Beastmaster of the Ages

Eminent Ranxing said, ”Let me be frank. The youth’s rise on the Prehistoric Path was completely accidental. Protecting him and making him a minor pathkeeper was Jiguang’s own messy doing. I couldn’t stop her because she cited the Myriadpath Sacred Code as well. As for the relationship between the Three Exalted Houses, I’m more aware of it than you think. I don’t believe this kid is a good thing for us, nor do I believe his talent will last much longer.”

”Is that what you truly think? I’ll be relaying your words to the rest when I go back,” Eminent Yinyue said.

”Even if you don’t do so, I’ll personally tell them the same thing. House Suishen and I have never intended to use that kid to dominate Myriadpath Valley. I don’t support him, either. Everything is Jiguang’s own doing, which I don’t approve of,” Eminent Ranxing bluntly said. If he didn’t properly clear up the misunderstanding, things might go past the point of no return.

”Fine! I’ll trust you provisionally on account of Little Qing.” Eminent Yinyue seemed more amicable. ”So how do you intend to deal with that kid who keeps throwing off relations between our houses?”

Eminent Ranxing seemed troubled. ”To be honest, what he’s done is right in the eyes of the public and can’t be reasonably disputed. I have no way of openly dealing with him. He’s a minor pathkeeper, and far too many people have eyes on him. It’s a truly troublesome state of affairs.”

”Nonsense! Even Little Qing is angry over what a blow Lingyue suffered. She’s waiting for a proper response from you. She’s a member of our core bloodline, yet she has to remain unmarried for your sake. Are you going to let her down like that?!”

”Calm down. I said that I have no ways of openly dealing with him, not that I have no ways at all. Since that brat’s used to going too far, he’ll eventually slip up. The moment his actions have the slightest flaw that can be picked at will be when we can punish him for all his transgressions and cut off his future path.”

”Hahaha.... So much for the leader of House Suishen. You have to jump through so many hoops to kill a mere minor pathkeeper with a different surname. House Yumo would never even waste time contemplating if we were in the same position.”

”Have you ever had an outsider minor pathkeeper?”

”No.”

”Then your words ring hollow.”

”Either way, it’s your fault for not being able to rein your sister in!” Eminent Yinyue stood up and glared at him one last time. ”Remember—the trust I have in you is temporary. Get rid of him as soon as you can. Even if he hasn’t done anything wrong, just make him slip up. The chatter about House Suishen is starting to turn really dangerous.

”House Yumo may have suffered losses, but we still trust you. However, House Qitian might not be on the same page, nor the valley lord. It’d be one thing if that kid’s talent didn’t stand out so much, but everyone’s talking about him nonstop. There must be consequences for it!”

”Enough.” Eminent Ranxing waved her away, not wanting to dwell on it.

”Remember! My little sister awaits your reply!” she emphasized.

Eminent Ranxing himself was rather troubled. He didn’t think that an outer mundi genius of under a hundred years old would give him so many problems.

Not long after Eminent Yinyue stepped out, she saw the merry decorations all over the place. She turned back and said, ”By the way, your daughter will be getting married in five months, right?”

”Yes.”

”Good. Congratulations. I suppose it’s a sign that your attitude is sincere that you didn’t marry your daughter off to that kid.”

Eminent Ranxing pursed his lips. ”You should stop using so much starblood. You’ll get stronger, but the heavy baleful aura affects your looks.”

”Ptooey!” She rolled her eyes. ”You folks of House Suishen might be visual creatures, but we aren’t. There’s so much delicious livestock in the astralscape. Not eating them is the same as wasting those worlds. Predators have to feast on livestock to protect the meadows, understand?”

***

Suishen Yue and Eminent Jinying had also heard about what’d happened at the Ascension Colosseum.

”That stinking brat is really growing more and more arrogant,” said the eminent.

”He really is. He believes that Yaoyao and Eminent Jiguang will be able to protect him forever,” Suishen Yue said.

”The traitor of the Three Exalted Houses will soon be dealt with. As for Yaoyao, I’ll help you discipline her once she’s married to you,” said the lady.

”Mother, from how angry Eminent Yinyue seemed, House Yumo must be applying quite a lot of pressure on Uncle Ranxing, right? Li Tianming won’t live for much longer, I bet.”

”Of course!” She rolled her eyes. ”Since ancient times, the astralscape of order has belonged to the Three Exalted Houses. It’s one thing for others to have above average talent, but those that surpass major pathkeepers like you never have good endings. Even simply approaching your level means death. The two million myriadpath saints and disciples are actually slaves of the Three Exalted Houses, nothing more than people we appoint to maintain our Million Mundi.”

”We’re the masters and outsiders are the slaves, while those in the Million Mundi are livestock,” Suishen Yue gleefully said.

”That’s right. So what do you think happens when a livestock-turned-slave wants to become the master? If he doesn’t die, wouldn’t it give the other livestock ideas?”

That was why they didn’t seem worried in the least. As they walked through Suishen Cave, they saw the many elaborate decorations put up in preparation for the wedding. A few months’ time was nothing but an instant for them; Suishen Yue could already smell his wedding night.

”Congratulations, Little Yue!”

”Congratulations, Eminent Jinying!”

”Hey, you’re about to be a groom soon! How fast you’ve grown!”

People greeted them in a festive mood. The entire place was building up for the wedding of two people who were at the very top of the food chain.

***

Tianming had finally obtained the qualifications to learn battle arts from myriadpath steles. His transmission stone lit up and he saw Eminent Jiguang elegantly basking in the beauty of the Jiguang Sea.

”I heard you caused trouble again,” she said, steel faced.

Tianming scratched his head. ”Well, you know how it happened, I’m sure. I didn’t want it to turn out this way.”

”What’re you talking about? Don’t try to hoodwink me. I know you were happier than anyone else that she launched a sneak attack on you. Tell me—why’d you have to do that? House Yumo will be even more restless now, and it’ll negatively affect your growth,” Eminent Jiguang firmly said.