"Oh my... I feel faint. A pure-blood sacred beast and a fairy. Who exactly are you to possess such rare beings!"

Elder In looked like he was about to pass out when he saw Hulu and Anya. Meanwhile, as soon as Alice-chan emerged, she started ranting at Chang Long without holding back.

"You fool. How dare you change my name? My name is Elizabeth. Elizabeth, do you understand? Not Alice-chan, which sounds ridiculously childish!"

"Stop complaining! You promised to obey me without question. I named you Alice-chan, so you are Alice-chan. And if you keep whining, I'll smash your spirit tablet and turn you into a wandering ghost. How about that!"

Chang Long threatened, causing Alice-chan to purse her lips tightly and turn red with anger, but she did not dare argue further.

"...So why did you summon me!"

Alice-chan asked, her small voice filled with irritation over her new name.

"Call me 'master. I just wanted to know what kind of offering you prefer,"

Chang Long commanded.

"A beauty like me requires blood, pure blood only!"

Alice-chan responded haughtily, looking at Chang Long as if she were a fool for not knowing this already.

"Uh-huh, got it!"

Chang Long acknowledged, pulling out a blood crystal as an offering for Alice-chan. However, Alice-chan took one sniff and then tossed it aside disdainfully.

"What are you doing? That's expensive!"

Chang Long yelled in frustration.

"It might look pretty, but it doesn't have the sweet aroma of fresh blood from a human body. Its taste would be bland, like water. I can't force myself to consume it!"

Alice-chan replied indifferently, ignoring Chang Long's displeasure.

"Oh! Then you' can keep hungry until I find fresh blood for you!"

Chang Long said angrily. She then turned to pour nectar for Anya, leaving Alice-chan sulking but too afraid to argue, fearing she would be abandoned as a wandering spirit as Chang Long had threatened.

"The Beast User class is quite different and more complex than the Shaman profession. Not only do you need to possess spirits, but those spirits must reside in dolls. They cannot be placed in spirit tablets again. The dolls serve as their vessel, similar to the spirit tablets,"

Elder In explained, handing Chang Long a roughly carved wooden doll about twenty centimeters tall. It had joints that allowed it to move like a living being and was curled up like a beetle.

"This profession is different from the Shaman profession in that it requires spirits to reside in dolls and fight enemies. My brother's Shaman profession involves inviting spirits to possess his body directly and borrowing their powers. If the spirit's level is much higher than the Shaman's, it can have serious side effects. Most importantly, Shamans cannot invite spirits of creatures vastly different from themselves. For example, you might let a monkey possess you, but you cannot let a bear, lion, or crocodile possess you due to the significant physical differences. This could lead to severe consequences, like what happened to my brother..."

Chang Long recalled the appearance of Elder An when they met. He looked more like a ghost than a human, resembling a corpse rather than a living being, unlike his younger brother, who, though old, still appeared more human. She could not help but wonder what kind of spirit had possessed Elder An to make him turn out that way.

"As for the Beast User profession, you can capture the spirits of any living being you desire and place them in dolls, whether human or beast. The major drawback of this profession is that if your last spirit doll is damaged beyond repair, making it unsuitable as a spirit vessel, the profession will be sealed immediately. Another crucial point is that each doll has a lifespan. With every battle, the dolls incur some damage. If a doll becomes too damaged, you must quickly transfer the spirit out of it. If the doll is heavily damaged, the spirit within will disappear as well... So, are you ready for me to unseal this profession for you?"

After a lengthy explanation, Elder In finally got to the point. Chang Long nodded eagerly and moved closer. Elder In gently placed his hand on her head for a moment, and the system announced that she had acquired the Beast User profession.

"Player Chang Long has had the Beast User profession unsealed. You have gained the Beast User skills: Spirit Net, Puppet Manipulation, and Spirit Transfer. Due to overlapping skills, the Spirit Net skill has been merged with the Shaman profession's Spirit Net skill…"

The Spirit Net skill creates a mana net in the air to capture the spirits of slain beasts. Puppet Manipulation commands the dolls into combat mode, enlarging them to the true size of the spirits they host. Spirit Transfer moves a spirit from one doll to a new one.

The system's voice fell silent for a long time, making Chang Long think the notifications were over. But suddenly, a bright light emanated from within her body, startling everyone, especially Elder In, who looked at her as if she were a phenomenon. Though his eyes hinted that he understood what was happening, he said nothing.

Chang Long's body was enveloped in a radiant black light. She felt a surge of power within her, stronger and more potent than ever before. As the black light gradually faded, the system announced something incredible, possibly unprecedented for all players in the game.

"Player Chang Long has fulfilled the secret conditions for merging professions and has obtained the hidden profession: Lord of Spirits. You can now summon spirits beyond those you possess. Receiving the Lord of Spirits skills: Soul Booster, Spirit Realm, and Spirit Drain…"

The Soul Booster skill increases the combat power of spirits in your possession by 50%. The Spirit Realm skill creates a special 100-meter radius area where spirits come to life again. The Spirit Drain skill allows you to extract the spirits controlled by other spirit users from their possession. And…

Chang Long read the last skill description with curiosity. The phrase 'and dot dot dot' suggested there was more, but why was it not fully revealed? Was she supposed to discover it herself? She could not be sure. What she did know was that her pets and spirits were all looking at her in astonishment, including Elder In.

"What? Has something changed about me? Why are you all staring!?"

Chang Long asked with interest. Since there was no mirror in Elder In's cave, and even if there were, the lighting was not sufficient for her to see herself clearly.

"It's like you're a different person…"

Kimhant exclaimed first. He looked at Chang Long with unfamiliarity since the aura around her had completely changed—calm, serene, and imposing.

Elder In, noticing Chang Long's curiosity, brought over a water basin filled to the brim. She took it and stepped outside the cave to see her reflection more clearly. Chang Long was stunned by her own face, which now looked pure, pristine, and flawlessly beautiful like a sculpture, unlike her previous appearance that came with the Grim Reaper title, which made her look pale and somewhat frightening. In fact, her current appearance resembled an innocent young girl who had never faced the harsh realities of the world. However, anyone who judged her by her appearance might face significant difficulties in life later on.

Chang Long's clothes remained the same—a black Reaper King set with a tattered cloak draped over it. Devi-chan, Hisa-chan, Alice-chan, Kitsune, Hulu, Anya, and Kimhant followed her outside. They all looked at her transfigurated face unfamiliarly. This face seemed to be the closest to her true appearance before inheriting the Reaper profession and title from Devi-chan.

"Good looks, but the aura is still kind of scary,"

Chang Long remarked lightly.

"You should be glad. Only a handful of people have managed to fulfill the conditions for merging professions. The power and abilities you gain surpass even those of a second-tier profession. However, it's a path you must discover on your own,"

Elder In explained solemnly as he walked out after her.

"Uh-huh... understandable,"

Chang Long replied thoughtfully.

"But, it's quite fitting. The Lord of Spirits profession and the Reaper title. When you complete the Reaper's quests, you'll gain even greater strength. But remember, Chang Long, don't let this new power make you arrogant. There are many stronger than you in this world of adventure. And it's not just about merging professions. Some have fused their spirits with beasts, and worse... with ancient primordial beasts…"

Elder In said seriously, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor.

"Got it. I'll keep that in mind,"

Chang Long replied, making Elder In smile.

"Heh heh, that's right. Anyone my brother speaks with must be someone worth their salt. So, where will you go next?"

Elder In laughed, then asked about Chang Long's next destination.

"Well, I plan to travel around all the islands. But now, I have a quest to find the Reaper Guardians, so I'll need to travel more cautiously,"

Chang Long replied after a moment's thought.

"The Reaper Guardians... the key to the Land of the Dead. In the end, the Lord of Spirits will become the ruler of the dead or even the Commander of the Army of the Dead. Many still await the return of that legend... When this world becomes irredeemably evil, the king who commands the army of the dead will come to cleanse the sinful spirits..."

Elder In said the last sentence in a language only Chang Long could understand. She looked at the old man in front of her with curiosity but did not ask further.

"The Commander of the Army of the Dead…"

Chang Long muttered quietly to herself. Though Cedric was enshrined in the large ruby of the Blood Ruby Sword, he heard every word Elder In spoke. The profound tone made Cedric realize that this old man knew well the events of a thousand years ago.

"Hahaha. I've said too much already. Alright! If there's nothing else, you can go now. So, I can continue my rest!"

Elder In abruptly changed his tone and expression, catching everyone off guard. Chang Long shook her head and decided to remind him of something.

"Hey, old man. What about the ten free dolls you promised? Don't pretend you forgot!"

"Eh. Did I say that?"

Elder In asked with a mischievous smile, pretending to think hard.

"Yes, you did. Don't act like you forgot. Hand them over!"

Chang Long insisted, frowning. She could not believe that the trustworthy old man from moments ago had suddenly become a forgetful elder. However, she was not too surprised, as Elder In seemed to have a playful nature.

"Hahaha. Alright, alright, I remember. Come in, I'll get them for you. But you know, Chang Long, ten dolls might not be enough. Why don't you buy some more? Just in case some get damaged or you encounter many spirits you like. Besides, spirit equipment shops are rare out there,"

Elder In suggested with a laugh, leading Chang Long back into the cave.

"How much are they?"

Chang Long asked, rolling her eyes and eyeing the sly elder suspiciously.

"Oh, I'll give you a special price since it's you, Chang Long. Only 500 coins each. Isn't that a great deal!"

Elder In said enthusiastically, seeing that Chang Long was interested.

"500 coins each. Seriously, old man!"

Chang Long repeated in disbelief. How could such seemingly ordinary dolls cost so much?

"Yes, 500 coins. These dolls are the work of master craftsmen, beautiful and durable. If you buy them elsewhere, they might be more expensive and of lower quality. Buying from me is the best deal you'll get!"

Elder In boasted proudly.

"Sigh... I'll buy some. But how many should I get to be safe?"

Chang Long finally gave in, thinking it would not hurt to have extras, except for the money it would cost.

"Get 500, just to be safe!"

Elder In quickly suggested, trying to persuade her further.

"Oh, who would need 500 dolls? They'll end up like those spirit tablets I have lying around. Besides, I have the Spirit Realm skill, old man!"

Chang Long protested, looking at Elder In in disbelief.

"It's better not to use that skill unless it's really necessary. If the spirits temporarily turned human by that skill get killed, they'll die and disappear forever,"

Elder In warned with a serious tone, causing Chang Long and her spirits to fall silent. In the end, Chang Long reluctantly bought five hundred dolls from Elder In.

"And do come back to visit me sometime, little Chang Long!"

Elder In said cheerfully as he bid her farewell.

"I'm never coming back here again unless I really need to…"

Chang Long muttered under her breath as she walked down the mountain, deeply disheartened. She had just spent 250,000 coins on spirit dolls. If it were not for Devi-chan's treasure, she would have been broken several times over by now.

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