Beastmaster of the Ages

“Amazing, grandkiddo. Your grandfather once encountered Ancestor Xiaozhi’s stele, but I didn’t manage to get past two thousand swordbarriers after a month. I was thrown out, a true tragedy. You’ve really gotten some face back for me!” Lin Xiao was crazily grinning as he held Tianming.

Getting the inheritance of two rex mundi did indeed shake the Lin Clan! The previous time Tianming had shaken the Lin Clan, it was through shame, since he was the son of Lin Mu. But not long had passed since then and many elders and disciples were already looking at him with envy. Of course, there were also many looking with jealousy, or the belief that he wasn’t worthy, or that it was a waste….

“Get lost! Our grandson earned some glory, but you’re embarrassing us!” Dongshen Yue grabbed Lin Xiao’s hair and pulled him off Tianming. She regarded her grandson and nodded with satisfaction.

“Yes, you’re even better than your grandfather,” Dongshen Yue said. Although Tianming hadn’t used his cultivation talent for his performance this time, the glory and joy he’d brought the two elders were more than when their granddaughters-in-law had dominated the daisy rankings.

“Come on, show those two sword arts so everyone can appreciate the inheritance of two reges mundi,” Lin Xiao excitedly said.

Tianming froze. He felt awkward because he had zero idea on how to use them! According to the normal logic, a disciple that’d broken past the ten thousand barriers by comprehending the sword arts within had already achieved a minor level of accomplishment in them. Even if they couldn’t use it in battle, they would still be able to at least display it.

However, Tianming had stolen them. Even ignoring the current time, it was possible that he would never learn them. “Oops. Who knew those two sword arts would cause so much turmoil? What if I never learn them? Will my glory become a joke and me an embarrassment again?” These two sword arts were in a different league from Xuanyuan Lake’s Sword Insight Rock. He had stolen that, too, but cultivating it afterward hadn’t been hard for him.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Ah! Grandfather, these two sword arts are too complicated. I need to seize the opportunity to refine them. I won’t make a fool of myself now,” Tianming said.

“You really make things too complicated!” Dongshen Yue pushed Lin Xiao down, then waved to Tianming. “Go home then, grandson. Grandma’s in a good mood today, so I’ll prepare a feast for you!”

“Thanks, Grandma! I’ll look forward to it.” Tianming’s eyes lit up.

However, Lin Xiao’s expression changed. He attempted to flee while shooting Tianming a look of pity but was just a step too late. A hand had already grabbed his beard, pulling him along as she left.

“Thank goodness my Ling’er is so gentle.” Tianming felt traumatized just looking at his grandparents’ interaction.

Even after their family left, quite a few people still stayed, trying to regain their calm. The news that the son of Lin Mu had gained the inheritance of two reges mundi spread through the Infinitum Swordsea through transmission stones before moving on to the Myriadsword Emporiums. It was likely that the astralships of the corporation would end up spreading it further, to the rest of the Infinitum Mundus and other nova source worlds.

Many places had only just learned that the son of Lin Mu had appeared, but they didn’t even have time to laugh before he had shut them up.

……

In a dark, secret room within the Swordsoul Chamber, Lin Xiaoyun was seated with a stormy expression on his face. Lin Wuyi was at the window, watching the chaotic swords flying above the Infinium Swordsea and its nova source waves.

The two didn’t say anything until someone opened the door and entered. It was a one-armed man with white eyebrows and a sword-like nose. He was tall and had a gaze as sharp as a sword. He was Lin Jie, the fifth branch master.

“Brother Jie.” Lin Xiaoyun hurriedly stood up, while Lin Wuyi also turned around and looked at Lin Jie.

“What’d the council say?” they asked at the same time.

Lin Jie had a dark expression. With heavy steps, he sat down as well and accepted the tea Lin Xiaoyun offered, then looked into the distance. “We can’t handle him. The council wants to continue monitoring him and give him the identity of an ordinary Lin Clan disciple. They don’t want to make him bear the sin of Lin Mu.”

“How’s that possible!” Lin Wuyi was filled with displeasure.

“That can’t be right. Isn’t the council filled with people from our reformist faction?” The council hadn’t been paying attention to Tianming before his achievement. However, now their decision was to ‘monitor’ him! In other words, they had decided to accept him. From an official standpoint, Tianming wouldn’t be made to bear the identity of a sinner.

“Yes, we have many people. However, Ku spoke up this time.” Something flickered in Lin Jie’s eyes.

“Him again!”

“He already has one foot in the grave, so why’s he still interfering so much?”

Lin Xiaoyun and Lin Wuyi were furious.

“He’ll be the master of the clan for as long as he’s alive. It can’t be helped, those are the clan rules.” Lin Jie put his teacup down and smirked. “However, based on my understanding of his body, his limit will be reached soon.”

“That’s good. Being able to live for so long and die of natural causes is something that should make any cultivator satisfied. What’s the point in clinging to life?”

Lin Wuyi couldn’t resist saying, “Those fellows from the traditionalists are such a pain. They just refuse to die.”

“Brother Jie, this is unacceptable. Is there any way to hasten the approach of his limit?” Lin Xiaoyun hadn’t been having a good day, so his words were a little overboard.

Lin Jie looked up and coldly stared at him. “I hope you don’t utter those words again. What’s the first ancestral teaching of our Lin Clan? You’re a branch master, yet you’ve forgotten. Those who lack respect for their elders will always be despised! The reformists and traditionalists may have our conflicts, but we’ll always be one family. We can never kill each other! Our Lin Clan doesn’t rank high within the Infinitum Regal Clans and our unity and strictness is the only way we’ve managed to persist to today. Inner conflict will not be permitted, understood?” Lin Jie’s attitude was harsh.

“I understand. Elder Ku is a hero of the Lin Clan and has rendered uncountable merit.” Lin Xiaoyun lowered his head. It didn’t matter how unhappy he was, he had to push it down.

“It won’t be long before the Lin Clan reforms. When Ku’s gone, we’ll escape this embarrassing situation where everyone mocks us and walk toward a new life. Just wait!”

It was clear that the other two didn’t share Lin Jie’s patience.

“Right. Wuyi, is there progress with your arrangements from that time?” Lin Jie asked.

“Undermining their relationship?” Lin Wuyi shook her head. “It’s useless. Those three girls are dead-set on Lin Feng. He may not have a high cultivation, but he indeed has a way with words and winning hearts. His reputation will also rise after today, so I don’t think the plan will work.”

“The inheritance of two reges mundi does sound frightening. But in truth, without matching cultivation and talent, no sword art, no matter how miraculous, can save him from an expert’s slap,” Lin Xiaoyun said.

“Yes, it’s just for show. However, young ladies can be quite vulnerable to that,” Lin Wuyi said.

Lin Jie took another sip of tea. “We can’t give up. Although the council has given Lin Feng the status of an ordinary disciple, we can still find a ‘reasonable’ method to bring down those four.”