Infinite Professions

The rear army is composed of Dharma Protector Yellow Turban Warriors, with golden rings dazzling in the sun and spraying rosy light, iron armor covering frost, swallowing moon shadows, wielding Xuanhua Golden Dipping Axe, wearing green carvings boots, marching solemnly behind, fully demonstrating their majesty.

In the central army, another divine chariot appears, with strongmen holding the Parasol, Celestial Maiden waving the precious fan, Assessor Magistrate holding the pen on the left, Dharma Guardian Spirit Official wielding the whip on the right, Kuixing kicking stars, Yue Star showcasing might, Left Minister and Right Minister supporting, Celestial Scholar and Wenchang, Six Auspicious offerings to Ziwei, and all the stars guarding the Emperor.

Through Yin and Yang realms, the vast army moves forward, galloping like wind and lightning, heading straight towards Lanruo under the blessing of Divine Power, reaching Guobei County within half a day.

...

Lanruo, Lanruo, first arrived at Guobei, only then seeing Lanruo.

Li Mubai leads the army, witnessing the world bleak and desolate, the daylight dim and misty, it is clearly midday, yet there isn’t a hint of warmth, instead, a chilling coldness.

Observing the surroundings, desolate wilderness, mountains high and dense forests, except for a barely usable dirt road in the center, there are practically no landmarks, only mountains and trees stretching endlessly.

Li Mubai, however, remains unconcerned, leading the army steadily, with eyes seemingly shining Divine Light, perceiving all specters and evil spirits.

This time, his task is to sweep and eliminate bandits in the Ghostly Realm, as well as certain demons and magician cultivating evil techniques with the bodies of mortals, similar to the Song Clan’s clearance of Little Yellow Mountain back then, only at a higher intensity.

But in this world, unless possessing Celestial Destiny, mortals cannot surpass Tier Three boundaries.

For him, there is no pressure, forging ahead, splitting forces to attack, cooperating with Yin Department deities, assaulting various bandit camps, personally leading elite cavalry to directly raid Guobei County.

Once Lanruo Ghost Realm was formed, Guobei County turned into a haven for various demons, evil cultivators, and Green Forest Giant Bandits, lawless within yet orderly amidst chaos, mortals and ghosts living together, frequently raiding outside for blood sacrifices.

Li Mubai leads the army forward, witnessing Guobei County, though dilapidated, possesses city defenses, mainly comprising fierce-looking Green Forest bandits, some bizarre demons and magicians, even walking corpses, all standing guard on the city walls.

"Kill!!!"

Seeing this, Li Mubai says nothing more, directly leading the army to storm Guobei County.

His three thousand elite cavalry, akin to Xiao Ye’s Tiger Brave Forbidden Guards back then, are all elite troops composed of martial artists, soldiers possessing True Qi Cultivation, captains being Gang Qi Grandmasters, supplemented by the City God’s Divine Power, each can fight hundreds, assaulting the city without siege engines, able to leap up first.

The cavalry charges out, some scaling walls first, others wielding logs to batter gates, soon breaking into the dilapidated county, fighting amidst the Green Forest bandits and demon evil cultivators.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

In an instant, the sounds of battle shake the heavens, more Yin winds rise, faintly visible are golden lights flashing, both Yin and Yang realms entering the fray.

And during this fierce battle at Guobei...

On the Weishui River, a fleet of ships sails swiftly with wind and current.

These are not merchant or civilian vessels, but warships, all grand and tall, especially the central skyscraper ship, three stories high, with a dragon head prow, flags fluttering, military bearing stern.

Among the heavy guards, an elderly man in a yellow robe stands solemnly at the bow, coldly gazing ahead.

"Jinyang Prefecture!"

"Qinghe County!"

"Song Xiang!"

"Li Mubai!"

"I have returned!"

Gazing at the surging river, recalling past events, Xiao Ye’s expression remains cold, yet hatred flames within his heart rise fiercely, his right hand gripping the ship’s railing forcefully, leaving deep finger marks.

Sixty years, sixty years, an era’s time has passed, he is finally making a comeback.

Others cannot comprehend his feelings.

As Xiao Chen’s Hidden Dragon, burdened with Restoration Ascension, he should have had smooth sailing, first seizing Yangzhou, then uniting Jiangnan, ascending to the capital, clearing the emperor’s side, eliminating the Five Traitors and the nation’s accumulated corruption, allowing the Chen Dynasty to achieve Restoration Ascension, extending its reign for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Yet due to a Honored God, all his plans crumbled, losing essential civil and military officials, Celestial Destiny ministers, two armies, thirty thousand elites in the Battle of Jinyang, suffering total defeat, himself barely surviving the battle.

The impact of this defeat on him is beyond words, although with the assistance of the Weishui River Dragon Monarch, he managed to rise again like a tiger, eyeing the nation, some opportunities once missed can never be regained.

Emperor Ping collapses, Emperor Kang passes, Emperor Ning succeeds.

In the blink of an eye, three emperors switch, placing him, the Hidden Dragon anticipated for Restoration Ascension, in a particularly awkward position, losing the chance to eradicate the Five Traitors, clear the emperor’s side, facing constant constraints in Yangzhou, decades passing without uniting the south, barely holding half the realm.

Such was the impact of that major defeat.

Though vast realms make warfare challenging, decades to unite is common, even history records foundational emperors over a century old, but that is not the norm.

Originally, as the Hidden Dragon for Restoration Ascension, relying on Xiao Chen’s lingering fortune and his own Celestial Destiny, he could have eradicated the nation’s corruption in a few decades, achieving Restoration Ascension.

But the catastrophe at Jinyang robbed him of this opportunity, leading to his aging after decades, unable to unite the south, much less rule the nation.

Thus, his heart burns with hatred, needless to say.

Yet today, he is not here for revenge, but to seize his last chance.

In this world, many things are reciprocal, over the years he was besieged by Jinyang, as he besieged Jinyang in turn, this crucial threat lurking like a tiger by his bedside, requiring constant vigilance.

Thus, during years of campaigning across southern states, he could never fully exert himself, must leave troops encircling Jinyang, prepared to defend against Li Mubai’s sudden assault, preventing his stronghold from being overturned.

After all, in human affairs, the Divine Dao cannot overly intervene, should Li Mubai deploy his forces, the Weishui River Dragon Monarch and Jinling Prefect cannot obstruct him, otherwise heavenly retribution would descend, even the Third-Rank Great God couldn’t withstand.

This restraint made his conquest of southern states exceedingly difficult, only capturing two states after decades, with two more controlled by others, established in force, difficult to capture.

Now, he faces advanced age, unable to eliminate this grave threat, whether he can unite the south or accomplish Restoration Ascension for Xiao Chen in his lifetime becomes uncertain.

This is his last chance, he must take Jinyang.

Seizing Jinyang, reclaiming its resources, revives his hopes to achieve Restoration Ascension.

Otherwise...

"There is no otherwise!"

"This battle, I will certainly win!"

Xiao Ye coldly surveys, silent and taciturn, only within his eyes, wildfires blaze.

Meanwhile...

On the surging Weishui River, a light boat drifts, carrying two people sitting across each other—one monk, one Taoist.

Both appear utterly transcendent, surrounded by faint radiance, seemingly otherworldly.

Sitting on the boat, sailing with the current, moving as their hearts dictate, observing the formidable fleet like black clouds pressing on Qinghe Port, they laugh lightly and converse.

"This Xiao Chen’s Hidden Dragon for Restoration Ascension, expending his last effort."

"Once inspired, next exhausted, third defeated, this one’s fortune is severed, momentum broken, no further chance for success."

"Were it not so, how could the world see dragons and serpents rise, even that figure in Qingzhou daringly enter the fray?"

"No chance for Restoration Ascension, yet this Hidden Dragon’s lingering strength could still heavily wound Song Xiang."

"That deity trapped in Jinyang, unwilling to sit and wait for destruction, yet with Jinling and Weishui’s power strong, his only breakthrough lies in attacking Lanruo Ghost Realm."

"Hmph, unaware of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the sparrow behind."

"This move to overturn the situation, let’s see if he can endure!"

"Such ambitious miscreant, gaining temporary advantage, acts recklessly, heartless and insane, destroying our sect and Dao lineage, if we do not make him pay with blood, we fail in our practice!"

"This deity relies on terrain and merit; now, deep into Lanruo Ghost Realm, terrain advantage is lost, if we break his Merit Golden Body, what can a Fourth-rank True God do?"

"Merit... hmph!"