Infinite Professions

Chapter 172 - 83: Upheaval

Wealth without a return home is like wearing splendid robes for a nighttime walk.

Shen Hex has secluded himself for over eighty years, and now that the Foundation of the Great Dao is established, he is almost unrivaled in this inland region. It’s time to return to the Cultivation Realm and see how the world has changed over time.

Moreover, he must take care of unfinished business.

Without delay, Shen Hex made his arrangements and immediately left the island.

"Whoosh!"

Upon reaching outside the island, the spiritual energy plummeted, but Shen Hex still took a deep breath, feeling like a mountain hermit seeing the light of day again.

However, it was merely a feeling. Although he’s stayed on the island all these years, he wasn’t entirely ignorant to the happenings around him or the changes in the Cultivation Realm. He frequently sent out his Contracted Spirit Beast and some disciples to gather intelligence, so he knew the world’s currents without stepping outside.

Outside Fish Dragon Island, the mists of Dongting remain unchanged, making it all the more bustling. Countless people make a living through fishing and farming, living peacefully and contentedly.

This is the recent influence of Fish Dragon Island. As Shen Hex’s cultivation and power grew, he no longer turned a blind eye to nearby matters. The affairs of the Dongting Fishing Elder escalated, with rumors of the Fish Dragon Immortal Sect and the travels of some disciples altering the situation around and even in the Chen Kingdom.

"Screech!"

With a wave of Shen Hex’s hand, a golden light pierced the sky and instantly descended before him, transforming into a majestic Golden-Winged Roc.

Golden-Winged Roc

Spirit Beast Rank: Tier Four (King Species)

Spirit Beast Species: Avian (Roc)

Spirit Beast Combat Skills: Golden Feather Sword, Heaven and Earth Extreme Speed, Roc’s Wings Spread, Ten Thousand Swords Cross...

Eighty years have passed, and this Golden Roc still possesses Foundation Establishment Cultivation, with its realm unchanged. However, under Shen Hex’s meticulous nurturing, its bloodline was further purified, evolving from the Spirit Lord Species Golden Roc into the King Species Golden-Winged Roc.

Even so, the bloodline evolution brought significant power enhancement, capable of battling even Core Formation Cultivators. With the Heaven and Earth Extreme Speed, unless the opponent has special means, they can’t hope to contain it.

Such a Spirit Beast is enough to support a faction and even become a Core Formation Sect.

Yet, in Shen Hex’s hands, it serves merely as a mount.

"Go!"

With a swift move, Shen Hex landed onto the Roc’s back.

"Screech!!!"

The Golden-Winged Roc cried out, its wings spanning over a dozen zhang, sweeping fiercely. In an instant, it transformed into a golden light, vanishing into the sky at a speed unmatched by any Core Formation Cultivator.

...

That night, the moon hid and stars dimmed, under the Great Dark Celestial.

In a small town, not a single light was seen, only the sounds of ghosts echoed.

In the town center, before the ancestral hall, a ferocious battle unfolded.

"Chen Feng, you’re actually practicing the Evil Technique!"

"Killing and harming, worshipping evil and demons, aren’t you afraid of karmic retribution?"

"We regret cultivating alongside you!"

Three cultivators, a scholarly man, a woman in red, and a rugged Sword Hero, teamed up against a single person.

"Karmic retribution, hahaha!"

In the center was a middle-aged man, wearing a Daoist robe, holding a black banner. Facing the three-pronged attack, he showed no fear, merely giving a chilling smile: "We cultivators already go against the heavens. As long as we have cultivation and the Foundation of the Great Dao established, why fear retribution?"

"You’re insane!"

The three’s eyes glinted with coldness, attacking with even more ferocity.

"You’re just stuck in the past!"

The middle-aged Daoist give a chilling smile, waving the black long banner. Instantly, the Netherworld aura surged forth, with fierce ghosts and Yin Souls howling sharply.

"Now that demons flourish and the Dao fades, with Xuanshao Sect sealed and isolated, barely surviving, the Netherworld Sect spreads the Great Technique, benefiting the world. Yet, you refuse these merits, clinging to outdated ways, resisting the trend. Even if you survive today, you’ll eventually fall as nourishment for others!"

"Rather than benefiting others, why not benefit me? It also completes our decades of shared cultivation."

"Hahaha!"

Amidst the mad laughter, the fierce ghosts advanced, many of which were Tier Three savage creatures.

Looking at the three, the scholar and the woman were only Tier Two practitioners, only the Sword Hero had Third-stage Qi Refining Cultivation. Facing such a torrent of fierce ghosts, they were overwhelmed, struggling to cope, and finding themselves in grave danger.

"Die, die!"

The Daoist, seeing this, grew even more arrogant, again waving the long banner, casting a Netherworld Technique.

"Puff!"

The Sword Hero, possessing Qi Refining Cultivation, was battling two Tier Three Fierce Ghosts. Caught off guard by the Netherworld Evil Technique, deathly energy instantly engulfed him, rendering his face pale, his movements slowing.

"Second Brother!"

The scholar and the woman glanced over, trying to rush to the rescue with their dharma artifacts, but were intercepted by several Yin Ghosts.

As the situation turned dire...

"Screech!"

A cry pierced through the dark clouds. A golden light like a sword swept down, crashing into the battlefield with overwhelming force.

"Boom!!!"

In an instant, a hundred ghosts were obliterated, the Netherworld aura dissipated. The middle-aged Daoist holding the long banner didn’t even have time to react before a golden light swept over his body, reducing him to ashes on the spot, leaving no remains.

The three stood by, witnessing this scene, their faces full of astonishment.

Not until the golden light descended and a figure appeared in the scene did the three react, hurriedly stepping forward to pay their respects: "Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives."

"Rise."

Shen Hex extended an empty hand to help the three up, then glanced at the deathly silence around: "What is going on?"

"Reporting to Senior!"

Hearing this, the three dared not hide anything and immediately recounted the cause and effect: "We originally, along with this person, were loose cultivators of Little Moon Mountain, bonded by sworn brotherhood, united in life and death. But unexpectedly, this Chen Feng, seeing profit and forgetting morality, went insane and slaughtered a town of civilians to cultivate an evil technique. He then set up a trap to lure the three of us here, intending to turn us into resources to sacrifice and refine his demon skill..."

"Hmm!?"

Shen Hex looked at the three of them: "Can evil cultivators be so rampant now? What on earth is happening within the inland cultivation realm?"

"Inland cultivation realm?"

Hearing his words, the three were stunned and then suddenly realized.

"Senior has returned from overseas, so it’s naturally unknown to you what is happening inland. Since the collapse of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain a hundred years ago, the balance between the righteous and demonic paths has been disrupted, starting the battle of the four sects. Ever since, the inland cultivation realm has been in turmoil."

"Xuanshao Sect, Cloud Dragon Sect, Netherworld Sect, Yellow Springs Valley—these four sects fought fiercely initially at Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, then expanded the battlefield to the entire inland cultivation realm, and finally concluded a few years ago."

"The two righteous sects were unable to resist the two demon sects; the Cloud Dragon Sect was tragically destroyed, and Xuanshao Sect had to guard its mountain gate."

"Since then, the inland cultivation realm has become a state where the demonic path prospers, and the righteous path declines. The Netherworld Sect combined with Yellow Springs Valley to form the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect, thoroughly dominating the inland cultivation realm, and publicly spread many evil techniques."

"Netherworld Yellow Springs demons, along with various evil cultivators, have thus run rampant, not only targeting righteous cultivators and destroying numerous Foundation Establishment powers and cultivator marketplaces but also violating the cultivator’s code by wantonly slaughtering mortals to sacrifice and refine evil skills."

"Now within the Three Kingdoms territory, demon and evil cultivators run rampant, and living beings are plunged into misery and suffering..."

The three explained the current situation.

Shen Hex, upon hearing this, also frowned.

He was aware of the situation where the demonic path was flourishing, and the collapse of the Xuanshao Sect and the fate of the Cloud Dragon Sect did not come as a surprise to him.

But the actions of the Netherworld Sect and Yellow Springs Sect after their merger puzzled him.

Inland cultivation realm, Five Sects and Three Kingdoms.

The Five Sects need no more elaboration; they are all Core Formation Sects, naturally able to stand firm.

Only the Three Kingdoms are special; they are not Core Formation Sects, yet have been able to endure for millennia.

The reasons are, firstly, the Three Kingdoms also have cultivators who can suppress mortal upheavals, and secondly, their background is special. It is said to relate to the overseas cultivation realm as they are the descendants of the Nascent Soul Majors and even Divinity Transformation Sects who once migrated from inland.

Therefore, although the Five Major Core Formation Sects dominate the inland cultivation realm, they dare not change the dynasties of these Three Kingdoms and have established an iron law within the cultivation realm strictly prohibiting cultivators from slaughtering mortals.

Even though the demonic path is thriving now, and the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect is in its prime, Shen Hex nevertheless finds their breaking of this iron law inexplicable.

Even if they do not fear the ancestors from the Three Kingdoms, shouldn’t they consider the ecological environment with the Nascent Soul Majors and Divinity Transformation Sects looming overseas?

Why spread the demon path techniques externally, allowing the inland cultivation realm’s demon and evil cultivators to run rampant, even slaughtering mortals for evil skills? Isn’t this fostering competition for themselves?

In the end, if the inland cultivation realm is filled with demon and evil cultivators, and all the righteous cultivators and mortals of the Three Kingdoms are slaughtered to extinction, who is there for the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect to eat from? They don’t even understand the principle of "emptying a pond to catch fish"?

Shen Hex found it hard to comprehend.

But one thing he was sure of.

When things are abnormal—there must be demons!

Excluding the possibility of collective irrational thinking among the top levels of the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect, their dissemination of demon path techniques and promotion of evil cultivation development must have a plot.

What plot?

Shen Hex was unclear.

But with the situation developing to this extent, even if they were genuinely out of their minds, Shen Hex could not let them have their way.

First, take a look at Red Maple Valley!

With that thought, Shen Hex then used the Escape Light technique, ascending towards the sky.

"Senior!"

Watching Shen Hex depart, the three reacted, initially wanting to pursue and retain him but recalling their own status, they could only stop with a sense of despair.

"Coming without a trace, leaving without a shadow, this Senior is indeed a high person!"

The scholar sighed softly, then turned to look around, subsequently stepping forward to pick up the Black Banner Dharma Artifact left by the middle-aged Taoist: "Though Chen Feng practiced evil techniques, his cultivation body was mixed and his foundation unstable, he was still a master at Qi Refining Perfection, yet he was wiped out with a single strike."

The woman nodded: "Such amazing strength must undoubtedly be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"Perhaps more than just Foundation Establishment!"

The Sword Hero took over the conversation: "I’ve heard that in the overseas cultivation realm, Foundation Establishment is merely ordinary; only Core Formation can be called great cultivation. Since this Senior has returned from overseas, it’s highly likely he is a Core Formation Master."

"Indeed!"

The scholar nodded: "When the two righteous sects were defeated, the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect widely spread evil techniques, wreaking havoc in the inland cultivation realm. Some insightful individuals among the righteous path sought aid overseas, so now having a true cultivator return to exorcise demons and protect the dao is within reason."

"No matter what, we should return to Little Moon Mountain first!"

"Demons rampage, evil cultivators run wild; the outside world is no place to stay long."

"Let’s go!!!"

Without hesitation, the three quickly gathered up the relics of the middle-aged Taoist, initiated their Dharma Artifacts, and vanished with a flash.

On the other side, Shen Hex, riding a Golden-Winged Roc, returned with astonishing speed to his former place of cultivation—the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Red Maple Valley!