Beastmaster of the Ages

Chapter 3492 - Suishen Hongtian’s Plan

”Will he show up in such a dire state?” Suishen Jiguang asked.

”It’s a grand ceremony involving all of Myriadpath Valley. The Myriadpath Sacred Code stipulates that the valley lord must be present to lead the worship ceremony. If House Qitian doesn’t show up during such a prestigious event after ostensibly obtaining treasures that’ll cause their might to skyrocket, it’ll be a clear sign to everyone that something is wrong and lead to all kinds of rumors,” Suishen Xiyue said.

”Alright!”

”Jiguang, let me ask you once more to confirm: what’s our goal?” She intensely stared at her sister.

”We’re going to get my brothers... as well as make sure that House Qitian never rises again!” They were going after the poisoned valley lord.

”They have to die!” Killing intent brewed in their eyes. Even though Suishen Jiguang herself wouldn’t have been capable of such a feat, with someone like her sister leading her, she delved deeper and deeper into a role befitting her status and power.

***

In a large hall deep within Suishen Cave’s many formation barriers were twenty-odd middle-aged to elderly people. The hall was dark and the atmosphere was heavy. Each of them pulsed with cosmic power, being able to crush formation cores of heliacal-class worlds with their punches and kicks. The beings were known as masters of the Dao in the astralscape of order, but in Myriadpath Valley, the more appropriate term was ’eminent’.

Most of the common folk in the Million Mundi easily exaggerated any being that was superior to them, giving them the loftiest of titles. For instance, stellaminors were known as sovereigns in heliacal-class worlds by the same logic.

Only those at the level of eminents knew that crushing a heliacal-class world’s fusion formation wasn’t an amazing feat. It wasn’t the same as destroying the world itself; nova source worlds couldn’t be destroyed by brute force since they were bodies of destructive energy, normally kept contained by fusion formations. Destroying the formations only made them go out of control, essentially ’destroying’ the world and rendering it barely inhabitable. Even so, that didn’t change the fact that the eminents of House Suishen were rather influential in Myriadpath Valley.

”Tomorrow’s the Ancestral Worship Ceremony.” The person who said that was dressed in a golden yellow robe and had a long ponytail. His mustache was long and straight, and despite his gentlemanly appearance, he was quite the rogue. He was Suishen Hongtian, someone who had once been the head of House Suishen. The other eminents there were his trusted allies, with relationships spanning thousands of years. They had joined him for a common cause.

”I’ve gone to House Qitian and talked to the valley lord about many details and have obtained his approval,” he said, his gaze suggesting a sense of control.

”Your brother still values his contact in House Yumo too much, even though we’re already at this point. He doesn’t know when it’s time to step up. What a fool....” Eminent Jinying smiled with a mocking expression.

Beside her was a man clad in light golden armor. He was her little brother, Suishen Jinxuan, and also an eminent. ”His behavior isn’t unexpected. However, the old patriarch still insists on maintaining neutrality even at this point. He’s far too naive. House Qitian’s future is unimaginable. The longer we wait, the more terrifying they’ll become. Once their fortuna-class astralship arrives, they might immediately attack House Yumo.”

”Eminent Jinxuan is right. We can’t be neutral where House Qitian is concerned. Neutrality means not siding with them, and that’ll still make us their enemy. The longer we drag things out, the more dissatisfied they’ll be with us. The Three Exalted Houses have changed so much, yet some people are still stuck with the old ways of neutrality—especially that old man! How laughable....” Eminent Jinying really wanted to tell the old patriarch that times had changed and left him behind to his face.

”Fortunately, my husband has the backbone to negotiate with House Qitian for our sake. That way, our descendants will be safe to preserve our bloodline!” She looked at her husband with pride.

”Eminent Hongtian....” The other eminents there had grown up with Suishen Hongtian. They were much older than Suishen Ranxing and his followers, and also the ones who were most worried about their house’s current state. Since the incident with the senior madame, they had reached out to Suishen Ranxing and the old patriarch many times to ask them for a firm decision to not dally and secure the house’s future safety. They even signed petitions! House Qitian’s patience wasn’t unlimited.

”Any sane person can see that House Yumo will be no match for House Qitian, especially after losing their senior madame, twenty of their eminents, and the Yumo Blood Crucible. Their descendants will be severely hampered.”

”Who would be able to publicly go against House Qitian in the entire Myriadpath Valley? August houses? Sacred houses?”

”Maybe the old patriarch is counting on the two million cultivators that don’t belong to the Three Exalted Houses to stand on the righteous side. What a joke! That lowly rabble will be happy as long as someone’s feeding them. Who cares who they support? Why would they care whether House Qitian dominates or all the Three Exalted Houses equally rule?”

”He isn’t able to take action at such a critical juncture and can’t accept that things have changed. He’s festering in apathy and living in a fantasy land! House Qitian already dared to break the Myriadpath Sacred Code. There’s no way they wouldn’t oppress us if we don’t give them concessions!”

”Fence sitters are worse than the enemy, and House Suishen’s risking being considered an enemy of House Qitian! If I were them, I’d wipe out the fence sitters before I go for the enemy!”

The eminents finally voiced their long-held frustrations with Suishen Hongtian leading them. They noticed that everyone around them was of the same mind. None of them could stand Suishen Ranxing or the old patriarch any longer.

”The old patriarch’s gone senile.”

”He’s too partial toward Suishen Ranxing!”

”Suishen Ranxing wants the entire house to be buried with him and House Yumo over a mistress! That doesn’t make any sense! How could the head of the house do something that ridiculous?”

”Eminent Hongtian is far more suited to be our leader! He’s the one who’ll forge a path of survival for us through the trying times ahead!”

All of them turned and looked at Suishen Hongtian, knowing that he had something to announce after asking them to gather like this.