Chapter 94: Coiled Wire Needle, Deformed Snake
A corresponding specimen of the rhinoceros appeared in the museum together with detailed appraisal results.
Lin Jin nodded and left.
Meanwhile, the members of the Friar a.s.sociation were baffled so they started discussing among themselves. “What’s going on? Why did this rhino suddenly go berserk? Hasn’t it been fed a sleeping pill?”
“How should I know? Good thing this cage is st.u.r.dy. There shouldn’t be any problems, as far as I know at least.”
Simultaneously, Lin Jin arrived at the next cage. The spiked porcupine inside this cage suddenly let out a squeal.
Whenever Lin Jin pa.s.sed by a cage, the creature inside would start making a ruckus without fail. Soon enough, beastly cries around the hall could be heard, rising and falling like waves.
This obviously caught the Friar a.s.sociation’s attention.
Several friars bearing three crimson cloud patterns on their sleeves entered the hall to investigate. However, they couldn’t tell what happened at all. Never mind them, even if the higher management was here, they’d just be equally muddled.
Lin Jin’s pulse-seeking technique required craftiness. It was unpredictable and difficult to detect, particularly the ‘coiled wire needle’ that required discreet execution. Even those with pinpoint perception would need to observe Lin Jin attentively to realize what he was doing.
Soon, more than half of the beasts in the hall had suffered from Lin Jin’s secret needle attack, and among them were a few valuable rare beasts.
Lin Jin was delighted, thinking that he had made the right choice in tagging along. In just a few brief moments, the museum recorded a handful of new rare beasts. He was very close to the next reward now. He only had to wait for a few more days until the Museum of Deadly Beasts’ visitation hall reopens to get some samples of rare beasts from guest number seven. Then, he should receive part two of the Beast Energy Formation.
The mere thought of it excited him.
Xiao Huo was already so amazing after cultivating part one of the Energy Formation. When he completes part two, he might be able to take on even a Rank 3 monster.
In addition, Lin Jin had plans to let Goldy cultivate part one of the Beast Energy Formation. If the opportunity arises, he might even let Zhao Ying and Lu Xiaoyun’s pet beasts cultivate it too.
However, slow and steady wins the race. Lin Jin had to raise Xiao Huo’s strength first as the little guy was his pet beast. Once Xiao Huo was powerful enough, he could then begin considering strengthening the others.
And so, Lin Jin continued ‘stabbing’ his needle into various caged beasts.
Everyone else was confused by the cries of the beasts inside the hall. They couldn’t understand what was happening, but the people who had been following Lin Jin seemed to have caught onto something.
Whenever Lin Jin pa.s.sed a cage, the beast inside would let out a cry.
Wherever Lin Jin went, there were yowls.
Could this be a mere coincidence?
Definitely not. Then there was only one explanation.
Lin Jin was the root of this odd phenomenon.
Lu Xiaoyun was fine but Zu Can and Zu Yingying both wore strange looks on their faces. There were even traces of fear.
In their eyes, Lin Jin was a mysterious existence. Wherever he went, no matter the size, every pet beast would cry out in pain in the same exact manner. They couldn’t deduce what tactic he had up his sleeve no matter how hard they thought about it.
The more they couldn’t figure it out, the stranger this all felt.
“Brother, do those cries have something to do with this Appraiser Lin?” Curiosity getting the better of her, Zu Yingying asked Zu Can quietly.
The latter responded with a how-should-I-know look. After some thought, he whispered back to his sister, “This might be one of Appraiser Lin’s miraculous techniques so stop asking and just observe.”
“Then, is it true he’s a Rank 2 beast appraiser? I heard that it’s extremely difficult to pa.s.s a Rank 2 beast appraiser’s exam,” Zu Yingying continued.
Zu Can could testify to this because he was there when the news was announced.
“That you don’t have to worry about. Appraiser Lin’s skills are definitely fit for a Rank 2 beast appraiser and it was the invigilator sent by the Beast Appraisal a.s.sociation Headquarters who confirmed it.”
The continuous series of yelps continued.
On the other side of the hall, Gao Jiang who was choosing some pet beasts for the Gao family heard the continuous cries of beasts. With an equally confused expression, he craned his neck and saw Lin Jin.
Gao Jiang frowned.
While he was still dissatisfied, Lin Jin’s display of competence at the a.s.sociation today still startled him. w.a.n.g Ji’s fall from grace was also due to Lin Jin. Forget his position as chief being revoked on the spot, the man might not even be able to keep his certification as a beast appraiser.
Or should he say, there was definitely no hope for w.a.n.g Ji?
Plagiarism and oppressing subordinates. Just these two alone were more than enough to guarantee the destruction of w.a.n.g Ji’s future.
w.a.n.g Ji was ruined. Lin Jin had risen above and even pa.s.sed the Rank 2 advancement exam. Gao Jiang knew full well that from today on, Lin Jin’s status within the Beast Appraisal a.s.sociation would advance by leaps and bounds and he wouldn’t be able to match up to him.
Right now, it was best for Gao Jiang to stay away from him.
However, it was also impossible for him to ever get along with Lin Jin. They would keep out of each other’s business at most. ‘Sure, Lin Jin is amazing, but I’m not too bad myself. There is ample time ahead so we’ll see what happens in the future.”
Lin Jin finally arrived at the last cage. Unlike other pet beasts, there were barely any bidders around this cage.
The reason was simple. The pet beast inside this cage was deformed and clearly flawed.
Who would purchase a deformed creature as their pet beast?
Even if the beast looked rather intimidating, no matter how remarkable a gemstone was, if it was cracked, its value would plummet. This rule applied to pet beasts as well.
Lin Jin glanced at the beast within the cage. It appeared to be a boa constrictor.
This constrictor had a green body with scarce few white and black scales here and there. Although it was coiled up, its estimated length must be over ten feet. If it wasn’t for the tumor that was located one foot down from the creature’s head, the crowd would be fighting over this pet beast.
Clearly, this tumor was the largest flaw of this pet beast and was the sole reason why no one had placed a bid on it yet.
Lin Jin flicked his fingers, shooting out the mysterious coiled wire needle. At first, he a.s.sumed that the needle would pierce the creature easily just like the others. Yet, Lin Jin was surprised that his needle faced a blockage about three inches before reaching the boa.
“Huh?”
Lin Jin was stunned.
After learning this skill, it was his first time coming across an obstacle as puzzling as this. Taking another glance at the boa, it didn’t seem to notice him, which meant it wasn’t the boa that was putting up defenses.
Wait.
Lin Jin suddenly noticed irregular movement in the boa’s tumor. Shuddering on the inside, he increased his strength.
The needle broke through the force field defense and pierced into the large reptile’s body.
The boa shuddered and began writhing around violently.
Lin Jin retrieved his needle. He pondered as he read the description inside the museum.
“Brother Zu!”
After calling his friend out, Zu Can stepped forward.
“Buy this one!” Lin Jin exclaimed in a confident tone as he pointed to the boa.
Zu Can was confused. This creature was clearly a ‘defective product’ that no one cared about. Why was Lin Jin asking him to buy it?
However, Zu Can was an optimist. That was, when he had faith in a person, despite all suspicions nagging him, he wouldn’t ask questions during crucial times.
He made an offer for the pet beast immediately.
It wasn’t expensive either. Because no one had made a bid before, he only had to increase the amount a little bit from the reserve price. The base price was eighty low-grade spirit stones so Zu Can increased it to ninety.
There was still some time before round two ended. If no one else counter-offered, this snake would belong to Zu Can.
After making an offer, they didn’t have to keep their attention here. They only had to come back later to see if anyone outbid them.
Lin Jin led the group around once more. But when they returned, they were surprised to find the price had been raised to one hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Someone else countered their bid!
Lin Jin frowned and Zu Can was baffled. The latter wondered why would anyone compete for a defected pet beast like this one?
Were they mental?
If they wanted to compete, why didn’t they show up after so long?
When Zu Can was still contemplating, Lin Jin spoke up. “Bid again. Offer a hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones.”
It was a fifty spirit stone increase!
Zu Yingying had questions she wanted to ask but Zu Can stopped her before going over to increase the price.
“Let’s just wait here and not walk around!” Lin Jin added.
Zu Can nodded.
He didn’t understand beast appraising. But since Lin Jin thought so highly of this deformed boa, Zu Can would try his best to secure it.
Soon, an unseemly old man walked over. Upon seeing the new bid, he simply increased the bid to two hundred low-grade spirit stones without another word.