Infinite Professions-Chapter 77 - 7: A Century
The wheel of history rolls by, propelling time to the Spirit Calendar year 13358.
Since the year 13260, when the Dark Demon King Beast was sealed by the Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters, ninety-eight years have passed.
A century of vicissitudes, the Spirit Control Continent has undergone transformations.
Back then, the outbreak of the Dark Beast Tide swept across the Spirit Control Continent. Except for the Three Great Kingdoms and the Spirit Control Master Holy City, other nations could not withstand the darkness, either perished in the beast tide or fled to various places.
When darkness was at its peak, even the Three Great Kingdoms lost most of their territories, resulting in countless deaths and injuries among Spirit Control Masters and civilians.
Later, the Spirit Control Master Holy City and the Three Great Kingdoms joined forces to introduce Nine Great Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters to combat the Dark Beast Tide, gradually reclaiming territories, and finally, in the year 13260 of the Spirit Calendar, the Dark Demon King Beast was sealed.
After the sealing of the Dark Demon King Beast, Spirit Control City and the Three Great Kingdoms generously rewarded Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters and meritorious ministers. The royal families of each nation returned to rebuild their kingdoms, and the Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters and their followers were also granted ennoblements and the right to establish kingdoms.
By the year 13350 of the Spirit Calendar, most countries had been rebuilt, and the territories ravaged by the Dark Beast Tide were almost completely divided among various nations.
The Spirit Control Continent once again entered an era where multiple nations coexist, with fierce competition among heroes. The interests, conflicts, hatred, and disputes among nations intensified, making the smoke of war and gunfire increasingly pervasive.
...
Sky Kingdom, one of the Three Great Kingdoms on the Spirit Control Continent, is known by the honorable name "Country of Ten Thousand Islands."
The country is located at the edge of the Southern Continent, where sea and land meet. It uses countless coastal islands as its foundation and radiates inward. After over ten thousand years of development, it has become a true behemoth.
This country is famous on the continent for its avian Spirit Beasts and air-attribute Spirit Beasts, possessing the most mobile Spirit Control Legion on the continent, capable even of spatial transportation. Hence, it attracts countless Spirit Control Masters. Many pride themselves on joining the Sky Kingdom and owning an air-attribute Spirit Beast.
Now, right on the edge of the Sky Kingdom, an island not under the control of the Sky Kingdom but named after Sky Spirit.
"The new Spirit Control Rankings are out!"
The tavern is buzzing with voices.
A middle-aged man with a fair complexion and a somewhat scholarly appearance, under the watchful eyes of many, taps on a Spirit Crystal, digesting the information within while narrating to the crowd.
"Since the Spirit Calendar year 7860, after the forty-eighth sealing of the Dark Demon King Beast, Spirit Control City introduced this Spirit Control Rankings, ranking the nations of the continent and Spirit Control Masters of various levels."
"The reason Spirit Control City introduced this Spirit Control Rankings was to replace conventional warfare with Spirit Control duels, thus avoiding large-scale civilian casualties. To date, it has become the most authoritative and valuable rankings on the continent..."
"Alright!"
"Why don’t you start from the beginning of the world?"
"Come on, announce the rankings; everyone is waiting."
"Exactly, exactly!"
The words were interrupted by the impatient crowd.
The man, seeing this, didn’t mind and began to read aloud.
"First is the national rankings, and Water Country is still ranked first."
"As one of the Three Great Kingdoms on the Spirit Control Continent, Water Country occupies the Southern Continent and Southern Ocean, renowned worldwide for its water-attribute Spirit Beasts. Additionally, it has a large number of avian, dragon, and air-attribute Spirit Beasts."
Because, for ten consecutive decades, it did not become the starting point of a Dark Beast Tide, it developed safely for over two thousand years, significantly strengthening its power, creating a gap from Sky Kingdom and Earth Kingdom.
"Ranked second is Earth Kingdom, which occupies the Northern Continent, famous worldwide for its earth-attribute Spirit Beasts, having repeatedly avoided becoming the outbreak point of the Dark Beast Tide for six decades, making its strength second only to Water Country."
"Ranked third is Sky Kingdom, which suffered a major Dark Beast Tide outbreak twelve hundred years ago, resulting in heavy losses and creating a gap with Water Country and Earth Kingdom."
"However, now, Sky Kingdom and Earth Kingdom have formed an alliance through marriage. Emperor of the Earth Realm, Hex Yanfeng, and Princess of the Sky Kingdom, Yinn Nianyun, govern together, so they are not afraid of competition with Water Country."
"Below the Three Great Kingdoms are the Wood Country, Fire Country, Wind Country, and other ancient kingdoms of all sizes, along with the newly established Nine Celestial Destiny Kingdoms!"
"Among the Nine Celestial Destiny Kingdoms, the Martial Country, occupying the Wind Thunder Mountain Range, is the most powerful."
"The Wind Thunder Mountain Range is located in the Eastern Continent, the origin and outbreak point of the last Dark Beast Tide. Including Wind Thunder Kingdom, all countries in the Eastern Continent were destroyed by the Dark Beast Tide, making it essentially a new territory."
"The Lord of Martial Country, Li Taiyi, was the previous generation Hero of Destiny, the leader of the Nine Great Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters."
"Following the loss of the Celestial Spirit Beast, he fell into despair but soon regained his composure, taking the name Li Qingshan to the Wind Thunder Mountain Range, establishing an influence in Sand Beast Valley."
"Later, the previous generation Chapter of Guardian, the Dongfang Family Young Master Dongfang Bai, and Princess of the Wind Thunder Kingdom, Feng Qingming, returned to the Wind Thunder Mountain Range intending to rebuild Wind Thunder Kingdom."
"This led to conflict with Sand Beast Valley, resulting in Dongfang Bai challenging Li Taiyi, who used the alias Li Qingshan."
"Ultimately, under the gaze of the masses, Li Taiyi fused the power of Three Monarch Species and hundreds of Spirit Beasts, defeating Dongfang Bai and the Celestial Destiny Emperor Dragon Beast head-on."
"Sand Beast Valley was thereby established as Martial Country, rapidly unifying the Wind Thunder Mountain Range, becoming the most powerful country in the Eastern Continent."
"Martial Country excels at cultivating various edible Spirit Beasts, with the Sand Beast being the most famous. Besides, the country’s specialty feed, specialty potions, and commodities such as concrete, glass, soap, and perfume are extremely popular, enjoying continental fame."
The middle-aged man’s introduction was engrossing to the crowd.
"The feed from the Martial Country is indeed impressive. Last time, I bought a bag from the Spirit Beast House and fed it to my little darling. By that same night, it evolved into a Tier Two Excellence Species."
"And then there’s the concrete. Ever since the Sky Kingdom and the Earth Kingdom united through marriage, allowing the Earth Kingdom to enter the Sky Kingdom’s construction industry, the building prices have skyrocketed. If it weren’t for the cement from the Martial Country, darn it, I wouldn’t even be able to build a new house."
"What on earth was the Princess of the Sky Kingdom thinking? How could she choose a marriage alliance with the Earth Kingdom over a strong Hero of Destiny?"
"Say a little less if you value your life, and don’t drag us down with you!"
The crowd whispered among themselves, but the middle-aged man remained unbothered and continued to read the Spirit Control Rankings.
"After the kingdom rankings, we come to the Spirit Control rankings."
"As for the Emperor-level Spirit Masters, there’s not much to say. They are still dominated by the City Lord of Spirit Control City and the Nine Great Celestial Destiny Masters of the previous generations. However, with two Dark Beast Tides gone by, their lifespans are nearing their end."
This statement immediately cast a somber mood over the gathering.
Even though Spirit Control Masters can increase their strength and lifespan through Spirit Beast Contracts, this increase is not without limits. Not even Emperor-level Spirit Masters can live beyond five hundred years.
Not to mention the Spirit Beasts, which also have limitations. Whether Emperor or Monarch, Tier Six or Tier Five, their lifespan can only reach three times that of a Spirit Master, about fifteen hundred years.
The generation of Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters who have lived through two Dark Beast Tides are now facing the end of their five-hundred-year lifespan.
Without these elderly yet powerful Nine Celestial Destiny Emperors, conflicts between nations might worsen and even lead to war.
At this thought, everyone felt a bit heavy-hearted.
Fortunately, the middle-aged man shifted the topic: "Next is the Lord-level rankings, primarily focusing on the previous generation of the Nine Great Celestial Destiny. At the top is the former Hero of Destiny, the Sovereign of the Martial Country, Li Taiyi."
"That’s not right!"
No sooner had the words been spoken when someone objected: "After the battle at Wind Thunder Mountain, Li Taiyi disappeared without a trace. How does the Spirit Control Holy City know he has ascended to the Lord-level and is even ranked first among the Lord-level Spirit Masters?"
The middle-aged man chuckled: "It’s precisely because the other Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters have all advanced to the Lord-level, including Dongfang Bai, who was severely defeated in the Wind Thunder Mountain battle. His Earth Dragon Beast was gravely injured, the ranks of the Three Great Monarch Species fell, and more than half of his Contracted Spirit Beasts perished. If even he could advance to Lord-level, why couldn’t Li Taiyi?"
"This..."
The person was momentarily speechless but still unwilling to back down, stubbornly continuing, "That’s not certain. The Earth Dragon Beast was only seriously injured, not dead. After decades of recuperation, advancing to Lord-level is logical. But Li Taiyi’s Ancient Dragon King is already dead."
"Then you should ask the Spirit Control Holy City."
The middle-aged man didn’t argue: "Why rank Li Taiyi as first among the Monarchs? Is there some sort of conspiracy?"
"This..."
The statement again left the person at a loss for words.
The middle-aged man no longer paid attention and continued: "Below Li Taiyi is the former bearer of the Chapter of Wisdom, now the Emperor of the Water Country, Jun Cangming. He not only possesses the Celestial Destiny Emperor Beast, the Sea Suppressing Dragon King, but also all Eight Great Monarch Species Spirit Beasts, all cultivated to Tier Five."
"Below Jun Cangming is the Emperor of the Earth Realm, the former bearer of the Chapter of Friendship, Hex Yanfeng, and the Princess of the Sky Kingdom, the Queen of the Earth Country, the former bearer of the Chapter of Kindness, Yinn Nianyun. They each own a Celestial Destiny Emperor Beast and five Monarch Species, all cultivated to Tier Five..."
"Lastly, the bearer of the Chapter of Guardian, Dongfang Bai, due to the severe defeat at Wind Thunder Mountain, where the Earth Dragon Beast was gravely injured, along with the Three Great Monarch Species dropping in rank, only managed to recover after decades, thus ranking ninth among the Monarchs."
No sooner had the middle-aged man finished speaking when another person spoke up: "This is all old news. The Nine Great Celestial Destiny naturally takes the top nine positions, so focus instead on the tenth below Celestial Destiny."
The middle-aged man continued casually: "The tenth below Celestial Destiny doesn’t come from any of the prominent kingdoms or powers but is a mysterious lone Spirit Control Master named Martial Madman."
"Martial Madman?"
The crowd craned their necks: "Who’s this Martial Madman?"
The middle-aged man shook his head: "No one knows who he is. It’s only known that fifty years ago, he suddenly appeared all over the continent, challenging famous Spirit Control masters and taming various exotic beasts.
"To this day, eighteen Lord-level Spirit Masters have been defeated by him, and countless below Lord-level. Besides, he has subdued many exotic beasts in many danger zones and even forbidden areas across the continent, including Monarchs.
This is why the Spirit Control Holy City placed him at the tenth position in the Monarch ranking, right after the Nine Great Celestial Destiny Spirit Masters, earning him the title—Martial Monarch!"
"What’s this about Martial Monarch?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
No sooner had he finished speaking when someone chuckled coldly: "Isn’t that just Li Taiyi?"
At this, the crowd all turned their eyes: "Li Taiyi?"
"Who else could it be?"
The person sneered and said: "He made many enemies back then, and after disappearing following the Wind Thunder Mountain battle, he used this to intimidate his foes, then resurfaced under the new guise of Martial Madman to roam the continent collecting spirit beasts..."
"The Rage Sea Tide is coming!"
The words were interrupted by a sudden shout that diverted everyone’s attention.
