Chapter 19: Just a Teacher, Riki Hinomatsu

Dean Zhao accepted Luo Zhou's bow with composure!

Then, he spoke slowly

"Rise. Remember, I am your teacher, not your master. I will not take you as a disciple; you are merely my student. I cannot take you as a disciple, for it would harm you. I hope your future lies beyond that endless sea of stars!"

His words were heavy with gravity!

Luo Zhou scrambled up and said, "Teacher, your student understands!"

Dean Zhao nodded and said

"On the Great Dao of Cultivation, if one wishes to progress steadily, one must master the Hundred Arts of Cultivation. Among these, the four primary arts are Array Formation, Alchemy, Tool Refinement, and Talisman Crafting.

Beneath these lie a hundred other arts: mining, medicinal cuisine, spiritual planting, beast taming, gu refining, Qimen divination, calculation, astrology, spiritual butchery, star gazing, immortal runes, spirit nurturing, ghost control, spirit appraisal, spell attachment, puppet making, pulse reading, qi observation, tea brewing, command incantations, construction, porcelain making, incense making, yin rituals, and so on. Once expanded, the various immortal professions reach into the thousands.

Every art is of great significance. I tell you, every successful cultivator masters one or several immortal arts and advances through several or even dozens of immortal professions. Only then can one walk further on the immortal path!

Otherwise, if you slay a demon beast but do not know spiritual butchery, you will act blindly and lose at least half your spirit stones; if you cannot refine souls, you will waste the souls of powerful enemies and lose a fortune in spirit stones; if you lack spirit appraisal, you will mistake treasures for stones, being blind to value; if you cannot mine, even if you find a spirit stone mine, you will lose more than half the yield.

The 'Laborer' class belongs to one of the construction-type immortal professions. In this world, there are thirty-six lineages of the Long-Life Laborers, legendary creations of the Supreme Dao Lord.

Mountain-Moving Laborer, Peak-Shifting Laborer, River-Turning Laborer, Sea-Treading Laborer, Thunderous Laborer, Myriad-Weight Laborer;

Yellow-Turban Laborer, Black-Crown Laborer, Blue-Faced Laborer, Red-Tusked Laborer, Golden-Armor Laborer, Dharma-Protecting Laborer;

Prayer Laborer, Altar-Guarding Laborer, Water-Damping Laborer, Lightning-Gap Laborer, Demon-Subduing Laborer, Evil-Expelling Laborer;

Surging Laborer, Sun-Chasing Laborer, Divination-Tortoise Laborer, Cypress-Pine Laborer, Mighty Laborer, Heavenly-Ding Laborer;

Cloud-Chasing Laborer, Lightning-Chasing Laborer, Sky-Bracing Laborer, Sea-Framing Laborer, Heaven-Flipping Laborer, Earth-Overturning Laborer;

Thunder-Driving Laborer, Water-Governing Laborer, Fire-Controlling Laborer, Wind-Leading Laborer, Soul-Seizing Laborer, Nether-Connecting Laborer..."

Unexpectedly, there was so much depth to the Laborer class. Luo Zhou nodded incessantly, listening with great interest.

"To advance to a Laborer, there is one prerequisite: you must possess boundless strength."

Luo Zhou said, "Teacher, that is no problem. I possess the strength of ten thousand catties."

Dean Zhao continued

"After advancing to the Laborer profession, in addition to your original boundless strength, your physical appearance will change, becoming either majestic or handsome. This is because Laborers were originally created by the Dao Lord as an immortal profession similar to an honor guard, intended to look good while presiding over ceremonies.

Furthermore, all Laborers possess construction arts. Building houses, constructing cities, repairing cave dwellings, or even creating blessed grotto-heavens—none of it is a problem. Aside from the prestige of presiding over ceremonies, the practical core of a Laborer is that of a laborer performing heavy physical work.

I have thirteen Golden Laborer Talismans here, but you must choose with your eyes closed. This is the rule of the Daoist Sect; choosing a Laborer with eyes closed relies entirely on destiny. Once you have finished your selection, return home, swallow the mixed incense ash, and you shall become a Laborer.

If you wish to advance to other Laborer types, or obtain and refine other Golden Laborer Talismans, or if your destiny arrives, you will automatically advance to a second type of Laborer profession. Legend has it that some great powers mastered all thirty-six types of Laborers, ascending to heaven in a single step to become a Nascent Soul Laborer!"

Having finished speaking, Dean Zhao produced thirteen golden talismans.

Luo Zhou couldn't help but ask, "A Nascent Soul Laborer... is that a construction worker ox or horse within the Nascent Soul realm?"

Dean Zhao cursed, "What nonsense are you talking? A Nascent Soul True Monarch is a brilliant Heavenly Lord, immortal for ten thousand years, possessing spirit beyond the heavens! I'll strike you dead with a bolt of lightning! Now stop talking nonsense and choose quickly!"

As the conversation dragged on, Dean Zhao's true personality emerged. He had the temperament of an old child, especially enjoying teasing Luo Zhou with a mix of laughter and scolding.

Luo Zhou closed his eyes and reached out; a golden talisman automatically landed in his hand. Neither he nor Dean Zhao knew which type of Laborer it was. Only after Luo Zhou returned home to refine it would the truth be known.

Luo Zhou was filled with gratitude.

Dean Zhao spoke again

"Besides the Laborer profession, I also have twenty-seven other immortal professions, such as Strategist, Caster, Talisman Master, Spy, Tea Guest, and more. Take your time. If possible, choose several to advance your entry into the Dao. This will be of great benefit to your future cultivation! At the very least, earning spirit stones will be easier!"

Hearing the word "Caster," Luo Zhou's eyes lit up. He bowed and said, "Thank you, Teacher!"

He had been disguising himself as a Caster all this time; perhaps he truly could advance here.

Dean Zhao offered further guidance. As the Dean of the Dao Academy, teaching was his duty. These immortal professions were things he taught secretly to outstanding disciples within the academy. Being an old man, he liked to linger; they chatted for a full hour before the session ended.

With the teaching concluded, school was dismissed.

The first thing Luo Zhou did upon returning home was find incense ash and swallow it along with the Golden Laborer Talisman in one gulp. After swallowing, he waited silently.

About fifteen minutes later, it felt as though immortal music began to ring in his ears!

"The Primordial Yang rises, the rhythm turns to the Yellow Bell, the left gate curves downward. Remembering the auspicious years of old, a dream of jade swallows, today is the day of birth. Incense burns for the Golden Lion. The South Pole star shines, the North Mountain hall is deep, the pines and cypresses are lush as turtles and cranes follow..."

Following this immortal music, Luo Zhou underwent a silent transformation.

He grew taller, his body became leaner, his features turned refined, and his eyes became exceptionally spirited.

The Immortal Profession: Cypress-Pine Laborer!

Cypress and Pine—the undying trees of the Southern Mountains, possessing the longevity of Song and Qiao.

In a trance, Luo Zhou understood that the Cypress-Pine Laborer ranked thirty-third among the thirty-six Long-Life Laborers.

His strength increased by a thousand catties, reaching a total of eleven thousand catties. His entire body became incredibly light, and he gained much more effective control over his strength. His lifespan increased by at least one sexagenary cycle of sixty years.

He gained two major traits: "Cypress-Pine's Late Wither" and "Bamboo Clarity, Pine Slenderness."

"Cypress-Pine's Late Wither"—"Only in the bitter cold do we know that the pine and cypress are the last to wither!" This trait granted Luo Zhou infinite perseverance and endurance, ensuring he would never give up. Furthermore, he would rarely fall ill, possessing a healthy body and a natural affinity for spiritual qi! He became completely resistant to weakness and fatigue-type spells and divine abilities. His original "Rapid Recovery" trait was absorbed by the Cypress-Pine Laborer status and vanished.

"Bamboo Clarity, Pine Slenderness"—this trait was even more peculiar. From then on, Luo Zhou would always remain tall and slender, refined and handsome, forever the most striking person in a crowd. Like a pine tree, he became unyielding; he gained resistance to most mind-probing and sensory-type spells. Just as a fine bird seeks a sturdy branch to perch upon, avian creatures would be naturally drawn to him.

The Cypress-Pine Laborer was a classic example of a Laborer created by a Dao Lord to provide a majestic appearance for presiding over ceremonies. While this Laborer's combat strength would not increase excessively, they were guaranteed to be strikingly handsome and elegant—a beauty that could captivate men, women, demons, and beasts alike!

Luo Zhou looked at himself in the mirror; he had indeed become more handsome.

*What's the use? I don't live off my looks. Any other Laborer would be stronger than this!*

But as he looked at himself in the mirror, the more he looked, the more he liked it! It wasn't bad; being handsome was a lifelong advantage. He had struck gold!

The strongest aspect of the Cypress-Pine Laborer was that if he were to obtain the Divination-Tortoise Laborer in the future, the two could combine to form "Divination-Tortoise Cypress-Pine," birthing the divine ability: *"May your blessings be as vast as the Eastern Sea's flowing waters, and your life as long as the undying pines of the Southern Mountain."*

Becoming a Laborer, no matter how one looked at it, was a win.

However, Luo Zhou's core problem was not this. It was the demon-moth old crocodile, Long Yue Canglong. No matter what was said, it was useless; he had to kill it.

What of the kindness shown by True Person Cuiling in the past? Was it to be repaid with tens of thousands of lives? Would tens of thousands more have to die in the future? Future competition? The high-level beings no longer wanted to work hard and instead wanted to use commoners as sacrifices—tens of thousands more would die!

It wasn't supposed to be like this! The world wasn't supposed to work this way! It wasn't right!

That dragon must die. Regardless of True Person Cuiling, I say it—even gods cannot save it. It must die! Even if True Person Cuiling retaliates and he dies tomorrow, he must kill that old crocodile today!

An endless killing intent condensed in Luo Zhou's heart. He must slay this monster!

Today was already June 18th; there were only fifteen days left!

But how could he kill the old crocodile?

The old crocodile was bolstered by True Person Cuiling and possessed the Heavenly Divine Seal, making it perfectly one with the river water. Without the ability to shatter seas, rivers, or lakes, no one could kill him.

By advancing to the Cypress-Pine Laborer, his body had undergone a massive change, naturally possessing a trace of spiritual qi. As Luo Zhou's resolve became infinitely firm, the spiritual qi stirred. In a trance, Luo Zhou felt a flash of light before his eyes.

His special ability, the "Flash of Spiritual Light," was stimulated by Luo Zhou's conviction and supported by this spiritual qi, quietly activating.

Within this light, Luo Zhou saw torrential rain. He was hiding by a riverbank. The old crocodile had transformed into the size of a small dog, happily approaching to eat people amidst the heavy rain.

But this time, good and evil would finally meet their reckoning!

Luo Zhou saw himself strike suddenly. The riverbanks around the old crocodile surged with countless waves, and the river water exploded with a roar. The old crocodile was thrown into complete chaos within the water, tossed about by the currents.

Then, Luo Zhou's Dragon-Slaying Thrust truly slew the dragon!

With that, the old crocodile was killed! It was that simple—the opponent was dealt with!

Luo Zhou was completely stunned, and then he understood why the river water had been so chaotic.

The divine ability: *"River-Turning and Sea-Treading"!*

It truly turned the river into a churning sea with towering waves, disrupting the protection of the Heavenly Divine Seal. The river became just water, and the old crocodile became just a crocodile! Without protection, the Dragon-Slaying Thrust struck a headshot!

In a trance, the spiritual light vanished!

Had he not advanced to the Cypress-Pine Laborer, he would not have obtained this bit of spiritual qi, and he would have been unable to activate the "Flash of Spiritual Light." If he had been even a fraction short, he would never have discovered the method to kill the old crocodile.

Link by link, cause and effect aligned!

Luo Zhou was incredibly excited. Good and evil would eventually be repaid; even Heaven was helping him. Old crocodile, you are doomed!

No one else dares to strike, so I will strike! No one else can strike, so I will! No one else dares to kill, so I will!

(End of Chapter)