Beastmaster of the Ages

The Wargod Cult wasn’t directly involved in the wager. However, due to the ”point acquisition” mechanism, they were an important variable.

”The Cosmic God Palace has many rooms, each holding a cosmic god caelum. At the same time, every room has a point value. Each participant can choose any room for cultivation. The length of cultivation multiplied by the room’s points determines their overall points!”

For example, if a room was worth one point, cultivating there for three years would earn three points.

”But! The higher the point value of a room, the higher the grade of the caelum inside it is, and the more people will want to enter! Thus, a challenge mechanism exists. In order to continue cultivating, one must accept challenges! If the defender successfully holds their ground, they can continue cultivating. If they fail, not only must they leave the room, but half of their accumulated points will be taken by the successful challenger. Of course, the challenger also risks losing half their points if they fail.”

There were two ways to achieve the highest score.

The first: enter the room with the highest base point value, cultivate for the longest time, and defeat every challenger.

The second method: constantly challenge and always win! Knock down those using the first method!

”The key factor is still combat power!”

However, for younger talents with lower cultivation levels, the higher-tier caeli weren’t necessary for them yet. They didn’t need to enter high-level rooms, so for them, the Cosmic God Palace was purely a cultivation opportunity without the need to compete.

But that wasn’t the case for Tianming; he had to compete.

”The trial period’s long enough. For now, I’ll focus on cultivation and avoid using Little Fish unless absolutely necessary!” Tianming had already calculated everything. Since the so-called ”competition” was a benefit, why not take full advantage of it?

He chose the second method. As for how much he could gain, that was another matter.

”My biggest advantage over others is that I brought in a large number of overflow fragments.” Those things were incredibly useful and synergized well with caeli.

”For now, I’ll have Yin Chen spread throughout the entire Cosmic God Palace, monitoring everyone to see if we can stir up some trouble! Heh heh....” A confined space with dark corridors and labyrinthine terrain was the perfect stage for Yin Chen and Bai Ye!

At that moment, Tianming and his two companions officially entered the competition area, stepping into view of millions of people from this Middlekin Star Ruin. A woman from a distant branch of the wonderians, as well as two seemingly random humans, representing the slave race in battle?

”Pfft!” When people saw the small Ying Huo perched on Tianming’s shoulder and curiously looking around like a country bumpkin entering a big city, they immediately burst into laughter.

”Holy shit, a rare species!”

”Dear lord, I’ve lived this long and finally seen a lifebound beast that isn’t a cosmic crest beast!”

”My god!”

Not even Myriadpath Valley had ever been so surprised when Tianming was there. After all, ordinary lifebound beasts were still the norm there, with only House Qitian exclusively possessing cosmic crest beasts. But here in the Upper Star Ruin, a non-cosmic-crest beast was something out of legend.

”It’s seriously like putting three cockroaches into a battle of lions and tigers! What the hell?”

”Maybe it has something to do with that astralship!” The audience managed to rationalize it a little when they thought of the Ninedragon Imperial Tomb.

”Those slaves must’ve been completely duped. Too scared to fight themselves, they randomly found three cockroaches to take their place as a joke....”

Everyone was curious about the real truth, but it didn’t change the condescending way they looked at the trio.

The Upper Star Ruin was an extremely pragmatic world, where racial and bloodline discrimination dictated every person’s mindset. It was said that bloodline rankings were so strict that higher-bloodline beings could make lower ones kneel and kowtow.

To them, what Tianming and his group represented was even lower than the slave race themselves.

”They seriously look like sewer cockroaches.”

”Could they have actually come from the sewers?”

People exchanged glances, some even growing slightly afraid.

”We’re fine, there’s a formation separating us... but our geniuses are still inside, right?”

”What if they launch a cockroach infestation? That’d be too disgusting! The slave race is too wicked!”

For a moment, the crowd erupted into heated discussions.

”Silence! Even if they are from the Lower Star Ruins, they’ve already been purified by middlekin star power. Their essence has been altered and they can no longer affect others!” Jiang Linxi loudly declared.

Only then did the crowd calm down. After thinking about it, they realized Jiang Linxi wouldn’t have made such a rookie mistake.

”I always thought the Lower Star Ruins were worlds without intelligence, but look at their names. Some are domineering, some are elegant.... It seems they have their own culture!”

”You’re right. Li Tianming? His parents named him Destiny? Hahaha, what a joke.”

”Damn! My last name is also Li! What bad luck...!”

Thus, Tianming approached the entrance of the Cosmic God Palace under the scrutiny of over five million bewildered eyes. ”I didn’t want to show off, but I suppose I have no choice now.”

To be honest, he didn’t even feel like bothering with them. But the hierarchical nature of the Upper Star Ruin had once again thrown itself into his path. This was an even more ridiculous situation than being a tainted beastmaster!

But that was just how things worked there.

Ahead of them stood three hundred opponents. The geniuses turned and stared at them in astonishment. They didn’t openly mock them, but their shocked expressions and instinctive steps back were somewhat irritating.

”Run!”

”Quickly enter the Cosmic God Palace! Don’t let them get too close!”

Sure enough, they all ran away!

It wasn’t because of Tianming’s imposing presence, but because those people feared contamination from the Lower Star Ruins’ power, which would prevent them from becoming cosmic gods. To them, it was pure poison!

”Sooner or later, I’ll drag all of you down to the Lower Star Ruins and make you drink from real sewers!” Tianming was furious.

”Those bastards, all three hundred of them, need to die!” Bai Ye began roaring inside Tianming’s mind. It was even more hot-tempered than he was. Perhaps its innate inferiority complex made it more sensitive to discrimination.

”Alright, let’s go!” Once everyone else had rushed inside, Tianming and his two companions finally entered the Cosmic God Palace under the bewildered gazes of over five million people.

Before them was a world of darkness. It was a labyrinth with a series of corridors stretching onward, disappearing into the depths where light flickered. Waves of gray mist lingered at the doorway.

To secure the high-value rooms, everyone had rushed inside first. There were over three hundred people, but only two hundred rooms available. That meant some would inevitably be left outside.

Since Tianming had entered late, he would definitely have to challenge someone.

”Alright! Follow me.” Tianming grabbed Moran’s small hand and turned to Qingyu.

”These people are really annoying,” Qingyu muttered, glancing back at the five million Upper Star Ruin elites, who continued jeering.

”It’s normal! Even in a village, two neighboring households will compare themselves. Now imagine the peak of the cosmos. If you’re born into a high-bloodline family, of course you’d take every opportunity to look down on others. Otherwise, when would you get another chance?” Tianming chuckled. He had seen it too many times. It was just how people were. If they didn’t flaunt their superiority, how could they hide their own fear of those even stronger than them? If they were trampled on, they naturally wanted to step on someone else.

They could only target those weaker than themselves, and they would stomp even harder!