Beastmaster of the Ages

While Chu Xuan just got an assignment from Zhoutian Henfeng, he wasn’t in a rush to carry it out. Instead, he took Tianming to meet the members of the Maniverse Orbiter Alliance, as they weren’t far off. The two of them circled the ruins where the maniverse assembly congregated and headed deeper in. Soon, they saw the ruins of a much smaller settlement where the geniuses from orbiter worlds gathered. Everyone else was a quasi cosmic god, so those like Qin Feng or the Baili brothers wouldn’t qualify to be here. Tianming saw tens of orbiter-world geniuses chatting and resting up.

”Gu Susu, I brought a newbie here,” Chu Xuan said, not intending to go in.

Some people turned to look at Tianming, but they didn’t say a single word. Then, a cosmic god flew out of the ruins toward them. Tianming was rather surprised at her tall, slender figure, fair skin, and intricate features, including her bright eyes. She donned a pearl-white dress and had a really enchanting smile.

Tianming, being an astral god, normally wouldn’t feel anything for cosmic gods who were basically different lifeforms. However, perhaps because of his heart’s transformation or Gu Susu’s rare beauty, he felt the slightest tug of attraction. Life in the universe truly is unfathomable. Mortals could scarcely imagine the sense of aesthetics of cosmic gods, but when I become a cosmic god myself, the instinct to reproduce will be many times stronger than when I was a mortal!

Cosmic gods weren’t cold astral bodies like most thought; they were also warm, soft, and desired the warmth of others. I bet it’ll feel much better once Little Fish and Zi Zhen become cosmic gods too! He was at a transition point in his cultivation, so he was able to find astral and cosmic gods alike attractive. Gu Susu was a charming woman in the same vein as Feiling was.

”Chu Xuan, who is this?” Gu Susu asked, looking Tianming up and down.

”He’s called Lin Feng, a quasi cosmic god from Greatsun Zephyr. He had been exploring the Ancient Flameyellow Ruins alone and found it rather pointless, so he wants to join our alliance. I decided to recommend him since he seemed like a decent bloke,” Chu Xuan said, smiling.

”Oh?” Gu Susu took an even closer look.

”Nice to meet you, Big Sister,” Tianming said, noticing a few other women behind her, some quasi cosmic gods.

”Are you sure you want to join us?” she asked.

”Yes!”

”Did you come here alone from Greatsun Zephyr?”

”That’s right. There aren’t others from back home who qualify, so I decided to come here to try my luck with a group.”

She nodded and asked, ”Does anyone have any objections?”

The rest shook their heads and didn’t seem too interested. However, Gu Susu seemed to take some interest in him. ”Very well. You’re now a member of ours. Are you able to follow instructions when working with us?”

”Of course!”

”Even though you have some tasks you need to fulfill, there are also benefits. Our alliance offers you a certain degree of protection. If you get into conflict with others, we’ll also help mediate.”

”Understood, Big Sister Susu.”

”I’ll take you to meet the others. They’re all your seniors.” She was rather considerate and quickly introduced Tianming to the other quasi- and full-cosmic gods. He remembered all of them, though their reception seemed rather lukewarm.

”You just arrived here, after all, so it’s normal for people to be a little held back. I’m sure it’ll get better once you really get to know them,” Gu Susu said.

”Got it! I’ll do my best,” Tianming said.

She looked at him once more and asked, ”Why are you wearing a mask?”

Tianming used the same disfigurement explanation, though she didn’t seem to believe it. ”Given the way you carry yourself, your face can’t be that ugly. Though it’s a private matter, so I won’t pry.”

”Gu Susu, how much membership fees does he need to pay?” Chu Xuan asked.

”There’s no need,” she said.

”No need?” The others gave them odd looks, including Chu Xuan.

”Why does he not need to—”

Before that person finished, Gu Susu said, ”I will pay it on his behalf.”

”Fine, then.” The rest no longer paid it much heed, though they gave Tianming a pitiful look. He found it quite odd that she would pay his membership fee, not to mention those looks of pity.

”Feng, I am a primalwinger. What about you?” Gu Susu asked, seemingly intent on chatting.

”I...” But before Tianming said anything else, Chu Xuan chuckled and said, ”You should chat a bit later. I have something I need to do for Lord Henfeng. Lin Feng, come with me.”

”Alright. I’ll come back after I deal with the errand, Big Sister Susu,” Tianming said.

”Very well. Please stay safe,” she said.

”Sure thing.” Gu Susu’s concern did seem a little sudden, so Tianming decided to ask around to see what was going on. As for this Chu Xuan... Tianming’s eyes flashed as he kept up.

Once the two of them were far enough away, Chu Xuan turned back and put his hands around Tianming’s shoulder. ”Brother, I just saved you, did you know that?!”

”You saved me? How so?”

”Gu Susu’s in a hurry to look for a man! She has her eyes on you!”

”Wait, what’s wrong with that? She’s so beautiful...”

”Very wrong! The kind of man she wants is one that’ll marry into her household and change their surname to theirs! She’s a primalwinger, and primalwinger women have high status. If you marry into their family, you’ll never be able to stand tall!”

”Is that the extent of it?” That didn’t sound like something anyone particularly needed saving from.

Chu Xuan looked around to make sure nobody was nearby and whispered, ”She used to have a partner who ran off. Word is that there’s a child in her belly! She wants to find someone to be a father for that child! She looks good, I’ll give her that, but she’s only looking for someone to be her husband in name. Do you think she’ll really let you touch her?”

Tianming didn’t know that things could turn out that way. ”The question now is why she would even have eyes for me.” He had been masked the whole time!

”That’s because the only ones who can keep up with her are at least quasi cosmic gods. In the Maniverse Orbiter Alliance, anyone that matches that description are from big factions that know what’s going on with her! You’re the only outsider among us who would’ve fallen for that.”

Speechless, Tianming saluted Chu Xuan. ”Thank you for saving me.”

Chu Xuan petted him on the head. ”No need. Since she covered your membership fee, you should just give it to me as a token of gratitude.”