My Professions Have Too Much Personality

"How could this be... How could this be..."

He had repeated those words countless times. Su Chen's virtual projection was simply, unbelievably strong.

'I'm the one with a Divine Dawn Level Talent! In terms of pure strength, Su Chen shouldn't be strong enough to make me despair, but he's just a Tier Five Professional.'

Tier Five! A vein bulged on his forehead.

Just then, a knock suddenly sounded at his door. His eyes snapped open, a cold glint flashing within them before disappearing. He snarled in a low voice, "Get out! Didn't I already say that no one is to disturb me!?"

"It's me," came a soft voice from outside the door.

Qin Tianlin's expression froze. Cold sweat trickled down his temples as he scrambled to his feet and opened the door.

The visitor was none other than Qin Yun, who watched him with a calm expression.

Qin Tianlin swallowed hard and said cautiously, "I'm sorry, I... I didn't realize it was you."

Normally, he wouldn't have made such a mistake. But just now, his attention hadn't been on the person outside at all. He had only been thinking about Su Chen.

"I heard from your father that you've locked yourself in your room ever since you returned from the challenge center. How long do you plan to stay in here?" Qin Yun asked as he walked in slowly, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

Without any visible movement from him, the surrounding curtains drew themselves open, and piercing light flooded in.

Qin Tianlin seemed uncomfortable and took a step back. With his physique, he naturally wouldn't react to a mere change in light; it was a subconscious retreat of the mind.

"Grandfather, I..." Qin Tianlin's expression grew even more ashamed.

Qin Yun asked in a level tone, "Did that Su Chen really defeat you?"

Qin Tianlin's face darkened. He said in a low voice, "I tried twice more in the challenge room. It's hard to beat his training projection. There's... something very wrong with him..."

"Inconceivable..." Qin Yun sighed regretfully. "A Star Amber Level Talent, a Tier Five Professional, actually managing to reach such a level. And you have a Divine Dawn Level Talent."

Qin Tianlin lowered his head, saying nothing, but a growing bitterness filled his heart.

"However," Qin Yun continued, "you are not to blame for this. It is only because the secrets surrounding this Su Chen are too great. This is but a momentary victory or defeat; you need not dwell on it."

Hearing this, Qin Tianlin looked up, somewhat dazed. 'Do I really not need to dwell on it?'

The last time he had brought up how Su Chen's Star Seed Position was unshakable, his grandfather had simply told him to wait. Back then, he had prided himself on his Divine Dawn Level Talent and believed it was impossible for Su Chen to catch up, so he had let it go.

But now, he had suffered a Reverse Tier defeat. 'Was this truly just a momentary setback?'

"Hm?" Just as Qin Yun was about to speak, he seemed to notice something. He tilted his head up slightly, his gaze piercing through the ceiling to look above.

"What is it?" Qin Tianlin couldn't help but ask when he saw this.

"It's nothing," Qin Yun said, shaking his head. Inside, however, he was pondering, 'Why has the Flame Fire suddenly grown so much stronger?'

'Could it really be purifying the Fog Ashes...' His heart sank slightly. Qing Cang's hasty departure had already made him suspicious.

'If Su Chen can truly purify the Fog Ashes, and if the danger from the Flame Fire isn't imminent, then there would be no need for the Great Venerable to select a successor ahead of time.'

Thoughts churned in Qin Yun's mind. He and Chu Lingyuan both knew the situation with the Flame Fire. Given the Great Venerable's personality, he would never allow either of them to try and merge with the fire again just to prolong its existence.

'If it truly can't be solved, the most likely scenario is that he would first choose a successor to the Ancient King, and then the Great Venerable would merge his own body with the fire.'

This was the source of his confidence, the reason he had remained silent after returning, yet was certain that he would be fine. As long as the crisis of the Flame Fire remained unresolved, he was a candidate to be the Ancient King's successor.

'When it comes to the absolute last resort, even if the Great Venerable is completely unwilling, he will have no choice but to pick me.'

But now... Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind. He turned around, his gaze falling upon Qin Tianlin, whose face was a mask of resentment and struggle.

Qin Yun's eyes glinted darkly, and his voice was low. "Tianlin, I have a way for you to take another great leap forward, but it comes with some risk..."

"I'm willing!" Before he could finish, Qin Tianlin's head snapped up, a hopeful light shining in his eyes.

'Just as I expected,' he thought. 'I knew my grandfather would have a way.'

"Have you really decided?" Qin Yun seemed to be asking himself as much as he was asking the other.

Qin Tianlin nodded firmly without the slightest hesitation. "I trust you, Grandfather!"

Qin Yun sighed softly. Strands of Flowing Light began to seep silently from the void. At first, they were silver glints as fine as spider silk, weaving through the air without a sound. They gathered, growing denser and denser, until they formed a translucent net of light around the two of them.

Then, he slowly extended a hand, and a faint wisp of purple flame erupted in his palm.

"Right now, I'm more interested in that Su Chen," a voice transmitted from within it—ancient and hoarse.

"There's no chance. He's already being watched by my Great Venerable," Qin Yun said, shaking his head. "Making a move on him would be suicide."

"What is..." Qin Tianlin looked over, confused, not knowing who his grandfather was talking to.

But before he could react, he saw his grandfather abruptly raise a hand, pressing his palm to his forehead.

Qin Tianlin's pupils dilated as the purple flame suddenly shot inside him. A voice, laced with excitement, could be faintly heard: "A fine vessel!"

"GRA—AH!"

In an instant, Qin Tianlin's face contorted in agony. His body staggered, and a low, guttural roar escaped his lips.

And Qin Yun... merely watched with a remote gaze.

Until, at a certain moment, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He suddenly took a step forward and extended a finger. The surrounding Flowing Light intertwined, its luminous threads biting at each other and restructuring, coalescing into swirling, silvery-grey runes that converged.

As he tapped his finger on Qin Tianlin's brow, those silvery-grey symbols vanished into it as well.