Infinite Professions-Chapter 157 - 72: Long Yu

"Great King, spare my life!"

Seeing Shen Hex offer a chance, the Six-Bearded Dragon Carp, after being beaten up by three spirit pets, hurriedly rushed forward and wrapped its fins around his legs, fish head pressed against his knee: "I was originally a dragon fish raised by an immortal in the Upper Realm, by chance fell into the mortal world, and by chance..."

Before finishing, Shen Hex reached out, stroking its fish head while laughing lightly, saying: "If you don’t want your chance to turn into a meal, then be honest with me."

"!!!"

Faced with Shen Hex’s smile and his treatment like a meal, the Six-Bearded Dragon Carp shuddered, finally realizing it couldn’t bluff and quickly changed its attitude: "Great King truly has eyes like torches, this little fish was originally just a Dragon Carp in Dongting Lake because..."

Soon it explained the whole story.

The whole matter isn’t complicated; it’s a very standard tale of Immortal Fate.

Its name is Long Yu, originally just a common carp in Dongting Lake.

But once, by chance, it obtained a mystical treasure and embarked on the path of the Fish Leaping the Dragon Gate.

Relying on the power of that treasure, it evolved from a common carp to a rare Nine-Star Dragon Carp, and during the pursuit by cultivators, it discovered the hidden Spirit Island of Shen Hex.

Being pursued, it decisively occupied the nest and became the master of this Spirit Island, subjugating the Seven-Star Dragon Carp and Copper-backed Tuo Dragon left by Shen Hex.

Still unsatisfied, using the power of that Immortal Treasure, it selected water spirit fish in Dongting Lake, enlightening them into a pair of turtle and clam spirits, along with two or three dozen shrimp soldiers and crab generals, establishing a Crystal Palace and claiming dominance.

Like this, Long Yu enjoyed a carefree life on "Fish Dragon Island" for more than ten years until Shen Hex, the original owner, returned and ended its good days in defeat.

The story is simple, even somewhat cliche.

But that’s not the point.

The point is...

Shen Hex reached out to it.

Long Yu was stunned, somewhat confused, then cautiously extended its fin, placing it in his palm, even showing some shyness.

"Bang!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Shen Hex kicked it over, flicking away the fishy mucus on his hand, then said to the clueless fish: "The thing!"

"Thing?"

Long Yu stared blankly at him: "What thing?"

Shen Hex leaned down: "Act dumb again, and I’ll stew you!"

"Ah?"

Long Yu then realized, showing a look of sudden enlightenment, hurriedly hugging his legs again: "Great King spare me, that Immortal Treasure has become one with me, inseparable, I can’t take it out, if I could, I would definitely present it to the Great King."

"Is that so?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Hex was straightforward, flipping out a filleting knife: "So you mean I can only dig it out live!"

"No no no!"

Long Yu shivered, hurriedly changing its words: "This little fish remembered incorrectly, the Immortal Treasure can be taken out, can be taken out!"

As it spoke, it opened its mouth and spat out a golden light.

The golden light hovered in the air, revealing a seal.

The seal was golden, with a dragon carving, though battered, still exuding spirit light.

As soon as the seal appeared, the Seven-Star Dragon Carp and Copper-backed Tuo Dragon showed a mesmerized look, instinctively approaching, the Copper-backed Tuo Dragon even opened its mouth trying to bite it.

"Shoo shoo shoo!"

Long Yu flicked it away with its tail, then looked at Shen Hex, showing a flattering expression: "Great King, this is the Immortal Treasure, initially when I was foraging in the lake, suddenly attracted by an aura, then inexplicably fell asleep, and woke up transformed from a common carp to a Nine-Star Dragon Carp, clutching this treasure, further nurtured by it..."

While Long Yu introduced, Shen Hex observed, after a moment, he tentatively reached out.

Upon touch, it was very warm, with strands of spiritual qi entering his body, more refined than pills or spirit stones.

"Is this... a Spiritual Treasure?"

Shen Hex grasped the seal in his hand, feeling the refined spiritual qi flowing inside, his eyes showing some surprise.

According to Long Yu, this seal has three main effects.

First, it benefits cultivation, capable of emitting refined spiritual qi, more effective than any spirit pill or medicine, able to purify bloodlines, especially those of the Water Race and Dragon Race. Long Yu relied on it to evolve from a common carp to a Nine-Star Dragon Carp.

Second, it contains a universe within, there is a large space inside the seal, capable of storing various treasures, even accommodating mountains and rivers, and when necessary, one can hide inside, akin to a mobile Cave Heaven Blessed Land.

Third, it transforms fish into dragons, according to Long Yu, it found a jade slip inside the seal’s space, with a cultivation method named "Fish Dragon Nine Transformations."

By cultivating this Fish Dragon Nine Transformations, one can master the Fish Dragon Seal and use its power with the Fish Dragon Nine Transformations to enlighten the Water Race into spirit monsters, awaken intelligence and partially transform into human form.

Additionally, Long Yu can use the seal’s power to temporarily turn into a dragon with the Fish Dragon Nine Transformations method, greatly enhancing magical power and divine techniques, which is its trump card.

It was precisely by holding this Fish Dragon Seal that Long Yu could enlighten a group of followers, setting up a Dragon King’s stance on Fish Dragon Island, claiming dominance and living high.

However, it remained wary of the Seven-Star Dragon Carp and Copper-backed Tuo Dragon, not giving them such benefits, occasionally clashing, causing the Seven-Star Dragon Carp and Copper-backed Tuo Dragon to harbor deep resentment, leading them to retaliate vigorously against it.

As he gazed at this seal, Shen Hex fell into contemplation.

Over the years, Shen Hex dabbled in artifact refining methods, so he can assert this seal is far from ordinary Dharma Artifact, likely a Magical Treasure or even a Spiritual Treasure!

Like humans, artifacts too have grade classifications.

Tiers One to Three are Dharma Artifacts, categorized into Upper, Middle, and Lower Grades, corresponding to Gathering Spirit, Cultivation Technique, Qi Refining realms.

Tiers Four to Six are Spiritual Artifacts, also categorized into Upper, Middle, and Lower Grades, corresponding to Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul.

Tier Seven to Nine are Magical Treasures, still divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Grades, corresponding to Divinity Transformation, Refining Void, and Integration.

Tier Ten to Twelve are Spiritual Treasures, Upper, Middle, and Lower Grades correspond to Mahayana, Crossing the Tribulation, and Human Immortal.

Above Tier Twelve are Immortal Artifacts and Immortal Treasures, which are true Immortal Spirit items, only the Immortal, Buddha, and Divine can wield them.

This Fish Dragon Seal contains Primordial Spirit, and within it lies a universe, akin to a moving Cave Heaven Blessed Land, which at the very least is a Magical Treasure.

Moreover, it can enlighten the Water Race, allowing them to cultivate in a half-human form, Spirit Monster body.

This is no small matter; it must be known that for beasts to transform is extremely difficult, and they must reach the Foundation Establishment Realm to refine away the transverse bone in their throat to speak human words.

Even further, upon entering the Core Formation Realm, becoming a Great Demon of the land, one cannot directly transform into human form, but only into a half-human form with some original features, physical image.

Only upon reaching Tier Six, becoming a Nascent Soul Demon King, can they completely transform their demon body to be indistinguishable from regular humans (this does not apply to Spirit Beasts in the Spirit Control Realm due to the unique environment).

Tier Four can speak human words, Tier Five has demon body transformation, Tier Six gains human form.

It is evident how difficult beast transformation is.

This Fish Dragon Seal can enlighten Spirit Beasts to transform at Tier One or Two, even if only into half-human form, Spirit Monster body, it is still a much higher starting point than ordinary Spirit Beasts.

Indeed, humans are the most spiritually advanced of all creatures, their bodies akin to Innate Dao Bodies, giving them unmatched advantages in cultivation compared to ordinary beasts.

This Fish Dragon Seal possesses the power to enlighten Spirit Beasts, and if it comes without any cost, nor diminishes the enlightener’s potential, then its value is terrifying, able to amass a Spirit Monster army over time.

With such capability, even if it is not a Spiritual Treasure, it is an Upper-Grade Magical Treasure.

Thus, a question arises.

How could such a treasure end up in the mortal world?

Not only it, but those so-called Immortal Fate marvelous treasures, where do they truly come from?

Are they really merely remnants, fallen by cultivators?

Questions linger in the heart, yet without clue, leaving one vaguely uneasy.

But dwelling excessively on problems is never Shen Hex’s way, so he quickly set these questions aside.

Focus on the present!

Shen Hex turned to Long Yu: "Has this seal been refined by you?"

"Yes, yes!"

Long Yu nodded repeatedly: "I refined it according to the Fish Dragon Nine Transformations method into a Lifebound Magical Treasure; if forcibly taken away, I, the little fish, would probably revert to original form, boo hoo hoo..."

With that, he began to feign distress.

But Shen Hex remained unmoved: "What about the possessions within?"

"Possessions within?"

Long Yu was momentarily stunned, then replied: "This Fish Dragon Seal is damaged, inside are many cracks leading unknown places, countless treasures fell in and disappeared, those remaining I’ve retrieved and stored in the Crystal Palace."

"Crystal Palace?"

Shen Hex glanced, seeing the Crystal Palace in the island’s central lake: "That is... Spirit Stone?"

"What Spirit Stone?"

Long Yu tilted his fish head: "The Fish Dragon Seal mostly contained these crystals, sensing Spiritual Qi within, I’ve used them to construct the Crystal Palace, neither more nor less, just enough to complete it."

Continuing, he made a flattering face to Shen Hex: "If the great king likes, henceforth this Crystal Palace is yours, great king."

"The audacity!"

Shen Hex glared, then decided the Crystal Palace’s fate: "Tear it down!"

"Ah?"

Long Yu was somewhat reluctant: "I painstakingly built it after all."

"Tear it down!"

"Yes, yes!"

The arm could not wrestle the thigh, thus the Seven-Star Dragon Carp and Copper-backed Tuo Dragon led the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals into the water to commence demolition work.

"With so many Spirit Stones and this Fish Dragon Seal, plus my Gathering Spirit Nourishing Vein Array, Fish Dragon Island can be transformed into a Spirit Land."

"Although this fish occupied the magpie’s nest, it’s rather by luck, hasn’t completely damaged the Spirit Medicine I’ve planted, or the Spirit Island, even used the spiritual nourishment to transform some exotic grass into Spirit Grass, thus expanding the lake island several times over."

"Following this, just a bit of cleanup, reopening fields and fish ponds, then can peacefully farm and fish on the island."

Shen Hex made plans, then turned his gaze back to the uneasy Long Yu: "Now I’ll give you two choices."

Long Yu’s fish eyes widened, knowing the moment to decide his fate had arrived, promptly asked nervously: "What choices?"

Shen Hex smiled: "The first is to become my Spirit Pet!"

"This..."

Although anticipated, Long Yu still felt somewhat unwilling, asked with glimmering hope: "Second choice?"

Shen Hex continued to smile lightly: "To become a dish on my table."

"..."

"Boom!!!"

After a brief silence, Long Yu decisively threw himself to the ground, prostrating with his fish body: "Long Yu greets Master, willing to serve Master wholeheartedly..."