Beastmaster of the Ages

To think that Yin Chen would know even that.... What a monster. The giant pink star still hung above their heads. It was basically a nova source world that wasn’t bound by a formation! Just those two amazing lifebound beasts had made Lin Changkong, Lin Chongyao, and the others even more confident in Tianming.

”Feng’er, what do you think about Lin Jianxing?” Lin Xiao asked.

”When I was in the ancestral world, I most certainly destroyed all of his astral organs. His divine soul was completely exterminated. Like Tianxi said, the one who’s occupying his body now is some kind of monster from the ancestral world. He’s basically a corpse suit,” Tianming assured.

”That’s... troublesome,” Lin Xiong said.

Lin Xiao shot him a glance and said, ”That’s right. With Feng’er’s reputation in the clan, Tianxi would definitely try to make his move in the shadows. Otherwise it’ll incur our full rage. However, that monster from the ancestral world is something that doesn’t have anything holding it back, making it the hardest kind of foe to defend against. I’m worried that it might use Lin Jianxing’s identity to work with Lin Yun and the rest.”

”Those fellows are completely unhinged. They’ve been defeated so badly this time around that they’ll probably be desperate enough to do something without regarding the consequences,” Lin Xiong said.

”Feng’er, can you locate them right now?” Lin Xiao asked.

”No. They’ve already detected Yin Chen, so they’re being extra careful. They’ve hidden themselves in the Infinitum Swordsea and could appear at any time,” Tianming said. The fact that they could so completely hide themselves was a testament to their strength. Tianxi was powerful, but the fake Lin Jianxing was a complete wild card.

”As long as they remain hidden, we’re all at risk of lethal danger,” Lin Changkong said.

Lin Chongyao nodded his agreement and looked at Tianming. ”Fortunately, we’re aware of their presence, as well as the fact that that monster came from the ancestral world. Lin Feng definitely wouldn’t be able to survive if we’d been completely left in the dark.”

”That’s right!”

Discovering the presence of such a dangerous being was relieving, albeit a little chilling, even for Tianming.

The ebons sent the ninth rex mundi to assassinate me. That must mean they really want the Order Relic! Though he knew the extent of their plans, he wasn’t too worried, as Huang Qi wouldn’t let him die. However, the ones around him might be in danger, and Huang Qi wouldn’t care about them.

Lin Xiao and the rest were discussing countermeasures.

”Tianxi won’t be too hard to deal with. We just need to find an excuse to invite him to discuss an alliance with our clan. Let’s see if he’ll show up. We’ve already fully looked into him, so by now we might as well just bring him out into the light. If he doesn’t show up, we can just spread the word that he’s negotiating with us to draw him out anyway,” Lin Changkong said.

”Alright. That’ll work,” Lin Xiao agreed. The difference between the two threats was far too stark. One of them was clear, but the other was a complete mystery.

”The monster won’t be as easy to deal with. Still, we have to warn everyone in the clan that Lin Jianxing’s nothing but a corpse puppet. That way, he won’t be able to use that identity to his advantage. We’ll announce it first, before going to Lin Jie and Lin Yun to tell them what’s going on,” Lin Chongyao said.

”We’re being invaded by a foreign force. Let’s hope Lin Yun snaps out of it this time around and unites with us,” Lin Xiao said with exasperation.

”Brother Tiger, even if we do that, Feng’er and the rest won’t be safe just yet. The combined might of those two far outstrips ours. If they decide to shed all pretenses and go all out on us, the formation here at Brokensword Peak might not hold. I suggest we transfer Feng’er to the council hall right away. It’s the safest place in the entire clan,” Lin Xiong said.

”Alright.” Lin Xiao had been to the hall lately, so he knew how safe it was.

”The problem is that Feng’er has to go to the reges mundi level for cultivation and to the Swordsoul Purgatory to obtain the subsequent sword arts there. Not to mention, what if he needs to shop at the corporation? He can’t be locked in the council hall for all time,” Dongshen Yue said through clenched teeth. While the council hall wasn’t that small, it was a place of tranquility. Tianming would no doubt feel rather cooped up there if he couldn’t leave it at all.

”Let’s at least wait until the situation stabilizes a little. If he really needs to leave, at least have me and Second Patriarch accompany him,” Lin Changkong said.

”That’s the best we can do for now. Since it’s urgent, we’ll transport Feng’er before making an announcement to the clan. If Tianxi doesn’t show up, we’ll announce his conversation with that monster to the public,” Lin Xiao said.

”If we do that, that’ll mean we’re completely breaking off things with the ebons. Lin Jie’s side won’t agree, nor will the ebons admit it,” Lin Chongyao said.

”They’re the ones who had resorted to underhanded methods first. We can’t remain passive forever. While the Swordgod Lin Clan isn’t capable of going against the ebons right now, we still can’t take it sitting down! The ebons can’t afford to antagonize any of the Infinitum Regal Clans anyway,” Lin Xiong said with seething anger. He was probably thinking of Lin Dan, who had died due to an ebon plot. When Lin Xiong was younger, he’d had quite an impressive reputation himself. Not to mention, he had a point in that the ebons couldn’t afford to openly start anything with them if they wanted to stand a chance against Yi Daiyan.

”Second Patriarch, stand firm,” Lin Changkong said. He had a feeling that, with Lin Xiao’s participation, the atmosphere within the clan had somewhat changed. The spirit of unity and courageous struggle seemed to have returned to them.

”We have no choice. If we’re too nice, we’ll only be trampled on,” Lin Xiao said.

”Chi Hun must be regretting that he didn’t manage to kill Brother Tiger using the divine wonderians. But now they’re attempting to use that alien monster against us. We have to react accordingly,” Lin Xiong said.

”That’s right. Things don’t look good for the ebons,” Lin Chongyao said.

”Still, we can’t expect Feng’er to be constantly watching out for his life,” Dongshen Yue said, sighing at the sight of the four youths. Lin Xiao and the others mirrored her thoughts.

”Oh, I think there’s someone who can help,” Lin Changkong said.

”Who would that be?”

”The one in Gladeus.”

”He’s never cared about what happens here in the Infinitum Swordsea. Lin Yun and I have gone to Gladeus to see him, and even asked him to show up at the council hall, but he ignored us,” Lin Xiong said.

”I went to see him alone. He actually came out to meet me,” Lin Changkong said.

”Huh? What do you mean?” Lin Xiong asked. He had been given the cold shoulder and was quite unhappy about it. Fortunately, Lin Yun had been ignored as well.

”Same as usual. He said that the Infinitum Swordsea has nothing to do with him. However, I did have a friendly sparring match with him as an exchange,” Lin Changkong said.

”How’d it go?” many hurriedly asked.

Lin Changkong furrowed his brows. ”He’s a truly freakish genius. It was my complete loss, and I felt like he hadn’t even used his full power. He uses many odd abilities, and it’s been three centuries since his ranking was updated during the reges mundi battle back then. I believe he should easily be in the top ten, but it’s a guess at best.”

”Top ten? He’s already that powerful?”