Chapter 458: Li Xinqi
Lin Jin wasn’t the type to find faults in people. Also, this was the Beast Appraisal Association Headquarters of Heavenly Spiral Kingdom so it was normal for their appraisers to work around the clock. Hence, waiting a little longer wouldn’t kill him.
“Jiang Tianhe, a Rank 3 beast appraiser of Heavenly Spiral Kingdom, ex-classmate and a good friend of Appraiser Tan Xun’s,” the middle-aged beast appraiser introduced himself cheerfully.
Lin Jin quickly saluted him.
“I’ve received and read Brother Tan’s letter. He spoke highly of you, but now that I’ve finally met you, I have to admit, you really do have the makings of a star.”
After entering the room, Jiang Tianhe went ahead and poured himself a cup of tea.
It was obvious that he was so bogged down with work that he couldn’t even have a drink.
Surprisingly, this upright behavior of his left a good impression on Lin Jin instead.
“Appraiser Lin, please sit. We’ll cut to the chase. Brother Tan is a good friend of mine and since he used the name of Jade Dragon Kingdom’s headquarters to recommend you here for a Rank 4 assessment, I will do everything I can to help you achieve your goal. However, you must understand that a Rank 4 examination is very challenging and it’s not that simple. I’m afraid we won’t have time for it today. Please come back tomorrow morning, Appraiser Lin. I will recommend you to the Rank 4 beast appraisers who will oversee the assessment. How they will assess you will be up to them.”
Jiang Tianhe didn’t try to keep any information from him and Lin Jin could tell that he was sincerely trying to help so he thanked Jiang Tianhe.
“Appraiser Jiang, it’s my first time here. I wonder if there’s anything I should prepare for?” Lin Jin asked.
Jiang Tianhe pondered a bit before answering, “There’s nothing for you to prepare for. According to my knowledge, a Rank 4 beast appraiser’s examination is very strict. There will be a panel of ten appraisers and to pass, you will need to gain the approval of all ten judges. If even one of them raises an objection, you will fail. But that’s understandable because a Rank 4 promotion isn’t something that should be taken lightly.”
Lin Jin nodded.
That was true. Rank 4 beast appraisers were impressive and it was said that Heavenly Spiral Kingdom’s headquarters didn’t even have more than twenty Rank 4 beast appraisers.
“Right, do you have a place to stay, Appraiser Lin? If you don’t, I can arrange it for you.” Jiang Tianhe was a considerate man. Lin Jin recalled that he wasn’t traveling alone as there was still Gu Mengzhong too, so he said, “I have a good friend here with me in Heavenly Spiral City. We can find our own accommodation.”
Jiang Tianhe nodded. “Sounds good.”
Having said that, he got up. “Appraiser Lin, if there’s nothing else, I will be taking my leave now. There’s just too much to do and I hope that Appraiser Lin can forgive my rudeness.”
Lin Jin immediately shook his head. “Not at all, Appraiser Jiang.”
Then, he suddenly recalled something and quickly said, “Oh, I hope you don’t mind answering one more question from me. Appraiser Tan Xun’s daughter is at Heavenly Spiral Academy and he has entrusted to me a letter for her. How should I pass it to her?”
Jiang Tianhe answered with a smile. “You can just head over and look for her. The academy is comparatively lenient with visitors.”
Having said that, he bid Lin Jin goodbye and took his leave.
The man seemed very busy.
Since the Rank 4 examination was confirmed, Lin Jin could rest easy now. There was still a lot of time left so he decided to head to Heavenly Spiral Academy.
Once outside, Lin Jin asked a fellow beast appraiser for directions only to learn that headquarters had a path that led directly to Heavenly Spiral Academy. There was no need to go over from the outside.
Since it was closer this way, Lin Jin decided to use this path. And so, he started asking for directions as he walked in the general direction of the academy. In the process, he passed through a massive garden and then some pavilion buildings. Before he knew it, he had already entered Heavenly Spiral Academy.
There, he saw many Rank 1 and Rank 2 beast appraisers studying. The studious atmosphere hit him almost at once. Lin Jin continued his exploration of the academy. The students who he passed all noticed the three rings on Lin Jin’s sleeve. Some were stunned at first, but all of them saluted him nonetheless.
Because the students of Heavenly Spiral Academy were all Rank 1 and Rank 2 beast appraisers, anyone at Rank 3 was worthy of conducting their lectures. Since Lin Jin was potentially a teacher, it was only right for them to salute him.
Whenever Lin Jin received a salute, he would return the gesture out of courtesy.
But soon, he realized a problem.
Heavenly Spiral Academy was massive, and it was filled with countless halls and hallways. There was so much to take in and everywhere looked similar so before long, he realized that he was lost.
Even so, Lin Jin maintained his composure. He saw a few students coming his way so Lin Jin called out to them to request Tan Lin’s whereabouts.
Speaking of which, Lin Jin’s knowledge of Heavenly Spiral Academy was so limited that he wasn’t sure where the respective departments were located, so getting straight to the chase was much easier.
However, it became evident that not everyone here knew who Tan Lin was. After asking a few more people, Lin Jin walked away without the answer he was looking for.
That went on until he stopped a female student to ask her about Tan Lin. She was momentarily taken aback when she heard him mention that name. Then, she said timidly, “Mister, you’re looking for Tan Lin? Sh-she’s at the Beast Appraisal Pavilion.”
This girl knew who Tan Lin was so Lin Jin immediately thanked her with delight.
“Then… do you know where this Beast Appraisal Pavilion is?” Recalling that he had no idea where the place was, Lin Jin asked again sheepishly.
The female student studied Lin Jin’s appearance before asking him back, “You’re not a teacher of this academy?”
If he was a lecturer, he couldn’t possibly have been oblivious to where the Beast Appraisal Pavilion was.
Lin Jin nodded. “I’m Tan Lin’s good friend from her hometown and I’m here to pass her a letter from home.”
The female student muttered to herself, “Friend from hometown, a Rank 3 beast appraiser, and so young… Oh, I know! You must be Appraiser Lin, aren’t you?”
There was a spark in her eyes when she asked that final question.
Lin Jin was genuinely shocked.
He subsequently learned that her name was Li Xinqi and she was Tan Lin’s dorm mate. During their chats, Tan Lin had mentioned Lin Jin before.
“Tan Lin looks up to Appraiser Lin very much. At first, I didn’t believe that such a young Rank 3 beast appraiser exists, but I guess she really wasn’t lying with you standing here now.”
After scanning Lin Jin’s face, Li Xinqi mused, ‘This Appraiser Lin is probably around my age.’
If she learned that Lin Jin was the exact same age as her, she would probably be devastated.
“Since Appraiser Lin doesn’t know where the Beast Appraisal Pavilion is, I can take you there myself.” Li Xinqi became much more ardent after learning his identity. Of course, Lin Jin made sure to thank her for her helpful offer.
It was then that Lin Jin noticed that, just like Tan Lin, Li Xinqi was also a Rank 2 beast appraiser.
Lin Jin was surprised by this discovery.
On his way here, while there were also a few middle-aged students in Heavenly Spiral Academy, most of them were young and were around his age.
What did this mean?
The majority of Rank 2 beast appraisers at Jade Dragon Kingdom were in their thirties to fifties. Given the average age of the appraisers here, it was clear that all the elites of United Continent were concentrated in Heavenly Spiral Academy, so how could they not be a flourishing organization?
As they walked, Lin Jin asked Li Xinqi about her background and sure enough, she wasn’t from Heavenly Spiral Kingdom either. Instead, she came from another intermediate country in United Continent, Jin Tang Country.
Also, Li Xinqi wasn’t a common folk but a royal descendant of Jin Tang Country.
It was obvious that only aristocrats and royalty could afford to study at Heavenly Spiral Academy.
“I heard from Tan Lin that you’re able to appraise one hundred pet beasts in a day, is that true?”
“Tan Lin also mentioned how incredible you are. Right, she even showed me a copy of your evaluation report and indeed, it was amazing.”
“Also…”
Li Xinqi never stopped talking during their walk to the Beast Appraisal Pavilion.
When they finally reached the Beast Appraisal Pavilion, Lin Jin mused that he could finally get a break. At first, he assumed she was a quiet and studious person but to his surprise, she was a massive chatterbox.