Beastmaster of the Ages

”You’re the disciple of our etherean. He’ll definitely allow you to cultivate in the Gladean Ruins. If I defeat you, I want to take your place to train there, as well as your place as the etherean’s disciple!” Lin Weiyan said.

The people cheering immediately quieted down when they heard how earnest she was. They had thought this would be all fun and games. Most people knew what was going on with the exaggerated display of Tianming’s haughtiness, as well as Lin Xiaodao adding fuel to the fire. Lin Weiyan was merely using the stage play to further her own ends, to take back what she saw as having been taken from her by Tianming. It was no wonder her hostility toward him had been unsuppressed from the very start.

Tianming turned back to look at Lin Xiaodao, who quickly took another swig. It was clear that he was aware of everything. In fact, he had created the perfect situation for all of it to play out! Is he trying to make things harder for his own disciple? He turned back and asked, ”What if you lose?”

”Me?” Lin Weiyan really hadn’t thought it through.

”If she loses, I’ll permit you to stay in Gladeus and even ensure that everyone works with the etherean to protect you!” Lin Zhongtian said.

Tianming couldn’t help but laugh, ”Wait, that’s it? The stakes aren’t even remotely balanced!”

”Ahem....” Lin Xiaodao cleared his throat. ”Alright! I’m the referee, so I get to call the shots. The bet is made!” Then, he winked at Tianming, hinting that it was already more than worth it as long as he could get Lin Zhongtian and Lin Zhonghai, and even the rest of the tenth branch to tolerate his presence. It wasn’t like Lin Weiyan stood a chance.

Tianming gave it some thought and figured it was sensible. The seventy thousand astral gods there were still quite unfamiliar with him, so they would doubtless find it difficult to accept him. If he could settle everything with a single duel, it was a worthwhile effort. He addressed the crowd and said, ”Alright, deal!”

The meaning of the duel had changed quite considerably now that the bet had been established. The people at Bladebath Palace cleared out some space for the youths to fight. Lin Weiyan looked to Tianming’s side and saw three beauties, each of whom made her feel slightly inadequate. ”Lin Feng, have those uninvolved people leave.”

”Alright!” Tianming winked at Moran and Xiaoxiao before he left together with the two of them.

”Hey, where are you going?” Lin Weiyan asked, stumped.

”I’m watching the show. I made a bet with you, but I didn’t say that I’d be the one fighting,” Tianming said from the sidelines.

”You!” Lin Weiyan almost freaked out.

”Let me introduce you to my wife, Jiang Feiling. She’s only thirty, pretty young, I would say, but she’s more than capable of taking care of an auntie of your age.” It was only then that the others realized that he wasn’t messing around. They all turned to look at Feiling.

”A second-phase astral god at the age of thirty? I heard that Lin Feng had three monstrously talented lovers. I didn’t think that it was real.”

”Her beauty and aura truly are impeccable.”

”It feels like not even Weiyan can compete.”

”Hey, that isn’t something you can actually say!”

Even if they didn’t say it outright, Lin Weiyan could easily imagine what they were thinking. She could clearly tell that Feiling was at the second astral phase, but she seemed much too young compared to herself. ”Lin Feng, are you saying that if I defeat her, I’ll be able to take your place at the Gladean Ruins?”

”That’s right. I’m a man of my word.”

”Then I have to thank you.”

”Don’t thank me too soon. Just try not to bawl your eyes out later. My wife here packs quite a punch for her size.”

”Hmph!” Lin Weiyan ignored him and turned to Feiling. The moment they locked gazes, their fighting spirit soared.

Feiling recalled what Xiaoxiao had said. ”If we come to a new place, we have to show them what we’re made of from the get-go. Otherwise, we’ll be caught up in a lot of unnecessary trouble.” The thought of that caused her to be more and more annoyed with Lin Weiyan.

”Can we start?” Feiling casually asked.

”Someone so young isn’t respecting their elder. Well, I’ll give you a handicap.” Lin Weiyan drew a silvery gray sword, a cosmic artifact that hummed. The silver that glistened on it looked like flowing water. The power she displayed impressed quite a few people, and that was before she had even summoned her swordbeasts. Having a grade-six swordheart and six swordbeasts, she could rival the former most talented genius in the Infinitum Swordsea, Lin Hongchen.

Yet the might of her opponent quickly overshadowed hers! Feiling’s blue dress, the Cerulean Starocean, unleashed its power as a high-sanctuary-class cosmic artifact. An ocean of cerulean blue surrounded her figure, giving her the countenance of an ocean goddess. Her beauty caused others to forget the flow of time.

”Whoa!” Even many seniors couldn’t hold back their awe. Lin Weiyan herself even had to admit that it was truly an impressive display of beauty, which caused her rage to surge even higher.

Yet a more stunning sight was to come. Three pairs of blue diamond primalwings spread behind the goddess of the ocean! Her skin was completely encased in blue crystals, and even her flowing black hair sparkled blue.

Then a three-meter-long blue icicle appeared in Feiling’s hand. It had been far too long since she’d fought. Ever since becoming an astral god, she had grown to resemble the ruler of Perpetia even more. She was a combination of contradictions! On the one hand, she looked like a cute, dainty girl with a penchant for lazing around. But on the other, the nobility and dignity of the ruler of Perpetia lay deep within her bones, lonesome, eternal, and unmatched! The dual nature of hers caused Lin Weiyan to switch from looking down on her to feeling awe and fear, especially after she saw her gaze!

As blue streaks populated the whites of Feiling’s eyes, forming a rose-like net, the ancient divine aura within her seeped out. The slightest motion of her lips seemed to instill a kind of overwhelming pressure in other lifeforms.

Lin Weiyan had unconsciously taken back what she said about giving her a handicap and hurriedly summoned her lifebound beasts in swordbeast form, fusing them into her silvery gray sword.