Chapter 51: Second Advancement, Shaman Priest!

“Sure enough, profiteers are always lurking wherever there’s a chance to pull a fast one.” After venting his frustrations with a torrent of curses, Wang Chen finally felt some of the dust choking his chest begin to dissipate.

“Let me hurry and grow strong enough to uphold my own sense of justice,” he thought to himself.

He quickly boiled a bowl of noodles, ate a few bites, then stepped out the door.

…

At the Class Change Temple, Wang Chen approached the counter to request use of a reception room. This time, a different attendant greeted him—a woman whose expression rarely changed, who spoke little, neither warm nor cold in her manner.

Wang Chen was quite content with the peace and quiet. Guided by her, he made his way to the reception room.

He placed his hand on the glowing task stone, and a virtual panel flashed before his eyes.

[Second Class Advancement task submitted successfully. Commencing class change.]

A gentle, radiant flow surged from the task stone, coursing up Wang Chen’s arm and into his body. Every capillary brimmed with warmth; meanwhile, subtle adjustments were taking place in his bones and muscles, refining his body’s proportions and structure to become more balanced and efficient.

“Whew—feels like getting a massage after a long soak in a hot spring.” Wang Chen straightened his back, marveling at the newfound lightness in his body. His joints cracked in quick succession, the sound resonating sharply through bone conduction.

“Let’s see what this second advancement has brought me,” he muttered, pulling up his class panel.

[Congratulations on achieving your second class advancement—now awakened as a Shamanic Sacrificer.]

[Second-tier Shamanic Sacrificer skills unlocked.]

[Hand of Stone: Summon an earthen hand that envelops and protects the caster until destroyed. Cooldown: 20 minutes.]

[Leaf to the Eye: Clears visual obstructions from the target’s sight. Duration: 10 minutes. Cooldown: 1 hour.]

“I knew it—Life Shamans specialize in survival, always stacking defenses or throwing out mild hindrances, never an outright attack.” Wang Chen sighed. If he was destined to remain a Life Shaman for the rest of his days, his prospects looked bleak indeed.

“Rebel, show some initiative—help me invert these two skills,” Wang Chen commanded.

[Reverse effect activated. Please check details. Reversing again will restore original effects.]

[Hand of Stone: Summon an earthen hand to block or crush enemy targets until destroyed. Cooldown: 20 minutes.]

[Leaf to the Eye: Grants the user the enemy target’s field of vision. Duration: 10 minutes. Cooldown: 1 hour.]

“That’s better—at least now I have an offensive skill.”

Wang Chen’s gaze lingered on the latter skill. “If I use this well, I could see through the enemy’s perspective and anticipate their strategies. Combine that with Immobilize and the Dice of Duplication, and my opponents will be nothing but puppets on my strings!”

The more he thought, the brighter his eyes shone.

“Still, is my development path starting to veer a bit? I seem to be heading straight for the role of some puppet master lurking behind the scenes,” Wang Chen mused.

“Well, since I’m here, I might as well make the most of it.”

He left the reception room and walked toward the main doors of the Class Change Temple.

…

“Xiao Zhi, is it your shift this afternoon?” asked a receptionist behind the counter.

The one she was addressing was a bright, youthful girl, busy fixing the buttons at her collar—she had just changed into her uniform.

“That’s right. Finally, I get to sleep in for once,” Xiao Zhi replied with a smile.

“Sister Xu, has anything interesting happened today?” she asked.

Curiosity had always been her nature. Fate had landed her in this dull clerical job, and chatting with the various adventurers who came through, listening to their stories, was her way of finding a little joy in the monotony.

“Not really, it’s the same as usual,” Sister Xu replied without looking up, still scribbling busily.

“Ah.” Disappointed, Xiao Zhi slumped back into her seat.

For now, with no adventurers needing assistance, she lounged on the counter, idly watching the ebb and flow of people.

“Hm?” Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure—a young man she’d greeted the other day, the one who had come to receive his class change task.

It was also on that day that a five-star task appeared on the temple’s public screen.

“That guy always seems to be in such a hurry,” Xiao Zhi mused aloud. “I wonder what’s got him so busy all the time.”

Just then, a message flashed across the temple’s main screen, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.

“Look! That five-star task has been submitted!”

“What? Already? It’s only been a few days!”

“The one who took that task must be a real expert—or maybe he has a whole team backing him up to finish it so quickly.”

“Some people said getting a five-star task was no big deal, or maybe just bad luck—that you might even lose your life on it. But he finished it in just a few days! What can you say now?”

…

The crowd buzzed with excitement, many pulling out their phones to record this historic moment.

Xiao Zhi’s eyes widened as she stared at the screen. Suddenly, a realization struck her. “Could it have been him who triggered the five-star class change task?”

She quickly looked toward the temple doors.

But that tall figure had already vanished into the crowd.

…

After leaving the Class Change Temple, Wang Chen made his way straight to the Zhonzhi Exchange.

This was his fourth visit—by now, he was a familiar face. The staff recognized him and led him to a VIP lounge.

Before long, Manager Liu appeared with a broad smile, shaking Wang Chen’s hand.

“Mr. Wang, you mentioned heading off for a class change task. I thought it would be a while before we saw you again,” Manager Liu ventured. “Did things not go smoothly? Do you need to purchase more equipment?”

Wang Chen smiled faintly. “I’ve already completed my class change. I’m here on another matter this time.”

The fat on Manager Liu’s face quivered slightly. Judging by the number of magic scrolls Wang Chen had bought, he’d guessed the task was no small feat—it should have taken some time.

But here Wang Chen was, back already, task completed.

“Mr. Wang, you’re truly remarkable! To finish your class change task in such a short time… If my son had half your talent, I’d have had far fewer worries, maybe even lived ten years longer,” Manager Liu said, laying on the flattery.

Wang Chen chuckled, accepting the praise. A businessman who greets everyone with a compliment was far preferable to those petty types who only serve the well-dressed and turn a cold face to the rest.

“So, what business brings you here today, Mr. Wang?” Manager Liu asked, getting down to brass tacks. “You can count on me to serve you with the utmost sincerity.”