Beast Tamer Ascension

Vol 2 Chapter 28: Teaching the Way

The news of the Cavern Heaven’s emergence at Hidden Dragon Academy, where three students had advanced to the Qi Refinement Tenth Stage, continued to spread. Lin Jing’s mastery of the Hidden Dragon Arts had reached minor completion, transforming his Fortune Qi into a golden young dragon.

However, while reaching the Qi Refinement Tenth Stage was exceedingly rare, it didn’t compare to the unparalleled accomplishments of figures like the Ancient Imperial Prince. Over the centuries, many geniuses had reached this stage through various fortuitous encounters, so Lin Jing’s achievements didn’t earn him widespread fame across the Ancient Celestial Kingdom as he had hoped.

Most of Lin Jing’s reputation came from discussions among the influential families and powerful cultivators backing the academy’s students. While these discussions focused on the quality of his achievements, his fame was mostly limited to the Ancient Domain. Beyond that, his recognition dropped significantly.

Nowadays, Lin Jing regularly helped the Dragon Carp unlock its potential, enabling it to grow rapidly. With the combination of Dragon Scales Fire and Ghostfire, its combat strength was exceptional, though the mixed use of the two flames was tricky and best avoided.

In terms of physical toughness, Lin Jing had become ferocious. His defensive capabilities now rivaled those of the Snow Plains Body Cultivators he had encountered earlier, making him capable of withstanding a Spirit Bean Bomb head-on.

As for alchemy, thanks to the Dragon Carp’s exceptional flames and its cauldron-like qualities, Lin Jing’s fire control proficiency soared to the level of an alchemy genius. While his success rate in refining Beast Blood Pills was still low, it was enough to qualify him as a second-tier alchemist. These achievements were remarkable for a Dragon Carp widely considered weak and useless before its ascension through the Dragon Gate.

One day, a voice echoed throughout the academy:

“I, Cao Ziwei, will be holding a lecture on Tianyi Mountain in three days. The topic will be Treasure-Hunting Techniques. All who have initiated the Hidden Dragon Arts are welcome to attend.”

Inside his cave, Lin Jing, who had just finished tending to the Dragon Carp and hadn’t yet begun to deeply explore the Beast Taming Physique and Ice Soul Physique he had named himself, heard Cao Ziwei’s announcement resound across the academy.

This was the first lecture Lin Jing would attend at Hidden Dragon Academy. Unfortunately, the topic wasn’t Cao Ziwei’s famed “Prosperous Wife Techniques,” much to the disappointment of many academy students.

Still, the four words “Treasure-Hunting Techniques” carried undeniable allure. Lin Jing’s curiosity was piqued, and he decided to attend the lecture in three days.

...

Tianyi Mountain was soon shrouded in a massive barrier of radiant light that covered the entire area.

Three days later, a large number of academy students arrived to attend the lecture, including those in the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment stages. However, not a single Golden Core cultivator was present.

Each cultivator who entered the barrier disappeared instantly, their presence vanishing as if they were transported to another space.

When Lin Jing and the Pine Leaf Mouse arrived, they stepped through the barrier and found themselves inside a room filled with white light. The space was entirely bare, except for a massive whirlpool of spiritual energy suspended in midair, projecting the image of Cao Ziwei sitting cross-legged.

“A familiar teaching method,” Lin Jing murmured as he sat cross-legged on the ground, calming his mind and preparing to listen.

The Pine Leaf Mouse slid off his shoulder, lying flat on the ground and staring at the ceiling, utterly confused as to why Lin Jing had dragged it here.

“Two people listening to the lecture for the price of one—it’s more economical,” Lin Jing explained for the umpteenth time.

Moments later, Cao Ziwei opened his eyes and said, “The time has come. Today’s lecture will cover Treasure-Hunting Techniques.”

“Treasure-Hunting Techniques and Qi Gazing Techniques share many similarities, as both rely on resonating with the world’s energy to perform their respective arts.”

“Furthermore, there are various types of Treasure-Hunting Techniques. Today, I won’t be teaching you how to find rare spiritual plants or minerals—the traditional treasures. Instead, we’ll focus on ancient treasures.” ꞦÁＮꝊꞖÈS

“Whether during the era of the Immortal Palaces or the era of the Immortal Alliances, the continent has seen many great wars, leaving countless ancient treasures buried across the land. For instance, the Air Domain is widely known as the region with the most ancient relics and secret realms from the Celestial Kingdom era, hiding innumerable ancient treasures and opportunities.”

“But beyond the Air Domain, every city has its own glorious past. What might seem like an ordinary mortal village today could very well have been the closed-door cultivation site of a minor ancient power in the past.”

“Treasure-Hunting Techniques will teach you how to explore, identify, and excavate these treasures. And before you ask, no, there will be no questions allowed after the lecture. You’ll have to figure out any uncertainties yourself afterward.”

A voice suddenly emerged from the void:

“Mr. Cao, treasure hunting sounds fascinating. If one were to find an ancient artifact left by a minor power, it could change one’s fate entirely! But… does the academy also teach practical techniques like city management?”

Cao Ziwei replied, “Any ancient artifact with significant power would have long been discovered and taken. Do you think such treasures would be left for you? The entry-level treasure-hunting techniques I’m teaching require talent and luck. By the time you’ve mastered them, you’ll have at least unearthed some historically valuable items, if not practical treasures.”

“These ancient relics can then be placed in museums or cultural halls within the cities you govern, enhancing their historical and cultural depth. Isn’t that also a form of effective city management?”

The students: “…”

Lin Jing: “…So, basically, a history museum?”

The academy’s students knew full well that the academy’s teachings rarely involved straightforward techniques. But since they were already here, many decided to learn the skill patiently, hoping it might improve their future prospects as officials.

For three consecutive days, the students listened to the lecture in a daze. Compared to other techniques that involved channeling Qi to perform spells, treasure-hunting techniques were incredibly abstract. They required not only gathering spiritual energy into one’s eyes using a unique method but also sensing the energy of the heavens and the earth while feeling the “pulse” of history. Only by doing so could one perceive the faint light of ancient treasures amidst the passage of time.

Cao Ziwei concluded, “For the next ten days, you can practice treasure-hunting techniques here. There’s no need to force results. If you’re not interested, you may leave now. If, after a few days of practice, you find that you lack the talent for it, you’re free to leave then as well.”

“In this place, I have hidden many ancient relics. If you can find them using the Treasure-Hunting Technique, they will be yours to keep.”

With that, the lecture concluded. The students discovered that they had been transported from their small, independent spaces to a massive mountain range. Lin Jing and the Pine Leaf Mouse were no exception. This mountain range was even larger than the Beast Taming Sect’s headquarters, containing over a hundred sprawling peaks. Who knew how many ancient treasures were hidden here?

Lin Jing sat cross-legged on a boulder, half-closing his eyes as he tried to enter a meditative state and sense the so-called “pulse of history.” After a long time, he sighed in frustration. He hadn’t sensed anything—not even a flicker—and his eyes were beginning to ache from the strain. Not a single glimmer of ancient treasure light was in sight.

“Looks like I don’t have the talent for this,” he muttered, sighing again. He wasn’t keen on wasting his Hidden Dragon Fortune to cultivate a technique for which he had no aptitude.

“How about you? Did you see any glimmers of ancient treasure light?” he asked the Pine Leaf Mouse, which had been sitting cross-legged on his shoulder. Lin Jing had made sure it participated in the lecture alongside him, though he wasn’t sure how much potential it had for treasure hunting.

“Uh…” The Pine Leaf Mouse remained utterly silent, its mood visibly uneasy. It had a lingering sense that something had gone terribly wrong during its practice of the Treasure-Hunting Technique.

“Hmm?” Lin Jing looked at it curiously.

The Pine Leaf Mouse hesitated before cautiously asking, “This Treasure-Hunting Technique… are you sure spirit beasts can even learn it?”

“Cao Ziwei clearly said that the technique isn’t limited by race—it wasn’t created by humans in the first place,” Lin Jing replied. Hearing this, the Pine Leaf Mouse nodded in acknowledgment.

It rubbed its eyes, which glimmered with a unique brilliance. Something definitely wasn’t right. Everywhere it looked, the mountains were bursting with ancient treasure light. The sheer number of glimmers made its Glazed Immortal Eyes feel like they were about to go blind.

Especially on one far-off mountain peak. Compared to the faint light scattered across other areas, the radiance from that peak was so intense, it was like a blazing star in the night sky. The brilliance was nearly overwhelming.

“Uh…” The Pine Leaf Mouse hesitated before weakly admitting, “I think I saw… maybe a few hundred beams of light.”

Lin Jing fell silent.

“…Are you a hoarding mouse or a treasure-hunting mouse? A few hundred beams of light? Seriously?”

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