Infinite Professions-Chapter 97 - 26: Eruption

"This...!?"

Feeling such imposing might, everyone’s expressions changed. Zhong Qingcang, who stood at the forefront, reacted instantly. Spirit Light burst around him, instantly forming a suit of armor, and Spirit Control Power enveloped him in an instant.

This is the power of the previous generation of Celestial Destiny!

Unlike Dongfang Bai and others, who could still be considered young successors, they have long stood at the pinnacle of the Spirit Control Continent after experiencing two generations of Dark Beast Tides. Their techniques are honed to perfection, making them the most formidable Emperor-level Spirit Masters, and the core combat strength of Spirit Control City.

As the previous Celestial Destiny leader, Zhong Qingcang is the strongest among the strong. With a swift move, he summoned the Spirit Control Armor, seamlessly executing the Spirit Fusion Secret Technique, not even needing to summon a Spirit Beast. A flash of Spirit Light, and the Power of the Celestial Destiny Emperor fused instantly.

He moved swiftly, standing in front of everyone, coldly eyeing Shen Hex, "Do you really want to go this far?"

"It is you who wants to go this far!"

Shen Hex’s expression remained unchanged, his body glowing with brilliant gold. A set of armor appeared, seemingly forged from gold, with nine dragons coiling around it, all vividly lifelike, their dragon eyes opening and closing unobtrusively, dragon heads fiercely roaring. Unparalleled light and heat circulated within, radiating like a blazing sun, dazzling the heavens!

"Hah!!!"

Zhong Qingcang’s eyes narrowed, then he took a deep breath, his expression turning icy and resolute, "Then let me, as your teacher, see how much strength you truly possess!"

With that said, his Spiritual Power surged, and he unleashed a heavy punch, with wind and thunder surging within.

The punch appeared simple, yet it was honed through countless trials, even condensing the Domain Power of the Celestial Destiny Emperor Beast. The fist contained the Wind Thunder Dao and Wind Thunder Law. It seemed plain yet held the essence of hundreds of years of ascetic cultivation and accumulation.

Such an offensive, not to mention a Tier Five Monarch Spirit, even a Tier Six Emperor Spirit, with the slightest negligence, could be severely injured or even obliterated in one hit.

This is the power of the Celestial Destiny Spirit Master and Celestial Destiny Emperor Beast. Although the Celestial Destiny has long dissipated, they who once reached that realm still possess strength ordinary Spirit Masters find unattainable, an insurmountable chasm.

Only Celestial Destiny can withstand Celestial Destiny; this is the iron law of the Spirit Control Continent for millennia.

However...

"Bang!!!"

Palm clashed with fist, dragon and tiger shook the wind and thunder, terrifying waves ravaged the surroundings, instantly pulverizing the small mountain pavilion into dust. Even the Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters behind were impacted. The Eight Great Emperor Spirits stood unmoved, while successors like Jun Cangming were forced back by the force.

"Such power!"

Several individuals, bearing the force, retreated with a thunderous impact before forcibly steadying themselves. The expression of Jun Cangming was solemn, while Yinn Nianyun, Hex Yanfeng, Dongfang Bai, and others struggled to hide their shock.

Less than four months had passed since the Rage Sea Tide battle. Everyone knew Shen Hex could slay Shentu Yu; his combat strength was comparable to an Emperor Spirit. But no one expected this Emperor Spirit to include Zhong Qingcang.

Though both were Tier Six Emperor-level Spirit Masters, just as Spirit Beasts differ in rank from lower levels to King and Emperor ranks, there is a hierarchy among Emperor-level Spirit Masters too, with varying strengths.

That Shentu Yu, a mere minor Sovereign of the Fire Country, though dubbed the Flame Emperor, was only mid-tier among Emperor-level Spirit Masters, with his strongest follower being a Tier Six King-rank Immortal Vermilion Bird. At over three hundred years old, his accumulation in every aspect had yet to peak.

Zhong Qingcang, however, was different. As the Supreme Grand Elder of Spirit Control City, the previous Celestial Destiny leader, Chapter of Courage, at over four hundred years old, he not only commanded the Tier Six Emperor Beast, Celestial Shock Dragon King, which was a product of Celestial Destiny degradation, but had also honed his skills to the peak of an Emperor Spirit.

Compared to him, Shentu Yu, the Flame Emperor, was but a glowworm vying with moonlight.

But now...

"Whoo!"

The mountain wind howled, sweeping away the pervasive dust and smoke.

At the edge of the cliff stood two towering figures, fist and palm clashing coldly.

Shen Hex pressed his palm against Zhong Qingcang, completely disregarding his expression, casting his gaze to the Eight Great Emperor Spirits still unmoving behind, "You all—come at me together!"

"This..."

The Eight Great Emperor Spirits’ eyes narrowed, revealing astonishment, with hesitance in their hearts.

Although they knew Shen Hex must rely on something to act this way, they merely thought his reliance was the Golden-winged Roc King, capable of coming and going freely with Heaven and Earth Extreme Speed and Power of Space Penetration, using intimidation tactics like before.

Yet now, he could directly suppress Zhong Qingcang and even invited them to battle, one man challenging nine Celestial Destiny Emperor Spirits.

Where did such strength come from?

Did he really receive some Emperor-level Spirit Master’s legacy?

What kind of Emperor-level Spirit Master’s legacy could rival Spirit Control City, rival their nine Celestial Destinies?

What secret lay hidden within him?

With hearts full of astonishment, the more they thought, the more they feared, making them reluctant to act recklessly.

Fortunately, Zhong Qingcang at the front hadn’t fully fallen behind yet, his Spiritual Power surged, renewing the might of wind and thunder.

"Boom!!!"

Wind and thunder light exploded, the two figures moved together, launching into the sky, clashing fiercely mid-air.

"Celestial Shock and Thunder Fury!"

With a flick of both palms, Zhong Qingcang pushed the Emperor-level Spirit Fusion Secret Technique to its limit. The Spirit Control Armor transformed directly into a dragon beast form, even altering his human flesh, his eyes becoming cold slit pupils, facial scales covering his face, and a pair of wind and thunder entwined dragon horns grew amid his white hair.

This was the ultimate expression of the Emperor-level Spirit Fusion Secret Technique, merging Spirit Beast and self to the greatest extent, entering a "one heart, one body" state. Man is beast, beast is man, not only indistinguishable but also able to complement each other, unleashing more powerful strength than an individual or beast alone.

"Rumble!!!"

With such a technique, the power of wind and thunder roared, instantly forming a domain, converting all Primordial Spirits within the range into Wind Spirit and Thunder Spirit. Moving with his hands, two dragon shadows condensed, attacking Shen Hex with the momentum of dual dragons playing with a pearl.

Emperor’s Combat Skills—Wind Thunder Fury!

As the previous Celestial Destiny leader, Zhong Qingcang’s Celestial Destiny Emperor Beast, the Celestial Shock Dragon King, was an extremely powerful true dragon-type Spirit Beast, mastering wind, thunder, and space attributes, a king of aerial combat, with absolute advantage in the high heavens.

"Roar!!!"

Two dragons surged forward, wind and thunder combined, embodying hardness and softness, shaping the Ploy of Playing with the Pearl, intending to blow Shen Hex, the human-shaped dragon pearl, to bits and pulverize him in mid-air. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Shen Hex, facing this, was completely unafraid. Activating the Martial Arts Golden Core, he conjured a vision of dragons and tigers, similarly invoking wind and thunder with matched hardness and softness.

"Boom!!!"

Xingyi Fist Skill, Emperor’s Combat Skills, the two mighty powers clashed directly. Three dragons and one tiger exploded then and there.

Amid the billowing waves, Zhong Qingcang retreated half a step, Spiritual Power circulating rapidly within, cooperating with the Spirit Fusion Secret Technique to stabilize himself.

Spirit Fusion Secret Technique, even at the Emperor level, fuses with the Spirit Beast, not becoming the Spirit Beast. The body’s weakness causes a burden; though it allows stronger attacks, it also bears more pressure, requiring some time to recover, or else it becomes unsustainable.

But his opponent...

"Roar!!!"

The aftermath had not yet settled, the winds and clouds not yet determined, when a dragon shadow suddenly emerged, fiercely pressing towards him.