Infinite Professions-Chapter 82 - 12: The Plot Unfolds

"This..."

"A contract?"

"He subdued the Golden-Winged Roc?"

Watching the Golden-Winged Roc, whose fierce appearance had subsided, lying obediently underfoot, even showing a gentle demeanor, the crowd gasped in astonishment once again.

Several Royal Family Monarchs of the Sky Kingdom watched the man in the center and the Golden-Winged Roc beneath his feet with solemn and uncertain expressions.

Finally, an elder stepped forward, bowed deeply, and paid his respects: "Greetings, Lord Taiyi!"

The voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear, even the tide couldn’t obscure it, every word reaching the crowd’s ears without fail.

"Lord Taiyi?"

"Who is Lord Taiyi?"

The crowd froze, looking at each other, then suddenly awoke.

"Li Taiyi?"

"The Chapter of Valor’s Li Taiyi!" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"It’s really him?"

"This..."

Hearing the elder’s words and looking at Shen Hex atop the Golden-Winged Roc, the crowd was in chaos, only a young man in white showed a bitter smile, a mix of emotions on his face: "It’s really him!"

But this didn’t affect the situation in the field at all.

"Lord Taiyi!"

Seeing Shen Hex not responding, the elder took a deep breath, braced himself, and stepped forward: "This Golden-Winged Roc is the Sacred Beast of our Sky Kingdom, you cannot take it away."

"Ha!"

Shen Hex laughed aloud, looking at the elder and the several Lord-level Spirit Masters of the Sky Kingdom around him: "With just you all?"

The elder’s eyes narrowed, then he spoke coldly: "We are naturally no match for Lord Taiyi, but the Golden-Winged Roc is our Sky Kingdom’s Sacred Beast. Even if it costs us our lives, we must keep it in the Sky Kingdom."

After speaking, he assumed a combat stance.

However...

"No need to put on a show."

Shen Hex’s expression was indifferent; he turned his gaze to the sky: "The person you’re waiting for is already here."

"Screech!!!"

Before the words finished, a sharp cry was heard, and the sky was suddenly bathed in flames, the clouds burned away, revealing an astonishing aura, a terrifyingly imposing figure.

"This is..."

"A Tier Six Spirit Beast, a Tier Six Spirit Beast!"

"An Emperor-level Spirit Master?"

The crowd looked up, instantly turning pale with fright, their spirit beasts losing control under the opponent’s terrifying pressure, some even fainted, falling into the sea.

With an astonishing aura and terrifying pressure, amidst the sky filled with flames, a crimson figure descended grandly—a majestic Immortal Vermilion Bird.

Upon the Vermilion Bird’s back stood a tall, imposing man in a red robe.

It was none other than...

"The Lord of the Fire Country!"

"The Flame Emperor!"

"Shentu Yu!"

A few Spirit-level Spirit Masters struggled to lift their heads, looking at the majestic figure upon the Vermilion Bird, calling out his esteemed name in fear.

"Li Taiyi!"

Shentu Yu stood upon the Immortal Vermilion Bird, his fiery gaze revealing a cold killing intent, directly targeting Shen Hex: "I have sought you for eighty years, a full eighty years, and today I finally fulfill my wish!"

"Is that so?"

Shen Hex sneered, completely undaunted: "We’ll see if you have the capability."

"Hmph!"

Shentu Yu snorted coldly, not engaging in verbal sparring with him, only looking at the several Sky Kingdom’s Lord-level Spirit Masters, especially the elder who had previously identified Shen Hex: "What are you standing around for, don’t you want the Golden-Winged Roc?"

Their eyes narrowed, and they then bowed and retreated, leaving the battlefield to Shentu Yu.

Shentu Yu gave a cold smile, turning his gaze back, his words both provocative and incisive: "I know you must have some backing to dare come here, but alone, can you withstand several Emperor-level Spirit Masters?"

"Enough to deal with you."

Shen Hex said no more, activating Martial Dao True Essence, his body glowing with golden light, the Ten Thousand Spirits Battle Armor and Nine Dragons appearing: "Come on!"

"Hahaha!"

Shentu Yu laughed wildly and wasted no more words, directly commanding the Immortal Vermilion Bird, launching a purple and cyan flame.

"Roar!!!"

The Immortal Vermilion Bird’s assault was met with the soaring roar of a Golden Dragon, Martial Arts Primordial Skill attacking with Emperor Spirit True Flame, clashing fiercely in the sky until both exploded.

"Such power..."

"As expected, raising a tiger invites calamity!"

Shentu Yu’s eyes narrowed, surrounded by fierce flames, revealing a Spirit Control Armor entirely in vermilion, simultaneously activating Spirit Control Secret Technique and Emperor’s Combat Skills: "Flame Realm—Open!"

With that, he activated the Spirit Control Secret Technique, the Immortal Vermilion Bird followed with a cry, and vast quantities of Vermilion Fire burst forth, instantly taking over the sky and battlefield, forming a Flame Realm.

The Flame Realm unfolded, turning the blue sky and white clouds into a searing white heat, and even the sea below boiled under the terrible heat. The Spirit Masters turned pale, filled with terror and despair.

"Shentu Yu!"

"The Lord of the Fire Country, the Flame Emperor, Emperor-level Spirit Master!"

"Back during the Dark Beast Tide, the Fire Country was devastated, the entire tribe moved to the Holy City, but because a descendant indiscriminately killed civilians, Li Taiyi, then graced with Celestial Destiny, publicly executed him, even bringing the corpse to his residence to force an apology."

"At that time, Li Taiyi had Celestial Destiny, so even as an Emperor-level Spirit Master, he could only lower his head; but he bore this blood feud in heart, and once Li Taiyi’s Celestial Destiny faded, he fiercely sought revenge, even resorting to assassination."

"If not for the Holy City’s protection and the intervention of the previous Celestial Destiny Spirit Master, Li Taiyi would already be a corpse lying in the street."

"Despite this, the Fire Country and several other Royal Families constantly suppressed Li Taiyi until after He Yanfeng and Yinn Nianyun’s engagement night, when Li Taiyi disappeared without a trace."

"It’s said that these years he has constantly tried to ally the various forces, especially those royal families who had grievances with Li Taiyi and the Emperor-level Spirit Masters backing them, aiming to attack and destroy the Martial Country, but has never succeeded."

"Moreover, he’s also sought Li Taiyi’s whereabouts across the continent, hoping to eliminate this formidable threat, but all efforts were in vain."

"Why does he appear here?"

The crowd discussed in shock and uncertainty.

Only part of the Spirit-level Spirit Masters saw and understood.

"Li Taiyi is the Martial Madman; the Martial Madman is Li Taiyi!"

"Over the years, he traveled the continent under this identity, collecting Spirit Beasts, his actions known to Shentu Yu."

"This Rage Sea Tide and Golden-Winged Roc are the most prized Spirit Beasts in recent years. Shentu Yu expected him to come for them, so he secretly arranged everything. Zhang Feiyu earlier was probably a pawn used by the Fire Country to probe."

"To avoid alerting the Golden-Winged Roc and him, Shentu Yu hid the entire time, only arriving after he tamed the Golden-Winged Roc."

"Wrong, Shentu Yu could have revealed himself sooner but delayed to exhaust his strength using the Golden-Winged Roc and Rage Sea Tide, and to spark conflict with the Sky Kingdom to have their Emperor-level Spirit Masters come as allies for a combined assault?"

"An Emperor-level Spirit Master, yet he fears him so?"

"..."