Infinite Professions

Chapter 468: Chapter 240: Absolute Strength (Second Update)

As for matters outside the ring, let’s not mention them for now.

Each trial in the competition comes with its own set of challenges. This Xingyi Divine Martial Stele is considered one of the easier ones. As long as you can understand the concept of Divine Martial, and grasp the principle of "shapes align with heaven and earth, intentions comprehend all methods," you can solve the mystery and pass the level to earn points.

After years of cultivation and the baptism of Yunlan’s war fires, Zhong Qin and others have grown quite a bit in terms of realm cultivation and aptitude. Understanding this principle is no longer a difficult task.

Sure enough, Shen Hex didn’t have to wait long before someone solved the riddle within the stele.

It was Teng Manyun.

Among the crowd, besides Shen Hex, she had the highest aptitude, and now she solved the puzzle the fastest.

Following Teng Manyun, it was Zhong Qin. Though this little girl had average aptitude back in the day and even sought Shen Hex for coaching guidance, it was precisely because of this that, under Shen Hex’s extensive guidance, her progress surpassed others, allowing her to pass second.

And so, who knows how long it took, but finally, everyone understood the profound mysteries of the Xingyi Divine Martial Stele.

Each gained something, and academic credits were recorded.

"Next..."

Everyone turned their eyes to Shen Hex.

Shen Hex smiled, yet showed no battle intent: "Let’s go to the next spot."

As said before, to accumulate points, the early stages of the competition primarily focus on advancing through the stages. Unless there’s a special need, there’s generally no large-scale fighting to maintain the "fattening" strategy.

Shen Hex didn’t plan to disrupt this understanding, as accumulating more academic credits can only be beneficial.

So, continue advancing!

Like this, several days passed.

At the foot of a mountain, there hung a cliff like a mirror, presenting countless strange phenomena.

Many gathered there, observing the cliff’s peculiarities, frowning and unable to comprehend them.

This was another trial similar to the Xingyi Divine Martial Stele, but of a higher tier, with greater difficulty. It required using the Xingyi Divine Martial Scripture as the basis, combining it with this cliff’s enigmas to comprehend advanced Xingyi concepts and the essence of Divine Martial, such as True Dragon Emperor, White Tiger War God, and Kunpeng’s Freedom.

To be honest, it was a bit excessive, almost like asking someone with elementary knowledge to solve high school or even graduate level problems, which was virtually impossible for the average person.

But that’s precisely what Xingyi Martial Mansion aims for.

Who wants average people?

The academy seeks geniuses, prodigies, and eccentrics.

Thus, the trials within the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm present a polarized scenario.

One pole has lower difficulty, easily understandable, intending to give participants some points and make sure the trip isn’t wasted.

The other has extremely high difficulty, crazy enough to select talents, and even prodigies, to boost the academy.

The scoring follows this pattern as well. In theory, if one can overcome several big hurdles, even without losing a single match, they can lead the competition and secure first place effortlessly.

But that’s almost impossible.

For two main reasons: one, the trials are tough, and there’s not enough time and energy; two, the stakes escalate. Although everyone knows breaking through can accumulate points, which will be of great advantage in the end, who can guarantee they’ll make it to the end?

What you’ve consumed is yours!

These who break through the stages are like little pigs being fattened for slaughter; if you don’t kill, others will.

Those who first slaughter the pigs and put the meat in the bowl get guaranteed points, and even if eliminated, the scores won’t be too bad.

Conversely, if you only focus on fattening without slaughter until the end, you’ll have no safety net, and if encountering a tough opponent, you might end up with nothing.

Thus, as time progresses and the situation reaches a certain point, slaughter and battle will inevitably erupt, with everyone fiercely competing, leaving little room for peaceful progress.

Even now, the trend has begun, with some low-difficulty trial points becoming main battlegrounds, killings abound, and many fighting for guaranteed points.

Luckily, this mountain cliff is a high-difficulty trial. Those attempting it have a certain level of strength, so it’s still stable for now.

Shen Hex sat at the foot of the mountain, observing the cliff, his eyes shifting, faintly seeing its mysteries.

Beside him, Teng Manyun and others diligently studied it, but this trial was overwhelming, beyond their current capability. After watching for a long time, they had no insights and could only act as onlookers.

Meanwhile, in the void...

"He has already cracked five high-tier trials!"

"A prodigy, truly a prodigy."

"With such capability, his understanding of Martial Dao far surpasses ordinary people; breaking through is quite expected."

"At this rate, he won’t even need to fight. He might secure the top spot just by clearing trials."

Over a hundred phantoms gathered, all manifestations of Divine Intent, intensely watching Shen Hex.

Shen Hex seemed oblivious, his focus still on the cliff, finally standing up after a long while, turning to the others who gained nothing, and said: "Let’s go."

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly stood up, relieved.

It’s torture to ask an elementary student to solve advanced math problems, especially with direct comparisons around, amplifying the feelings.

Now, everyone just wants a big fight to vent their frustration.

Yet Shen Hex had no battle intent and headed to the next trial.

Just like that...

"Luo Lie, stop right there!"

"People from the War God Luo Family, only know how to run for their lives?"

"I’m running, bite me if you’re not happy!"

In the wilderness, lights streaked across, one pursuing another, a life-or-death chase.

The light in front coalesced into the shape of a White Tiger, precisely the Celestial Spirit Battle Qi.

Luo Lie was upset. The other day he met a monster, barely surviving its attack, and now seeking ordinary rivals to bolster his strength for guaranteed points, he ran into another tough group, forcing him to flee.

This makes Luo Lie doubt whether the quality of participants this year is too high, or if his luck is just terribly bad.

Why is he so unlucky?

Amidst his frustration...

"Bang!!!"

A sword crossed through the air like a dragon, intercepting the Celestial Spirit White Tiger.

Luo Lie’s complexion changed, hurriedly channeling Celestial Spirit Battle Qi, yet the sword’s brilliance struck him, breaking his aura and causing him to plummet.

"Long Jianfei!"

As his body fell, blood appeared on his chest, Luo Lie’s expression turned grim, but the opponent gave no chance, their sword charging with dragon-like momentum.

"Jianfei!"

The two pursuers from behind joined the encirclement, determined to finish Luo Lie here.

"You three bastards, even if I self-destruct, I won’t make it easy for you!"

Luo Lie was struggling on all sides, gradually falling into a desperate situation, about to resort to burning jade and stone together, when the Professional Talent of the Fighting God sensed another adversary.

"Is it... him?"

"Ha!!!"

Luo Lie’s eyes lit up, his Celestial Spirit Battle Qi roared, transforming into the War God White Tiger, charging against the Dragon-shaped Sword Gang blocking him.

Although the Dragon-shaped Sword Gang was slightly superior to him, it was only a tad better; against the fully unleashed Celestial Spirit Battle Qi, it was forced open, creating a gap.

Luo Lie seized the opportunity, sprang out, and fled rapidly.

"Trying to escape?"

"Hmph!"

But letting the duck in hand fly away was out of the question, as the three chased tightly, and Luo Lie couldn’t shake them off.

Seeing the distance narrowing, a group suddenly appeared ahead. The fleeing Luo Lie cried out loudly, "Big Brother, I can’t make it, take the points, and don’t let those bastard Long Family members have it cheap!"

With that, the White Tiger charged strongly towards the people ahead.

"Boom!!!"

Shen Hex remained unmoved, raised his hand and sent out a palm thrust, the Gang Stream burst forth, the White Tiger was shattered instantly, and the figure vanished.

Only a silver-white belt fell, a space artifact exclusive to the Secret Realm.

Shen Hex turned his hand and took it, handing it to Zhong Qin and the others.

Simultaneously, Long Jianfei led two others and arrived, gazing at Shen Hex with uncertainty.

"Big Brother?"

"He has a Big Brother?"

"Isn’t Luo Lie the only direct descendant of the Luo Family taking the Xingyi Martial Mansion exam this year?"

"Hmph, diverting disaster eastward, driving the tiger to swallow the wolf, nothing more."

The child of heaven saw through Luo Lie’s scheme at a glance.

Yet as he faced Shen Hex and his group, Long Jianfei didn’t intend to back down, but stood with his hands behind him, "Hand over the items, and leave!"

As a member of the Long Family, he didn’t particularly value the spoils and academic credits.

But that bastard Luo Lie had attacked and killed a friend of his, he must retrieve the friend’s belongings.

Therefore...

"Long Jianfei!"

"He’s the rising star of the Shuiyue Star Long Family!"

"The Shuiyue Long Family has the Dragon Blood Martial Saint legacy."

"This kid’s registered profession is Dragon Soul Sword Cultivator, a fusion mutant profession of the Dragon Blood Martial Saint’s body, nurturing the dragon soul with his body as the sword, combined with the Long Family’s Dragon God Sword Technique, its power surpasses Luo Lie’s Celestial Spirit Battle Qi."

"Hmph, that’s because Luo Lie hasn’t stacked his Combat Power; otherwise, why would he fear him?"

"Alas, Old Luo, if the skill is inferior, you should admit it!"

"Don’t know if this kid is his match."

Seeing Long Jianfei standing with hands behind, imposing and domineering, all the teachers watched expectantly.

"Shen Hex!"

Looking at the scene, under the pressure of Long Jianfei’s power, Zhong Qin holding the belt felt a bit tense, involuntarily turning her gaze to Shen Hex.

Shen Hex smiled, said nothing, but simply raised a hand.

"Hmm!?"

Long Jianfei’s eyes narrowed sharply, then his shoulders moved, and the sword in the scabbard sprang out like a dragon, carrying a momentum of wind and thunder, fiercely slashing at his opponent.

Dragon God Sword Technique — Thunder Strikes Green Dragon!

Dragon, the dignity of man, the divine beast

As man then an emperor, as beast then a god, master of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, commanding wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.

Dragon God Sword Technique, unity of man and sword, transforming into divine dragon, supreme and unmatched, ruling sky and earth.

This sword once drawn, commandeering wind and thunder, changes the color of the heavens and earth, showcasing its might, possessing power of Tier Seven Divine Intent.

Yet the opponent, only one palm.

"Boom!!!"

With just one palm, heaven and earth responded, like mountains oppressing, like seas overturning, an unrivaled palm force, powerfully unleashed.

This is unpretentious, superb skill!

This is the Heaven and Earth Monarch Master, Divine Authority!

This is the Immortal Martial True Skill, Great Dao Fruit!

It’s marvelous technique, absolute mechanism, and supreme foundation!

Immortal Martial Divine Spirit, cultivation of Three Methods, the earth-shattering Great Dao Fruit, supreme foundation!

Such a palm, powerfully unleashed, seizing heaven and earth, wind and thunder lose color, Dragon God loses efficacy.

"Boom!!!"

Just a thunderous sound, wind and thunder disintegrated, divine dragon collapsed, the sword returned, blood stained the long sky.

"Jianfei!!!"

Two behind him shouted, hurried to greet, catching the severely injured and returning Long Jianfei.

At the same moment...

Behind Shen Hex, in the void, ripples suddenly rose, cold light emerged.

A sharp blade, piercing down, directly aimed at the vital point at the back of the head.

However...

"Dang!!!"

A thunderous sound, like a mighty bell, the blade struck in the void, unable to make any progress.

"Twelve Celestial Gates... Golden Bell Shield!?"

"Bang!!!"

Alarmed and exclaimed, before the voice fell, there came a loud clang, the Protective Qi Shield vibrating like a golden bell, rebounding an astonishing force, causing the stiff blade to snap, the assassin suffering recoil, blood bursting from the tiger’s mouth, body seeing red, flying like a cannonball, crashing into the mountain forest, breaking numerous giant trees.