Museum of Deadly Beasts

Shu Xiaolou just arrived and already Lin Jin was dragging her into a huge battle.

However, Shu Xiaolou turned out to be strong enough to remain unfazed by that fact. Although she didn't have a pet beast, her spellwork was profound enough. Pulling out her jade hairpin, she tossed it up and the accessory immediately expanded. Like the Ocean Calming Needle, it pinned the blood ghost to the ground. The latter could still counterattack but it couldn't escape nor move anymore.

Shu Xiaolou's effort, or the lack thereof when she restrained the blood ghost struck Lin Jin dumb.

Her skills were unbelievable and her hairpin definitely wasn't normal. It must be some kind of powerful magic tool considering how it was able to stun the blood ghost.

However, that was probably insufficient to subdue the creature.

"I've read about this blood ghost in an old book before. Born from fierce beasts, they are the physical manifestation of strong malicious energy. During its infant stage, one could easily form a blood contract with it by blood transfusion. Judging by its appearance though, it should be matured now. To subdue it, we'll have to eliminate its malicious energy and burn its body. In other words, like evaporating water, we have to boil it until not much is left before we can subdue it," Shu Xiaolou said.

Lin Jin was surprised to hear that. Shu Xiaolou was right. Her approach was practically the same as what Lin Jin had read in the museum, and Lin Jin couldn't have possibly found out on his own.

This further confirmed how impressive Shu Xiaolou was, and how she was worthy of her title as a Rank 5 beast appraiser. In fact, Lin Jin thought that she might have already reached the standard of a Rank 6 appraiser.

However, now wasn't the time to think about all that.

Since Shu Xiaolou already stopped the blood ghost, what's left was to burn it with fire. Perhaps only Lin Jin could do that.

"Xiao Huo, return!" Lin Jin called.

Transforming back into a ball of flames, Xiao Huo merged with Lin Jin again. After all, Lin Jin couldn't produce enough firepower on his own. He needed further enhancement from Xiao Huo's Dharma body.

Back in Maple City's exotic fire stream, Lin Jin had used the green blaze to forge a fire amulet. He hadn't used it since but now, this item seemed necessary to refine the blood ghost.

Shu Xiaolou may know how to subdue this matured blood ghost but she didn't have the suitable flames to finish the deed. She watched as Lin Jin took out a small item and tossed it up into the air. The next instant, raging flames burned around it until there was a huge fireball in the air.

Shu Xiaolou's eyes lit up at once. She made a mental note to get Lin Jin to teach her this trick once everything was over.

Lin Jin had no idea that he just exposed his 'wealth'. It was his first time using this fire amulet, and with just minimal activation, the blaze had become almost uncontrollable.

This came as a pleasant surprise to him.

His fire amulet was clearly an incredible magic tool. The only problem would be his lack of proficiency in controlling it, or he would have already used it in the previous battle.

Though amateurish, it was good enough to be used against his current opponent. Pointing his finger straight ahead, the large fireball fell onto the blood ghost and the latter started boiling at once.

Sounds of liquid and fire clashing immediately resonated through the air, mingled with strange hissing noises. Plumes of crimson-colored smoke rose into the air, covering a radius of at least several hundred feet as if this entire place had turned into a steaming pot.

Normal flames and even Lin Jin's Dragonfire may be easily put out by the blood ghost but Lin Jin's fire amulet was everything but normal.

Like plunging a blazing sun into an ocean, there would only be two outcomes – the sun would either get extinguished, or the ocean would dry up. Comparatively speaking, the chances of the latter happening was higher.

Shu Xiaolou went over to Lin Jin and asked, "Lin Jin, what's this fireball called? The flames are green on the inside, red on the outside. These clearly aren't normal flames."

Of course, they weren't normal flames.

Lin Jin mused, 'This fire amulet is a combination of dragon fire, phoenix fire, and a type of exotic fire called 'green blaze', how can it be ordinary?'

Having interacted extensively with Shu Xiaolou over the past few days, Lin Jin easily noticed the 'greed' in her eyes so he simply answered, "Shu Xiaolou, don't get your hopes up. I only have one of this so don't even think about it."

Without sugar-coating his words, he butchered her hopes.

When communicating with Shu Xiaolou, he had to be this direct and clear-cut or she would just pester him to death.

The blood ghost's screams continued and sure enough, Shu Xiaolou kept bugging him relentlessly. In the end, Lin Jin had to play deaf and ignore her barrage of questions.

Upon closer observation, the flames were working wonders at burning the malicious energy away.

Ominous energy had now gathered above their heads, forming an ominous-looking blood-red cloud.

"How should we deal with the malicious energy after forcing it out? Do you have any ideas?" Lin Jin asked. He didn't know because the museum never mentioned it.

Shu Xiaolou looked up as well, answering casually, "Malicious energy is poisonous. If a fire is unable to wipe it out, it'll be dangerous to leave it as is. It's better to disperse it with rain."

Stunned, Lin Jin gained a new understanding of the extent of Shu Xiaolou's capabilities. Her idea might just be the only solution.

Since malicious energy was poisonous, dispersing it would greatly water down its destructive potential.

Even now, the fire amulet still burned with raging flames. The blood ghost had reduced to one-tenth of its original size and the hissing had stopped. In fact, it even started to look somewhat pitiful now.

If they kept burning it, its existence would probably be wiped out.

Lin Jin retrieved his fire amulet.

Once the blaze disappeared, the amulet returned to Lin Jin's palm. Upon making contact with it, Lin Jin was surprised to find that it felt cold instead of hot.

Shu Xiaolou kept staring at it but Lin Jin quickly tucked it away inside his storage seal.

"Stingy fellow!" Shu Xiaolou remarked before turning back to the blood ghost squashed under her jade hairpin.

"That should be enough!" Shu Xiaolou retracted her hairpin and grabbed the blood ghost with her free hand. Then, as if she was tearing paper, she split the blood ghost in half.

She simply tossed Lin Jin the other half.

"Here, half for me, half for you!"

Although shocked, Lin Jin still grabbed the blood ghost. It felt like a piece of silk cloth, soft and not sticky at all, despite how it looked on the outside.

As for Shu Xiaolou, she lifted it into the air, tilted her head back, and gulped it down as if she was drinking fine wine.

Lin Jin's eyes weren't deceiving him. She had just eaten the beast.

This somewhat frightened him. Lin Jin didn't think Shu Xiaolou would actually eat the blood ghost. However, Shu Xiaolou didn't seem to mind his bewilderment. She licked her lips, then with an unsatiated expression, she turned to the remaining half in Lin Jin's hand.

Lin Jin quickly hid the creature behind his back.

Shu Xiaolou seemed to be considering something before finally retracting her gaze. The next instant, the green robes on her started changing color until they were the shade of fresh blood.