Beastmaster of the Ages

Everyone emotionally witnessed the exchange between Tianming and Zi Zhen. Granny Yin was especially moved by the empress-like aura she displayed. An instinctive reverence rose from her bloodline, urging her to kneel.

Though Zi Zhen’s decision had resolved their immediate dilemma, the overall situation remained dire.

“The situation is urgent. I’ll absorb the dazzling radiances after I reach Deva Imperius,” Zi Zhen said.

“I’ll take you there first,” Tianming nodded, bringing her to the Ninedragon Imperial Tomb.

The Flameyellow Divine Path opened and Zi Zhen was soon near Deva Imperius.

Of course, travel still took time which made mutual reinforcement between both locations impractical.

Deva Imperius was wreathed in dense, violent nova source, carrying a hellish, ghost-like aura. Its astralguard formation was already active, taking the form of countless black ghouls that haunted the space outside the star, their wails chilling to the bone.

Zi Zhen looked at Tianming, carrying the iron will of an empress. “This time, it’s my turn to teach you a lesson.”

Even with Deva Imperius and the Flameyellow Divine Path behind her, Tianming only had eyes for her.

“One lesson isn’t enough. I’ll wait for you to come back and teach me more,” he said.

“Smooth talker.” Zi Zhen shot him a glare, pushing down the reluctance in her eyes as she left.

Ying Huo suddenly popped out. “Hey, Little Li, what kind of ‘lesson’ were you talking about? Was it a proper one?”

“A lesson in roasting chicken. Keep talking nonsense and you’ll be the lesson material,” Tianming said snidely.

Tianming looked at the violet figure with renewed resolve. Zi Zhen was bearing the pressure here for him. To have such a companion in one’s life, what more could one ask for?

Tianming returned to the Imperial Star through the Flameyellow Divine Path.

Though they grew farther apart, their wills remained tightly intertwined, as if they could still feel each other’s burning resolve.

The conclusion of the battle was unknown, but they would both pour out their blood and life on their respective battlefields!

***

On the Flameyellow Imperial Star, five billion soldiers assembled once more. Although the Eightpart Pantheons would come in full force this time, and even an Aeternal Being like Shen Wu might stand against them, they remained undaunted.

They were defending their home. Even if they fought to the last drop of blood, they would never retreat.

Above all, they had Li Tianming, their emperor and creator of miracles. Omnisentient threads connected them, allowing them to cultivate faster and empower him in return.

The Imperial Star also had many cosmic gods from other factions, such as the prisoners from the Starfall and Sundown Pantheons. The commotion outside made them aware that the final battle was about to begin.

This unsettled them deeply.

Last time, the Starfall and Sundown forces had withdrawn, sparing them from execution unlike the prisoners from the other three factions.

But this time, both the Starfall and Sundown forces were participating in the offensive. And, after the heavy losses of the other three factions, they were even now among the main forces alongside the wonderians.

Meanwhile, Granny Yin began rallying the devas under her command. With time so tight, they could not return for now.

“Though we are not on the Deva Imperius, we now share life and death with Flameyellow! They have already sent a powerhouse to support our imperator. We will stand here and fight alongside them!”

Her call carried weight. After so long here, these deva warriors had come to feel the fiery spirit of the flameyellow divinities, and the miracles this star could produce.

More importantly, they had no other choice.

If the Eightpart Pantheons conquered Flameyellow, they would die all the same.

As for Tianming’s friends and family brought to the Sun, they remained inside the safest place, the Ninedragon Imperial Tomb.

After returning, Tianming noticed Luo Li, the Little Empress he had “taken” from Sundown Imperius.

Smiling faintly, he stepped forward. “You once said you followed strength, which is why you followed me. Given the situation now, should I lock you up to prevent a sudden and unexpected betrayal? After all, Shen Wu, as an Aeternal Being, might be stronger than me.”

Unexpectedly, Luo Li shook her head. Her beautiful eyes looked at him with anticipation. “After staying on the Flameyellow Imperial Star, I’ve realized this is the universal order I’ve always longed for. Li Tianming, you’ve created too many miracles. This time, I believe in you as well.”

“Is that so?” Tianming smiled.

In truth, even he didn’t know what his trump card he had this time. He didn’t even hold the initiative.

All he could do was wait to find out which side the enemy would choose to attack.

It was a game of strategy.

And at that moment, Yin Chen brought news that there was movement at the enemy’s wormhole markers.