Chapter 39: Hidden Dragon Academy

Hidden Dragon Academy? Cao Ziwei?

The major elders had strange expressions.

Looking toward the direction outside the sect, Elder Mo said, "Don't fight over him for now... As expected of the Hidden Dragon Academy, their actions are fast."

Soon, a man dressed as a teacher appeared on a mechanical fish, smiling at the Beast Taming Sect crowd.

"I am Cao Ziwei of the Hidden Dragon Academy. Greetings to all fellow Daoists of the Beast Taming Sect."

"I have come this time for this little friend who just came out of the grotto-heaven." He looked at Lin Jing and the Pine-Leaf Rat.

"He has already met the conditions to enter the 'Hidden Dragon Academy,' so I have come specifically to invite him."

"Greetings, Mr. Cao." Many elders bowed.

Seeing this, the few outer sect disciples called it absurd; there were actually forces outside the sect coming to poach people.

And facing this situation, the many elders seemed to have no reaction.

"Little friend, do you know about the Hidden Dragon Academy?" the teacher asked Lin Jing.

Lin Jing himself was a bit confused now. He said, "I have seen some introductions in books."

"The Hidden Dragon Academy is the place in the Great Ming Ancient Kingdom for cultivating immortal officials..."

The teacher said, "Yes, cultivators of the Hidden Dragon Academy all have the opportunity to become immortal officials. After passing the assessment, they can directly serve as a city lord. It is another system for becoming an immortal official."

"Of course, the entry conditions for the Hidden Dragon Academy are very harsh. However, little friend, since you were chosen by the grotto-heaven, you naturally meet these conditions."

"So, do you have any interest in joining the Hidden Dragon Academy?"

Lin Jing shook his head and said, "I am very sorry, but I am a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect."

"That doesn't conflict," the teacher smiled. "Your sect master once studied at the Hidden Dragon Academy and served as a city lord for ten years in a city in the Great Desolation Domain."

"Now, isn't he still the sect master of the Beast Taming Sect?"

"Being a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect and a student of the Hidden Dragon Academy are identities that can coexist. Many sect prodigies have studied at the Hidden Dragon Academy."

Lin Jing understood. This Hidden Dragon Academy wanted to bind the core figures and geniuses of various sects to the ancient kingdom at a deeper level.

After going there, even if one left in the future, one would be a retired veteran official with a national background! He looked at Elder Mo, and Elder Mo said, "Listen to what Mr. Cao has to say, and decide for yourself."

The teacher smiled and nodded to Elder Mo, then said, "Little friend, you might not know much about the Hidden Dragon Academy. Joining the Hidden Dragon Academy is very beneficial for you."

"There, you have a deeper foundation than the Beast Taming Sect, and you can acquire an 'immortal official resume' and learn Hidden Dragon Secret Techniques."

"Do you know about Hidden Dragon Secret Techniques?"

"They originate from the True Dragon Secret Techniques created by His Majesty the Ancient Emperor. They can allow cultivators with immortal official positions to mobilize the power of local dragon veins to enhance their cultivation and combat power. In a locality, as the master of a city’s cultivators, the reason one can suppress those who commit crimes across levels is because of these Hidden Dragon Secret Techniques."

"Besides this, Hidden Dragon Secret Techniques have many other uses. For example, speaking of the Beast Taming Sect, they can be said to be the best secret methods for cultivating dragon-blood pets in the entire continent, none better."

"Of course, this Hidden Dragon Academy is not a must-join. It is entirely up to your own will; there is no compulsion. However, as a cultivator of the Great Ming Ancient Kingdom, if you can have such a resume, your own cultivation in the future will undoubtedly be even smoother."

"Do I have to make a decision now and go with you, Senior?" Lin Jing asked.

"No. I am just inviting you now. You can consider it for a few more days. You are currently at the fourth level of Qi Refining, which is a bit low. It won't be too late to go to the Hidden Dragon Academy when you are about to reach Foundation Establishment. There are better Foundation Establishment methods and better Core Formation methods there," the teacher said.

"Thank you, Senior. I will consider it carefully," Lin Jing cupped his fists.

The Pine-Leaf Rat flicked its Daoist robe and also cupped its fists slightly.

"If you have a decision, you can crush this jade slip, and someone will come to pick you up. If you give up the opportunity, just throw the jade slip away," the teacher said, then bid farewell to the many elders of the Beast Taming Sect.

As he left, the elders finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"This person... his cultivation should be above Nascent Soul," Elder Li said, a drop of cold sweat flowing down.

"I don't know if he has reached the Soul Transformation stage," Elder Yu pondered.

And at this time, Lin Jing held the jade slip silently, looked at the elders, and sighed.

What kind of situation is this? He didn't want to leave the sect, and he didn't want to be an official.

"Since it’s a personal invitation from the academy, you should go," Elder Mo said after hesitating for a while. "The opportunity is rare. Mr. Cao is right; the academy’s foundation is indeed more profound than the Beast Taming Sect’s."

"For example, Foundation Establishment methods that can refine postnatal special constitutions—they should have multiple copies there. These are things the Beast Taming Sect doesn't possess."

"If you build your foundation with the Beast Taming Sect’s method, you might stay in the Great Desolation Domain for your whole life. Perhaps it won't affect anything, but if you have the heart to ask for the Dao and ascend, it might be a bit lacking."

"Elder Mo..." Lin Jing wanted to say that he was a Longevity Body and the Pine-Leaf Rat was a rare beast; how dangerous it would be to go out.

"I know," Elder Mo said. "When the Sect Master and the others return, I will request a suitable Nascent Soul ancestor to guard you and live with you in the academy!!"

And in the academy, it would actually be safer.

"However, before that, you should improve your cultivation as soon as possible, preferably reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining!"

Since Elder Mo had said this much, Lin Jing and the Pine-Leaf Rat looked at each other and didn't say anything more. If safety was guaranteed, who would want to stay in one place forever?

"Then should I go to the Alchemy Cloud Peak to practice first?" Lin Jing asked.

"Come!" Elder Shen of the Alchemy Cloud Peak heard Lin Jing’s words, and her face bloomed as brightly as a Dragon Bone Flower.

"I will take you back to the Alchemy Cloud Peak and pick a cave dwelling for you!"

Fearing that the elders of other peaks would continue to poach him, the Alchemy Cloud Peak elder directly stepped forward to pull Lin Jing away, leaving the elders of other peaks speechless.

Is it really necessary?

They also shook their heads and left.

Soon, only Elder Yu, Elder Li, and a few other newly promoted inner sect disciples remained on the mechanical fish.

Seeing this, Elder Yu was stunned. No, these disciples... are they really going to be thrown to him?

Alchemy Cloud Peak.

Elder Shen directly arranged a top-notch cave dwelling for Lin Jing, although it didn't have spirit fields, it had an alchemy room connected to the earth fire.

"Thank you, Elder Shen," Lin Jing looked at the old woman.

"You’re welcome. Although you have quite attainments in the mechanical path, alchemy is a brand-new field, and you must work hard. This is the 'Fire Control Technique' essential for Alchemy Cloud Peak disciples. Normally, limited by energy, Alchemy Cloud disciples won't directly practice fire magic, but will find a fire pet to spray flames, and then use the Fire Control Technique on the side to assist in alchemy."

"Since you don't have a fire pet currently, practice with the earth fire. Practice first, and if there’s anything you don't understand, you can come find me. If you have any thoughts of cultivating a fire pet, you can also tell me, and I will pick a few pets with excellent aptitude for you. Using beast fire for alchemy is ultimately stronger than earth fire." Elder Shen was very concerned about Lin Jing’s situation. If other disciples didn't practice well, they might be transferred to other peaks.

Not long after, Elder Shen left, leaving behind the jade slip for the Fire Control Technique.

After she left, Lin Jing and the Pine-Leaf Rat looked at each other in the cave dwelling. Lin Jing said, "Forget about that academy for now; let’s think about how to refine pills."

"Squeak!" The Pine-Leaf Rat looked at Lin Jing. Are you looking for a new pet?

"No such plans for now," Lin Jing shook his head. "I can’t even afford to raise you."

The Pine-Leaf Rat nodded.

"However, earth fire is mortal fire, and the alchemy effect is indeed poor, with an extremely low success rate. The true Qi of the Beast Taming Art doesn't have fire properties and isn't suitable for practicing fire magic."

"The purple flames of that female alchemist from the Alchemy Cauldron Sect looked quite good for alchemy. If only we also had exotic fire to assist in alchemy."

We can't just go and contract her... Lin Jing suddenly said, "If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools. I’ve got it. Since spirit bamboo can spray water, there must be spirit plants that can spray fire."

He remembered that the "Compendium of All Plants" recorded a special fierce plant called the "Fire Cloud Chili." Although its grade wasn't high, it could allow the life form that ate it to spit out flames. However, the side effects were also very obvious: it would burn the lungs and internal organs.

"You said that since spirit plants can mutate into fierce plants, then is it possible for synthetic fierce plants to mutate into spirit plants that can spit out exotic fire and warm the five internal organs?"

"When the time comes, if you eat a synthetic Fire Cloud Chili, you can disguise yourself as a fire-type spirit beast and assist me in alchemy. There’s no need to find any new fire pet."

The Pine-Leaf Rat was stunned...

It held its storage bag well, as if it had made some kind of decision, and turned to leave the cave dwelling, but was grabbed back by Lin Jing the next second.

Squeak... squeak... squeak!

It gestured wildly, indicating that Lin Jing should just go find a fire pet to do the work. It wasn't doing it. Making a wood-type spirit beast spit fire—how damaging is that? ===== CHAPTER 40 =====