Chapter Seventy: Profession (Unveiled)

Dio was undoubtedly a genius. In just two months, he had mastered all the theoretical aspects of Chutian’s veterinary techniques! Moreover, Dio possessed an advantage Chutian lacked: he was a true priest, one endowed with genuine magical power! Chutian’s veterinary skills had an inherent flaw—after treatment, the patient’s healing speed could never compare with that of orthodox priestly arts. That was why Chutian had coerced the nation’s top mages and priests into crafting that set of veterinary tools for him. Although the gulf between professions of different ranks was almost insurmountable, the combined magic of thousands of high-level professionals was likely no less potent than that of a tenth-rank magical beast. Thus, after each treatment, Chutian would use those tools to tend the wounds, harnessing the immense holy magic within to speed the healing process.

Dio, on the other hand, lacked such formidable surgical instruments. He only had a set of equipment Chutian had fashioned for him from common magical materials. Yet, with the notes of Andoni, the guidance of Barbossa—the Archmage—and the inspiration of Chutian’s so-called ancient priestly arts, at just sixteen, he had astonishingly become a fifth-rank high priest! At this level, he possessed ample magical power, making it unnecessary to use tools to accelerate healing for any injuries or illnesses below fifth rank. And as his level increased, this advantage would only grow more apparent.

Now, experience was the only thing Dio lacked. To remedy this, Chutian handed over minor injuries and ailments they encountered to Dio for practice, while he himself sat by the side, cheerfully collecting consultation fees.

Appaqiang had left, taking Boeing and several hundred wild wolves to help the Pampas family capture magical beasts, so Chutian’s house felt much more spacious. Yet today, the Duke of Vladino’s residence still seemed rather crowded.

A long line stretched from Chutian’s door out onto the street, blocking the entire road in front. Had it been ordinary folks causing such congestion, they would have been cursed at by passersby, but now, not a single soul dared complain. For standing at the end of the line was a man resplendent in priestly robes, the insignia on which proclaimed him a mid-level priest!

At the front of the line stood a mage. The three green lightning bolts embroidered on the left chest of his robe marked him as a sixth-rank Grand Mage of the lightning element. As for those within the manor, the ordinary people on the street could not even see them.

The commoners of the imperial capital were well-informed. For hundreds of prominent figures to gather before a duke’s mansion, and for even sixth-rank professionals to be denied entry, something of great import must be happening within the house of the Duke of Vladino—something so momentous that only those of seventh rank or above could participate.

Chutian gazed at the roomful of seventh- and eighth-rank experts, and at the growing throng of magical professionals gathering outside his window, and thought silently to himself, “Sister Goddess, aren’t you favoring your brother a bit too much?”

From early that morning, mages and priests had flocked to Chutian’s door, claiming they had come to congratulate him, leaving Chutian utterly bewildered. Not until the head of the Caesar Priesthood Guild arrived did Chutian learn the reason: he had been promoted—to the ultimate rank on the continent: Holy Priest!

On the continent, professional advancement was mainly overseen by the various guilds. For promotions below eighth rank, the regional branches could handle matters, but the conferral of ultimate professions required the authority of the central guild. For magic and priestly professions, this meant the Magic Kingdom of Elson.

Chutian had managed to complete his promotion without traveling personally to Elson, thanks largely to Merlin. Having healed the tenth-rank Dragon Emperor and helped an electric eagle ascend in rank, Chutian’s feats had shaken the entire Magical Beast continent. Naturally, the Priesthood Central Guild in distant Elson also received word and promptly convened a lengthy debate among its elders.

Some elders argued that since Chutian could heal tenth-rank magical beasts, he was worthy of becoming a Holy Priest and should be promoted. Others disagreed, maintaining that Chutian had used ancient priestly techniques to heal the Dragon Emperor, which differed from the traditional Holy Priest arts. They suggested Chutian should come in person before a decision was made.

While the debate was deadlocked, Merlin, having regained her magic, returned from Mount Agula to Elson. Naturally, as the direct witness, she was the most qualified to speak on Chutian’s abilities, and she was invited to the council of elders.

To those elders opposed to Chutian’s promotion, Merlin responded with scorn. Ultimately, she needed only a single sentence to sway the Priesthood Guild’s decision. Though no one knew exactly what she said—it was quite out of keeping with her status and somewhat humiliating to the guild—it was not hard for Chutian to guess: In the past thirty years, the Magic Guild had produced two Archmages, the Knights’ Guild a Holy Dragon Knight, and the Swordsmen’s Guild three Sword Saints, but the Priesthood Guild had not produced a single ultimate professional! If the elders did not wish their profession to be looked down upon, they had better promote Chutian!

In the end, the elders of the Priesthood Guild were frightened by the future Merlin painted—the looming crisis of their profession’s decline compelled the old men to issue a strict order to the Caesar branch: immediately promote Vladino! The tone was so severe it was practically a threat, so the Caesar Guild’s head dared not delay, spreading the news that very day before hurrying over himself to bring Chutian the good tidings.

The emergence of an ultimate professional, especially in the magical arts, was an event of great magnitude to all mages and priests. The title of Holy Priest was the ultimate aspiration of all priests on the continent, and one who attained it would inevitably become an idol—almost an object of worship—for all magical professionals.

Thus, today’s scene was easy to understand. Caesar Empire had produced the first Holy Priest in thirty years; how could its mages and priests not be ecstatic? How could they not attend the coronation ceremony of Vladino the Holy Priest?

But the number of visitors was simply too great. The humble Duke of Vladino’s mansion could not accommodate them all, so only those of seventh rank or higher were allowed to enter the manor and witness the ceremony.

The crowd before Chutian’s house grew ever larger. Not only had all the mages and priests of the imperial capital arrived, even experts from beyond the city were flocking to Pompeii. In the end, Emperor Ludi III, having heard the news, dispatched the Imperial Guard to seal off the street before Chutian’s home.

After a series of elaborate rites, Chutian finally donned the robe representing the Holy Priest. On its left breast, three golden suns shone, signifying that Chutian had officially become an ultimate professional on the continent.

“Heh, congratulations, my brother!” Damar’s face was aglow, as if he himself had been promoted.

“Haha. Lord Damar, surely we should now address the Duke of Vladino as ‘Your Highness’,” said Bacon, Chutian's subordinate. For a long time, Bacon had handled court priestly affairs on Chutian’s behalf, carrying out his duties with diligence. Now that Chutian had become a Holy Priest, the humble post of Chief Court Priest was clearly beneath him, and in Bacon’s eyes, his superior was about to be promoted, so the position of Chief Court Priest would soon be his. Naturally, he was most enthusiastic about Chutian’s promotion ceremony.

“Right, right. His Highness Vladino. Haha.” Damar realized his mistake and hastily corrected himself.

According to continental custom, ultimate professionals were to be addressed as “Your Highness,” and just as Anthony was known as the Holy Priest of Light, so too was it customary for ultimate professionals to have a title before their profession. Thus, the Priesthood Guild, in recognition of Chutian’s mastery of the ancient priestly arts, had bestowed upon him the title—Holy Priest of Beasts!

The first time Chutian heard this appellation, he nearly fainted from fury. Although the phrase “beasts” carried no special meaning in the Magical Beast continent, denoting only his skill at treating birds and beasts, Chutian was, after all, a true Earthling! Under his vehement protest, and even threats to refuse promotion, the title was finally changed to Ancient Holy Priest…

After the ceremony, Barbossa sidled up to Chutian and, nodding toward the window, said, “Boss, you ought to go out and thank everyone.” As an Archmage, Barbossa was well acquainted with such rituals, though, as a Necromancer, only a few fellow dark mages had attended his own promotion ceremony, but he understood the process well.

“Yes, you can’t let them come for nothing,” Damar also urged.

Show gratitude? Chutian narrowed his eyes and smiled, thinking to himself: I must not bring shame to the title of Ancient Holy Priest. “Barbossa, go fetch the Hummer and NMD…”

Outside the Duke of Vladino’s residence, a sea of people had gathered, and at the very edge of the crowd, a barefoot, ragged boy was anxiously trying to squeeze his way in.

“Stop pushing! You—” a priest in front, irritated at being jostled, turned to scold, only to realize the person behind was not someone he could handle. Though the youth’s face was young and innocent, his height of over two meters, his sturdy build, and the gigantic sword on his back—all signaled that this boy could easily crush an ordinary priest with his bare hands! “Haha, if you wanted to get through, you only had to ask. How was I to know unless you told me? If you want to go in, then go right ahead…” With that, the priest made way.

“Thank you, big brother!” the boy replied with a guileless grin, just about to squeeze through the gap, but finding someone had already gotten in ahead of him. Shaking his head in regret, he muttered, “Ah, never mind, I’ll just watch from here.”

A deep, steady drum sounded—the broad doors swung open, and out stepped the pride of the continent’s priests, the Caesar Empire’s Chief Court Priest, Vice Dean of the Royal Academy of Magic, ninth-rank Ancient Holy Priest, Duke of Vladino!

Chutian, upright and dignified, sat astride the mighty Hummer, resplendent in his pure white Holy Priest’s robe, his countenance serene and noble—a picture of extraordinary majesty! In the sky above, the enormous NMD circled Chutian, adding a further touch of awe to the already imposing scene.

“Praise be to the Goddess of Life!” At Chutian’s clear, elegant voice, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers, “Holy Priest! Holy Priest!”

Alas, the youth was too far away to hear Chutian’s words, or even see his face clearly, but he no longer needed these things.

Beneath the blazing sun, before the splendid manor house, countless heroes cheered for a single man! The ferocity of the mammoth, the majesty of the half-blood dragon—all bowed before one individual! That was enough.

The boy clenched his fists, bit his lip, and, lowering his head, turned to leave.

“Hey, why are you leaving?” the priest who had spoken earlier called curiously. “The ceremony isn’t over yet!”

Without turning back, the youth strode away, his steps quickening. At last, a rainbow light flashed, and he left behind only a sigh: “Alas! I’m not yet worthy to be a follower of Grandfather Vladino!”

“Grandfather?” The priest laughed. This country bumpkin—never mind that he hadn’t even seen the duke in person, but to call the twenty-something Vladino ‘grandfather’?! What a yokel… Wait, that rainbow light! Praise be to the Goddess of Life! He’s an eighth-rank Sword Saint!