Infinite Professions

Time flies swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, a century has passed.

A century later, outside Jinling, in the Qinhuai.

Qinhuai, that is, the Qinling Mountain Range and the Huai River, this mountain and water form the South-North boundary and create a natural barrier, solidifying strategic passes, known as a battleground of the Central Plains.

Throughout dynasties, those at odds from the South and North often faced off across the banks of Qinhuai.

Even now is no exception; the two new dynasties of Wei and Zhou face off here, for a hundred years, still in a stalemate.

It’s like...

"Smoke envelops the cold water, the moon shrouds the sands, at night, anchoring by Qinhuai, near a tavern."

"The merchant girl knows not the sorrow of a fallen nation; across the river, she sings of the rear courtyard flower."

The moonlight is disorienting, light smoke stretches densely, enveloping cold waters and white sands; though it’s the night view of Qinhuai, the past ten-mile scenery is long gone, no more are the eight beautiful women singing joyfully.

All that remains is a scene of solemn killing!

On the banks of the South and North, armies confront each other, not only are high walls constructed, building formidable and strategic fortifications, but also water villages extending in succession, within, ships like forests, all ready for battle, seemingly about to ignite war at any given moment.

It is the great armies of the Wei and Zhou nations.

Ever since a century ago, when facing each other from the South and North, these two new dynasties faced off at Qinhuai, building cities and fortresses on the southern levees and northern banks as well as navy camps, building more and more, denser and denser, until today, this spanning over hundreds of thousands of miles, splitting the Qinhuai into two territories, has been occupied by various fortresses.

Looking far and wide, on the banks of Qinhuai, fortifications are severe, city passes are majestic, and there are also high ships and giant vessels, with fierce spears and lances, and soldiers in armor standing grim and chilling, even after a hundred years of stalemate, not a trace of looseness is visible.

The military might here, the former romantic scenery, naturally does not exist, even fishermen are nowhere in sight, on the wide river surface, only tides surge.

Under such night’s setting, amidst the light smoke on the northern bank, suddenly appear two figures.

The two figures, walking side by side, reach the shore, as the light smoke disperses, surprisingly revealing a pair of man and woman.

The woman has a light veil covering her face, yet her appearance is still hard to conceal, especially her eyes, like orchids in a secluded valley, innately graceful, dressed in a snow-white robe, holding a jade flute reflecting the moon, akin to a fairy descended to the mortal world, standing apart from the rest.

The man beside her, equally spirited, in a refined blue robe, holding a flippant fan, yet without losing elegance, whoever sees him would exclaim that he’s an extraordinary gentleman in a chaotic world.

The two walked side by side, reaching the water’s edge, looking at the South-North opposing fortresses, as well as the water village extending for hundreds of miles, their gaze, tumultuous and changing, eventually returning to calmness.

"A hundred years have passed!"

"I never thought this dragon struggle would last over two hundred years, without a resolution."

"With South and North opposing, two armies facing each other, who knows how much people’s wealth it has exhausted."

"In prosperity, the people suffer; in ruin, the people suffer!"

"Ah..."

The man’s words are full of sighs, with emotion, hidden within is a hint of probing.

The woman, with her face veiled, is expressionless, only making a statement: "A hundred years ago the Northern Dragon had a chance, but when the sandpiper and clam fight, the fisherman profits; yet unexpectedly, Bright Spirit King was so formidable, defeating six great ghost gods single-handedly, and moreover, using the power of merit to counter Dragon Qi, causing the Northern Dragon to miss the opportunity to become true."

Bright Spirit King!

A hundred years ago, Grand Ancestor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Shenwu and Li Mubai established the court, leading civil and military officials to Jinling to perform the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, worshipping "Heavenly Mirror Country Guardian King" as the master of the Divine Dao, since then, the name of Bright Spirit King spread throughout the world, intimidating ten directions, even though the woman is a Supreme Dao Saintess, she dared not directly call him by his real name, Song Xiang, only with revered title of Bright Spirit King.

Supreme Dao is the Northern Earth Daoist Sect’s great sect, has several times performed the service of "Fulong Court," throughout dynasties, True Dragon was bestowed, immeasurably favored, extremely courteous, secretly the head of the Northern Earth Daoist Sect, known as the world’s largest sect.

As the Supreme Dao Saintess, her status is immensely revered, even the Northern Dragon, Emperor of Wei Dynasty must treat her with courtesy.

But regarding the Bright Spirit King...

The difference between human and god is greater than the Cloud Abyss, even with the Supreme Dao Saintess, before such deities, is no more than dust.

"That Bright Spirit King is by no means an ordinary deity."

The woman softly murmured, "Currently he fortifies the Southern Lands wholeheartedly, even if Zhaoren King brings out all Northern Earth deities to attack with full force, it will be difficult to make accomplishments."

King of Zhaoren!

Referring to Huo Wei’s national guardian deity, National Guardian, Martial, Divine, Beneficial, and Virtuous King.

Originally the Qingzhou Main God, Third-grade Capital City God, after Huo Wei’s founding, was established as the master of worship, it is a Third-Rank Great God blessed by Dragon Qi, pinnacle existence of this era, named alongside the Bright Spirit King as the South-North dual kings.

Though both are bestowed with Dragon Qi, revered kings and gods of the nation, all parties know this King of Zhaoren is not as capable as that Bright Spirit King.

No choice, the Bright Spirit King’s record of defeating six great ghost gods is too terrifying, by comparison, although King of Zhaoren swept through Northern Lands, and even defeated Xiao Chen Court’s national guardian deities, those one-on-one achievements lack enough weight.

Not to mention there are rumors that the Bright Spirit King defeated the six great ghost gods while being only a fourth-rank true god!

Fourth-rank true god, such accomplishments, how can it not be terrifying?

Thinking of this, the man’s heart sighed again.

Currently, with the South-North standoff, day and night persistent.

That Bright Spirit King, whether due to injury from the Lanruo battle, or for some other reason, is not eager to advance, guarding the Southern Lands through these years, making people helpless against him.

People find themselves helpless against him; he, however, has made others suffer deeply.

Though the two armies stand off, facing each other for a hundred years, without decisive battle, not fighting does not mean the winds are calm and the waves are gentle.

Both parties are stalemated, consuming, grinding away!

Two nations’ great armies, consisting of millions, stand off here; how can there be no consumption?

Just the grains and fodder consumed by men and horses is an enormous expense.

Not to mention the need for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, as well as the construction, maintenance, and upkeeping of these fortresses, water villages, warships, and various military equipment.