Chapter Forty-One: Bloodline Evolution

Nightmares are all fake… Over the next few days, Lin Jing practiced the Fire Control Technique specifically for refining Spirit Replenishing Pills and Soul Confusion Pills.

As for the Pine Leaf Squirrel, its stockpile had run dry due to the Grotto-heaven trip, and it desperately wanted to hoard more “ammunition”… However, at Lin Jing’s strong insistence, it still spent most of its time on Cultivation.

Lin Jing felt that nothing would happen for the time being, so improving his cultivation base was more important.

“Inner Sect Disciple Lin Jing, someone has completed the task you posted in the Task Hall.” A crane landed outside Lin Jing’s Immortal Cave.

Lin Jing, who was practicing the Fire Control Technique, walked out, gave his thanks, and hurriedly brought the Pine Leaf Squirrel to the Task Hall.

In the Task Hall, besides the Magpie Spirit, there was only one person looking for a suitable task.

The person was dressed in white, and even their back exuded a sense of weakness and exhaustion; Lin Jing found them quite familiar.

“Senior Brother Ouyang?”

“Junior Brother Lin Jing?”

The person turned around, and both recognized each other.

“I heard you entered the inner Sect and intended to visit when I had time. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

“Are you taking on a task, Senior Brother?” Lin Jing asked.

“Yes,” Senior Brother Ouyang said. “I just finished three tasks and am now preparing to take two more to compete for this month’s Task King. Hong’er and I are both about to reach Foundation Establishment, so we need to save more money to ask Elder Shen to refine two better Foundation Establishment Pills when the time comes.”

“Junior Brother, you’re here for…”

“Someone just completed the task I posted.” As Lin Jing spoke, something occurred to him.

“Senior Brother, that’Search for fire cloud chili seeds’ task… it wasn’t you who completed it, was it?” He was very suspicious.

“Was that task posted by you? I was wondering why the reward was so stingy.” Senior Brother Ouyang was stunned, then said, “No, I mean, what a coincidence.”

After saying that, he took out a bag of Spirit Stones and said, “Junior Brother, I can’t take the reward for this task.”

“I haven’t sent you a congratulatory gift for entering the inner Sect yet. These chili seeds will be my promotion gift to you.”

“How can I do that?” Lin Jing took the Spirit Stones and said, “However, since I can hardly refuse Senior Brother’s kindness, I can only respectfully obey.”

The Magpie Spirit looked at the two “men of character” and said, “Stop arguing. Take the chili seeds, pick your task, and get out.”

In the end, Lin Jing took the chili seeds, while Senior Brother Ouyang Hao took a mission to investigate the disappearance of beasts outside the Sect.

After the two were forced to listen to a “Good Luck Song,” they walked out of the Task Hall. Senior Brother Ouyang suddenly said cryptically, “Junior Brother, I heard rumors that the light of a Grotto-heaven fell on the edge of the Sect. Plus, there’s so little information about this year’s Inner Sect Examination. Tell me, did you encounter a Grotto-heaven during your Inner Sect Examination?”

Lin Jing was taken aback and said, “Senior Brother, you’re right.”

“It really was!” Ouyang Hao had a face full of envy and said, “What does a Grotto-heaven actually look like? I really want to go in and see.”

“There will be a chance,” Lin Jing said. “Senior Brother, you have the potential for Ascension. Being chosen by a Grotto-heaven is only a matter of time.”

“Indeed,” Ouyang Hao said. “When the time comes, we brothers will revitalize the Beast Taming Sect. It’s a deal.”

“By the way, since you’ve entered the inner Sect, are a special Disciple, and have experience entering a Grotto-heaven…” He looked at the Pine Leaf Squirrel sitting cross-legged in its Daoist robe on Lin Jing’s shoulder and said, “Logically, you can completely apply to the Sect for a Natal Beast Taming Space Magic Treasure. Letting it Cultivate inside the Space Magic Treasure would be much more efficient!”

“Your current status is not that of a True Disciple, but it’s better than one. As long as a Golden Core Elder nods, you can definitely obtain it in advance.”

The Pine Leaf Squirrel opened its eyes. A Space Magic Treasure?

“Senior Brother has a point…” Lin Jing thought for a moment and said, “I’ve just entered the inner Sect and have been busy learning Alchemy these past few days. When I have time, I’ll go ask Elder Mo.”

Since they had already suggested he go to the Academy, he couldn’t very well go out without even a Beast Taming Space Magic Treasure to represent him as a Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect.

“Learning Alchemy? Alchemy is good.”

Senior Brother Ouyang said, “The Sect has many kinds of Medicinal Pills that can improve the Bloodline strength of companion beasts. You can just refine them yourselves then.”

“Unlike me, who entered Yunmen Peak. It’s a desolate place where they only teach fighting.”

“Right, although you surely know this yourself, Senior Brother still needs to remind you.”

“You have a Longevity Physique, so don’t be in a hurry to reach Foundation Establishment. The same goes for it. I assume Elder Mo has already reminded you both.”

“Barring any accidents, the little Squirrel should reach Foundation Establishment before you. The process of Foundation Establishment is its best opportunity to raise its Bloodline Rank. If it can achieve ‘Bloodline Evolution’, that would be for the best.”

“The reason Hong’er and I are working so hard on tasks now is to accumulate enough foundation to attempt ‘Bloodline Evolution’.”

“But… it seems the Sect has no precedent for a Pine Leaf Squirrel evolving to a ‘King-level Bloodline’.” He pondered.

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I’ll think of something slowly; there’s still plenty of time.”

Before the Yao Race went extinct, there was no distinction between Spirit Beasts and Yao Beasts; all were collectively called Yao Beasts. At that time, the Yao Race divided the Bloodlines of all beasts in the world into several Ranks.

Each increase in Rank represented a massive chasm; one could even say they were different species.

Among them, those beasts without the potential to become spirits had Mortal-level Bloodlines and were known as Mortal Beasts.

Those with cultivation potential were collectively called Spirit Rank. Depending on their Bloodline strength, Spirit Rank Yao Beasts with slightly weaker Aptitude would remain in the Qi Training Stage forever. Those with outstanding Aptitude could succeed in Foundation Establishment, and the best among them would have the chance to form a Demon Core and become a Great Yao that awed the world.

However, for a Spirit Rank Bloodline, reaching the Demon Core stage was the upper limit unless there were special circumstances.

The five basic Spirit Beasts of the Beast Taming Sect are of Spirit Rank. Because they were carefully selected, they have a high chance of reaching Foundation Establishment before their lifespans end.

Core Formation… depends more on fate.

And entering the Ranks of Nascent Soul Yao Kings is even more impossible.

Unless… during the Foundation Establishment process, the Bloodline undergoes evolution, ascending from Spirit Rank Bloodline to King-level Bloodline. This way, one can become a king among Yao without hindrance, comparable to the Nascent Soul Stage among human Cultivators.

Lin Jing looked at the Pine Leaf Squirrel. Although his Pine Leaf Squirrel had obtained a Rare Beast Divine Power, its Bloodline Rank had not changed; it was still Spirit Rank, and its Physique was not much different from other Pine Leaf Squirrels.

During the Foundation Establishment stage, if possible, he also wanted the Pine Leaf Squirrel’s Bloodline Rank to evolve to “King-level” to gain the potential of a Yao King. Then, the Glazed Immortal Eyes should also be able to exert even greater power.

Unfortunately… the Beast Taming Sect does not have a method for the King-level Bloodline evolution of a Pine Leaf Squirrel. To achieve this, Lin Jing could only look for opportunities in the special spiritual plants mutated by the Glazed Immortal Eyes and his own Chang Sheng Blood… using Alchemy to combine them and refine an exclusive Foundation Establishment Pill suitable for the Pine Leaf Squirrel.