Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector

Li Qingyan’s eyes snapped open, filled with viciousness and indignation.

She swept the Spirit Pearls before her to the floor, her exquisite face contorted in extreme rage.

’That useless Zhao He got a promotion just because he sided with that bitch Lin Meng!’

’And Zhang Cui, Wang Chen... all of you, just you wait. When I return, I will tear you limb from limb and obliterate your very Divine Spirits!’

She gnashed her teeth as images of her former sect-mates—now her sworn enemies—flashed through her mind.

The flames of hatred burned away her reason.

She had to restore her strength as quickly as possible.

’No, I have to become even stronger than before!’

’But without resources, becoming stronger is easier said than done.’

Just then, a long-buried idea suddenly surfaced from the depths of her mind.

Absorbing Yang to Nourish Yin.

It was one of the Blood Lotus Sect’s Secret Techniques. By absorbing a man’s Essence Yang Qi to nourish oneself, one’s cultivation speed would advance by leaps and bounds.

However, she had always disdained this particular Cultivation Technique.

Although Absorbing Yang to Nourish Yin didn’t necessarily require any physical intimacy, she, Li Qingyan, saw herself as a prodigy favored by the heavens, a woman of peerless beauty, and an Inner Sect Disciple.

Therefore, the thought of interacting with those filthy, vulgar men reeking of sweat disgusted her. Even just seeing them naked felt repulsive, as if it were a gift they didn’t deserve.

After all, Li Qingyan held a deep-seated contempt and disgust for men, so naturally, she disdained the practice.

But circumstances now forced her hand.

’For the sake of revenge, what does dignity even matter?’

Her gaze flickered wildly, a clear sign of her inner struggle.

’Fine... As long as I can have my revenge, I’ll endure the disgust.’

But even having made her decision, she still couldn’t overcome her revulsion.

The mere thought of preying on those Sinful People, covered in filth with their murky eyes, made her stomach churn.

In her eyes, those people were no different from maggots in a cesspool.

’Is there really not a single one... who’s even remotely acceptable?’

She frowned, deep in thought...

「Dusk at the docks.」

The exhausted Sinful People returned one after another in their small boats, turning in their day’s catch.

Li Qingyan stood on a high platform, coldly surveying the scene below.

Her gaze roamed over the crowd, as if she were inspecting livestock.

Every man her gaze fell upon felt his body go rigid, as if he’d been targeted by some terrifying Fierce Beast.

At the same time, her gaze was filled with fastidiousness and disgust.

’Too old. His Yang Qi is in decline.’

’Too skinny. Like a skeleton.’

’Too filthy. The sight of him makes me sick.’

Just as her patience was about to run out, her gaze suddenly fixed on a young man at the end of the line.

Chen Ye.

Like the other Sinful People, he wore tattered clothes and was stained with water and mud.

But he stood there with an air that made him stand out like a crane among chickens.

First, his posture was straight and tall, not hunched and cowering like the others.

Furthermore, his features were sharp and well-defined, giving him a handsome, clean-cut look. His eyes, in particular, stood out against the numb grayness of the crowd. They were exceptionally dark and bright, like deep pools of water.

Just one look was enough to make Li Qingyan’s gaze freeze for a moment.

’He’s covered in mud, too, but once he’s cleaned up... he should be... palatable, right?’

Early the next morning, Li Qingyan once again summoned all the Sinful People to the docks.

She stood on the high platform, still with that frosty demeanor, but today she made an unprecedented announcement.

"Within three days, the person who excels most at the Pearl Collection task will be rewarded with one Blood Qi Pill."

As her voice fell, a commotion erupted below the platform.

The Blood Qi Pill held a fatal attraction for these Pearl Collectors, who spent their days in the cold, dark lake water.

The pill could strengthen one’s Blood Qi and nourish the physical body, but most importantly, it could effectively resist the cold, dark energy underwater. Thus, it was a life-saving elixir the Pearl Collectors all dreamed of obtaining.

In an instant, flames of greed and desire erupted in the eyes of many.

Although a few suspected Li Qingyan was just making an empty promise, the vast majority still clung to her words.

After all, if they could obtain this Elixir Pill, not only could they live longer, they could even gather more Spirit Pearls and perhaps slightly change their current predicament!

Only Chen Ye, in the midst of the crowd, remained impassive. Inwardly, however, he was sneering.

’To show such courtesy for no reason means you’re up to no good.’

’Would a woman like Li Qingyan, who views the Sinful People as no better than pigs and dogs, really be so kind?’

’So this is definitely a trap.’

Therefore, over the next three days, Chen Ye stuck to his usual routine. The number of Spirit Pearls he turned in each day was just enough to be considered above average—not enough to draw attention, but not so few that he’d be seen as useless.

However, at dusk on the third day, just as he finished turning in his Spirit Pearls and was preparing to leave, Li Qingyan’s voice stopped him.

"You. Stop."

Her clear, cold voice silenced the entire dock.

All eyes snapped to Chen Ye.

Chen Ye’s heart sank. ’This is bad,’ he thought. But he dared not let it show on his face. He simply stopped and bowed respectfully.

"Do you have any instructions, my lady?"

Li Qingyan slowly walked up to him, sizing him up with a condescending air. Her gaze felt as if it could pierce through his clothes and scrutinize every inch of his body.

"You’ve performed well these last few days."

She offered a rare word of praise, then with a flick of her finger, a crimson Elixir Pill that emanated a faint, bloody scent flew to a stop before Chen Ye.

"This is your reward."

Her words caused an immediate uproar among the onlookers.

No one had expected that the Blood Qi Pill would end up in the hands of some unknown kid.

But Chen Ye felt no joy at all. On the contrary, as he stared at the Elixir Pill hovering before him, alarm bells screamed in his mind. He knew there was definitely a catch.