Chapter 25: The Demon-Hunting Hall

Chapter 25: The Demon-Hunting Hall “Excuse me, is Junior Brother Lín Jìng here?” “You’re… Senior Sister from the Harvest Pavilion?” It had been half a month since the Ascending Dragon Festival, and Lín Jìng was deeply engrossed in his cultivation when an unexpected visitor arrived. The young woman, dressed in traditional Daoist robes with a delicate, almost frail beauty, had the appearance of a sickly, elegant lady. “Junior Brother, apologies for the interruption. My name is Qin Caixin, and I’m here with a request,” Senior Sister Caixin said politely. “Please, go ahead, Senior Sister.” Lín Jìng recognized the name vaguely; she was rumored to be one of the strongest in the Outer Sect. Surprisingly, she was also the same senior sister who had once tried to sell him fertilizer. “Junior Brother, have you been outside the sect recently? Do you know about Senior Brother He Yiming, who was seriously injured by members of the Demon-Hunting Hall in the Beast Fighting Arena?” “You mean the senior brother who was the first to challenge the Bamboo Dragon during the Ascending Dragon Festival?” Lín Jìng was unsure. “What exactly is the Demon-Hunting Hall?” “Demon-Hunting Hall is an organization created by Elder Li Hai within the sect. Elder Li has always been dissatisfied with the sect’s disciple training policies. He believes that the sect is overprotective, allowing disciples to choose their own tasks for experiential training outside the sect, which, he thinks, stunts their growth,” Senior Sister Caixin explained. “Thus, he created the Demon-Hunting Hall. Every few years, he recruits a group of Outer Sect disciples, who then don’t train within the sect but are instead thrown into the wild mountains, left to survive by fighting demon beasts, with their lives dependent on fate.” “Without the comfort of the sect, their cultivation may not be as high, but they are formidable in life-and-death combat. Senior Brother He Yiming was no match for them.” “And why are you telling me all this, Senior Sister?” Lín Jìng asked. “It’s not as if they’re coming to pick a fight with me… but if they are, could you let them know I agree with Elder Li’s training method? It just might waste a lot of disciples and spirit beasts.” Senior Sister Caixin gave a wry smile. “It’s not that. You’re right, after all. Death training far surpasses closed-door cultivation in boosting combat power, but the death rate… Well, three years ago, Elder Li took about a dozen disciples, and only four have returned alive.” “Our Beast Taming Sect isn’t a demonic sect, so there’s no way we’d adopt this kind of training broadly.” “Actually, the reason I came to see you… is to ask if you’d be willing to sell me a few of those red leaves you used against the Bamboo Dragon.” “My contract beast is a Tree Bear, and it knows the Flying Leaf technique. We’ve tried various spiritual plant leaves, but none have the destructive power of the red leaves your Pine Leaf Mouse used.” “With the Inner Sect assessment a few months away, and with the return of the Demon-Hunting Hall members raising its difficulty, I need all the strength I can get.” Lín Jìng understood, though he replied with regret, “I’m sorry, Senior Sister, but due to certain unique properties, those red leaves can only be used by us.” He wasn’t lying. The red leaves created by the Pine Leaf Mouse had a special “synchronized mind” effect, allowing it to control them with ease. Under this “mindful control,” the power and speed of the leaves increased significantly, letting it manipulate up to ten red leaves simultaneously at the fifth level of cultivation. Other spirit beasts, however, wouldn’t share this unique connection. “I see…” Senior Sister Caixin sighed. “Thank you for your time, Junior Brother Lín Jìng.” She left, and as Lín Jìng closed the courtyard door, he prepared to get back to his reading. “Heh heh.” To his surprise, a low chuckle came from inside the courtyard. Standing there was Elder Black Bear, dressed in white Daoist robes, looking immensely pleased with himself. “I remember that girl. She’s from a small cultivator family, born with a weak constitution that prevents normal training. Her family sent her to the Beast Taming Sect in hopes that she could cultivate here.” The Elder Black Bear chuckled, “You’ve got a solid Dao heart, kid. Pretty girl makes a request, and you don’t bat an eye! I’ve got faith that you’ll achieve great things.” “And, considering you have the Longevity Body, a regular Dao companion wouldn’t be the best match for you. You’d be better off finding a lady with a higher cultivation level so she doesn’t… leave you behind too soon.” Lín Jìng gave Elder Black Bear a helpless look. “Elder, was there a reason for your sudden visit?” “Your Pine Leaf Mouse has a stockpile of red leaves it can’t use all by itself. If they could be sold, I’d have done it ages ago. They really can only work for it,” Lín Jìng explained. “Oh, there’s no pressing issue,” Elder Black Bear replied, glancing around the courtyard at the gears and parts scattered about, including a few crooked turtle models. “So, you’ve been studying mechanized arts? Looking good—it’s quite promising.” “I actually just came to remind you.” “That girl mentioned the Inner Sect assessment in a few months. Even if you’re still a ways from reaching the seventh level, with the Pine Leaf Mouse’s talents, if it’s provided enough resources, it might reach the seventh level in time, allowing you to take part in the assessment!” “After joining the Inner Sect, you’ll have to choose a peak to join. Different peaks within the Beast Taming Sect specialize in various skills, like alchemy at Danxia Peak, dragon-blood beasts at Nine Dragons Peak, and water-type beasts at Clear Pool Peak…” “Each Outer Sect disciple eventually chooses a peak that aligns with their abilities and studies techniques there.” “Now, Elder Mo has taken a relaxed role at Lotus Peak, while Elder Yu oversees the Outer Sect and doesn’t involve himself with Inner Sect matters. So, you’ll need to think carefully about which peak to join.” “Once you’ve decided, I can put in a good word for you with the elders there. In this sect, even the Golden Core elders have to show me some respect,” Elder Black Bear assured. Lín Jìng was most interested in Danxia Peak due to the effort he’d already invested in alchemy. “But Elder Black Bear, I don’t think you’re just here for this,” Lín Jìng said, sensing more. “Ha, you’re sharp.” Elder Black Bear chuckled. “Keep this between us, but I’ve always loved the taste of a spirit fruit called Dragonbone Flower. After reaching the Monster Core stage, though, its nutrients no longer have any effect on me, though I still eat a few now and then for the taste.” “Recently, my mother came all this way to the Beast Taming Sect to visit me and brought a bunch of Dragonbone Flowers from home. It got me wondering if, since that Pine Leaf Mouse of yours can synthesize Spirit Rice and Spiritual Beans, it could perhaps synthesize the Dragonbone Flower?” “Maybe a synthesized one would not only satisfy my taste buds but offer other benefits, too. Not everything it makes blows up, right?” Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “If you’re willing to give it a try, I’ll compensate you. But keep it quiet—don’t let Elder Mo know I’ve been bothering you. If he finds out, I’ll be in trouble!” Lín Jìng nodded. “But Elder, I’ve never heard of the Dragonbone Flower, and I don’t remember reading about it in the Complete Herb Compendium... Could it be too high-grade for the Pine Leaf Mouse to handle?” “Not to worry. It’s just a rare low-grade spirit fruit with no particular value beyond its taste,” he replied, taking out a Dragonbone Flower from his storage pouch. The fruit resembled a dragon fruit, and as he took a bite, its red flesh gave the frightening illusion that Elder Black Bear’s mouth was covered in blood.