Beastmaster of the Ages

”What’s this?”

Jiang Tianzhou, Pu Fengyun, Granny Pu and the others stared quizzically at the scene unfolding before them. Any further attempts to approach would be repelled by the golden beam, which revealed her intent. Despite their mounting impatience, they couldn’t possibly disobey her and seize Tianming’s place.

”Mother, is there any mention of this in our historical records? Why would the ancient ancestor’s heart be so close to an outsider?” Pu Fengyun asked, frowning.

”I don’t know. There’s no mention of it.” Granny Pu’s expression turned grim.

”Granny Pu, are you sure this is the ancient ancestor’s heart? It doesn’t look like it to me,” said Jiang Tianzhou.

”Then what could it be?” Granny Pu asked.

”We’ll know if we ask Li Tianming,” Jiang Tianzhou said calmly.

”Him?” Granny Pu said angrily, ”Whatever’s happening, we need to take the ancient ancestor’s heart and keep her safe. This brat is an outsider and likely an enemy. The ancient ancestor’s heart cannot fall to him!” She insisted, going so far as to suggest they all encircle Tianming.

The other cosmic gods dared not intervene without Jiang Tianzhou’s approval. They could only stare in amazement as the little golden star finally made its way into Tianming’s hands.

With trembling hands, he caught the star. In a flash, his lifebound beasts appeared, their gazes fixed with curiosity upon the golden object.

”This is...” Tianming held it in front of his eyes.

The star emanated a warmth akin to a mini fireball. Its clear, sparkling rays gave it the appearance of a cosmic-god essence. Although it was made of starmatter, Tianming felt a profound resonance with his own bloodline.

”Ling’er gave birth to a stone?” Ying Huo asked, puzzled.

”Idiot! It’s a cosmic god embryo!” Xian Xian chided, smacking Ying Huo.

”How do you know that?” Ying Huo glared at Xian Xian.

”It’s common sense.” Ji Ji rolled its eyes.

Though it should have been common knowledge, Tianming was nonetheless bewildered.

”Cosmic god embryo?”

Considering he was far from being a cosmic god when Ling’er left, it was clear the child’s state was mainly due to her mother. Even as a crystal star, she stirred in Tianming a deep paternal love through their strong blood connection. The feeling was so powerful that his eyes welled up.

”Ling’er gave the child to me before facing the final tribulation. What should I do? Sit on it like a hen?” Carefully holding the precious embryo in his hand, Tianming asked his lifebound beasts.

”Hatch it! You’re familiar with hatching eggs.” Ying Huo nodded.

”Hatch, my ass!” Xian Xian was speechless. ”Protect her well. We’ll put her back into Ling’er’s belly after her rebirth. Think of this as a premature birth. This child’s still an embryo and hasn’t fully developed yet.”

”Holy smokes!” Tianming hugged her even tighter. No wonder the little girl couldn’t talk; she was still an embryo that hadn’t finished developing in her mother’s womb

This was a huge responsibility.

”Scram! Don’t frighten my precious daughter.” A wave of paternal love washed over Tianming, and his heart softened as he gazed at the little girl in his arms.

”Tsk, scumbag!” Ji Ji scoffed.

He was still reeling from the sudden reality of fatherhood and the weight of his new responsibilities. Unable to place his daughter in his lifebound space and unwilling to risk placing her in his other cosmic artifacts, Tianming could only cradle the small golden star in his hands.

Tianming’s gaze was drawn upward to Feiling, who was entirely consumed by the gray-pink storm. A web of spatial cracks encompassed the entire area. She seemed to have merged the Upper Star Ruin and Kunlan Realm. A terrifying wave of power rippled outward, marking the arrival of the most crucial moment.

Tianming’s heart pounded against his chest.

”I’ll take good care of the child, but you must persevere or she’ll be surrounded by stepmothers and bullied from the moment she’s born,” Tianming said to the golden crystal star.

A deafening roar erupted from the star, rattling the gray-pink prison and sending ripples through the space around her. Tianming’s cruel words had undeniably struck a nerve. It was something no mother could tolerate.

”Ancient Ancestor!”

At the sight of such a dramatic change, Jiang Tianzhou, Granny Pu, and the others were extremely nervous.

”Our ancient ancestor will emerge from this prison and achieve true Nirvana Rebirth!” Granny Pu said, her eyes fiery.

”Don’t worry!”

Jiang Tianzhou shot Tianming a strange look. Could I be mistaken? He noticed that Tianming’s arrival seemed to stimulate the ancient ancestor.

”Young Master Li.”

Cornered by the cosmic gods’ persistent questions about the ancient ancestor’s heart, Jiang Tianzhou had no choice but to step forward and speak. ”Is that little star our ancient ancestor’s heart... or a cosmic god embryo?” He asked.

”Does it make a difference?” Tianming replied.

”Whether it is the heart of the ancient ancestor or a cosmic god embryo, we will protect it with our lives,” Jiang Tianzhou solemnly said.

”It’s an embryo, your ancient ancestor’s daughter.” Tianming said. Although he didn’t intend to conceal the truth, he knew better than to claim the child as his own and risk being beaten up by Jiang Tianzhou.

”The ancient ancestor’s daughter?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room fell into dead silence.

”Isn’t it said that the ancient ancestor never married or had children?”

”She’s the pure and holy Kunlan goddess...”

”How could she be pregnant during rebirth? Which great supreme being fathered the child?”

They looked at one another in bewilderment. The ancient ancestor was the most legendary of their many ancestors, though not all of them were her descendants.

Granny Pu’s features contorted into a frown in the middle of their animated conversation. Glaring at Tianming, she shouted, ”That’s nonsense! This is definitely the ancient ancestor’s heart. Her rebirth transcended time. How could she possibly carry a child?”

Tianming stared at the old woman helplessly. He had nothing more to say to her.

”Li Tianming, hand it over to us! We’ll take it to Grand Jiang and we’ll all protect it!” Granny Pu approached him aggressively, staring intently at the object in Tianming’s hands.

Tianming ignored her and looked at Jiang Tianzhou instead. ”Senior Jiang, the ancient ancestor must have her reasons for entrusting this child to me. I will protect her with my life.”