Beastmaster of the Ages

Flaming totems were everywhere inside the Azuresky Myriadsword Formation. They burned everything in their path like flowing lava, leaving nothing but utter desolation. Nobody knew when the defense line of the Azurecloud warriors would fall. Once it did, the weak and old would definitely fall prey to the rampant destruction. Yet, none of them considered such a question. They focused all their attention on what was in front of them. There was nothing but darkness beyond the endless fight ahead of them. Their bodies slowly lost their warmth as their hands loosed their grips on their weapons as they grabbed the earth beneath them. That way, their souls would still be able to find their way home.

......

Outside the formation near the mountains to the east of the Azuresoul Palace was a dense assembly of totemancers clad in armor of flaming gold. They stood unmoving, each one precisely taking their positions. Theirs was a disciplined army of a million troops. They cast their gazes at the bloody battlefield within the formation. The cries of rage and desperation had sparked their fighting spirit. They were like caged beasts, patiently laying and ready to pounce despite the unending bloodlust they felt. Once the order was given, they would descend on the battlefield like wild beasts to strike the final blow. The wait was infuriating them to the point that many had to bite their lips or tongues to hold themselves back. The flames within their hearts spread like wildfire, making them an unquenchable fire that threatened to consume all.

They were called the Xuanyang Army, a rather new army in the long history of the celestial orderians. Despite that, they had already magnificently distinguished themselves. The sweeping of the Azurecloud Continent was mainly carried out by the five million troops of their army, and now they were in the final phase of their plan. Once they completed their task, they would be heralded as among the top armies of the celestial orderians. What awaited these bloodthirsty warriors was endless glory. Like beasts, they impatiently watched their delicious prey, itching to quench their hunger.

At the rear of the army was its command center, which was protected by many layered formations. The celestial orderian officers led the troops without having to go into battle on their own. Outside the largest formation stood a magnificent beauty with a gentle appearance that stood out from the other celestial orderians. While she was no doubt one of them, she was from a sub-branch called the soul tribulators. She was the only soul tribulator to have survived the battle of Myriaddragon Mountains, Li Yunxi, the very same person that had been Qingyu’s personal bodyguard and Li Wushuang’s old friend.

She had lived on while Apothecary Li, Li Xiaoyan, and the three Dragon Imperials of the Veildragon Palace had perished at Tianming’s hand, and now she was the mastermind of the purge of the Azurecloud Continent. However, neither the Azuresoul Palace nor Supracloud Sanctuary were aware of her presence. Instead, the one who was said to be commanding the operation was Li Xuanyang, the general of the Xuanyang Army. Naturally, he had much more influence than Li Yunxi among the celestial orderians as he was a son of the sun emperor!

Among the sons of the sun emperor, he was the fifth and was around three centuries old. The celestial orderians didn’t appoint the eldest prince to be the successor, but rather the strongest among them. That was why Li Xuanyang, Li Haochen, and Li Shenjian didn’t have too much of a difference in terms of status. Yet Li Xuanyang had something his other brothers didn’t: merit in battle, making him the most recognized son of the sun emperor. If it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have been appointed commander-in-chief of such an important operation.

Whether it was his talent, strategic brilliance, leadership, or behavior, he was the best among all ten princes. His reputation was easily ten times better than Li Shenjian’s, especially after his constant victories in the Azurecloud Continent that allowed him to surpass his other four brothers. He had become the biggest celebrity among the celestial orderians, and after Qingyu’s ’abduction’, he had the best chance of becoming the next sun emperor. That was thanks in part to the fact that his other brothers had basically lost their chance to become the sun emperor. He was the only one who still had a hopeful chance, and his war merits counted quite a bit toward that.

Lu Yunxi had remained there to protect him from assassination, as well as aid him. That was the mission the sun emperor had given her.

”Li Xuanyang!” It wasn’t the first time she had called out. As the formation wasn’t completely isolated, she could hear the humping and moaning coming from within. She knew what he was up to, and it wasn’t a big deal in and of itself, but they had suffered many casualties in the attack against the Azuresoul Sword Mountain, so it gave her a headache for Li Xuanyang to still be in a mood for such things.

”Beautiful Yunxi, stop rushing me. Just wait... I’m... almost... there... ahhhh!” he groaned in pleasure, almost in a teasing tone before he yelled twice more in triumph.

”I’m your elder!” she snapped, her expression cold. Even then, the plowing within had yet to cease. Li Yunxi couldn’t stand it anymore and charged in, baring her sight to the unspeakable things that were happening within. ”Scram!”

Many girls with flushed faces hurriedly picked up their clothes and ran outside, leaving behind a man with frizzled hair. ”Hey, don’t go! I’m not finished yet! Agh!”

”Put your clothes on, now!” Li Yunxi turned around, her face turning a dark purple.

”Beautiful Yunxi, this won’t do! Since ancient times, no choir of mutual physical pleasure is allowed to stop halfway! Now that the other performers have left, will you perform the rest of the song with me? I know that you’ll surely appreciate my... musical... talents much more than those lowborn folk.”ℯ

”If you don’t get your act together, I’ll pull your rod out of its stump. Li Xuanyang, I know you’ve been rising quite a bit lately. But don’t forget that you have your fair share of idiotic mistakes as well. It’s elders like us who clean up after you. You know how much we lost for the sake of taking over Azurecloud. Right now, we’re at a critical juncture and our warriors are bleeding out, yet you’re messing around here. How will you ever face your army?!”

”You misunderstand. This is necessary to clear my mind and body before the grand battle. It’s all in service to our victory,” Li Xuanyang said, putting on his clothes and armor. He put a helmet over his messy hair and immediately looked like a brave warrior.

Li Yunxi knew that no amount of lecturing would do him any good. ”The pressure on them has mounted enough. Now, a charge by a million troops will completely crush their defense line.”

”Fine, I’ll do what you say. You’re the smartass, after all.” He nonchalantly shrugged and left the formation. As he did, his aura seemed to surge even higher. He stood before his million troops like the mighty general he was. ”Xuanyang Army, here are your orders!”