Vol 5 Chapter 91: An Accidental Success
"It's actually an improved version of the Beast Taming Art. What excellent modifications! The Beast Taming Art is one of our Immortal Palace's classic cultivation methods. To innovate upon it truly demonstrates the talent of our Immortal Palace's disciples. Devoting effort to improving the palace's techniques shows the greatest sincerity from a disciple." The mechanical voice finished speaking, leaving all four individuals stunned—even Lin Jing himself. While an improved Beast Taming Art was certainly valuable, it shouldn't compare to "Nine Celestial Dances," right? He had casually tossed it in as filler, never expecting such high praise.
"This actually worked? I've modified Immortal Palace techniques too!" The Heavenly Song Palace Master couldn't sit still and immediately dug out several of his own modified palace techniques to throw into the offering.
The mechanical voice responded, "What kind of haphazard modifications are these? How dare you defile the classics of the Immortal Palace! Improvement isn't the same as reckless alteration!" The Heavenly Song Palace Master was dumbfounded. How could these be considered reckless? They were all genuine optimizations of the original versions, making them more suitable for ordinary cultivators!
"What's going on?" Even the Demon Emperor was confused. Only Lin Jing's expression darkened as he realized the situation. [This mechanism is deliberately ignoring everything else I offered.] [Those were all premium materials—things that might not even exist in the Immortal Realm—yet it doesn't mention them at all?] [This secret realm's mechanical spirit must have developed its own consciousness beyond its programmed functions, aware that the secret realm has lost contact with the Immortal Realm.] [An Immortal Lord-level technique didn't elicit any reaction because it couldn't cultivate or submit it, hence the indifference.] [But those materials of mine were all top-grade mechanical components. Its silence suggests it plans to keep them for itself.] [My offerings accidentally aligned with the mechanical spirit's preferences, which is why it exaggerated the value of the modified Beast Taming Art...]
This actually worked? After Lin Jing's analysis, the Demon Emperor fell silent. Neither had considered that the gifts needed to please the secret realm's sentient consciousness first! After prolonged separation from its master, the mechanical spirit had started accepting under-the-table deals.
"Fortunately..." Luckily, Lin Jing had spent recent years modifying the Mechanized Turtle, having the Wood-attribute Pine Leaf Mouse synthesize plenty of mechanical materials. He'd included the extras in his offering, which seemed to perfectly match the mechanical spirit's tastes. Lin Jing exhaled in relief—he really did have some luck on his side.
["I said techniques shouldn't be casually taught, but since you've all shown sincerity, I'll impart some spells based on your offerings. This will also test your innate comprehension—see if you can grasp the basics within the allotted time. Those who fail will be deemed unworthy of the ascension path."]
RUMBLE! Four separate pavilions appeared within the grand hall, each containing a cultivator statue.
["You—go to the eastern pavilion. This is Immortal Guo Xin, master of agricultural arts. Comprehend his divine abilities from the statue."] The Alliance Envoy was directed to the eastern pavilion. The sword cultivator nearly laughed aloud. What kind of shady arrangement was this? A sword cultivator learning agricultural techniques? To chop fruits afterward? The secret realm had already disapproved of his offering—was this retaliation?"The Immortal Palace's secret realm has such influence..." The Demon Emperor was sent to the southern pavilion. ["That is True Wonder Dao Lord, an immortalized leopard spirit whose speed and movement techniques rank first among the Immortal Palace's True Immortals. Comprehend my divine abilities from the statue."]
"Many thanks." The Demon Emperor's eyes lit up. Her speed had always been mediocre, and her Rare Beast Divine Abilities focused purely on destructive power. If she could comprehend True Wonder Dao Lord's techniques, the sacrifice of her technique wouldn't be in vain. There were likely more trials ahead—this secret realm truly treated people differently based on their gifts!
The Heavenly Song Palace Master was directed westward. ["This is the Immortal Palace's Divine Guard, a sentinel of the palace. Comprehend his divine abilities from the statue."]
Heavenly Song Palace Master: ? What nonsense was this? A dignified lower realm palace master only qualified to learn an upper realm guard's techniques? "Where's the justice?" He'd realized—without oversight from upper realm immortals, this secret realm's spirit must have malfunctioned. What kind of unfair ascension trial was this? But he could only swallow his complaints for now. Having already offered gifts, he'd have to comprehend even a guard's techniques—otherwise, it'd be a total loss.
Lin Jing seemed to receive the most preferential treatment. ["This is the Immortal Palace's Imperial Stables Supervisor, master of the Beast Taming Art. Comprehend his divine abilities from the statue."]
The Imperial Stables Supervisor! A master of the Beast Taming Art! Lin Jing had previously heard from the Divine Pine that the Beast Taming Art was merely a technique for the palace's beast-tending laborers. But now it appeared that wasn't the whole story. While most practitioners might indeed be laborers, the work still required management—someone who undoubtedly also cultivated the Beast Taming Art, though likely a vastly superior version compared to the laborers'.
"Many thanks." He was starting to like this material-hoarding secret realm spirit. Bribery was fine as long as it got things done! With results delivered, Lin Jing felt his gifts were well spent. Had he known the spirit would be so accommodating, he'd have offered more.
"The second trial tests comprehension, huh..." Lin Jing had little confidence in his own. While his comprehension might be normal or even above average, his Longevity Body dragged him down, making spell acquisition slower than ordinary cultivators. But these rules didn't seem to prohibit external assistance. Even if they did—after all his bribes—what was wrong with cheating a little? Even if he failed subsequent trials, comprehending the Imperial Stables Supervisor's divine abilities alone would make this trip worthwhile.
Entering the isolated pavilion, Lin Jing faced the middle-aged cultivator leading an immortal steed. His consciousness was soon drawn into another world, where the supervisor personally demonstrated his techniques before him.
["This divine ability is called the Great Summoning Art."] The middle-aged cultivator stood on an open field. ["A fine steed is met by chance, not sought—exceedingly difficult to breed or train. Yet the Immortal Realm teems with exceptional steeds. Thus, through the Great Summoning Art, we forcibly summon well-bred horses from other immortal sects to crossbreed with our palace's stock, producing more superior steeds."]
["This technique allows you to sacrifice offerings to summon immortally endowed beasts within a certain range. Once summoned, whether to kill, release, breed, or subjugate them becomes the beast tamer's prerogative!"]
["For the lower realms, it's even more formidable. Used skillfully, you could summon elite demonic beasts from other cultivation worlds. Watch carefully!"]