Infinite Professions

Chapter 432: Chapter 222: Culmination (Part 2)

Now Shen Hex is about to achieve this fruit.

What, not before?

You’re a subordinate god, akin to a "Spirit Beast", what do you hope to achieve?

Only by cultivating the True Scripture and achieving an independent god can one transform the Yin into Yang.

It is at the moment when the Yang God condenses...

"Boom!"

Within the Divine Seal, crimson energy resonates, revealing a Talisman like red fire glaze.

Standard Sixth-Grade Assessor Magistrate of the Punishment Department!

This was his original divine position, but previously a subordinate appendage; now independent, the nature is completely different.

Once the Yang God forms, the divine phenomenon becomes even greater.

In the present world, the festival has commenced, with everyone reverently offering incense, worshipping outside the temple, performing both literary and martial arts.

Suddenly...

"Boom!!!"

The central Divine Judgment Hall suddenly releases golden light, surrounded by crimson energy, resembling an Immortal Realm.

"This..."

"Has Lord Divine Judge shown his spirit?"

The crowd freezes, then astonished, they bow reverently.

Though the Divine Judgment Temple has often manifested divine phenomena over the years, especially during grand festivals, this is the first time with such grandeur, they are awed and even more devout.

Devout belief achieves Wish Power, wisps of incense rise, offered into the temple.

Shen Hex sits high on the offering platform, absorbing the incense Wish Power, making the crimson energy around him even thicker, the golden light of the Divine Seal even more brilliant.

Under this vast amount of incense blessings, the core Talisman of the Divine Seal gradually twists and transforms, creating a completely new divine position.

Standard Fifth-Grade Jinyang Prefect!

This is precisely the foundation he has laid in Jinyang over the years.

The various estimates are correct; with the faith he has in Jinyang Land, under the blessings of tens of millions, even if Zhou Qian, the Jinyang Prefect, took away his Divine Seal, he could immediately become a god driven by this Wish Power.

And now, Zhou Qian has formed a bond with him, teaching him the Cave God Eight Emperors’ Original Transformation Scripture, greatly enhancing his use of incense Wish Power, ultimately achieving the Standard Fifth-Grade Jinyang Prefect.

At this stage, his accumulation is basically depleted.

Next...

"Huh!?"

Various forces sense this, having a foreknowledge, looking up to see a point of purple light in the clear sky and white sun.

"This is..."

"The Ziwei Emperor Star?"

"What is happening?"

"The Ziwei traverses the sky, floating above the sun?"

"Such a phenomenon, is it the manifestation of the Great God of Ziwei Emperor Constellation entering the world?"

"The Great Chen Dynasty just over two hundred years, and there is a celestial star entering the world, commanded by the Ziwei Emperor Constellation?"

"Are the heavens planning for the downfall of Chen?"

"No, the destiny of the Chen Dynasty is not yet exhausted, there is still the Restoration Ascension to be fulfilled; this Ziwei traversing the sky... is it the destiny of the Hidden Dragon of Yangzhou?"

"No wonder this young man made great strides as soon as he arrived in Yangzhou, now it turns out he carries the command of Ziwei!"

"Now Li Mubai, Deputy Governor of Yangzhou, recruits independently, as a precursor to the king, allowing the Hidden Dragon to gain the name of raising an army, strengthened by military power, thus greatly boosting fate, hence the manifestation of Ziwei’s command!"

"It seems in this battle, the Hidden Dragon will prevail!"

The Ziwei traverses the sky, various divine beings think to themselves, deducing the secret of this celestial phenomenon.

Yet unknown...

Inside the Divine Judgment Hall, crimson energy swirls, golden light shines brilliantly.

Shen Hex sits high on the platform, his appearance changes, no longer the official with a black gauze cap and red robe, but wearing a nine-tasseled crown, clad in bright yellow robes like a marquis.

From ancient times, the crown and tassels are regulated, twelve for the Emperor, nine for the marquis, seven for senior officials, five for junior officials.

Nine-tasseled crown represents the dignity of a marquis!

Simultaneously, within the golden seal, the Divine Dao Talisman changes again.

Heaven-Appointed Fifth-Grade Jinyang Prefecture City God, Spirit Lord of People Ascending Fortune Prestige, Reward and Punishment Department!

...

In the present world, everyone prostrates themselves on the ground, still immersed in the strange phenomenon of crimson energy and golden light.

"Mother, look, Lord Divine Judge has changed!"

At this moment, among the crowd, a young voice sounds.

The crowd looked up in shock, then stood there dazed.

Inside the Divine Judgment Hall, the statue of the Judge God in black gauze and red robe suddenly transformed into an image wearing a Nine-Tasselled Crown and a bright yellow robe, its expression unchanged but even more majestic.

Not only in the Divine Judgment Hall, but outside the temple everywhere, along the roadsides, all the statues of the Judge Gods, including various divinities’ portraits, were altered.

"What is happening?"

The crowd was astonished, at a loss.

Just then, the Temple Priest stepped forward and spoke loudly.

"The merit of the Jinyang Prefecture City God is perfected, and has ascended to the heavens!"

"The Lord Divine Judge rewarded goodness, punished evil, exorcised demons, and achieved great merit, now promoted to Jinyang Prefecture City God!"

"Bow to the City God!!!"

Already prepared, timely arrived, numerous Temple Priests inside and outside the Divine Judgment Hall stepped forward, explaining the change in the statues to the crowd and replacing the prepared plaques to transform the Divine Judgment Temple into the City God Temple.

With such omens and manifestations of deities, the crowd of devout believers had no doubts and immediately bowed to the new City God.

At that moment...

"Rumble!"

The wind and clouds suddenly changed, lightning and thunder.

In the void, human shadows vaguely appeared, one coming from the east, another from the west.

"Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

"Amitabha Buddha!"

A group of Immortal Cultivators arrived on clouds, led by one figure wearing the Upper Pure Lotus Crown and a Five-Colored Rainbow Robe, with fierce eyes and a noble visage, a straight nose and dignified demeanor, a five-willow gentleman’s beard on their cheeks, wide mouth with bright red lips—truly a refined True Cultivator, an exemplar of celestial elegance.

It was the founding ancestor of Qingping Temple, the Daoist Sect’s Fourth-Grade True God, Celestial Master Qingping.

On the other side, lotus blossoms bloomed and golden light shone.

A group of Divine Buddhas arrived seated on lotuses, led by one wearing the Golden Crown of Vihara and a jeweled kasaya, white brows with a compassionate gaze, a golden body of infinite merit, wielding a Nine-Ring Staff, standing on a Lotus Platform—an Arhat, a World-Protecting Buddha.

It was the founding ancestor of Donglian Temple, the Buddhist Sect’s Fourth-Grade Arhat, Venerable Huide.

The Dao and the Buddha came from east and west, leading a host of deities, gathering at this place.

The leaders of both sides lowered their gazes, looking at the ritual below, with the masses paying homage and chanting the scenes of the City God, both frowning.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

"Still, let this young one succeed!"

Qingping and Huide exchanged glances, then turned their eyes towards the temple below: "Fellow Daoist Song, may we meet?"

"Boom!!!"

Before the words were finished, golden light burst forth, creating a heavenly path, elevating many divine beings.

Golden light dazzling like the sun, red aura like dragons, deities holding stars and moons, the masses offering to the City God—there stood the Divine Monarch, wearing a Nine-Tasselled Crown, adorned in a bright yellow robe, surrounded by attendant gods and palace maidens waving treasure fans, with strongmen holding parasols, civil and martial officials lined in two rows, the Dharma Protector at the front.

It was indeed the divine judge, no, the assembly of City God deities.

Qingping Temple, Donglian Temple, City God Temple.

The deities of the three parties stood in opposition in midair.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Seeing Shen Hex’s grand display, Venerable Huide sighed: "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on achieving the true god’s venerable position!"

Shen Hex drove forward, eyes disdainful: "You don’t look like you’re celebrating!"

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Huide clasped his hands together: "Fellow Daoist has achieved the true god’s venerable position, naturally should understand the celestial destiny, recognize the grand situation. If Fellow Daoist is willing to follow the celestial destiny and let the Hidden Dragon rule Jinyang, we shall then retreat, allowing the Mortal World to be ruled by Hidden Dragon, while you are honored in the Underworld. The City God’s position would be true to its name. What say you?"

These words offered terms.

Although there was an intention to utterly destroy before, seeing Shen Hex’s merit perfected and extremely likely to achieve a Fourth-Grade Venerable Position with the power of the grand ritual, Huide decided to retreat a step. As long as Shen Hex relinquishes worldly power, it wouldn’t be impossible for the Underworld to let him assume the position of Jinyang Prefecture City God.

After all, now Qingping Temple and Donglian Temple have moved swiftly, seizing control over the divine positions across Jinyang Prefecture.

The power of deities lies, firstly, in their rank and, secondly, in their authority.

Despite Shen Hex achieving Fourth-Grade status and occupying the name of Jinyang City God, as long as his subordinate gods do not govern the lands of Jinyang Prefecture, the actual power within Jinyang remains in the hands of Qingping Temple and Donglian Temple. He can only be a nominal Prefecture City God, just like the Prefect of Jinyang, Li Mubai, who was previously overshadowed.

Moreover, once the Hidden Dragon takes charge, the Mortal World will surely be under its control, and by leveraging the Hidden Dragon’s grand influence, even a Fourth-Grade City God can be abolished with some cost.

Therefore, as long as Shen Hex is willing to step back, Qingping Temple and Donglian Temple are willing to grant him a way out.

If not...

"Celestial destiny, grand situation?"

"Ha!"

Shen Hex laughed, eyes cold and disdainful: "To create that so-called Hidden Dragon, you led troops into Jinyang, bringing calamity upon the people. As deities, receiving incense offerings from the people, now instead harming them—such heartlessness, dare you speak of celestial destiny and grand situation?"

"Hmm!?"

The eyes of Dao and Buddha sharpened, revealing a hint of killing intent.

Unexpectedly, Shen Hex’s cold eyes also showed murderous intent: "Today, it is not about whether you spare me, but whether I spare you!"