My Professions Have Too Much Personality

"Master Tang? You’re out?" he asked, a bit surprised as he greeted him.

"Oh, you’re already Tier Six?" Tang Xiuqi said in surprise.

Liao Yunfan nodded. "I met the requirements as soon as I came out of the Creation Copper Heart."

Of course, Tang Xiuqi wasn’t the only one who needed to use the Creation Copper Heart. Liao Yunfan was another.

"So, what are you doing now?" Tang Xiuqi asked.

"I’m trying to challenge the Tier Six Professionals on the Holy List," Liao Yunfan explained.

"Oh? And what’s your rank?" Tang Xiuqi asked, his curiosity piqued.

His expression soured. "I barely squeezed into the top 150."

"That’s already quite good, considering you just reached Tier Six," Tang Xiuqi said with a nod.

Liao Yunfan pressed his lips together without responding. After a short rest, he entered the challenge room again.

"This challenge method is a unique advantage. It serves to hone one’s skills while also reducing enmity between Sect members."

Tang Xiuqi couldn’t help but feel a little wistful. Their Sect had a ranking similar to the Holy List, but this challenge method was unique to the Bronze Sect, a derivative ability of the Creation Copper Heart.

Their Sect’s mimicry system couldn’t accurately capture and perfectly replicate a Professional’s abilities, which meant combat results could fluctuate wildly, making it an unreliable standard for measurement.

"Indeed," Lu Huai agreed wholeheartedly. Rank determined one’s supply of resources.

In other Sects, it was common for disputes over challenges to sour relationships, sometimes even creating mortal enemies. Here in the Bronze Sect, however, such situations were far less frequent.

As the two were chatting, Lu Huai felt a stir. He suddenly summoned the Profound Celestial Instrument. Amidst a flash of flowing light, a figure was ejected from it—it was Ming Lin.

His expression was dazed, as if returning from another world. It took him a moment to come to his senses before he hurriedly exclaimed, "Your Excellency Lu Huai!"

Lu Huai’s eyes glinted, and a scarlet radiance began to weave itself around Ming Lin’s body.

"Double Scarlet. Your luck isn’t bad," Lu Huai remarked, quite surprised.

"It’s Double Scarlet?" Ming Lin asked, stunned for a moment, an unavoidable thrill rising in his heart. "Thank you for your trouble, senior."

Ming Lin quickly offered his respects, glanced at Tang Xiuqi, and then departed in a hurry.

"Why are they sending over someone with such a low Talent?" Tang Xiuqi muttered, staring at Ming Lin’s retreating back.

Lu Huai didn’t seem to mind. "I think he’s one of Su Chen’s men."

Understanding dawned on Tang Xiuqi.

......

In the training room, Su Chen exhaled a cloud of foul air. He glanced at his panel. His professional development progress had increased by 1%, reaching 41%.

’One percent in a single day...’ Su Chen was stunned. As his Professional Tier increased, his development rate was actually accelerating. This was thanks to his increased Talent and the supply of resources.

’The Holy Cauldron Sect’s Potions are truly extraordinary. With the help of this Crimson Sun Potion, I can get my development progress to 50% in another eight or nine days.’

The Crimson Sun Potion was so potent that he couldn’t bear to waste any of it. It was already the second day since Wei Zhenghong’s visit, and with the Dark Sun approaching, the Potion’s effects were finally wearing off.

Su Chen licked his lips. It was easy to go from humble to luxurious, but hard to go back. After experiencing the Crimson Sun Potion, he doubted he could go back to drinking ordinary Support Potions.

’But only the top fifty get a supply...’ Su Chen had no idea how his own strength stacked up against the Tier Six Professionals at the top of the Holy List.

’Still, breaking into the top fifty shouldn’t be too much of a problem, right?’

His advantage was the number of special professions he held, which far surpassed others, but this edge would diminish as the age gap between him and his competitors grew.

A 30-year-old Tier Six Professional and a 40-year-old one would inevitably hold a different number of special professions. Moreover, he was essentially fighting opponents far more experienced than himself.

Before, he couldn’t have said for sure if he could break into the top fifty. But now, with Soldier Master in his arsenal, he was quite confident.

As for the number one spot...

With that thought, Su Chen walked into the Nether Tower and entered the Nether Realm. He knew the place well by now. He first paid a visit to Xiao Hei, then had a chat with the Centipede Dragon.

He was a regular here, and the Centipede Dragon had grown quite interested in this rather strange Follower of a Deceitful God. The two had already established a basic level of trust.

Once the Flame Fire was rekindled, Su Chen traveled to the border region and tentatively prayed to Black Tuo.

The connection was barely established when black mist began to seep from the vertical pupil sigil on the ground, swirling around him.

Before he could speak, Black Tuo’s voice drifted out from the mist. "I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Su Chen’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly said, "The Bronze Sect’s recent scrutiny has been too intense. I had no opportunity to report to you."

"I am aware," Black Tuo said, then asked, "How is the plan regarding Su Chen progressing?"

Su Chen lowered his head and replied, "Progress is steady. With the help of that high-ranking member of the Sect, I’ve already established contact with several people close to Su Chen. They don’t know my true identity yet. I will guide them step by step toward complete corruption."

"I gave him the Divine Blood, but he probably won’t dare to use it anytime soon," Su Chen added, patching up his story. He even had a name ready, but Black Tuo didn’t press for details. Instead, its voice held a note of praise.

"You have done very well. Proceed step by step. There is no need to rush."

Then, Black Tuo’s line of questioning shifted. "Have there been any strange occurrences within the Bronze Sect recently?"

’Strange occurrences?’ Su Chen wondered inwardly, but his outward expression remained respectful. "Could you be more specific, my lord? What sort of situation are you referring to?"

This wasn’t his first time dealing with a Deceitful God. They operated on absolute trust in their Believers. If you were unclear about a task, you could ask directly, and they would tell you anything they were able to.

"Are you aware of the Divine Son’s murder?" Black Tuo asked after a moment’s thought.

Su Chen responded instantly. "I began making inquiries the moment the news broke, and I have indeed learned a few things."

"The operation was led by Qing Cang. He had been monitoring Fan Zhao and followed him to Planet Azure after detecting unusual activity."

Everything he said was impossible for Black Tuo to verify, but the Deceitful God didn’t seem very interested anyway.

It immediately followed up with another question. "Do you know what was done with the items they recovered from the Divine Son’s body?"

’The items they recovered?’ Su Chen’s heart leaped.

Black Tuo’s question sparked a faint suspicion in his mind. ’Could it be about the Fog Ashes? Has Black Tuo somehow sensed that I was the one who purified them?’

"I do not," he said, shaking his head. "That would involve the Sect’s most secret operational protocols."

"I have a mission for you. You can put the matter concerning Su Chen aside for now. Among the Divine Son’s personal effects was an item of extreme importance. You must find a way to ascertain its whereabouts."

The black mist before him swirled, and just as he suspected, it formed into the shape of the Fog Ashes.

’So it really is about this thing!’

Su Chen was inwardly shaken. Black Tuo’s focus on this matter was far greater than he had anticipated.

’But... he’s asking me to investigate myself?’

"As you command," Su Chen first agreed, then put on an expression of sincere trepidation. "I will do everything in my power to fulfill your request, but I fear this matter will require the full cooperation of that high-ranking member of the Sect... I’m afraid..."

Black Tuo’s voice was placid. "All mortals have desires. Whatever he wants, promise it to him."

’As expected of an ancient Deceitful God. He speaks with such confidence.’

Su Chen adopted a tone of reverence. "You are truly omniscient, my lord. That man did indeed make a request of me previously. If I agree to it, he might even be willing to make a direct move against Su Chen."

"However, I do not trust him. If you wish to learn the truth of this matter, I’m afraid you will have to agree to his terms."

"What are his terms?" Black Tuo asked.

"He wants my help in finding the Heart of Spiritual Light."

"The Heart of Spiritual Light?" A ripple of emotion entered Black Tuo’s voice. "He certainly dares to ask for a lot. What is his position in the Sect?"

"Zhou Yunyang," Su Chen said, then briefly explained the man’s identity.

"The last of the Morning Star Tier bloodline... He does indeed possess a unique advantage. But his Tier isn’t high, so why would he need the Heart of Spiritual Light?"

"I do not know. That is simply his demand," Su Chen said, shaking his head.

But after he finished, Black Tuo fell into a deep silence, offering no response.

Su Chen felt a faint pang of disappointment. ’The Heart of Spiritual Light really must be precious...’

But no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he heard Black Tuo’s voice again. "Agree to his terms. As long as you can determine the final whereabouts of the item I tasked you with finding, and provide convincing evidence, I can procure the Heart of Spiritual Light for him."

’He actually agreed?’

A sharp glint flashed in Su Chen’s eyes. ’Who could have purified the Fog Ashes? Why is it so important to Black Tuo?’