Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector

Looking at the two Professions listed side-by-side on his Professional Panel, Chen Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been worried that the Nightwalker Profession he’d acquired would conflict with his Pearl Collector Profession. It would be a huge problem if one overwrote the other.

After all, here in Black Water Lake, the Skills of a Pearl Collector were crucial—the very foundation of his survival.

’Looks like I was overthinking things.’

’This Professional Panel seems to have no limit. It can stack Professions infinitely, holding countless possibilities.’

「For the next two days, all was calm and uneventful.」

As expected, the disappearance of Zhao Qiu and his two men didn’t cause the slightest ripple.

Chen Ye’s life returned to its former tranquility. He took his boat out daily for Pearl Collection and turned in his quota. His days passed uneventfully.

Then one day, the usually deathly quiet port town suddenly erupted with noise.

A new batch of Sinful People had been escorted to the town.

Chen Ye stood at the edge of the crowd, his expression cold as he watched the familiar scene unfold.

Most of the newly arrived men wore numb expressions, their eyes hollow as if their souls had been torn from their bodies.

The women, however, sobbed quietly, their faces etched with terror and confusion.

Soon, a few High-level Sinners gathered around, pointing and appraising the women as if they were selecting livestock at a market.

Strangely, though their faces were filled with humiliation, the women all stood there submissively. After being chosen, a few of the more attractive ones even showed expressions of relief, as if they had just grasped a lifeline.

Those who weren’t chosen, by contrast, looked anxious.

This was a common sight to Chen Ye.

’These women think being chosen is an escape from their suffering, but they’re really just jumping from one fire pit into an even deeper one.’

’Once those High-level Sinners get tired of them, their fate will be even worse than it is now.’

’But that has nothing to do with me.’ Chen Ye couldn’t be bothered to care.

Just as he turned to leave, a voice, tinged with surprise and uncertainty, suddenly came from the crowd.

"Chen Ye?"

Chen Ye paused, looking toward the source of the voice.

His gaze passed through the numb crowd and landed on a face that might once have been called pretty, but was now haggard and panicked.

Chen Ye recognized her.

Liu Chan.

A name that held considerable weight in his predecessor’s memories.

The Liu Family and the Chen Family had been allies for generations, and his predecessor and Liu Chan were what one might call childhood sweethearts.

But when the Chen Family later fell from power, the Liu Family not only refused to help, but were the first to turn their backs. They even kicked the Chens while they were down, joining forces with their rivals to crush them completely.

Chen Ye never expected to see a member of the Liu Family again after all these years, especially not here, and not like this.

His gaze swept through the crowd.

Sure enough, in a corner he spotted several other familiar figures, including the Liu Family Patriarch, Liu Junshan—a man who had once called his father a sworn brother and shared drinks and laughter with him.

The members of the Liu Family recognized him as well. But the moment their eyes met, the men lowered their heads in shame, unable to meet his gaze.

Just then, Liu Chan pushed her way out of the crowd, her face filled with hope, and rushed to stand before him.

"Brother Ye, it’s really you!"

As she spoke, the rims of her eyes turned red. Two lines of tears slid artfully down her cheeks, her voice choked with emotion. She was a truly pitiable sight.

Liu Chan had already noticed Chen Ye’s clean, neat clothes, which suggested he was doing quite well for himself here.

Recalling the good-natured boy from her memories, the one who had always doted on her, a spark of hope ignited in Liu Chan’s heart.

’In her mind, if she just swallowed her pride and used a few simple tricks, she could surely get him wrapped around her little finger.’

However, nothing she had anticipated happened.

Chen Ye just watched her quietly, his gaze as placid and bottomless as a deep lake, without a single ripple. Then he turned to leave.

Liu Chan was stunned.

’This reaction was nothing like she’d imagined!’

Seeing Chen Ye about to walk away, Liu Chan cast aside all composure and dignity. She lunged forward and grabbed the hem of his sleeve.

"Brother Ye, don’t go! You can’t just abandon me!"

She burst into loud sobs, snot and tears smearing her face. She no longer looked anything like the well-bred young lady she once was.

"The Liu Family... the Liu Family is finished! Our entire family has been exiled here. If you abandon me too, I won’t be able to survive! Please, for the sake of our childhood together, take me in! I’ll do anything. I can wash clothes, cook, serve you... I can do it all!"

Her wails drew sideways glances from the crowd. The High-level Sinners watched the drama unfold with great interest, while the faces of the Liu Family members turned ashen.

Chen Ye stopped and looked back at Liu Chan.

A trace of hope and pleading appeared on Liu Chan’s face.

But Chen Ye simply said in a voice devoid of emotion, "And what does that have to do with me?"

With that, he easily shrugged off her hand and walked away without a backward glance.

Liu Chan stood there, utterly dumbstruck, her mind a complete blank.

Ever since her family’s fall, it was as if she had been living in a nightmare. Now, she had finally seen a glimmer of hope, only for it to be shattered in an instant.

The Liu Family’s plight didn’t stir the slightest emotion in Chen Ye.

He felt no satisfaction in revenge, no smug pleasure in their misfortune—not even a flicker of emotion.

To him now, these people were like stones on the side of the road, unworthy of even a shred of his emotion.

Back on the boat, Chen Ye went back to work.

His current goal was clear: find a high-quality Spirit Pearl in preparation for his next crossing.

The last Ninth Grade Spirit Pearl he’d used had given him the starting Identity of a Little Scholar who was framed and put to death. It was a lowly position that made every step a struggle.

The quality of the offering determined the station of his starting Identity. The higher the Identity, the smoother the beginning.

Of course, it couldn’t be too high either.

’If I were to sacrifice a First Grade Spirit Pearl, it might send me straight to a top-tier world where immortals and demons are everywhere, and Great Powers are a dime a dozen. With my current strength, I wouldn’t even qualify as cannon fodder. I’d most likely die the second I arrived.’

After weighing his options, Chen Ye finally set his target on a seventh or Eighth Grade pearl.

A Spirit Pearl of that grade would guarantee him a decent start without throwing him into a world that was excessively dangerous.

So, for the next few days, Chen Ye increased the frequency and depth of his dives.

Relying on his Spirit Clam Sensing and his now powerful body, Chen Ye’s efficiency was extremely high.

He even found several Ninth Grade Spirit Pearls, but he left them untouched.

It was best not to flaunt one’s wealth.

He’d been a little too conspicuous before, and it had attracted the covetous attention of Zhao Qiu and his ilk.

So now, Chen Ye was naturally even more cautious.

Then one day, as Chen Ye dove into a dark, deep stretch of water he’d never explored, a sensation far stronger than any before suddenly pulsed from below.

’A big one!’

Chen Ye’s spirits soared. He immediately dove deeper, clearing away the silt on the lakebed.

Sure enough, beneath the silt was a giant Spirit Clam the size of a millstone. Its shell was covered with the marks of time and emanated a faint Spiritual Light.

It took all of Chen Ye’s might, but he finally managed to pry a crack in the tightly sealed shell with his Spiritual Shovel.

The moment the shell cracked open, a soft yet brilliant light shone out from within.

Chen Ye looked closely and saw an egg-sized Spirit Pearl emitting a purple halo, lying quietly in the clam’s flesh.

’It’s an Eighth Grade Spirit Pearl!’