Chapter 600: Jin Chi and the Old Taoist
The golden-winged roc was also a famous monster cultivator at Arid Continent. Although Tiger Taoist rarely ventured out of the cave over the past centuries, he was still acquainted with monster cultivators who were on par with him.
Lin Jin glanced at the golden-winged as its human form descended from the sky.
He mused, ‘This Arid Continent is so dangerous that humans are barely able to survive here. It seems that it is the opposite for cultivating monsters.”
And since he was creating a sea here, Arid Continent would experience an earth-shattering change. In just a few years, the human tribes here would grow stronger and he wondered if he was doing the right thing.
Then, he remembered he was also reforming Dark Wind Cave into a righteous monster sect. He would lead them down the path of justice, so confrontations are expected to be at a minimum.
He turned to see the raging stream continuing to flow into the crater. In just about an hour, the sea would be complete.
Tiger Taoist led the roc toward Lin Jin. The monster had taken on the image of a strikingly tall man with golden hair, blue eyes, and a sharp beak-like nose. He held a hand over a fist as a form of salutation towards Lin Jin.
“Greetings, Mr. Lin. My name is Jin Chi!” greeted the roc respectfully.
Tiger Taoist seemed a little annoyed at the roc’s courteous behavior. “Brother Jin Chi, you’ve been cultivating for far longer than I have and we’ve known each other for several centuries now. I treat you as my big brother while Brother Lin and I are sworn brothers. You can consider him my younger brother now, so if you’re acting this reserved with him, how do you think I should behave?”
Of course, Tiger Taoist was just joking around.
It, however, earned him a serious reply from Jin Chi.
“Mr. Lin is a phenomenal individual who has formed a sea here with his extraordinary skills. To initiate prosperity for the future generations here in Arid Continent is an act worthy of my respect. I am also thoroughly impressed by Mr. Lin’s ability to create a sea out of thin air, so I find it appropriate to address him as a ‘Mister’.”
Lin Jin nodded in response.
Jin Chi may be a monster but his knowledge was evidently profound and his manner of speech was refined. It was obvious that he was no average Joe.
After asking about him, he learned that even before Tiger Taoist came to Arid Continent, Jin Chi had already been cultivating here for centuries. It had been more than a thousand and seven hundred years since he became a monster.
Lin Jin’s jaw dropped upon hearing this. He deliberately made physical contact with the roc, and when the museum was triggered, a look of astonishment appeared on his face. According to the description, the roc was a ‘Rank 6 monster’.
This was Lin Jin’s first time seeing a monster of Jin Chi’s rank. The ones he met in the Nine-Heaven Realm didn’t count as they didn’t exist in this realm.
A Rank 6 monster was an extraordinary entity. Jin Chi’s background was profound, as he was a successful monster cultivator, even before the mass extinction of immortals.
He had also inherited orthodox immortality teachings from his master, Immortal Xuan Miao.
At least, that was what Jin Chi said. Lin Jin didn’t know who Immortal Xuan Miao was, but he was sure that the man must be an ancient immortal.
After hearing all this, Lin Jin straightened up to show more respect for his counterpart. Who knew that such a powerful monster had been hiding in Arid Continent this whole time? Judging by Jin Chi’s cultivation level, being at Rank 6 put him on the same playing field as immortals.
Just like Tiger Taoist, Jin Chi rarely ventures beyond his dwelling. He only stayed inside the cave he had carved himself to cultivate. Although he had only met Tiger Taoist a few times over the years, they bonded quickly enough that they started referring to each other as brothers.
In the past, Lin Jin would have been shocked out of his mind to meet a Rank 6 monster. However, after meeting the two immortals in his Visitation Hall last night, Lin Jin wasn’t that much shocked now.
A person like Jin Chi was definitely worth befriending.
Lin Jin was not the type of person who clung stubbornly to their prejudices; he did not mind that Jin Chi was a monster. Up until now, most of his current and past enemies were actually human beings.
Committing foul acts had nothing to do with the race of the perpetrator. When humans do actually intend to commit crimes, even monsters couldn’t compare to them.
Lin Jin went on to engage in a pleasant conversation with Jin Chi. After observing the two, Tiger Taoist simply proposed for all three of them to become sworn brothers. As he said, he was brothers with Lin Jin and also Jin Chi. Going by that logic, Jin Chi and Lin Jin should be brothers too.
It was just that simple.
With this, Lin Jin addressed Jin Chi as ‘Big Brother Jin Chi’, while Jin Chi immediately responded with ‘Little Brother Lin Jin’, just as Tiger Taoist had proposed.
At times, things were just so unbelievable. Although they had only just met, it felt as if they were a bunch of old pals. Their personalities clicked, so it wasn’t exactly undesirable for Lin Jin to become sworn brothers with the roc.
Lin Jin’s act of creating a sea out of nothing startled half of the continent. Aside from Jin Chi, the various factions based in Arid Continent, be it seclusive experts or friars, all made their way toward the source of the commotion.
As Lin Jin scanned the horizon, he came to notice many silhouettes hovering about.
However, in terms of cultivation level, none of them could compare to Jin Chi.
After all, Jin Chi was on the level of an immortal. He was an immortal monster!
Interestingly enough, that horrifying Rank 9 immortal devouring beast did not react to this monster when it reached Rank 6. Instead, it only killed every human immortal who was foolish enough to reveal themselves.
As Lin Jin, Tiger Taoist, and Jin Chi chatted away while waiting for the sea to fill up, an old Taoist descended from the back of an eagle. An intelligent-looking monkey followed the Taoist.
It was an interesting sight, as the monkey was dressed in human clothes. What’s more, half of its body was human. It was obviously a monster that was lacking in cultivation and had yet to master the skill of Transfiguration.
The old Taoist hurried over excitedly to pay his respects.
“Wu Qian of Mount Tianhe’s Cloud Sect pays his greetings, Great Immortal!” said the old Taoist respectfully.
Lin Jin recognized the old Taoist at first glance. Wasn’t this Wu Qian whom he had met in Jade Dragon City?
It was him who taught Lin Jin how to craft the Five Element Amulets and how to invoke the edicts. That knowledge was the reason why Lin Jin was ultimately able to craft the phenomenal Vulcan Edict.
One could say that Wu Qian had helped Lin Jin out a lot. Wu Qian had also helped Lin Jin look after and protect White Ape back then too. Later on, Lin Jin tried to locate the old Taoist, but to no avail. So that man had decided to come to Arid Continent?
Visually, nothing much about the old Taoist changed. If Lin Jin had to point out a difference, it would be his divine temperament.
However, it was ‘Curator’ who met with Wu Qian back at Jade Dragon City so Wu Qian couldn’t recognize Lin Jin at all. He even mistook Lin Jin as an immortal.
Otherwise, the ever-so cautious Wu Qian would never come out of hiding.
All his life, Wu Qian had been seeking the path of immortal cultivation. For this reason, when he saw the massive gourd forming a sea here, he thought it was the doing of an immortal so he came to meet this venerable immortal.
Lin Jin pondered before saying, “I’ve once heard from my Master that he only managed to protect his disciple back in Jade Dragon City all because a righteous Taoist by the name of Wu Qian from Mount Tianhe’s Cloud Sect had provided his assistance. It is an honor to be able to meet you in person here, Taoist Wu Qian.”
Having said that, Lin Jin returned the salute.
Wu Qian wore a shocked expression. He stared intently at Lin Jin before asking, “Great Immortal, may I know which sacred individual is your master? I really do not know him.”
Lin Jin chuckled. “My master goes by the name ‘Curator’. I am Lin Jin and I’m not an immortal!”
Wu Qian then realized.
“Ah, so you’re Appraiser Lin!”