Beastmaster of the Ages

Outside the Oleruler Palace, countless people had gathered to congratulate the two elders on their awakening. Most of them were from Mu Qingqing’s Mu clan.

Yet, just as people were cheering enthusiastically, black and white light illuminated Skyplunder Capital! Ancient and solemn chants rolled out. This was the melody of the skypole stars carried in the bloodline of the sky plunderers, bearing the race’s inherited will.

“The radiance of the skypole stars!”

“The two elders chose to incarnate as skypole stars to protect the imperial son forever!” Countless people suddenly realised what was happening. In that moment, they were shaken to the core, then burst into tears of grief. They knelt toward the direction of the Oleruler Palace and mourningly bade farewell to the two elders.

No one had foreseen any of this today!

Apart from sorrow, the people also carried deep admiration for their spirit.

“We bid respectful farewell to the two elders!” As the news spread, tens of billions of cosmic gods throughout Skyplunder Capital came out of their homes and wept in the direction of the Oleruler Palace. Though they were not of the sky plunderers, it was clear that in the five hundred thousand years they had coexisted, the two elders had done far too much for this land. People were grateful.

“Their departure marks the dusk of an era...”

“The two elders devoted their entire lives to the Realm of Chaos. Even in their twilight years, they ignited their lives to light the flame of hope for the future!”

“They are not truly gone. As long as the imperial son lives, so shall they live on as the skypole stars!”

A mournful, majestic atmosphere swept the entire Nullity. Yet within that grief was also profound emotion and remembrance. The magnificence of that moment was something many would remember for a lifetime!

“The old pass on and the young grow up, persisting across generations. Perhaps this is what makes a race the greatest in all the cosmos!”

The older cosmic gods slowly began to feel that sense of mission. This was the inheritance of cultivators and life itself!

The young children were still bewildered. It was hard for them to grasp what such a legacy truly meant.

“What exactly are the skypole stars?” countless young people asked.

“The sky plunderers’ seniors can transform their lives into a guardian star that shall perpetually orbit their juniors, providing a shield that can block nearly all harm. It can also carry the junior away in flight to escape danger. Moreover, it transforms a lifetime of knowledge and cultivation will into ‘data’ to guide the junior’s cultivation.”

“Basically, the imperial son can beat others, but no one can beat him, right?” the youths asked excitedly. Wasn’t this ability insanely strong?

“As long as the one attacking isn’t stronger than the two elders, it’s nearly impossible to truly hurt the imperial son. Killing him would be even more impossible.”

“Then isn’t the imperial son invincible?” a youth exclaimed dramatically.

“Not exactly. After all, the will lying within the skypole stars is to guard and defend. It won’t attack on its own,” the elders explained.

“I get it. You can either win, lose, or draw in a battle. But from now on, the imperial son cannot ‘lose.’ Only victory or stalemate remain. His enemies fall into two categories: those he can beat to death, and those he can’t even scratch.”

“That’s incredible. I want a skypole star too!” a youth said eagerly, eyes shining.

“You punk,” his grandfather almost fainted from anger.

“The skypole stars...”

Even when the Oleruler Palace had completely returned to calm, the hearts of the people of Skyplunder Capital could not settle for a long time.

However, when it came to Tianming, they felt reassured now.

“The imperial son was indeed too weak when he returned this time. The worries of the two seniors were not without reason.”

“Hopefully their love allows the imperial son to feel the warmth of family and his mission, and he won’t run away from home again for a hundred thousand years...”

“I think, with the skypole stars forever lighting the path, the imperial son should finally grow up and shoulder his mission...”

***

Inside the Oleruler Palace, Tianming heard clearly all the tears and recollections outside.

Before him, the three still knelt. They were calmer than before, but the sorrow on their faces was still unmistakable.

Li Tianzi had lifted his head, shaking it and gritting his teeth. He suddenly asked Li Muyang, “Father! Does he deserve it? He doesn’t even love us. Why would they give their lives for him!”

“Enough,” Wei Jing cut him off and said sorrowfully, “They have passed. Respect the elders’ choice.”

“Yes...” Li Tianzi lowered his head deeply, though his eyes grew even redder.

Tianming’s emotions were more tangled than anyone’s. Again and again, he looked at the black-and-white skypole stars orbiting him like satellites. His heart felt like it was stuck in his throat felt.

At last, Tianming summoned all his strength to speak. “I’m sorry. I didn’t foresee this... Since it has already happened, I will give my utmost effort.”

“You don’t need to carry guilt. They only did what they wished to do in their hearts,” Li Muyang took a deep breath and finally spoke calmly.

“I’m just afraid their devotion will be wasted on him...” Li Tianzi said with a trembling voice.

Tianming glanced at him. He didn’t want to argue with this ‘big brother,’ who had just lost his grandparents and was in grief, so he repeated with complete sincerity, “I will work hard to prove myself worthy of such protection.”

“You don’t need to prove it to me. You need to prove it to the entire Realm of Chaos!” Li Tianzi said fiercely.

“Alright!” Tianming nodded.

“After the banquet ends, go with me immediately to the Inverse Battlefield!” Li Tianzi stared at him.

“I’ll go!” Tianming lifted his head.

Li Tianzi rose and glanced at Tianming once before striding away.

Only his ‘parents’ remained there, still kneeling.

“Tianming,” Wei Jing looked at him gently and said, “You go out first. Your father and I will stay here for a while.”

Tianming gave a quiet acknowledgement, lowered his head, and walked out with the black-and-white skypole stars.

At the doorway, Tianming looked back at their silhouettes that resembled two towering mountain peaks that could never be crossed.

“I don’t know what he’s thinking...” Tianming looked at Li Muyang’s back and shook his head. The day was heavy, and he could only turn and leave.

Just as he stepped outside, he saw Mu Qingqing kneeling there as well, tears of grief staining her face.