Beastmaster of the Ages

Nobody said a thing, but they shared the sentiment in their hearts. They let their passion resonate with their bloodline, spurring them into action. Every single one that answered to the council hall and was in the clan registry reddened near their ears and began wildly panting like bulls. They let out thundering roars, wielding their swordbeast-infused swords. All of them leapt into the demonic cloud, welcoming its stormy winds as they fought to protect their clan.

”I’ve never contributed anything in my life, so let me die for the second patriarch!”

”Hmph! Do you think you can kill the second patriarch with so many of us watching?! We’re no useless mannequins!”

”I don’t care who that is, but we’ll definitely be able to crush him with our combined might!”

They were no mere amateurs; all of them were main pillars of their respective families in the second branch. Lin Lang and Lin Bei, who had been at each other’s throats, charged at the very front, putting their differences aside. The spirit of unity against the adversaries of the Swordgod Lin Clan was nothing to scoff at! Before they clashed with their foes, barrages of abilities from their swordbeasts blasted out of the thousands of cosmic artifacts they wielded. Frost, flames, and lightning blasted into the demonic cloud with far more force than Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue could muster.

”Ancestral world monster! Behold! You won’t even get a chance to challenge the second patriarch!”

”Dissatisfied? Let me tell you that the Lin Clan loves nothing more than to gang up on our foes! We have a billion people here with us, and every one of us will spit on your face until you drown! Do you think you’ll be able to kill all of us?!”

A thousand cosmic cartographers weren’t scary in their own right. However, a thousand raging warriors filled with killing intent joining forces with each other was definitely nothing to scoff at. The creature had believed it would need to instantly take Lin Xiao down before wiping out the rest to put the situation to a close, yet the others had joined in and took the brunt of his assault. Facing a thousand people at the same time, he couldn’t even get a good grasp of Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue’s position.

”Everyone....” Lin Xiao was moved to tears, shaking with agitation.

”Let it go already. You’ve been the hero all your life. Can’t you let us have our time in the limelight as well?” Lin Bei groaned, his eyes glaring wide.

”Go, quickly! I said back then that you let our ancestors down by letting your line end with you, but now I’ve come to understand that Lin Feng alone, a descendant of yours, is far more worthy than a billion of my own. You have me convinced, you old dog! Your life is important—now, leave!” Lin Lang said. Even though they put it rather uncouthly, their ’reprimanding’ voices and expressions were filled with respect for Lin Xiao. While there was no pleasing everyone, some people somehow managed to earn the respect of all people like Ku and Lin Xiao.

”Brothers, if this goes on, more people will end up dead...” Lin Xiao said, voice hoarse. Among those thousand cosmic cartographers were bound to be some weaker ones who would be killed within two or three exchanges.

”So what? Do you think all fifty million people will be able to escape if you stay behind? Will they successfully make it to the Sun? Death will always come for all in the astralscape! If someone’s going to die either way, they should at least choose why! If I, Lin Bei, die for the sake of ensuring that the Lin Clan reaches the Sun safely, then let it be my destiny! I’ve been a supporting character to your heroism in the second branch for so long that it’s finally my turn to be the protagonist for once! What’s one little sacrifice compared to all that glory?

”We left the Infinitum Swordsea to go to our new home. Nobody shall stop us! It’s an act for pioneers! When have there not been sacrifices when new frontiers are explored? If it’s to contribute to the clan and our descendants, ensuring that they’ll have a safe and rich home, it’s worth trading my life for! Even if my soul remains here forever, my bloodline will be passed down through my family for eternity! I am proud! I am triumphant! I’m not like you, whose line will be gone if Lin Feng dies! Are you envious yet?”

The two brothers seemed extraordinarily excited that day, most of their drive stemming from the hopes placed on them. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to perform; they simply hadn’t had a chance to do so. No matter what had happened in the past, the fact remained that they’d been born into such a clan and had enjoyed its benefits. Each generation of their clan made progress one after another. Who wouldn’t want to be among those who pushed the envelope further so their names would be forever remembered in the clan registry, allowing their descendants to reminisce about them in awe and gratitude?

Nobody wanted to be a background character forever, never glowing bright. There would always be a force more important than life or death that drove people to fight for the causes they believed in. That was the main thing that differentiated man from beast apart from the tripartite soul. Sentimentality, loyalty, bloodline, and clan spirit had been deeply engraved in their bones.

”Enough rambling! Go!” The brothers glared at Lin Xiao one more time before charging toward the creature to protect him.

”Protect the second patriarch and Granny Dongshen!” The thunderous roar came from the fifty million people of the second branch. Everyone, be they old, young, man, or woman roared. Their wills were one and it put a lot of pressure on the creature and the Second Exterminatus Army.

People would be dying today, but Lin Lang and Lin Bei said that it was their wish. It was the most dignified thing they could do. What else could Lin Xiao say to them? He took a deep breath and met Dongshen Yue’s eyes.

She bitterly smiled and tightly she grasped her skull staff. Looking ahead, she said, ”Life is truly filled with interesting things. We used to be fighting among ourselves, but at a critical time like this, you were actually able to unite your fellow brothers and sisters for a battle to the death. Everyone loves and trusts you.”

Before Lin Feng had come back to them, that wasn’t something they ever could have imagined! The old couple used to be completely irrelevant. The words his wife uttered brought tears to Lin Xiao’s eyes. They fell heavily and without end. Without a word, he held the Sword in the Forest tight. He didn’t leave like they wanted. Instead, he let out an ear-shaking roar like he had in his youth. Like a fierce tiger, he shot past his fellow second branchers and fought at the very front, colliding with the alien from the ancestral world.

”Kill! Kill him so that our descendants have a future! The survival of our clan depends on us!”

The bravery and spirit shown by those of the second branch shook Lin Xiao to the core, yet his irrational charge seemed to be a sign that he had found a path upon which he could truly fight! He used to be filled with reluctance, but he had to get the fifty million members of the second branch to leave in those ships because he was trying to do what others wanted him to. Yet the Second Exterminatus Army quickly came onto their tail and they simply didn’t have enough time. Even if they had enough time to gather all fifty million people and the gigantic sword-ships, they would lose the opportunity to depart and face the risk of being wiped out by the first wave of enemy attacks.