Beastmaster of the Ages

”The Yin-Yang Baleflame has another advantage: it complements the Myriadpath Sourcespring. The benefits to a person will be even greater when used together. For example, if you’d added some baleflame earlier, breaking through two levels might’ve been much easier,” Eminent Jiguang said.

Tianming was surprised. ”Baleflame doesn’t evaporate like springwater, does it?”

”Of course not, or it would’ve already been destroyed by the yin-yang essence storms. It’s much more stable than springwater. The storms in the Yin-Yang World can’t destroy it, so it floats everywhere, hidden within the chaos,” Eminent Jiguang explained.

”Floating everywhere? Can someone with the strength of a reverend go in?” Tianming thought of a scenario. He could enter with a large number of Yin Chen, picking up baleflame by the ton!

If I still want to rely on order fragments to cultivate, I’ll need grade-eight order fragments and more springwater. But my springwater’s limited, and in another decade or so, the rewards will drop to just five times and keep decreasing after that. In that case, if I could get some Yin-Yang Baleflame, wouldn’t I continue soaring?

Of course, these were just thoughts. He pondered, then asked Eminent Jiguang, ”Auntie, is there a chance I could enter the Yin-Yang World and try my luck?”

”No!” To his surprise, Eminent Jiguang immediately refused. She said with concern, ”Tianming, on the path of cultivation, you mustn’t be hasty. Your greatest asset right now is your high talent and stability! You don’t need to take dangerous shortcuts. Let me tell you, even if you cross that threshold, the Yin-Yang World during its calm season is still extremely dangerous for you.”

”What exactly are the dangers?” Tianming asked.

”First, the harsh environment. The yin-yang essence storms during the calm season are still deadly. You may be able to barely withstand them, but it’d be very difficult to move deeper and the twisted space there would make you lose your sense of direction. If you sink into the depths, like the Inner Yin, you’d certainly be doomed.

”Second, there’s wildbeasts. Wildbeasts that can survive in a collapsing world are ancient, fierce, and deadly. They’re at least infinitum-class, and there’s quite a few fortuna-class wildbeasts. They emerge during the calm season and specifically target our cultivators.”

Just as Tianming thought she had finished, she continued, ”And third! Yin-Yang Baleflame differs from Myriadpath Sourcespring in another way. Springwater is fragrant, but baleflame has a burnt, foul smell. It’s an evil fire. Once you get close, your mental state will be affected, leading to agitation and madness, amplifying the evil impulses in your heart. Your vita will fall into chaos! What do you think happens when everyone wants the baleflame and disputes arise?”

”Life-and-death battles?” Tianming asked.

”Exactly! Although Myriadpath Valley emphasizes that, if disputes arise, one must remain calm and settle things through duels, the reality is that many reverends and eminents can’t withstand the mental invasion. Fights often escalate into deadly battles. That’s why entering the Yin-Yang World means putting your life on the line. Every calm season, a batch of people die!”

Given all that, she believed that someone like Tianming, who could steadily develop, had no need to go to such an extremely dangerous place.

”If you really want baleflame, I’ll try to find some for you and bring it back. You mustn’t take the risk yourself, okay? Not even I can guarantee my survival in there,” Eminent Jiguang urged him.

She had also said that Tianming shouldn’t show his strength for the time being. If he went to the Yin-Yang World, wouldn’t it reveal that he had the strength of a reverend without being a foundationeer? That would be a huge deal!

She was so serious and even promised to bring Tianming baleflame, which showed that she had a deep sense of respect for the Yin-Yang World.

Thus, he could only nod for now, but he couldn’t help but ask, ”Aunt, you’ve just broken through to the minor zenith, and as a member of House Suishen, you shouldn’t lack springwater. Why’re you taking such a risk?”

A trace of sadness appeared in Eminent Jiguang’s eyes and she said, ”I’m going to find someone.”

”Find someone?” Tianming didn’t expect that answer. He asked, ”Who are you looking for?”

”Yaoyao’s mother,” Eminent Jiguang replied.

”Huh?” Tianming was puzzled and asked, ”I heard she passed away?”

Eminent Jiguang shook her head and said, ”It isn’t certain. Her subsoul was only half-shattered, not completely.”

”Only half shattered?” Life was life, and death was death. How could someone be half dead and stay that way for so long? ”Auntie, I heard from Yaoyao that Eminent Ranxing caused her mother’s death. What really happened?” he continued.

Eminent Jiguang sighed, ”The matter goes back to the last calm season of the Yin-Yang World. It’s complicated, but in short, Yaoyao’s mother entered the Inner Yin to save my second brother. My second brother came back, but she disappeared in the storm. What happened between them there, only my second brother knows. Yaoyao’s just guessing.”

”Inner Yin?” Tianming asked.

”The Yin-Yang World is divided into the Yang World and Yin World. The Yin World is the part we can enter, and it’s further divided into the Outer and Inner Yin. The Inner Yin is the core and most terrifying part of the Yin World, the center of the storm. It’s said that the most baleflame and lairs of wildbeasts are there. Some say they saw divine idols there. Even during the calm season, anyone below the eminent level would be torn to shreds in the Inner Yin. And during the storm period, it’s even more dangerous,” Eminent Jiguang sighed.

”So Yaoyao’s mother might’ve survived a storm period in the Inner Yin?” Tianming was shocked.

”Yes. Because of that, the valley lord said she has no chance of survival. The reason her subsoul was only half shattered might be due to a special area in the Yin-Yang World. Most people in Myriadpath Valley, including my second brother, have generally accepted that she has passed away,” Eminent Jiguang explained.

”I see....” Tianming frowned and asked, ”Since that place is so dangerous and there’s almost no chance of survival, why’re you still going?”