Immortal through Beast Taming

"I'm not finished yet!"

The battle was interrupted, and Qin Siyuan was visibly disgruntled.

He got up, seemingly eager to fight again.

Lin Jing glanced toward the Golden Ray Temple, wondering if its abbot would finally make an appearance.

He didn't mind the interruption since he'd already managed a quick study of the Indestructible Golden Body.

Of course, he hadn't learned it himself.

"Mushroom." Inside Lin Jing, a tiny mushroom transformed into the likeness of Qin Siyuan, resembling a miniature Nascent Soul, enveloped by the golden body, the illusion nearly tangible.

It's akin to a memory card, manifesting the power of the Indestructible Golden Body.

In the future, by utilizing the Void Reversal Technique, Lin Jing could further research the Indestructible Golden Body.

Though it might be more tedious, possibly capturing less of its essence, it was at least a method.

"Ah..." At the same time, the Golden Body Arhat sighed helplessly.

Had they really alerted the abbot...

"I hadn't considered this thoroughly. Following the abbot's wishes, let's declare this battle a draw," the Golden Body Arhat noted, aware of the ominous entity sealed within Qin Siyuan.

If Qin Siyuan drew upon its power here in the sacred grounds of the monastery, it wouldn't bode well.

"Take me to your abbot," Lin Jing commanded, and the Golden Body Arhat, though reluctantly, agreed to lead the way.

Meanwhile, the Arhat shook his head at Qin Siyuan, indicating the fight was over.

He was rather dissatisfied with this budding Buddhist talent's performance.

While Lin Jing's physical prowess was indeed overwhelmingly formidable, surpassing several smaller realms without even using his main magic, he could force Qin Siyuan to such a state. This incident would certainly tarnish the monastery's reputation.

"Since the abbot has spoken, let the two of you save your battle for the final mystical Gu contest," the Arhat announced.

Watching the backs of the Golden Body Arhat and Lin Jing, Qin Siyuan seethed with frustration.

"What are you looking at?"

He dismissed his Divine Techniques and viciously bit into a demon leg, glaring at onlookers.

........

The Immortal Monk at the Golden Ray Temple appeared much worse off than Master Wumo at the Demon Extermination Temple.

Like an old man nearing his end, he sat silently on a golden lotus until Lin Jing was led before him, when he slowly opened his eyes.

"I didn't expect His Highness the Saint Son to show interest in this Golden Light Gu."

"It's only natural to be interested in good things. So can I proceed with the legacy trial?" Lin Jing smiled.

"Yes, since Master Wumo passed on his early created Buddhist Light Technique to you, you are certainly considered one of the monastery folk," the Immortal Monk spoke.

"In the forthcoming trials, Golden Ray Temple won't offer any undue difficulty, but His Highness must adhere to the rules."

Lin Jing had no objections.

"You've likely got some understanding of the legacy trials for the Golden Light Gu, haven't you?"

"Still, let me explain once more."

"The first test of this Golden Light Gu's legacy requires strong Buddhist cultivation, which His Highness meets."

"The second test requires mastering the 'Buddha-Demon Pearl,' a Buddhist magic, and cultivating it to completion. A fully-developed Buddha-Demon Pearl can seal various evils and ghosts within Buddha Beads, thus subduing them."

"Not long ago, I perceived that His Highness also possesses the Buddha-Demon Pearl, with substantial cultivation in it, qualifying him."

"The third test requires successfully sealing at least a 'Divinity Transformation level' ghost with the Buddha-Demon Pearl."

"The final test compares participants who have passed the previous three tests."

"It's not about magical combat, rather, it's about who has sealed more ferocious and evil ghosts within them and who can command more ghostly powers while staying conscious."

"Lastly, I will evaluate each person's aptitude to determine who will inherit the Golden Light Gu."

"Understood." Lin Jing nodded, already aware of these stipulations.

Moreover, it minimized a lot of his efforts, as the Buddhist Technique he studied in the Ancient Country included the Buddha-Demon Pearl.

Unknowingly, his cultivation in the Buddha-Demon Pearl had reached a high level.

First sealing the malevolent forces of the Ice Soul Gu, then the grievances of numerous powerful figures haunting his consciousness within Heaven-Reaching City, had already brought his Buddha-Demon Plant to completion.

However, he hadn't yet attempted one characteristic of the completed Buddha-Demon Plant.

Even sentient beings could be sealed by the mastered Buddha-Demon Plant.

The Ice Soul Gu, indeed a living being, was his pet beast, leaving no need to seal it, only the negative forces it affected him with, postponing utilization of this ability.

Unexpectedly, the legacy trial of the Golden Light Gu showcased the necessity of this magic.

"Does it have to be a ghost?" Lin Jing asked.

The Immortal Monk nodded, "With the onset of the Golden Era, the reviving demon and haunt entities in the Western Desert are primarily ghosts."

"Some are born from ancient immortals' grievances, others from the mixed death obsessions of countless warriors, and some mutated from remaining souls, posing a grave threat to the world, proving more challenging than tangible demons."

"The trials aim not only to find a suitable inheritor for the Golden Light Gu but also to nurture exorcists for these ghosts."

"Understood."

"'Divinity Transformation stage' ghosts, yes?"

Lin Jing understood that the challenge lay not in confronting 'Divinity Transformation level' ghosts.

Since the test didn't require one to capture them personally.

Thus, commissioning a Guardian to capture them was perfectly feasible.

The difficulty lay in surpassing the level through Buddha-Demon Plant to seal such ghosts and harness power from these ghost gods, careful not to succumb to backlash.

Perhaps in the Immortal Monk's view, reaching this level demonstrates the innate talent to suppress the fully developed future Golden Light Gu.

"Elder Immortal, does Golden Ray Temple have a map of the powerful ghosts' distribution in the Western Desert?"

"Could you provide me with one to save me time from searching independently?"

"Since you interrupted my battle with that monastery prodigy, preventing my ascension on the Fortune Gold List, consider this compensation." Lin Jing chuckled.

"Naturally." The Immortal Monk chuckled too, "Then I ask His Highness to do his best to clear these ghosts..."

"But I must remind you of one thing, Highness."

"Before the Golden Era commenced, the Nether Hall, one of the three major demon sects, relocated its headquarters to the Western Desert. Now, after the era's onset, Nether Hall's activities have intensified. As the monastery works on ghost eradication, Nether Hall seems intent on protecting these ghosts, so be wary of these demon cultivators."

"Nether Hall..." Lin Jing narrowed his eyes, realizing these guys settled in the Western Desert.

It's no wonder he didn't encounter many Nether Hall ghost cultivators during the Demon Court's thorough sweep.

"Thank you for the warning, Elder."

What concerned Lin Jing wasn't Nether Hall, but the powerhouse ghosts situated in the Western Desert.

As someone possessing the Longevity Body with Fate-Dedication Divine Techniques, he wasn't afraid of these ghosts; the test was merely asking for Thunder Dragon Ancestor to help capture a ghostly ally, then he'd attempt subjugation.

He considered himself successful.

Having ascended to the Golden Core also accorded him an extra contract slot.

But his current surroundings were dominated by entities beyond the reach of the Beast Taming Technique.

Mechanical Turtle, impossible to contract.

Technique Elemental Spirit, impossible to contract.

Creatures like Mosquito Maiden from the demon race, impossible to contract.

Immortal Bull Corpse Puppet, impossible to contract.

An elder spirit like Elder Shen Song, impossible to contract.

Now, he was tasked with capturing ghost spirits, knowing dead entities wouldn't contract either.

Lin Jing pondered deeply, realizing he must improve the Beast Taming Technique, aiming for versatility, and meanwhile contemplate a fourth pet beast.