Chapter 448: Exhausted

Fortune and misfortune were two buckets in the same well. Perhaps the price to pay for a rare creature like a phoenix’s rebirth was to fully exhaust a fire spirit stream, even if it was one that consisted of exotic fire.

Due to the green blaze being a more resilient variant of exotic flames, there were still remnants of it left. Had this been any other type of exotic fire, there would be nothing left after the phoenix Nirvana.

However, Lin Jin knew this was the end of the green blaze.

This was because other than the phoenix’s rebirth, there was also Xiao Huo.

Xiao Huo was only trying for evolution and not Nirvana so the volume of exotic fire he required wasn’t much compared to the phoenix. After he achieves evolution, it was likely that all exotic flames would be gone at that point.

Although it was a pity, this exotic fire was able to promote a Rank 3 fire lizard to Rank 5, revive a dead phoenix, and help Xiao Huo achieve perfect evolution.

That was good enough.

As expected of exotic fire. While Xiao Huo found it to be an uncomfortable experience, with the exotic flames and Thunderfire Needle assisting him, he was able to further fortify his Dharma body. After absorbing the green blaze, Xiao Huo completed his perfect evolution.

From Rank 4 to Rank 5.

Lin Jin had been waiting so long for this moment, and once again, they successfully pushed past Xiao Huo’s biological limit. As an average fire wolf, perhaps none of his kind had ever achieved Rank 5.

Xiao Huo was surely the first once to break that precedent.

True to his deductions, right after Xiao Huo evolved, the exotic fire below extinguished completely, disappearing without a trace.

In fact, it wasn’t just the exotic fire that disappeared, but so did Maple City’s Earth-Fire Spirit Stream, which now resembled a dried-up well. The raging magma began to harden into obsidian and the temperature of the cave gradually fell.

Lin Jin waved his hand and Xiao Huo instinctively jumped up to him. Xiao Huo’s appearance was now a little different from his how he previously looked with his Dharma body. Before this, he seemed to be made of a combination of ice and fire energy without an actual form, but now, Xiao Huo seemed much more solid as if he had gained a ‘physical body’. Lin Jin, however, knew it wasn’t real flesh and blood.

It was the unique characteristic of phoenix flames.

And this startled Lin Jin.

Why would Xiao Huo display characteristics of phoenix flames?

After all, phoenix fire was another type of exotic fire. Lin Jin reached for Xiao Huo’s head, and after the appraisal was done, his shocked expression gradually turned into one of delight.

‘So when Xiao Huo stayed beside the phoenix during its rebirth, he managed to capture a portion of the phoenix’s flames when he evolved. I see!’

This was great.

No, it was better than great!

The chances of mixing in another exotic fire variant were incredibly slim, and now that Xiao Huo had phoenix flames, he would also display some of the unique traits possessed by a phoenix.

Lin Jin would have to research this in great detail later on.

Anyway, one of the phoenix flame’s traits was now visible on Xiao Huo’s body and that was the concreteness of flames. This made Xiao Huo appear more substantial compared to his Dharma body state.

At Rank 5, Xiao Huo’s strength was also increased by several folds. Lin Jin would look further into that later. He lifted an arm to beckon the wolf over, and Xiao Huo subsequently merged back into Lin Jin’s arm. The moment he did that, Lin Jin felt an overflowing strength inside his body.

“Let’s go!”

The magma below was cooling down slowly. Although they were still glowing hot, it wouldn’t take long for it to extinguish completely since both the Earth-Fire Spirit Stream and the exotic fire source had been depleted.

Inside the tunnel, Senior Mo was doing fine but mother dragon felt terrible from the heatwave from earlier. If it weren’t for her strong monster energy, she would have collapsed a while ago.

“Let’s talk outside!” Lin Jin cast them a glance before walking ahead.

Shang’er supported him all the way.

Following behind them was Zhao Jingyan, who wore a triumphant expression. She was brimming with unprecedented confidence because of the realization that she, Zhao Jingyan, the great commander of Phoenix Palace, had been reborn just like her pet beast.

She would go back and seize what was rightfully hers. She would confront and interrogate all her betrayers for the reason behind their actions.

Behind Zhao Jingyan was Elder Mo with his fire-lizard, and at the end of the group was mother dragon and Senior Mo.

Senior Mo was hesitant. As he didn’t know Transfiguration, he rarely revealed himself in public. What if someone recognized him out there?

He wasn’t actually weak but if he came across strong opponents, it wasn’t like he would be able to handle them either.

Mother dragon noticed Senior Mo’s conflicted expression so she patted him, a gesture of reassurance. Both of them had a long talk earlier so mother dragon now had a rough idea of how Jade Dragon Kingdom was currently faring and also why her son had decided to venture beyond their lair.

He wanted to seek refuge with Appraiser Lin and cultivate under his guidance.

Mother dragon had her own cultivation method too but it wasn’t suitable for Senior Mo as they had different attributes. Mother dragon’s cultivation method was unique to ice attributes and if Senior Mo practiced it, not only would it not yield results but it could potentially harm him as well.

Even if he could cultivate it, what he stood to gain surely couldn’t compare to having Appraiser Lin as his mentor.

Mother dragon had a good eye. She could tell that Lin Jin was a person of talent. If opportunity allowed her son to learn under his wing, she could die in peace when her time was up.

On the subject of revenge, mother dragon didn’t even want to think about it anymore. She didn’t want to experience demonification due to resentment ever again. Her only hope now was for her son to live well.

Due to how hellbent she was on avenging her sons, she had lost two hundred years of her life just like that. Her son wasn’t able to receive guidance in his cultivation, thus missing out on the best years to improve himself. Perhaps following Appraiser Lin was his only hope now.

It was after emerging from the cave did they realized how lively it was up here. All of Maple City’s experts have gathered here and the sky was covered by a massive flock of birds. At the sight of Zhao Jingyan, the birds cried out in unison to show their respect.

“The phoenix is the king of birds so it should come as no surprise for its Nirvana aura to attract birds from all over the place.” Lin Jin didn’t find it unusual but there were a number of notoriously ferocious birds among the flock. Letting them stay at Maple City might be troublesome.

“Scatter!” Lin Jin unleashed his Beast Deterrence. As if soundless lightning had struck from above, the birds scattered in all directions.

Everyone found this ability to be exceptional, but they were already aware of how capable Lin Jin was, so something as phenomenal as this failed to surprise them.

Some of them noticed Senior Mo emerge from the cave together with Lin Jin, but they refrained from approaching him to ask what happened. They feared that if they were overly nosy, they would risk annoying Lin Jin.

Even individuals such as Bai Zhenkong and Ye Yezhou felt uneasy in the presence of Lin Jin now, much less everyone else. The place was dead silent.

Lin Jin looked around and realized what was happening so he saluted them all. “I understand that the commotion I stirred up was a little overwhelming. Apologies for any disturbances caused.”

The crowd immediately returned the salute.

“Everything’s fine now. You may all relax and return to your respective tasks.”

Lin Jin clearly had no intention of explaining the incident, and everyone could tell. Hence, they could only leave helplessly and pray that they could endure their torturous curiosity.