Beast Tamer Ascension
Book 5: Chapter 48: The Dark Emperor

Vol 5 Chapter 48: The Dark Emperor

Though he had now become the acting lord of Xianlin City, Lin Jing understood he couldn't appear too greedy.

If he blatantly emptied the immortal city's resources without justification, the Cultivation Alliance would come after him right after dealing with the Sea Spirit Beast.

But if he framed it as mobilizing the city's reserves to resurrect the alliance's fallen geniuses who had defended the city, that would change everything.

While the resurrection would require substantial resources, they'd ultimately be used for the alliance's benefit.

Regardless of Lin Jing's initial motives, the resurrected geniuses and their affiliated sects, families, and cultivation world would remember his favor.

After all, the old Xianlin City had never publicly funded the resurrection of fallen geniuses from the Origin Realm before.

Lin Jing was setting a precedent.

This was also related to Lady Nethersoil's previous exorbitant pricing—the cost of resurrecting a single cultivator had been astronomical.

In fact, with so many needing resurrection, the costs would skyrocket.

But Lin Jing considered lives priceless and worth the expense.

"Lord City Governor... is, is this appropriate?" Yan Yunshuang's mouth twitched. They were all old foxes—how could he not see Lin Jing's scheme?

No!

Brother, you're moving too fast!

You just became acting governor and already can't wait to raid the city's treasury???

With Lady Nethersoil on your side, won't you two split the resurrection fees?

"Does Brother Yan think we shouldn't resurrect these fallen comrades?"

"That's not it either." Yan Yunshuang took a deep breath, not daring to say such a thing.

Had Lin Jing not mentioned it, fine. But now that he had, if these people couldn't be resurrected because of Yan's objections, their affiliated factions would hold grudges against him!

Forget it.

Not my problem!

Yan decided to stay out of it—after all, it was Li Tianyi who'd handed the governorship to Lin Jing as Young Alliance Master.

If anything went wrong, Senior Brother Li would bear responsibility first.

"You tally the deceased, I'll inspect the treasury."

Lin Jing headed straight for the city's treasure vault, long coveted.

Heaven-Earth Sect members dispersed to trade their spoils, leaving Yan Yunshuang to helplessly manage the aftermath...

Soon after, Lin Jing stood before Xianlin Treasury's treasure pavilion... Li Tianyi had left in such haste he hadn't shared the access method. The pavilion was sealed by multiple grand arrays, but Lin Jing didn't need instructions—his acting governorship sufficed.

"Array Spirit, you're awake." Lin Jing spoke, and instantly a sphere-shaped spirit manifested outside.

"Greetings, Acting Governor."

"Senior Brother Tianyi left abruptly without teaching me the unlocking method. With Xianlin still in crisis, I need to mobilize treasury resources against external threats."

"Now that I'm acting governor, can you open the vault?"

The Array Spirit nodded. It had heard Li Tianyi's final arrangements and witnessed Lin Jing repelling the invaders.

"Please enter, Lord Governor." As the treasury's final safeguard, the spirit now obeyed Lin Jing's governorship authority.

Shortly inside, Lin Jing's eyes dazzled at the vault's riches.

"No wonder the Sea Spirit Beast still coveted the city after defeating Li Tianyi!"

Taking a deep breath, Lin Jing gazed hungrily at jade platforms shimmering with immortal light.

The first level alone housed dozens of ordinary Origin Sources, plus abundant rare Origin Realm materials.

More importantly, higher levels contained preserved remains of Origin Realm spirits!

These spirits were natural entities—mountains, rivers, plants—that had gained sentience. Even deceased, their remains were premium resources.

The Cultivation Alliance's long dealings with such spirits had amassed countless remains—perfect for alchemy, artifact forging, and cultivation techniques.

"Such pure dark energy..."

Suddenly noticing something, Lin Jing frowned and ascended swiftly to the pavilion's peak. There, encased in giant black amber, was a nine-tailed fox composed of dark mist, emitting profound dark undulations though seemingly lifeless.

"Array Spirit, what's this?" Lin Jing summoned the spirit, which appeared promptly.

"Lord Governor, I have a name—I'm Qiuqiu."

"Right. Array Spirit, what's this?"

"That's the Origin Realm spirit 'Dark Emperor,' an exceptionally powerful entity born from 'Night.' It ranked just below the Sea and Meteor Spirit Beasts in strength."

"When 'White Emperor' and 'Dark Emperor' simultaneously awakened with terrifying potential, their mutual hostility led to constant conflict. The established Sea and Meteor Spirit Beasts, fearing rivals, ambushed them during one such battle."

"The apocalyptic fight drew in both the Heavenly Demon Sect and Cultivation Alliance. Ultimately, both Emperors fell—White Emperor dissipated completely, perhaps to reform millennia later, while we secured Dark Emperor's remains before total annihilation."

"But lacking top geniuses cultivating dark-attributed techniques, the remains stayed here as exchange inventory until now..." After Qiuqiu's explanation, Lin Jing pondered.

"I'll take this."

"Eh?" Qiuqiu blinked. "Lord Governor wants the Dark Emperor's remains?"

"Yes." Lin Jing nodded. Xianlin likely had dark-attributed cultivators, but only governor-level geniuses could afford such priceless remains—and none matched that description.

Fortunately, the alliance had obtained it first—the Heavenly Demon Sect would have consumed it immediately.

Lin Jing had sensed it because his Heavenly Demon soul had stirred violently—the remains seemed like potent nourishment for it.

His luck truly held.

"I can revive the Dark Emperor. Against the two Spirit Beasts, its combat power would prove invaluable," Lin Jing claimed.

"Oh?" Qiuqiu gasped. "Can necromancy work on spirit remains? But even if possible, these couldn't compare to Celestial Beast corpses!"

"Children shouldn't ask so many questions," Lin Jing deflected.