My Professions Have Too Much Personality

"’Master one, master them all? Not bad, not bad...’

After taking care of business, he didn’t immediately leave the Nether Realm. Instead, he waited for the Dark Sun and then returned to the Netherworld Stone Mine.

"Master, Master!"

As soon as he appeared, Xiao Hei began to jump around restlessly, running over in excitement.

However, it had clearly gotten much smarter. It didn’t charge right into him but stopped a short distance away, pounding its chest and letting out a wolf-like howl at the sky.

Xiao Hei’s fur was growing ever glossier, and its consciousness had become much clearer, all thanks to its daily diet of Netherworld Stones.

Perhaps its increased intelligence had also led to a higher level of faith.

Lately, Su Chen could even faintly hear the creature’s howls while he was training. He had mistaken it for a hallucination several times.

He later pieced it together, realizing it was probably similar to how he prayed to Black Tuo.

But for now, there were no specific prayers directed at him, and his Believers had no tiers, making this type of "prayer" completely uncontrollable.

He could only faintly sense it when Xiao Hei became extremely agitated.

"It seems you’ve been promoted."

A fierce wind howled, and the surrounding Nether Fog swirled. The Centipede Dragon’s head descended, its eyes fixed on him.

Even the surrounding Tier Seven Netherworld Creatures, whose intelligence was by no means low, did not flee in terror at his arrival. Instead, they now cast fearful glances in his direction.

"I did a few things that pleased my master, so I was promoted," Su Chen said casually.

A hint of gravity entered the Centipede Dragon’s eyes. Deceitful God’s Followers at the High Priest level were already a rare sight. It would be an exaggeration to say that every single one was valued by their Deceitful God.

However, to reach this level, one must have pleased their chosen Deceitful God multiple times and would have certainly made an impression.

"Congratulations," the Centipede Dragon said suddenly, its voice deep.

Su Chen glanced at it, slightly surprised. ’This High Priest identity is pretty useful.’

After a moment of contemplation, he flicked his hands. An intangible radiance was refined and woven between them, forming a transparent sheet on which various symbols faintly flickered.

"A Nether Contract?" the Centipede Dragon recognized at once.

"Oh, you recognize it?" Su Chen was a little surprised. "Then I don’t need to explain. We’re old friends, after all. Who knows, I might need your help someday."

The Centipede Dragon contemplated for a moment. The Nether Contract wasn’t a mandatory pact, merely a summons. Even if the other party were to summon it, it could still decide whether or not to answer the call.

"No problem," the Centipede Dragon agreed without hesitation.

In its eyes, this human was very likely to become a "favorite" of the Faceless Ghost, perhaps even advancing to become a Sacrificial Chief with an independent consciousness. He was worth the investment.

It swallowed the Nether Contract in one gulp, sealing the pact.

Su Chen chatted with the creature for a while longer, collected the thirty Netherworld Mother Stones that Xiao Hei had excavated, and left the Nether Realm.

’To have a Tier Eight Netherworld Creature descend into the real world, I’ll need to use at least one portion of High-tier Divine Power to create a suitable reception zone for its arrival.’

In the Nether Tower, Su Chen opened his eyes.

’As for this Nether Contract... it was just something I did on a whim. I probably won’t be able to use it within the Bronze Sect.’

After leaving the tower, he took the thirty Netherworld Mother Stones and went to the main building to look for Ming Lin. When he found Ming Lin wasn’t there, he sent him a message.

Back in the training room, he called up the new Body Refining Technique and Meditation Technique. Their names were—

[Thunderfire Cauldron-Forging Body Refining Technique]—using the body as a cauldron, refined by the interplay of thunder and fire.

[Blazing Thunder Soul-Refining Meditation Technique]—forging the soul with blazing fire, suppressing thoughts with thunderous might.

’Neither of these is low in intensity. They’re not gentle methods of tempering and visualization...’ Su Chen thought as the light of Flame Thunder surged around him, striking his body and his Spirit Core.

By the time the Flame Fire ignited again, Ming Lin had returned.

His brow was furrowed and his expression grim when he found Su Chen. Only after taking the thirty Netherworld Mother Stones did he speak. "I was just about to talk to you about this."

"What’s wrong? Is there a problem with our sales?" Su Chen straightened up at his words.

"Not yet," Ming Lin replied, shaking his head.

"’Yet?’" Su Chen’s eyes narrowed.

Ming Lin’s expression was grave. "Qin Guang has his eyes on us."

"Qin Guang?" Su Chen frowned, the name sounding vaguely familiar.

He quickly recalled it and said with a frown, "Qin Tianlin’s father?"

"Yes, that’s him." Ming Lin nodded, his voice heavy. "Ever since you took first place in the competition, Qin Guang seems to have had us in his sights."

"Word is, he’s already spread the order within the Qin Family’s sphere of influence: anything related to us, and especially to you, is to be delayed as long as possible. He’s made it clear he won’t be merciful to anyone who dares to feign compliance."

Su Chen’s brow tightened. ’No wonder Zhong Chengyu acted that way back at the Spirit Hall.’

He didn’t know much about the man. He had only heard Wei Zhenghong mention him briefly while they were drinking on the night Su Chen had won the competition.

He was Qin Yun’s eldest son. His Talent was mediocre, and he wasn’t favored by his mother. He was known for being greedy, lecherous, sinister, and violent.

It wasn’t until the birth of his son, Qin Tianlin, that the man finally managed to gain some of Qin Yun’s attention.

Back when Wei Zhenghong was being persecuted, Qin Guang had been running around stirring up trouble, which had disgusted Old Wei for quite some time.

Moreover, as Qin Tianlin’s father, he was different from the others in their faction. He was inextricably tied to his son; they would rise and fall as one.

A cold glint flashed in Su Chen’s eyes. "What has he done?" he asked in a low voice. "Are Senior Brother Teng Liang and the others in any danger?"

’If Qin Guang really dares to play dirty, Old Qing isn’t a pushover, either.’

"Danger?" Seeing Su Chen’s anger, Ming Lin quickly explained, "Oh no, nothing like that."

At this, he couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. "He hasn’t made any dirty moves. He’s just had people tailing us."

"He hasn’t?" Su Chen was surprised, but on second thought, he understood. If Qin Guang had actually made a move, Su Chen could have gone to Qing Cang, or even joined forces with Wei Zhenghong to teach the man a lesson.

Qin Guang must have realized that, so he only sent people to watch them. He might not even be trying to uncover anything specific; he’s just doing it to annoy Su Chen.

"One of his subordinates even took Senior Brother Wang out for drinks," Ming Lin said, then explained, "At the time, Senior Brother Wang didn’t know they were Qin Guang’s men. The guy was probing for information, both overtly and covertly, about your situation on Red Thunder Star."

’So he’s trying to uncover my secrets,’ Su Chen realized.

"But with him watching us like this, we can’t make any moves," Ming Lin said helplessly. That was the problem; for now, Qin Guang hadn’t crossed any lines.

They were the ones who couldn’t afford to bring this conflict out into the open.

There was no helping it. Their foundation was still too shallow. If they wanted to operate in the shadows, they had to be extremely careful.

’No wonder he annoyed Old Wei for so long, but Old Wei never managed to do anything to him. The man really understands the rules of survival in the Sect.’

Su Chen understood now and found the situation quite tricky. Even if Qin Guang just played by the Sect’s rules, he could still uncover something if he kept watch for long enough.

He opened his panel and took a look. He had accumulated two or three portions of various essences over this period, but he didn’t need them to merge his Main Profession yet.

’I probably won’t need them before I advance to Tier Six.’

He thought for a moment, then said to Ming Lin, "Let’s stop selling the goods for a while. We’ll wait and see."

"That’s all we can do. We’ll stop after we finish the last few deals we have on hand." Ming Lin agreed, sounding just as helpless.

’That guy is Tier Seven...’ Su Chen thought as he returned to the training room, subconsciously calculating. ’Once I advance to Tier Six, I estimate...’

After a moment, he shook his head. ’But this is the heart of the Sect. It’s too safe here.’

He couldn’t praise the safety of the Sect’s core only when it was protecting him.

"I have to find another way..." Su Chen muttered as he was gradually enveloped by Flame Thunder.

...

Ming Lin and the others halted their subtle purchases of Deceitful God’s Power and went about their duties quietly. Naturally, Qin Guang’s men couldn’t find anything unusual.

The construction of the satellite city was also getting on track. Qing Cang mobilized a large number of transport ships, and vast quantities of materials were ferried in from the various subordinate Life Stars.

Meanwhile, some of the factions closer to the Bronze Sect had already arrived at the Balance Dao Hub, the largest transport hub nearest to the Sect.

They were only waiting for the Bronze Sect to notify them that the venue was ready before they would depart.