Chapter 380: Engage in Combat

The last time he actually used the full Nebula Barrier was also here in the royal capital. Since then, while Lin Jin would occasionally perform the Nebula Barrier, he never used the flag because it wasn’t necessary.

However, in times like this, he had to go all out.

This mansion was huge and that eight-headed viper’s aura was receding, an indication that it was about to leave in another direction so Lin Jin simply used the Nebula Barrier to seal off the entire area.

No matter how capable his opponent was, they wouldn’t be able to escape now. Lin Jin was going to put things right once and for all. He would trap the enemy here and slowly deal with him.

Under the Nebula Barrier, the vice minister’s mansion was physically separated from the outside world. Not only couldn’t the people inside leave, but the outsiders couldn’t come in either.

Meanwhile, at the back door of the mansion, Yang Qingshi who was about to make his escape stared wide-eyed at the fog wall up ahead. Sensing that something bad was about to happen, he hurried forward.

To his surprise, after running through the fog, he found himself standing at the same spot where he started.

He tried running through the fog and again, the same thing happened.

Immediately, Yang Qingshi began to break out in cold sweat.

No matter how knowledgeable he was, he hadn’t come across anything like this before. Everything had been within his grasp at first but the sudden appearance of this fog barrier had thrown him off balance completely.

He realized that no matter what he did, he was stuck here.

“What kind of sorcery is this? I refuse to believe it can contain me!” Yang Qingshi had planned to use his master’s clone to buy time for his escape. However, he ended up running straight into trouble which was the main cause of his anxiety. After all, he knew full well that his master’s clone wouldn’t be able to last long. If he missed this window of opportunity, he would be doomed.

At this thought, Yang Qingshi willed himself to calm down and then gather every single bit of knowledge to try and break this barrier.

He tried spells, artifacts, even contaminated beast blood, but to no avail. Eventually, Yang Qingshi lost his composure.

Meanwhile, Lin Jin had arrived at the courtyard. The place now looked like the depths of hell with countless severed limbs littered all over the garden. One could hardly even tell what this place had once been.

The Lieutenant Governor was currently engaged in battle with the monster alongside a dozen men. However, the battle only seemed like a one-sided slaughter.

While the governor was able to fend for himself, the others never stood a chance.

The Lieutenant Governor’s pet beast was terribly injured but the golden lion remained courageous. Despite knowing it was probably going to die here, the creature never backed down.

This changed following Lin Jin’s arrival.

Like a steel whip, the monster sent the golden lion flying with a flick of its tail. The lion coughed up a mouthful of blood, and the instant he landed, the bloody monster charged forward with its claws ready to slice its throat open.

At this crucial moment, Lin Jin fired a needle at him.

What transpired was rather strange. This blood-soaked monster had been on the offensive fearlessly, even after sustaining all the hits from arrows, swords, and pet beasts. He didn’t even spare them a glance as if his body was indestructible.

However, just one of Lin Jin’s tiny needles was enough to startle him into retreating at once. It was a move that ultimately saved the golden lion’s life.

The needle disappeared into a nearby boulder. Right after that happened, web-like cracks started forming across the boulder’s surface. It looked as if it could shatter with one gentle touch.

Lin Jin descended to the ground and all his olfactory canal was filled with the stench of blood. Judging by the situation here, at least a hundred people must have died in this monster’s hands.

“Appraiser Lin, be careful of this thing,” warned the Lieutenant Governor. Lin Jin nodded. Instead of hopping straight into battle, he studied the injured soldiers and pet beasts around him.

Besides the golden lion, there were at least a dozen wounded pet beasts. Some were so severely injured that their abdomens were split open.

Lin Jin knew he was involved in this. Had it not been for him, these brave soldiers wouldn’t have gotten themselves in such a mess. Hence, he felt guilty, but even that was overshadowed by his rage.

With a fling of his sleeve, needles shot out as Lin Jin worked the coiled-wire needle to its full potential. In the blink of an eye, the lightly injured pet beasts could stand up again while those with heavy injuries had their open wounds mended at once. At the same time, Lin Jin produced a bottle of pills which he fed to the mortally wounded beasts.

In no time, he brought the situation under control. Aside from those who were already dead that Lin Jin couldn’t revive, no matter how fatally wounded the others were, Lin Jin tried his best to patch them up.

His actions surprised the soldiers. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that no regular beast appraiser would have achieved such a feat.

The monster stopped its relentless attacks because it was still wary of Lin Jin, but it was also curious. To think such a young appraiser would possess such incredible skill. Even in premium countries, such an individual would be considered superior.

Only a connoisseur would recognize true art in the making. The monster itself was quite the connoisseur, so as it observed Lin Jin’s actions, it nodded with approval.

“What wonderful technique! What tremendous skill!” it praised.

After treating the pet beasts, Lin Jin proceeded to patch the injured soldiers up. That much was enough for them to feel grateful and excited.

Rescuing their pet beasts was already a huge favor. Soldiers may be tough in the face of adversity, but they also had an intimate side, especially when it came to their pet beasts, with whom they spent most of their lives. Their companions were family.

When their pet beasts got hurt, they felt indescribable sorrow and despair at the possibility of their companions dying. Thankfully, at their darkest hour, a glimmer of hope appeared. Lin Jin had come to their rescue. Even if a few had lost their lives, Lin Jin didn’t give up on them. It was this that won him their respect.

“Thank you, Appraiser Lin, for your grace!” One of the soldiers prostrated before him.

Lin Jin immediately helped him up and had him leave together with the Lieutenant Governor.

“We are willing to fight together with Appraiser Lin! Death will not make us flinch!” shouted the soldiers stubbornly.

Lin Jin’s expression darkened and he turned to the Lieutenant Governor. The latter immediately understood Lin Jin’s intention.

Despite the battle with the monster, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they achieved nothing. Them staying here would be nothing more than a burden on Lin Jin.

Sensible as he was, the Lieutenant Governor barked, “Soldiers, heed my order! Retreat at once!”

Since their general had spoken, the soldiers dared not disobey his order.

Only with the soldiers gone could Lin Jin go all out when dealing with this monster.

Speaking of which, Lin Jin had been on his guard the entire time, anticipating it to sneak an attack on him at any given opportunity. The attack never came.

The monster studied Lin Jin as much as Lin Jin was studying it.

Unlike its previous foe, Lin Jin’s careful observation told him that this monster was just the ‘clone’ of a great cultivator.