Beastmaster of the Ages

Morale always peaked during the start of a battle, but it would only continue to fall as it progressed. And while the nova source reserves of divine astralships would run out, they could easily be replenished. Mount Taia’s Quintessence, on the other hand, was like a miracle that had been forced into existence. Every single blow it took had a deathly toll on the people that supported it. While weathering the attacks once or twice was fine, and could even raise morale, more and more people collapsed and were injured by the subsequent blows.

”Before absolute power, even something as incredible as Mount Taia’s Quintessence can’t continually create miracles.” Chi Hun’s pitch-black eyes narrowed as he smiled at the sight of the chaos unfolding beneath. Victory was within his grasp, especially with how the defensive formation that had been propped up by the quintessence was shaking more and more. It was being pushed to its limit.

”We’ll break this formation in less than half an hour. Then we can turn these three hundred million stubborn ants to ash!”

”They’re all gathered together to support the formation, which makes it easy for our ships to completely wipe them out with a few waves of attacks.”

”I’ve never seen ether-class divine astralships attack flesh-and-blood people before.”

The elite ebons behind Chi Hun all showed relaxed smiles. Chi Hun’s own lips were curved from end to end. All of a sudden, he took out a transmission stone and heard Lin Jie’s voice.

”We already took action. Lin Yun said that Lin Feng’s been forced out of the council hall. He’s dead for sure,” Lin Jie said, smiling as if victory had been achieved.

”Alright. Congratulations—I’m also in the final phase.” Chi Hun turned off the transmission stone to make an announcement. ”Cease the attacks!”

Everyone in the Rex Mundi Alliance seemed taken aback, but they obeyed the order even though they didn’t understand it. All thirteen ships that had been charging up suddenly ceased their attacks, causing the glow around them to dim to the normal levels of their defensive formations. Everything seemed to fall silent at that moment. Eventually, all the pilots of the other ships entered the Nethersoul.

”Rex Mundi, we were just about to breach the defensive formation. Why’re we stopping?” asked a black-robed elder.

”Shuntian Bolong.” Chi Hun acknowledged him with a glance. ”It’s simple. Lin Xiao’s death is more important to us than the extermination of the Dongshen Clan. It’s the same with your clan as well. You sided with us this time despite many dissenting voices in your own clan. After we help the Lin Clan kill Lin Xiao, we’ll help you take care of the unruly elements in your clan so you can be properly united. That’s the most important thing.”

”Rex Mundi, aren’t you worried that once the formation breaks and we start exterminating the Dongshens, Lin Xiao wouldn’t be able to do anything about it and will immediately choose to leave once he gets word about his grandson? There’s three ether-class ships within that formation. I doubt that our thirteen ships will be able to hold all of them back.” Given his vast experience, Shuntian Bolong instantly understood Chi Hun’s intentions.

”That’s right. While three hundred million Dongshens is a lot of lives, they’re mostly worthless.” That was all Chi Hun bothered to say about that. He waved his hand and said, ”Follow me.”

The elites of the Rex Mundi Alliance descended from the sky beneath their divine astralships as Lin Xiao, Dongshen Yue, and Dongshen Zhuojun angrily watched from within the formation. Many among the Dongshen Clan didn’t understand why Chi Hun would stop attacking just as he was about to win. There was no way a sudden pang of conscience was the reason behind it.

Chi Hun, surrounded by other powerful elites, seemed completely untouchable. The pressure he exuded caused many people to unconsciously look down, partly from the fear that had been instilled in them from the continuous bombardment of the thirteen ships. The three hundred million people were shaking and on the brink of collapse.

”Lin Xiao!” Chi Hun said, spotting the old man through the formation.

”What do you want?” Lin Xiao said, eyes bloodshot.

”I believe you’ve heard of what is going on at your council hall, right? Feeling a dilemma yet? You want to go back and save your grandson, but you can’t turn your back on the three hundred million people of the Dongshen Clan.” Chi Hun could see the scarcely veiled struggle on Li Xiao’s face.

Even though Tianming hadn’t told him about what’d happened through Yin Chen, many others who were there had notified him about it using their transmission stones. His grandson was currently in grave danger, and he kept his ears glued to the developments.

”Old man, don’t panic! I’ll give you a chance!” Chi Hun said as the Dongshens jeered and cursed.

”What chance?” Lin Xiao asked.

”It’s simple.” Chi Hun pointed at himself, then back at Lin Xiao. ”You and me. Infinitum Duel. If you’re able to defeat me, my life will be in your hands. That might just be the ticket to saving your grandson.”

”How shameless!”

”Take on someone your own age! Are you really the tenth rex mundi?”

”You’re the shame of the Infinitum Bodhimanda!”

”Second Patriarch Lin, don’t agree! He’s trying to kill you without any consequences!”

Once an Infinitum Duel was agreed to, nobody could have any complaints even in the case of deaths on either side. Officially, the Dongshen Clan had antagonized the ebons on the pretense of killing eighty thousand of them, but Lin Xiao had had nothing to do with it. So, Chi Hun would have some trouble getting rid of him without suffering any consequences.

”One’s ranked tenth and the other isn’t even in the top hundred! Second Patriarch Lin was only ranked around twentieth in his prime.... How could he possibly win?”

”Don’t fall for it! Don’t agree!”

”That’s tough. I heard that the Lin Clan reformists led by Lin Jie even used divine astralships for the sake of killing Lin Feng!”

”With how savage they are, they’re trying to kill Second Patriarch Lin, too, no doubt!”

Chi Hun’s plan had been quite a masterstroke. ”To be honest, given how far you are from the Infinitum Swordsea, there’s no way for you to save your grandson unless you take me hostage. Lin Xiao, if you aren’t brave enough to accept, feel free to see your grandson off to the afterlife. It’s only a suggestion. It isn’t like I particularly want to have an Infinitum Duel with you. The Rex Mundi Alliance will simply continue eradicating the clan of sinners who dared to kill so many ebons!”

Chi Hun turned and rejoined the others as he prepared to head back to the ships and continue their assault. He would be elated if Lin Xiao chose to take that unimaginable risk, but even if he didn’t, he would still be their prime target after the formation fell. It was only a matter of time. Still, having an Infinitum Duel would be the most convenient method, as the results would stifle all disagreement.

Lin Xiao shook with his teeth grinding. The news he got from the Infinitum Swordsea had torn away at his heart. He looked up and gripped his fists, veins surfacing all over his old body.