Job Change

Chapter 12: 12 Change

Hearing Nidalee's words, Yuan Chen raised an eyebrow. Without hesitation, he reached in and felt around for a moment before taking out a paste-like substance wrapped in large leaves.

His expression was a little unnatural, but seeing that Yuan Chen had indeed taken out the medicine unintentionally, Nidalee didn't say much more. She only said coldly:

"Just apply this medicine to me. Help me adjust the position of my bones and fix them with vines and branches... You know how to do that, right?"

"Of course." Hearing Nidalee's words, Yuan Chen casually nodded and said, "It's common to get stronger through combat and cultivation. If you don't even know this, aren't you looking down on me too much?"

"Heh, just the survival skills of a house cat."

Even though she was the one in the weaker position, Nidalee's primal instincts made her unwilling to back down.

Of course, it was just bravado. When Yuan Chen prepared to apply the medicine, she closed her eyes and adopted a posture of letting him do as he pleased.

The reason Nidalee was able to sustain her life now was mostly due to Oshirresh's blessing. This state of excitement, almost the complete opposite of being near death, made Nidalee's senses exceptionally sharp.

Suppressing the urge to cry out, Nidalee could only bite her tongue, constantly dispelling the intrusion in her mind.

Meanwhile, Yuan Chen turned his gaze to the herbal medicine in his hand.

Nidalee was Vastaya, whose ancestors were the ancient Ionian race, the "Vastaya Shuray."

Although only two characters different, Vastaya Shuray and Vastaya were entirely different concepts. The ancient Vastaya Shuray could freely traverse both the material and spiritual realms.

According to legend, nine thousand years before the Noxian Calendar, the indigenous people of Ionia engaged in fierce battles with giants who descended from the sky. It was ultimately the power of the Vastaya Shuray that repelled them.

The inhabitants and civilizations of the Valoran and Shurima continents migrated to this region from the Lost Eastern Continent around 6000 BCE.

These ancestors from the Eastern Continent brought their ancient knowledge and wisdom to the West. As they landed on the shores of Shurima and Valoran, they also took over the civilizations here...

Yes, the Lost Eastern Continent had always existed, but contact had been lost for a long time. Based on Yuan Chen's speculation, it would likely appear as a major expansion pack in Riot's future MMORPG.

However, for now, Yuan Chen had no information about it; it was merely a description within the background lore.

Thinking this, Yuan Chen cast a Scout Skill.

Name: Nidalee's Secret Herbal Medicine.

Crafting Requirement: Herbalism Lv. 6.

Effect:

A special healing item made by mixing, grinding, soaking, and fermenting various herbs, natural elements, and beast materials. It can rapidly restore the vitality of the injured and can be used as a combat supplement during battles, temporarily increasing agility and stamina.

Seeing the requirement for Herbalism to create this medicine, Yuan Chen extinguished the thought of asking about herbal cultivation. Herbalism was a type of life profession, capable of creating special medicines.

But any seemingly ordinary profession in Runeterra was not that simple. At the very least, without a deep familiarity with natural elements and creatures, it would be impossible to reach Nidalee's level.

In the game, Nedeli indeed had skills to heal allies and greatly boost attack speed... It must be these herbs in front of him.

After a simple identification, Yuan Chen could only confirm that honeyfruit was among the ingredients. As for the others... well, the background story of Runeterra didn't cover plant ecology.

Before applying the medicine, Yuan Chen found an excuse to send Milio off to study. About half an hour later, Nedeli, her body wrapped in bandages, was slung onto Yuan Chen's back.

Her original backpack had been shredded by the sharp blades during the battle. So, Yuan Chen simply wove a makeshift carrier from tree trunks and vines, resembling the ancient scholars' satchels when traveling to the capital for exams. However, unlike ordinary satchels, Yuan Chen's carrier had a horizontal wooden stretcher at the top.

Lying on it, Nedeli felt a sense of shame. As Yuan Chen walked, the swaying motion made her feel extremely insecure.

"Walk slower, I feel like I'm going to fall off!"

"You should have confidence in the balance of the Dancer Profession."

Yuan Chen said confidently:

"Let alone you, even... Holy crap!"

It turned out Yuan Chen had been a bit overconfident. The forest floor was soft and damp, and he didn't have Nedeli's Wilderness Blessing. Coupled with the recent intense battle, Yuan Chen's waist and knees were already sore, and his body ached all over.

Distracted for a moment, his foot slipped, and Nedeli was flung directly out—fortunately, with the Wilderness Blessing, the ground became incredibly soft just before she landed, covered in fallen leaves and soft branches.

But even so, the impact on her wounds made Nedeli gasp in pain. While contributing to global warming, she gritted her teeth and said:

"Bastard, hiss—!!"

She gasped in pain, unable to recover until Yuan Chen lifted her back onto the stretcher.

If it were before, Nedeli could have endured it, as she was long accustomed to pain, and beasts were masters of endurance. But the problem was that the vitality activation Yuan Chen had given her made Nedeli exceptionally sensitive—

This could greatly enhance perception during combat, and for a Demon Agent like Yuan Chen, it allowed him to acquire the "Joy" needed for sacrifices more quickly. But under normal circumstances... Nedeli had never felt such torment.

"Heh heh..."

With an awkward chuckle, Yuan Chen, carrying Nedeli and with Milio in tow, arrived at a cave deep within the dense forest.

As they noticed someone approaching, rustling sounds echoed from the surrounding woods. And with Yuan Chen's powerful perception, he could clearly hear the tracks and breathing of beasts...

In response, Nedeli opened her mouth and let out several beast-like growls. Understanding her, several inquiries came from the surrounding bushes—

Also in growls. Nedeli replied, and a moment later, several cougars cautiously emerged from the bushes. Their eyes were filled with vigilance as they looked at Yuan Chen, and upon seeing Nedeli's severe injuries, their eyes showed human-like concern.

"They are my family, don't worry."

Nedeli said tiredly, "Take me inside, there are stored herbs and food."

"Alright, but don't get any funny ideas," Yuan Chen warned. "These cougars can't turn into humans like you."

Even without using Scout Skill, Yuan Chen was certain that these wild cougars, while their profession was Beast, were at most level 3. Even though there were several of them, with the advantage of terrain, Yuan Chen wouldn't need much time to slaughter them all.

"I'm not an idiot. I know their capabilities better than you do."

Nedeli sighed.

"It was wrong of me to attack first. I have some information about the beast you're looking for, and I'll tell you later... but right now... I want to rest for a bit..."

Nedeli's voice was weak. From the dense forest to the cave, the medicinal effects on her had gradually worn off. Her excited spirit began to show clear signs of weakness due to nutrient loss.

She could grit her teeth and persevere through the dangers and uncertainties of the journey. Now that she was back at her doorstep, with her family (the cougars) by her side, her taut nerves finally relaxed slightly, and her eyelids began to droop uncontrollably.

"Mhm, I need to rest too."

Yuan Chen nodded and escorted Nedeli to the innermost cave. Although it was far from human civilization, Nedeli was not entirely a beast. Therefore, her room was significantly tidier than those of the other cougars.

Soft dry grass was spread on a flat rock slab. On a stone platform nearby, there were stone knives, iron knives, bone spears, and even a delicate firearm from Piltover.

These must have belonged to a hunter. Yuan Chen had no intention of investigating their fate further.

Although it didn't look large, there were clear signs of artificial carving. It was a network of passages inside, but it would be impossible for a human to pass through.

Based on Yuan Chen's guess, this should have been designed by Nedeli. After all, being able to switch freely between human and cougar forms, such passages would be beneficial and harmless to Nedeli, and could also increase ventilation.

Yuan Chen found a cave at random and looked at Milio, asking, "Did you feel the flames?"

"No..."

Milio said with some disappointment, "Even though I tried my best, I just can't feel it... Brother Yuan Chen, do you think I don't have talent in this area?"

Hearing Milio's self-doubt, Yuan Chen shook his head and said, "Don't worry about it... It's my fault for pushing you so hard."

"Relax, don't doubt yourself here. You truly possess this ability; you just lack a catalyst."

Upon hearing this, Milio, who had fallen into self-doubt, seemed to want to say more. But as he looked up, he saw that Yuan Chen had already closed his eyes, looking very tired. So, he said nothing, instead squatting at the cave entrance and gazing at the sky, lost in thought.

Yuan Chen wasn't actually asleep. Although the tough battle had left him physically and mentally exhausted, checking his gains was more important than resting.

His Dancer level had increased. Based on Yuan Chen's conjecture, it should be related to combat experience.

In terms of skills, Yuan Chen had already mastered them over the past twenty years. Or perhaps, level 6 represented a similar ability to control his powers at will, allowing him to develop his own style.

This was also the key to Yuan Chen's ability to use martial arts. Although the process was different, Ionian martial arts and dance were two ways to achieve harmonious resonance.

One achieved it through tempering the body and honing the spirit, while the other achieved it through sensing rhythm and resonating with all things.

Under these circumstances, martial arts and dance under Ionia's core philosophy had no clear distinction for Yuan Chen. Of course, it would be entirely different for warrior styles from Noxus or Freljord, due to their different philosophies.

Although his techniques were incredibly solid and he could execute them as he wished, Ionia's atmosphere was well-known for its rarity of true life-or-death battles. In such a situation, Yuan Chen had always had a weakness in practical combat.

This time, the battle had advanced his level, proving Yuan Chen's hypothesis correct.

Taking fewer or no detours is the greatest shortcut.

The Elementalist's level increasing to Lv3 was an unexpected joy. Under Oshirresh's blessing's passive effect, Yuan Chen could make water elementals perform at a Lv4 level.

However, if it were other elements, he could only achieve the basic standard of a Lv3 Elementalist... perhaps even less.

After all, Yuan Chen had only been an Elementalist for a short time. If not for Oshirresh's water elemental blessing, Yuan Chen's current attainments in elements might not even be as good as Milio's...

Then there was the job change.

Looking at the message indicating Oshirresh's satisfaction with him, Yuan Chen felt no joy—he wasn't some cultist. Yuan Chen's vigilance and wariness towards Oshirresh were extraordinary.

Especially after truly experiencing the temptations that came with being a Demon Agent, Yuan Chen felt even more disgusted...

That pathological craving for Joy on a physiological level was enough to twist one's mind, turning them into an addict, neither human nor ghost.

But... Yuan Chen had no right to refuse.

Looking at the two choices that appeared before his eyes, a hint of helplessness flashed in Yuan Chen's gaze... Oshirresh was capricious and would do anything for Joy. A rash refusal might bring even greater malice.

Demon Agent was a relatively special epic profession. It allowed the user to wield some of a demon's power, but this power depended on the demon's will.

If the demon was willing to give it, they would. If not, it was no different from ordinary professions, and one might even have to pay a significant price.

But this job change represented Yuan Chen no longer being an ordinary Agent, but truly walking the world as a divine envoy and great demon on a religious level, spreading Oshirresh's will.

There were two available promotion routes.

One was Prince of Joy, and the other was Pain Ascetic.

After a brief glance, Yuan Chen's expression turned grim.

Both of these promotion routes should be closely related to the Joy he had offered previously.

The former, Prince of Joy, originated from the ecstasy generated in battle, representing enjoyment that surpassed mental limits. Upon completing the job change, one would literally become a person who pursued ultimate Joy, gaining extreme pleasure through promiscuity, debauchery, licentiousness, and violence, thereby obtaining twisted power.

The latter, Pain Ascetic, originated from the pain converted during battle, representing the pleasure of atonement after self-flagellation and self-mutilation.

Upon completing the job change, one would pathologically pursue this sense of atonement, becoming a being similar to the self-flagellants in religion, obtaining twisted power derived from the sense of salvation through more twisted, insane self-abuse and self-harm.

Neither of them was what Yuan Chen wanted!