Rise to God with Life Skill Professions-Chapter 534 - 523: Return, Qin An’s Dream

Inside the cave, silence reigns, like a realm of the dead.

Terror-inducing Evil Qi roils incessantly across the ground.

Qin An’s anger rises visibly with each passing moment.

The remaining female Blue Mystique Bird curls on the ground, trembling in fear.

Figures flicker in the darkness.

Two Blue Mystique Birds appear, kneeling before Qin An, respectfully saying, "Little demon, receiving orders."

Quickly, the two Blue Mystique Birds vanish in a flash.

Qin An gathers his sleeves, dispelling the Evil Qi from his being, his eyes as calm as still water.

Within the realm of Heavenly Cloud Way, while the Blue Mystique Bird tribe may be merely a humble mid-tier force, not one to be provoked by a mere Tong Daoshuai.

"If today we do not remove this person from Heavenly Cloud Way, how can the Blue Mystique Bird tribe stand proud within?"

Beside him, a graceful female Blue Mystique Bird crawls forward, lifting her fair face to cling to Qin An’s thigh.

"Your insight, my lord. Whoever dares offend the Blue Mystique Bird tribe shall suffer a harsh punishment!"

Qin An nods slightly, pressing down on the female Blue Mystique Bird’s head, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Soon, the space returns to tranquility once more.

As if nothing ever happened,

...

Alchemy Master Alliance.

Zhang Tianyi is raising glasses with the Alliance Hierarch.

Both wore expressions of slightly intoxicated satisfaction.

Zhang Tianyi sets down his cup, patting his thigh and laughs heartily, "Once this matter has succeeded, we shall raise the prices outrageously for those forces opposing our Alchemy Master Alliance, increasing by at least half to deter them from considering ever again."

The Alliance Hierarch’s eyes are somewhat clouded, he nods continually.

Though they would not be easily intoxicated at this realm, seeking drunkenness is simple.

"Do not worry, those who offend our Alchemy Master Alliance never end well, this time we won’t just double the price increase, they will have to come begging to us for pills, regardless of the cost, escape is impossible."

Zhang Tianyi roars with laughter, "Exactly, let us crush them, squeeze their worth until it’s all gone."

The Alliance Hierarch pours another cup, throws his head back and drains it.

"With Qin An dead, other alchemy forces are mere playthings, posing zero threat."

They continue exchanging cups, consuming much food after rounds of indulgence.

But just as they revel in their secretive success, an elder of the Alchemy Master Alliance rushes in anxiously.

The elder trips over the threshold, nearly falling hard.

As he rises, the Alliance Hierarch’s intoxication has cleared somewhat.

He asks, unsure, "What has happened? Why such panic?"

Careful glances around, the elder speaks cautiously, "Reporting to Alliance Hierarch, Pill Master, the Evil Extermination Bureau has returned victoriously, securing the Heart of Gale."

Instantly, both the Alliance Hierarch and Zhang Tianyi begin to sober.

Zhang Tianyi stands immediately, inquiring, "Is Qin An among the returning people?"

The elder swallows nervously, "Indeed, Qin An is among the group, and what’s more, his relations with them are notably friendly. My investigations revealed that this expedition to the Gale Mountains saw Qin An single-handedly protecting numerous Tong Daoshuai and four Silver Dao Marshals."

"Now, Qin An’s reputation at the Evil Extermination Bureau is soaring, winning much favor from the four Silver Dao Marshals accompanying him."

"His standing within the Evil Extermination Bureau is ascendant."

At his words, Zhang Tianyi collapses into his chair, knocking over a cup with a crisp sound.

The Alliance Hierarch fares worse, crushing his cup to dust, his head tipped back as he stares vacantly at the ceiling.

The elder witnesses their expressions, unsure of the cause but wisely refrains from speaking, bows and exits quietly.

The room wafts with the lingering alcohol scent, incense smoke swirling gently, imbuing the room with an elegant ambiance. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Yet, at this moment, both the Alliance Hierarch and Zhang Tianyi remain slumped, eyes and spirits stricken with desolation.

After a long pause, the Alliance Hierarch breaks the silence.

He rises resolutely.

"We failed, not just failed, but allowed him to grow stronger. It’s clear we must consider alternative measures, perhaps we can attempt a negotiation, seeking some advantage in the situation."

Zhang Tianyi gathers himself, suddenly slapping the table, grinding his teeth, saying, "What are you thinking? How do we negotiate with him? Reveal our plot for assassination? Ask him to abandon the Dragon Palace collaboration? Isn’t that self-defeating?"

The Alliance Hierarch, provoked by Zhang Tianyi’s words, unable to hold back, stands up seething, pointing right at Zhang Tianyi’s nose, cursing, "You old fool! We ended up like this all due to you! Had you set aside your pride and let me talk to Qin An earlier, would we face this situation?"

"Who leads here really, me or you as the Alliance Hierarch? Get it straight!"

Zhang Tianyi stands stupefied, fury simmering, "How dare you speak to me this way!"

"And what of it?" The Alliance Hierarch pounds the table fiercely, face furious, "Who do you think you are? Just someone versed in compound alchemy, now without use pretends here still?"

"I might as well adhere to traditional rules of the Alchemy Master Alliance, at least sustaining livelihood."

Anger darkens Zhang Tianyi’s gaze.

He quirks his mouth in mockery.

"Seems you wish for open conflict, so be it, I’ll report to the Evil Extermination Bureau, confess and seek leniency."

"Unlike you, just an individual, your Alchemy Master Alliance will likely suffer alongside."

His words create tense silence.

Conflicted emotions flicker in the Alliance Hierarch’s gaze.

He hesitates before again slumping back in his seat, clutching the armrests tightly.

The handle bore a few indentations from his grip.

After a long while, the Alliance Hierarch relaxed his whole body and spoke weakly.

"Alright, what I said earlier was just anger talking. You and I are like grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Do you have any good strategies to resolve this situation?"

He conceded again.

It wasn’t because of Dan King Zhang Tianyi’s alchemy methods, but because they were currently strapped to the same rope. If internal conflicts erupted, they would collapse without external factors.

Zhang Tianyi sneered coldly: "First, getting through this crisis is the priority. Qin An must die. Otherwise, even if he doesn’t find us, we can’t continue this business."

"Now, who can kill him?" asked the Alliance Hierarch.

Zhang Tianyi’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, staring directly at the Alliance Hierarch: "Qing Yu from the Azure Bird Clan, although his strength in the Element Transformation Realm is so-so, their Clan Leader is at the Great Success stage of the Element Transformation Realm, considered a decent expert in Tianyun Dao."

"Qing Yu is not only his clan member but also his blood brother. With his brother dead at Qin An’s hands, he will certainly seek revenge. If we add some good resources, this task will be accomplished."

At this point, Zhang Tianyi seemed very proud of his plan, raised his wine glass, and drank the fine wine in one go.

After thinking for a moment, the Alliance Hierarch nodded: "I’ll leave everything to Dan King to decide. If there’s any place where I can contribute, just say it. As for the needed resources, I’ll start preparing them."

He had no other options. If he had to think, he could only come clean to Qin An in exchange for a chance at survival.

But now Zhang Tianyi had another method, one worth trying.

If successful, the Alchemy Master Alliance’s crisis would be completely resolved.

Zhang Tianyi nodded and said, "I’ll contact the Azure Bird Clan right away. On account of my reputation, Qing Yu will see me, and he should already know about Qing Yu’s death, simply seething with anger at the perpetrator. Once I arrive, the deal will be done."

Saying this, Zhang Tianyi picked up a nearby wine jug, opened the lid, and drank all of the fine wine inside.

Without saying another word, he stood up and left the room.

The Alliance Hierarch watched Zhang Tianyi’s departing figure, sighed slowly.

He let go of his hand and gently touched the palm prints he had made, deep in thought.

...

At this moment, the night was growing darker, and in the river at this late hour, Yu Tian toyed with the Luminous Pearl in his hand, listening to the reports of his subordinate water demon.

The water demon spoke of Qin An’s current situation.

Including the situation after returning from the Gangfeng Mountains, all of which the water demon recounted in detail.

After the water demon had finished with the general details, Yu Tian narrowed his eyes.

"This is not going to be easy," Yu Tian muttered to himself.

He had thought Qin An was just a minor Silver Dao Marshal, and once he found an opportunity to kill him, not only could he avenge his brother, but he could also return to the Colorful Fish Gate and report, exchanging Qin An’s head for significant merits.

However, he hadn’t expected that Qin An was thriving in the Evil Extermination Bureau, making waves bigger and bigger.

For such a character, killing him would be difficult.

Not because of his strength, but because of his background.

The water demon looked down and said, "Sir, if you want to kill Qin An, perhaps you could join forces with the Alchemy Master Alliance of the Evil Extermination Bureau and the Azure Bird Clan. Combining the power of all three, capturing Qin An’s head shouldn’t be too hard."

Yu Tian tapped the table with his fingertips: "Send a subordinate demon to the Azure Bird Clan and say that our goal is the same. Additionally, you arrange for someone from the human forces secretly supporting you to find the Alliance Hierarch of the Alchemy Master Alliance and ask if he wants revenge."

Yu Tian pondered for a moment and felt that the little demon was right.

It was challenging on his own, but uniting the three forces might provide a chance to eliminate Qin An.

The water demon nodded hastily and then vanished from the underwater palace.

Yu Tian played with the Luminous Pearl, falling into silence.

No one knew what he was truly thinking.

...

Upon returning to the Evil Extermination Bureau, it was already dusk.

This trip had garnered a substantial amount of merits, enough for Qin An to indulge for a long time.

At this moment, Qin An was sitting in the room, watching the flickering flame above the oil lamp, lost in thought.

This time, he likely wouldn’t have to take on any tasks for several months.

Qin An was calculating the merits from this trip.

He quickly came to a conclusion.

With these merits, he wouldn’t have to take on tasks for several months.

And during these months, he intended to crazily enhance himself.

After thinking for a while, Qin An made a plan.

"First, I’ll elevate the Array Master and Pill Master professions to the seventeenth level."

These two professions don’t require deduction but can provide excellent support in many special situations.

Additionally, after elevating them, he’ll focus on raising the Scholar Profession to the eighteenth level, where he will experience the next metamorphosis.

Not only will it enhance his aptitude, but he’ll also acquire new talents.

At that time, utilizing the merits and demon souls at his disposal, he will deduce the Heart Method to achieve Great Success in the Void Shattering Realm.

Quickly, Qin An confirmed his thoughts.

Then, he lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The night was very dark, and Qin An’s sleep was very light.

Ever since he learned of the existence of demons and pseudo-gods in this world, he had maintained this habit.

A mere rustle in the wind could jolt him awake from his slumber.

But tonight, he had a very strange dream...