Infinite Professions

Chapter 193 - 96: Magic Prohibition (Part 2)

"The Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends’ Technique Prohibition involves a cultivator dual cultivating with Magical Techniques and Divine Techniques, as well as Talisman Treasure Artifacts. It’s akin to opening a special meridian between the human body and dharma artifact; the broader this meridian, the more magical power the cultivator can transmit, the greater the power that magical techniques and divine techniques can exert, and the more easily talisman treasure artifacts can be manipulated like an extension of the arm."

Qing’Er patted the Shennong Cauldron and made a comparison with herself: "Take me, for example. Although this Shennong Cauldron is a tier seven dharma artifact, because it has only recently come into my possession and hasn’t been subject to much sacrificial refining, there are only nine Earthly Fiend Technique Prohibitions between it and me."

"Nine Earthly Fiend Technique Prohibitions correspond to tier one, making my mastery of the Shennong Cauldron quite challenging. Using it requires consuming more magical power, and its power is greatly diminished. Do you understand now?"

"Oh, I understand!"

In hearing her explanation, Zhong Yuxiu suddenly realized: "This is about the proficiency between a cultivator and divine treasure."

"Proficiency?"

Qing’Er looked at her in surprise: "What’s that?"

"A term taught by my master."

Zhong Yuxiu laughed: "So, the more Technique Prohibitions, the better?"

"In theory, yes."

Qing’Er shook her head: "But sacrificial refining these prohibitions is extremely taxing, requiring various spiritual objects, so typically, a cultivator focuses on refining one innate divine technique or lifebound magical treasure, like Tang Jue’s Six-Flame Demon Fire, or Li Rubi’s Cloud Dragon Sword."

"If it weren’t for their prodigious talent and the backing of great sects like Golden Turtle Island of the Black Demon Sect, achieving such divine treasure at the Foundation Establishment Realm would be impossible."

Through Qing’Er’s explanation, Zhong Yuxiu finally understood: "No wonder there’s no talk of prohibitions in the Inland Cultivation Realm. Only at the Foundation Establishment Realm can one refine Technique Prohibitions, but in the Inland Cultivation Realm, spiritual qi is scarce, so Foundation Establishment cultivators exhaust themselves maintaining cultivation and have no power left to form prohibitions in divine treasures. Just refining magical power to rough use is their limit."

"Indeed!"

Qing’Er nodded: "This is especially evident in magical treasure. Take this Shennong Cauldron; I’ve refined nine Earthly Fiend Technique Prohibitions into it. Even if it falls to someone else in the future, that person would first have to cleanse the prohibitions I’ve refined to manipulate the Shennong Cauldron, thus it’s named Technique Prohibition."

"Prohibition refining is exceedingly difficult!"

Qing’Er sighed, but she quickly snapped back to reality: "Now’s not the time to discuss this; we must find a way out. I’ve just refined nine Earthly Fiend Technique Prohibitions in the Shennong Cauldron, making control difficult and consumption huge—it won’t last long."

"Agreed!"

Zhong Yuxiu also realized this, looking at the ongoing epic battle outside the cauldron and the palace gate sealed by an array: "But how do we get out?"

Qing’Er looked at her, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes: "If only Brother Yuxiu hadn’t hesitated earlier and accepted Profound Void True Monarch as your master, acquiring his relics, this matter would be no more than a flick of the hand. But now..."

"That’s not hesitation!"

Zhong Yuxiu said gravely: "Throughout history, loyalty is given to one master, servitude to one husband. I am deeply indebted to my master and can’t repay him; how could I change allegiance for the sake of survival? I’d rather die!"

"..."

Qing’Er was silent for a moment but finally couldn’t help but retort: "Is your master truly worthy of such devotion, that you’d disregard both your own life and Qing’Er’s?"

"It’s not disregard; it’s about knowing what must be done and what must not!"

Zhong Yuxiu shook her head, then raised her gaze toward the palace dome: "I was born in the deep palace, my father favored concubines over his wife, ignoring me completely. Only my mother stood by me, but even in the palace rear court, we were embroiled in endless schemes, hypocrisy, and filth."

"Until tribulations struck, and my master saved me, granting me new life."

"My master is not only a scholar of unparalleled knowledge, versed in ancient and modern laws, fair, and just, but also kindhearted, treating us like siblings and fathers, advising us tirelessly, caring beyond measure..."

Her words were filled with reminiscence.

Qing’Er’s expression turned peculiar.

In that inexplicable moment...

"Boom!!!"

A loud bang, shaking all ten directions.

Qing’Er’s eyes narrowed, turning back to find that the jade statue of Profound Void True Monarch had been shattered.

Witnessing this, Qing’Er was stunned as well.

Who had the audacity to damage the jade statue of Profound Void True Monarch?

This was a Mahayana Cultivator, and they are now in this Mahayana Cultivator’s cave mansion palace — to smash his jade statue, dare they not fear triggering some deadly restriction?

These madmen...

While Qing’Er stared in shock, a spirit light suddenly flew out from the exploded Profound Void jade statue.

"It’s Profound Void Relic!"

"Grab it!"

Witnessing this, everyone stopped immediately, even Tang Jue and Li Rubi, caught in fierce combat, turned their heads and reached for the spirit light.

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang!"

Chaos ensued again, as everyone displayed their divine techniques like the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, utilizing various means to capture the spirit light, yet to no avail. Instead, the spirit light weaved through like a dragon, eventually flying into the corner where the Shennong Cauldron stood.

"!!!!!!!"

Qing’Er turned around in shock, seeing Zhong Yuxiu standing in place, holding the spirit light, within which was a sword artifact of Ice Crystal Jade Soul.

"..."

Although mentally prepared, aware that the Profound Void Relic was undoubtedly Zhong Yuxiu’s, its acquisition method still exceeded Qing’Er’s expectations.

Is this the treatment of one favored by celestial destiny?

Even the stubbornest refusal to accept a master, this opportunity would still come knocking on its own, beyond others’ reach despite their efforts?

Karma?

Fate?

Qing’Er’s mind was in a whirl but quickly snapped back to reality, hurriedly speaking to Zhong Yuxiu: "Brother Yuxiu, this is the Profound Void Relic, this sword is now sentient and has recognized you as its master, you don’t need to take a master, quickly activate magical power to refine the prohibition!"

"Alright!"

Zhong Yuxiu also awakened, immediately sitting cross-legged, circulating magical power, activating the Profound Celestial Sword Technique which came with the "Profound Soul Sword," beginning to refine the sword’s prohibition.

For reasons unknown, the Profound Soul Sword and Profound Celestial Sword Technique were extremely harmonious with her, requiring no effort, with prohibitions forming through simple magical power infusion, reaching nine quickly.

"Indeed one of the two talents favored by celestial destiny!"

Qing’Er watched on, feeling a sense of dread within.

At this moment...

"Boom!!!"

A deafening sound, the cauldron shook.

Qing’Er’s body trembled, her face turning pale, looking in shock only to see demon fire burning outside the Shennong Cauldron, accompanied by several demon soldiers striking it, led by Black Demon Tang Jue and several other Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators.

"Such ownership, obviously manipulated!"

"Three Heroes and Two Talents, huh?"

"Hmph!"

"Young master will annihilate Three Heroes and Two Talents!"

Staring at the treasure within the Shennong Cauldron, born of Demon Dao orthodoxy, Tang Jue naturally understood its cause, promptly activating Six-Flame Demon Fire, aiming to break this cauldron.

Specifically, breaking the cauldron’s master!

This is a tier seven magical treasure, corresponding to a Divinity Transformation cultivator; Tang Jue was crazed to believe he could refine it.

The cauldron itself could not be broken, but its handler could be; the magical treasure consumed heavily, the girl hadn’t refined it for long, prohibitions were limited, and couldn’t withstand — a few rounds of fierce attack might break her magical power.

Then...

"Brother Yuxiu, it’s all up to you!"

Qing’Er turned around, watching Zhong Yuxiu rapidly refining the Profound Soul Sword, gritting her teeth, and pouring all magical power in, even swallowing several pills, to maintain the Shennong Cauldron’s defense.

"Demon, cease your frenzy!"

Fortunately, at this moment, Li Rubi and several Mystic Sect disciples also wielded their swords, though slightly inferior to Tang Jue, fighting fiercely, allowing the situation to hold for the time being.

So it went on for an unknown duration.

"Boom!!!"

A sword light, flew out of the cauldron, Profound Soul Cold Light ice-sealed demon fire.

Simultaneously, the prohibition of the secret realm collapsed, the array’s patterns already like a candle in the wind, and dissipated into the air.

"It’s broken, it’s broken!"

"The array is broken!"

"Charge!!!"

One stone stirred a thousand waves, as the array shattered and the secret realm opened, cultivators from all sides waiting outside the mountain erupted into motion, Mystic Sect orthodox sect, heterodox sects, and demon and evil cultivators—the epic battle was inevitable.