Beastmaster of the Ages

Astral gods were on a totally different level of being compared to normal gods.

”By the way, Feng’er, you can’t leave the Infinitum Swordsea from now on. Focus on cultivating as your first priority. You’ve offended some powerful people, and far too many people witnessed that black star. Let’s just say that you’re in high demand right now,” Dongshen Yue said. Tianming’s risky exploits had caused her true fright this time around. She couldn’t bear to take her eyes off her precious grandson any longer, in fear that he would vanish out of nowhere.

”Alright.” Tianming was also worn out from the constant death-defying trials. Yet would he really be left in peace just because he kept himself hidden? He couldn’t say for sure.

”You seem to use the Grandvoid Compendium and Xiaozhi Sword Art rather well. I’ll take you to the Swordsoul Purgatory again when we go back this time to see if you’re lucky enough to get the next step in those sword arts. It’s fine even if you don’t have a swordheart. Given your talent, you’ll definitely find them useful. Before that, you should seek out the caeli of the two reges mundi and try interfacing with them. They’re sure to be of great help.”

”Yes, Grandma!”

”When we get back, billions of people will be there to welcome you. You’ll be formally instated at Myriadsword Mausoleum as a swordgod disciple and awarded two and a half million merit points. Make sure to behave.”

”Myriadsword Mausoleum again?” Tianming cracked a dry laugh.

”That’s right. It isn’t like before. You were brought there kneeling back then, but now you’re returning as our proud grandson. You’ll be escorted into it as countless disciples applaud you.” She paused as she began tearing up. Lin Xiao was not far away, leaning against the wall, his eyes reddening when he heard that. They knew how difficult it had been for things to change so magnificently. Their grandson had been completely nondescript at the very start, but he’d managed to earn dignity and respect with his own abilities each step of the way. While they hadn’t returned home yet, they could already imagine how grand the sight would be. Everyone was preparing a hero’s welcome for him!

Tianming smiled, unlike the two of them. He patted Dongshen Yue on the shoulder and nodded. ”Grandma, I’ll do my best. I’ll make sure that the people who always bore ill intentions for me will feel as vexed as possible.”

”That’s right! Harshly humiliate them and don’t hold back!” she said.

”Hey, don’t teach our grandson to be so petty,” Lin Xiao said. He gave Tianming a look and said, ”Feng’er, I still have to say that your performance this time was truly shocking. In a certain sense, you saved our entire clan even though you’re still just a young disciple.”

”What do you mean, Grandpa?” Tianming hadn’t seen any people from the clan when he’d first left, so he thought he had been abandoned.

”The talent you showed and the legacies you’ve inherited brought hope to the eyes of many powerful elites in the clan. They believe that as long as you’re around, the Lin Clan will be able to forge a bright future for ourselves even without the ebons! Among them is Ninth Branch Master Lin Changkong. He’s among the top three most powerful clan members in this generation and is greatly influential. He’s already publicly endorsed you, which also means that he’s on our side. As such, we now have most of the say in the council! At the very least, the plan to work with the ebons has been temporarily shelved.” Lin Xiao gave Tianming a deep hug. ”It’s all thanks to you, child. You took back the dignity on behalf of a billion people and built a foundation of hope on top of it. Back then, your grandma and I felt like we didn’t fear death at all. But now we can’t bear to leave you behind. We pledge to make sure that you grow into one of the main pillars of the clan!”

Lin Xiao seemed rather agitated, going by his tone. Their determination was clear from their words and behavior. Tianming suddenly recalled Lin Mu and took a deep breath. Perhaps he had managed to atone for his father, after all! But it still wasn’t enough. I have to do much more! It wasn’t just for his grandparents and father, but also for his own sake. He had enjoyed the protection of the Lin Clan, as well as its resources. They had provided him with an opportunity to rapidly grow in relative safety, and repaying them for it was only natural. His blood pumped with determination.

”So Lin Changkong has truly taken the side of the traditionalists, right? Looks like Lin Jie’s influence will be greatly impacted after this.” It was definitely thanks to Tianming’s efforts. He had indeed changed the game just by participating in a single event. Yet while the future seemed bright, he realized something else was still troubling Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue. Their expressions seemed rather stiff.

”Grandma, do you have any other worries? I promise I won’t recklessly run off anymore.”

”Sigh! You aren’t really the issue now. Instead, it’s Mount Taia. The ebons are no doubt enraged by the losses they suffered at your hands and the cessation of negotiations with us. They’ll definitely lash out in a rage. Unsurprisingly, that rage will be directed at Mount Taia. They’ll make an example of the Grandnorth Dongshen Clan to strike fear into the Swordgod Lin Clan.”

”Isn’t your clan in trouble then? Won’t the Infinitum Bodhimanda step in to stop it?”

”There’s nothing they can do. The matter is more complicated, as there are some historical echoes. While the ebons now occupy our Mount Taia, it’s still considered a sacred land for us. Recently, an ancient relic belonging to our clan was unearthed. We can’t afford to give up on it, but it also means we’re walking right into the trap of the ebons. We’ll suffer countless casualties for sure,” she said, thumping her skull-staff on the ground.

”Can I help in any way?”

”Forget it, you can’t. It isn’t a matter for children like you. You’d be nothing but cannon fodder in a war between the top elites in Ebonia, even with your capabilities. Your only task is to make sure that you live.”

”I see....” While Lin Xiao was right, Tianming didn’t feel good about it. ”Was it because I angered them by killing their disciples? Did I drag the Lin Clan down?”

”Never think of it that way. That’s the seed of weakness. The ebons will have finished occupying Moun Taia when we get back, so it has nothing to do with you at all!”

”Okay.” Tianming could only agree. ”Did Cousin Xiaoli return home?

”Her dad wanted her to join us, but that child insisted on going back to fight to the death alongside the Dongshen Clan, sigh....” It appeared that the ancient relic was really important to their clan. Some things were more valuable in what they represented than the direct benefits they provided, such as the Ancestral Swordheart. Those things stood for the talent, dedication, faith, and blood they had spilled as a clan. They were things that couldn’t afford to be given up on.

”Enough, don’t ask too much. Just prepare for your ceremony later,” Dongshen Yue said.

”Okay.”

Lin Xiong added, ”Feng’er, we’ll beckon the council to take action to let Brother Tiger back into the council. See if there’s something you can do to help.”

”Getting back into the council?” Tianming shot Lin Xiao a glance. He held the old man’s hand, only to find it shaking.

He said, ”I may be old and my hand may be shaky, but I can still kill my enemies.”