Beastmaster of the Ages

When Tianming came out, she looked up and saw the two skypole stars, causing tears to burst forth again...

“Let’s go,” Tianming said.

“Okay.” Mu Qingqing nodded. After wiping away her tears, she stood up on unsteady legs.

The two of them rose into the air, crossing the bleak sky of Skyplunder Capital and heading toward the Kunruler Palace. As Tianming passed overhead, the cosmic gods beneath them took to their knees again. “We respectfully send off the elders!”

These words were like chains of fate that wrapped around Tianming’s very being. These were skypole stars, and they were also responsibility.

“What do you think?” Mu Qingqing asked tearfully behind him.

“You mean, am I moved?” Tianming asked while gliding through the sky.

“No, but... do you remember anything?” Mu Qingqing asked in a trembling voice.

“I can’t remember anything, because I may not even be the one you’re looking for. I don’t have these memories. But—” At that point, Tianming turned back to look at her and said, “I’m someone who repays kindness. In the Upper Star Ruin, I’ve currently stopped growing, and what you’re offering happens to meet my needs. At the same time, I also received protection from the elders at the cost of their lives. To be worthy of all this, I will naturally do what I ought to do. Whether I acknowledge that I’m part of this family or not doesn’t affect how I act, does it?”

Hearing that, Mu Qingqing’s eyes filled with tears again, but she couldn’t say anything else. In the end, she could only nod and murmur, “You’ll remember. Everyone loves you so much; you were adored by thousands.”

“Everyone loves me? I’m pretty sure Li Tianzi doesn’t love me that much,” Tianming said.

“He...” Mu Qingqing pressed her lips together. “You still owe him a life.”

“Oh?” Tianming said no more.

He had already returned to the Kunruler Palace. He sat cross-legged beneath the painting, while Mu Qingqing waited outside, at his beck and call.

“Next, we just wait for the banquet to end, then head to the Inverse Battlefield.” The schedule was already set. As for whom he was supposed to fight on that battlefield, Tianming still didn’t know.

“Skypole stars...” Tianming looked at the stars orbiting before him. He knew they would answer if he asked them something.

“Can Daosteal target living people?” Tianming asked.

“Yes.” The white star flew before him and spoke with Dongshen Yue’s voice. But it spoke plainly without any emotion, just a mechanical guide for Tianming.

“Are you really my grandparents?” Tianming asked again.

This time, the skypole stars remained silent. Their silence was neither affirmation nor denial... perhaps it meant something complicated.

“You, come in,” Tianming called outside.

Mu Qingqing bowed her head and came before the painting. Her eyes were dull and melancholic, like someone constantly mistreated.

“I’m going to use Daosteal on you,” Tianming said.

She froze for a moment, a faint blush rising on her face. “Alright.”

Tianming raised his hand. Silver light gathered at the yin-yang eyes in the center of the taiji symbol, turning the entire Plundering Eye into a silver vortex. Then, he pressed the Plundering Eye against Mu Qingqing’s forehead.

“Mmm...” Mu Qingqing let out a soft hum. She closed her eyes, took hold of his robe with both hands, and slowly knelt before him.

Through the Plundering Eye, Tianming felt as though he could directly see her spiritual world. Images flickered, all of them focused on one man. Indeed, it was himself. She was so obsessed with him that her whole mind was filled with him.

“Why is it so empty in there?” Tianming demanded, eyes widening.

“Because I’m a Chaos denizen. I don’t have order,” Mu Qingqing said softly.

“Damn.” Tianming had forgotten that! There was nothing to steal!

Tianming withdrew his hand and dismissed her. “Alright, get out.”

“I’m your wife, not your servant,” Mu Qingqing said softly, her eyes trembling as though she would cry again.

“Scram.” Tianming pointed to the outside.

“Yes.” She had talked back once, but she yielded quickly and slipped out dejectedly.

After that, Tianming took out the void-class cosmic art given to him by the five imperial-star elders and began studying it.

Time passed quickly. He didn’t know how long it had been when a sudden commotion erupted outside.

“Why is it so loud?” Tianming asked with displeasure.

Mu Qingqing came in and said gently, “The banquet is about to begin. Guests have begun arriving. We’re currently in wartime, so there are more conflicts too.”

“Oh.” Tianming nodded, not paying it much mind.

No sooner had he spoken than the distant sky outside suddenly flashed with violet lightning, followed by deafening thunderclaps.

A brazen voice cursed angrily, “Where’s that undying turtle bastard? Get out here and let everyone have a look at you!”

“So noisy. Who’s he cursing?” Tianming asked casually.

“...He’s cursing you,” Mu Qingqing said, face tightening slightly.

“Cursing me? ‘Undying turtle bastard’?”

Tianming glanced at the skypole stars. Clearly, this was mocking his immortal shield.

Tianming looked outside. Half the sky churned with violet lightning, forming countless colossal lightning beasts galloping through the heavens.

“Who’s cursing?” Tianming asked coldly.

“The imperial son of the Violetblitz Starcage,” Mu Qingqing said, her chest rising and falling as though with resentment.

“What’s his name?” Tianming asked.

“Lin Xiaoting.”