumption of Hidden Dragon Fortune remained in a subtle balance.

However, as time went on, Lin Jing indeed felt that the recent improvement in the Hidden Dragon Secret Technique had slowed down significantly.

Hidden Dragon City is inherently a place where the wind and clouds converge, with new topics every day. As the academy entrance exam approaches, talents from various regions, sects, and families have their names spread throughout Hidden Dragon City and its surroundings, naturally overshadowing other news.

Meanwhile, the academy has already opened, but it’s temporarily only open to the academy exam candidates and the elders who escorted them.

Those who come to the academy usually have an extraordinary background and identity; not just any cultivator can apply. Typically, only young cultivators personally recommended by Nascent Soul Level cultivators are eligible for the exam, practicing a recommendation system.

Therefore, almost all candidates who come to the academy are heirs of major powers or True Disciples.

The Hidden Dragon Secret Technique is mysterious and extraordinary, stronger than the secret arts of most sects. Furthermore, securing an official position is advantageous for sects and families, so Hidden Dragon Academy is a place many cultivators yearn for.

"The wind is picking up..."

After months of seclusion, Lin Jing finally exited the cave dwelling. He looked at the bright sunshine, felt the gentle breeze, and took a deep breath. No wonder they say time flies in cultivation. Four months felt like a moment and passed very quickly. It’s said that higher cultivators remain in seclusion for years, even decades, which is hard to imagine.

In those four months, he didn’t wander around, not because he was worried about being targeted or having his fortune taken to become someone’s stepping stone, but because he had already spent a fortune renting the cave dwelling, leaving it even for a day felt like wasting a lot of Spirit Stones.

"I wonder if I can use this grand event to elevate the Hidden Dragon Secret Technique to a higher level."

"It’s time to replenish some Hidden Dragon Fortune." Lin Jing looked at the back of his hand, the blue Hidden Dragon imprint looking faded, as if it had been washed out and starting to lose color.

These prodigies from various regions and sects were precisely the stepping stones for him to make his name again. He had been preparing for this for a long time.

"Come quickly to the Soul Society." After stepping out of the cave dwelling, a void-transmitted voice reached Lin Jing’s ear. Hearing this, Lin Jing looked in a direction.

Soul Society, a courtyard within the academy, surrounded by ethereal mist like silk.

At dawn, golden sunlight shone on the bluestone path, and at the end of the path stood a delicate bamboo pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, a stone table with a few stone stools, an ancient tea set was placed atop, and the fragrance of tea wafted through the air. Lin Jing was the last to arrive.

Cao Zhiwei sat at the stone table, sipping Spirit Tea, surrounded by two men and one woman.

A Young Sword Hero, a Female Alchemist, and a scholar in long robes.

All familiar faces.

Upon seeing them, Lin Jing smiled slightly, and besides Xu Zhizhi returning the smile, the Young Sword Hero Yuan Jing remained expressionless, while the Female Alchemist Zi Ling’Er turned her mouth, apparently still holding a grudge against Lin Jing.

"Everyone’s here." Upon seeing the four from Bodhi Grotto Heaven, Cao Zhiwei smiled and said, "Tomorrow is the academy assessment day. You four will be all the examiners, and I’ve decided to put the strength test as the first assessment."

"There are over a hundred candidates applying for the academy this time, all at the Qi Cultivation Stage. Yuan Jing, Zi Ling’Er, you two are already at Early-Stage Foundation Establishment, Xu Zhizhi, Lin Jing, you two...one at the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation...Lin Jing, why are you still at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation?"

Cao Zhiwei saw that it had been four months since Lin Jing had used the academy’s cave dwelling, and he was still at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation, which stunned him. Even at a slow cultivation speed, occupying such a good place for four months without even advancing one realm was a bit... too slow?

Everyone looked at Lin Jing. Lin Jing coughed lightly and said, "It’s close. I have a premonition that within a month, I will surely reach the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation. These four months... indeed I neglected personal cultivation, and we Beast Taming Sect disciples inherently cultivate rather slowly."

The main reason was that the Pine Needle Mouse had already reached the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation, making it almost impossible to provide Lin Jing with cultivation feedback, thus slowing his progress significantly. In addition... the later Qi Cultivation stages were evidently harder to increase than the mid-stages.

Lin Jing sighed, as he thought that at least after so long, he’d have improved one realm.

No wonder the Longevity Body never made it into the Divine Body List!

"Forget it, your pet beast is at the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation as well, which is the same." Cao Zhiwei said, "The academy will provide you with the best elixirs for restoring True Qi and healing injuries indefinitely."

"Candidates can freely choose one of you four for a spar, and then I will score them. You four should prepare well."

"Let’s not talk about Lin Jing and Xu Zhizhi for now. I hope you, Yuan Jing, and Zi Ling’Er, as Foundation Establishment Stage, mustn’t become used as stepping stones in a battle against Qi Cultivation Stage. The academy doesn’t mind, but it would be greatly disadvantageous for you in cultivating the Hidden Dragon Secret Technique."

"Yes!" Yuan Jing and Zi Ling’Er nodded.

"Alright, that’s all I have to say. By sunrise tomorrow, come to Flying Dragon Mountain within the academy. I will be hosting the first assessment there." After finishing, Cao Zhiwei vanished, leaving only Lin Jing and the others at the scene.

The pavilion fell silent.

Just as Yuan Jing was about to leave, Lin Jing said, "Tomorrow is the assessment day, I wish you all the best. I prepared three gifts especially for you, though you might not need them, an extra card is always good."

After finishing, he took out three Mechanical Bamboo Spears and placed them on the stone table.

"Hahaha, I’ve always wanted to use this, but the auction prices were too high, and I was embarrassed to ask Brother Lin directly." Xu Zhizhi picked up a Mechanical Bamboo Spear, adjusted it up, down, left, and right, finding it very novel.

"To deal with common candidates, just a few shots can test out their level! The feel is indeed novel compared to ink brushes!"

"You’re not giving gifts; clearly, you want us to promote your mechanical creations during the assessment," Zi Ling’Er said disagreeably.

"Do you want one or not? A lot of Spirit Stones were spent on it; use it to beat a few candidates, and it’s yours," Lin Jing asked.

Zi Ling’Er hesitated for a moment, recalling the domineering scene in the Grotto Heaven where Lin Jing wielded the Mechanical Bamboo Spear, and despite her words, took a Mechanical Bamboo Spear with a smile, saying, "I don’t really want to play with it, but since you put it that way, I’ll help you."

Such an expensive Mechanical Bamboo Spear, might as well take it when it’s free.

She giggled and asked, "Lin Jing, can I mix Poisonous Gas Pill, Peach Blossom Spirit Pill, and the same beans to fire together, detonated by explosion?"

Xu Zhizhi was taken aback, "Wait, you can play like that?"

Your mouth says no, but your brain works faster than mine!

Should I add something too?

"Give it a try..." Lin Jing hadn’t tried it either.

"I’m already at Foundation Establishment, so such things are unnecessary, a sword is enough." Yuan Jing shook his head, then hesitated, took the Mechanical Bamboo Spear, and said, "But ordinary Qi Cultivation cultivators aren’t worth me drawing my sword."

Having been chased by a squirrel with a gun, the Young Sword Hero also wanted to try this thing.

Lin Jing knew that it’s hard for ordinary people to resist the lure of a mechanical spear.

Seeing the four examiners each holding a Mechanical Bamboo Spear, Xu Zhizhi said, "Not bad, if we defeat challengers with our expertise in techniques, although the assessment process will be spread, it might be too monotonous and hard to provoke discussion. But if we uniformly use Mechanical Bamboo Spears to take down the weaker examinees, followed by defeating the stronger ones with our best techniques, it surely will be more topical. This plan is brilliant! Brother Lin, as expected of you."

Actually, Mr. Cao, who hadn’t left, was hiding behind a tree, deep in thought.