Infinite Professions-Chapter 96 - 25: Coercion

"You...!"

Zhong Qingcang’s pupils shrank, caught between shock and anger, yet unable to refute.

Shen Hex didn’t give him a chance to retort, delivering another searing remark, "But you can’t be entirely blamed. Perhaps after Celestial Destiny came to an end, they coerced you into signing some contract, subjecting you to their control, unlike Li Taiyi, whose destiny dissipated, with his Spirit Beast dead, not even having the qualification to sign contracts or be coerced."

"..."

Faced with these piercing words, Zhong Qingcang’s gaze remained icy, offering no rebuttal, only clenching his fists tightly beneath his sleeves.

"Enough!"

It was the black-clad elder by his side who spoke, "Where did you hear such conspiracy theories, using them to slander your teacher and the Spirit Control City, you’ve truly gone mad!"

"Whether it’s slander, the facts will tell!"

Shen Hex’s expression was calm, indifferently staring at him, "I dare to predict, even if Martial Country occupies a quarter of the continent’s land and population in the future, there will be no Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters appearing within Martial Country when darkness returns again."

"You...!"

Upon hearing this, the black-clad elder was also caught between shock and anger, momentarily unable to respond.

"Enough!"

Ultimately, it was Zhong Qingcang who spoke again, coldly staring at Shen Hex, "You are not Li Taiyi, what are you exactly?"

Shen Hex smiled, "Didn’t I already say? I’m Li Qingshan!"

"Li Qingshan?"

"Well, well, well!"

Zhong Qingcang’s gaze intensified, "I’ll take you as Li Qingshan, since you know the origin of the Dark Demon King Beast, you should understand if the entire continent falls into war, countless people will suffer."

"Those countless victims will provide strength to the Dark Demon King Beast, an incomparably powerful force, enabling it to break the seal and reappear in the world."

"The seal now is less than a hundred years old, Celestial Destiny’s power has yet to recover. Once the Dark Demon King Beast reappears, what’s waiting for the Spirit Control Continent is death and destruction!"

Upon finishing, his gaze pierced Shen Hex like a sword, "Is this the result you want, Li Qingshan!?"

"Ha!"

Shen Hex smiled without giving a definitive answer.

Seeing this, the black-clad elder also spoke up, "Li Taiyi, I know you resent the nobility, and I understand your actions, but everything should prioritize the bigger picture. Your extremely radical approach will only bring destruction to the Spirit Control Continent."

"Correct!"

Another person chimed in, "We understand your experiences and allow you to establish your kingdom in the Eastern Continent, make your own laws. Whether it’s eliminating nobility or other actions, all according to your wish, but you mustn’t spread the flames of war across the entire continent."

"Spirit Calendar thirteen thousand years, experienced many Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters, among them not lacking those of humble origins like you, yet why don’t they take such extremist approaches? They understand such actions are inadvisable."

"They, like Lord Zhong Qingcang, prioritize the bigger picture, for the Spirit Control Continent, for the survival and continuation of the Human Race, not as you say, signing some contract, coerced and controlled."

"Due to your experiences, you feel injustice, feel anger, want revenge, to eliminate nobility, these we understand, hence we divided the Eastern Continent as compensation for you."

"Yet you overreach, attempting to drag the entire Spirit Control Continent into the abyss of darkness and death. This makes you not Li Taiyi of the past anymore!"

"You’ve been blinded by anger and hatred, becoming a pawn and accomplice to the Dark Demon King Beast. Perhaps not only the Ancient Dragon King was sacrificed back then, but you—Li Taiyi as well!"

An elder’s gaze like a sword revealed chilling murder intent, "The Dark Demon King Beast’s power has corrupted you, you’ve become its avatar, plotting a great war to break the seal!"

"This..."

Such words left Dongfang Bai and other successor Celestial Destinies shocked, only the nine predecessors remained composed, evidently having had such suspicions long ago.

Finally, one person stood up, loudly addressing him, "Taiyi, I know you resent me, and if my death can quell your anger, bring peace and tranquility to the Spirit Control Continent, then you can kill me now. I will not resist!"

The speaker was the current Emperor of the Earth Realm, the previous Chapter of Friendship—Hex Yanfeng.

"Yanfeng!"

Seeing Hex Yanfeng stand and speak such words, Yinn Nianyun and other successor Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters were startled, hastily moving to his side, watching Shen Hex with guarded expressions.

"Ha!"

Yet Shen Hex didn’t even glance at them, only looking at Zhong Qingcang and other predecessor Celestial Destinies, "Turning right and wrong upside down, pointing at a deer and calling it a horse, with people like you, no wonder the intervals of the Dark Demon King Beast’s appearances grow shorter."

After speaking, he shifted his gaze towards a few silent predecessor Celestial Destinies, "You possess such power, but haven’t you considered making a change in this world, bringing a bit more light, a bit more justice, less darkness, less oppression?"

"You...!"

The black-clad elder’s gaze sharpened, ready to continue fabricating accusations.

"We have thought about it!"

Unexpectedly, a woman spoke, taking the lead in conversation, "But not with such radical means. We’ve divided the Eastern Continent for you, allowing you to do as you wish. I can promise you on behalf of Spirit Control City and the Three Great Kingdoms, that we will gradually change, striving to eliminate the threat of darkness!"

"No, you cannot change!"

Hearing this, Shen Hex shook his head, turning to the black-clad elder and others who branded him as the Dark Demon King Beast, "Tell me, how can people like you change?"

"This...!"

The woman hesitated, unsure how to respond.

"Only death!"

Shen Hex answered himself, pressing the matter on everyone, "You say I’m the Dark Demon King Beast, fine, I give you such a chance. While Martial Country unifies the Eastern Continent, you can go back, train a new generation of Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters to challenge me as the new Dark Demon King Beast!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Upon these words, silence fell over the crowd, full of shock and doubt.

But soon, someone reacted, the black-clad elder shouted, "You want to buy time, you think we’ll give you this opportunity?"

"Wrong!"

Shen Hex coldly smiled, "I’m offering you the chance. If you refuse, you can try now to see if the Celestial Destinies of the past can defeat the newly born Demon King!"

Amidst the words, fists clenched, Martial Arts Golden Core ignited, dragon roars and tiger cries erupted, a terrifying pressure surged from within outwards, furiously pressing on the seventeen Celestial Destinies and nine Emperor Spirits.