Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector

In this land, there was nothing the Celestial Sword Manor couldn’t handle, and no one they couldn’t afford to provoke.

That was why he couldn’t understand why Elder Jian, who was always decisive and ruthless, was so wary of these mountain folk.

Elder Jian looked at his confused and somewhat disdainful expression. He didn’t answer immediately, remaining silent for a moment as if gathering his thoughts.

Finally, he let out a soft sigh.

"Wuchen, you’ve been so engrossed in your Cultivation these past few years that you know far too little about the outside world."

There was a hint of lament in Elder Jian’s tone.

"Do you think it’s merely the mountain folk we’re wary of?"

Jian Wuchen was taken aback. "Aren’t they?"

"Of course not." Elder Jian shook his head, his tone turning unprecedentedly grave. "What we truly fear is the backer behind those mountain folk."

"A backer?" Jian Wuchen’s brow furrowed. "Who is their backer? In all of Qingzhou, could there be a backer stronger than our Celestial Sword Manor?"

He found the notion absurd.

The Celestial Sword Manor possessed a thousand-year legacy and profound foundations. Even across the entire world, it was considered a formidable power.

So on their own turf in Qingzhou, who would dare act as a backer for those mountain folk?

Elder Jian didn’t answer. Instead, he walked to the window and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing toward the horizon—in the direction of the Southern Wilderness Mountain Range.

"Wuchen, do you know why the Southern Wilderness Mountain Range is called the Southern Wilderness?"

Jian Wuchen thought for a moment and replied, "Because the mountains are high and the forests dense, filled with miasma. The environment is harsh, a barren wasteland. Is that why it’s called a ’wilderness’?"

"That’s only part of the reason," Elder Jian said slowly. "More importantly, a true master resides deep within those mountains. It is because of its existence that the land has become a forbidden zone for outside Cultivators—a truly untamed wilderness."

"A master?" Jian Wuchen’s heart skipped a beat. "Elder, you’re talking about..."

Elder Jian turned around and said, enunciating each word, "I am talking about the Mountain God of the Southern Wilderness Mountain."

"The Mountain God?" Jian Wuchen was stunned.

He was, of course, aware of beings like mountain gods and local earth deities.

But most of them were just minor spirits and sprites with a bit of power, sustained by local incense offerings, or perhaps Soul Bodies with lingering attachments from after their death.

To mortals, such beings might be lofty gods.

But to true Cultivators like them, they were hardly worth mentioning.

A moderately powerful Cultivator could easily obliterate them, scattering their soul to the winds.

As if seeing through his thoughts, Elder Jian shook his head. "This Mountain God is not like the others."

"Ordinary mountain gods and earth deities are little more than wandering spirits squatting in a territory to receive incense offerings. They are nothing of importance. But the Mountain God of the Southern Wilderness Mountain is different."

"It is a true Great Demon."

"A Great Demon?" Jian Wuchen’s pupils contracted sharply.

"That’s right." Elder Jian’s expression became incredibly solemn. "A Great Demon whose Cultivation is at the Core Formation Stage, at the very least."

Core Formation Stage!

Hearing those three words, Jian Wuchen froze on the spot. The disdain and arrogance on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by profound horror.

One must understand the Seven Realms of Qi Refining: Foundation Establishment, Qi Nourishing, Unobstructed, Sea Condensation, Inner Scenery, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul.

The leap across each major Realm represented a world of difference.

An expert at the Inner Realm was already considered a Land Immortal in the eyes of the world, powerful enough to establish their own sect and become a founding ancestor.

The Core Formation Realm was also known as the Golden Core Dao. Once a Cultivator stepped into this realm, it meant they had condensed a Golden Core within their body. Their lifespan would skyrocket, Divine Techniques would arise spontaneously, and they would utterly transcend the mortal coil.

In the entire Celestial Sword Manor, only his father and Elder Jian were publicly known to be at the Core Formation Realm.

Moreover, Jian Wuchen knew that Elder Jian had only reached Core Formation by forcing it with the power of a Heavenly and Earthly Treasure. Thus, while he was technically in the realm, neither his Divine Techniques nor his overall power could compare to those who had formed a true Golden Core.

Therefore, Elder Jian could only be considered halfway into the Core Formation Realm.

’And now Elder Jian is telling me that a Great Demon of at least the Core Formation Stage is lurking deep within the Southern Wilderness Mountain Range?’

This... This news was simply too shocking!

"Elder, are... are you telling the truth?" Jian Wuchen’s voice trembled, and he wondered if he had misheard.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Do you think I would joke with you about something like this?" Elder Jian retorted.

Jian Wuchen fell silent.

’In other words, it’s all true.’

When he remembered how he had just been clamoring to lead men to flatten those mountain villages, a cold sweat broke out on Jian Wuchen’s back.

’That wouldn’t be looking for someone—that would be a suicide mission!’

’To cause trouble in the territory of a Core Formation Stage Great Demon... Forget about someone at my Inner Realm. Even if my father came in person, he probably wouldn’t come out ahead.’

The strength of the Demon Race wasn’t just reflected in their Cultivation. Their formidable physical bodies, bizarre Talent Divine Techniques, and the inherent advantages they held in their own territory made them virtually invincible against others of the same realm.

Jian Wuchen swallowed hard and asked cautiously, "The Mountain God of the Southern Wilderness Mountain... what... what kind of demon is it?"

Elder Jian shook his head. "Even I am not entirely sure what its true form is. Perhaps only the Manor Master knows a little."

"I only know that it is strong. Very strong."

A flicker of deep apprehension crossed Elder Jian’s eyes.

"About sixty years ago, when I was still only at the Inner Realm, I ventured deep into the Southern Wilderness Mountain Range by mistake while investigating a case."

"At that time, I had a brief encounter with an incarnation of that Mountain God."

"An incarnation?" Jian Wuchen was shocked again.

"Yes, merely an incarnation." Elder Jian’s tone grew even heavier. "It was a form condensed from the Essence Qi of the mountains, rivers, and forests. But even so, the sheer pressure it emanated made my heart pound with an indescribable fear."