Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector

The cut at the neck of the head was perfectly flat and smooth, without the slightest trace of a messy strike. It had clearly been severed by a single slash.

To do this to a Green-haired Zombie, with its tough hide and thick flesh, was no fluke.

It was a Saber Technique chilling enough to send a shiver down one’s spine.

Just then, the crowd instinctively parted, making way for a lean, middle-aged man who emerged from the main hall. He was the Steward of the Yu Huo County Demon Slayer Department.

He walked up, crouched down, and carefully examined the wound on the head for a moment. Then he looked up, his gaze landing on Chen Ye.

"Good Saber Technique."

Three simple words, yet they were the greatest affirmation of Chen Ye’s strength.

Cong Bo then stood up, pulled a Money Bag and three yellow sheets of talisman paper from his robes, and handed them over.

"This is your bounty, thirty taels of silver. These three Demon-Breaking Talismans are an additional reward."

Chen Ye froze for a moment, then gave Cong Bo a deep look before reaching out to accept the Money Bag.

"Thanks!"

"Don’t mention it. If you ever need anything in the future, feel free to come find me at the Demon Slayer Department," Cong Bo said with a grin.

Chen Ye nodded, then turned and left.

Cong Bo watched his retreating figure, a flicker in his eyes.

A man nearby sidled up to him, asking with a look of confusion, "Boss, why do you think so highly of this kid? His Saber Technique is good, but is it really worth all this?"

Cong Bo shot the man a glare. "What the hell do you know? The Saber Technique is one thing, but haven’t you noticed the kid gives off a completely different vibe now?"

"Hey, you’re right. I remember him being so timid and pathetic when he came in yesterday. How did he get so strong today?"

"Yeah, you don’t think he got possessed by a ghost, do you?"

Hearing that, Cong Bo lashed out with a kick.

"Stop your fucking bullshit. What place is this? If a Demon Ghost could possess someone and get inside, we’d have been fucking dead long ago."

The men fell silent.

Cong Bo let out a long breath, a look of envy on his face. "I suspect the kid had some kind of lucky break, or maybe he awakened his potential in a life-or-death struggle. Regardless, it proves he’s not the same person he was. A man like that is worth pulling to our side. Besides, it’s only three Demon-Breaking Talismans. Even if it comes to nothing, it’s not a great loss."

After hearing Cong Bo’s explanation, the men finally understood. The brawny man who’d been drinking gave Cong Bo a thumbs-up.

"Brilliant. Truly brilliant."

"Get out of here. Tidy up and get ready for the night patrol," Cong Bo said with a chiding laugh.

"You got it!" The men sprang into action.

They were all members of the Demon Slayer Department and served under Cong Bo. Their main duty was to maintain order in Yu Huo County and prevent invasions by Demons, Ghosts, and Evil Spirits. As such, the nightly patrol was of the utmost importance.

Meanwhile, Chen Ye found a reasonably clean-looking inn to stay at, then immediately headed to a nearby tavern that was still open for business.

A plate of roast pork, a whole roasted chicken, a large bowl of white rice, and a pot of warm wine.

The piping hot meal settled in his stomach, driving out the chill from the wilds and the lingering Evil Qi from the battle. Only then did the tension that had gripped him since he’d woken up finally begin to ease.

After eating and drinking his fill, Chen Ye returned to his room at the inn.

He latched the door and double-checked the windows before finally sitting cross-legged on the bed to study the Golden Toad Swallowing Qi Method.

According to his predecessor’s memories, while the name of this Cultivation Technique sounded impressive, it was actually a dime a dozen.

But when Chen Ye truly settled his mind to probe its core, he discovered that this seemingly crude Dharma Gate concealed a subtle and profound truth.

It wasn’t merely a Breathing Technique. It required one to visualize themself as a mythical Three-legged Golden Toad, devouring the Sun and Moon Essence.

The Dharma Gate was divided into two steps.

The first was Night Moon Absorption! At midnight, one had to absorb the purest Essence of Moonlight from the world to nourish the Divine Spirit and strengthen the Inner Qi.

The second was Breakfast with Purple Mist! At the very first moment of sunrise, one had to swallow the first wisp of Innate Purple Qi at dawn to temper the physical body and augment their qi and blood.

At that moment, the moon was high in the sky, bathing the ground in its clear light.

Chen Ye immediately sat cross-legged before the window. Following the instructions of the Dharma Gate, he focused his Heart Spirit and began to visualize.

In his mind’s eye, his body gradually dissolved, transforming into a giant Golden Toad crouching beneath the cold Moonlight.

He visualized the Golden Toad opening its cavernous mouth and taking a sharp breath.

In that instant, something strange happened!

The Moonlight outside the window seemed to be drawn by some unseen force, transforming into faint silver threads of light, barely visible to the naked eye. They passed through the window frame and flowed into his body.

The entire process was a hundred times smoother than the Cultivation Technique described.

The sliver of the Essence of Moonlight that should have taken months of arduous cultivation to even begin to sense was now surging directly into his body.

An incredibly cool energy settled in his Dantian, merging with his originally feeble Inner Qi. In just a few moments, that wisp of Inner Qi had already grown noticeably stronger.

An indescribable joy welled up in his heart.

Chen Ye understood. ’This is the payoff for having a Divine Spirit far stronger than an ordinary person’s, thanks to my experiences across several worlds.’

’At this rate, it won’t be long before I complete the Qi Nourishing stage.’

The divisions of Cultivation Realms in this world were complex and varied, with each school having its own system.

Take Qi Refiners, for example. Their path is divided into seven realms: Foundation Establishment, Qi Nourishing, Unobstructed, Sea Condensation, Inner Scenery, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul.

The path of a Body Forging Martial Artist corresponded to this, with its own stages: Mortal Body, Body Tempering, Bone Marrow Cleansing, Martial Heart, Breaking Limits, Golden Body, and Imperial Apex.

This was said to be only the most common standard. Beyond this, Sword Cultivators had their own unique names for their Realms, and there were also unorthodox paths like those of Talisman Cultivators and Gu Masters, each with their own vast and differing systems.