Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector

It was a face covered in wrinkles, like that of a wizened old woman.

Its eyes were murky and greedy. Bits of bloody foam and bone fragments clung to the corners of its mouth, and rancid saliva dripped down its chin.

In that same instant, countless memories flooded into Chen Ye’s mind.

This was a world where Cultivators were commonplace. Mainstream schools included Qi Refining, Body Forging, and Sword Cultivators. Beyond these, there were also all sorts of bizarre and unorthodox arts. It was truly an era where a myriad of techniques flourished.

But this world was also incredibly dangerous. The wilds, unprotected by powerful Cultivators or Incense Fire Divine Spirits, were overrun with Demon Ghosts and crawling with evil spirits.

He’d also heard rumors of extremely terrifying beings dwelling deep in the distant mountains. But that was all far removed from his current situation, as he was only in an insignificant corner of this vast world.

The previous owner of this body had been a naive hothead. After practicing martial arts in the countryside for a few years, he’d grown convinced of his own strength. So, he came to the county seat, took a mission from the Demon Slayer Department, and dreamed of becoming famous overnight.

The mission he had accepted was to slay a Green-haired Zombie that had recently occupied this ruined temple, which was situated more than ten li from Li City, next to the main road.

But while the Green-haired Zombie was the lowest class of Demon Ghost, it was still immensely strong and impervious to blades.

And though the body’s previous owner had been reckless, he wasn’t a complete idiot. He knew he’d have a hard time dealing with it alone.

So, he’d teamed up with two other Bounty Hunters.

Everything went smoothly at first. They successfully cornered the Green-haired Zombie.

But just as they were closing in for the kill, the monster suddenly flew into a rage, its once-Slow movements becoming as swift as the wind.

One teammate was sent flying, his fate unknown.

The other, at the most critical moment, shoved the original owner toward the Green-haired Zombie and turned to flee for his life.

The original owner was knocked unconscious by a single blow, and when the body awoke again, it was Chen Ye inside.

As for why the Green-haired Zombie hadn’t killed him, it was because this type of Demon Ghost prefers its meals fresh and warm. It had gone to feast on the unlucky bastard who was sent flying first....

He, on the other hand, was being saved for the next meal.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Chen Ye pieced together the sequence of events and the direness of his current predicament.

This was, without a doubt, the most dangerous transmigration he had ever experienced. He was facing a threat of immediate death from the very beginning.

But Chen Ye didn’t panic. Instead, he calmly took stock of his new body’s abilities.

This body followed the world’s most common path of Qi Refining. It had already completed the most basic stage of Foundation Establishment, and possessed a faint trace of Inner Qi.

He had also dabbled in Saber Techniques, but his skill was mediocre at best—not even worth mentioning.

’He dared to hunt demons with this little strength?’

’The original owner really had some nerve.’

As he snarked internally, Chen Ye’s gaze swept the floor. He spotted his personal saber lying silently in a corner seven or eight paces away.

Chen Ye knew that saber was the key to his survival. He didn’t know if dying here would send him back to the Main World, but it wasn’t a gamble he was willing—or could afford—to take.

Besides, even if he could return to the Main World, it would be a waste of a precious opportunity. From the body’s memories, Chen Ye had discovered that this world was exactly what he desperately needed: a world full of Cultivation Techniques, ones that were even accessible to ordinary people.

He still didn’t fully understand the principles behind the Boat of the Other Shore’s travel. If he left and couldn’t return, it would be an immense loss.

Moreover, Chen Ye noticed that as he sacrificed higher and higher-grade Spirit Pearls, while he couldn’t bring his Profession into a new world, his honed combat instincts and intuition grew sharper.

Especially now. Chen Ye felt his mind was clearer than ever. The entire structure of the ruined temple, down to every loose stone on the ground, formed a clear, three-dimensional image in his mind.

It felt as if his brain had been overclocked, a truly intoxicating sensation.

At the same time, Chen Ye took a deep breath and shot the Green-haired Zombie a grin.

"Hey, buddy. Your table manners are hideous. Didn’t your mother teach you any better?"

"ROAR!"

His answer was a shrill, ear-splitting roar.

The Green-haired Zombie kicked off violently, shattering the stone-slab floor. Its body became a green cannonball, hurtling ferociously toward Chen Ye!

Its speed was so great it kicked up a gust of foul, rancid wind inside the temple.

Chen Ye, however, remained unhurried. His right hand had already quietly closed around a palm-sized stone.

The instant the Green-haired Zombie pounced, he flicked his wrist, sending the stone whistling toward the creature’s face.

An attack like this was nothing to the Green-haired Zombie. It easily dodged with a slight tilt of its head.

But that momentary opening was exactly what Chen Ye needed.

As he threw the stone, Chen Ye shot forward like a cat, performing a nimble roll straight toward the saber on the ground.

"HISS—!"

Realizing it had been tricked, the Green-haired Zombie let out a sharp hiss. Its Sharp Claws became a blur as they swiped viciously at the center of Chen Ye’s back.

A vicious gust of wind rushed at him from behind. The shadow of death loomed.

Yet Chen Ye’s heart was perfectly still; he was terrifyingly calm.

His left hand planted firmly on the ground, bringing him to a sudden stop. He twisted into a side flip, and his right hand closed steadily around the cold hilt of the saber.

It felt heavy in his hand, perfectly balanced.

’Now!’

Draw, turn, slash!

The movements were executed in a single, fluid motion, as if he had practiced them a thousand times over.

This was the combat instinct etched into the very depths of his soul!

The saber’s blade was long and slender, barely more than an inch wide. It was shaped like a sword, but only sharpened on one side.