Beastmaster of the Ages

Hearing the name Fengqing Yin made many ears perk up. The Fengqing and Weisheng Clans were both large divine wonderian clans. The youth seemed rather confident in his invitation and motioned politely to guide Tianming to the venue.

However, Tianming didn’t know him at all and didn’t care for anything like banquets. He wasn’t located in the Skydome Mundus anyway, so he didn’t have to care about anyone there. ”I don’t have time to meet random people I don’t know. Maybe next time.”

Fengqing Yin aside, even if the being who had covered up the death of Etherean Zhaohua were to ask to meet, Tianming wouldn’t bother with it. His refusal caused quite a commotion around him. Everyone shot him looks of disbelief.

”He dared to call the Fengqing Clan random people...”

”Either that kid is protected by the top divine wonderian elites or he’s just stupid.”

”That’s right. There’s no need to do all this. Even if he has a good background, there’s no benefit in intentionally offending the divine wonderians for no reason. That’s not what a guest should behave like in front of their host.”

They were all filled with wonder toward his behavior. Tianming walked past the youth toward the Reges Mundi Pillar. Soon, he reached his destination and entered an ink-black space. Attracting foundation caeli was no simple feat either. Fortunately, Tianming had some experience with them and had his ways. After a few days of trying, he obtained the recognition of the first foundation caeli-pair and got sucked in.

Foundation caeli of divine wonderians were different in one huge aspect: their caeli always came in pairs! ”No wonder they’re known as the most loyal and loving race. Even in death, the caeli of the couple stay together.”

That was a good thing, of course. The cultivation of divine wonderian couples and their orders were interlinked. Caeli without the other half were considered incomplete and hugely unfit for guiding the next generation.

Tianming saw two connected foundation structures within. ”Interesting! How interesting!”

Even a few short days of cultivation using flameyellow divinity and divine wonderian caeli made him feel like he was making progress at double the rate. They were able to make up for each other’s shortcomings. ”Looks like this trip to the wondersky realm was hugely beneficial.”

......

The Scarlet Banquet’s venue was the busiest place in Starting City, filled with middle-aged astral gods under two millennia old who were also members of Skyhold Bridge. They gathered together and indulged in debauchery within this world of dreamy wonder. No doubt, all the talented young individuals in the Skydome Mundus were there as well. Someone like Lin Lingxiao would have a place among the elite there.

The various geniuses of the Skydome Mundus were far more involved with each other’s factions, especially those from prestigious backgrounds, compared to those of the Infinitum Mundus. Skyhold Bridge no doubt had a huge role to play in that. Those without enough backing wouldn’t be allowed to join in the first place. As for the Scarlet Banquet itself, it was a gathering of the highest social stratum in the Skydome Mundus that most normal people only heard legends about.

Amidst the festive lights, a young, handsome man sat in the corner as he blew bubbles in a bored fashion. Another youth, the one who had accosted Tianming before, came to him and complained. ”How dare he? Looks like he’s been taken in by the Weisheng Clan.”

”He must be. But even then, he shouldn’t have offended you.”

”Well, it’s not like I don’t understand why he has such a strong personality.”

The handsome youth stood straighter, stretched, and yawned. ”Go call my two pals over here. Let’s go have some fun at Skyhold Bridge.”

”It’s bound to be an entertaining time.”

”There’s only one mystery here. Who’s obstructing our investigation of those three? We don’t even know their actual ages.”

”Well, they wouldn’t be younger than you, I bet,” said the youth.

The other merely smiled without saying anything else.

......

After half a month, Tianming awoke in the real world. He had been devouring the legacies of the divine wonderian caeli ravenously and had only returned because Lin Xiaodao came to Skyhold Palace. Feiling and Xiaoxiao were also back and guided Moran on her solarian cultivation.

Tianming left the heavenly locus formation and went to the pavilion at the top of the palace. When he arrived, he noticed that his soul cultivation teacher, Gongyang Yan, was also there. The spiky-haired lady had one leg on a stool as she drank away with Lin Xiaodao merrily. Few bonds were stronger than those of committed drinking buddies.

”Ah! My precious disciple is finally here! Come and taste the good stuff from my stash!” Lin Xiaodao said, waving drunkenly at Tianming.

”Disciple? Since when have you taught him anything? At least, I managed to raise his soul level to the fourth imperial soul. He’s my disciple!” Gongyang Yan said, her face just as flushed. Had it not been for the strong scent of alcohol in the air, Tianming would’ve thought that these two were up to something even raunchier.

”Come, my disciple. Sit on my lap,” she said, her soul hair swaying like wild wires.

Tianming dutifully walked between them, choosing neither side. The two of them slapped him on the shoulder without really watching their power, almost making him kneel.

”Disciple Lin Feng greets the Hidden Dragon and Shrouded Phoenix,” Tianming said in an exaggerated fashion.

”Oh, I love that form of address! I’m the Hidden Dragon, while your Uncle Gongyang is the Shrouded Phoenix, revealing the truth of her actual gender!” Lin Xiaodao said, slapping his tummy.

”No way! I’m the dragon!” she complained.

”Then where’s your dragon? Do you have one, if you catch my drift?”

”It’s hidden, hence why it’s called the Hidden Dragon! Don’t you get it?” Gongyang Yan slammed the table proudly.

Having these two weirdos drinking together was sure to cause an incident one day.

”Sheesh, I can’t be bothered to argue with that. Come, my boy. Take a swig of this. I brewed this myself according to an ancient secret recipe passed down through my family! It’s made with ether-class herbs with divine celestial patterns in them. It isn’t just tasty, it’ll also fill you up with cosmoforce!” Lin Xiaodao boasted.