Beastmaster of the Ages

Suishen Yao pulled her brother up and quickly dragged him away.

”Yaoyao.” Amidst the crowd, an old man called out and everyone looked over to find the old patriarch. He had just arrived. When he personally looked at the subsouls, his gaze slightly shook and his expression became grave.

”Grandfather, they must be alive, right?” Suishen Yao asked.

”Yes!” The old patriarch’s eyes lit up and shined bright. After confirming several times, he said to Suishen Yao, ”Don’t go to the Yin-Yang World. I’ll send someone to investigate.”

”No, I’m going,” Suishen Yao insisted.

”If they’ve already escaped and are returning through the stareye, won’t you miss them?” the old patriarch asked.

”Then I’ll wait at the Myriadpath Celestial Formation!” Suishen Yao replied.

Seeing her determination, the old patriarch knew that this girl was too stubborn to control. Still, he said, ”The situation outside’s chaotic. Something might happen if you kids recklessly go out. I’ll allow you to wait at the entrance of the Suishen Cave. Don’t worry, I’ll personally go to the Myriadpath Celestial Formation, and if I receive any news about your mother and aunt, the first thing I’ll do is inform you.”

”Yaoyao, be obedient. You know how the situation is now, peaceful coexistence is a thing of the past,” Suishen Shuang quickly added.

Suishen Shuang’s mother, Suishen Ling, also joined in and said, ”Yes. The Three Exalted Houses have reached a tipping point and war could break out at any moment. You’re the future of House Suishen—don’t become a target for others to exploit.”

Many people tried to persuade her, and Suishen Yao had no choice but to suppress her excitement. ”Grandfather, promise me that you’ll notify me the moment you have news. Otherwise I won’t ever talk to you again!” she said with reddened eyes.

”Yes, yes. Don’t worry.” The old patriarch nodded, then addressed everyone. ”Disperse! Remember, these are extraordinary times, so don’t spread any rumors. The same rules apply, anyone leaving Suishen Cave must report in advance!”

The prestigious Suishen Cave of the Three Exalted Houses had implemented a lockdown, and no one was allowed to leave without a valid reason. It showed how dangerous the current situation in Myriadpath Valley had become.

Myriadpath Valley had become eerily quiet. Many ordinary cultivators had even returned to the outer mundi to take refuge, fearing they would get caught in the conflicts of the three titanic factions.

After the old patriarch finished speaking, the others could only nod.

”Understood!” The crowd dispersed.

Although Suishen Yao was excited, she knew that recklessly going out could lead to her being killed, or even used as a pawn. The four young ones ran to the entrance of Suishen Cave, where they anxiously waited with their transmission stones.

Most had left the Subsoul Hall, but there was a dignified man in a black and red robe in a corner of the hall. His hands were clasped behind his back and his eyes were like torches as he gazed at the two subsouls.

”Suishen Ranxing!” The old patriarch walked in and looked at him with a complex expression. He asked through clenched teeth, ”Didn’t you say she was long dead and wouldn’t come back?”

Eminent Ranxing stared at one of the subsouls, which took the form of a beautiful woman with crimson hair. He grit his teeth as well. ”It’s been a hundred years and she should’ve died by now. Why?”

”Since House Qitian could obtain the Yin-Yang World’s legacy, it shows that there’s many unknown items and places there. It’s clear that she and your sister stumbled upon one such place and survived!” The old patriarch looked at him with mixed emotions in his eyes.

”Fine!” Eminent Ranxing nodded, but his gaze grew colder. He glanced at his father. ”My sincere congratulations. Your precious daughter is safe and you’ve wasted ten years grieving for nothing.”

”You!” The old patriarch stood in front of him, his eyes blazing with fury. ”I’m naturally happy she’s alive! But you failed to kill her, and now there’s a chance that she’ll return! Once she returns and the truth is revealed, your reputation will be utterly ruined! Our house will also be shamed because of you!”

Eminent Ranxing sneered, ”You’re right. Killing my wife and raising a mistress will destroy my reputation. If it spreads, I’ll be even more disgraced than Hongtian. What a strange matter though—why didn’t I end up in the Midsky Well?”

The old patriarch was speechless. Back then, Eminent Ranxing had hidden the truth from everyone except for him. Suishen Hongtian had already been sent to the Midsky Well by then. If things had been fair, Eminent Ranxing’s punishment would have been even more severe.

But for the sake of House Suishen’s reputation, the old patriarch had chosen to turn a blind eye to it, since he was the only one who knew the full truth. Even Suishen Hongtian had only pieced together clues and had never had any solid evidence.

The old patriarch had thought that the matter would be buried forever. But who could have guessed that someone who had been gone for a hundred years would have their subsoul fully restored? It was both an occasion of joy and worry for the old patriarch.

”Father!” Eminent Ranxing grasped his father’s arms, his gaze steady and piercing as he said, ”You aren’t thinking clearly. Things are actually very simple.”

”How’s it simple?” the old patriarch demanded.

”There’s two key points,” Eminent Ranxing said as he looked outside. ”First, House Qitian now possesses the entire legacy of the Yin-Yang World. The death of House Yumo’s senior madame has thrown the valley into chaos and the balance of the Three Exalted Houses is bound to change. In the past, my reputation would’ve affected House Suishen, but now, with House Qitian exposing House Yumo’s secret of devouring starblood, how can my situation even compare?”

Currently, House Yumo had accused House Qitian of using their myriadpath source beasts to slaughter millions of lifebound beasts from the Million Mundi, violating the ancestral teachings and the Myriadpath Sacred Code. Meanwhile, House Qitian had accused House Yumo of consuming starblood.

The two houses had already damaged each other’s reputations beyond repair.

It had made House Suishen’s stance a focus for many cultivators. The only reason the valley hadn’t descended into open conflict was because House Suishen’s position remained vague.

Eminent Ranxing’s affair with Yumo Lianqing had already been exposed by House Yumo. Many believed that his entanglement would push Eminent Ranxing to side with House Yumo, but the final decision rested with the old patriarch.

In such chaotic times, would killing a wife even matter?

”My reputation can’t get any worse than House Qitian and House Yumo’s!” Eminent Ranxing smiled. He wasn’t even in the same league in the contest of disgrace

Now, the Three Exalted Houses’ true nature had been fully exposed. House Qitian claimed a banner of righteousness by eradicating starblood, while House Yumo upheld the ancestral teachings and Myriadpath Sacred Code. Each side had its own twisted narrative.