Infinite Professions

"Roar!!!"

The Lanruo Old Demon let out a piercing cry. Before its eerie voice could fade, a dragon’s roar was heard, echoing from far to near.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Amidst the dragon’s roar, strong winds howled, bringing with them a thick mass of rain clouds rolling in from the south, swiftly engulfing the Lanruo Ghostly Realm.

Within the clouds, a dragon’s shadow churned—a Cyan Flood Dragon. Though not a Five-Clawed True Dragon, it still bore two horns and four claws, exuding an extraordinary aura.

It was...

"Roar!!!"

Amidst the dragon’s roar, rain descended, the wind turned into a tornado, seemingly slow yet swift, instantly becoming a Great Divine Technique. It carried immense power towards the battlefield, aiming to surround Wei to save Zhao, to relieve the Lanruo Old Demon of its peril.

Shen Hex’s expression remained unchanged. He raised his right palm, sending forth thunder with destructive force, meeting the advancing wind and rain.

"Boom!!!"

The two forces clashed, wind, rain, and thunder reverberated with an earth-shattering blast. The thunder dispersed, the rain clouds disintegrated, and the dragon shadow descended into the battlefield, transforming into a human.

People gazed intently, seeing a middle-aged figure with a heroic and commanding presence, wearing a ten-tasselled crown and a four-clawed dragon robe. A pair of horns stood proudly above his crown, surrounded by steaming water vapor with the faint sound of rushing rivers.

"Weishui River Dragon Monarch!?"

Though they had never met, from his imposing aura, Song Wu and others of the Golden Sun Deities immediately recognized his identity.

It was the Master of Weishui River, the River God Dragon Monarch!

"Old friend, it has been a long time!"

Despite having only met once, it did not hinder them from addressing each other as old friends. The Weishui River Dragon Monarch gazed at Shen Hex, beneath his calm words lay an undisguised killing intent: "The karma we forged years ago shall be resolved today!"

Shen Hex glanced at him, his expression unchanged, as if this was long expected: "A True God, yet colluding with such demons and evil spirits, it seems you are truly at your wit’s end, like a desperate dog leaping over a wall."

"Ha!"

The Weishui River Dragon Monarch laughed loudly, indifferent to such words: "If all you have is such a glib tongue, then today may not bode well for you."

"With just you? That’s not enough."

Shen Hex’s expression remained unchanged as his gaze shifted north: "Since you’re here, why hide any longer? Show yourselves."

"Boom!!!"

As soon as his words fell, a radiant golden light appeared, like the rising sun, quickly turning into a blazing sun, shining into the Lanruo Ghostly Realm.

Looking around, they saw a figure stepping forth in this brilliant light, wearing a ten-tasselled crown and a bright yellow robe, embodying regal majesty and divine might.

The ancient attire systems designated twelve tassels for the Emperor, ten for Monarchs, nine for Dukes, seven for Senior Officials, and five for Junior Officials.

The ten-tasselled crown signifies the rank of Marquis, and in the Divine Dao, it indicates a Third-Rank Great God, as does the Weishui River Dragon Monarch and this figure.

"Jinling Prefect!"

The Golden Sun Gods’ eyes narrowed, recognizing this god as well.

It was the ruler of Jinling, the Capital City God!

In an instant, two Great Gods descended upon the battlefield.

Faced with such beings, even as deities, Song Wu and others felt somewhat apprehensive.

Only Shen Hex remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated this all along.

Indeed, he had long anticipated it!

In this world, many may be foolish and ignorant, but not the deities, especially these Great Gods who have withstood the test of time. With no concealed information, any plot or scheme is as clear as day to them.

This scenario was no exception. The plight of Jinyang was well-known. Shen Hex could either sit and wait for death or fight vigorously to break the impasse.

However, the options to break the stalemate were limited to three places: Weishui, Jinling, and Lanruo.

Which to choose?

Of course, it was Lanruo!

One should always choose the softer target. Both Weishui and Jinling were Third-Rank Great Gods. Even if Shen Hex had recently ascended to Fourth Grade in Jinyang without the aid of Hidden Dragon, it would be challenging to win against these two on their turf.

Therefore, attacking the Lanruo Ghostly Realm was his only way out, a fact known to all.

Knowing this, they couldn’t let him proceed and break free.

Thus, the Weishui River Dragon Monarch came, and the Jinling Prefect came too.

They joined forces to set this stage, aiming to eliminate Shen Hex, their greatest threat.

As for why not remain on the sidelines and reap the benefits... At such a critical juncture, harboring such thoughts would be true folly.

The small gains from observing from afar pale in comparison to the threat of Shen Hex breaking free, observing from the sidelines would be allowing the tiger back to the mountain, the dragon back to the abyss.

Seizing small benefits at the cost of one’s life, being overly cautious in big matters, indecisive in planning, and courting death in a calculated manner are things the wise would never do!

Thus, they came!

Shen Hex knew they would come too.

After all, it was all an open stage; their every move was like reading each other’s minds.

Due to the Xiao Ye incident, he had forged karma with the Weishui River Dragon Monarch. Although there was no immediate conflict, both knew that, given their temperaments, a resolution would come one day, leading to a life-and-death encounter with no turning back.

The two parties are already deadly enemies, a battle of immortality and annihilation!

Furthermore, the Weishui River Dragon Monarch’s situation is rather miserable. Xiao Chen’s Hidden Dragon Celestial Mandate has been severed, trapped in the south with no hope of true dragon status. This investment of his can be said to have failed, losing money and forging enemies, planting hidden dangers.

More critically, his incense poison has already penetrated into his bones.

This is evident from his appearance—not only wearing a crown and dragon robe, but also horns growing between his crowned hair, a display befitting a Dragon King Water Monarch.

Is he truly a Dragon King?

Indeed not!

Although in this world, there are Dragon Race bloodlines hidden everywhere, even becoming deities, this Weishui River Dragon Monarch does not belong to such ranks.

He was human in life, a human god in death, having no tangible relation to the Dragon Race. His current appearance is completely a result of the influence of incense, driven by wish power.

The incense poison within him has sunk deep into his bones, even altering his form from human to dragon, more severe than when Zhou Qian, the Jinyang Prefect, was affected. Were it not for the station of a Third-Rank Great God upholding him, he might have already been seized by the incense and lost himself.

Under the influence of this incense poison, he too is on the edge of reincarnation. This time investing in Xiao Ye’s Restoration Ascension Hidden Dragon seeks to make a final harvest for nurturing oneself in the next life, and even striving for a dragon arrangement.

Yet due to Shen Hex, his scheme fell entirely apart.

This is the great hindrance, an irrefutable enmity, never to rest or reconcile!

He bears no intentions of reconciliation with Shen Hex. In contrast, he wants to use his utmost effort, resolving Shen Hex before reincarnation, to prevent Shen Hex from hindering his reincarnated form, obstructing his grand endeavors for cultivation.

To achieve this goal, remove Shen Hex, the great hindrance enemy, mortal threat, he not only heavily sacrifices, yielding many benefits, and granting numerous promises to cooperate with Jinling Prefect, but also colludes with the likes of Lanruo Old Demon, an evil spirit, making a miserable alliance, crafting the present situation.

Truly calculating to every detail!

But Shen Hex does not mind.

This is a killing layout, but who kills whom remains uncertain.

Knowing well that the other side would take action, why did he decisively attack the Lanruo Ghost Realm?

Amongst the predicament, having no choice is one reason, but not the whole picture.

He also wants to use this opportunity to probe these Third-Rank Great God’s foundation, even holding ambitions to "reverse the ranks and attack the Great Gods."

Third-Rank Great Gods, akin to grounded tigers, were he to directly assault Weishui or Jinling, it would undoubtedly be like a steamed bun thrown to a hungry dog, going without return—in the host grounds, the Third-Rank Great Gods hold absolute terrestrial advantages, which a Fourth Grade cannot challenge, even with a series of Professional Powers in support.

But how if they were away from their grounds?

Most worldly affairs are relative, and this Lanruo setup is alike. He enters the setup, and so does the Weishui River Dragon Monarch.

Now everyone is fighting as visitors, without any terrain advantages, relying solely on their own.

Thus, whose power is stronger, whose foundation is deeper?

"Two gods, one ghost, truly a good setup!"

"But can a good setup truly yield a good outcome?"

Shen Hex’s eyes glinted with pride, staring down the three ghost gods, raising his right palm defiantly: "Come, let me see, what capability does a Third-Rank deity truly possess!"

Against three as one, proud words, imposing stance, revealing sheer confidence.

"Hmm!?"

The Weishui River Dragon Monarch’s eyes sharpened with sudden unease within his heart, but the die was cast, leaving no room to maneuver. He could only sever this unease and, mustering divine power, responded sternly: "As you wish!"

With that, he raised a palm, making an attack.

"Roar!!"

The palm released a dragon’s chant, accompanied by wind and rain, the power of water element surged greatly, a dragon shadow surged forth with torrents seemingly accompanying the surroundings, resembling a heavenly river bursting its gates, seas flooding back, mightily overwhelming, unbeatable by anyone.

Dragon moves with clouds, tiger follows the wind!

Being a deity of Weishui, he can command the forces of rivers and seas, moreover due to "Dragon King" faith, he holds a resonance with the Emperor’s path, as the sovereign over water, able to utilize the power of rivers, lakes, and seas to its utmost, even afar from Weishui, not in the Dao Field, he still possesses extraordinary power.

Now with a single palm strike, it’s akin to a river transforming into a dragon shadow charging forward, carrying immense force.

Yet...

"Buzz!"

Shen Hex remained unfazed, also activating divine power, his entire being radiant with golden light, forming Celestial Gate Defense.

Twelve Celestial Gates Golden Bell Shield!

Although this current mortal form, not cultivating Three Methods simultaneously, does not hold the Dao Foundation the real being and Taiyuan Body do, but through years of study, he bridged the Three Methods mutually, capable of using divine power to simulate True Essence Magical Power, to display Martial Arts Combat Skills or Immortal Dao Magic, hence wielding the Celestial Gate Qi Shield is effortless.

First condensing the Protective Qi Shield is to adopt a defensive strategy.

After all, it is against a Third Grade with Fourth Grade, there is a large realm difference, being cautious is only natural.

"Bang!!!"

The Qi Shield forms, Celestial Gate Defense, although lacking Great Dao Primordial Skill, powered by Golden Body and supported by Merit, the Celestial Gate defense is even stronger, with capabilities such as "warding off all evils, invulnerable to a myriad powers," turbulent rivers like dragons come with overwhelming force, crashing heavily yet unable to breach a single tier of defense.

"Merit Golden Body!"

At an initial disadvantage, failing to gain success, the Weishui River Dragon Monarch’s gaze focused, seeing the Merit Golden Light forming the Celestial Gate Qi Shield, his expression though serious, bore more understanding and conviction, seemingly having anticipated this.

Indeed anticipated, given the previous battle examples between Qingping Temple and Donglian Temple, a newly ascended City God managed to suppress two Fourth Grade True Gods, except for the aid of merit, there was no other explanation.

Such means are plainly visible.

Since plainly visible, then naturally...