Chapter 65: Heading West to Fetch Scriptures

The next day, everything was calm at the Beast Taming Sect. The ordinary disciples of the sect were still unaware of the notice from the Sect Management Office.

Having learned of it in advance, Lin Jing had already begun preparing to leave the sect once more.

Senior Magic Pine wanted to take the Pine Needle Mouse into the Great Wilderness to cultivate the Azure Emperor Longevity Art, and Lin Jing dared not delay.

Before leaving, he first visited his acquaintances: Elder Black Bear... Elder Mo... Elder Yu... These elders who had taken such good care of him—he did not know when he would see them again.

However, Lin Jing’s expression was strange upon returning from his visits, because these elders did not seem as heartbroken as he had imagined!

"They actually seem quite happy."

A pinecone appeared from nowhere and said: "Of course these Golden Core elders wouldn't be sad. Ninety percent of the Beast Taming Sect's resources were almost entirely controlled by the Demon King ancestors."

"Now, because of the Sect Management Office's order, these Demon King ancestors have no choice but to distribute the sect's foundation to cultivate human cultivators."

"They originally had no hope of reaching Nascent Soul, and some were stuck at the Golden Core perfection stage. But now that the Beast Taming Sect is undergoing reform, every elder can receive a large share of resources. If their fortune is sufficient, they might even use this opportunity to step into the Nascent Soul realm. Why would they be sad?"

"Didn't you also receive 100,000 spirit stones and a spatial magic treasure because of this?"

Lin Jing said: "That's true. It’s those Demon King ancestors who should be sad and feel the pinch."

"It is indeed painful. My Heaven Capital Peak," the Divine Pine said. "I am very fond of that mountain peak."

"But there is no help for it. Even the top immortal sects must heed the orders of the Sect Management Office; a few mere Demon Kings cannot resist. Now it just depends on whether these Beast Taming Sect cultivators have the mettle."

The Divine Pine looked toward Heaven Capital Peak, still harboring a trace of attachment.

"Since you have said your goodbyes, go pack your luggage. We should set off. A hundred years is actually very short; you must cherish the time I am here."

With the Divine Pine having spoken, Lin Jing immediately returned to his cave dwelling and picked up his brand-new spatial magic treasure, the Beast Taming Zen Staff.

"The Hidden Dragon Academy is in the Ancient Domain to the west of the Wilderness. Is this trip not, in a way, heading west to fetch scriptures?"

He examined the Zen staff once more.

Ordinary Zen staffs are mostly made of wood, carrying a natural, fresh aura that aligns with the Buddhist philosophy of returning to nature and being pure and unstained.

However, products from the Beast Taming Sect didn't have so many formalities; they used whatever materials were available. This staff was made of metal, its body polished smooth and round, cool to the touch, and decorated with simple auspicious clouds.

As for the head of the staff, it was a spherical shape composed of two interlocking rings, symbolizing perfection and the inclusion of all things.

Lin Jing looked at the Long Li in the pond, scooped it up, and stuffed it into the spherical head formed by the two rings. It caught the Long Li perfectly—truly including all things and perfectly complete.

"Fish, breathe fire!" He held the Zen staff high.

After a month of early education from Lin Jing, this Long Li could already understand some simple commands.

Hearing the word "fire," its dull eyes immediately flashed with light, and it opened its mouth to spit out a pillar of fire!

"Fire Control Art!"

Lin Jing held the staff in one hand and formed a seal with the other. Under the manipulation of his true qi, the pillar of fire instantly transformed into an ugly fire dragon, circling in the air of the cave dwelling.

He nodded slightly, feeling very satisfied.

The pity was that the Beast Taming spatial magic treasure could only house contracted spirit beasts after being refined; for now, the Long Li couldn't live inside.

Fortunately, because it had mutated into a Fire Carp, its requirement for water was no longer very high. It only stayed in the water to enjoy the hot spring, though it would often turn into delicious fish soup...

Besides soaking in the hot spring, Lin Jing discovered that it also seemed to like sunbathing, which reduced quite a bit of trouble for their travels.

"Squeak..." The Pine Needle Mouse ran out of the gourd. Seeing the Long Li stuck in the head of the Zen staff, it fell into deep thought, wondering if arriving in this home was the Long Li's luck or misfortune.

In addition to visiting the elders, Lin Jing also took the opportunity to replicate the three great secret arts: the Body Integration Secret Method, the Undying Rebirth, and the Beast Transformation Treasure, as well as the complete Beast Taming Art. These were the keys to his possessing powerful combat strength after Foundation Establishment!

Beast Taming cultivators at the Qi Refining stage were merely laying the foundation, with their combat power entirely dependent on their spirit beasts. But once they reached Foundation Establishment and could learn the true secret arts of beast taming, the cultivators themselves could exert powerful strength. Lin Jing was looking forward to that day.

"The Longevity Body has left."

Beast Taming Sect, the highest peak.

Sect Master Xu stood on the summit, a snow-white crane beside him.

"The Longevity Body enters the sect, the Divine Pine emerges to protect his path. I never expected so many things to happen in the sect after just one trip out. I am actually very curious now: has the cultivation of the Divine Pine ancestor broken through to Soul Transformation?"

"It has occupied Heaven Capital Peak for years, and past sect masters have all found it unfathomable. It can be said to be the strongest combat power of our Beast Taming Sect. I hope that with its protection, the Longevity Body brought back by Elder Mo can grow up strong."

"If the Divine Pine ancestor is truly at the Soul Transformation stage, our Beast Taming Sect’s demon luck is terrifying. Wouldn't it be entirely responsible?" the crane asked.

"It should have nothing to do with it. Very well, what follows is... welcoming the greatest reform our Beast Taming Sect has seen in a thousand years. Whether this leads the sect toward decline or returns it to the glory of its peak era depends on these next hundred years." The fifth-generation Sect Master’s eyes flickered.

Under his gaze, Lin Jing, having left the mountain gate, sat cross-legged on a red leaf, holding the Long Li Zen staff, and headed straight into the depths of the Great Wilderness.

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

Strengthened by Buddha light and having cultivated the Azure Emperor Longevity Art to enhance its control over vegetation, it could now control a hundred red leaves simultaneously.

Combining several dozen red leaves to carry a person for a period of time was barely manageable.

"Senior Divine Tree, in which direction is the Blood-Sucking Vine?" Lin Jing and the Pine Needle Mouse did not know the way and relied on the Divine Pine for guidance.

Back in Snow Moon City, the Divine Pine had demonstrated the ability to find the location of the Insect Feather Grass in a single thought; it stood to reason that it was quite experienced in finding spiritual plants and fierce plants.

A voice entered the ears of Lin Jing and the Pine Needle Mouse, making their eyes light up with anticipation. The Pine Needle Mouse accelerated, and from the ground, they appeared as a streak of red light, piercing through clouds and crossing mountains, like a spark flying past.

The Great Wilderness, with its towering mountains and overlapping ridges. Crossing this endless wasteland would lead to other regions. However, the depths of the Great Wilderness were teeming with fierce beasts, dangerous plants, and perilous locations. For ordinary cultivators, other than Golden Core True Persons with profound magic power, wanting to cross it was undoubtedly a pipe dream.

Lin Jing and his companions rested when tired and set off again when refreshed. The journey did not encounter any major incidents. Although there were a few times when man-eating fierce beasts suddenly appeared, Lin Jing only needed to reveal a bit of illusion-path deterrence, and they would flee in panic, without the need for the protective Pine to intervene. The more he traveled, the more Lin Jing felt that the Thousand Changes and Myriad Illusions was handy...

However, one who walks by the river often gets their shoes wet; Lin Jing did not dare to rely on it too much, fearing he might slip up one day.

Mountain mist swirled, and hidden among the towering mountains was a quiet lake. Following the Divine Pine’s reminder, Lin Jing and the Pine Needle Mouse finally stopped. By this time, they had penetrated deep into the Great Wilderness, where fierce beasts were everywhere; even Beast Taming Sect disciples on training missions would not venture this deep.

By the lakeside, wild flowers bloomed in profusion, and the grass was lush. Various unknown wild flowers competed to bloom, and seemingly emerald vines spread from the lake onto the land—it looked like a great place for a rest. The clear lake emitted a sweet fragrance, attracting small beasts from all directions to drink. After Lin Jing and his companions landed, they watched as a small beast that had not yet gained intelligence was suddenly entangled by vines at its feet while drinking and dragged into the water. Soon, short-lived blood flowers bloomed on the surface of the lake.

"Blood-Sucking Vine, a second-tier fierce plant. Once fully mature, it can even devour Foundation Establishment fierce beasts that have achieved cultivation! It’s a pity that times have changed; they can now only rely on instinct to hunt and find it hard to develop intelligence. Otherwise, they would be even more terrifying." The Divine Pine spoke: "Do you know the Spirit Gathering Array? Just take root here and cultivate for a while. There are no powerful fierce beasts nearby, and there are mosquitoes on the lake that it likes to eat. It is very suitable for you."

Lin Jing nodded: "All things have spirits, and vegetation has a heart, only mosquitoes do not. I will cultivate here. Let’s see which mosquito dares to come and suck my blood. When that happens, Fish, you come to protect me."

"Pop..." The Long Li’s eyes were dull, struggling to understand!