Infinite Professions

Chapter 155 - 70: Usurping the Nest

Yueyang Prefecture, Dongting Lake, Fish Market Pier.

The fish market is still the same, and the pier is still the same.

Some things remain as they were, while others have changed over time.

The Court is still there, the Government Office is still there, and the fishermen and citizens are still there.

The Golden Fish Gang is gone, but the Black Sand Gang has arrived, and life continues as usual.

In the tavern, people sit in small groups, while Shen Hex sits alone by the window listening to the patrons’ conversations.

They talk about recent events, with only a few reminiscing of the past, mostly boasting about the appearance of Fish Dragon and Immortal’s descent, without mentioning that legend.

It seems to have become a taboo!

But it’s understandable, after all, trouble comes from the mouth; the Government Office is still there, the Court is still there, who dares to discuss the escaped criminal?

Everything has passed, the world changes and yet remains the same.

Shen Hex placed a piece of broken silver down, stood up, and left the tavern, heading straight out of the city.

Soon, he returned to Dongting, rowing a boat on the lake.

The familiar sound of the waves, and the familiar smell of fish.

After sixteen years away, finally he returns home.

Shen Hex rowed on the lake, gazing at Dongting’s mist and rain, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

Suddenly...

"Screech!!"

A cry resounded through the sky.

Soon after, a fierce wind came, blowing the mist and rain away in rolling torrents, as a giant shadow swooped down from the high heavens, pressing heavy waves into roiling fury.

Yet the small boat on the lake remained steadfast, Shen Hex looked up and raised his brow: "How could this be?"

The giant shadow became clear, standing at the bow of the boat, it was a fierce bird with golden feathers, shining all over, with an eagle’s head and roc’s eyes.

Golden-Winged Roc

Spirit Beast Rank: Tier Four (Spirit Lord Species)

Spirit Beast Species: Avian (Roc Subtype)

Spirit Beast Combat Skills: Golden Feather Sword, Piercing Clouds and Breaking the Sky, Roc’s Wings Spread, Ten Thousand Swords Cross...

Golden-Winged Roc!

When Shen Hex left Dongting Lake, he took only this Contracted Spirit Beast; the Copper-backed Tuo Dragon and Seven-Star Dragon Carp were left behind to guard the wonders and Spirit Plants on Lake Heart Island.

This Iron-Feathered Eagle followed him, although it could not appear openly, secretly receiving supplies of Spirit Rice, Spirit Pills, Spirit Wine, and Spirit Flesh.

Along with Shen Hex’s meticulous training, over fifteen years it naturally advanced to Tier Four Realm and evolved from the Elite Species Iron-Feathered Eagle to the Spirit Lord Species Golden-Winged Roc.

A Tier Four Spirit Beast, equivalent to Foundation Establishment, and being a Spirit Lord Golden Roc, with Shen Hex’s Xingyi Fist Skill and Emperor’s Combat Skills, its combat strength should be above ordinary Foundation Establishment.

But now...

The Golden-Winged Roc folded its claws together, standing miserably at the boat’s prow with several visible scars, some feathers broken and falling off, revealing sharp barbed skin, it looked quite pitiful.

Shen Hex was taken aback.

Fearing someone might be waiting in ambush, he hadn’t returned directly to his old nest, instead sending the Golden-Winged Roc to scout out the situation.

Now the Golden-Winged Roc returned in this state, clearly having been severely beaten.

With its combat strength, who could beat it so thoroughly?

Core Formation Cultivator?

Weren’t the Righteous and Evil Dao, and Four Great Sects fighting at Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, where could Core Formation Cultivators be?

If it was a Core Formation Cultivator, it wouldn’t have escaped.

Moreover, the Spirit Control Contract with the Copper-backed Tuo Dragon and Seven-Star Dragon Carp hadn’t been dissolved, there was even advanced enhancement feedback, indicating they were not only alive, but well.

So, what happened exactly?

"Coo, coo, coo!"

With Shen Hex questioning glance, the Golden-Winged Roc flapped its wings, angrily narrating the experience.

"Hmm!?"

Hearing its account, Shen Hex raised his eyebrows: "Is there such a thing?"

"Coo, coo!"

The Golden-Winged Roc nodded, eyes blazing with furious intent.

"So..."

Shen Hex mused, then jumped on its back: "Let’s go back."

"Screech!"

With a cry, the Golden-Winged Roc spread its wings, transformed into golden light soaring into the clouds and skies.

...

Meanwhile, in the depths of Dongting Lake.

A lake island, shrouded with clouds and mist, faintly visible with mysteries.

On the lake island, there lay a reed house, once the abode of a hidden cultivator, now dilapidated beyond recognition, with fields opened up now sprawling without former planning.

Yet strangely, the fields were not overgrown with weeds, and the rare flowers, Spirit Plants, and Spirit Rice planted by the ancient Hidden Cultivator had not withered, instead flourishing, each blossoming and bearing fruit.

At the island’s center, the once-cleared lotus pond now had become a lake within a lake, expanding the entire island several times over, with a big lake outside the island, and a small lake within the island.

In the middle of this small lake, a series of spiritual lights flickered, and upon closer inspection, it was actually a Crystal Palace. Though set within the lake, it wasn’t deep, and through the translucent walls, shadows could be seen, as if someone resided inside.

"Your Majesty, this is the latest harvested Spiritual Lotus Root!"

A woman dressed in a Red Lotus Robe, with a Clam Shell Pearl atop her head, walked into the palace, came before the dragon throne, and knelt down, offering a plate of pure white, jade-like lotus roots brimming with Spiritual Qi.

"Mmm~!"

On the dragon throne, lay not a human figure but a colossal carp, three meters in size, with a golden body and six golden whiskers on its lips.

It lounged on the throne with a human-like posture, glancing at the woman from the corner of its eye, then lazily waved its fin. "Haven’t you fed it to your King yet?"

"Yes!"

The woman chuckled, stood up, delicately picked a piece of lotus root, and placed it into the golden-whiskered carp’s mouth.

"Mmm!"

The carp chewed continuously, its six whiskers quivering, seemingly quite pleased, yet still somewhat unsatisfied, ordered, "You two, come here and massage my tail!"

With those words, the large golden fish swung its tail forward, and two figures, one golden and one yellow, rushed to its side, diligently tending to it.

Upon closer inspection, the two figures were a Seven-Star Dragon Carp and a Copper-backed Tuo Dragon.

They remained in their original forms, falling to the left and right of the golden carp, using fins and claws to massage its tail, even utilizing magical power to infuse some Primordial Spirit into its body.

"Mmm~!"

This made the golden carp exceedingly comfortable, releasing a gratifying hum, reclining on the dragon throne as it continued to enjoy the woman’s feeding.

Apart from these three fish and the woman, an elder with a heavy turtle shell sat dozing off to the side in the Crystal Palace.

Outside, in front of the Crystal Palace, were guards, all composed of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals. Though they had human shapes and nine orifices, their heads resembled shrimps and crabs, looking human yet not human.

Amidst this harmony yet disharmony—

"Report!!!"

A shrimp soldier dashed into the palace, prostrating before the dragon throne with an anxious expression, stammering, "Your, Your, Your Majesty, th-that bird is here again!"

"What!?"

The golden carp on the dragon throne, hearing this, leapt up angrily from the throne, exclaiming, "That feathered beast, truly reckless! I spared him once, yet he dares return to cause trouble, thinking this King can’t handle him?"

Then it commanded, "Let’s go, follow this King to the battle!"

...

"Charge!"

On Lake Heart Island, the cries of battle echoed, the lake water surged, and a team of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, wielding a motley array of weapons, charged out, forming two rows, exuding an air of bravery.

In the center of the formation, golden light shimmered as the Dragon Beard Golden Carp raised its head high, followed closely by the woman in the Red Lotus Robe and the turtle-shelled elder, with the Seven-Star Dragon Carp and Copper-backed Tuo Dragon at the rear.

As they arranged their positions, the golden carp raised its head, glaring at the large silhouette circling in the sky, and spat angrily, "You demon! You’re in the sky, I’m in the lake, we mind our own business, yet you repeatedly harass me, thinking I can’t handle you? Come, if you have the guts, come down here and fight three hundred rounds!"

"Cry!!!"

In response, the Golden Roc flipped in the air, swooping down from high above.

"Whoosh!!!"

Instantly, a blast of wind howled like ocean waves, knocking the left and right rows of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals off balance, yet the Dragon Beard Golden Carp remained unmoved, swiping its large tail to ride a wave skyward, directly meeting the Golden Roc as they clashed in a fierce battle.

Logically, birds should have the upper hand over fish.

But that reasoning fell apart; the Golden Roc dove from high in the sky, its sharp talons striking with ferocity, capable of piercing steel bones and iron flesh with a single blow.

Yet the Six-Bearded Golden Carp, fearless, countered, its mighty golden tail lashing with the force of a Divine Dragon Tail Swing, colliding with the roc’s talons, sparking with fiery bursts and clanging sounds.

"Bam bam bam!"

"Witness this King’s Divine Dragon Tail Swing!"

The Six-Bearded Dragon Carp grew increasingly intrepid in battle, its golden tail casting afterimages like a golden dragon in the void, thrashing and twisting, forcing the Golden Roc into a retreat.

"Cry!!!"

The Golden Roc, incensed, rose abruptly, releasing an aura of golden light.

Emperor’s Combat Skills—Ten Thousand Swords Cross!

The Golden Roc soared, its feathers gleaming, transforming into gleaming swords that crossed and intertwined, rushing at the Six-Bearded Dragon Carp with overwhelming force.

"A mere trick!"

"Behold my True Dragon Immortal Technique!"

Seeing this, the Six-Bearded Dragon Carp displayed disdain, twisting its body as water surged and golden light darted about, forming a dragon silhouette with its head held high, soaring skyward.

"Boom!!!"

At that moment, golden light shattered, Ten Thousand Swords disintegrating as the dragon silhouette ascended to the skies, striking the Golden Roc, causing it to cry out and tumble, shedding feathers in a shower of gold, hurriedly flapping away.

"Hmph!"

The Six-Bearded Dragon Carp, witnessing this, triumphantly smirked, assuming human form standing in the air, attempting to plant its golden fins at its waist in a human manner, though it fell short, hilariously reaching only its chest.

Yet it cared not, maintaining its assertive demeanor.

"Intrude again, and I’ll pluck you bald, make sure you’re no longer even a feathered beast!"

Assuming the stance and delivering the threat, the Six-Bearded Dragon Carp turned around, preparing to return to the Crystal Palace to continue its pleasures.

Yet upon turning, a force approached face-on.

Silently, force approached face-on!

Like a furious sea breaking dikes or a mighty mountain collapsing!

It was a fist’s shadow, an astonishing fist’s shadow, growing in its view, larger and larger...