Beastmaster of the Ages

It was so disheartening! Even an obstinate person like Dongshen Yue believed that they would lose in the succession override, which showed how desperate their situation really was.

”Look again.” Tianming’s finger was almost touching the disciple card.

”Stellaminoris?” Lin Xiao asked, with his head raised. He was the first to notice it. There was finally a trace of relief in his eyes.

”It’s been exactly half a year. You did it.” Only then did Dongshen Yue realize the change. Leaning against her staff, she stood up and walked toward Tianming. After staring at his body for some time, she said in amazement, ”It’s true, there’s light in your albi. The minor stellar charts have appeared.” Then, she frowned again. ”But you didn’t have a minor stellar chart before. You were as strong as a third- or fourth-level stellaminor, but now you’re even stronger. If you told others that you’re a sixth-level stellaminor, they would believe you, given your current strength.”

”I’m really a sixth-level stellaminor, but there were some issues with my minor stellar charts before. They didn’t shine...” Tianming lied. The Primordial Chaos Beasts and his other abilities, as well as his rapid growth, were so unbelievable that he couldn’t help but exercise restraint, otherwise others wouldn’t be able to accept it.

”Really? I’ve lived for thousands of years but never heard of such a thing. Don’t try to fool me.” Dongshen Yue glared at him.

”How could I? I’m just a simple and honest grandson,” Tianming said.

”So you were pretending to be a twelfth-level solarian? You were playing dumb?” Lin Xiao enthusiastically jumped up, as if he had recovered from his earlier state.

”You can say that,” Tianming said.

”Then you aren’t a complete wastrel. You may not be as outstanding as your wives, but you’re still considered an above-average genius in Ebonia,” Dongshen Yue said.

”Of course! Look at my grandparents! I have good genes. Why else would the two reges mundi choose me? It can’t be just because I’m handsome, right?” Tianming laughed.

”That’s the only good news we’ve heard all day.” Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue looked at each other, as if they were relieved.

”It’s a pity that you’ll lose the basic resources from tomorrow onward. You’ll fall behind if you can’t enter the sixth level. You must increase your disciple grade,” Dongshen Yue said, anxious. The thought of the succession override made her angry once more.

”Grandpa! Grandma! I have more good news to tell you.” Tianming placed his hands on their shoulders and smiled.

”What else? Is your wife expecting? That won’t do. You’re too young to have a baby!” Dongshen Yue said.

”What?!” Tianming glared at her. ”Your grandson and granddaughters-in-law have decided to participate in the youth-level melee. As long as we win both levels, the position of branch master is still ours and I’ll still be the heir.”

Dongshen Yue and Lin Xiao remained silent, staring at him as if he was a fool. As Tianming expected, they didn’t believe in him! How could others believe in him if his grandparents didn’t?

I must get them to agree. Looks like I’ll have to show them how strong I am. With that in mind, Tianming said, ”Grandpa, Grandma, these aren’t just empty words. I need you to believe in me, just this once! Uncle Dan says that our opponents are more than twice our numbers and are seventh- and eighth-level solarians, but we still have a chance!”

”What makes you say that?” Dongshen Yue and Lin Xiao asked in unison.

Lin Dan pricked up his ears. Upon hearing this, he shouted, ”Nephew, your wives are talented, but your opponents are ten times their age. The strongest of your wives is merely a fifth-level solarian. You’ve already lost in terms of numbers and cultivation level. The Infinitum Bodhimanda is a dangerous place. There won’t be justice if there are casualties.”

”I know. So I’m going to show you right now! I won’t put all my cards on the table just yet. I’m going to prove Grandma wrong first,” Tianming lightly said.

”Go on then. Show me how strong you are. See if I believe you!” Dongshen Yue was dumbfounded.

”Come, Little Fish!” Taking three steps back, Tianming waved at Weisheng Moran.

”Oh.” Weisheng Moran quickly walked to his side, aware that Tianming wanted her to show the divine wonders. She was a little nervous.

”The divine wonders are powerful. Those two were at best twelfth-level solarians. My divine wonders are just as strong, but I didn’t have enough strength to power them before,” Weisheng Moran said in a low voice, winking at Tianming.

”You didn’t before, but now you do. Go ahead!” Tianming said. He spoke to Ji Ji, who was still in his lifebound space. ”Ji Ji, come out. I need your help.”

”Why should I?” Ji Ji asked.

That little one was difficult to deal with.

”I don’t want to work with this woman. Hmph!” Ji Ji sat on the pink nova source, swinging its legs with a weird smile on its lips.

”I need you to show your might for the sake of our family so I can still be the heir and have enough money to buy you shiny things,” Tianming patiently persuaded.

”Really? Then I want Ling’er’s necklace as well.” Ji Ji demanded. It seemed that Ji Ji had its eye on the Aquamarine Heart.

”Sure,” Tianming promised.

In an instant, Ji Ji emerged from his lifebound space in its original form. The hall wasn’t large enough so Tianming quickly took it outside.

”That weird lifebound beast is enormous!” Both Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue were pleasantly surprised. ”A... nova source?” They realized that the lifebound beast was actually a compact nova source.

”It can power Little Fish’s divine wonders!”

As they watched, Weisheng Moran was swallowed by the pink nova source. Soon, two powerful divine wonders appeared. The brush and tome filled the sky, sweeping across the clouds. Dongshen Yue was well aware of how powerful they were; after all, she had been studying Weisheng Moran for many days. After exchanging a meaningful look with Lin Xiao, Dongshen Yue pulled Tianming to her side.

”Child, if you really want to convince us, then show us everything you have. We’ll decide after that,” she said.

”You wish! How am I supposed to make you eat your words if I show you everything now?” Tianming retorted.

”You’re gonna get it, you unfilial bastard!” Dongshen Yue was so angry she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Tianming’s expression became serious. Staring intently at them, he solemnly said, ”I’m really not joking. There’s a lot I want to do after returning to the Lin Clan. This is my chance! Let me participate and no one will dare to underestimate me from now on!” His words were heartfelt.

They could sense that their grandson was different from the others. Although he bore the notoriety of a hundred-year-old wastrel, he had also surprised them in many ways.

”Grandson, let me ask you one last question: are you sure?” Dongshen Yue was serious as well.

”I’m a thousand percent sure! With me around, no one will make you sad again. Those that want to suppress you will run away in disgrace! I’ll make up for everything my father caused!” Tianming said with conviction.

It was extremely shocking for the two elders. They rubbed their eyes and ears, wondering if they’d misheard or their eyes had deceived them. However, Tianming’s powerful gaze moved their hearts.

”Fine, I’ll make the decision. We’ll give our grandson a chance and fight with him. If we win, we’ll celebrate together, but if we lose, at least we’ll lose together. We can take comfort in that we would’ve given it our all.” Dongshen Yue recalled her rebellious, willful youth. Back then, the old man had protected her. Through all the obstacles, she fell hopelessly in love with him, took every step of the way with him, and even suffered hardships together with him. There were times when she ached and regretted everything, but today, Tianming had ignited her heart once more. It was like she had returned to her youth.

”Lin Lao’er, to hell with crying!” Amidst her excitement, she turned around and slapped Lin Xiao on the forehead. ”I don’t care. We fight tomorrow! Anyone that messes with me will have their intestines torn out! Forget righteousness, morality, and right or wrong! If our grandson’s fighting, I’ll fight as well! I’ll pull out your beard if you try to persuade me otherwise!”

”Okay.” Lin Xiao looked at the headstrong woman he had loved all his life, then at his smiling grandson who seemed unreadable, like he had everything under control. He suddenly felt that he was still alive; his blood was surging like his heart had never died.

”Let’s fight.” Lin Xiao’s teeth chattered as he spoke. He had no complaints or regrets!

......

Tianming and the three girls gathered in his hall. ”I have all the information. Lin Xiuzhu’s an eighth-level stellaminor that’s about to break through to the next level. There’s four other eighth-level stellaminors in Lin Bei’s family. It looks like it’ll be five seventh-level and five eighth-level stellaminors in the final battle. Lin Xiuzhu should be the strongest among them,” Tianming said.

The battle must be won. Playing dumb alone was pointless. He was the type to study his opponents first. If something were to go wrong, his family would have no way of turning things around again and would be doomed beyond redemption.

”It’ll be really hard! You can’t do it alone. I’m only a fifth-level stellaminor. Can Ling’er take on a seventh-level stellaminor on her own?” Lin Xiaoxiao asked.

”I’m not sure. I haven’t fought one.” Feiling sat next to the stone table, resting her chin in her hands.

Although Tianming had spoken with great confidence before his grandparents and vowed to prepare for battle, in reality, the situation was very challenging. Their opponents weren’t paper tigers, but experts.

”In a deific-class world, the ten of them would be influential figures that control hundreds of billions of lives. Lin Xiuzhu is probably just as strong as the Blood Abyss Wargod.” Xiaoxiao seemed troubled. She sighed, her brows furrowing as she continued, ”I’m so useless. I’m of no help at all. Fortunately, Little Fish’s divine wonders can be used to their full extent and she can take some of the heat off of you. We would be fine if the numbers on both sides were even. But ten people and more than fifty lifebound beasts? That’s crazy!”

Before Xiaoxiao could finish speaking, she received a smack on the head. She covered her head in pain, glaring at Tianming. ”Why did you hit me?”

”We haven’t even started fighting, yet you’re saying all these depressing things and undermining us.” Tianming glared back at her.

”I’m speaking the truth!” Xiaoxiao argued.

”It may be true, but you’re wrong,” Tianming said.

”What do you mean?” Feiling asked.