Beastmaster of the Ages

The most terrifying thing was that a youth of around a hundred years old had been able to grow so fast, to the point that he could fight someone who was almost on the level of eminents. Suishen Yue didn’t dare to imagine what that meant for the future of Myriadpath Valley, nor did he have the time to think of it before his death.

”You deserve death by virtue of your own sins!” After killing such a vile crook, Tianming calmed his rage somewhat. There was nothing else he had to say about the death of someone so evil. His death was the end of it.

As Suishen Hongtian was rushing over at full speed, Tianming had no time to waste. He turned back and looked at the Grandsource Imperial Seal, which had been powered by Suishen Yue’s cosmoforce after ownership had been temporarily transferred to him. Once he’d died, the seal had lost control of Eminent Jiguang. However, the effects of the drop of blood still lingered. She still couldn’t move at all as she lay on the powerless seal.

”Phew!” Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. Suishen Hongtian’s killing intent had locked on to him already; he was a major-zenith eminent and there would be no escape once he caught Tianming! Both he and Eminent Jiguang would perish.

The Grandsource Imperial Seal seemed to have felt its master’s presence and began powering up once more. Once it fully dominated Eminent Jiguang again, Tianming wouldn’t be able to release her.

He used Fiveway Blitzrun to rush to her aid as fast as he could, lifted her up, and used the Grandsource Imperial Seal as a springboard, and jumped into the yin-yang essence storm, sending the seal flying off toward the Inner Yin. It would give Suishen Hongtian pause; he would be forced to choose between chasing Tianming and recovering the seal. Pursuing the former might cause him to lose the seal for good.

Tianming ran as fast as he could until Yin Chen told him that Suishen Hongtian no longer had a lock on him. For now, it appeared that he had managed to get away.

***

Suishen Hongtian rushed to the spot where the battle had occurred, his hair completely unkempt. There was nothing apart from the surrounding storm and the remaining echo of Suishen Yue’s cry for his father upon his death. However, his soul couldn’t last long under such conditions and had scattered after some minor wailing.

Suishen Hongtian had been talking and laughing with his son mere moments ago, only to see his dead soul scatter right before his very eyes. His entire body shook with emotion.

”My son, who did this?! Who?! Did?! This?!” Tears and blood flowed wildly from his eyes. Nobody answered him; he had come too late! His only recourse was to recover the Grandsource Imperial Seal and Kunlun Watcher. But there were no traces to be found on these two maniverse-class artifacts. What remained of Suishen Yue’s soul hadn’t uttered the name of the culprit before scattering.

”He’s dead! The plan failed!” Suishen Hongtian felt like lightning bolts were crashing into him nonstop. He blankly stood in the storm, his eyes widened and beard shaking. His throat seemed to gurgle nonstop from feeling the physical effects of the mental anguish of losing his son and his heart felt like it was being flayed by a thousand knives!

He roared nonstop, tears gushing down his face. ”Ah! Ah! Aaaaaaaah!” He began sobbing uncontrollably as he slammed his chest. ”Impossible! This can’t be real! I must be dreaming! Why would there be anyone else here?! Why would they save Jiguang?! Even if they did, they wouldn’t have killed my son! Instead, they would’ve brought him to trial back at Myriadpath Valley!”

No matter how distraught he was, even he could sense how odd it all was. ”If a native of the Yin-Yang World had done this, why wouldn’t they have claimed the Kunlun Watcher as a spoil? It was a cosmic artifact that had been found in the Yin-Yang World to begin with! Was it because they didn’t have enough time?”

He simply couldn’t figure out who the killer was. ”No matter what, I swear I’ll kill them and everyone they know if it’s the last thing I do in my life!”

After howling for a good while, his mind became chillingly calm. ”My sister’s still alive and will definitely tell Dad about this! She knows all my secrets! If word gets back to House Suishen, it’s over for me! I can’t return to Myriadpath Valley anymore!”

That would be fatal for him, and the thought of it caused his killing intent to surge. ”I have to get back to the Lumistar Formation and wait for her! After this, she must die. As long as she lives, there’s nothing but death waiting for me back at Myriadpath Valley. My family line will be doomed!”

There was only one exit they could use to leave the Yin-Yang World. Suishen Hongtian rushed in the direction of the Lumistar Formation. He had never considered the possibility that his plan would fail in such a catastrophic fashion. It was either that he wouldn’t find Eminent Jiguang at all, or he would find her and succeed. It should have been practically impossible for anyone to save her after he had caught her.

But now the worst outcome had come to pass. His son was dead and he himself would most likely be dead, too! It would turn out to be the worst scandal the Three Exalted Houses had ever faced, which would greatly damage the reputation of everyone—including Houses Qitian and Yumo! The old patriarch would go mad with anger!

There was no turning back for Suishen Hongtian.

***

Tianming continued advancing through the storm with Eminent Jiguang in tow.

”Phew....” He breathed a long sigh of relief and his heartbeat began slowing. Yin Chen said that Suishen Hongtian was heading toward the Lumistar Formation, so they had managed to escape.

It had been a most fatal encounter. Tianming felt chills down his spine just by thinking about how truly close it had been. If Yin Chen hadn’t discovered Suishen Yue’s odd behavior, he couldn’t bear to imagine what would have happened to Eminent Jiguang.

She was the person that had treated him the best out of everyone in Myriadpath Valley, even better than Suishen Yao; he already considered her family. If he had let a senior he loved and respected so much down, he would never be able to forgive himself for the rest of his life. Even after getting away, he still felt covered in cold sweat.

”Au—” He stopped himself and looked down, only to freeze. Eminent Jiguang hugged him tight, still covered in black miasma. Her pink eyes seemed rather dazed and her lips were absolutely luscious.

”Are you... a native of the Yin... Yang World...?” she slurred in a manner similar to a drunk person, sticking close to Tianming. One could tell that it was taking her a lot of effort to prevent herself from twisting and turning.

Even though I used a rather revealing technique near the end of the battle, Auntie didn’t recognize me. She must’ve been too dazed to tell. He figured that he would keep his identity secret for now to prevent things getting awkward later. If she knew that Tianming had learned of her predicament, she would be far too embarrassed, even if she had been saved at the last second. It would be best to pretend that it had never happened so that time could fully heal her wounds.