Hengsheng stood before the towering structure, his gaze fixed on the gleaming sign at the entrance: “Professions Association Main Branch.” The sheer size and grandeur of the building left him in awe. It was by far the largest man-made structure he had ever encountered, even its majesty is completely overshadowed the Golden Pillar that loomed in the background. Though the building was impressive in its own right, the Golden Pillar’s divine presence seemed to cast everything else in its shadow.
Taking a moment to absorb the atmosphere, Hengsheng observed the intricate designs carved into the building’s exterior—symbols of the countless professions it represented. The entrance bustled with cultivators of various ranks, all exuding confidence as they entered or exited the grand structure.
He nodded to himself, impressed not just by the architecture but by the sense of purpose radiating from the place. Without further delay, Hengsheng walked toward the reception area, which was positioned conveniently a short distance from the gate.
The receptionist, a young woman dressed in formal yet elegant robes emblazoned with the association’s insignia, greeted him with a warm smile. “Welcome to the Professions Association. How may I assist you today?”
Hengsheng returned a polite nod and replied, “I’d like to register as a member. I want to learn the basics about professions.”
The receptionist’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm as she gestured toward a registration counter nearby. “Of course! To register as a member, you’ll first need to pass a basic aptitude test. This ensures that we will not waste both of our time. Are you ready to proceed?”
Hengsheng’s expression remained calm, though inwardly he was intrigued by the process. “I’m ready. What do I need to do?”
The receptionist handed him a small, glowing crystal orb. “This is a Spirit Aptitude Tester. Simply place your palm on the orb, and it will assess your compatibility with various professions based on your spiritual Qi and mental aptitude. Once the results are displayed, we’ll discuss your options.”
Hengsheng examined the orb carefully, noting the intricate runes etched into its surface. He placed his palm on the orb, and immediately it began to glow, emitting a soft hum as it analyzed him.
As the light faded, the orb displayed several shimmering runes in mid-air. The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly as she reviewed the results. “It seems you have exceptional compatibility with multiple fields—Formation Mastery, Runic Engraving, and Artifact Crafting. This level of aptitude is quite rare!”
Hengsheng nodded, unsurprised. His system-assisted precision and mental control were bound to give him an edge. “What’s the next step?”
The receptionist maintained her polite demeanor as she explained, “The registration process is complete once you pay the membership fee. After that, you’ll officially become a Member of the Professions Association. This membership grants you access to facilities such as the Apothecary Room, Formation Pavilion, and Rune Inscription Chamber. If you already have a master who is part of the association, the registration fee will be waived. Do you have a master?”
Hengsheng shook his head. “No, I plan to learn independently. Is there another way?”
“Certainly,” she replied smoothly. “As a member, you’ll gain access to the association’s Knowledge Bank. However, there’s a fee for each subject you wish to study. Are you ready to register?”
“How much is the fee?” Hengsheng asked, already expecting an exorbitant price.
“The registration fee is 1,000,000 low-rank spirit stones, sir.”
Hengsheng frowned. The cost was steep, even for someone of his background. He muttered internally, This is daylight robbery. If I were a loose cultivator without a clan or master's support, there’s no way I could afford this.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Despite his misgivings, Hengsheng retrieved a space pouch containing the required amount. The pouch represented a considerable sum, even for a young master of a second-rate force like himself. After handing it over, the receptionist began taking his details.
“Please provide your basic information: name, affiliation, and cultivation level. Then, infuse your Qi into this jade token to finalize the process,” she instructed.
Hengsheng complied, providing the necessary information and channeling a small amount of his Qi into the token. The receptionist smiled and handed him a Jade badge emblazoned with the Professions Association’s insignia.
“Congratulations, sir. You are now an official Member of the Professions Association. Welcome! Should you wish to gain a certification in any profession, you can take the respective tests. Once certified, you can officially call yourself, for example, a Rank 1 Formation Master. However, until then, you may still use our Knowledge Bank to begin your studies.”
Hengsheng nodded, slipping the badge into his robe. Certification could wait; what he needed now was knowledge. He thanked the receptionist and walked purposefully toward the Knowledge Bank, his thoughts racing.
The Knowledge Bank was an enormous chamber with a long counter stretching across the room. Unlike a traditional library, there were no visible bookshelves or scrolls. Instead, the atmosphere was filled with focused energy. Cultivators sat cross-legged on mats scattered throughout the chamber, their brows furrowed in concentration, clearly immersed in comprehension exercises.
Hengsheng approached the counter and addressed the staff member stationed there. “I want to learn the basics of Formation Mastery, Artifact Crafting, and Rune Engraving.”
The staff member nodded, disappearing briefly into a back room before returning with three glowing jade seals. “May I see your badge, please?” they asked.
Hengsheng handed over his badge. The staff member inspected it and then frowned. “Since this is your first time accessing the Knowledge Bank, you are required to sign a secrecy contract. This ensures that the information you receive is not shared or misused outside the association.”, then the staff handed him a contract scroll and Qi pen he knew what it would do if he signed it would put a restain on his mind.
Without hesitation, Hengsheng signed the contract. The staff member then handed him the jade seals. “These seals are single-use and can only be activated by you. The total price for these three subjects is 3,000,000 low-rank spirit stones.”
Hengsheng sighed inwardly but handed over another space pouch filled with spirit stones. He carefully placed the jade seals into his space ring, his thoughts swirling. This place truly knows how to bleed its members dry.
With the jade seals secured, Hengsheng found an empty mat within the chamber, ready to begin unraveling the mysteries of the professions.
Hengsheng sat cross-legged on the mat and retrieved one of the jade seals from his space ring. Infusing it with a thread of his Qi, the seal began to glow faintly, and a flood of knowledge about formations entered his mind. Closing his eyes, he focused intently, absorbing the information. His brows furrowed as he processed the details, each concept more profound than what he had encountered before.
After thirty minutes, Hengsheng opened his eyes, exhaling slowly. So this is the difference, he thought. The knowledge from the association was far more refined, detailed, and easy to understand compared to the basics from his clan library. To his surprise, the jade seal even included a basic mind cultivation method, something he had been lacking. A smile tugged at his lips. “This is exactly what I needed,” he murmured.
Satisfied, Hengsheng stood up, ready to leave. He walked toward the exit, his thoughts racing with plans on how to apply what he had learned. However, as soon as he stepped outside the building, he was met with a commotion.
“What’s happening now?” he muttered to himself, annoyance flickering in his eyes. What a damn ass who would dare to cause trouble in a place like this? He weaved through the growing crowd, his sharp hearing picking up snippets of the situation.
"Ahhhh!" A familiar voice cried out in pain. "Just a small clan from the rim of the Metal Flow Plain, and you dare not bow to your lords!"
Hengsheng’s gaze snapped toward the source of the disturbance. His eyes widened, and a wave of anger surged through him. In the middle of the chaos, a group of five Lan clan members—one of them Baixing—were surrounded by twenty men in purple robes, He recalled what he had learned about power structures in his clan lesson immediately, They were disciples of the Thunderclap Blade Sect. Baixing was on the ground, bloodied and bruised, while one of the purple-robed men sneered and kicked him mercilessly. Others stood around, laughing as if it were a mere game.
Smoke might as well have been coming out of Hengsheng’s ears. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, his movement swift and filled with righteous fury. His foot connected squarely with the face of the man kicking Baixing, sending him flying several meters back.
“How dare you lay a hand on my younger brother!” Hengsheng roared, his voice echoing through the area. “You want to die?!”