Beastmaster of the Ages

Tianming looked past Wei Jing to two spheres, one black and one white, that glowed like dim stars. These were two cosmic-god essences that were ten thousand meters in diameter.

“So these two balls are my grandparents?” Tianming didn’t really know what to say.

Li Muyang’s expression was heavy. He reminded him softly, “Their lifespan has already reached its end. Even if they awaken, they can only hold on for a little while longer as cosmic-god essences...”

“Got it,” Tianming nodded.

Even if he didn’t feel familial attachment, basic courtesy was still necessary. So he stepped forward of his own initiative to stand before the two cosmic-god essences. They were massive, but their light had already dimmed, like a universe at the end of its cycle as its starlight faded.

However, they lit up once more in response to Tianming’s arrival.

“Tianming!” Two ancient voices rang out. Those voices were full of powerful emotion and doting affection, leaving Tianming slightly dazed. It reminded him of the moment he first met Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue.

Except these were two balls!

“Tianming...” The white cosmic-god essence rolled toward him until it pressed close to his face. Tianming instinctively reached out and placed his hand against it.

“You’ve come home, but Grandma can’t even hold you,” the white cosmic-god essence said, its voice choking and trembling.

“It’s enough that you’re back,” the black cosmic-god essence also floated to his side, its withered voice shaking with emotion.

It was indeed the voices of Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue. Their tones held enough grief, sentiment, and joy mixed together to sway the heart of any listener.

Behind Tianming, Wei Jing watched with tears streaming down.

Their entire family was deeply moved. Only Tianming himself remained detached. However, he still played along and said, “Grandpa, Grandma, don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

“Good! Good!” the black cosmic-god essence said hoarsely. “As long as you’ve returned home, everything here still belongs to you! Everyone will fight for you! You will truly become an eternal one of the Realm of Chaos!”

“Uh, alright,” Tianming nodded.

“Tianming, my darling Tianming...” Dongshen Yue, the white cosmic-god essence, grew even more emotional and sighed, “You’re good at everything. Not like the other one, born flawed and incapable of doing anything. It’s wonderful you’re back. Grandma has waited far, far too long!”

Hearing that, Tianming paused. Born flawed?

Who, Li Tianzi? He turned around and saw the black-haired youth’s expression dim. However, Li Tianzi lowered his head without anger.

“Mother, don’t say such things,” Li Muyang said, shaking his head.

“It’s just the truth...” Dongshen Yue said sorrowfully. She didn’t continue that topic, but instead, crying, told Tianming, “Grandma’s only fear in this life was that you still hadn’t returned even after we died. We could never slumber in peace.”

“Ten thousand years ago, your departure was our greatest regret in this lifetime. We’ve lived every day in pain and remorse... Tianming, your grandparents are finally able to make up for that regret,” the black cosmic-god essence said.

Tianming couldn’t see their eyes, but he could imagine that if they still had them, those eyes would be reddened with tears as they looked at him.

“Yes. Even if we forced ourselves to persist, we can at most remain for another ten thousand years. Rather than that...” the two cosmic-god essences leaned together, seemingly looking at him as they said deeply, “Our boy has fallen back to the level of a newly ascended cosmic god. He is far too fragile. He needs the eternal protection of elders, and the guidance to grow!”

At those words, the faces of Li Muyang, Wei Jing, and Li Tianzi changed abruptly. They rushed toward the two cosmic-god essences, eyes reddened as they shouted, “No! You mustn’t!”

Their sudden panic and desperation stunned Tianming for a moment.

The next heartbeat, the two cosmic-god essence beside him flared with dazzling light, forming a spherical barrier that trapped Tianming inside.

“Tianming! Our grandson!” The two spheres rose into the air, orbiting around Tianming!

Their radiance shone upon him! Then, with both tears and blazing love in their voices, they spoke in unison, “From this day forth, Grandpa and Grandma shall become your skypole stars, lighting your path forever more. You shall possess an undying body and unyielding will... until the day you fulfill your destiny!”

“Skypole stars?” Tianming was completely confused. What’s that?

“No!!!” Outside the glowing sphere, he heard Li Muyang, Wei Jing, and Li Tianzi screaming with heart-rending anguish. Tianming saw them slam against the light sphere, sobbing uncontrollably, nearly mad with grief in their attempt to halt what was happening.

“Father, Mother, don’t!” It was the first time Tianming had seen someone with the name “Li Muyang” weeping in such agony.

They pounded on the light sphere, but they could not stop the will of the two elders.

“Foolish child, let us go through with this!” Li Xiao said hoarsely.

“We have lived too long already. We’ve seen past death. Now that we have the chance to leave hope for our clan, why not let your father and mother fulfill their lifelong wish, leave with a smile, and find meaning in their final act...” Dongshen Yue said through both tears and laughter, a trace of serenity already in her tone.

“What?” When Tianming heard the word “death,” his heart clenched.

“No...” The light was so bright that Tianming could no longer see Li Muyang and the others.

“Tianming!” Tianming could feel the two elders’ gazes, full of peace. “The sky plunderers are the most protective of their loved ones, while the skypole stars are the greatest protectors in the cosmos. Though we will pass on, our spirits will forever remain with you.”

Then, the two cosmic-god essences suddenly detonated! They collapsed inward, shrinking down into two black and white stars only a few dozen meters in diameter.

“Child, farewell!”

As those words echoed in his ears, Tianming could no longer sense any trace of their life force. They had fully transformed into two true stars, orbiting him at all times. Those two black-and-white stars were clearly the skypole stars they had spoken of!

Lighting his path forever more!

What use did they have? Tianming vaguely recalled them mentioning an “undying body.”

He could sense that these two skypole stars contained the full power condensed from the lifelong power of two ten-thousand-meter astral giants. It seemed that no one would be able to break through the defense of the skypole stars and harm him again.

Tianming could even feel details on the sky plunderers’ abilities contained within.

It was protection and inheritance!

“But... this was bought with their lives...” When Tianming realized that, a sudden heaviness welled up in his heart.

From the moment these two elders chose to spend their lives to illuminate their grandson’s path, everything in this Realm of Chaos had already been etched onto Tianming’s heart.

“I...” For a moment, he stared at the two small stars orbiting him and could not utter a single word.

Tianming had returned home and his grandparents had awakened. He had thought it would be nothing more than a family reunion.

Instead, terrified he would vanish again, they had directly used their lives to guard and guide him...

The radiance in the hall gradually faded, allowing Tianming to look outside and see Li Muyang, Wei Jing, and Li Tianzi kneeling prostrate on the ground, their tears soaking through their robes.