Beastmaster of the Ages

”Your grandfather?” Lin Xiaodao couldn’t help but smile and said, ”What’re you thinking? With the second patriarch’s temperament, he wouldn’t leave even if the Infinitum Swordsea is taken over.”

”Don’t be too nervous. We’re discussing extreme scenarios. The best the Infinitum Swordsea can do for now is to be fully prepared. The protective barrier there is still active, right?” Li Wudi asked.

”Yes,” Lin Xiaodao nodded.

Tianming was the primary target of Shenxi Xingtian and couldn’t return to the Infinitum Swordsea. Wudi didn’t have much combat power outside the Sun, either. And Lin Xiaodao needed to protect Gladeus, so he couldn’t move. So, the question now was... was Shenxi Xingtian truly at a loss, or brewing a lethal strike?

......

Ebonia, Infinitum Swordsea.

It was an ancestral worship day.

In recent years of warfare, the business of the Lin Clan across the various regions had been greatly affected. Many core figures within the clan had retreated behind the barrier. Therefore, their ancestral worship ceremony was more lively than expected, with tens of thousands of astral gods alone.

The atmosphere at the Myriadsword Mausoleum was solemn. All the council members, led by Lin Xiao, knelt to perform the worship ritual. Throughout the solemn ceremony, everyone was meticulous, their eyes filled with reverence for their ancestors.

Family. Unity. Reverence for ancestors! Those were the most important concepts in the Lin Clan’s heritage.

Caeli, battle arts, bloodline, guardian formations, and astralships. All of those, and more, had been passed down by the ancestors to their descendants through generations of painstaking research. Even in death, their caeli still benefited their descendants.

Among the various Infinitum Regal Clans, the proportion of Lin Clan ancestors leaving behind caeli was the highest. The Myriadsword Emporium was established by the ancestors; how could the later generations not show reverence for them?

Within the Clan Registry Formation, name after name was recorded, representing the ”ancient and present” of the clan. Among them were many stories, as well as much blood and tears shed.

The Myriadsword Mausoleum and Clan Registry Formation couldn’t be moved. How could the graves of the ancestors be dug up?

Lin Clan disciple after disciple bowed and performed the kowtow, and in the vast Infinitum Swordsea, there was only reflection and complete silence.

After the ceremony, the disciples dispersed.

Recent events on Gladeus had been significant, and the top level of Ebonia had been unnaturally quiet like the calm before a storm. The high-pressure atmosphere made every Lin Clan disciple feel suffocated; they were all prepared for war.

On Ebonia, the Infinitum Swordsea was undoubtedly the most ”heated” place. After the ancestral worship ceremony, the various members of the council returned to the council hall. They performed three bows and nine kowtows before the ancestral tablets.

”Changkong, has Lingxiao set off yet?” After the ceremony, Lin Xiao stood next to the wooden door and looked up at the dark clouds in the sky.

”He’s departed. The kids with considerable potential have all gone, too. The secrecy should be sufficient this time. Since the Star Hunters are gone, as long as the ebons don’t deploy the Ebonfiend, they shouldn’t be able to catch up.” Last time, the Firmament had been pursued by the Star Hunters due to a lack of preparation.

”If this goes smoothly, for the next batch, we should send caeli. The children will need them,” Lin Xiao said.

”Second Patriarch?” All the members of the council were taken aback.

”Is it necessary to go that far?” Lin Xiong asked.

”My son was tricked by that woman. Little Yue said yesterday that she couldn’t trust her.... Of course, I can’t trust her either. If we were in decline, it would be fine. But now, Xiaodao and the others have ample resources. Who knows if they’ll get duped again? ” Lin Xiao smiled bitterly.

”That has indeed happened before,” Lin Changkong said.

”Being prepared is being safe. If it really comes down to an extreme scenario, that’s equivalent to the complete end of the Infinitum Bodhimanda. We can only rely on ourselves.” Lin Chongyao smiled.

”That would truly be a chaotic era,” Lin Changkong said.

”Heroes arise in troubled times. Xiaodao and Feng’er will all be heroes. Fortunately, they have the best resources now,” Lin Xiong said. That was their hope. With hope, they would have the strength and courage to fight to the death.

”Are you afraid?” Lin Xiong asked with a smile.

”What’s to be afraid of? The guardian formation is here! Our ancestors are here! When has the Swordgod Lin Clan ever been afraid? After two generations of rex mundi, we were targeted so badly by the ebons, yet our heritage remains intact.” Lin Chongyao said.

”Unity and mutual assistance are the strength of our Lin Clan. We’re a clan that fears neither heaven nor earth, and if they come at us fiercely, we’ll fight back just as fiercely! The ebons still have to defend against Yi Daiyan. Let’s see if they dare to die to us,” Lin Xiong said with roaring laughter.

They were truly courageous. They knew that, ultimately, Shenxi Xingtian regards Lin Xiaodao and Tianming as breakthrough points for the Gladean Ruins and Tianming himself. The lives of the Infinitum Swordsea’s people could indeed constrain Lin Xiaodao and Tianming. However, they had never considered becoming hostages. They would either fight or die!

”Even if we die, the Lin Clan still has a future! What we should truly fear are those bunch of underground rats!” Lin Xiao took a deep breath. ”So we need to be tough, set a good example for the younger generation, and die, rather than hold them back....”

......

Not far from the Infinitum Swordsea, among the mountains, a golden figure stood on the mountaintop and gazed at the sea ahead that was enveloped by a massive Myriadsword Formation. The golden figure took out a golden transmission stone and a phantom figure appeared inside.

”Senior, it’s me, Tianxi.” The golden figure, Shenxi Tianxi, said.

”Oh, what’s the matter?” The figure looked quite young and his figure gradually solidified, turning out to be Lin Jianxing.

”Senior, are you still inside the Infinitum Swordsea?” Shen Xi Tianxi asked.

”What if I am? What if I’m not?” ’Lin Jianxing’ asked.

”If you are, maybe there’s a chance for cooperation?” Shenxi Tianxi smiled.

”Cut it out! Your target is Lin Feng, and my target is also Lin Feng. Our goals conflict, so there’s no need for cooperation. Let’s just rely on our own means.” ’Lin Jianxing’ chuckled.

”That isn’t necessarily the case,” Tianxi said.

”Shenxi Tianxi!” ’Lin Jianxing’ coldly said. ”In recent years, I’ve recovered quite a bit. I advise you and your father to not think about targeting me or competing with me anymore. Otherwise, you’ll really die miserably. Understand?” After saying that, the figure disappeared.

”He’s quite hot-tempered,” Shenxi Tianxi helplessly said. ”However, in this world, things are unpredictable. Who knows, there might still be opportunities for cooperation.”

Strong winds swept the fallen leaves across the ground.

In the depths of the underground, the Ebonfiend, the peerlessly ferocious demon head, opened its crimson eyes.

In the Land of the Words Unspoken, the Illusionary Wings fluttered.

Tumultuous times were approaching Ebonia.