Beastmaster of the Ages

At present, the subterranean wildbeasts of Gladeus had been almost completely wiped out. Most of the ebons’ warbeasts had also been slaughtered. All that was left was Xiaque Wang, but Lin Xiaodao didn’t slaughter the ordinary ebons at will.

”Yin Chen can’t locate him. How’re you going to kill him?” Tianming asked.

”I recently captured Xiaque Wang’s most beloved son, Xiaque Ming. The kid’s his precious baby, the only ebon on Gladeus to inherit silver soul eyes!” Lin Xiaodao said.

”Use his son as bait?” Tianming asked.

”That’d be too simple. It doesn’t give him hope that would lure him out of hiding. He’s not going to behave recklessly without a little wishful thinking. I intend to set up a life-and-death battle for you and Xiaque Ming. That’ll give Xiaque Ming hope and Xiaque Wang might also show up. Do you get it? You’re the perfect hostage for the ebons,” Lin Xiaodao snickered.

”Damn!” Tianming stared at Lin Xiaodao, wide-eyed. ”So you have a backup plan to ensure my safety, right?”

”Nope,” Lin Xiaodao replied.

”No?” Tianming froze.

”Of course not. He’s no fool. Xiaque Wang won’t show up if there’s anything tricky about the arena.”

”The site I chose for you is the Skysteep Gladean Battlefield, an arena for Infinitum Duels on Gladeus. It’s an extension of the star’s fusion formation. Once you enter, it’ll take forever to break the formation, even for me,” Lin Xiaodao chuckled.

”How can you laugh? Won’t I be walking to my death?” Tianming asked in shock.

”How can that be? Didn’t you make a breakthrough? Can’t you handle Xiaque Ming?” Lin Xiaodao retorted.

”How strong is he?” Tianming asked.

”He’s a silver-eyed, three-hundred-year-old genius in the tenth astral phase. He possesses more than eighty warbeasts. He’s got three high-sanctuary-class, fifteen mid-sanctuary-class, and more than sixty low-sanctuary-class beasts. It’s one man leading an entire legion. I was thinking of using him as bait, so I deliberately kept his warbeasts alive. Aren’t I smart?” Lin Xiaodao laughed.

”Why don’t you eat shit!”

A three-hundred-year-old tenth-astral phaser? That was comparable to a grown-up Guchi Xiaoyin at three hundred years old. Tianming recalled how long it took him to defeat fourth-astral orderan Shenxi Shang’s two warbeasts, and they were at most mid-sanctuary-class. And now, Xiaque Ming possessed three high-sanctuary-class beasts, which were equivalent to three ninth-level orderans, or even stronger. Additionally, Xiaque Ming had fifteen mid-sanctuary-class warbeasts that were stronger than the world clam and dragonscale superfiend. Most importantly, Tianming rarely used his totems in the real world. Meanwhile, Yin Chen was out doing detective work and Ji Ji was working on an “express delivery”. He only had four of his lifebound beasts and his divine wonders which made him weaker than he was in the wondersky realm.

”Xiaque Wang will see this as an opportunity only if it’s a challenge for you. He doesn’t have to be there. As long as he wants to watch his son defy destiny, or shows up to come to his rescue, as long as he makes the slightest move, Master Chen will be able to find him…. He won’t be able to escape then!” With his hands on his hips, Lin Xiaodao roared with laughter.

”What if I’m defeated and taken hostage?” Tianming asked.

”Oh, then you’re on your own.” Lin Xiaodao rolled his eyes.

”Go to hell!”

”Alright then, I’m off to publicize the fight now! Xiaque Wang’s son versus the number one genius on the minor reges mundi ranking! Let the people of Ebonia see how much you’ve grown over the past nine years on Gladeus! Once again, you’ll be the focus of the entire Infinitum Mundus! Tremble, Shenxi Xingtian!” With that, Lin Xiaodao quickly disappeared.

Tianming was left speechless.

……

The Skysteep Gladean Battlefield was located on the famous Mount Skysteep, near the Inkwell Sea. It was originally in the ebons’ territory but was now occupied by the Skycross Lin Clan. A formation extending from Gladeus’ fusion formation sealed the battlefield. Back then, Lin Xiaodao had defeated Xiaque Wang in this battlefield to become the new etherean of Gladeus, shocking the entire world. Since then, the Skysteep Gladean Battlefield had rarely been used.

It was Gladeus’ most sacred battleground for Infinitum Duels. Duels on Gladeus had the same significance as they did on Ebonia. Although the Infinitum Bodhimanda only existed in name, its fighting spirit still prevailed in the hearts of the people. As news of the life-and-death battle between Lin Feng and Xiaque Ming spread throughout Gladeus, many took a special trip out on their astralships to watch the battle.

Mount Skysteep was enormous, and so was the battlefield. Therefore, it could accommodate a large audience. Tianming found a densely packed crowd awaiting him when he arrived at the scene.

The gray storm raged on. Amidst the storm, countless people gathered, their long hair fluttering in the wind. Like flames, their gazes burned Tianming. After the past few years, almost everyone on Gladeus knew him, and how powerful he was, which had paved the way for him to conquer them. As soon as he appeared, thunderous cheers erupted, unveiling the fervor the Infinitum Mundus felt for their top geniuses. Tianming was among the most talented in the mundus.

”A hundred-year-old facing off against a three-hundred-year-old, silver-eyed ebon! Such courage is unparalleled!”

Upon witnessing their enthusiasm, Tianming recalled the last grand battle he had fought, when he defeated Shenxi Shang. After that, his opponents had been from the Lin Clan and his fights weren’t exactly eventful. However, this duel would be fought by two geniuses, a hundred-year-old versus a three-hundred-year-old prodigy. Tianming’s true talent would be tested. In fact, they were more than two hundred years apart in age.

The earth-shattering cheers made Tianming’s blood boil.

”Lin Feng, your opponent, Xiaque Ming, is already waiting for you on the Skysteep Gladean Battlefield! Once you enter the battlefield, life and death won’t matter. No one is allowed to interfere.”

Although the duel had been proposed by Lin Xiaodao himself, no one else knew that! They all thought Tianming had issued it out of courage. Some admired him, but most thought him stupid. Public opinion was mixed. Whether he was strong or stupid depended on the outcome of the battle ahead of him, hence the crowd’s enthusiasm. Under the fiery gazes of millions, Tianming entered a formation enveloped in gray storms. Cheers filled the air.

”The battle commences!” The deafening roar echoed for a long time.

The vast mountain range arched like a majestic dragon and ancient trees towered into the sky ahead of him. Tianming stood at the summit, looking out. On another peak in the distance, a young man dressed in black-and-red robes sat on a rock, swaying his legs, his dark eyes filled with hatred as he awaited Tianming’s arrival.