Hidden Dragon Academy

Hidden Dragon Academy? Cao Ziwei?

The elders wore strange expressions.

Looking toward the area outside the sect, Elder Mo said, "Stop fighting over him for now... As expected of Hidden Dragon Academy. They certainly move fast."

Before long, a man dressed as a schoolteacher appeared atop the mechanical fish, smiling at the members of the Beast Taming Sect.

"I am Cao Ziwei of Hidden Dragon Academy. Greetings, fellow Daoists of the Beast Taming Sect."

"I have come for this young friend who just emerged from the grotto heaven." He looked at Lin Jing and the Pineleaf Squirrel.

"He has already met the requirements for entering Hidden Dragon Academy, so I came especially to invite him."

"Greetings, Master Cao." The elders bowed.

Several Outer Gate Disciples found the sight utterly outrageous. Even an outside faction had come to poach him.

And faced with this situation, the elders seemed to have little reaction.

"Young friend, do you know of Hidden Dragon Academy?" the schoolteacher asked Lin Jing.

Lin Jing was a little confused himself now. "I've read a few introductions in books."

"Hidden Dragon Academy is where the Heavenly Origin Ancient Kingdom trains its immortal officials..."

The schoolteacher said, "Indeed. Cultivators at Hidden Dragon Academy all have the chance to become immortal officials. Once they pass the assessment, they can directly assume the position of a city lord. It is another route to becoming an immortal official."

"Of course, the entry requirements for Hidden Dragon Academy are extremely demanding. But since the grotto heaven selected you, young friend, you naturally meet them."

"So, would you be interested in joining Hidden Dragon Academy?"

Lin Jing shook his head. "My sincere apologies, but I am a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect."

"There is no conflict." The schoolteacher smiled. "Your sect master once studied at Hidden Dragon Academy, and even served for ten years as the lord of a city in the Great Wilderness Region."

"Isn't he still the sect master of the Beast Taming Sect now?"

"Being a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect and a student of Hidden Dragon Academy are not mutually exclusive. Many outstanding talents from various sects have studied at Hidden Dragon Academy."

Lin Jing understood. Hidden Dragon Academy sought to bind the core figures and geniuses of each sect more deeply to the Ancient Kingdom.

He looked at Elder Mo, who said, "Hear Master Cao out, then decide for yourself."

The schoolteacher smiled at Elder Mo in acknowledgment, then said, "Young friend, you may not know much about Hidden Dragon Academy. Joining it would be extremely beneficial to you."

"It has far deeper reserves than the Beast Taming Sect, and you can gain credentials as an immortal official and learn the Hidden Dragon Secret Art."

"Do you know of the Hidden Dragon Secret Art?"

"It originates from the True Dragon Secret Art created by His Majesty the Ancient Emperor. It allows cultivators holding the office of an immortal official to draw upon the power of local dragon veins, enhancing their cultivation and combat strength. The reason cultivators governing a city can suppress lawbreakers above their own level is precisely this Hidden Dragon Secret Art."

"Beyond that, the Hidden Dragon Secret Art has many other uses. For the Beast Taming Sect, for instance, it could be called the finest secret method on the entire continent for raising dragon-blooded pet beasts, bar none."

"Of course, joining Hidden Dragon Academy is not mandatory. It is entirely your choice, young friend, and no one will force you. Still, as a cultivator of the Heavenly Origin Ancient Kingdom, having such credentials would undoubtedly give your future cultivation smoother sailing."

"Must I decide now and leave with you, Senior?" Lin Jing asked.

"No. I am merely extending an invitation for now. You may take some time to consider it. Your current cultivation at the fourth layer of Qi Refining is a little low. It will not be too late to go to Hidden Dragon Academy when you are about to reach Foundation Establishment. There are better Foundation Establishment methods and better Core Formation methods there," the schoolteacher said.

"Thank you, Senior. I will consider it carefully." Lin Jing cupped his hands.

The Pineleaf Squirrel flicked its Daoist robe and also gave a slight cupped-hands salute.

"If you make up your mind, crush this jade slip, and someone will come to collect you. If you choose to give up the opportunity, simply throw it away." With that, the schoolteacher bade farewell to the elders of the Beast Taming Sect.

Only after he left did the elders let out great breaths.

"This man's... cultivation should be above Nascent Soul," Elder Li said, a bead of cold sweat running down his face.

"I wonder whether he has reached Spirit Transformation," Elder Yu mused.

Meanwhile, Lin Jing silently held the jade slip, looked at the elders, and sighed.

What was going on? I don't want to leave the sect. I don't want to become an official.

"Since the academy personally invited you, you should go." After a moment's hesitation, Elder Mo said, "Opportunities like this are rare. Master Cao had a point. The academy truly has deeper reserves than the Beast Taming Sect."

"They should have several Foundation Establishment methods that can develop special acquired physiques. Those are things the Beast Taming Sect lacks."

"If you establish your foundation using the Beast Taming Sect's methods and remain in the Great Wilderness Region all your life, it may make no difference. But if you aspire to seek the Dao and ascend, they may fall a little short."

"Elder Mo..." Lin Jing wanted to say that he had a longevity body and the Pineleaf Squirrel was a treasure beast. Going outside would be terribly dangerous.

"I know." Elder Mo said, "Once the sect master and the others return, I will request a suitable Nascent Soul ancestor to protect you on your path and accompany you to the academy!"

Besides, the academy would actually be safer.

"But before then, raise your cultivation as quickly as possible. Ideally, reach the ninth layer of Qi Refining!"

With Elder Mo having gone this far, Lin Jing and the Pineleaf Squirrel exchanged a glance and said nothing more. If their safety was guaranteed, who would want to stay in one place forever?

"Then shall I go cultivate at Cinnabar Glow Peak first?" Lin Jing asked.

"Come along!" Hearing Lin Jing's words, Elder Shen of Cinnabar Glow Peak beamed as brightly as a dragonbone flower.

"This old man will take you back to Cinnabar Glow Peak and choose a cave abode for you!"

Afraid the elders of the other peaks would continue fighting over him, the elder of Cinnabar Glow Peak stepped forward, grabbed Lin Jing, and hurried away, leaving the other elders rather speechless.

Was that really necessary?

They shook their heads and left as well.

Soon, only Elder Yu, Elder Li, and a few other newly promoted inner disciples remained atop the mechanical fish.

At the sight, Elder Yu froze. Wait, are they really... dumping these disciples on me?

Cinnabar Glow Peak.

Elder Shen immediately arranged an excellent cave abode for Lin Jing. Though it had no spirit fields, it had an alchemy chamber connected to earth fire.

"Thank you, Elder Shen." Lin Jing looked at the old man.

"No need to stand on ceremony. Although you have considerable accomplishments in mechanical constructs, alchemy is an entirely new field. You two will have to work hard. This is the Fire-Control Formula, essential for all disciples of Cinnabar Glow Peak. Normally, because their energy is limited, our disciples do not directly practice fire techniques. Instead, they find a fire pet to breathe flames and use the Fire-Control Formula to assist from the side, refining pills together."

"Since you have no fire pet at present, practice using earth fire. Begin cultivating first. If there is anything you do not understand, you may come find me. If you wish to raise a fire pet, tell me as well, and I will select a few pet beasts with excellent aptitudes for you. Beast fire is ultimately somewhat better than earth fire for refining pills." Elder Shen was deeply concerned about Lin Jing's situation. Other disciples who performed poorly in their cultivation might simply be transferred to another peak.

Before long, Elder Shen left, leaving behind the jade slip containing the Fire-Control Formula.

After he left, Lin Jing and the Pineleaf Squirrel stared at each other inside the cave abode. Lin Jing said, "Forget about that academy for now. Let's think about how to refine pills first."

"Squeak!" The Pineleaf Squirrel looked at Lin Jing. Was he going to find a new pet?

"I have no plans to do that for now." Lin Jing shook his head. "I can barely afford to raise you alone."

The Pineleaf Squirrel nodded.

"But earth fire is ordinary fire. It really is poor for refining pills, with an extremely low success rate. And the true qi of the Beast Taming Art has no fire properties, making it unsuitable for practicing fire techniques."

"That Female Alchemist from the Pill Cauldron Sect seemed to get pretty good results with her purple flames. If only we had an unusual flame to help us refine pills too."

Lin Jing suddenly said, "To do a good job, a craftsman must first sharpen his tools. I've got it! If spirit bamboo can spray water, there must be spirit plants that can breathe fire."

He remembered that the Complete Compendium of Flora recorded a special fierce plant called the Firecloud Chili. Though its grade was low, it could make any creature that ate it breathe flames. Its side effects were equally obvious, however: it would burn the lungs and internal organs.

"Since spirit plants can mutate into fierce plants, do you think synthesizing fierce plants might make them mutate into spirit plants that let you breathe unusual flames and warm your internal organs?"

"Then, once you eat the synthesized Firecloud Chili, you can pass yourself off as a fire-type spirit beast and help me refine pills. There'll be no need to find a new fire pet at all."

The Pineleaf Squirrel froze...

It grabbed its Storage Bag, seemingly having made some sort of decision, and turned to leave the cave abode. But the very next moment, Lin Jing caught it and dragged it back.

Squeak... squeak... squeak!

It flailed its paws and bared its teeth, making it clear that Lin Jing should find a fire pet to do the work instead. It quit. Making a wood-type spirit beast breathe fire was downright rotten.