Museum of Deadly Beasts

By the time Lin Jin returned, the feast was almost over. As Dark Wind Monster Cave’s grandmaster, Curator had to be present. After Jin Chi downed a few glasses of liquor, he retired early to return to Jin Chi Cliff, as he missed his son dearly.

Before he left, Jin Chi mentioned he would bring his son to visit Curator once the boy awakens. They would also repay him for saving his life.

Lin Jin nodded.

Looks like his decision had paid off since he had now gained a Rank 6 monster as an ally.

Once the feast ended and all guests were sent off, Lin Jin visited Hu Yuzhen.

Due to the Psyche-Refining Needle, Hu Yuzhen was still unconscious. Of course, Tiger Taoist remained by her side, tending to her.

Under the mask, Lin Jin looked grim. He had put Hu Yuzhen to sleep to protect her, as well as to seal up the strange ‘blood talisman’ inside her body. Now that everything else was settled, it was time to deal with this blood talisman.

Lin Jin already had an idea where this blood talisman came from. In the past, he might be at a loss of what to do. He might have even found this to be a challenging case. Things were different now since he had acquired an array of skills which made the process of dealing with the blood talisman as easy as ABC.

“Tiger Taoist, please guard the cave entrance and stop anyone from entering,” instructed Curator.

Tiger Taoist carried out the order obediently.

After Tiger Taoist went to stand guard outside, only Curator and Lin Jin were left inside this cave.

Lin Jin invoked a spell to slowly force the blood talisman out of Hu Yuzhen’s body. The blood talisman was pierced by several Psyche-Refining Needles as it was forcefully removed from its host.

Lin Jin could see the blood energy on the talisman surging. It was attempting to drive out the needles that subdued it, only to fail every time. It was a sign that Lin Jin had the upper hand here.

“Just who are you? Reveal yourself!” Lin Jin activated a different hand gesture, and he received a response from the blood talisman immediately.

This was like pulling a tightly-closed door slightly ajar.

A blood-red light instantly emerged from the talisman, and it resembled a large blob of blood suspended mid-air. A coward would probably wet his pants when he saw this bloody mist twist and transform.

Moments later, this bloody gas morphed into a huge face.

This horrendous face had bloody eyes that seemed to glow. They were the windows to a soul that belonged to a powerful being.

Lin Jin found this bloody face familiar and the memories came flashing through his mind.

‘It’s him!’ he thought.

It was Patriarch Xue Pao.

Lin Jin already had this suspicion when he first found the blood talisman inside Hu Yuzhen’s body. Now, the bloody face confirmed his suspicion.

In other words, Hu Yuzhen wasn’t hurt but was being controlled by this blood talisman.

Now that the talisman was forced out of Hu Yuzhen’s body by Lin Jin, she was no longer in danger. Lin Jin had also subdued the talisman’s power completely, so it no longer posed a danger.

Then, the large face let out a laugh.

“You are Curator?”

It was Patriarch Xue Pao’s voice. Lin Jin had heard it back at Jade Dragon City. Due to the incident involving Yang Qingshi, he was thrown into a battle with Patriarch Xue Pao and a grudge was born between them ever since. It was the reason why Lin Jin was able to recognize his voice so easily.

“Patriarch Xue Pao!” Lin Jin responded coldly.

Kekeke!

A strange cackle.

“That’s right. It seems that you have heard of my name. However, I’m sure it’s your precious disciple who told you!” Patriarch Xue Pao’s eyes darted toward the fake Lin Jin with a menacing look on his face.

Patriarch Xue Pao’s attempt to frighten him was destined to be unfruitful.

After all, that Lin Jin was a fake. He was only a Camouflage spell. Forget frightening him, he wouldn’t even twitch if someone held a knife to his neck.

“You’re just a fragment of psyche. Would you believe that I can eliminate you?” Lin Jin threatened. He couldn’t get used to seeing Patriarch Xue Pao behaving so cockily.

Patriarch Xue Pao’s expression faltered. He couldn’t possibly ignore Curator’s threat, because right now, it seemed like Curator was genuinely a peerless expert. Being a psyche stored in a blood talisman, Patriarch Xue Pao couldn’t possibly beat him.

“Why must you do that? I have no grudge against you, but there is bad blood between me and your disciple, Lin Jin. Still, grudges are better resolved than formed. I, Lord Xue, am a forgiving man so I am willing to overlook the mistakes of a naive young man.”

To put it bluntly, he was asking for a truce.

He had to.

Now that Patriarch Xue Pao’s psyche was being subdued, there was nothing he could do. If he doesn’t seek a truce, he risked being destroyed.

That would not benefit him at all.

It was why he had decided to seek peace, and perhaps even collaboration.

After all, he had learned much about Curator’s capabilities. Just like everyone else, he too assumed Curator to be an immortal.

Lin Jin could see that so he scoffed. “Patriarch Xue Pao, you planted this talisman inside Hu Yuzhen and made her visit the Dark Wind Monster Sect. It’s about time you spilled the beans. Tell me, what is your intention? If I do not like the answer, I’m afraid your psyche will not be allowed to exist any longer.”

Now that Lin Jin had the upper hand, there was no reason for him to be that polite.

Moreover, a devil like Patriarch Xue Pao had to be eliminated.

Back then Daojun only revealed his immortal’s aura just so he could defeat Patriarch Xue Pao. However, that move ultimately cost him his life, for the Rank 9 immortal devouring beast appeared and inflicted heavy injuries on Daojun.

It was clear that no one could compare to Patriarch Xue Pao when it came to scheming. Working with the man would be acting against Lin Jin’s best interests.

Lin Jin wouldn’t do something as foolish as that.

Still, he had to understand Patriarch Xue Pao’s motives so he could prepare himself. After all, Lin Jin’s plan was to kill him whenever the opportunity arises.

Patriarch Xue Pao laughed eerily. “Curator, even if you’re not an immortal, I’m sure you’re not far from being one with your cultivation level. Let me ask you, do you know why traces of immortals have disappeared from this world?”

He was clearly laying a trap.

The curiosity of an average person would have been piqued by this question. After all, when immortals dominated the landscape, they were able to soar in the skies, drill underground, live forever, and become one with heaven and earth. Everybody wanted that, and the more skillful a person was, the greater he craved it.

After asking his question, Patriarch Xue Pao observed Curator closely. Yet, Curator was wearing a mask so he couldn’t read his expression at all.

‘Sh*t. Why is he the same as that Daojun? What’s he wearing a mask for? Is he too afraid to show his face?’ Patriarch Xue Pao was fuming from the ears.

Seeing no reaction from Curator, Patriarch Xue Pao’s heart started racing. He could only brace himself to ask, “Curator, are you perhaps not curious? Don’t you want to know where the immortals are?”

“So you know where the immortals are?” snapped Lin Jin, who finally found a point he could exploit.