Beastmaster of the Ages

”Yes... that is indeed... a little scary....” Jiguang wasn’t able to imagine what kind of monster Tianming would become once the entire Million Mundi was connected to him. He was already monstrous enough in her eyes. It took a mere few decades for it to spread across Infinitum, and that was in part thanks to the help the wonderians of Skydome provided.

”From now on, the imperial capital’s main purpose is to spread the Tianming Dynasty across the Million Mundi. Those from Infinitum already have experience with how to do that. Your mission is to supervise the operation and ensure all mundi eventually hear the gospel. I don’t have the time or the energy to work on that project, despite its importance. That’s why you’ll be directly responsible for how strong I become!”

”Yes... Yes!” Finally, Jiguang was filled with confidence and renewed purpose. The burden she carried was a heavy one.

”First, transform the Sun, then establish the Tianming Dynasty across the Million Mundi.” There truly was no more suitable candidate than her. Suishen Xiyue was skilled, but she wasn’t exactly popular as a leader. The former valley lord, on the other hand, was quite old and would prefer to live a more relaxed life and only occasionally help out. As for Wudi and Xiaodao, they only needed to supervise the Sun and Infinitum.

Jiguang was the only one who could truly provide the kind of help he needed. Not to mention, everyone knew the extent of her relationship with their new emperor. It was a well-acknowledged fact at this point.

The story had come to a climactic end, but it would be followed by a brand-new beginning. Tianming handed over the Blissful Union and the Myriadpath Divinity, among other things, to Jiguang. That way she would be able to divide some of the labor with the former valley lord.

”You and Yaoyao can cultivate using the planet-class order of the astral giant, but don’t let anyone else use it, alright?” Tianming said.

”What about Sister Xiyue?”

”She... well, she’s allowed to as well.”

”Got it.” Of course, Jiguang knew what Tianming had meant. He had wanted the Blissful Union to be their private love nest. She definitely wouldn’t disappoint him.

”In a few years, the Grand Myriadpath Ruins will be passed on to Jian Qinghe, while you’ll get the Myriadpath Celestial Formation,” Tianming said.

”Alright.” She gracefully nodded. ”Don’t worry. I’ll do my best to make sure that we grow much stronger every time you return home.” The imperial capital wouldn’t just be Tianming’s new home, it would be the place he would always return to.

”Are you going to bring Little Fish with you to the Xenoabyss?” Jiguang asked.

”Yes. She’s absorbed quite a lot of divine wonders and is rather capable in fights. Not to mention, I feel bad about neglecting her for so long. Unlike you, she doesn’t have much to do here in the astralscape,” Tianming said. Moran would die of boredom if he left her alone again.

”You don’t have to explain it that deeply. I’m not fighting to monopolize you,” Jiguang said with a wink and a smile. Tianming really wanted to sing her praises again. ”Grow stronger faster and bring Ling’er home soon. She’s the one that’s truly worth all your effort and attention.”

”I will....” Tianming definitely couldn’t forget that fact. The burning golden star above him seemed to shine even brighter, as if its life force was growing ever more powerful.

With that, Tianming had finished relaying what he needed to her. Even if he would be gone, the growth of the Sun and that of his dynasty would continue with Jiguang at the helm. She would be far more effective at managing things than if he did it himself. Delegating it to the family and friends that he trusted was the way to go.

”Ling’er’s still facing her tribulations, so she doesn’t need to rely on me yet. My priority now should be to bring Qingyu and Feng back home.” He gave Jiguang one last hug.

”Yaoyao’s still at Infinitum. It’s too bad that you won’t have time to bid her goodbye,” Jiguang said, shaking her head in resignation.

”I don’t think I need to. She seems to be having the time of her life and doesn’t have any left to spare for me,” Tianming speechlessly said. It was just the kind of girl she was. ”Alright, I have to go now.”

”Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything here and wait for you to return,” she said, beautifully illuminated by the light around them.

”You’re simply too gorgeous.” Tianming had to admit that she was the ideal wife that all men pictured. Too bad he had to leave and keep working for their future. Only by leaving his home could he continue honing his edge.

He gave her one last wave before jumping off the Blissful Union and heading toward the Myriadpath Celestial Formation. As Jiguang watched him leave, tears began flowing from her eyes.

A woman in red came and rolled her eyes. ”What’re you crying about? Get dressed, quickly!”

Jiguang had completely forgotten to dress up after her ’storytelling’ session. She sobbed as she pulled her robes around her.

”You really tried to put up a strong front. No woman would be able to watch their husband leave without tearing up. If you want to cry, let it all out—I won’t laugh at you for that. Come, I’ll give you a hug.” Suishen Xiyue opened her arms wide.

”Okay... sniffle....”

Suishen Xiyue felt a little bad for her. ”Thankfully, he’s not like Suishen Ranxing. He’s a good child. You’re truly blessed.”

Jiguang wiped away her tears and stood back up, having processed her emotions.

”Where are you going?” Suishen Xiyue asked.

”I’ll help him build his empire and defend his home until the day he returns.”

The Blissful Union set out for its next destination.

***

Moran stood tall and quiet within the Myriadpath Celestial Formation. She absorbed the nova source from the ten thousand skypiercer-class worlds beneath her to power her terrifying divine wonders. Her body had transformed even more since she had absorbed them; each of her astrons looked like an intricate work of art.

”How is it?” Tianming asked when he descended.

”Everything’s ready. With Zhoutian Shenhai’s divine wonders as cores, the twenty-four super-zenith low-fortuna-class divine wonders will serve as the new base. The others are too messy, so I didn’t absorb them,” Moran said, her eyes slightly shaking when she saw him.

”Sounds good! Even without a nova source, Ji Ji’s abilities alone should allow you to use quite a bit of your power. You might even be stronger than me,” Tianming said. He was invincible in Tianmingopolis, but he would only be equivalent to a major-zenith foundationeer in power in the Xenoabyss.

”The Xenoabyss doesn’t have nova source, only xeno source, right?” Moran asked.

”Yeah. Xeno source can also be used for divine wonders. I’ve seen wonderians there before.”

”I wonder what the core source of that energy is....”

Tianming gave it some thought and said, ”They call it the eye of heaven. It’s purple and hangs in the sky of Antiquitas Mortis. It seems rather eerie. I have no idea what it is.”

”It’s also a nova source, just mutated! There’s a lot of soul power on top of it,” Ji Ji said.