Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It didn’t come as a surprise that Gao Jiang applied for the exam. He had taken it last year but failed to pass. This year, it was reasonable for him to sit for it again.
However, for Lin Jin who had just regained his Rank 1 beast appraiser status through examination, there was a mix of feelings in the crowd when they found out that he would sit for the Rank 2 certification right after said examination.
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Zhao Ying, Lu Xiaoyun, and Han Dong clenched their fists as they rooted for Lin Jin. They felt Lin Jin was capable enough to advance into Rank 2.
The people who shared their thoughts were Liao Gu and Gu Mengzhong.
Having witnessed Goldy evolve into Rank 3, Liao Gu knew that Lin Jin’s caliber was not to be underestimated. Gu Mengzhong’s reasoning was much simpler. He had ventured across lands in search of famous beast appraisers, hoping to find a way to form a blood pact with the ink monster but to no avail. In the end, it was Lin Jin who helped him with his request. Hence, for Gu Mengzhong, if Lin Jin managed to advance into Rank 2, the young man deserved it, no questions asked.
Of course, there were also people who still didn’t believe in Lin Jin.
“This Lin Jin is young and full of vigor. It can’t be helped that he’s rather elated after producing some exceptional results. While it’s true that he has some unique insights in beast appraising, and he may be above-average in terms of skill, but that doesn’t mean he could become a Rank 2 beast appraiser that easily. Those who have managed to pass have had to gather many years of experience. It’s not a stroke of brilliance that can help a person advance. Relatively speaking, I have higher hopes for Gao Jiang.” Nan Gongxian took the initiative to speak up.
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As one of the elders of Maple City’s Beast Appraisal Association, it was only natural that he had a right to comment.
All this while, he had been looking down on Lin Jin. So even if Lin Jin suddenly rose above or even had prominent figures supporting him, Nan Gongxian remained as contemptuous as he was before.
In his opinion, it was impossible for Lin Jin to improve so quickly.
Unless there was someone guiding him in the dark.
Nan Gongxian suspected Lin Jin must have had a helping hand for him to improve tremendously in such a short time.
And this helping hand might just be Elder Du.
As for the mutant egg evaluations, it might have just been Elder Du assisting Lin Jin in the dark. Otherwise, how could Lin Jin evaluate them all on his own?
‘Elder Du can’t supervise the Rank 2 certification exam on his own and that Appraiser Yu from headquarters seems like an upright individual. Just you wait, Lin Jin. I refuse to believe that you can pass this examination that easily. You might just be taking the exam to boost your fame.’
Inside the hall, Yu Mantang released the beast seal on the practice beast.
The next instant, a colorful pillar of light enveloped the practice beast and it began to shape-shift. Moments after, the figure morphed into a large dragon beast.
Its body was twenty feet long with scales hard as steel. It had the horns of a rhino, the body of a snake, the talons of an eagle, and whiskers like a sparrow’s tail. The creature’s gaze was fierce as a tiger and its fangs were razor-sharp, like that of a crocodilian’s.
The practice beast became a dragon-like beast after the amulet was activated.
“Lin Jin, Gao Jiang, both of you have one hour to appraise and write an evaluation report for this beast. As you know, this isn’t a Rank 1 exam so this Rank 2 exam’s standard is much more rigorous. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it harsh. Your evaluation reports also have to fit the requirements of a Rank 2 beast appraiser. You may now begin,” Yu Mantang instructed with a straight face.
To him, this task was merely a waste of time.
And all the more so when he realized that the elders at headquarters have assigned a dragon beast as the exam subject. This was no doubt one of the hardest questions in the history of Rank 2 certification exams.
Many of the appraisers have come up with a saying, ‘if you meet a dragon beast in your Rank 2 exam, see you again next year’. It could only mean the candidates just weren’t in luck as it was literally impossible for them to pass by appraising a dragon beast.
Only by getting an easier subject did they have a chance.
Yu Mantang felt rather sorry for Lin Jin and Gao Jiang. In his mind, he mused how the headquarters’ elders were being too hard on the candidates by giving them such a difficult topic.
Even Elder Du and Tan Xun frowned upon seeing the simulated dragon.
Elder Du sighed.
The entire beast appraiser’s community knew that one couldn’t advance when faced with this dragon. Any other beast would have been better because a dragon beast was considered a unique class in the study of beast appraising. It was even considered by some as belonging to a league of its own. To finish the appraisal within one hour and complete an evaluation report befitting of a Rank 2 beast appraiser was pure agony.
It was an impossible task for both Lin Jin and Gao Jiang.
Gao Jiang turned pale after seeing the dragon and it was obvious he had lost confidence. Meanwhile, Lin Jin remained relatively composed.
“Lin Jin, Gao Jiang, just try your best,” Tan Xun suddenly encouraged.
Gao Jiang rushed over to get started, using every method he could to appraise the creature. He even brought with him some rare beast appraising instruments. They could tell how hard Gao Jiang was pushing himself as the latter’s forehead was now covered in a glistening layer of sweat.
Lin Jin waited until Gao Jiang was done appraising before heading over.
To him, it didn’t matter which beast was the subject because the Museum of Deadly Beasts would just answer all his questions.
Approaching the beast, he extended a hand to touch it.
A frozen specimen appeared inside the museum as a tablet containing the beast’s details came into view.
This dragon beast was a type of rare beast, no doubt.
“Rank 2 rare beast. Prime dragon.”
“Of three attributes that are gold, fire, and wind. Potential rate: 3.”
“Bloodline legacy: contains bloodlines of a river dragon, a water dragon, and a jade dragon. The seven methods to activate its bloodline include…”
“Blockage present in the veins of this creature. The eight blockage points are… The treatment methods are…”
“This dragon beast shows signs of evolution. There are two activation methods. There are four evolution methods….”
Each and every description was shown in detail and easily understood.
Lin Jin could have just penned them all down but that would draw too much attention as three pairs of eyes were watching him. If he simply began writing now, his appraisal process would be regarded as too unnatural.
If he behaved too unusually, someone might catch on.
Lin Jin was fond of keeping a low profile. He liked getting rich in silence.
Hence, he had to put on a good show and delay his pace slightly. He suddenly recalled the beast appraisal methods he had learned from the museum so he started putting them to use.
There were too many appraisal methods provided in the Museum of Deadly Beasts. Lin Jin had skimmed through quite a few but the only one he actually had time to research was the ‘Shihuang Observation Technique’.
This ‘Shihuang Observation Technique’ was a compulsory subject taught in beast appraising school. Every beast appraiser was required to learn it.
The only difference was the level studied.
The Shihuang Observation Technique originated from a Rank 9 beast appraiser several thousands of years ago, created by Ma Shihuang. This observation technique included observing the beast as a whole, studying its skin and fur, feeling its bones, testing its breath, discerning its smell, checking the circulation of its spirit, stir its soul, and many other methods.
It was said the Shihuang Observation Technique originally contained thirty-six separate parts. But throughout the years, many parts have been lost and only twenty-four remained which was then further divided into sixteen upper volumes and eight lower volumes.
What they learned in school, or what most beast appraisers could get their hands on were only the eight lower parts. Even so, only a handful could master these eight parts and fully understand them.
There was once a saying, ‘if you learn even three parts of Shihuang’s technique, you can already start appraising beasts’.
This proves just how amazing the Shihuang Observation Technique was.
The ‘Shihuang Observation Technique’ that Lin Jin saw in the Museum of Deadly Beasts was a complete volume of all thirty-six parts. Other than that, there were detailed explanations provided so Lin Jin only had to study it briefly before coming up with a complete evaluation report all by himself, without relying on the museum’s appraisals.