For colluding with demonic appraisers and harming the innocent, the association's punishment was to remove Yang Qingshi's name from the association and hand him over to the authorities for punishment.
If everything went according to plan, Yang Qingshi's fate would be death.
"Appraiser Lin!"
When Lin Jin arrived, unlike before, many people took the initiative to greet him. Their attitude was completely different from the day before. Even those who were unconvinced of Lin Jin's strength greeted him with a smile.
However, behind his back, there were still those who said that Lin Jin didn't live up to his title as a Rank 3 beast appraiser, that he was promoted because of His Majesty's favor, and that his strength was at most Rank 2.
Lin Jin didn't know any of this. Even if he did, he wouldn't care.
Tomorrow was the Jade Dragon Festival. He would prove his strength and shut up all those who doubted his qualifications as a Rank 3 beast appraiser. But before that, Lin Jin had to pay Yang Qingshi a visit.
At the city's prison.
Yang Qingshi's limbs were shackled by specially made chains, and his entire body was pinned to a rack. He couldn't even move his head. This was also to prevent him from escaping. Other than the chains, there were also a lot of guards around him.
When Lin Jin arrived, the guards clearly recognized him and had received orders from their superiors. They didn't stop Lin Jin at all, allowing him to pass through unimpeded.
When he saw Yang Qingshi again, Lin Jin was startled. His appearance was pitiful and he must have been tortured. His head was hanging low and Lin Jin couldn't tell if he was dead or alive.
Of course, Lin Jin knew that he wasn't dead. After all, he still had his needles.
With that thought in mind, Lin Jin pierced the needles into Yang Qingshi's acupoints. As if he had been electrocuted, Yang Qingshi jerked his head up. His eyes were wide open and his mouth was agape. He was drenched in cold sweat like a fish left to dry on the shore.
He was indeed pitiful.
But he didn't deserve any sympathy.
Lin Jin was here to confirm if Yang Qingshi's master was one of the five demonic patriarchs.
Upon seeing Lin Jin, Yang Qingshi gritted his teeth. He hated Lin Jin the most right now.
"Lin Jin, it's not too late for them to let me go. My master is Patriarch Xue Pao. If he makes a move, the entire Jade Dragon Kingdom …"
"Shut up!" Lin Jin injected the needles into Yang Qingshi's body. Yang Qingshi was in so much pain that he peed his pants.
Four hours.
Inside the cell, Lin Jin interrogated Yang Qingshi for four hours, draining him of everything he knew, including what he had confessed and what he hadn't. Lin Jin only stopped when Yang Qingshi had nothing else useful to say.
Ignoring Yang Qingshi who looked like a dead dog, Lin Jin walked out of the cell.
Lin Jin now knew how Yang Qingshi became Patriarch Xue Pao's disciple and how he met Patriarch Xue Pao.
More than a decade ago, Yang Qingshi met an old man deep in the mountains of the Grassy Continent. The old man was one of Patriarch Xue Pao's incarnations. Back then, Patriarch Xue Pao displayed some of his techniques, and Yang Qingshi was immediately convinced. That was how he became the old man's disciple.
Back then, Patriarch Xue Pao taught Yang Qingshi a few tricks that helped him become a Rank 3 beast appraiser. In the months that followed, Yang Qingshi traveled all over the place and lured hundreds of people into the mountain. This was also what Patriarch Xue Pao had instructed him to do.
Yang Qingshi didn't know what happened to the victims, but he guessed that they were all dead.
After that, Patriarch Xue Pao sent Yang Qingshi out of the mountain, instructing him to bring ten people into the mountain every year.
He even gave Yang Qingshi a drop of 'ancestral blood' and instructed him to summon a blood refined beast according to the spell Patriarch Xue Pao taught Yang Qingshi in case he encountered any trouble. Patriarch Xue's psyche could then attach itself to Yang Qingshi and save him from a life-threatening situation.
As for Yang Qingshi and the Demonic Appraisal Association, he had long since joined the organization. However, this had nothing to do with Patriarch Xue Pao.
Despite being Patriarch Xue's disciple, Yang Qingshi was actually just a pawn. Patriarch Xue Pao had been so anxious because without Yang Qingshi, no one would be able to bring back 'offerings' every year.
Although Yang Qingshi said he didn't know, Lin Jin could guess that those who were lured into the mountain had all been devoured by Patriarch Xue Pao.
At this point, there was only one conclusion.
It seemed like Patriarch Xue Pao was unable to move around freely. Or to put it more bluntly, he was probably sealed in a place where no one could go. Unable to leave, he could only rely on the people Yang Qingshi brought with him to prolong his life.
Although Lin Jin couldn't be sure, the possibility was high. This was great news for Lin Jin and the Jade Dragon Kingdom.
Lin Jin was truly afraid that Patriarch Xue Pao would come for him. Now that he knew the man was trapped somewhere, he felt like he had just survived a disaster.
Yang Qingshi didn't know much else but he was sure of one thing. This Patriarch Xue Pao was one of the five demonic patriarchs.
"It's no wonder the Demon Slayer in the museum became restless when I used my Sword Intent. It's a pity that the blood refined beast was just a clone and not the demon himself. Otherwise, I could have gotten another piece of demonic jade from the Demon Slayer."
Lin Jin mumbled to himself.
Although Lin Jin didn't have to worry about Patriarch Xue Pao suddenly coming for him and could even do whatever he wanted for the time being, who knew if the man would suddenly break free one day. Hence, he had to plan ahead.
Lin Jin had been a little complacent before but now, it seemed like he shouldn't. Although Xiao Huo was in his Dharma body form, he was still only Rank 4. Lin Jin only managed to win this time because he used everything he had. Even so, he was still surrounded by danger. If he wanted to live a carefree life in the future, he had to work hard to improve his strength.
For the rest of the day, Lin Jin didn't go anywhere else. He rested in the house arranged by headquarters and thought about ways to improve his strength.
As for tomorrow's Jade Dragon Festival Blessing Ceremony, Lin Jin wasn't too worried. However, in the afternoon, Tan Xun came looking for Lin Jin with a ceremonial officer to remind him of the details.
This went on until late at night. Lin Jin didn't expect this Jade Dragon Festival Blessing Ceremony to be so troublesome. Just the process alone took a long time and as the host, Lin Jin had to participate in the entire process.
Other than that, there was also the formal attire he would be wearing tomorrow. It had to be tailored according to Lin Jin's physique, along with various accessories. He also had to memorize the lecture notes. Lin Jin felt that it was ten times more complicated and difficult than studying beast appraising books.
Initially, Lin Jin thought that he would only need to show off his skills and pray for the pet beast he picked to evolve.
To other beast appraisers, what Lin Jin thought was the easiest was actually the hardest. In the past, there had been instances of hosts' failing 'during the Jade Dragon Festival.
Late into the night, Lin Jin was exhausted. When he was finally done, he finally fell asleep. But before the sun even rose, he was woken up by someone who told him to start preparing.
Even though the sun had yet to rise, headquarters was already bustling with activity. After all, the annual Jade Dragon Festival was an extremely important event for headquarters.
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