"I apologize, it was sudden," Lin Jing chuckled, "As for my cultivation, it's hard to explain."

Then, he looked at the Jiang siblings. Jiang Qi had grown from a teenager into a handsome youth, dressed in a red feathered robe, exuding extraordinary aura.

Jiang Lin had also grown, her blue dress complemented by an icy demeanor, resembling a fairy in the snow.

The two of them were very excited to see Lin Jing, immediately bowing, "Senior."

"But mid-Foundation Establishment is too low, the same as those two!" Xu Zhizhi was somewhat speechless. At the very least, it should be Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, right?!

"My talent is lacking, there's no way around it," Lin Jing smiled.

Because of the lifespan gained from the breakthrough, Lin Jing didn't feel too troubled.

Once my Celestial Demon Body cultivation succeeds... everything will be reversed.

"The number one on the Talent Ranking claims to have poor talent..." Xu Zhizhi didn't want to say anything more.

"Speaking of which... Brother Xu, I've been in retreat for ten years, did anything major happen?" Lin Jing inquired.

"Well, actually yes. First, there's this Dragon Palace, if you still want to maintain it..."

"I'm aware of that." Since he had already emerged from retreat and intended to be a "centenarian student" at the academy, he naturally wouldn't allow the Dragon Palace to disband.

"You should be more concerned about the Beast Taming Sect," Xu Zhizhi's gaze flickered, "Just five years ago, the Ancient Country and the Snow Plains entered another phase of war."

"The Desolate Region, being close to the Snow Plains, could potentially become a battlefield in the future!"

"War," Lin Jing pondered, "Another war, huh? I wonder what scale it will reach this time."

The Ancient Country and the Snow Plains have not experienced just one friction.

Not only does the Snow Plains covet the fertile land of the Ancient Country, but the Ancient Country also desires to incorporate the Snow Plains into its territory.

This is related to the Second Ancient Emperor.

The First Ancient Emperor overthrew the Immortal Alliance, established the Ancient Country, and laid its foundations with infinite achievements.

As for the Second Ancient Emperor, chosen as the new emperor after the First Ancient Emperor's life was nearing its end, he always wanted to surpass the accomplishments and strength of the First Ancient Emperor.

It is rumored that the Second Ancient Emperor always wanted to annex the entire Celestial Essence Continent as territory, expanding the borders of the Ancient Country. If this succeeded, his True Dragon Secret Technique power would surpass that of the First Ancient Emperor.

And the Snow Plains seemed to be the first target chosen by the Second Ancient Emperor after ascending the throne.

However, even the Snow Plains alone is a tough bone to chew. After all, the Snowfield Tribe worships four demon beasts comparable to the Inquiry Stage as totem Guardian Gods, and they live in the harsh environment of the snow region. The Snowfield Cultivators are also highly capable.

The Ancient Country publicly stated that the Snowfield Tribe's cultivators were bewitched by demon beasts and forced into submission, hence the need to liberate the Human Race Cultivators of the Snow Plains from the control of demon beast totems.

This dynamic keeps the Ancient Country and the Snow Plains in perpetual hostility.

"The Beast Taming Sect is in a state of being sealed, and shouldn't be required by the Sect Management Office to send disciples to the battlefield, unless the Snowfield breaches the Desolate Region's defenses; otherwise, there's no need to worry." In such a high-stakes war, Lin Jing felt he had no qualification to concern himself; let everything take its course.

"There aren't many other major events. Oh, yes, the Talent Ranking... since you came off the list, several new number ones have come up. The current number one, also an academy student, has challenged you several times at the Dragon Palace, but you were in retreat every time. They should know more." Xu Zhizhi shrugged, looking at the Jiang twins.

"The Talent Ranking?" Lin Jing looked at the Jiang twins and asked, "Have you both been listed on the Talent Ranking yet?"

"Not yet... aside from the Demon Extermination Bureau missions, we hardly use the power of the Ice Soul Gu in conventional settings, but if we used it, we are confident of making the Talent Ranking," Jiang Qi said.

"Who is the current number one on the Talent Ranking?" Lin Jing asked.

"A student who joined the academy later, named Zhao Qingyue, from the Cultivation Zhao Family. She is related to Zhao Qingquan, the Fountain Body you defeated in the Talent Battle. Considering the lineage, Zhao Qingyue is his clan sister, but her talent surpasses Zhao Qingquan's, possessing the Taiyin Body, a physique with Divine Body visions."

"Possibly to avenge her clan brother and given that they are both at the academy, she has attempted to challenge the legendary figure you once were multiple times."

"Senior, this Zhao Qingyue is very powerful, with cultivation now... at Foundation Establishment Perfection, possessing the Divine Body vision 'Bright Moon Divine Radiance,' with power surpassing Golden Core Divine Techniques," Jiang Lin said. "Because of this Divine Body vision, she might be stronger during the Foundation Establishment Stage than Chen Chong of the Innate Dao Body at the time!"

"The Cultivation Zhao Family, worthy of being the second largest cultivation family in the Ancient Country outside the royal family, having so many clan members with extraordinary potential," Lin Jing pondered, then smiled slightly.

"If she wants a challenge, let's satisfy her. Someone go and summon her, say that Lin Jing is waiting outside the Dragon Palace for her challenge; I happen to want to try out some newly mastered magic..."

Xu Zhizhi instantly didn't want to leave, laughing, "Interesting, the current number one on the Talent Ranking against the one from ten years ago. It feels like you're bullying the younger, but since the other side is confident, I'll go notify her."

"Go ahead~" Lin Jing waved his hand, then looked at the Jiang siblings, "I'll take this time to guide them on how to harness the power of the Gu insects..."

......

Zhao Qingyue, known as the Bright Moon Fairy, is believed by the cultivation realm to possibly become the second Ling Yue Sword Immortal.

Zhao Qingyue herself is also very diligent, having practiced arduously since childhood, and quickly rose to claim first place on the Talent Ranking upon emerging, making a name in the Ancient Country.

However, Zhao Qingyue always held an obsession...

"Although you are strong, you still seem a bit lacking compared to Lin Jing, who defeated my cousin back then."

The reason, of course, was that Zhao Qingquan, defeated by Lin Jing, loved to talk and became an annoying clan brother.

"Has Lin Jing come out of retreat?" Zhao Qingyue, dressed in white, emerged with cool and pure radiance. Her figure was as light as willow catkins under the moon, gently swaying in the breeze, her face as flawless and bright as the full moon in the sky. Xu Zhizhi, meeting her gaze, nearly became entranced.

"Bright Moon Fairy, you have to thank me. As soon as the Palace Master emerged from seclusion, I informed him of your matter immediately," Xu Zhizhi said with a slight smile. "Fairy, you really want to challenge the Palace Master, huh? He's quite strong."

"Take me there." Zhao Qingyue fumed silently. She had been waiting for Lin Jing for several years; who knew his seclusion would last so long.

Regardless of whether Lin Jing had already broken through to the Golden Core, she was determined to have a great battle with him.

However, when Zhao Qingyue followed Xu Zhizhi to the outside of the Dragon Palace and saw that legendary figure with mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, she fell into deep thought. She clearly hadn't expected that after a decade of seclusion, Lin Jing's cultivation would be so low.

This level of cultivation in Lin Jing even led Zhao Qingyue to deduce that his pet beasts must still be at the Foundation Establishment stage. After all, according to the Beast Taming Sect's cultivation techniques, a pet beast's breakthrough would propel the Beast Master's breakthrough; Lin Jing's cultivation was so low that the pets couldn't possibly have reached Core Formation.

"Why is his cultivation so slow? It would be fine if he were slow, but why are the pet beasts also slow? Did they sleep for ten years?" Zhao Qingyue was puzzled.

Lin Jing's pet beasts felt quite innocent, considering that aiding Lin Jing's breakthrough had taken them over nine years... truly not much different from sleeping for ten years.

"Is this Bright Moon Fairy? Truly a gifted young woman," Lin Jing halted his communication with the Twin Body and looked towards the approaching challenger, Zhao Qingyue.

"Your cultivation..."

"No need to mind it. Since the Bright Moon Fairy is eager to challenge, let's begin," Lin Jing said. "You're young, so you may start first."

"He's only about ten years older than me, what's with the pretentious attitude?" Zhao Qingyue was speechless, especially since Lin Jing's cultivation was still lower than hers.

"This Fairy respects the old and cherishes the young, so you make the first move. Let me see the ten formidable Gu insects that defeated the Innate Dao Body." Her expression was calm; she had long wanted to learn about the "demonic techniques."

"Alright then..." Faced with such a respectful youngster, Lin Jing couldn't refuse her good intentions, especially since he was still unfamiliar with his new magic. Making the first move was fine.

He planned to experiment with the Beast Transmutation Artifact. If she wanted to witness the ten formidable Gu insects, she would need to pass this artifact barrier first...

"Fairy, be careful... this move might be quite powerful." Lin Jing spoke slowly.

The next moment, a ripple of the void flashing with firelight appeared before his chest.

Inside the Beast Taming Artifact, the Fire Lin Dragon instantly felt a mysterious Beast Taming Power sweeping its entire body, making it feel like its body was being reorganized and reshaped!

Wait a minute, was it not to fight itself... but to transform into an artifact to fight instead?

"Armor is too complicated; for the first time, let's transform into something simple—a weapon..."

Lin Jing's right hand slowly stretched into the Beast Taming Space, and in the next instant, with a dazzling blaze, a long spear with a dragon head carved at the tip, the spearhead shaped like flames, was summoned forth.

In this process, countless fire threads emerged around Lin Jing, and the strong dragon presence turned into a fiery dragon phantom, swirling around the spear, causing the surrounding temperature to suddenly rise.

"Not frost, but flames???" This scenario left Zhao Qingyue stunned, as well as the Jiang Family's Twin Body.

Only Xu Zhizhi understood that it was because Lin Jing had bonded with that fire dragon carp!

Boom!

Though it was not the power of frost, Zhao Qingyue dared not underestimate the flames. The long spear formed from the Demon Emperor's bloodline and the late-stage Foundation Establishment Fire Lin Dragon, combined with Lin Jing, this Qi Cultivation thirteenth-layer Foundation Establishment monstrous Beast Master's power, instantly made Zhao Qingyue realize how difficult this battle would be. Under a renowned reputation, there lies no falsehood!

Initially... Zhao Qingyue thought this battle would be difficult.

But in the next moment, her pupils contracted, and her thoughts changed. Lin Jing knew nothing of spear techniques; he merely swept the long spear, and during this sweeping motion, a surge of black flames suddenly erupted from within the spear!!!

This flame caused everyone present to change their expressions drastically.

"Netherworld Ghost Fire?!" Everyone was aware of Lin Jing's demonic techniques, but with the Demon Extermination Bureau's endorsement, it was not concerning. Yet nobody knew that Lin Jing had also mastered the ghost fire techniques from the Nether Hall.

What was even more terrifying...

The ghost fire actually fused with the dragon-shaped flame on the spear's exterior, transforming into overwhelming demonic fire, like a pitch-black fire dragon clinging to the spear, instantly doubling its power, urgently warning Zhao Qingyue's body!

Treasure Beast Divine Technique, Flame Emperor!

Lin Jing directly hurled the spear, piercing towards Zhao Qingyue. Her expression drastically changed as she instantly deployed her strongest Divine Body phenomenon: a bright moon appeared behind her, casting countless divine lights. However, this moonlight, akin to a Golden Core divine technique, was instantly consumed by the black dragon flame during the spear's piercing process. With a "boom," Lin Jing's aerial strike shattered Zhao Qingyue's Divine Body phenomenon, broke her protective True Essence, and sent her flying back suddenly, a seared pit burned onto her abdomen from the searing impact.

"Pfft." She coughed up several mouthfuls of blood before stabilizing her stance, clutching her abdomen as she floated in mid-air, staring in shock at Lin Jing, who was also drifting upward, reclaiming the spear. An incredible feeling surged within her heart.

Not only her, but Xu Zhizhi and the Jiang family's Twin Body were also stunned; although they knew Lin Jing was strong, they hadn't thought...

Even Lin Jing himself was quite surprised.

Indeed, for someone cultivating the Beast Taming Technique, it was more compatible to use the Beast Taming Sect's Secret Techniques.

"Beast Taming Sect Secret Technique, Beast Transmutation Artifact—but that pet beast is..." Zhao Qingyue's heart was in turmoil. She had thought about winning and losing, but hadn't imagined... she couldn't even withstand one attack.

Is this person a monster?

Is that pet beast a new Foundation pet?

Couldn't even the first or second pet beast force the opponent out?

The gap between her and the top prodigy of a decade ago was so vast.

"A little carp fish that wasn't even bonded yet, but now it's leaped over the dragon gate, becoming my third pet beast. Fairy, would you like to continue?" Lin Jing, holding the spear, looked warmly at this rising star, quite satisfied with the Beast Transmutation Artifact's power. He imagined it wouldn't be inferior even if transformed into armor.

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