Infinite Professions-Chapter 48 - 44: Spirit Beast

"Welcome to Spirit Beast House!"

A scantily clad woman stood at the counter, greeting Shen Hex with a professional yet warm smile, "What can I get for you?"

Shen Hex lowered his gaze, scanned the counter, and then spoke, "Five Basic Healing Potions, five Basic Antitoxic Potions, and twenty Basic Constitution Enhancement Potions."

"Alright, please wait a moment."

The woman nodded, wrote down a stock list and turned away, while Shen Hex took the opportunity to examine other items.

This Spirit Beast House mainly sells potions, but there are many other items, including Spirit Beast Eggs.

The so-called Spirit Beast Eggs aren’t truly eggs of spirit beasts, but are created by Spirit Control Masters capturing various spirit beasts and sealing them with special techniques into such eggs.

Therefore, there are numerous types of Spirit Beast Eggs, practically encompassing all types, not limited to oviparous spirit beasts.

From the counter now, one can see one crystal-clear Spirit Beast Egg after another, resembling round crystals, with various spirit beasts sealed within, most are of the jackal, tiger, and leopard types, but there are also a few exotic beasts.

Compared to Spirit Control Masters, the strength determination for spirit beasts is very complex. Besides the seven tiers corresponding to Spirit Control Masters, the species, potential, and attributes of spirit beasts also greatly affect their strength. Therefore, spirit beasts are divided into "Species Tier" in addition to tiers.

Ordinary Species, Superior Species, Elite Species, Leader Species, King Species, Emperor Species.

Species Tier not only affects the spirit beast’s strength but also determines its growth and height, like Ordinary Species spirit beasts, which can only grow to mid-level and almost never become high-level spirit beasts.

Li Taiyi’s former companion, Ancient Dragon King, was an Emperor Species Spirit Beast. It had enough potential to grow to Tier Six, and after signing a contract with Li Taiyi to gain Power of Bravery, it even broke through to Tier Seven, becoming a Celestial Spirit Beast at the pinnacle of the Spirit Control Continent.

If the Ancient Dragon King had not died, then even after Celestial Destiny ended and it reverted to its original form, Li Taiyi could rely on it to start anew, becoming a Tier Six Emperor-level Spirit Master and having a place in the Spirit Control Continent.

Unfortunately, it died, leaving no remains.

So now...

Most of the Spirit Beast Eggs at the counter are Ordinary Species, and a few Superior Species are marked with astonishing prices.

Although Yinn Nianyun gave him a generous breakup fee, enough to buy a Superior Spirit Beast Egg, Shen Hex pressed down this thought.

"Sir, here are your potions."

The woman returned to the counter, placing several boxes of potions before Shen Hex, "A total of eighty-five subordinate crystal coins."

Shen Hex nodded, took a pouch of subordinate crystal coins from his waist, counted out eighty-five, and handed them over.

These crystal coins are a peculiar mineral storing power known as "Spirit Crystal". They can be absorbed and utilized by spirit beasts and used to make potions and Spirit Control Armor, serving as the universal currency of the Spirit Control Continent, circulating among civilians and Spirit Control Masters alike.

Yinn Nianyun gave Li Taiyi a breakup fee of over a thousand mid-level crystal coins and several thousand subordinate crystal coins, as long as he doesn’t plan to make a comeback, these coins are enough for him to live comfortably in a remote city for the rest of his life.

In this regard, Shen Hex needs to thank her. Without this breakup fee, he might have had to venture into the deep mountains again, surviving in the wild for years.

The mountains of this world are not easy to navigate!

Now, with money, everything is easier.

Shen Hex stowed the potions into his Spirit Control Ring, then left Spirit Beast House and headed to the largest inn in town.

"A mid-level room, for three months, and send me twenty pounds of cooked Sand Beast meat."

"Alright, sir, here is your Crystal Card."

"..."

Inside the room, in the bathroom.

Shen Hex removed his face cover, looking at himself in the mirror, with a messy beard, a weathered face, appearing as a decadent middle-aged man, nowhere near the dashing image he had three years ago.

A Celestial Destiny Spirit Master has Celestial Destiny, hence grows at an astounding speed. According to Li Taiyi’s memory, he became a Junior Spirit Master at fourteen, received the Chapter of Valor at eighteen, became a Celestial Destiny Spirit Master at twenty, and sealed the Dark Demon King Beast at twenty-two.

It’s now the third year after sealing the Dark Demon King Beast, which means he’s only twenty-five years old.

Twenty-five years old, this appearance, shows how decadent his life had been these past three years.

Yet, Shen Hex is quite pleased with this image, as it conveniently conceals his identity.

After sitting in the room for a while, soon a waiter came and delivered the ordered Sand Beast meat to him.

Sand Beast is also a spirit beast, the lowest tier Ordinary Species spirit beast, with a shape much like the black pig in Shen Hex’s memory, its specialty being eating and not picky, its meat being rich and juicy, the primary nurtured edible spirit beast, loved by humans and carnivorous spirit beasts alike.

Shen Hex put a piece of meat into his mouth, as expected, the meat was richly scented, tender and juicy, with a trace of unique power. In terms of nutrition, it even surpasses the tigers and leopards he hunted in the deep mountains back then.

This is Spiritual Qi, hidden within spirit beast meat.

Unfortunately, human utility of it is low, even with regular consumption, it only leads to strengthening one’s body, merely becoming a humanoid Sand Beast, with little resistance against other carnivorous spirit beasts.

The correct way for humans to utilize Spiritual Qi in this world is to fortify the spirit, become a Spirit Control Master, and sign contracts with spirit beasts using Spiritual Power (Spirit Control Power).

Upon signing the contract, Spirit Control Masters grow with spirit beasts, and spirit beasts’ utilization of Spiritual Qi is far higher than humans, especially regarding physical aspects. At this time, Spirit Control Masters can enhance their physical strength through nurturing spirit beasts.

In other words, after signing the contract, the benefits a Spirit Control Master receives from feeding spirit beasts meat are far greater than eating it themselves, which is why many Spirit Control Masters prefer to eat bread and drink cold water while letting spirit beasts eat and drink well.

Physical strengthening is left to the spirit beasts, Spirit Control Masters only need to leverage humans’ unique qualities as the leader of all creatures, focusing on enhancing Spirit Control Power. The stronger the Spirit Control Power, the more contracted spirit beasts, and thus the better the Spirit Control Master’s constitution and longevity become.

Though Shen Hex currently has no spirit beast, he has Yuan-Devouring Skill, which is quite effective.

Quickly, Shen Hex devoured twenty pounds of Sand Beast meat, a warm current rising within his belly, spreading to his entire body, nourishing his hollow and frail physique.

After signing a contract, while Spirit Control Masters can grow with spirit beasts, if a spirit beast is harmed or dies, the Spirit Control Master will also be affected.

Li Taiyi is an example. As a Celestial Destiny Spirit Master, he grew alongside the Ancient Dragon King. When sealing the Dark Demon King Beast, his physical strength was no less than that of an ordinary Tier Six Spirit Beast. Splitting mountains and cracking rocks was simply effortless.

But with the fall of the Ancient Dragon King, he also suffered great damage. In the end, not only did he lose the Spirit Control Power of a Celestial Destiny Spirit Master, but his body, which could rival a Tier Six Spirit Beast, was reverted to its original form, completely becoming an ordinary person.

It’s just that the contract has a final guarantee, preventing the Spirit Control Master’s death. Otherwise, Li Taiyi might not have survived to this day.

Feeling the flow of Spiritual Qi Power within, Shen Hex’s eyes focused as he stood up to practice the Xingyi Fist Skill.

But he soon stopped, his brows furrowed, his eyes revealing surprise.

"The effect of the Yuan-Devouring Skill and Xingyi Fist has weakened by fifty percent?"

"Is this body’s aptitude lacking, affecting performance, or is there some special rule in this world that limits humans to only cultivate spiritual power and spirit beasts to only cultivate physical power?"

"If this is really the case, then tomorrow I’ll have to buy a Spirit Beast Egg. Martial Arts Cultivation is really too ineffective."

Shen Hex’s brows furrowed as he flipped his hand to take out a potion, pouring it into his mouth.

Basic Constitution Enhancement Potion!

As mentioned before, besides spiritual cultivation, humans have an extremely low efficiency in utilizing Spiritual Qi, so this Constitution Enhancement Potion is not for human use but is Beast Medicine.

But Shen Hex still tried pouring one onto himself to see if it could improve the effect of Martial Arts Cultivation.

The result...

"A little, but not much."

"It seems I still have to rely on the Spirit Beast’s power or start a profession and use the power from the professional panel to break through the limits."

Feeling the effect of the potion and the changes in his body, Shen Hex muttered to himself as he continued practicing the Xingyi Fist Skill.

Although the effect of Martial Arts Cultivation has greatly declined, he still doesn’t plan to give up. After all, having one more means gives one more confidence. As long as he can strengthen himself, even if it’s like a drop in the ocean, he can accumulate more over time.

But while accumulating more over time is one thing, he doesn’t plan to stubbornly pursue a dead end. He’s still preparing to double his efforts.

So...

Next morning, at Spirit Beast House.

A scantily dressed lady appeared in front of Shen Hex again: "How can I assist you?"

Shen Hex was direct: "Do you have Sand Beast eggs?"

"Sand Beast?"

The lady looked at Shen Hex with somewhat strange expression: "Do you mean ordinary Sand Beast eggs?"

Shen Hex heard her implication: "Are there other types?"

"Of course, there are."

The lady pointed to a Spirit Beast Egg in the showcase: "Ordinary Sand Beasts, aside from fast growth and tasty meat, have no special traits. They are the lowest class of livestock-type Spirit Beasts, and Spirit Control Masters rarely choose them, so we don’t stock Sand Beast Spirit Beast eggs.

But we have an Earth Sand Beast Egg, a mutation of the ordinary Sand Beast. It’s an Elite Species, not only growing faster and having a stronger constitution but also able to harness the Power of the Earth, making it an excellent close-combat Spirit Beast.

If you sign a contract with it, the Spirit Control Master can not only obtain its physical strength but also gain the Power of the Earth, which gives a great advantage in ground battles. It’s now on special sale, only ten thousand subordinate crystal stones."

The lady vigorously promoted this Spirit Beast Egg to Shen Hex.

Shen Hex looked at the little black pig inside the egg: "What about its appetite?"

"Well..."

The lady hesitated: "Its appetite is ten times that of an ordinary Sand Beast, but its growth speed and physical strength are also ten times that of an ordinary Sand Beast. If you purchase now, we’ll include a thousand pounds of Sand Beast feed."

Shen Hex smiled: "Five thousand!"

"No, no, no!"

The lady shook her head repeatedly: "This is an Elite Species Spirit Beast, at least fifteen thousand crystal coins minimum. It’s now selling for ten thousand crystal coins, already a huge discount, not to mention we’re also giving away a thousand pounds of feed."

"Six thousand!"

"Nine thousand!"

"Seven thousand!"

"Eight thousand!"

"Deal!"

After a round of bargaining, Shen Hex pocketed the Spirit Beast Egg and the accompanying thousand pounds of pig feed, contentedly walking out the door.

The lady watched him leave, there was some heartache and reluctance, but more relief.

Thank heavens, finally got rid of this loss-making item.

Pig Beast, as livestock, is naturally impeccable, but if considered as a Spirit Beast, it’s utterly worthless.

Can only eat, can’t fight, skin not tough, meat not too thick, and its speed is remarkably pathetic, compiling all the shortcomings.

So, very few Spirit Control Masters would sign a contract with them, even a mutated Elite Species like this one, otherwise, why would she sell it tearfully?

I wonder what this person bought it for, maybe as a meat shield or to use as a breeding beast to improve livestock quality?