Infinite Professions

Chapter 187 - 94: Seeking the Dao

Long Yu was crying incessantly, resembling a troubled young maiden.

It had indeed endured much grievance.

Gifted with profound fortune, it had acquired the Fish Dragon Seal and the Fish Dragon Nine Transformations early on, transforming into a True Blood Dragon Species, becoming a peerless prodigy among the Otherworldly Cultivators.

Though later it encountered Shen Hex, suffering losses both in battle and treasure, it found fortune amidst misfortune, becoming Shen Hex’s Spirit Beast.

With the power of the contract and Shen Hex’s guidance, its power improved further, mending its weaknesses. Although it had yet to form the Fish Dragon Pearl, it no longer feared ordinary Core Formation Cultivators.

This time, while leaving the island with Zhong Yuxiu, it encountered numerous obstacles but managed to turn danger into safety, never allowing those Demon Cultivators to gain the upper hand.

However, in this Ancient Secret Realm, it faced neither an ordinary Core Formation opponent nor a common demon practitioner but someone with formidable means, injuring it severely, nearly costing its life.

Seeing it in such a state, Shen Hex was not surprised.

He returned to Fish Dragon Island, first forming the Dao Golden Core, then refining the Demon Saber Dao Sword, spending over twenty years altogether.

Over twenty years, not long, but enough time for the current Inland Cultivation Realm to evolve a group of Core Formation Demon Cultivators.

Previously, in the Inland Cultivation Realm, the scarcity of Core Formations was due to the Four Righteous and Demonic Sects and Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain monopolizing Cultivation Techniques and Core Formation Spiritual Objects, blocking this advancement path, forcing ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators to seek Core Formation opportunities overseas.

Thus, Core Formations in the Inland Cultivation Realm were rare.

But now, the Netherworld Demon Monarch overturned the tables, extensively imparting demon techniques that allow seizing from others to achieve one’s own, turning this Inland Cultivation Realm into a breeding ground for Demon Cultivators.

With such developments over twenty years, breeding a batch of demon Core Formations is only expected.

Additionally, the Demon Heaven Tribulation, also known as world changes, links various causes and effects.

Times create heroes, were the Celestial Dao opposes the demonic tribulations. The Inland Cultivation Realm, as the Ancient Central Hub and origin of Immortals and Demons, naturally gives birth to some children of destiny.

Furthermore, with those returning from overseas, the current Inland Cultivation Realm, though not filled with divine figures, hides dragons and tigers, making the emergence of a few powerful enough to injure Long Yu not surprising but reasonable.

Compared to Long Yu’s situation, Shen Hex was more concerned with that Ancient Secret Realm.

"What kind of Secret Realm is that Ancient Secret Realm?"

Shen Hex lowered his gaze, "Did you discover anything inside?"

"I don’t know."

Long Yu shook its fish head, "That little girl and I were being chased, stumbled confusedly into it, and once inside, somehow got separated from her. I was trapped in a formation digging around for over a decade before I came out."

"However..."

Long Yu shifted the conversation, "When I came out from inside, I heard those damn demon practitioners saying this was an Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansion, with leftover treasures of Ancient Great Cultivators."

"Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansion?"

Shen Hex’s eyes narrowed, "Where is it located?"

"Hidden Sword Mountain!"

"..."

Shen Hex frowned, falling silent.

Hidden Sword Mountain, Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansion.

Back then, the Four Righteous and Demonic Sects and Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain started fighting over this.

"Demon Heaven Great Tribulation, Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansion!"

"This Taiyuan is the Ancient Cultivation Realm. Although the Primordial Spirit is dormant, and the World Power is waning, the Celestial Dao still manifests. The cultivator’s tribulations prove this."

"The Celestial Dao encompasses all beings and all things are particles of the Celestial Dao. Mo Yunzi’s intent to use the Demon Heaven Array to refine the beings of Taiyuan will of course face the resistance of the Taiyuan Celestial Dao,"

"Thus forming a calamity, where beings save themselves, the Celestial Dao operates, and all kinds of heavenly geniuses emerge, favored by the heavens, protected by calamity, with countless fortuitous opportunities pouring forth to aid them in forming their path and breaking this demonic calamity. It’s the time when heaven and earth conspire together."

"This Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansion is the same, an opportunity propelled by the Celestial Dao. Only those with intense calamity fortune, bearing the Celestial Destiny, can gain great profit from it."

"Long Yu lacks such fortune, so even though it entered for over a decade, it didn’t obtain any treasures."

"And Yuxiu...?"

Shen Hex’s gaze changed, his thoughts gradually clearing.

Long Yu stood to the side, uneasy.

Although it knew its master was exceptional, far from ordinary, not yet in the Core Formation Realm, and facing the current external situation and the ruthless demon practitioners, he might not reclaim its lost honor.

Moreover, given his current state, he seemed in poor condition, possibly struggling to protect himself like a clay Buddha crossing a river. Asking him to confront those demon practitioners might be too much.

So, should it endure?

After all, that little girl was quite uncanny, always managing to turn misfortune into fortune when encountering dangers, and now within that Ancient Secret Realm, she seemed safe for the moment. Waiting to form the Dragon Pearl and then rescuing her might still be timely.

While Long Yu was calculating its plans.

"Understood, you may leave now."

Shen Hex spoke, tossing an item, the Fish Dragon Seal, "Take care of your wounds and see if you can form the Core Formation. The world is in chaos now, it’s the time to make use of talents, and you might become an asset."

"Fish Dragon Seal?"

Long Yu caught the Fish Dragon Seal, its previous anxiety swept away, replaced by surprise and confidence.

This Fish Dragon Seal was its entry to the path, closely tied to its Nine Transformations Cultivation Method. With this seal’s aid, its efficiency in forming the Fish Dragon Pearl would significantly increase.

"Thank you, master. Rest assured, I’ll go into seclusion to form the pearl now. Once my Dragon Pearl is formed, I’ll make those damn demon practitioners understand what it means to not anger a True Dragon!"

Long Yu made a promise and then swam off with the Fish Dragon Seal, fearing Shen Hex might change his mind.

Shen Hex shook his head, lowered his gaze, and looked at himself again.