Beast Tamer Ascension
Book 5: Chapter 51: The New Spirit Beast

Vol 5 Chapter 51: The New Spirit Beast

Lin Jing wasn't in a hurry to meet this disciple of Zhou Banxian, leaving him waiting while employing the supreme immortal technique of "delaying tactics." As long as he didn't personally accept the edict, he could feign ignorance.

Lin Jing and his group continued consuming the Origin Sources.

"Administrator Yan, what is the meaning of this? A full day has passed, yet this new city lord still refuses to see me!" Zhou Banxian's disciple angrily confronted Yan Yunshuang, who was responsible for relaying messages.

Yan Yunshuang could only sigh helplessly. "The demonic beasts guarding the new city lord reported that he's currently at a critical juncture in secluded cultivation. Disturbing him now risks qi deviation or even death! Perhaps I could prepare a cave abode for Brother Yang to wait a while longer?"

"Secluded cultivation..." Yang Lin narrowed his eyes, recognizing Lin Jing's ploy. This man truly lived up to his master's warnings—untrustworthy and ambitious for control over Xianlin City.

Seeing no point in following protocol, Yang Lin directly produced the edict. "Then we won't wait. By order of the Deputy Alliance Leader: Lin Jing's brief tenure in the Alliance leaves him insufficiently familiar with Xianlin City's affairs. Henceforth, I shall assume the role of city lord. Lin Jing is demoted to deputy city lord in recognition of his defensive contributions, with proper immortal rewards bestowed upon leaving the Origin Realm."

"Administrator Yan, I hereby issue my first decree: halt all resurrections of fallen cultivators and conduct a full inventory of the city's treasury!" Yang Lin commanded imperiously.

The response nearly made him vomit blood.

Yan Yunshuang sighed. "City Lord Yang... you're too late. The previous city lord Lin Jing has already emptied the treasury—not even a low-grade spiritual stone remains."

Yang Lin genuinely felt blood rising in his throat. How could everything be gone so quickly? What a beast! Such wolfish ambition!

With the treasury plundered, what use was removing Lin Jing from office?

"Even if emptied, the resources must still be nearby. Find Lady Nethersoil and stop her resurrections to recover those assets!" Yang Lin insisted.

"My lord... I must beg your forgiveness." Yan Yunshuang spread his hands. "Resurrecting fallen elites was the previous city lord's order. Though his authority has ended, such matters should be negotiated between you two directly. Preventing fellow cultivators' rebirths would stain my honor."

Wanting no part in this power struggle, Yan Yunshuang clasped his fists and withdrew. If Yang Lin wanted to halt the resurrections, let him do it himself.

"Your mother—!"

Watching the administrator depart, Yang Lin gnashed his teeth. How dare a mere hall master defy the city lord's orders?

Negotiate with Lin Jing? Preposterous.

Liu Xin glanced toward Yang Lin's cave abode. Yang Lin's spirit beast had clearly stated its master was in life-or-death seclusion—any disturbance risked fatal qi deviation. While obviously fabricated, this pretext meant forcibly summoning Lin Jing would constitute intentional harm against Xianlin City's recent hero.

Moreover, his justification—revoking resurrection permissions for fallen elites—would inevitably turn most Alliance talents against him, making governance impossible.

"What should I do now...?"

Yang Lin stood frozen. Despite possessing his master's edict, the reality within the Origin Realm proved far more complex than anticipated. That damned rogue had claimed the moral high ground, leaving no room for action!

Damn it all! He never should have taken this assignment just to curry favor with his master!

......

Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Yang Lin periodically checked whether Lin Jing had emerged, only to receive the same response from the Wood-attribute Pine Leaf Mouse: "The Beast Tamer remains in life-or-death seclusion."

Meanwhile, resurrected Alliance elites kept mysteriously reappearing at regular intervals, each expressing profound gratitude toward Lin Jing's policies while showing indifference toward their new city lord—despite Yang Lin being Zhou Banxian's disciple.

"Embezzlement matters little if the embezzler actually delivers results."

"Elder Brother Li never used treasury resources to resurrect us during his tenure. Lin may have taken much, but he genuinely helped—he's reliable!"

"With that skinflint's disciple as city lord? Forget posthumous revival—he'd probably tax the Origin Sources we risk our lives to obtain!"

Overhearing these murmurs, Yang Lin's eyes reddened. His master's three-year deadline now had only one year remaining, and he remained powerless.

"Surprisingly obedient, this Yang Lin."

Meanwhile, Lin Jing had been monitoring events, prepared for Yang Lin to desperately storm his seclusion or attack Tianyuan cultivators to force him out. Yet after two years, the man had done nothing beyond periodic door-slamming tantrums outside his cave.

Not even successfully recruiting subordinates to act against him.

Pathetic.

"This is the downside of righteousness," Lin Jing mused. "As Elder Mo Pine said, the Cultivation Alliance's so-called virtue leaves Yang Lin paralyzed—unlike the Heavenly Demon Sect, who'd have slaughtered their way in by now."

Chuckling, Lin Jing examined the Chrono Dao formation flags, surprised his avatar had successfully usurped the Dark Emperor's remnants in just two centuries...

"This vessel is exceptional..."

A nine-tailed fox composed of black mist emerged from the flags. Lin Jing nodded approvingly. "Indeed. Come—time for our contract."

"The Beast Master Sect possesses a secret art to enhance spirit beast bloodlines. Originally limited to 'Monarch-grade,' this crude technique became far more potent after my immortal energy modifications these past two years. The Pine Leaf Mouse and Dragon Carp now approach Immortal-grade purity. Let's test whether demonic bloodlines can also reach perfection through this method..."

Who said demonic ascension required soul usurpation? If demons became spirit beasts, wouldn't enhancement arts equivalently elevate their demonic heritage?

"Very well." The avatar sighed, resigning itself to becoming a pet.

"Lin Jing! I know you can hear me! Returning the treasury's resources is Master Zhou Banxian's direct order! Do you truly fear no retribution for this theft and disobedience?"

"Here comes the cursing again..." Lin Jing sighed, pausing his contract ritual. The man's persistence was almost admirable.