Beastmaster of the Ages

It was clear that Seventh was absorbing a nine-star universal manna, the Ephemeral Nebula, to finish its first ’evolution’, which was less of an evolutionary process and more to unlock its bloodline chains. On that point, it had surpassed its elder siblings quite a bit. Right after hatching, it had started absorbing a nine-star universal manna right away, even while remaining inside Tianming’s body. Seventh guided the process from start to finish while Tianming patiently waited to observe the changes in his body.

”Is there no codex?” Since Ying Huo, every one of his lifebound beasts had had their own top-tier symbiotic cultivation codex that built up beast ki, then saint ki, and most recently, astralforce. The energy they generated was the crux of Tianming’s combat abilities.

Yet Seventh had a completely different cultivation method that didn’t use a codex. After absorbing cyclic crystals and Ephemeral Nebula and hatching, a destructive pink energy began surging. It was an astral lifeform, and as such, the energy it generated felt like nova source. The nova source in the core of the sun was wild and violent and could only be used by cultivators after being converted into astralforce. But as an astral lifeform, Seventh didn’t use any codex to convert its own nova source into astralforce. Instead, its nova source could be directly infused into Tianming’s albi!

”If there’s no codex, there’s no level! Is Seventh a Primordial Chaos Beast that doesn’t have any stages?” If that was the case, how would its power be quantified?

As expected, a sixth astral disc formed in Tianming’s albi. The pink astral disc was fundamentally different from the five that came before; the former used astralforce, but the sixth used raw nova source! While its size was similar to the others, the energy contained within was more violent. He also felt a universal explosion reaction when the energy from the pink astral discs came into contact with that of the other five. He felt his power growing by leaps and bounds, even more than when he had obtained the Flint Infernal Impulse.

”Wait, the Flint Infernal Impulse!” He finally recalled that it was a kind of cosmic impulse, which, at the end of the day, was a form of nova source. Divine hazards and sword ki were also different manifestations of nova source that could be integrated into the body, yet weren’t converted into astralforce for use. However, the mystical abilities of the Grand-Orient Sword allowed Tianming to integrate the Flint Infernal Impulse into his body using the vortex within, making it part of his power. The sixth nova source astral disc could also serve the same function, allowing him to control the pink nova source in his body!

”It doesn’t feel too different from the previous five astral discs....” If the Grand-Orient Sword was his conduit for the Flint Infernal Impulse, the pink astral discs were the conduits for the pink nova source. Tianming could feel every single albus in his body change from the symbiotic cultivation, becoming better able to handle nova source.

”What’s the name of this power?” he asked.

”Genesis ancestral nova source,” said a soft voice. Nova source was a kind of fundamental cosmic force. Tianming’s ancestraldiscs could control pure nova source, balancing out the volume of energy with the other five astral discs. In other words, while Seventh wouldn’t experience any growth in its level, its power was limited by Tianming’s own cultivation level. Otherwise, holding too much nova source would exceed the ability of Tianming’s Imperial Will to control it, resulting in an internal surge collapse. It was also crucial for Seventh’s elder siblings to keep their levels high enough for a firm foundation as well.

Despite the different cultivation method, the fact that a mental link had been established meant that Seventh had properly conducted symbiotic cultivation.

”Seventh, how should we cultivate from now on?” Tianming spoke more gently in response to the little one’s own soft tone, though he noticed that it had expressed itself much more clearly than Yin Chen when it’d first hatched. In fact, the others were just as chaotic and messy at the start as well.

”Don’t worry about me. If you get stronger, I will too. I can absorb even more nova source to be refined into genesis ancestral nova source based on your level.”

”I see.” Tianming used his Plundering Eye to inspect the pink glow around his body. He looked just like a magnificent star. While his sixth lifebound beast had temporarily run off, the power of his seventh had been properly integrated. Even without his Omnisentient Threads, he felt much more powerful.

”Come. Let me look at you.” It was already rather odd that Seventh could completely infuse itself into his body.

”Okay. I’ll be ready soon.” It was still absorbing the Ephemeral Nebula to complete its bloodline transformation.

At that moment, Ying Huo and the other four popped out into Perpetia, scrambling to be ahead of one another, all of them looking square at Tianming.

”Haha! Li Tianming’s a pink sissy!” Ying Huo mocked.

”He’s too pink,” Meow Meow said.

”I heard Seventh is a pretty maiden! Sigh... I like little brothers! Girls are no fun!” Lan Huang said.

”Shut up, you!” Xian Xian was all too happy, having felt the return of an ’old friend’.

As Tianming, Feiling, and the rest watched, the pink light left Tianming’s body and illuminated Perpetia. While the color was rather feminine, it appeared more destructive than flames or lightning.

A pink star eventually manifested in the sky above.