Infinite Professions-Chapter 128 - 50: Immortal Fate (2)
Now, there’s one more.
Everything—all of it—is for those two words: Immortal Fate.
Desire moves people, making their hearts wicked!
But these are just superficial; Shen Hex cares more about deeper matters.
For instance... the origin of this Immortal Fate.
Nothing falls from the sky, the Immortal Fate is the same, it can’t just appear out of nowhere. Those exotic beasts can be understood, because in the Middle Thousand World, naturally born and nurtured, the appearance of some exotic beasts in the wild is quite normal.
But those Divine Skill Manuals, along with various Miracle Pills, Divine Weapons, and even Magical Treasures related to Immortal Fate—how can they be explained? Surely they didn’t just grow in the wild?
After pondering, Shen Hex finds only one explanation: this world once had many Extraordinary Beings, even legendary Immortals, who left behind many Cave Mansions and treasures, or perished in Magical Combat, leaving various relics exposed to the world for various reasons.
Thus, creating one Immortal Fate after another.
But this Immortal Fate isn’t visible only to ordinary folks.
The Court, Government Offices, Jianghu factions, all major powers can see it too.
And above these mundane forces, there is a terrifying shadow present.
The millennia-enduring Great Chen Dynasty is proof of this.
Furthermore, the sudden rise and ultimate disappearance of various Immortal Fate People also serves as evidence.
According to Old Zhong’s memories and Shen Hex’s own observations, those who gained Immortal Fate—though most were killed after their secret got out—many were hidden and cautious, eventually becoming influential.
These few Immortal Fate People rose with the Power of Immortal Fate, not only exterminating local forces that oppressed them but also raising banners to challenge the Court. Despite their momentary glory, they eventually vanished, crumbling completely.
Why did they disappear?
No one knows. Rumors only mention divine soldiers arriving, and outlaws being captured.
But Shen Hex estimates, most likely Cultivators intervened.
After all, such a thing as Immortal Fate tempts everyone; the greater the uproar caused by those who possess it, the stronger the obtained Immortal Fate must be. Mundane forces can’t suppress it, so Cultivators will inevitably be drawn out.
Thus, those risen Immortal Fate People eventually disappear amidst their tumult, some even cut down by the fiery thunder or sword light from the heavens—a generation of rebel kings meeting their end.
Upon realizing this, Shen Hex becomes more determined to develop quietly.
The methods of Martial Madman can no longer be used, nor can Li Qingshan’s route be pursued.
After all, this is a Middle Thousand World, and no one knows what degree of power and techniques the Cultivators possess.
If they understand the Celestial Secret Technique, able to divine and track people, hunt them down, then stirring the Jianghu and developing powers can only lead to a dead end?
The only way is to develop quietly, gain sufficient strength, and then find a way to contact Cultivators and the Cultivation Realm.
Hide in plain sight, hide in the forest, once reaching the Cultivation Realm and understanding cultivation techniques, one can gradually expand their ambitions to plot against the world and this realm.
What, not to compete for dominance?
What a joke—not compete for dominance?
This world, this era, is all about competing, all about reigning.
If you don’t compete, others will.
If you don’t reign, others will.
Weakness invites exploitation, there’s no reasoning; if you don’t want to be oppressed, you must become the greatest.
So, it’s not that Shen Hex doesn’t feel fed up with dominating every world; it’s the circumstances forcing him with no other choice.
If the world were stable and peaceful for cultivation, he wouldn’t stir up storms.
It’s truly no choice; some people can’t be changed—they must be killed; only death!
...
Thus, another month passes, reaching late autumn.
"Quack, quack, quack!"
Amongst the dense reeds, the call of wild ducks rings out.
"Quack, quack!"
On a reef, Shen Hex with sharp sight and quick hands, throws the fishing net directly, capturing a nesting wild duck. Startled, the duck quacks helplessly, flapping its wings wildly within the net, but unable to escape.
"What’s all the fuss, I’m not going to eat you!"
Shen Hex steps forward, lifts it up, subtly using Spirit Control Technique to quiet the wild duck, making it stay obediently in his hand.
After lifting the duck, he looks in the nest, finding several blue-grey eggs. Shen Hex gathers them all into the fishing net and heads towards his awning-covered boat.
This wild duck lays eggs twice a year, once in March, April, and May, once in November and December. During these times, the reed beds become bustling, many fishermen come to collect eggs and catch ducks.
Though this reed bed Shen Hex occupies is remote, it has become a popular spot for egg-laying wild ducks, so he’s unwilling to stay long; capturing a duck, he intends to leave.
But unexpectedly...
"Hee hee!"
"This old fellow, there’s nothing in here!"
"Bad luck, bad luck, really bad luck!"
Shen Hex just reaches the shore, noticing his awning-covered boat shaking, with several small boats around it—clearly someone has boarded his boat.
Shen Hex’s eyes sharpen, but he doesn’t act rashly, merely quickening his pace while shouting in a hoarse, elderly voice: "What are you doing, what are you doing!"
Calling out, he walks towards the awning-covered boat, finding several figures emerging from the cabin—it’s a group of teenagers, all with dark skin and wild fisherfolk demeanor, turning over his boat’s belongings and fishing basket.
Seeing him approach in anger, they’re unfazed, a tall and seemingly leading youth stands at the bow, holding his fish basket and says: "Oh oh oh, Old Zhong, we’re just taking a look at your stuff, why are you so anxious."
