Zhao Jingyan?
Lin Jin was stunned.
He mused, 'Why is she here? Didn't we just meet in the Visitation Hall? It's only been two days, so why would she be here in Maple City?'
'If she's here, why didn't she tell me? '
Whatever the case, Lin Jin decided to take a look first. After asking someone to invite her in, Lin Jin confirmed that it was indeed Zhao Jingyan. However, Lin Jin was Lin Jin now, not Curator, so he probably hadn't met 'Zhao Jingyan' before. Hence, Lin Jin put on an act and said, "I'm the chief of Maple City's beast appraiser association, Lin Jin. Is there something I can help you with?"
While Lin Jin was pretentiously studying her, Zhao Jingyan was doing the same thing.
The impression he gave her was that he was elegant and composed. As expected of Curator's disciple.
Of course, Zhao Jingyan was the great commander of Phoenix Palace, an existence second only to a premium country. Zhao Jingyan was naturally arrogant.
She couldn't afford to be arrogant in front of Curator, but if Lin Jin was only his disciple, she felt that they could at least be on equal footing. Or perhaps, she should be more polite.
This was Zhao Jingyan's own opinion. She was being polite in front of Lin Jin.
"Appraiser Lin, I'm from Phoenix Palace. Jingyan is an acquaintance of your master. I've come uninvited because I was forced by circumstances to meet your master and answer his questions. Also, I'm here on my master's instructions to search for an abnormal flame."
Zhao Jingyan answered with a smile.
What he said was reasonable but Lin Jin could hear a big problem in it.
It was understandable that Zhao Jingyan came to him because she couldn't find 'Curator'. But why would she come here to search for an abnormal flame? Where in Maple City, or even the entire Jade Dragon Kingdom, could she find one?
Lin Jin didn't ask directly. Instead, he had Zhao Ying and the others brew tea for the guests. Zhao Ying and the others were sensible enough to know that there were visitors so they went out to tend to their duties after they finished brewing the tea. Now, Lin Jin's Beast Appraisal Hall was managed by Zhao Ying, Lu Xiaoyun, Jia Qian, and Han Donglai. Usually, they would only ask Lin Jin for help when they encountered some incurable illnesses or rare beasts. But recently, they were able to handle any incurable illnesses or rare beasts.
Hence, Lin Jin said that the four of them had reached the standard of a Rank 1 beast appraiser, and they were even stronger.
Inside the house, Zhao Jingyan recounted what happened in the Visitation Hall. Although Lin Jin already knew about it, he still had to listen to it from the beginning to the end.
"Your master, Curator, is a rare talent in this world. Jing Yan admires him immensely. That phoenix's Nirvana and rebirth through fire was of no use to me either. Other than visiting Appraiser Lin to see if there's a chance for me to meet Curator, I'm also here because I know of an unusual fire vein beneath Maple City." Zhao Jingyan didn't try to hide anything. Since she knew Lin Jin was Curator's disciple, there was no reason for her to hide anything.
Lin Jin was now sure that Zhao Jingyan wasn't here for an excuse. She was here for the Anomaly Flame so that the phoenix could undergo Nirvana.
However, Lin Jin had no idea that there was an anomaly fire vein beneath Maple City.
But soon, Lin Jin recalled that there was indeed an Earth Vein Spirit Fire in the Beast Appraisal Association. But while this Earth Vein was rare, it couldn't be considered an unusual flame.
If there was an anomalous fire vein beneath Maple City, it would have been heavily guarded instead of being so relaxed. After all, an anomalous fire vein was no small matter.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jingyan merely smiled.
"Appraiser Lin, you might not know this, but I'm afraid no one in the Jade Dragon Kingdom is aware of the existence of an anomalous fire vein beneath Maple City. Only our Phoenix Palace knows about this. After all, Phoenix Palace reigns supreme over fire. Our ancestors have long scouted out every province and if there's an anomaly, they would mark it down and use a secret technique to seal off the fire vein to prevent others from finding out."
At this, Lin Jin was enlightened.
Phoenix Palace was capable of doing something like this. Moreover, Phoenix Palace was an organization with several hundred years of history. In the past centuries, they had produced experts as well. If an expert from Phoenix Palace had found out about the anomaly fire vein beneath Maple City before the Jade Dragon Kingdom was founded and used a secret technique to seal off its aura, the outcome would be exactly as Zhao Jingyan described.
This was akin to having a treasure in one's house that was locked away by someone else. As the owner of the house, how vexing would that be?
In any case, Lin Jin was feeling vexed.
If he had known that there was an anomaly fire vein beneath Maple City, Xiao Huo might have been able to use the flame to complete his next perfect evolution.
It seemed like Phoenix Palace had done something detestable.
But thinking about it from another perspective, if the Phoenix Palace did not seal up this place, then in these several hundred years, there would likely be other masters who would discover this place. At that time, there would be a storm of blood, and it was even possible that this heavenly fire vein would dry up.
In other words, Phoenix Palace had done a good deed. At the very least, they managed to preserve this anomaly fire vein to this day.
It was one thing if he didn't know about it before, but now that he did, Lin Jin couldn't just sit back and do nothing.
Lin Jin recalled that the entrance to the anomaly fire vein was inside the beast appraisers' association. He had once obtained a fire to refine a beast down there but Lin Jin didn't know about it back then.
He recalled that pelletization was also down there.
Lin Jin couldn't keep his cool anymore. He and Zhao Jingyan agreed to go down there and take a look. Zhao Jingyan was more than happy to oblige. She was here to borrow the anomaly fire vein for her phoenix's nirvana.
However, she was still a little hesitant.
"Don't we have to wait for Curator? What if, and I mean, what if something goes wrong? At least we'll have some insurance. "Zhao Jingyan clearly trusted Curator more.
But Lin Jin couldn't wait.
"Curator won't be coming anytime soon. Also, I've received his teachings so it's the same for me."
Lin Jin got up and had Zhao Jingyan follow him.
The Beast Appraisal Association's earth fire spirit vein was usually used by beast appraisers to treat their pet beasts' injuries and improve their strength. The one guarding this place was Elder Mo of the association.
Elder Mo was a veteran who once helped Lin Jin. Hence, even though Lin Jin was now the chief of the Beast Appraisal Association, Lin Jin was still polite to Elder Mo.
"Elder Mo!" Lin Jin entered the cave and saluted Elder Mo who was meditating. Upon seeing Lin Jin, the latter laughed heartily. "Chief Lin, it's been a long time since you've been here. I've heard about your exploits in the royal capital. If you have the time, you must tell me about the art of beast appraising."
Elder Mo wasn't one to put on airs just because of his seniority. This was what Lin Jin admired the most about him.
"Elder Mo, I didn't come here without a reason." Lin Jin knew that Elder Mo's duty was to guard this earth fire spirit vein. Lin Jin was ashamed that he had never asked why Elder Mo had to guard this place. As chief, he had failed in his duty.
When asked about this, Elder Mo glanced at Zhao Jingyan who came in with Lin Jin.
Elder Mo's duty here was clearly a secret of the association that couldn't be revealed in front of outsiders.
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