Beastmaster of the Ages

”The ebons launched a tier-one beast wave against Luxsoul Valley. The luxdaemons lost twenty million people in that fight as they abandoned their homes and evacuated. Some of the astralships were intercepted by ebon forces, costing them another thirty million. They also lost a few hundred ships, one of which was ether class. They managed to escape to the Greenhill Yushan Clan’s territory after losing a quarter of their population.”

The war in Ebonia was raging in full force! Tianming and the others hadn’t expected things would turn out this way and were absolutely shocked at the might Yi Daiyan had displayed. But the counterattack of the ebons was shocking as well. The advantage of their beasts wasn’t insignificant. It was hard to imagine how intense the war would get.

”The sanctlighters lost hundreds of millions of people and gave up their formation core and ether-class ships. However, they aren’t the ebons themselves... they only used to serve them. Why do I get the feeling that the losses on the luxdaemons’ side could’ve been prevented?” Lin Changkong said.

”That’s right. Yi Daiyan’s actions aren’t the same as those of an army, so there was little chance that her movements would’ve been leaked. The luxdaemons could’ve headed for the Greenhill Yushan Clan much earlier. That way, they wouldn’t have suffered such huge losses,” Dongshen Zhuojun said.

The ruthless war weighed on Tianming’s mind. The luxdaemons reminded him of Yi Taoyao, the nunchuck user. ”I wonder if she’s still alive....”

”You simply don’t understand that fiend Yi Daiyan well enough!” Lin Xiao said.

How would they react to everything? Tianming and the rest were faced with a dilemma. Yi Daiyan had demonstrated that she was capable of launching a heavy strike that couldn’t be defended against from the rear of any faction. Tianming’s friends and family were all within the Sky Palace Formation. If they suffered the same fate as the sanctlighters, he didn’t even dare to imagine the consequences.

Then again, the Sky Palace Formation was much stronger than the defensive formation of the sanctlighters, not to mention the Ninedragon Imperial Tomb and Gladean Ruins were much more powerful ships than the Glory or Prestige. It probably wouldn’t be as easy for Yi Daiyan to do to the Sun what she had done to the sanctlighters.

”Let’s not panic and wait to see Xiaodao and my godfather’s situation first. The one who’s panicking should be Shenxi Xingtian,” Tianming said.

”That fellow will no doubt come to us again soon,” Lin Xiao said.

......

The Ebonfiend orbited Ebonia, its eyes constantly turned toward it. Its surging nova source was a sign that it was ready to go into battle. Shenxi Xingtian and Shenxi Tianxi’s eyes were dark as ink, radiating killing intent and their expressions were stiff and twisted. A lingering trauma seemed to cloud their minds.

”Dad, even though we managed to destroy fifty million luxdaemons with the beast wave, why do I feel like the shock of that isn’t comparable to Yi Daiyan’s massacre at all?” Shenxi Tianxi asked.

”The beast wave is our famed trump card. Everyone knew about its existence. But Yi Daiyan chose to put on a show of might by singlehandedly crushing an Infinitum Regal Clan with the Infinitum Stele. The two feats are completely incomparable,” Shenxi Xingtian said with much unwillingness.

”The Infinitum Stele is far too powerful. Could it be used to break into the Ebonfiend as well?”

”It is very likely.” Naturally, they wouldn’t give her that chance in the void of space and would rapidly maneuver their ship around.

”Either way, we still wiped out fifty million luxdaemons, the main force behind Yi Daiyan. No doubt, we’ve sowed enough terror and showed them our capabilities. Our allies shouldn’t be as disappointed in us,” Shenxi Tianxi said.

”It’s honestly hard to say,” his father said. He had a lingering feeling that their successful beast wave attack was somehow thanks to an intentional weakness that Yi Daiyan had left open for them, yet he couldn’t afford to express that thought if he wanted to keep the morale of his alliance high.

”The other four regal clans will reach out to us soon enough.” Right as Shenxi Tianxi said that, his transmission stones lit up. His father gave him the word to connect them with the other clans’ elites.

Shuntian Bohai of Shuntian Tower represented the Central Shuntian Clan, Murong Han represented the Eastpole Skyshaker Clan, and the Fiend Qiangnan Clan was represented by Mu Huo. As for the Wickednorth Province, Duanmu Sheng spoke on their behalf. They were all leaders of their respective clans and key figures in Ebonia. They ranked within the top twenty of the reges mundi ranking. They greeted Shenxi Xingtian in unison. ”Rex Mundi!”

”Everyone, I’m pleased to hear from you,” Shenxi Xingtian said. Things fell silent for a moment after the greeting.

”Congratulations, Rex Mundi, for exterminating fifty million luxdaemons. She’s paid the price for her crimes against the sanctlighters,” Murong Han said.

”It isn’t an occasion of joy, nor one that is worthy of praise. We simply did the best we could. That fiend no longer cares about the Code of Infinitum and simply does as she pleases. She deserves to die for her crimes against the innocent. As members of the Infinitum Bodhimanda, we’re all responsible for holding her accountable,” Shenxi Xingtian said.

”The rex mundi is right,” the others agreed. However, their looks of worry were clear from the transmission stone broadcasts.

Shuntian Bohai grit his teeth. ”However... the sanctlighters were slightly stronger than any of our four clans. But not even they were able to defend against Yi Daiyan alone. If she decides to move against any of us, what’re we to do, Rex Mundi?”

”That’s right. There’s no precedent of someone being able to singlehandedly subjugate an entire clan,” Murong Han said, voice filled with terror. The other two also expressed similar worries.

With the Ebonfiend fended off outside Ebonia, the only foundationeer capable of putting up a fight against Yi Daiyan, Shenxi Xingtian, couldn’t join the field. The four clans also weren’t able to support each other, either, given how far apart their territories were; they couldn’t hide underground like the ebons.

”Don’t worry.” Shenxi Xingtian seemed to be planning something for the long term. ”Please ready yourselves for a fight. The sanctlighters did indeed suffer a huge loss. But I believe if all of you have your formations powered up to full, Yi Daiyan won’t be able to break through them as easily. Not to mention, she controls Ebonia’s astralguard formation. Once she’s busy during the fighting, the Ebonfiend will use that chance to make a reentry.”

The four leaders were wordless when they heard the “plan”. They had already been ready the moment they heard about the sanctlighters’ demise. All noncombatants were ready to evacuate in ships packed to the brim with resources and legacy caeli and their formations had been fully powered up in anticipation of Yi Daiyan’s assault. It would be a desperate fight, much like that of the Swordgod Lin Clan’s exodus armada against the Second Exterminatus Army in deep space. While they might be able to minimize their losses, unlike the sanctlighters, they were still in absolute terror