CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 65: JOURNEY WEST FOR THE SCRIPTURES

On the next day, everything at the Beast Taming Sect was calm, and the regular disciples were unaware of the announcement from the Sect Management Office.

Lin Jing, who had learned of it in advance, had already started preparing to leave the sect again.

Elder Mo Song was going to take the Pine Leaf Mouse to the Great Wilderness to cultivate the Cyan Emperor’s Longevity Technique, so Lin Jing dared not delay.

Before leaving, he first visited his acquaintances, Elder Black Bear... Elder Mo... Elder Yu... These elders who had taken good care of him, not knowing when they would meet again.

However, Lin Jing returned from his visits with a strange expression because these elders didn’t seem as saddened as he had imagined!

"They even seemed quite happy."

A pine cone suddenly appeared, saying, "These Golden Core Elders naturally wouldn’t be sad. Ninety percent of the Beast Taming Sect’s resources were almost entirely controlled by the Demon King Ancestors."

"Now, due to the Sect Management Office’s orders, these Demon King Ancestors have to allocate part of the sect’s foundation to cultivate human cultivators."

"Originally, they had no hope of reaching Nascent Soul, with some stuck at the Golden Core Perfection stage, but now with the reform of the Beast Taming Sect, each elder can obtain a large amount of resources. If the opportunity is sufficient, they might seize this chance to enter Nascent Soul, so why be sad?"

"Haven’t you also received one hundred thousand Spirit Stones and a spatial magic artifact because of this?"

Lin Jing said, "That’s right, those who should be saddened and pained are the Demon King Ancestors."

"It is indeed quite painful, my Celestial Capital Peak." Divine Pine Dao said, "I really liked that peak."

"But there is no helping it; the Sect Management Office’s orders are such that even those top celestial sects must comply, and a few Demon Kings surely can’t resist. Now, it just depends on whether these Beast Taming Sect cultivators can make something of themselves."

Divine Pine looked towards Celestial Capital Peak, still a bit nostalgic.

"Now that the farewells are done, go pack your things. We should set off. A hundred years is indeed brief; you should cherish the time while I’m here."

Upon Divine Pine’s words, Lin Jing immediately returned to his cave dwelling, picked up his brand-new spatial magic artifact, the Beast Taming Zen Staff.

"The Hidden Dragon Academy is in the ancient domain to the west of the Wild Region. Isn’t this trip just like a westward journey for scriptures?"

He once again scrutinized the Zen Staff.

Common Zen Staffs are mostly made of wood, carrying a natural and fresh aura, aligning with the Buddhist advocacies of returning to nature, purity, and undefilement.

However, the Beast Taming Sect is not so particular; they use whatever materials at hand. This Zen Staff is metallic, its shaft polished smooth and round, cool to the touch, and decorated with simple cloud patterns.

As for the top of the staff, it’s formed by two interlocking rings shaping a spherical head, symbolizing perfection and inclusivity.

Lin Jing looked at the dragon carp in the pond, picked it up, and placed it into the spherical staff head formed by the two interlocking rings, perfectly holding the dragon carp, indeed representing inclusivity and perfection.

"Fish, spit fire!" He lifted the Zen Staff high.

After a month of early training by Lin Jing, the dragon carp could already understand some simple commands.

Upon hearing the word "fire," its dull eyes immediately sparkled, and then it opened its mouth, spouting a column of fire!

"Fire Control Technique!"

Lin Jing, holding the staff in one hand and forming a seal with the other, instantly manipulated the fire column with True Qi, transforming it into an ugly fire dragon that coiled in mid-air within the cave dwelling.

He nodded slightly, quite satisfied.

Unfortunately, the Beast Taming spatial magic artifact can only house contracted pet beasts after being refined, and currently, the dragon carp cannot reside within.

Luckily, having mutated into a fire carp, its requirements for water were not very high; it stayed in water only to enjoy soaking in a hot spring, although it often turned into delicious fish soup...

Besides hot spring bathing, Lin Jing found that it also seemed to enjoy sunbathing, reducing quite a bit of travel hassle.

"Squeak..." The Pine Leaf Mouse emerged from the gourd, pondered as it saw the dragon carp stuck in the Zen Staff. It was uncertain whether the dragon carp was fortunate or unfortunate to end up in this home.

In addition to visiting the elders, Lin Jing also took the opportunity to copy the Three Great True Inheritor Secret Techniques: Body Fusion Secret Technique, Undying Rebirth, Beastification Treasure Tools, and a complete Beast Taming Technique. These were crucial for him to possess formidable combat power after Foundation Establishment!

The Beast Taming cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Stage are merely laying the foundation; the combat power lies entirely in the pet beasts. But at Foundation Establishment, one can learn the true inheritor Beast Taming Secret Techniques, allowing the cultivator themselves to exert powerful strength, and Lin Jing eagerly anticipated that day.

...

"The Longevity Body has departed."

Beast Taming Sect, at the peak.

Sect Leader Xu stood atop the summit, with a snow-white celestial crane beside him.

"The Longevity Body enters the sect, and Divine Pine emerges to protect its path. Who would have thought that one trip out, and so much would happen within the sect? I am now very curious if Divine Pine Ancestor’s cultivation has broken through to Divinity Transformation?"

"It has long occupied Celestial Capital Peak, and in previous generations, even the Sect Leaders felt it was unfathomable. It can be said to be the strongest force of our Beast Taming Sect; hopefully, under its protection, the Longevity Body brought back by Elder Mo can flourish."

"If Divine Pine Ancestor is really at Divinity Transformation, that would be a terrifying fortune for our Beast Taming Sect, wouldn’t it be entirely responsible?" the celestial crane asked.

"It should have nothing to do with it. Now, next is... to usher in the thousand-year unprecedented reform of our Beast Taming Sect. Whether it leads the sect to decline, or brings it back to its peak era of prosperity, depends on this century." The Sect Leader of the fifth generation’s eyes flickered.

Under his gaze, Lin Jing, who had left the mountain gate, sat cross-legged amidst a sea of red leaves, holding the dragon carp Zen Staff, heading straight into the depths of the Great Wilderness.

On Lin Jing’s shoulder, the Pine Leaf Mouse was controlling these red leaves to fly.

Empowered by Buddhist light and strengthened by cultivating the Cyan Emperor’s Longevity Technique to enhance control over flora, it can now control a hundred red leaves simultaneously.

Now by combining several dozen red leaves to carry a person for a distance, it can barely manage.

"Elder Divine Tree, in which direction is the Bloodsucking Vine?" Lin Jing and the Pine Leaf Mouse didn’t know the way and counted on Divine Pine for guidance.

In Snow Moon City before, Divine Pine had demonstrated the ability to find the location of the Insect Feather Grass in a single thought, indicating its vast experience in locating spirit and fierce plants.

A voice entered Lin Jing and the Pine Leaf Mouse’s ears, making their eyes light up, both feeling expectant as the Pine Leaf Mouse accelerated, turning into a red blaze from the ground’s view, darting through clouds and over mountains, like a shooting star crossing the sky.

In the Great Wilderness, the mountains were towering, layer upon layer stretching endlessly. Passing through this boundless wilderness, another region lay ahead; however, in the heart of the Great Wilderness, demon beasts, fierce plants, and perilous places abounded. For most cultivators, crossing it was a fool’s dream, except for those with profound mana, like Golden Core Zhenren.

Lin Jing and the others rested when tired, and once recovered, they continued their journey. Along the route, no significant incidents occurred; although there were a few fleeting appearances of man-eating demon beasts, simply revealing some illusionary Dao intent sufficed for Lin Jing, causing them to flee in disarray, without even needing Elder Mo Song to intervene. The further out, Lin Jing felt increasingly adept with the myriad illusions...

However, often walking near the river, it’s hard to avoid getting wet, so Lin Jing dared not rely too much, fearing one day a mishap may occur.

In the mist-laden, lofty mountain ranges, nestled was a tranquil lake. With Divine Pine’s reminder, Lin Jing and the Pine Leaf Mouse finally halted; by now, they had ventured deep into the Great Wilderness where great demons roamed everywhere, even the Beast Taming Sect disciples wouldn’t venture this far for training.

By the lakeside, wildflowers were in full bloom, lush grass everywhere, with various unknown wildflowers blooming in competition. Green vines stretched from the lake onto land, marking it unmistakably as a habitat for reclusive creatures. They watched a small beast, not yet awakened with intelligence, drinking water, its sight caught by the sweet fragrance emanating from the lake. After they landed, they watched as a little beast, its intelligence not yet awakened, drank water, and were stunned.

"The bloodsucking vine is a second-grade fierce plant, once matured, it can even devour Foundation Establishment demon beasts! Unfortunately, times have changed, and now they can only develop by hunting through instincts, making it difficult for them to develop intelligence. Otherwise, they would be formidable." Divine Pine spoke: "Do you know how to set up a Spirit Gathering Array? Take root here and cultivate for a period of time, the surrounding area is good for it."

"Aside from mosquitoes, everything has spirit. I will cultivate here and see if any mosquito dares to suck my blood, and when that happens, fish, you will come to my aid."

"Swoosh..." The Pine Leaf Mouse emerged from the gourd, noticed the dragon carp caught at the head of the Zen Staff, and fell into contemplation, unsure whether the dragon carp was fortunate or unfortunate to have reached this home.