CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 46: REFINEMENT

Lin Jing looked around, confused. The bag, stone ring, jade bracelet, treasure pearl, gourd, and scroll all seemed normal, but why did an oddly peculiar Zen staff find its way in?

Isn’t this a Buddhist instrument?

How could it appear in the Beast Taming Sect?

"Are you wondering why the sect turned a spatial artifact into a Zen staff?"

"Yes." Lin Jing nodded.

"It’s actually because of a past event, something not clearly recorded but passed down orally." Elder Mo laughed heartily, summoning the Zen staff into his hand.

"During the tenure of the second Sect Leader, a monstrous demon appeared in the Great Wilderness Domain, causing havoc in the region."

"This demon beast was a special treasure beast, and due to its divine techniques, extremely difficult to kill, even by those a realm or two above it!"

"At the time, the cultivators of the Great Wilderness had no means to deal with this demon."

"It wasn’t until a guest elder arrived from the Demon Extermination Bureau. This guest elder was from the Buddhist sect, with profound Buddhist techniques. He teamed up with four cultivators from the Great Wilderness to seal this demon using special methods."

"It was sealed, not slain."

"Among the four Great Wilderness cultivators was our sect’s second-generation Sect Leader."

"Today, the sealed demon lies beneath the Great Wilderness, restrained by four Buddha towers connected by dragon veins, guarded jointly by four top sects of the Great Wilderness, each sect guarding one tower."

"After this event, our second-generation Sect Leader and the Buddhist cultivator became friends. For a period, most of the Beast Taming sect’s spatial artifacts were Buddhist instruments. This Zen staff has been here for some years now."

"Over time, due to its peculiar style, almost no true disciples choose it, even knowing its history."

"I see." Lin Jing realized, "I didn’t expect that our Beast Taming Sect has the responsibility of guarding the demon-sealing towers."

After all... we resemble a demon sect more than a regular sect.

"You’re not planning to choose this Zen staff, are you?" Elder Mo asked.

"No." Lin Jing said, "This Zen staff doesn’t suit the elegant and carefree celestial demeanor of a disciple like me."

Elder Mo was speechless, surprised by Lin Jing’s narcissism, but after scrutinizing Lin Jing, he found that Lin Jing indeed had some of Mo Wuya’s handsome features from his youth, no wonder he was confident.

"Elder, I choose this one." Lin Jing pointed to the red gourd.

The Pine Leaf Mouse was shocked; it felt the bag would be easier for it to carry.

Lin Jing ignored it.

This spatial artifact was meant to hold the Pine Leaf Mouse; whether it was convenient for it to carry was not Lin Jing’s consideration.

Moreover, spatial artifacts of this level can change size, making them convenient to carry in any case.

"Other spatial artifacts have heavy traces of artificial refinement, while this one... seems more like an innate object. If I’m not mistaken, it should be the Hanging Gourd, a unique plant that naturally contains space."

"You seem to have read quite a bit." Elder Mo said, "The other six spatial artifacts were refined from various spatial materials, while this gourd underwent only simple post-natal modifications, making it the most original."

"But that’s not what you valued most, right?"

"Indeed, it’s a plant, and the Pine Leaf Mouse belongs to the wood attribute, so the compatibility should be higher." Lin Jing looked at Elder Mo, asking, "Do you think, if I obtain more Hanging Gourds in the future, I could synthesize them using the Glazed Immortal Pupil with the Pine Leaf Mouse?"

Compared to the other six spatial artifacts, Lin Jing valued the attributes of the Hanging Gourd.

"That’s certainly possible." Elder Mo nodded, affirming Lin Jing’s perspective, "But Hanging Gourds are extremely rare, obtained accidentally by an ancestor; before reaching significant cultivation achievements, even if you encounter one, it’s hard to afford."

"At least there’s a glimmer of hope." Lin Jing said, "Elder, I’ll choose this gourd then."

"Actually, I also quite like the Zen staff. Once I establish my foundation, and contract a second pet beast, could I apply for another spatial artifact... Can’t have multiple pet beasts squeezing into one space, can I?"

"Get lost!" Elder Mo scolded for the first time, this is the sect’s heritage, not something you can casually choose like cabbages!

"Old me doesn’t have the ability to apply for another one for you. If you find a way to become the Young Sect Leader, you can choose whatever you want here, even have one pet beast inhabit two artifacts without anyone stopping you!"

...

After choosing the Hanging Gourd as a beast taming spatial artifact, Lin Jing, under Elder Mo’s guidance, condensed a drop of essence blood to refine the Hanging Gourd.

Once the Hanging Gourd was refined, Lin Jing discovered that it was indeed worthy of being equipment eligible for Golden Core Stage cultivators; its internal space was significantly larger than his courtyard in the outer sect.

This finally allowed the Pine Leaf Mouse to store goods without issue...

Previously, the two storage bags could only hold rare synthetic items, while bags of common Spirit Rice and Spirit Beans had to be left piled in the courtyard, wasting storage bag space. Now, there’s no such trouble.

Although the Hanging Gourd is Lin Jing’s artifact, it serves as the Pine Leaf Mouse’s abode, allowing it to unleash its hoarding attributes without hindrance.

"Squeak!!!" Nearby, the Pine Leaf Mouse, seeing Lin Jing playing with the Hanging Gourd alone, immediately wanted to touch it.

"I call out to you, do you dare respond?"

Lin Jing aimed the gourd at the perplexed Pine Leaf Mouse, and before it could respond, it was suddenly forced back into the spatial artifact by Lin Jing.

Although bewildered, upon entering the brand new space, the Pine Leaf Mouse took a deep breath, its eyes shining.

So spacious!

Looking around, the interior of the Hanging Gourd was quite vast, with green spiritual qi mist at the ends of every direction, very conducive to cultivation. Standing in the green spiritual qi mist, the Pine Leaf Mouse felt it necessary to reorganize the place to become its new cave.

"Squeak..." It counted its fingers, planning to build a place to sleep, a warehouse, a place to cultivate, another warehouse, a place to eat, and yet another warehouse...

"How is it?" Outside, Elder Mo watched Lin Jing fondly handling the Hanging Gourd, smiling, "With a beast taming spatial artifact, do you feel somewhat different, like a real beast taming cultivator?"

"In fact... only by reaching the true disciple position of the sect, can one be considered a qualified Guardian Dao Cultivator."

"Indeed." Lin Jing swung the Hanging Gourd, and it shrunk a little, hanging from his waist. The red gourd adorned Lin Jing’s handsome form in white attire, enhancing his extraordinary demeanor.

"It matches well. When you travel outside in the future, if a demon cultivator plans something untoward, thinking you’re a lone ordinary cultivator, just about to attack and rob, you summon your pet beast, and it’s truly gratifying." Elder Mo obviously hadn’t encountered such situations infrequently in his youth, reminiscing happily. The greatest pleasure for Beast Taming Sect disciples is undoubtedly the ability to gang up on enemies.