Beastmaster of the Ages

”Is that so? Then I have to ruin the lovebirds’ plans and make Li Tianming suffer for the rest of his life,” Yumo Xue laughed.

”That’s how it should be! That animal dared to be so harsh to Sis Lingyue. As punishment, his life will end in misery, beginning from this wedding!” Yumo Yuanni spat with vile hatred.

”Still, I wonder if Eminent Ranxing’s aware of how Li Tianming is affecting all of us. Yumo Yuanni said that many of House Suishen’s eminents already acknowledge him,” Yumo Xue said.

”That’s where Yumo Lingyue’s aunt comes into play,” Eminent Yinyue said.

”Got it,” Yumo Xue said, nodding. ”Eminent Ranxing... hehehe...” His gaze was filled with resentment. He looked outside and knew what he had to do next. First, he would take first place on the Fortuna Ranking, then he would make Suishen Yao despair!

***

Suishen Cave didn’t seem affected by the waves that were rippling through Myriadpath Valley. Decorations were still being put up in anticipation of the upcoming wedding. From time to time, seniors would rebuke people who talked about Tianming and Suishen Yao in the same breath.

The youths of House Suishen more or less knew that Suishen Yao’s marriage was a settled affair. Not to mention, Suishen Yue’s father was Eminent Ranxing’s elder brother, so he wasn’t someone who could just be shrugged off. Once something so grand had been announced, there would be no turning back. As such, people soon stopped talking about the gossip.

As a result, many in Myriadpath Valley began crying that Tianming was being unfairly treated. They kept trying to bring him together with Suishen Yao, but it didn’t seem like House Suishen was giving that much of a reaction. Eminent Jinying was even said to be giving her all in the decorating efforts, and Suishen Cave was far merrier than it usually looked.

Eventually, there was only less than two weeks before the wedding. Nothing had changed yet, and most people just assumed that Suishen Yao’s wedding had been set in stone.

In the tiny soulblend formation in the Jiguang Sea, Suishen Yao and Tianming were feeling more and more fatigue after four straight months of training. Tianming mainly supported her totems and made sure she obtained most of the benefits, which considerably drained him.

Eventually, it came to an end. Suishen Yao had to use the remaining time to challenge two people in a row, so she couldn’t continue any longer. Their totems separated within the soulblend formation as it began expanding and their bodies gradually parted as they regained more mental clarity. When the soulblend formation was around ten meters wide, Tianming finally regained consciousness.

My totems improved quite a bit, but I’ve probably gained as much potential as I could have from her totems, so I didn’t get a new simulacrum. Even so, Tianming’s gains were considerable. He adjusted himself and soon returned to normal, then saw Suishen Yao surrounded by ten colorful crystal swords with her eyes closed in meditation.

”How do you feel?” Eminent Jiguang also entered the formation and nervously looked at Suishen Yao.

”It should be fine,” Tianming said.

Right as he said that, Eminent Jiguang agitatedly snapped, ”She’s breaking through to the second level of the Foundation stage!”

”Yeah!”

Suishen Yao was finally about to succeed. Her eight-month effort was finally paying off, and Tianming was happy for her. He and Eminent Jiguang observed Suishen Yao circulate the cosmoforce in her body. At one point, Tianming felt the energy in her body reach her limit before she began absorbing midsky essence into her body.

She had also manifested her foundation fortress. He watched the second floor of the fortress form up until it was eventually completed.

”You did it!” Eminent Jiguang was as happy as a child and began jumping with excitement. If it wasn’t for her consciously putting distance between herself and Tianming, she would have hugged him tight. She knew that Suishen Yao had always been against the wedding and it’d taken quite a bit before the usually lazy girl had resolved herself to work hard. If it wasn’t for the stimulation provided by her upcoming nuptials, it might have taken her another decade to reach the second level of the Foundation stage.

Even for the geniuses of the Three Exalted Houses, it wasn’t easy to break through in the Foundation stage. Suishen Yuan was a major pathkeeper who was five centuries older than Suishen Yao, yet he had been only three levels stronger than her. Now, the gap had shrunk to two levels.

”Hard work always pays off,” Tianming said.

”You’re the one who did most of it. Yaoyao will be grateful,” Eminent Jiguang said.

”There’s no need for that. You two have already done a lot for me.”

”Then it’s a win-win. We don’t need to thank each other over and over then.” Eminent Jiguang showed him a sweet smile.

They watched as Suishen Yao stabilized her cultivation. When her cosmoforce stopped circulating, a tear formed in the corner of her eye. It was quite shocking to see such a rambunctious girl tearing up over a breakthrough.

Still, she wanted to appear strong and hurriedly wiped her face. Without another word, she leapt into Eminent Jiguang’s embrace. ”Auntie, I made it! I’m free!”

”Don’t be happy too soon. You still have to defeat Qitian Jian and Yumo Xue to be certain,” Eminent Jiguang gently said.

Tianming watched them with a smile until Yin Chen suddenly said, ”Eminent Jiguang... is right.”

”What do you mean?”

”Yumo Xue... number two... broke through... to the... second level.”

”Him?” Tianming’s brows furrowed as he recalled that Yumo Xue had recently used a drop of starblood.

”That’s right! It happened... just now,” Yin Chen telepathically said. It didn’t want to throw a damper on the joyful mood.

”Just tell me,” Tianming said.

”He just... defeated Qitian... Jian and... rose to... first place!”

Tianming froze. ”That....” He didn’t think it would be so coincidental. Suishen Yao had secluded herself for an entire year to break through, but her opponent had also done the same. It was a nightmare.

He couldn’t help but interrupt their celebration, as much as he hated to. ”I need you two to calm down. There’s been a change.”

”A change?” Before Eminent Jiguang heard it from him, her transmission stone lit up. She and Tianming hadn’t been able to receive word from the outside due to the cultivation session earlier, but word finally reached them.