Beastmaster of the Ages

Before Suishen Yao even arrived, the audience seats in the Ascension Colosseum had already been filled.

Tianming asked, ”There’s only around ten days remaining. If Qitian Jian and Yumo Xue both refuse your sister’s challenge, wouldn’t that seal the deal?”

”In the top ten, you can only issue challenges one rank above yours, so apart from the tenth ranker, everyone else in the top ten can only have one possible challenger. That’s why it’s a rule for anyone in the top ten to accept challenges from the person that ranks under them as long as they’re in Myriadpath Valley. They only have three days to respond,” Suishen Zhao explained.

It was no wonder Suishen Yao had only left herself a little more than ten days.

As they spoke, they arrived at the Ascension Colosseum. It was filled with countless myriadpath disciples and saints from all over.

”Since you came to Myriadpath Valley, everything’s gotten much more rowdy. Every big thing since the Prehistoric Path is related to you somehow,” Suishen Yuan said.

Just as Tianming was about to claim that what was happening today had nothing to do with him, he noticed that everyone there seemed to look at him and Suishen Yao with sympathy.

”Pathkeeper Li, I support you!”

”Fight for your love!”

”We support you two! You two are a match made in heaven!”

”You have support from all of Myriadpath Valley!”

Tianming froze. The audience seemed far more enthusiastic about this drama than he was. Forget it.... Suishen Yao’s been helpful to my cultivation as well. I’ll consider this as my gratitude for her and Eminent Jiguang for helping me unlock more simulacra, giving me a minor pathkeeper title, and protecting me while I grow. I’ll play along.

He couldn’t just leave his benefactors to face their problems alone and decided to stand out and offer them public support. He didn’t even need to say anything; all he had to do was appear concerned and leave the rest to Suishen Yao.

Even though she was a minor pathkeeper, she hadn’t received so much support before. In terms of popularity, nobody in the top ten could compare to Tianming. Being the center of attention like that was something she hadn’t experienced before and a huge boost to Suishen Yao after the shock of learning of Yumo Xue’s triumph.

”Thank you, everyone!” The Little Demon King of Myriadpath Valley actually thanked the crowd with teary eyes. The rest saw that the stubborn princess had matured and attributed it to Tianming’s love.

”Li Tianming, Suishen Yao!” people chanted.

Suishen Yao was completely moved and turned back to look at Eminent Jiguang. After getting a reassuring look from her, she issued a challenge to Qitian Jian.

The young scion of House Qitian had occupied the top spot of the Fortuna Ranking for almost a hundred years and had gathered countless resources. During the Prehistoric Path, he was the strongest participant and his performance paled only in comparison to Tianming alone. But now he’d been taken off the ranking by Yumo Xue in the past few days and had suddenly received another challenge from Suishen Yao, someone roughly his age, falling from grace that fast.

Suishen Yao had seldom managed to defeat Qitian Jian in the past years, as she was often playing catchup with her breakthroughs. However, he had no choice but to accept her challenge, even though she had little chance of defeating him.

After issuing the challenge, Suishen Yao adjusted her breathing and honed her fighting spirit as she waited. Tianming came to her side and was wordless for a time. After a while, he said, ”You have my support.”

”Good.”

Everyone else looked at the two with sympathetic eyes. There were far too many gazes on them, and Tianming moving to her side only seemed to prove every theory in their heads. Tianming even felt gazes that didn’t come from normal cultivators. There were many reverends and eminents of the Three Exalted Houses who were observing the charade.

How would things wrap up? Most people were waiting to see a clown show unfold, especially House Yumo. They had finally caught a break after a long while when Yumo Xue rose to the top. Now that they would be the gatekeeper for Suishen Yao and Tianming, they relished it even more.

Those from House Qitian, on the other hand, seemed a little bothered, but it was still a fact that Qitian Jian couldn’t compete. Totemic bonding with Tianming and starblood weren’t things that he could access, after all. In recent years, House Yumo had been raising disciples of their core bloodline with starblood, allowing them to perform far beyond their peers. House Qitian no doubt felt the growing threat.

Unsurprisingly, Qitian Jian accepted the challenge. He had nothing to fear, being someone from the proud lineage of House Qitian. Those of House Qitian were men of action. Even if Qitian Jian might lose the challenge, he would accept it all the same.

”To thrive, one must first know humility. Go,” Qitian Muyu said to Qitian Jian, high up in the skies. Qitian Jian looked similar to Qitian Muyu, being a slender youth clad in white and gold robes. He had black hair and eyes with handsome and daring features that exuded righteousness.

”She’s already a second-level foundationeer, so I’ll definitely lose. I’ll lose twice in a row and fall to third place. It’s a shame, but there’s nothing I can do about it. How can I bounce back from this?” Qitian Jian was mentally prepared for the outcome.

”It’s good that you are able to look at it like that,” Qitian Muyu said with an approving nod.

Qitian Jian didn’t say anything else. He descended to the Fortuna Arena and looked at Suishen Yao. ”Congratulations on reaching the second level of the Foundation stage. Thank you in advance for your guidance!”

Since the days of the Prehistoric Path, Tianming had noticed that those from House Qitian carried themselves completely differently than those from House Yumo. Despite being the top house of Myriadpath Valley, they seemed far more reserved and earnest. If it wasn’t for the fact that the Three Exalted Houses were actually a united faction, Tianming might have developed a good impression of House Qitian.

”Thank you.” Suishen Yao got into the arena, after which it completely closed. She had thanked Qitian Jian for not giving her trouble or wasting her time, allowing her a chance to swiftly go through with her challenge.

The duel began, witnessed by countless others! Suishen Yao immediately showed her newfound power. Her ten flaregod starsouls appeared. The ten pink crystal swords pulsed with power. Her ocean-like foundation fortress also manifested on the battlefield, suppressing Qitian Jian’s order and energy.