Beastmaster of the Ages

”Yes! I came over right after I received word. House Yumo’s in chaos right now... well, at least it was a month ago before I transferred over. The Yumos that returned a month ago should’ve reached Myriadpath Valley by now,” the messenger said.

The old patriarch grit his teeth in hesitation. Suishen Hongtian had already gone back, but he still had to learn his son’s secrets. ”Are you sure that Jiguang’s subsoul is only half-shattered?”

”Yes! I saw it with my own eyes.”

The old man hatefully looked at the Yin-Yang World once more. ”Xiyue, Jiguang, if only you two hadn’t come here! House Suishen would’ve had five major-zenith foundationeers! We could’ve been the strongest of the Three Exalted Houses, but now....”

His second daughter-in-law also had incredible potential to become a major-zenith foundationeer. She had been much stronger than Eminent Jinying, but when she’d entered the Yin-Yang World with her husband, Suishen Ranxing, only he returned from the trip.

This time around, his daughter, who would also have certainly become a major-zenith foundationeer, ended up in the same situation. Coupled with the fact that his sons didn’t get along with each other, it pushed the old patriarch to the limits of his wits. They could have had five major-zenith foundationeers with some luck, yet it had all turned out like this instead.

He could do naught but sigh and go back. When he left, he felt like his heart was being torn apart. However, that didn’t mean he was giving up. He would return to the Yin-Yang World after he dealt with the recent developments in Myriadpath Valley.

”Jiguang....” His tears fell the moment the stareye flashed. Once he was gone, only Qitian Muyu and the valley lord were left near the Lumistar Formation.

After a long month of waiting, the valley lord could finally sneakily return to Myriadpath Valley. He still had to pretend that he was completely fine. As for Qitian Muyu, there was no reason for him to wait for someone whose subsoul was already half shattered. With the two of them gone, the Yin-Yang World was completely deserted.

In the dark void of space, the butterfly-shaped Yin-Yang World continued flapping its black and white wings nonstop at a rhythmic pace.

***

Four youths gathered together at Suishen Cave, completely dazed. They were the Suishen siblings, Suishen Shuang, and Suishen Yuan. Suishen Shuang tightly hugged Suishen Yao, while Suishen Yuan sat together with Suishen Zhao.

Suishen Zhao’s red eyes were puffy and his face was pale. He looked like he had lost his soul as he blankly gazed at the ground without saying a word.

Suishen Yao looked just as dazed. Tears flowed nonstop from her eyes as she weakly slumped to the ground like a pitiful, wounded animal. The two most important people in their lives didn’t include Eminent Ranxing. Instead, they were their mother and aunt. But the two of them had suffered the same fate.

When the siblings heard about their aunt’s half-shattered subsoul, their hearts completely broke. It had been two months since then; all they could do was shed tears and pray for a miracle. However, nobody that returned from the Yin-Yang World had brought news of their aunt at all.

”Sis, where’s Tianming? Auntie was so good to him. Why isn’t he here?” Suishen Zhao asked.

”He....” Suishen Yao was the only one who knew that he had gone to the Yin-Yang World. As he didn’t have a subsoul in House Suishen’s Subsoul Hall, nobody knew his status. ”I don’t know!”

Nothing made sense to her anymore. She couldn’t help but blame herself for letting it happen. ”It’s all my fault!” If it wasn’t for her constant longing to be reunited with her mother, Eminent Jiguang wouldn’t have made finding her such a huge priority. Suishen Yao was suffering even more than the rest.

There were no words left for them to exchange. They didn’t know what they should do, or what they could do with their current level of power.

”What do we do? Why... why aren’t you here....” Many eminents had returned from the Yin-Yang World. They had just received word that their grandfather had returned as well. But their aunt was still not there.

Suishen Yao also couldn’t help but think about what had happened to Tianming. Since his name was still on the Fortuna Ranking, he was probably still alive. Or, at the very least, his myriadpath ring hadn’t shattered. However, the ring couldn’t ascertain whether someone was still alive with absolute certainty. The myriadpath rings of Suishen Yao’s mother and aunt hadn’t sent a shattered signal either.

”So many things happened during the recent calm season. First, House Yumo began losing quite a few reverends and major pathkeepers. Then the Mistrunner’s appearance even resulted in the eventual death of Qitian Muchen. And after that, Suishen Yue died! A few days ago, we got word that the senior madame of House Yumo is no more. What in the world is going on?” Suishen Yuan said.

”I don’t know. I did notice that the members of House Yumo who just returned from the Yin-Yang World were incredibly stern, though. I heard that Eminent Diyan and Yumo Lianjing have come to see Eminent Ranxing,” Suishen Shuang said.

”I also saw them. There seemed to be a really serious air about them. I’m sure they also heard that the old patriarch returned. I wonder what they’re going to discuss,” Suishen Yuan said.

Even as they discussed the developments in Myriadpath Valley, their minds still lingered on the woman that had protected and cared for them all their lives.

***

The valley lord eventually returned to Qitian Cave without anyone noticing. He summoned his son and two daughters to a secret room.

”Father, how are you doing?” Qitian Muyu nervously asked.

”It doesn’t look good. I’ll require some time to detoxify and won’t be able to fight at all,” the valley lord coldly said. He looked at his son and asked, ”How are things going here?”

”House Yumo hasn’t made any announcement yet, but they’ve privately reached out to the august and sacred houses. They also had multiple discussions with Eminent Ranxing. So far, they haven’t taken any other action,” Qitian Muyu said.

”The fact that they didn’t cause a commotion after coming back means that they still feel fear in their hearts. They’re mentally preparing themselves to be House Qitian’s slaves!” the valley lord gleefully said. But the thought that House Qitian wouldn’t have the power to keep this up made his gaze turn cold.

”Suishen Xiao, the old patriarch, has just returned. I believe that House Yumo is waiting to see what he decides. Perhaps he’s already received word,” Qitian Muyu said.

”Is that so?” The valley lord gave it some thought. ”We don’t have to wait for them. You should just announce that Myriadpath Valley obtained a new legacy from the Yin-Yang World. Tell them that a fortuna-class astralship is already on its way to us!”

”So we aren’t announcing our claim on the ship?”

”Of course. We’ll just let people guess who’ll get a slice of the pie. Maybe everyone will think that they have a share.”

”Okay!” Qitian Muyu nodded, but he simply couldn’t bring himself to laugh. After all, he knew the truth. They were in a really precarious position and had to keep up the facade to buy time for his father’s recovery. If they failed, it would spell great trouble.