Beastmaster of the Ages

Suishen Yao turned and glared at Suishen Zhao. ”Since that’s the case, get him to be your partner for the Prehistoric Path. I want to be in a group with Shuangshuang anyway. We’ll shoot for first place for House Suishen on the Fortuna Path! You two are geniuses, so just consider it training. You have a few more attempts, anyway! How young, I envy you guys....”

”The Prehistoric Path?” Tianming recalled hearing that phrase when he was in Suishen Cave. Someone had said that the two major pathkeepers, Suishen Yuan included, would get Suishen Yao if they performed better than the other. Did that mean that the three minor pathkeepers would also go there?

Suishen Zhao said, ”Brother Li, I want to invite you to my team. We should go there together once the Prehistoric Path opens. What do you think?”

At that point, Tianming wasn’t even aware that Huang Daosheng had kowtowed to Yumo Yuanni to the point of bleeding to get a spot on his team. While Suishen Zhao’s invitation didn’t feel forced, as was befitting of House Suishen, Tianming knew that he didn’t actually have a choice and he couldn’t refuse at all. ”If you don’t mind having someone like me in your team, Minor Pathkeeper, I’ll give it my best and treasure the opportunity.”

”Very well. Your talent is pretty good. If we team up, we definitely won’t lose to others when it comes to talent at least!” Suishen Zhao said with a smile.

”Little Zhao, are you sure you can’t find a twelfth-level cosmic cartographer to make up for your low cultivation level? I believe Yumo Yuanni and the rest are doing the same,” Suishen Shuang said.

”I won’t. I want to compete with Brother Li on other things apart from dueling,” Suishen Zhao said with certainty.

”Then you’ll deal with the consequences,” Suishen Yao mocked.

Tianming roughly understood that the Prehistoric Path was a challenge on two dimensions: talent and actual combat power. It wasn’t surprising that the people competing for the top spot were all powerful. For instance, the third- and fifth-ranked Suishen Yao and Suishen Shuang were going. Those who didn’t stand a chance to compete for the top spot were younger, like Suishen Zhao. They were there only for the experience, so they would normally pick someone who wasn’t from the inner circle to join them, who was usually stronger.

However, Suishen Zhao had picked Tianming, someone he thought was similar to him. Tianming had never heard much of the Prehistoric Path before this, so he wouldn’t have a chance to participate if it weren’t for Suishen Zhao.

Suishen Zhao saw him hesitate and approached him with his arms behind his back. ”Hey, you don’t seem particularly excited.”

”I am,” Tianming said.

”Hah! If you’re excited I’m jumping with joy,” Suishen Yao said, rolling her eyes. She poked Tianming’s waist hard. ”You’re a bumpkin, so you definitely don’t know what the Prehistoric Path is about. Stop pretending.”

Tianming could only awkwardly smile now that he was exposed. ”I’ll learn more about it when I get back. I will try my best to not be dead weight for the minor pathkeeper.”

”Don’t bother. I’m in a pretty good mood today, so I’m feeling generous,” Suishen Yao said.

Tianming was happy to see that. No doubt, it was thanks to him defeating her prickly little brother and showing him his place. ”Thank you, Master.”

”Come and massage my legs,” Suishen Yao said as she swayed in her pajamas and laid flat on a large piece of rock. She took out some snacks and started munching down on them.

”Uhh....” Tianming looked at her. Even though her figure wasn’t as exciting as Lan Yun’s, seeing her lie down like that accentuated her tiny curves. Her pajamas seemed to drape over her body and her pose pulled them higher and exposed some of her thigh.

Even Suishen Shuang couldn’t bear to look. ”Yaoyao, you aren’t a kid anymore! Watch what you’re doing!”

”Damn, I forgot!” Suishen Yao suddenly glared.

Tianming thought she was about to stand up. Instead, she said, ”Close your eyes. The one on your palm too.”

What difference did that make?! Suishen Shuang almost fainted. It was outrageous.

”Should I really massage them?” Tianming asked.

”Do it! I was forced to cultivate for so long and my thighs are almost going to rot off! Squeeze it hard! What else am I supposed to use a disciple like you for?! Those who don’t work don’t eat!” Suishen Yao clamored.

Tianming wasn’t even getting paid by her. He turned to look at Suishen Shuang and Suishen Zhao for help, but the two were clearly unable to do anything about it and feigned ignorance. They went to the side to discuss the weather... in Myriadpath Valley of all places! There was no weather to speak of!

Tianming had no choice but to close his eyes and endure his embarrassment. ”Is this enough force?”

”Are you a man or not? You call this forceful?”

”No problem!”

”Do it harder!”

Even though others would be envious of something like that, Tianming didn’t really want to touch an unpredictable little fiend like her if he didn’t have to. She was dangerous. It might seem like she was carefree and unserious, but she could bite if she wanted to. The slightest wrong push might see her bring out her blade.

Tianming had a feeling that this was just the personality of the Little Demon King of Myriadpath Valley. Fortunately, he was nothing if not talented. He started off a bit rough, but his technique became better and better as he continued.

Suishen Yao seemed satisfied. As she munched away, she mumbled, ”Basically, the Prehistoric Path is a really old path that’s existed in Myriadpath Valley since the days of prehistory.”

”Such profound wisdom. I would never have guessed,” Tianming said, nodding.

Suishen Yao didn’t laugh, but the other two minor pathkeepers burst out laughing.

”You two crooks, go away!” Suishen Yao tossed a snack at Suishen Shuang and glared at Tianming.

”Hmph!” She huffed and puffed for quite a while before she said, ”From time to time, the path will appear. It’s split between the Fortuna Path and the Maniverse Path. The two paths are parallel. And... um... what’s next?”

”Sis, there’s nine myriadpath idols on each of the paths. Each idol guards a gate pass,” Suishen Zhao said.

”Did I ask you to interrupt me? You make it seem like I forgot!” Suishen Yao glared at him before she continued snacking away. ”That’s right! The myriadpath idols.... They’re something like legacy caeli, but not entirely. It’s said that the terrifying astral giants from the deep past left them behind. If you can interface with them, it can help your order grow and let you make breakthroughs!”

”Astral giants? Breakthroughs?” Tianming initially hadn’t thought much of the Prehistoric Path, but hearing that made him excited. It was exactly what he wanted! He really needed a breakthrough and didn’t have access to order fragments.

”That’s right! Some people have broken through there before, but it’s pretty hard. I managed to pass three gates, but I didn’t break through once. There are other benefits, though. As long as you interface with the myriadpath idols enough, you’ll make progress. Breaking through requires really deep interfacing, though. Also, each idol has different trials. Some test your talent, some test your combat ability. Only a combination like mine and Shuangshuang’s can go far. As for you and my brother, just consider it a learning experience!”

Suishen Yao stuffed more and more seaweed snacks into her mouth to make up for all the talking. Even though she ate a lot, it didn’t seem to affect her weight.

Tianming had a rough idea, despite the very rough description. If the myriadpath idols were something like legacy caeli, he figured he would have quite the amazing performance based on what usually happened when he visited the Grand Myriadpath Ruins. It was a good thing, either way.

”The Prehistoric Path will span the whole Myriadpath Valley when it opens. The Fortuna Path has around four hundred people, split into two hundred groups. Everyone will see how many gates you pass. Many people are looking to spread their name there,” Suishen Yao chuckled.

”So four hundred fortuna disciples get to participate, right?” Tianming was rather lucky to be granted a spot.

”That’s right. Actually, even if we include the maniverse disciples, I think you might be the only black ring disciple to be allowed to join. You’ll be an ugly duckling among baby swans,” Suishen Yao said, then burst out laughing. It was a saying she had just made up and she was feeling quite proud of her genius.

The only black ring disciple to participate? As far as Tianming was concerned, it was a chance to prove himself. He began imagining what it would be like. ”It’ll stretch across the Myriadpath Valley, huh?”

”That’s right! It goes all the way to the Myriadpath Sourcespring! If you’re able to get first place, you’ll get a huge amount of springwater! That’s what Shuangshuang and I want,” Suishen Yao said and showed a heart gesture to Suishen Shuang, who awkwardly smiled in response.

”Love you, sister! Let’s win this,” Suishen Yao said, smiling.

”Love you love you,” Suishen Shuang said, nodding.

”Myriadpath Sourcespring water as a reward? I wonder if my merit point multiplier would apply, too.” He calmly closed his eyes, but he was actually rather stoked by it. Suishen Zhao only enjoyed a five times multiplier. Even if rewards from the Prehistoric Path would not be multiplied outright unlike merit points, there would surely be some kind of extra reward all the same. But if the ten times multiplier worked, it would be quite insane.

”Hey, massage me higher up! The astrons up here are so sore! Help me relax!” Suishen Yao urged.

Tianming was stunned. He was already so far up there! Was it really okay to go higher? ”It isn’t appropriate, is it?”

”It is! You have good technique! Stop being so naggy. Astrons are astrons no matter where they are! If I die, they’ll just scatter into nothing! Why should you care so much?”

It was the first time he had heard a girl use an argument like that. He wanted to give her a thumbs-up for her character.

”Fine!” Since she was so casual about it, Tianming didn’t overthink it. He placed his hand higher. ”Whoa, it’s rather shapely.”

Before he committed to it, he felt a storm approach him. A roar from afar was getting louder and louder. ”Huh?!”

He was sent flying. All he could do was to turn towards the direction of the voice. There was a blue-clad youth at the entrance of Suishen Cave with his blue hair standing tall and sharp. His eyes were sharp with rage and his teeth were grinding. He glared at Tianming, completely furious. He was Major Pathkeeper Suishen Yuan, the one who had flung Tianming out of Suishen Cave last time!

Right as he left the cave, he saw Tianming putting his hands on an inappropriate spot on his prospective fiancee and instantly wanted to kill him.

”Fuck.” Tianming’s hands were still clawed up as the storm swept him. ”Hey, hear me out...!”