Beast Tamer Ascension

Vol 3 Chapter 35: The Hourglass of Time

In the silent secret realm, as the battle for the supreme treasure came to an end, Xia Yan and the female artifact refiner, who had given up on the fight, were instantly teleported out…

Lin Jing, however, was slightly delayed. A treasure shaped like an hourglass slowly materialized beside him.

"I’ll call you the Hourglass of Time." Placing the hourglass into his storage bag, Lin Jing took a deep breath, feeling a headache coming on.

He had obtained the treasure… but now he had to bear the consequences of taking it.

After retrieving the treasure, some time later, Lin Jing was also transported out of the secret realm.

———

West of the Ancient Kingdom, Martial Emperor City.

One of the Eight Great Clans, the Feng Clan.

"Who would have thought that Feng Ya, a mere branch family girl, would be chosen by the secret realm? Why did no one notice her potential before?"

"What does it matter? That was the Heavenly Treasure Secret Realm. We just received urgent news that Lei Zhen from the Lei Clan was also pulled in at the same time. According to ancient records about this secret realm, if this branch girl was decisive, she might have survived. But if she tried to fight for the secret realm’s fortune, she would likely perish."

"Regardless, being chosen by the secret realm proves her fate is extraordinary. As long as she returns alive, she is worth the clan’s full support! Even if she no longer wishes to pursue artifact refinement, she can do as she pleases!" one elder snorted coldly.

The other elders fell silent.

The Feng Clan had strict rules and traditions. The core Sword Dao inheritance was reserved only for the direct lineage, while the branch families were required to practice artifact forging and sword crafting to support the main family.

Although this rule had long caused discontent among the branch family members, they were powerless against the strength of the direct line.

Until one incident—

A branch family father, dissatisfied that his daughter, despite her remarkable talent in swordsmanship, was still forced to learn artifact refinement instead of the Feng Clan’s sword techniques, chose to leave the family.

If that had been all, it wouldn’t have shaken the Feng Clan.

What truly shocked the clan was that after the branch family girl was taken to the Ancient Kingdom by her parents, her swordsmanship talent shone even brighter. She was eventually accepted as a personal disciple by the Void Mystical Sword Cultivator of the Ancient Kingdom’s top sword sect—Heavenly Sword Gate. She was recognized as having the potential to reach the Void Mystical Stage.

And true to expectations, she became the most famous Core Formation prodigy of the Ancient Kingdom.

Only then did the Feng Clan realize they had lost an extraordinary talent.

To win her back, they even changed their ancestral rules, allowing talented branch family members to cultivate the core inheritance.

That branch family girl was none other than Cold Moon Sword Immortal, the senior disciple of Heavenly Sword Gate.

Now, another gifted branch girl had appeared. Though her potential might not match that of Cold Moon Sword Immortal, the Feng Clan was determined not to let another genius slip through their fingers.

Buzz!

Suddenly, the secret realm vanished.

Feng Ya stepped out, still in shock, completely unaware that she was surrounded by high-ranking clan elders.

"She’s out!" The elders sighed in relief. They had feared she would perish within the secret realm.

"Feng Ya!" an elder called out. She snapped back to reality and looked toward them.

"It seems you gave up on the battle for the Heavenly Treasure… A wise decision. With your current strength, you were no match for Lei Zhen. But from now on, the clan will fully support your growth. In the end, did Lei Zhen obtain the treasure?" one elder asked.

"Lin Jing?" Feng Ya froze.

Just as she was about to answer—

Boom!

Suddenly, the skies over the Feng Clan rumbled with thunder. Furious lightning crackled as a terrifying presence descended.

A golden-haired woman at the Nascent Soul stage appeared above the branch family’s territory, her gaze sweeping across the elders before locking onto Feng Ya, who had just returned from the secret realm.

"Lei Qianren! What are you doing here?!" The Feng Clan elders glared at the newcomer, their auras flaring as they questioned her.

"My son is dead! He died in the secret realm!" Lei Qianren’s face was twisted with rage.

Her words sent shockwaves through the Feng Clan elders.

Lei Qianren—she was Lei Zhen’s father!

They knew Lei Zhen’s talent and strength well. He had multiple mid-grade magical treasures at his disposal.

And yet… he had died in the Heavenly Treasure Secret Realm?

"It seems your Feng Clan’s child was wise enough to back out and survive… Tell me, do you know who killed my son?" Her expression gradually became eerily calm, but the chilling undertone made everyone shudder.

The Feng Clan elders remained silent.

"… My condolences," one finally said.

"Feng Ya! Speak quickly about what happened in the secret realm!" The Feng Clan elders immediately prompted her to explain, not wanting to provoke this bereaved Nascent Soul powerhouse any further. They even struggled to hold back their amusement—Serves him right! Good riddance!

"I-It was an alchemist from Qingzhou…"

"I don’t know much about him, only that his strength was terrifying. He specialized in fire techniques, and his magic took the form of white dragon-shaped beast flames. He was only at mid Foundation Establishment, yet in an instant… he killed three Foundation Establishment peak cultivators, all of whom had power equivalent to Core Formation…"

"Qingzhou… an alchemist!! Draw his portrait!" Lei Qianren growled, tossing out a blank scroll.

At that moment, the Feng Clan elders were even more shocked.

A mid Foundation Establishment alchemist capable of instantly killing Lei Zhen?

Was there such a terrifying alchemist in existence?

———

Meanwhile, in Qingzhou.

At Tai Xuan Sect, an elderly Nascent Soul cultivator wept before the lifeless, decapitated body of his granddaughter.

"I don’t care who you are… I will make you pay!!!"

"The murderer… is in Qingzhou as well? Good, very good!"

———

Aboard a flying vessel bound for Tongtian Path.

Xia Yan was surrounded by powerful figures, including Alchemist Jie Geng, as they questioned him about the events in the secret realm.

When they learned that the Nameless Alchemist had also entered the secret realm—and had displayed power strong enough to suppress several ordinary Core Formation cultivators—Jie Geng’s expression turned to shock.

"Return to Tianqing City immediately," she ordered.

———

Elsewhere, outside Tianqing City.

Lin Jing had returned.

Outside the Nameless Pill Pavilion, the entire commercial district was cleared out, leaving only Ling Quan Zun-zhe, who smiled at Lin Jing.

"Good, you’re still alive. So, did you give up on the Heavenly Treasure, or did you claim victory in the end?"

"Seeing how your clothes are spotless, I’d guess you backed out. Wise choice—it would’ve been too difficult at your level."

"I was worried you’d die, leaving my debts unpaid," he chuckled.

"Now, tell me about the secret realm. I’m quite curious about what happened in there."

Lin Jing laughed.

Just as he was about to make something up—

Ling Quan Zun-zhe suddenly pulled out a compass. A shadowy figure appeared on its surface.

"Master, Tai Xuan Sect’s Elder Bai Xuan’s granddaughter died in the secret realm. He claims the killer is in the Qingming Path region. Her storage bag contained a soul blood locator!

"Bai Xuan has commissioned the Qingming Commerce Guild to detain anyone exiting the secret realm. Tai Xuan Sect promises a great reward."

Ling Quan Zun-zhe’s face darkened, his smile vanishing as he turned to Lin Jing.

"…?"

Lin Jing blinked, then sighed.

He reached into his storage bag and pulled out a drop of soul blood.

With a casual flick of his fingers—he crushed it.

"Senior Ling Quan," Lin Jing smiled, "this has nothing to do with you. And you wouldn’t want your debtor getting killed, would you?"

"Let’s just pretend you never saw me…"

Even now, Lin Jing remained calm.

Though he hadn’t expected that green-dressed girl to have a soul blood locator, the situation wasn’t too bad.

After all—

Ling Quan Zun-zhe couldn’t see through his illusions.

And if things went south…

He could always hide inside the Hourglass of Time and slip away unseen.