Beastmaster of the Ages

”This is rather interesting. I’ll show you the file we built on him from the wondersky realm. I’ll have you know that the brat has escaped from our Skydome Mundus to reach your place. He’s posing as a disciple of the Swordgod Lin Clan, hehe,” said the male infant. Information about Tianming from the Skydome Battlefield appeared before the eyes of Shenxi Xingtian.

The rex mundi finished reading it and furrowed his brows even more. ”That’s not right. If he’s just an impostor, why would the Swordgod Lin Clan be so certain of his identity? And the file you have on him states that his age is even lower! Not to mention, he is a decabane with ten non-simulacrum totems... How is that even possible? Is he even a beastmaster? How would you explain those insanely overpowered lifebound beasts? Does someone with both cultivation streams like that really exist?”

”Rex Mundi Shenxi, can’t you find the answer to those questions after you capture and dissect him? All we want is Weisheng Moran. We should work together for our mutual benefit. I will break Gladeus for you. All you have to do is to cover my divine astralship as I cruise into the Infinitum Mundus. We’ll keep it on the down low so nobody else has to know. It’s the perfect plan.”

”Shenxi Xingtian stared silently at them for a long time. ”So, you don’t wish others to know that you’re taking the girl who’s managed to absorb Etherean Zhaohua’s divine wonders, I see.”

”As expected of Rex Mundi Shenxi. You have us by our weakness,” said the female infant. The cunning manner in which they spoke made for quite the eerie contrast with their innocent appearance.

”Collaborating with divine wonderians is extremely risky for someone in my position,” Shenxi Xingtian said.

”Well, it’s the only way you’re going to break out of this deadlock. Most importantly, our purposes align completely, and you have a grasp of our weakness. Given such good conditions, isn’t it worth taking this bet?” the male infant earnestly said. Their weakness was the key.

Shenxi Xingtian understood that the fact that they had appeared before him without anyone else meant that they wanted to capture Moran without the other divine wonderians knowing. Knowing that secret was a kind of insurance. Should the other two turn back on their word or take Tianming or the wealth Lin Xiaodao had, Shenxi Xingtian had the means to strike back.

”What are you hesitating about, Rex Mundi Shenxi? We will not take anything that belongs to your mundus, only what truly belongs to us,” said the female infant.

Shenxi Xingtian had gone through his thoughts thoroughly. His skull-head suddenly cracked a smile. ”You are overthinking it. I’m not hesitating. It is my honor to work with the two of you. I’m just a little overwhelmed with excitement as none of us from the Infinitum Mundus has had the privilege to work with divine wonderians before. I’m a little aged, you see, so my reaction can be a little delayed.”

The infants exchanged glances and smiled. ”Since that’s the case, here’s to our successful collaboration!”

The hands they stretched out weren’t their actual hands, but a misty construct. They weren’t actually in the Ebonfiend, but somewhere in the battlefield instead. There had been no better chance than the ebon expedition to bring up the proposition. The handshake sealed their deal properly.

”How many years will it take your divine astralship to arrive here?” Shenxi Xingtian asked.

”Wondrium is located at the far west of the Skydome Mundus, but we still have to cross to the next mundus. Even infinitum-class ships will take more than fifteen years to do so,” the female infant said.

”Fifteen years...” Shenxi Xingtian took a deep breath. He had already been losing patience since he had been defeated half a century ago. Coupled with the recent humiliating loss, he had been pushed to the edge. While fifteen years should only be a short period for someone like him, the current him felt that it was far too long. ”If only your divine astralship could also pass through the xenomemory space to reach us like your actual bodies can...”

”It can’t be helped. Wondrium is rather far from Ebonia, otherwise, we would be in touch far more frequently. Our infinitum-class divine astralships has many complicated formations, ones that are far more suited for attacking ether-class astralguard formations unlike the Ebonfiend’s. It’s also much more massive. The only shortcoming is that it travels rather slowly,” the male infant said.

”We’ll cross the celestial boundary and reach the Infinitum Mundus, and it won’t take much longer after that. I hope that Rex Mundi Shenxi will have a route prepared for us so that we’re not discovered by Yi Daiyan and her minions. Otherwise, it would trigger an inter-mundi conflict,” said the other.

”Don’t worry.” Shenxi Xingtian rose to his feet. ”I will await good news from you.”

”Rex Mundi Shenxi, make absolutely sure that this is kept secret. Nothing good will come for either of us should this matter be leaked,” the male infant said.

Shenxi Xingtian already knew about Moran, so the two of them could no longer back out of working with him. ”Don’t worry. After this collaboration, we can count ourselves as allies, right? Aren’t allies supposed to help one another?”

”Well said! Our best wishes to you, Rex Mundi, to the day you return to your rightful position as the first rex mundi. May you unite the Infinitum Mundus!” the male infant said.

”I appreciate the kind words. I will be waiting for your word.”

”Let the precious children live in peace for another fifteen years.”

”Very well.”

The conversation came to an end, but the female infant looked down at Lin Jie. ”He seems to have heard everything.”

Shenxi Xingtian said, ”Worry not. Lin Jie is a trustworthy person. He wishes for the destruction of Gladeus even more than the two of you. If he leaks the news, I will take responsibility.”

”Very well.” The two figures smiled as they vanished, leaving no trace that they had been here before.

”Lin Jie,” Shenxi Xingtian said.

”Yes!” Lin Jie looked up timidly at the hollow eye sockets.

”Did you hear all of it?”

”Rex Mundi, I have. Congratulations on securing such a powerful ally.”

”What else?”

Lin Jie took a deep breath and shot Shenxi Xingtian a serious gaze. ”I am incredibly grateful that Rex Mundi Shenxi is willing to be held accountable for the actions of someone like me. My life is yours to do with as you please. May I be fraught with endless tribulations should I disobey your word.”

”Very well. As long as you understand why I do what I do.” Shenxi Xingtian stroked Lin Jie’s head, his golden taixi divine eyes coming into contact with his scalp. ”I will need you to monitor who comes and goes from Gladeus for the coming fifteen years. I shall take the rest of us back to Ebonia. You will also remain here as Meng Ying’s contact in the future.”

Lin Jie, being a fugitive who had been sentenced to death, was so grateful that he had been given a new purpose that he kowtowed emotionally. ”I shall repay your graciousness with my life!”

”Good.”