Infinite Professions-Chapter 46 - 42: The Predicament

"No, this can’t go on like this!"

Feeling the emptiness and pain in his stomach, Shen Hex gritted his teeth, propping himself up and rummaging through the room.

After searching for quite a while, he finally found a bottle of basic healing potion buried under a pile of junk whose age was indeterminate.

Yes, a basic healing potion; after rummaging for ages, he only found one bottle of basic healing potion, and he wasn’t even sure if it had expired.

Logically speaking, as the former Celestial Destiny Spirit Master, the Savior of the entire Spirit Control Continent, even if the Celestial Destiny had ended and the Spirit Beast had perished, life shouldn’t be so desperate.

But that’s how Li Taiyi ended up, searching through the entire house and unable to find even a mid-level potion. Those who know he’s the former Celestial Destiny Spirit Master would understand, but those who don’t might think he’s just a dead pauper.

Shen Hex searched through his memories and found that Li Taiyi ended up in such a state largely because of his own actions.

Chapter of Valor?

Indeed, very brave.

But that’s about it—just brave, nothing else. Especially not brains; he never considered the consequences of his actions, essentially just a reckless man.

To say nothing else, he even dared to kill nobles.

The Imperial Family and nobles of the Spirit Control Continent are descendants of High-Tier Spirit Masters and past Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters. They control the country, hold resources, and rank above all commoners.

With such status and position, corruption was inevitable, and oppressing commoners was practically a given.

Yet Li Taiyi, being a Celestial Destiny Spirit Master of commoner origin, frequently punished those nobles who oppressed commoners during his growth as Celestial Destiny and battle against the Dark Demon King Beast, even executing those who were outrageously evil and heinous.

Back then, with the Celestial Destiny within him and the duty to combat the Dark Demon King Beast, punishing them was naturally acceptable, and those nobles’ relatives and families not only dared not trouble him but also had to come forward to apologize.

But once the Dark Demon King Beast was sealed, things changed. As the Celestial Destiny ended and he lost his Spirit Beast, he suddenly gained a host of enemies—comprised of those same nobles and their relatives of yore whom he’d punished.

Though they still didn’t dare strike openly at a former Celestial Destiny Spirit Master, meddling and creating difficulties was a breeze.

Li Taiyi, possessing a stubborn temper, rather than seeking ways to reclaim his due amidst withheld allowances, opted instead to sell his property to make ends meet, showing a stance of refusing to bow down to malevolent forces.

But what property did he have?

Coming from commoner origins, after earning the Chapter of Valor, he toiled on the frontlines against the Dark Demon King Beast, focusing on the team and humanity’s future with no time to establish his own enterprises, much less foster power.

So, after Celestial Destiny ended, he virtually had nothing of value, ultimately being forced to sell his collected weapons, equipment, and potions from the past to sustain his life in the Holy City.

But the Holy City, being the continent’s center and Holy Land for Spirit Control Masters, had exorbitantly high prices. Within just a few years, he sold everything sellable, even exchanging the castle awarded by the Holy City for a humble dwelling.

A Celestial Destiny Spirit Master, reduced to this state—what more is there to say?

It’s no wonder his companions, including the princess of the Sky Kingdom, abandoned him. Acting so while bearing the Celestial Destiny, exuded courage, but losing the Celestial Destiny rendered him a headless chicken, unaware of risks, and reckless to no end.

Were it not for the nobles’ fears and whatever remnants of humanity the Holy City possessed, he probably wouldn’t have survived until Shen Hex’s crossing, having long since fallen victim to an assassin in some dark corner.

Now, it was all over; he left Shen Hex with such a mess.

What to do now?

Gazing at the possibly expired basic healing potion in his hand and feeling the emptiness and pain in his body, Shen Hex sighed and tipped the potion into his mouth.

"Glug, glug, glug!"

With a few gulps, the potion entered his stomach, and Shen Hex collapsed weakly, leaning against the edge of the bed, waiting for the outcome.

Perhaps having reached the pits, fortune finally reversed; the potion was not expired, and shortly, a warmth surged in his abdomen, dispelling the pain caused by toxins, with his weak body slightly regaining some strength.

"Haa!"

Shen Hex exhaled deeply, propped himself upright, sat on the bed, and began contemplating his next move.

Just then...

"Knock, knock, knock!"

A series of knocks resounded, causing Shen Hex’s eyes to narrow: "Who is it?"

A female voice drifted in: "It’s me, Lord Taiyi!"

"Hmm!?"

Shen Hex furrowed his brow, hesitated for a moment, then finally rose to open the door.

As the door opened, a graceful young girl stood before him, cradling a wooden box.

Shen Hex’s expression was icy, assuming Li Taiyi’s former demeanor: "Why are you here?"

The girl extended the wooden box forward: "Princess ordered me to return this to you." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"..."

Shen Hex glanced coldly at her without speaking, lingering for a while before extending his hand to uncover the box, revealing a bracelet with a prominent sapphire embedded within.

High-Level Spirit Ring—Sea Blue Star!

This was equipment Li Taiyi had attained during his Celestial Destiny adventures, the first gift he’d given to Yinn Nianyun, princess of the Sky Kingdom, representing the Chapter of Kindness, laden with unparalleled commemorative significance.

Yet now...

Shen Hex looked up towards Yinn Nianyun’s attendant: "What’s the meaning of this?"

The attendant shook her head: "You understand the princess, Lord Taiyi. The alliance between the two kingdoms fosters continental peace, quickly mending the destruction wrought by the Dark Demon King Beast, preventing new wars and pain upon both nations’ people..."

"So it’s meant to sever every bond?"

As she spoke, she was interrupted, Shen Hex’s gaze piercing, seeking an answer.

The attendant shook her head, avoiding a direct response: "The princess wishes you to leave the Holy City and live peacefully elsewhere. The Spirit Control Ring contains a Scroll of the Void allowing you, Lord Taiyi, to leave safely, untraceable by anyone."

"..."

Shen Hex fell silent, looking at the Spirit Control Ring in the box, seemingly caught in an inner dilemma.

Seeing this, the attendant did not rush him, waiting quietly at the door.

After a moment, Shen Hex finally raised his hand, accepting the wooden box: "I’ll remember this."

With that, disregarding the attendant’s reaction, he turned and returned to the room, shutting the door heavily.

"Bang!!!"

Standing before the closed door, a flicker of disdain passed through the girl’s eyes, soon settling to tranquility as she turned away.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Shen Hex tossed the wooden box aside, gazing at the gem-encrusted Spirit Control Ring, eyes shining brightly.

Isn’t this what they call delivering a pillow when you want to nap?

Indeed it is!

Shen Hex slipped the Spirit Control Ring onto his wrist, recalling the method from memory, focusing his mind, and probing into the ring, instantly sensing a peculiar spiritual space containing a pile of crystal coins and several items.