Beastmaster of the Ages

”You’re saying that they’ll lead the Eightpart Pantheons here because they failed to take over Grand Feng?” If Tianming wasn’t mad before, he was now. What they had been doing had been reasonable from certain points of view. Not many could put aside grudges and immediate benefits in favor of the bigger picture. Yet, Grand Xia’s descendants hadn’t regretted their actions and instead sucked up to the Eightpart Pantheons even more. They wanted to use their power to upend the Primordial Sands, essentially gifting the whole area to them, dooming the kunlan primalwingers for good. These were the descendants of Old Man Voidback, who had greatly regretted raising Tian Jiu who gave rise to the wonderians, which led to Grand Xia losing control. Even he couldn’t have imagined his successors would make such a decision.

”It’s not surprising. Grand Xia Voidback will eventually vanish, so why would they be willing to accept their fates and perish like that? They dream of ruling the Upper Star Ruin by the side of the Eightpart Pantheons. Even if they know it isn’t realistic, placing their hopes in this pipe dream is better than perishing completely. The Eightpart Pantheons will eventually come here, and Empress Xia is a perfectionist who wants a maniverse-class world without having to suffer heavy losses for it, not to mention the problems the Tian Jiu Cult would cause. As such, leading the Eightpart Pantheons here is the optimal choice. They have historical ties to them, after all. Who knows? Maybe they’ve kept up a good relationship this whole time.” Feng Linxue laughed mockingly. ”Their ancestors are both traitorous bastards. Birds of a feather and all that.”

”What about you?” Tianming wasn’t able to sway Empress Xia’s decision anyway. Instead, he gave Feng Linxue a good look. He was the savior of Grand Feng, so he wondered if she would change her view on his account.

”Me?” She shook her head, lips pursed. ”I’m sorry. I’ll be frank; I don’t have a choice either. Once the Eightpart Pantheons’ forces arrive, no matter how many, Grand Feng will immediately submit once we see that the Xiavoid Stareye works. This is the only way for us to protect our legacy.”

”You’d make the decision to sacrifice Grand Jiang to the Grand Xia imperials that easily? Your entire race’s fate hangs in the balance. Are you prepared to let your descendants be enslaved?”

”It’s not just Grand Jiang. Anyone among the kunlan primalwingers who refuse to submit will be sacrificed. We’re not talking about the deaths of a few cosmic gods,but entire worlds. Nobody deserves to drag all of us to the pits of death for their own high ideals,” Feng Linxue retorted earnestly. ”What’s so bad about being enslaved? Sure beats being killed.”

Tianming fell silent.

She sighed helplessly and said, ”Actually, I know why you’re wrong.”

”I’m wrong? Explain.”

”You’re wrong because you don’t have an accurate picture of the Eightpart Pantheons’ might. You’re still dreaming of overthrowing them, yet it will soon be proven that nobody in this world is actually as bombastically optimistic as you, dare I say, even delusional. You have a ghoul army of a hundred million, but at most, you’d only be able to take on a single starforge of the Eightpart Pantheons. They have near a hundred of those, not to mention the eight true imperial-class worlds. Even a single one of those will be able to crush your delusions.”

Feng Linxue couldn’t bear to keep going so she bit her lip to stop. ”Either way, I’m still thankful that you saved us here today. I will help you with requests apart from that. I’d even help you attack Grand Yue to bleed Lord Yue some more. But when it comes to resisting the Eightpart Pantheons, all I can say is... Li Tianming, I beg you. Spare the people of Grand Feng from the wake of your destructive ambitions!”

”You have made your feelings on that really clear,” Tianming said, having a good read of where she stood now.

”Apologies for destroying your dream,” Feng Linxue said reluctantly.

His expression didn’t change. Instead, he chuckled. ”I believe you have also overestimated your usefulness to me.”

”Huh?” She shot him an odd glance.

Tianming shrugged. ”Forget it. Just consider what I did today a mere whim. I was the one who decided on my own accord to step in. But know this, Starlord Feng, nobody can predict the future. Keep your eyes clear and open. Maybe an opportunity for us to work together will come.”

”Very well.” Feng Linxue smiled, still marveling at his naivete.

”Grand Meng and Pu Fengyun think the same way as you do, right?” Tianming asked. It was clear from Pu Lingyi’s behavior in the lower ruins where the Pu Clan stood. They were the kinds of people who would start petty fights to the death to cause trouble for their own kind and even be willing to doom all the others for the little beastballs. These were the kinds of people who would marvel at the enemy’s culture and strength and make all sorts of self-deprecating excuses to not fight and enslave themselves.

”They stand with me, but that doesn’t mean we’re on the same side with Empress Xia and Lord Yue,” Feng Linxue said.

”If all of you are submitting, why do you feel the need to draw lines?”

”Great, you’re the noble one. So great, yet so naive. Seriously, I wish the best for you.”

”Wow, mocking your savior I see. So that’s what you truly think, huh?” Tianming knew that she had to keep up appearances to seem thankful.

”Mister Li, you are too harsh. We really are thankful.”

”Then there’s no need... Come to think of it, I should be the one thanking you.”

”Thanking me? Why?”

”You might not understand it now, but one day, you will.” Tianming shrugged. ”One reminder: I am not someone who likes to wipe out disgusting people because they always find a way to get their filth all over me. Fortunately for you, you managed to disgust me.”

Tianming gave her one last smile before flying towards his ship in the distance and leaving. ”Yin Chen, have more of your bodies watch Grand Xia Voidback. I want detailed information at a high priority.”

He furrowed his brows deeply after leaving Grand Feng. The Primordial Sands were proving more and more difficult of a place. The fall of Grand Xia Voidback had triggered a war of survival on many fronts that brought out the worst in people.

”The forces of all six kunlan worlds number up to two hundred million. That should be enough to sweep across the entire Primordial Sands. They are the strongest race over here, after all. It’s too bad... Ling’er, let me teach your little spineless descendants a lesson.”