"Erm, Appraiser Zhang, we believe in you more. I don't think there's a need to let Appraiser Lin have another look, right?"
The clients spoke in unison, afraid that they would cause trouble.
Zhang He was afraid that Lin Jin would go back on his word so he quickly whispered to them, "It's fine. I'll just let him have a look. Don't worry, it won't affect anything. Also, I know Lin Jin's capabilities very well. Even if he were to have a look, he wouldn't be able to tell anything."
Zhang He's previous reaction was fake. He was angry but it was mostly to lure Lin Jin into a trap. Who knew that Lin Jin would fall for it without much provocation.
"After the previous appraisal incident and the fact that you lost to an apprentice beast appraiser like me as an official beast appraiser today, even if you continue to be thick-skinned and stay here, the association will still revoke your qualifications as an official beast appraiser."
With that in mind, Zhang He secretly signaled to an apprentice beast appraiser he was familiar with not far away. The latter understood and immediately ran off to spread the news. Soon, many onlookers came to watch the commotion and more and more people were rushing over.
There were other apprentices as well as clients who came to the association to commission beast appraisals.
"What's going on?"
"They're having a beast appraisal competition to see who can appraise accurately and thoroughly. It's a test of knowledge and experience."
"Isn't that Lin Jin? No matter what, he's still an official … "
"He doesn't live up to his reputation. In the last evaluation, his score couldn't even compare to a few of the top apprentices. How dare he occupy the position of an official beast appraiser? If it were me, I would've left in shame. "
"Right, if Lin Jin leaves, who's the most qualified to take his spot? Zhang He has been rising rapidly recently. Is there any hope? "
"Although Zhang He isn't bad, he's still not good enough. The one with the highest chance of taking his spot is Jia Qian, the apprentice with the highest score. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell."
"But I heard that Jia Qian has a special relationship with our chief …"
"Shh, don't talk nonsense about this. Let's just watch the show. Look, Zhang He has already started appraising."
As an apprentice beast appraiser, Zhang He had priority in appraising beasts. Of course, he was just going through the motions. He had long understood the conditions of these two pet beasts.
In order to prevent each other from plagiarizing each other, this kind of competition was to write their evaluation results on a piece of paper and display it at the same time. This way, it was clear who was better and who was worse.
When it came to beast appraising, Lin Jin knew that this predecessor of his had some skills. But to be honest, it was just as Zhang He had said, just average.
Based on his memories, his predecessor was indeed lucky to be able to pass the beast appraiser exam. His competitors in the same group either had diarrhea, performed poorly, or contracted a serious illness and gave up on the exam. Coincidentally, the exam questions back then were the ones his predecessor had already reviewed.
It was as if he had hit the right question in an exam. Just like that, his predecessor became an official beast appraiser.
Although luck was the main factor, he still had the basics.
Unlike his predecessor, Lin Jin knew nothing about beast appraising. If he were to rely on his own abilities, he would surely lose. He only agreed to the challenge because he had the Museum of Deadly Beasts.
Since the museum could display all of Xiao Huo's information, the other pet beasts should be able to as well.
Lin Jin put on an act and tentatively grabbed one of the pet beasts. He caressed its head and just as he expected, the Museum of Deadly Beasts displayed a specimen that looked exactly the same as this pet beast and the introduction on the stone tablet next to it.
"Rank 1 pet beast, wind spirit fox. Juvenile. No blood contract established. Wind attribute. Most suitable to sign a blood contract with someone with the same wind attribute, followed by fire, wood, and water attributes. Avoid earth and metal attributes."
"Slightly hungry."
"Potential rate of 2. Potential rate has room to increase. There are twelve ways to increase potential rate. They are …"
"..."
It really came out.
Lin Jin's confidence was boosted. He had been worried that the Museum of Deadly Beasts would screw up, but now, he wasn't worried anymore.
Someone commented, "What's Lin Jin doing? He can't even activate the Dharmic Eye, so how is he going to appraise beasts? He doesn't even form a seal to test the beast's attributes. "
When Zhang He saw this, he sneered proudly as if he had already won. His posture was calm, his clothes fluttering in the wind, making him look like an otherworldly expert.
Unruffled, Lin Jin caressed the other pet beast.
"Rank 1 pet beast, rock lizard. Half adult. No blood contract established. Earth attribute. Most suitable to sign a blood contract with someone with the fire or metal attribute, followed by wind attributes. Avoid wood and water attributes."
"Satiated."
"Potential rate of 2. Potential rate has room to increase potential rate. There are six ways to increase potential rate. They are …"
"Possesses a golden earth dragon bloodline. Currently unactivated. There are three ways to activate it. They are … After the bloodline is activated, it will grow into a dual attribute of metal and earth attributes."
"..."
The two pet beasts' conditions were now within his grasp. Lin Jin also realized that as long as he touched a pet beast, be it its head or fur, it would be 'recorded' by the Museum of Deadly Beasts. He could access it at any time.
Tang An then asked the client a few more questions. After understanding the client's situation, he walked back, picked up his brush, and wrote down the evaluation results on a piece of paper.
Zhang He was already done.
"You're done?"
Lin Jin nodded. Simultaneously, he folded the paper and advised earnestly, "Zhang He, it's not too late for you to turn back now …"
Zhang He laughed in anger. "You don't have to worry about me, Appraiser Lin. You, on the other hand, should be thinking about how you're going to step down after losing to me in public."
Now that the two evaluation results were out, Lin Jin handed them over to the client for him to open and read them out.
"Zhang He recommends the rock lizard. Lin Jin recommends the wind spirit fox."
When the results were read out, everyone had different expressions.
"I know that client. He's the son of a merchant in the city. I think he's of the wind attribute. As for those two pet beasts, although the rock lizard isn't too bad, its attribute is the opposite of the client's. The wind spirit fox is of the wind attribute, so it should be the most suitable."
"That seems to be the case. But seeing how confident Zhang He is, there might be more to it."
Sure enough, the client continued reading.
"Rock lizard. Reason for recommendation. Although their attributes are the opposite of each other, the rock lizard has the earth dragon bloodline so it has higher potential. When the bloodline is activated, it can evolve immediately. On the other hand, the wind spirit fox has average potential so it's not recommended."
Earth dragon bloodline!
It actually had a hidden bloodline.
The crowd was shocked. A pet beast with such an ancient mythical bloodline was worth a lot more. Although the attribute restriction was a problem, compared to the benefits brought by the earth dragon bloodline, it wasn't worth mentioning.
The client was pleasantly surprised. He bought both pet beasts with his own money. Who knew one of them would turn out to be a treasure. An earth dragon bloodline! Once it was activated, it could grow into a Rank 3 pet beast at the very least.
Just the thought of it was enough to excite the client.
"To be able to see through a hidden bloodline, impressive."
"I heard that Zhang He's beast appraising skills have improved tremendously under Chief's personal guidance. He's amazing indeed, to be able to see through such a hidden bloodline. He's definitely going to win this time."
Based on the current situation, Zhang He was definitely going to win. Lin Jin had recommended the wind spirit fox. Based on this, it was obvious that the client didn't notice the rock lizard's hidden bloodline. His skills were inferior.
Zhang He was pleased. His hard work these days had paid off. Today, he had defeated Lin Jin in front of everyone. From now on, Lin Jin would be trampled under his feet, never to rise again. Chief would also think more highly of him. In the future, he would become an official beast appraiser and have a meteoric rise.
Just as he was feeling smug, Lin Jin coughed softly and asked, "Are you sure you've won?"
Zhang He proudly placed his hands behind his back, too lazy to look Lin Jin in the eye. "Am I wrong? You couldn't even see through the rock lizard's hidden bloodline. You don't deserve to be called an official beast appraiser. Do you really think you have a chance of winning? "
Having said that, he laughed heartily.
This time, before Lin Jin could speak, the client stared at the evaluation report in his hand and said with an odd expression, "Uhm … Appraiser Zhang, I haven't finished reading this."
Huh?
Zhang He turned his head and frowned, feeling displeased. What did it matter whether he finished reading or not? Could Lin Jin possibly turn the tables? Even a blind man could tell that Lin Jin had recommended a wind spirit fox. Although their attributes were compatible, he had neglected the key factor of the hidden bloodline. So what if he wrote the rest of the evaluation report in Brilliant Flourish?
It was an unnecessary move and a waste of time.
However, Zhang He couldn't afford to lose his temper so he said patiently, "Finish reading then. Let him accept his defeat wholeheartedly."
The other onlookers were curious as well. They felt that this client was making an unnecessary move. Now that it was obvious who was the winner, why did he have to finish reading the evaluation report? The client hesitated.
After giving it some thought, he decided to recite Lin Jin's evaluation report, "Wind spirit fox. Reason for recommendation. Its wind attribute is compatible with the client's wind attribute and it has 2 potential points. After evolving, it will be even more useful. Rock lizard, although it has an earth dragon bloodline, its earth attribute is earth, which is incompatible with wind. Based on this alone, the rock lizard is superior. However, the rock lizard's earth dragon bloodline is a golden-armored earth dragon. After the bloodline is activated, its main attribute will be gold while its secondary attribute will be earth. Both elements are incompatible with wind and the downside is too great.
What?
Everyone was shocked, and they gasped.
Zhang He's smug expression froze.
Although he could tell that the Rock Lizard had an Earth Dragon Bloodline, he could not tell what type of hidden bloodline it was. However, such a thing was very difficult to see. Not to mention him, even Guild Leader Wang Ji might not be able to see through it.
Only a Rank 2 beast appraiser would be able to do so. He was only an apprentice beast appraiser, not even a Rank 1. It was only natural that he couldn't tell.
But the problem was, how did Lin Jin see through it?
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