Unlimited priesthood

Chapter 124 Seclusion
In a split second, the dragon carp had already disappeared into the lake, vanished without a trace.

The fishermen nearby seemed to wake from a dream, exchanged glances, and then glided away in their covered boats, some even abandoning the fishing nets they had just cast.

Not long after the fishermen left, large ships sailed in, surrounding the area. Many strong men, skilled in swimming, jumped into the water to search for the Nine-Star True Dragon Carp.

Looking at the boat, there were many people standing there, some dressed in fine clothes or armor, and some even dressed as monks or Taoists. There was also a group of martial arts practitioners carrying swords and knives, staring at the lake and discussing among themselves.

"Nine-Star True Dragon Carp?"

"Does such a thing really exist in Dongting Lake?"

"The dragon carp of Dongting Lake are distinguished by the star-shaped spots on their heads. It takes a hundred years to grow up and develop seven star-shaped spots to become a seven-star dragon carp."

"Although the Nine-Star Dragon Carp has only two more stars, nine is the ultimate number. These nine stars represent the limit of the Dragon Carp bloodline. It has already condensed a trace of true dragon blood and is a true dragon species."

"Therefore, this Nine-Star True Dragon Carp is a rare sight, appearing only once every thousand years. It is called the Dragon King by the ignorant people of Dongting Lake and is the most precious thing in Dongting Lake."

"No wonder we've been catching fewer and fewer treasure fish these past few years; it turns out a Nine-Star True Dragon Carp has been born!"

“In the past, the appearance of a seven-star dragon carp would attract true cultivators. Now that such a rare treasure as a nine-star true dragon carp has appeared, I’m afraid it will attract the big shots of the major immortal sects?”

"If we could capture this Nine-Star True Dragon Carp ahead of time and present it to them, we might gain the favor of the immortal sects and rise to prominence..."

"Such a rare treasure, who would dare to possess it without virtue? Moreover, this Nine-Star True Dragon Carp, as a true dragon species, can stir up storms and waves in the water, let alone overturn rivers and seas. How could we mortals possibly capture it?"

"We can only do our best to search for it, and then report to the immortals!"

"With the birth of a dragon seed, Dongting Lake is likely to face a bloody storm!"

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, their words filled not only with shock but also with a sense of unease.

At the same time, a giant iron-feathered eagle circled high in the sky, taking in the entire scene.

"Nine-Star True Dragon Carp!?"

On the lake island, Shen He, who shared his vision with the Iron Feather Eagle through the Spirit Control Secret Technique, frowned.

This wasn't his arrangement; the Seven-Star Dragon Carp he had contracted was still frolicking in front of him.

So, is it really a Nine-Star True Dragon Carp?
Shen He frowned and remained silent.

Although he had long ago devised a plan to capture a cultivator and interrogate him for information about the cultivation world once he was strong enough, he was clearly not prepared enough at the moment.

This change disrupted his plans!
In the past, the birth of the Seven-Star Dragon Carp would attract cultivators at the Spirit Gathering Realm and the Cultivation Realm.

Now that the Nine-Star True Dragon Carp has been born, it goes without saying that experts at the Qi Refining Realm will definitely come, and there may even be Foundation Establishment experts, or even people from immortal sects and sects descending to the mortal realm.

This put Shen He in a difficult position.

He has only just reached the third level of martial arts cultivation, and even though the high-dimensional martial arts of the human empire are no less than the immortal cultivation methods of this world, he can at most deal with Qi Refining cultivators of the same third level. Against a Foundation Establishment expert of the fourth level, he might be defeated.

Not to mention, this Nine-Star True Dragon Carp may attract more than one Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Two fists can't fight four hands, and he's a complete stranger. If those clueless cultivators find out and think he's gotten some amazing immortal fortune, then he'll be in big trouble.

Unable to fight, and unable to hide, Shen He had already researched in the real world that cultivators who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage could use the "Three Elements Gathering at the Top" method to condense their essence, energy, and spirit into spiritual consciousness to scan all things in heaven and earth, and already possessed some ability to "see the heavens and hear the earth".

Even if Dongting Lake were only 800 li long, or even 8,000 li or 80,000 li long, it wouldn't stop a Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual sense from scanning back and forth.

In order to search for the Nine-Star True Dragon Carp, those Foundation Establishment cultivators will inevitably use their spiritual sense to sweep through Dongting Lake, at which time he and this lake island will inevitably be exposed.

So... they're running away?
Looking at the few acres of spiritual fields on the island, and the various exotic flowers and herbs in the fields, especially the few spiritual herbs that were about to mature, Shen He felt a little reluctant to leave.

He didn't want to hand over his business, built up over ten years.

But the situation is so compelling that it leaves one with no choice.

What to do?

Shen He hesitated for a moment, but finally turned his attention to the professional panel.

After ten years of honing his skills, fishing for various precious and spiritual fish in Dongting Lake, and occasionally even reaping some rare and precious items, coupled with the breeding of alligator and carp schools, the spirit fisherman's professional experience has long been saturated, and he is ready to advance at any time.

Shen He originally planned to accumulate more experience and further enhance his influence before advancing the Spirit Fisherman to obtain a stronger profession, but now it seems that he can't wait any longer.

Therefore, if one can cope with the advanced level, then one should.

If not, then they can only grit their teeth and harvest these immature exotic flowers, herbs, and spiritual plants, then flee thousands of miles away, and return to continue developing after this storm has passed.

Shen He is a decisive person and will not jeopardize the overall plan for such a petty gain.

When it breaks, it breaks!

"Retain your professional talent!"

"Start career advancement!"

"Based on your experience and achievements, you can choose one of the following professions to replace your original profession, Spirit Fisherman!"

"Profession 1: Immortal Warrior (Although you have mediocre talent and no extraordinary ability in either cultivating immortality or practicing martial arts, hard work pays off. With great wisdom, courage, perseverance and strength, you have forged your own path in the world of immortal martial arts.)

Ignoring the rigid requirements of immortal spiritual roots and martial arts aptitude, one can directly cultivate various immortal and martial arts techniques, with a slight increase in the efficiency of cultivating immortal and martial arts techniques.

You can gain a moderate amount of professional experience through cultivation and martial arts. Each time you advance a professional level, you can increase your immortal and martial arts aptitude by a small amount. When a professional reaches its maximum level, there is a tiny chance of generating a spiritual root or martial body.

"Professional Talent: Cultivating Both Immortal and Martial Arts (The Way of Life and Destiny, cultivating both immortal and martial arts simultaneously; when your cultivation levels in immortal and martial arts are equal, the efficiency of cultivating both immortal and martial arts techniques will greatly increase)"

……

"Career Two: Immortal Fisherman/Farmer (You start as a fisherman and gradually embark on the path of cultivation and immortality, but your original aspiration remains; you are still a fisherman/farmer. Although you are not good at fighting, the three thousand paths to the Great Dao all lead to the same destination. Even the work of fishing and farming can pave a path to immortality. The effects of fishing, angling, planting, and aquaculture are greatly enhanced. The effects of cultivating earth-elemental spells, water-elemental spells, wood-elemental spells, spiritual plant spells, and spiritual beast spells are significantly improved. There is a certain probability that the animals and plants you raise and cultivate will evolve into spiritual beasts and spiritual plants.)

You can gain a moderate amount of professional experience through fishing, planting, breeding, agriculture, and fisheries. Each time you advance to a new professional rank, you slightly improve the cultivation effects of spirit plant magic and spirit beast magic.

"Professional Talent: Fisherman's Enlightenment (Immortal Fishermen can consume profession experience to enlighten fish and plants, causing ordinary fish/plants to evolve into spirit fish/plants, with a very small probability of becoming immortal spirit fish/plants)"

……

"Profession Three: Immortal Hermit (You are a person with immortal destiny. You know that this world is dangerous and people's hearts are ugly. So you choose to live in seclusion, away from worldly strife, and seek the path of immortality on your own. The hermit in the mountains and the fisherman in the lake are all legends about you. Even fellow cultivators find it difficult to find your trace.)

Without any cultivation techniques, one can directly acquire the ability of concealed energy. The effects of cultivating concealed energy techniques are greatly enhanced, and it can shield one from the secrets of heaven to a certain extent, making one immune to divination, prediction, and magical tracking. It is subtle, invisible, and traceless.

You can gain professional experience through "seclusion." The higher your hidden cultivation level, the more professional experience you gain. Furthermore, while the truly great hermit lives in the city, the lesser hermit lives in the forest. Although the hermit is hidden, they are not truly gone. The greater the influence they exert without being exposed, the more professional experience they gain. Each level increase comprehensively enhances the concealment effect.

"Professional Talent: Hermitage (Whether one chooses to live a life of seclusion in the city or a secluded retreat in the forest, a place is required for seclusion. A hermit can consume professional experience to designate a place as a hermitage. The hermitage gains the same concealment effect as the hermit and can gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to a certain extent without changing with the surrounding environment. The number of hermitages is equivalent to the professional rank)"

……

As expected, the advancement was successful, and all three professions became second-tier professions with exceptionally high quality.

Needless to say, immortal martial artists can not only ignore the rigid requirements of immortal spiritual roots and martial arts aptitude when cultivating immortality and martial arts, but also cultivate immortality and martial arts simultaneously, greatly improving efficiency.

The Immortal Fisherman is also very powerful, a strong profession for farming and development. Given enough time and space, it can cultivate a great foundation and reach the path to immortality.

Hermits are even more astonishing. Although they don't offer much help in cultivation and their farming and development are just average, their "hermit" power allows them to conceal themselves and even block the divination of heavenly secrets, ensuring their own safety.

So, how do you choose?
Shen He was conflicted, caught in a happy dilemma.

But after careful consideration, he chose the last option—a hermit!
The reason is simple: it's the only essential need!

Immortal martial artists are indeed good, but they are not irreplaceable. Whether it's ignoring aptitude requirements for cultivating immortality or martial arts, or improving cultivation efficiency, Shen He has other means to substitute and compensate for these.

The same principle applies to Xianyu Nong. Shenhe has many methods that can be used for farming development, and it does not rely so much on professional strength. Having them is certainly icing on the cake, but not having them will not affect the overall situation.

The immortal hermits are different. What Shen He is most worried about now is the high-level cultivators in this world who have the means to deduce the secrets of heaven and make divinations. They could directly attack him from a lower dimension and crush him before he can develop.

Therefore, he urgently needs the "seclusion" ability of the immortal hermit!
Besides, this power of seclusion also has great use in reality. After all, the real world has a higher status and many powerful beings, even immortals, Buddhas, gods and demons. Shen He has always felt very insecure about such all-powerful beings.

Although as a second-tier profession, the Immortal Hermit may not be able to withstand the deductions and observations of those high-tier or even ultimate professions, it is better to have it than not to have it, not to mention that it can be advanced and improved in the future.

Therefore, the hermit is the best choice!

"Advancement successful!"

"You have acquired a new profession—the Hermit Immortal!"

"You have gained a new talent—Hidden Place!"

"The 'Career Enthusiast' talent has been successfully retained!"

……

With the notification of successful advancement, Shen He's career panel changed once again.

Zhong Chuan (Shenhe)
Occupation: Hermit.

Occupational level: Level 2, Level 1.

Professional Talent: The Fisherman, a Hermitage.

Professional skills: None.

Professional items: None.

General skills: Xingyi Quan, Yuling Jing, Bencao Jing, Xingyi Shenwu Jing...

Looking at the brand-new career panel, Shen He's eyes flickered as he pondered to himself.

After changing his profession to become a hermit immortal, he gained the talent of a secluded cultivation place, which can solve his current troubles very well. As long as he turns this lake island into a secluded cultivation place, he can avoid the spiritual sense scan of Foundation Establishment cultivators and ensure the safety of his foundation.

That's right, the talent of a second-tier profession can withstand the spiritual sense of a fourth-tier cultivator, and Shen He is very confident about this.

Because professional power is a very irrational thing and cannot be viewed in a conventional way.

A transmigrator with only a first-tier profession can travel through countless worlds and even open the gates to all worlds. How many tiers would it take for cultivators from various systems to achieve that?
Therefore, although the hermit is only a second-tier profession, Shen He is confident that it can block the spiritual sense probing of fourth-tier Foundation Establishment cultivators and even fifth-tier Golden Core cultivators. As long as this lake island is converted into a hermitage, he can protect himself in the upcoming turmoil.

However, there is a problem: turning it into a secluded retreat requires professional experience.

But Shen He has only just advanced in his career, where would he get professional experience from?
The main way for hermits to gain professional experience is through seclusion. Simply put, it means hiding in a place to cultivate without being known by the world, in order to gain experience.

But this is only the most basic method, and you can only gain the least amount of experience.

To gain a lot of experience, one must stir up trouble while in seclusion, expanding one's influence on the world.

This sounds contradictory; how can you cause trouble if you're in seclusion?

That's not actually the case.

Who says that hermits can't cause trouble?

And who says that causing trouble necessarily requires revealing your identity?

The two can be merged, but it requires some maneuvering.

Shen He already had a blueprint in mind.

(End of this chapter)