Beastmaster of the Ages

Within the Lin Clan’s council hall, eight people silently sat while they watched the battle between the disciples of their clan. A wave of commotion could be heard outside. The entire Infinitum Swordsea was rather loud, but the council hall remained completely silent.

Once Lin Jianxing left, nobody said anything for quite a while. At the very end, the burly Lin Xiong said, ”Oh, he sure does have a good upbringing! He even eliminated one of our own! We haven’t seen something like this in years.”

Lin Jianxing’s grandfather, Lin Yun, was completely expressionless. ”This has nothing to do with upbringing. She simply got eliminated because she was weak.”

”Let’s say Brother Yun’s right. Would you be able to say the same when he goes for the killing move in the future, but by then, nobody will have any Oldgod Rings on to protect their lives? Thankfully, many of us in the clan have our own eyes and will see this our own way. We can think for ourselves. We don’t need you to paint a completely different picture for us!”

”There’s no need to overcomplicate things. I know Jianxing’s character best as his grandfather. Your granddaughter is merely weak.” Lin Yun’s mouth curved into a slight smile.

”Weak, you say? So you’re saying that, as long as you’re stronger, you can ignore all of the clan’s ancestral wisdom and rules? Is that something a council member should say? Looks like the world really has changed.” Lin Xiong himself wasn’t angry that his granddaughter had been eliminated, but it did bite hard that she’d been done dirty by someone of the same clan. If he was allowed to, he would tear Lin Yun’s mouth apart. But he knew that there was no point in that, since the others in the clan would be able to make up their own minds about Lin Yun’s excuses. Whether Lin Jianxing’s actions were overboard was something the clan as a whole would have to decide on their own, individually.

”The two of you, try not to argue so much,” Lin Changkong of the ninth branch said, narrowing his eyes.

”That’s right. Further discussion of this issue will bring no merit. Some people just have double standards for their own grandchildren. Who do you think was the one who tried to rob another fellow clan member of their loot?” Lin Yun said.

”You truly are shameless to be able to equivocate competing for treasure and intentionally eliminating someone. Lin Feng didn’t harm Lin Linglin in the slightest,” Lin Xiong said. Within the council, every word uttered had to be measured and thoughtful. Otherwise a person like Lin Xiong would have already started rampaging by now.

Just as Lin Yun was about to say something, Lin Changkong interceded. ”Lin Feng has at least done well regarding that. I didn’t think he would improve so quickly. Lin Linglin is an eleventh-level stellaminor, yet she isn’t his match.... The former trash disciple actually possesses such impressive combat talent. He’s no doubt among the cream of the crop, possibly superior to all aside from infinitum-class geniuses.”

Those words caused Lin Yun’s expression to darken. He had thought that Tianming’s proactive attack on Lin Linglin would be their chance to take down Lin Changkong, yet the man himself had praised Tianming and completely closed off that angle of attack.

”That child has indeed performed well. He’s actually broken through a few times inside the Oldgod Domain itself at blinding speed. If he’s only weak because of bad resources, as he claims, his future is pretty bright. The two former reges mundi wouldn’t have blindly picked him as a successor for their legacies, after all,” Lin Xiong praised.

”Hehe...” someone within the council snickered.

”Come on, he’s about the same age as Jianxing, yet all he knows to do is to run when he sees Jianxing? If we’re really discerning, even Jianxing isn’t considered the best among the participants, and Lin Feng is still quite far off. He doesn’t even have a swordheart, so when he reaches the Order stage, his future path will start to warp. Lin Mu from way back also showed impressive cultivation speed and comprehensive ability before becoming an astral god, but at the very end, countless other disciples surpassed him all the same,” said an old crone beside Lin Yun.

”No matter what, we still have to count on Jianxing and the others for good spots in the minor reges mundi ranking,” Lin Changkong said. He praised both Tianming for holding back and Lin Jianxing for his power without faulting either one. As for what he actually thought, well, that was anyone’s guess.

In the commotion outside, the council members could vaguely hear complaints against Lin Jianxing. The disciples of the third and sixth branches were loudly protesting the turn of events. Lin Xiong also heard some doubts about Tianming’s shocking rate of improvement.

His first impression is that of a trash disciple. If he wants to turn that around, he still has to do it step by step. Let’s hope that child really does have a bright future, as he said, and gets a good ranking! He does have a shocking surveillance ability, after all! Lin Xiong knew that half of the hatred Tianming had gotten for being Lin Mu’s son had already faded away. Perhaps that was what Lin Mu had wished for. If this child’s impressive enough to wash away the stigma associated with his identity, then Brother Tiger and his wife will have a chance to step in and save the clan...

If other people knew his thoughts on the matter, they would no doubt mock him. How could the crucial matters of the clan have anything to do with that joke of a son? Even so, Lin Xiong did see an unshakeable will inside Tianming’s eyes. He has fought his way here from a lower-class world, so his nose is no doubt sensitive enough to pick this out!

......

After a short while, most of the council members left. Only Lin Yun and Lin Changkong remained in the hall.

”Changkong.” Lin Yun stood up and looked at him.

”Please speak your mind, Brother Yun,” Lin Changkong said.

”The one ranked tenth on the reges mundi ranking would like to see you in a few days.”

”Chi Hun,” Lin Changkong said, lowering his head.

”Yes, that’s him. He’s about your age.”

”Very well.” Lin Changkong looked at the rows of ancestral plaques. ”If they’re able to negotiate with us and take my suggestions into account instead of one-sidedly telling us what to do, there’s room for talks. I may even be able to convince the traditionalists.”

”Oh....” Lin Yun seemed a bit dazed.

.......com

Within the Oldgod Domain under the Infinitum Stele, a gigantic golden sword was pierced into the dark, desolate ground. That was a divine astralship of the Swordgod Lin Clan, the Firmament. The grand halls within it were completely empty. In the main hall that was situated around the hilt of the sword-ship was a single person: Lin Lingxiao. He saw what had happened to Lin Linglin.

Instantly, a wave of silver fog covered the entire hall. Lin Lingxiao’s expression didn’t change in the slightest as he sat back down. He then looked into the silver fog and said, ”Long time no see. Looks like you’re up to little antics like this as usual.”