Beastmaster of the Ages

Back at the Infinitum Swordsea, updates on the battle at the Sun were constantly received. While they were slightly delayed, it was still fast enough to let the Lin Clan stay relatively updated on the latest developments.

At first, hearing about the three million astral gods had caused the confidence of the Lin Clan to remain low. Yet the fact that the Sun had been able to hold out since the start against an army of that magnitude gave them some reassurance. Thanks to the delay, they were still waiting for the next update.

The entire clan had finished packing their cultivation resources into their ships. Additionally, everyone, whether they were willing or not, had forcefully been moved into the ships by the steadfast and iron-fisted orders of the council hall. Lin Xiao and the rest understood that it would result in internal strife once they settled down in the Sun. Those in the clan that weren’t happy with how they ran things right now would definitely use it to argue their own side. The clan had always had dissenting voices, and Lin Xiao, Tianming, and the others would only be able to reinforce their side once they won. Now, however, they were still not on stable footing.

In fact, Lin Xiao and the rest knew that many members of the clan were in touch with Lin Jie, betraying the clan by leaking information and making plans to gather outside. That was a worrying development; fate had devised yet another way to sow internal strife in the clan.

Nobody knew for sure which way was best for the clan’s survival. If they abandoned the tenth branch and Lin Feng by submitting to the ebons and becoming their minions, was that akin to restoring the Lin Clan to its former glory or utterly killing what made it so amazing in the first place? Alas, the future wasn’t theirs to see. Either way, Lin Xiao’s faction forcefully dragged everyone along.

During such a tense situation, new word of the battle reached the council hall with highest priority. ’Immediately break through!’ The words caused everyone in the hall to hold their breaths. The fact that the missive contained only three words showed unbelievable confidence and certainty. Though they had all been expecting the signal, actually receiving it still took them aback.

”Are we... really going?”

”Is this the right time? Could Xiaodao have sent it too early?”

”Should we wait for more updates? I heard that the three million troops of the Exterminatus Army have just come out to fight!”

The ones who said that were Xiaodao’s elders. They still weren’t confident enough to fully trust in him. The lives of a billion people rested on their decision, and once they committed to the exodus, there would be no turning back.

”No matter how things turn out, we mustn’t forget our clan’s core values: mutual trust and cooperation. That is the foundation upon which we’ve survived till now... the core of our spirit as was passed down by our forebears. Let’s move out right away! Everyone to your stations! We’ll begin the exodus!” Lin Xiao drew the Sword in the Forest, brandishing it up high as he made his announcement as loudly as he could.

All the ancestral plaques in the hall had been moved aboard the ships. He knew better than anyone that the slightest bit of hesitation after receiving that message would cause a lot of trouble to the youths that were out there fighting.

”Give the order to depart!” Lin Changkong said.

”First Branch, depart immediately!” Lin Chongyao howled with passion and spirit.

”Sixth Branch, let’s go!” Lin Xiong roared.

”Second Branch!”

”Eighth Branch!”

All the council members gave the order with full fervor, despite still feeling uncertain. They flew out of the council hall to their respective ships; soon, they would abandon the Infinitum Swordsea, their generational home, a billion people heading toward a new and unknown future. What other Infinitum Regal Clan in Ebonia could possibly possess the bravery to undertake such a thing? Perhaps none other than the Swordgod Lin Clan.

”While it would seem like we’ve lost everything by abandoning the Infinitum Swordsea, if we succeed, we’ll no longer have any weaknesses! One day, we’ll conquer countless stars!” That was the spirit that sustained the entire generation.

All the council members were in position, along with their ships. There were twenty-plus ether-class ships and three-hundred-plus sanctuary-class ships hovering in the air, blasting nova source away and causing the Infinitum Swordsea to rumble. The swords left behind by countless generations of ancestors surged. They had taken away almost everything; many ships were filled to the brim with the goods sold by the clan’s corporation. Even when items were stored in spatial rings, they would still add to the weight, so while it wouldn’t take up much space, all those things still affected the ships’ speed and maneuvering.

The corporation’s products were only one part of the equation. They also had to deal with caeli, ancestral remains, plaques, guidance steles, and so much more. They had even managed to move as much of the Myriadsword Mausoleum as they could. How could they allow the resting place of their ancestors to be trampled upon? While moving the resting place itself would disturb their slumber somewhat, perhaps they would understand if it was done to move them to an even more magnificent and peaceful place on the Sun. All of that represented the final bet that the Lin Clan had made on this new future.

”Commence!”

The word echoed throughout all the ships that were packed full of nervous people. It was as if hearing that pierced through their swordhearts, causing arguments to spread like wildfire.

”Are we leaving now?”

”What’s going on?!”

”Who was the one who asked us to depart? Lin Xiaodao?”

”We can’t leave! No! We’ll perish if we abandon the Infinitum Swordsea!”

”This is insane! Why do we have to risk our lives? We were fine in the Infinitum Swordsea and didn’t break any of the Infinitum Bodhimanda’s laws! The ebons and Yi Daiyan have no right to touch us! The one who’s rebelling is Lin Xiaodao!”

”Lin Jie! Lin Jie! When are you coming to save us? Lin Lao’er, the second patriarch, is senile! He sees nothing but that precious grandson of his and wants all of us to be buried with him!”

”Let me go! Let me go or I’ll off myself in front of you!”

The loudmouthed ones were the most eye-catching. They uncontrollably howled, throwing tantrums with as much force as they could muster and drawing many eyes to them, making others believe that their voices were the majority’s. Most of them chose to remain silent, however, for they subconsciously felt some trust in Tianming and the rest after their repeated victories, especially against the Star Hunters.

Lin Xiao and the rest knew that troublemakers would definitely appear right at the most crucial moment. They couldn’t allow hesitation to fester at a time like this, so they gave the call to isolate all the troublemakers, forcefully pushing down their insanity.

”Swordgod Lin Clan, depart!”