My Professions Have Too Much Personality

In the depths of the Nether Realm, space was like a stagnant pool of ink. A colossal figure sat cross-legged here, its form hidden within the surging Nether Fog. The fog was dark and viscous, swallowing all light.

Above its head, countless fine black patterns squirmed and intertwined like living things, coalescing into a half-closed vertical eye. A heart-stopping, eerie glow emanated from the slit between its lids.

Other distorted silhouettes flickered in and out of sight in the distance. The soft rustle of scraping Scale Armor was muffled by the fog, and the entire space seemed to tremble faintly with the colossal being’s every breath.

At that moment, Black Tuo’s eyes snapped open. His eerie pupils blazed like fissures in the abyss. Thick, python-like bolts of black lightning erupted from his body, their crackling roars tearing through the dead silence and violently churning the Nether Fog until it began to dissipate.

The surrounding Netherworld Creatures, already prostrate, pressed their heads firmly against the dark rock floor, not daring to make a sound.

"Hei Zhao."

Black Tuo’s voice was grand and resonant, carrying far into the distance.

The Nether Fog was torn apart by an unseen current as a black-armored giant plummeted from the sky. Its thousand-meter-tall frame was wreathed in gales, its jet-black armor covered in dark, intricate patterns. When it landed, the very earth trembled.

He dropped to one knee, the scrape of his armor plates like the clash of steel. Bowing his head low, he let a coarse voice boom from his chest, "Father God..." Grayish-white mist steamed from the gaps in his pauldrons, sending ripples through the surrounding Nether Fog.

Before he could finish speaking, fine beads of blood began to seep from the gaps in his armor. They dripped onto the grayish-white ground with a sizzle, evaporating into a cloud of sickly-sweet white smoke.

Hei Zhao didn’t dare move. ’What could have provoked Father God’s fury? Not long ago, I was defeated and driven back by Qing Cang, and even then, Father God wasn’t this angry.’

However, after a long wait, Black Tuo remained silent, and no further punishment came. Hei Zhao cautiously raised his head. "Father God?"

Black Tuo’s eyes were utterly dark and desolate. His voice was cold. "The Fog Ashes you sent into the Sect... they’ve been purified."

"Purified?" Hei Zhao was shaken to the core. "How is that possible?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "You created those Fog Ashes with your own hands. Who could possibly purify them?"

"Was it the Bronze Ancient King?" he speculated.

Black Tuo shook his head, his voice somber. "Purification is purification. Destruction is destruction. The two are completely different."

"Although that was just a primer, and the Bronze Ancient King could destroy it at will, he absolutely could not have purified it."

"The Deceitful Power and the Fog Source are intertwined, indistinguishable from one another. To purify it, one must withstand the corrosion directly."

’Directly withstand the corrosion of the Fog Ashes? Is that even possible? Has anyone ever done that?’ Hei Zhao fell silent.

"Something is happening within the Bronze Sect..." Black Tuo’s voice was cold and detached. "And that Bronze Flame... I have coveted it for a very long time..."

Hei Zhao lowered his voice. "Should you inquire with the Believer stationed near the Bronze Sect?"

He knew of such a Believer. ’He’d even guaranteed Father God that he would find a way to get Su Chen out, and had the audacity to ask for a drop of Divine Blood in return.’

’He had scoffed at the idea before, but after being so easily taken down himself shortly after arriving near the Bronze Sect, he had to admit that fellow was really something.’

"He is too close to the Bronze Flame. I cannot sense him." Black Tuo’s enormous head shook. "I can only wait for him to pray to me."

......

「Bronze Sect. On the Profound Celestial Sect’s Floating Island.」

"Xiuqi, how do you feel?" Lu Huai asked, looking at Tang Xiuqi as he stepped out of the Flying Device.

At these words, Tang Xiuqi’s expression grew animated. "It’s absolutely incredible!" he exclaimed. "For my profession’s requirement, finding a suitable Life Star in the vast Dust Star Sea would have been a near-impossible task."

"To cultivate such an environment from scratch... I can’t even imagine the manpower and resources it would have consumed. Yet, inside the Creation Copper Heart, it only took two or three short months to meet the requirement. It’s truly mind-boggling!"

Lu Huai wasn’t surprised by Tang Xiuqi’s reaction. He sighed wistfully. "The Creation Copper Heart is the very foundation of the Bronze Sect, just as the Profound Celestial Instrument is to our Profound Celestial Sect. Of course it’s extraordinary."

He had experienced the Power of the Creation Copper Heart in his youth. It truly lived up to its name, ’as if wresting the very forces of creation from the Star Universe itself’.

"My profession’s requirement is complete. I can advance to Tier Eight at any time now." Tang Xiuqi composed himself. He then learned from Lu Huai about Qin Yun’s return.

After a hurried inquiry to get the general picture, he couldn’t help but ask, "How could he possibly know nothing? Is the Bronze Sect refusing to talk?"

The subtle conflicts among the Bronze Sect’s upper echelons were a mystery even to some of its own mid-to-low-ranking members, let alone outsiders. To everyone else, this claim of "knowing nothing" was simply the Bronze Sect’s official stance.

"Who knows..." Lu Huai shook his head.

Tang Xiuqi frowned and asked in a low voice, "Then should we leave as soon as possible?"

If the Bronze Sect was determined to remain silent, conflict was inevitable.

"That won’t be necessary." Lu Huai waved his hand dismissively. "The situation is still up in the air. Besides, we have a decent relationship with the Bronze Sect. It would be a major loss of face to leave so hastily."

Tang Xiuqi frowned. "Then what are the other Ancient Kings planning to do? If the Bronze Sect is unwilling to talk, will they try to force the information out of them?"

"The Five Great Sects may have had their friction in the past, but we’re all still branches of the same tree, more or less. It’s not a good idea to resort to heavy-handed tactics," Lu Huai said hesitantly. "Besides, pushing the Bronze Ancient King into a corner would be a huge problem."

’The Bronze Ancient King is bound by the Bronze Flame, but that’s only because he is unwilling to give it up. If he’s truly pushed to the brink, he might just risk it all.’

’It’s just... I’ve also heard faint rumors that the Bronze Ancient King’s body has been affected by the Fog Ashes. I don’t know if it’s true, but if it is, this whole affair could escalate even further...’

"Well, there has to be a plan for handling this," Tang Xiuqi insisted.

"This matter requires a very delicate touch. Let’s wait for the Royal Court and the other Ancient Kings to discuss it," Lu Huai said, shaking his head.

Just as Tang Xiuqi was about to speak again, his gaze was drawn to a metal room to the side. The door was pushed open, and Liao Yunfan walked out, his face grim.