Infinite Professions-Chapter 56 - 51: Ambush

Several days later, Sand Beast Valley.

On the mountain path surrounding the area, a team of over a hundred people moved slowly.

"Send out the Eagle-Eyed Finches, three in a group for careful reconnaissance, to guard against enemy ambush and attacks."

"Place wood-attributed and earth-attributed spirit beasts on the periphery. That young man’s Earth Sand Beast can use Earth Element Techniques; counter with wood and earth magic the instant it’s discovered."

"Back then, he could wipe out the entire Black Wind Thieves overnight, indicating he must have stealth abilities. Be wary of his assault..."

Luo Yue rode on a giant bear, leading the team forward cautiously. The slow pace caused dissatisfaction among the young clan members behind.

"Isn’t the Patriarch being too careful?"

"Can Li Qingshan’s Sand Beast not only defend but also actively attack?"

"Exactly, it’s a Sand Beast, not a Ghost Wolf, how could it ambush us?"

"This time, we’ve allied with the Zhou Clan from White Water Bay, and hired external reinforcements from Wind Thunder Town at great expense. We have a total of nine upper-level Spirit Masters, over twenty Tier Three Spirit Beasts, and dozens of intermediate Spirit Masters, with over a hundred Tier Two Spirit Beasts—more than enough to annihilate this Sand Beast Valley."

"That’s not quite right. Although Li Qingshan’s contracted beast is a Sand Beast, he’s a Spirit Control Master from the Spirit Fusion Sect, capable of merging with the Sand Beast, combined with his Spirit Fusion Martial Skills, his combat power is formidable and should not be underestimated."

"His Sand Beast is a mutant, reportedly cultivated to the Tier Three Elite Species level. It’s not only tough and strong, but also able to absorb the Power of the Earth to heal itself, paired with the Spirit Fusion Martial Skills, even several elders aren’t a match for him."

"Though our Luo Clan has five upper-level Spirit Masters who could join forces to defeat him, it might not be enough to keep him from escaping. As the saying goes: ’If you don’t kill the snake, it leaves endless trouble behind.’ That’s why the Patriarch has tolerated him until today."

"This time, not only must we destroy his Sand Beast Valley, but we must ensure Li Qingshan permanently resides in this Sand Beast Valley, and show the consequences of opposing our Luo Clan."

Several elite disciples from the Luo Clan communicated through Spiritual Thoughts, their eyes filled with strong confidence.

However, at the center of the team, Patriarch Luo Yue and several clan elders had furrowed brows, faces solemn, lending a degree of unease to the atmosphere.

Just then...

"Rumble!"

The earth roared, the forests shook.

"It’s coming!"

"Li Qingshan!"

Luo Yue’s eyes narrowed, but it was anticipated. He sprang into the air: "Defend on the spot!"

"Yes!!!"

Upon receiving the command, everyone acted immediately; the forward-moving team instantly transformed into a circular formation. Numerous wood and earth-attributed spirit beasts stood on the perimeter of the circle, casting various wood and earth magic to suppress the abnormal force within the earth.

"Rumble!"

Under the effect of numerous wood and earth-based techniques, the roaring earth soon returned to calm.

"Humph!"

Luo Yue snorted coldly, raising his head to observe the surroundings: "Li Qingshan, is this your only trick?"

"Boom!"

Before the words were finished, another rumble was heard; the earth that had just been calm trembled again, rocks and forest trees crumbled, even the dirt path under their feet became drenched in mud water, seemingly turning into a marsh.

"This...?!"

"How is it possible!"

Luo Yue’s pupils shrank instantly, and he threw out a Crystal Stone, activating it with Spirit Control Power.

"Bang!"

The Crystal Stone shattered, exploding with a tawny light, seeping into the earth attempting to solidify this marsh.

Tier Four Earth Magic—Earth-to-Steel!

Despite using a valuable Magic Spirit Crystal, it couldn’t stabilize the ground; the team of over a hundred people, along with hundreds of spirit beasts, all became trapped in the mud marsh unable to extricate themselves.

"How is this possible?"

"This is a Tier Four Magic Spirit Crystal!"

Seeing this, Luo Yue was also alarmed.

To annihilate the Sand Beast Valley this time, he painstakingly hired external reinforcements and purchased an Earth-to-Steel Magic Spirit Crystal at a high cost, intending to counter the opposing Earth Sand Beast.

But now, the Tier Four Magic Spirit Crystal couldn’t stabilize the earth.

What’s going on?

Have his Earth Sand Beast also broken through to Tier Four?

"Rumble!"

"Hum, hum, hum!"

"Ah, ah, ah!"

As Luo Yue was frightened and puzzled, a series of hums echoed from the surrounding edges.

"This...?"

Everyone looked in shock; only to see the surrounding hills and forests, stone and earth surged like waves, familiar figures emerged from within, looking down at them.

"Sand Beasts?"

"So many?"

"How is it possible?"

Silhouettes emerged, all in beast forms, familiar Sand Beasts, yet the number was terrifying, amounting to thousands, densely surrounding and observing them from above.

Sand Beasts, thousands of them, not merely ordinary Tier One Sand Beasts, most were Tier Two Excellence Species, with a few Tier Three Elite Species, all variants—Earth Sand Beast, Flame Sand Beast, Frost Sand Beast—they had them all.

So many variant Sand Beasts, including Tier Two and Tier Three Elite Species?

"Roar!"

As the group was petrified, another roar echoed from ahead, shaking the whole mountain wilderness, and a colossal figure gradually emerged to the center of the Sand Beast swarm.

It was a giant beast, with a body thirty meters tall, resembling a mountain of muscle, its dark purple skin was like granite ruggedly rising and falling, enveloping explosive muscles with unmatched resilience, exuding an incomparable sense of power.

On top of this giant beast sat a young man, with black hair and a green robe, seemingly unimposing, yet he emanated a mystical force, especially those eyes, exceedingly invasive, casting fear among the crowd.

It was...

"Li Qingshan!"

Luo Yue roared, gazing at Shen Hex and the Earth Sand Beast King below him: "Tier Three Spirit Lord Species?"

Shen Hex remained silent, unresponsive, merely channeling his Spiritual Thought to stir the Earth Sand Beast King beneath him.

"Roar!"

The Earth Sand Beast King roared, prompting thousands of variant Sand Beasts to attack, deploying various magical techniques, some shook the earth and spewed mud, others summoned ice and fire to shoot arrows, attacks raining down within the encircling Luo Clan people.

"Defend, defend!"

Luo Yue bellowed and tossed a Magic Spirit Crystal into the air, exploding into a shield to fend off thousands of Sand Beasts’ attacks; the rest of the Luo Clan and several upper-level Spirit Masters also took action, forming defensive lines.

Taking advantage of the gap, Luo Yue turned his head to a nearby black-clad man wearing a conical hat: "Lord Guu, please quickly slay this man, I am willing to add one million more Spirit Crystals."

"Hehe!"

At this, the man under the hat let out a hoarse laugh: "A Spirit Lord Species Earth Sand Beast, indeed Li Qingshan has some skill, no wonder you couldn’t contend with him."

The hoarse voice laughed incisively, sounding piercing yet confident: "But it’s just a Tier Three Spirit Lord Species. Add two million Crystal Coins, I will capture him alive for you."

"This..."

Seeing him raise the price, Luo Yue was furious and shocked, but had no choice, biting his teeth: "Fine!"

"It’s settled then."

The man with the hat sneered coldly, and a ripple manifested around him, transforming him into nothingness.

Luo Yue’s eyes sharpened and turned back to direct the battle: "Do not panic, defend with all your might."

Ordinary Species, Excellence Species, Elite Species, Spirit Lord Species, King Species, Emperor Species.

The six species tiers of Spirit Beasts, each tier has a vast gap, most notable from Elite to Spirit Lord Species.

Spirit Lord Species, accurately known as Lord Species, this tier of Spirit Beast can control lower-tier Spirit Beasts of the same species, forming clans and becoming regional lords.

This is extraordinarily significant because ordinary Spirit Control Masters, without training in high-tier secret techniques or consuming special medicines, can only control a limited number of spirits. Upper-level Spirit Masters can at most contract three same-tier spirit beasts.

Yet, there are thousands of Tier Two Excellence Species and even Tier Three Elite Species Sand Beasts, contracted by Li Qingshan?

Clearly not, even if he advanced to Tier Four, becoming a Spirit-level Spirit Master, he couldn’t contract so many spirit beasts.

It’s the ability of the Earth Sand Beast King, as a Spirit Lord Species Spirit Beast, these thousands of Sand Beasts are under its control, hidden in rocks and soil, creating this formidable encirclement.

This is the ability of a Spirit Lord Species Spirit Beast; it can control a spirit beast clan, contracting one high-tier Spirit Lord Species Spirit Beast is equivalent to contracting ten thousand lower-tier spirits of the same kind, able to form a one-man army.

That’s why Spirit-level Spirit Masters can unconditionally become nobility; a Spirit-level Spirit Master must possess a Tier Four Spirit Beast, even if not a Spirit Lord Species, upon reaching Tier Four, have the authority of "Lord," able to control a hundred beasts, forming a spirit beast legion.

This Li Qingshan, although not a Spirit-level Spirit Master, his Earth Sand Beast King remains a Tier Three Spirit Beast, yet as a Spirit Lord Species, it governs thousands of Sand Beasts.

This is the advantage of species tier, slightly surpassing level gaps, King Species and Emperor Species can even transcend tiers in battle.

But...

"A mere Sand Beast, even promoted to Spirit Lord Species, cannot compensate for the tier disparity!"

"Guu Yunxiao is a Spirit-level Spirit Master, his Ghost Wolf has long been a Tier Four Elite Species, aiming to evolve it into a Spirit Lord Species has been Guu Yunxiao’s greatest ambition."

"Thus, he won’t miss this opportunity, not only for our Luo Clan’s reward but also for Li Qingshan’s Earth Sand Beast King."

"Once devoured, his Ghost Wolf may evolve to become a Tier Four Spirit Lord Species."

"Li Qingshan, as a mere upper-level Spirit Master, relying on a Tier Three Sand Beast, can you fend off Guu Yunxiao, a Spirit-level Spirit Master, and his Tier Four Ghost Wolf’s assault?"

"The gap between Elite Species and Spirit Lord Species is far less than between Tier Four and Tier Three spirit beasts, not to mention... you are merely a Sand Beast!"

Looking down at Shen Hex and the Earth Sand Beast King leading the beast swarm, Luo Yue felt immensely fortunate for his previous decision to hire Guu Yunxiao as a Spirit-level Spirit Master for security.

Otherwise...

"Sand Beast King?"

"Heh heh heh!"

"Come meet your end!"

Following Luo Yue’s gaze and merged with the Ghost Wolf entering stealth, Guu Yunxiao decisively attacked, targeting Shen Hex on top of the Earth Sand Beast King.

Compared to the tough-skinned spirit beast, the frail Spirit Control Master is undoubtedly a better target.

This point, Guu Yunxiao understood thoroughly.

However...

Before Guu Yunxiao’s claws reached, he saw the youth atop the Earth Sand Beast King turn and directly look at him indifferently.