Beastmaster of the Ages

While Mu Fu excitedly described his son’s experience, Shrine Master Mu repeatedly circled the boy, inspecting him from top to bottom. He even tore open his flesh to observe whether xeno fatigue still affected his astrons. The more he studied Mu Ling, the more shocked and excited he became.

”Is there really someone who can heal xeno fatigue?” Not even Shrine Master Mu could believe it. ”What’d that person tell you?” After a thorough examination, Shrine Master Mu was completely convinced.

”He said that my son is proof that he can save your daughter, Mu Zhizhi, but he wants five grade-four order fragments in return. So he wants you to send Miss Mu Zhizhi and the five order fragments to an isolated location where he’ll do the healing and receive payment....” Mu Fu solemnly relayed Tianming’s instructions, for fear that he might miss something.

”Five grade-four order fragments? That person sure has a big appetite!” Shrine Master Mu laughed.

”But isn’t it worth it if you can save Miss Mu Zhizhi?” Mu Fu asked.

”Of course it’s worth it! The chance to change one’s destiny and become normal again after being afflicted with xeno fatigue is priceless. He can definitely ask for a higher price, but he wouldn’t have come to me if that was what he wanted.... It looks like he knows what resources I have,” Shrine Master Mu said.

”Shrine Master, do you want to begin right away?” Mu Fu asked.

”There’s no need to rush.” Shrine Master Mu lowered his head, his eyes flickering. He seemed to be pondering something deeper.

”Do you suspect the person will cheat you of your order fragments? Perhaps he has no intention of saving your daughter?” Mu Fu asked.

Shaking his head, Shrine Master Mu turned to Mu Ling and said, ”What’d he use to save you?”

”Nothing. He seemed to absorb the xeno fatigue out of me and into his body. But I didn’t notice any traces of xeno fatigue in him after that,” Mu Ling obediently answered.

”How strong do you think he is?” Shrine Master Mu asked.

”I’m not sure, but he doesn’t feel like an elder. I think he’s quite young, and maybe a little weaker than my father?” Mu Ling scratched his head.

”He’s weaker than me? But I’m a sixth-level cosmic cartographer.” Mu Fu hadn’t expected this. He had quickly rushed to the shrine, thinking that Tianming was an extraordinarily powerful expert.

”So...” narrowing his gaze, Shrine Master Mu continued, ”he can heal xeno fatigue not because he’s a super expert, or because he has any special means, but because he luckily possesses the ability to absorb its power!”

Realization dawned upon Mu Fu. ”That makes sense! If he were a powerful expert beyond the Foundation stage, he wouldn’t need such caution to obtain a few order fragments that aren’t even useful for a cosmic cartographer! He must be young and not very strong.”

”Yes....” Shrine Master Mu floated in the air with his hands behind his back. After the initial shock and excitement, his gaze was calm and dangerous.

”Mu Fu, you asked if this person would take the order fragments without healing my daughter...” Shrine Master Mu continued.

”Yes.”

”He’ll heal her because it won’t cost him anything. The reason he won’t show himself isn’t because he’s reluctant to help, but because he’s afraid of being controlled and losing his life. That’s just human nature. His behavior is only natural. After all, he isn’t strong,” said Shrine Master Mu.

”Shrine Master, let’s do what he says to save Big Sister Mu. She can’t wait any longer. This map was given to me by my benefactor. He marked out a location and wants you to leave Big Sister Mu there.” Mu Ling pulled out a piece of parchment from his spatial ring. It was a specialty of the Xenoabyss.

Taking the map, Shrine Master Mu looked at it and coldly smiled. ”The location he chose is pretty good. He wants to escape underground. It won’t be easy to catch an outworlder like him once he returns to the astralscape of order.”

”Catch?” Mu Fu and his son were stunned.

”You want to capture him, Shrine Master?” Mu Fu asked.

Glancing at him, Shrine Master Mu said, ”Don’t you know what it means to be able to heal xeno fatigue? If we hand him over to His Majesty, what awaits us is a lifetime of glory and wealth! I won’t have to stay in this godforsaken place and deal with these losers.”

”Yes....” Mu Fu was shocked.

”Once the news spreads, it’ll shock the antiquiteans and other forces. The significance is too great. There might even be super experts who come to ask for help. We’ll be rich as long as we can control this person! In fact, it isn’t just a matter of wealth. The antiquiteans will rise as long as he lives,” said Shrine Master Mu.

”But...” Mu Ling interrupted, ”my benefactor said that he won’t show up if we try any tricks and he warned us against any ideas. What if he doesn’t save Big Sister Mu?”

”Shut up!” Mu Fu shouted.

In any case, Mu Ling had completely recovered and wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. Instead of stopping Shrine Master Mu, Mu Fu would agree with anything he said.

Amidst the dark mist, Shrine Master Mu no longer showed excitement, but was lost in thought. ”Mu Fu, gather our brothers. We’ll lay low first. He won’t be able to leave once he’s saved my daughter,” Shrine Master Mu said, his expression gloomy.

His words left Mu Ling stunned. He couldn’t figure it out—wasn’t his savior a benefactor? Wasn’t Shrine Master Mu eager to heal Big Sister Mu? Why risk it?

There were many conflicts of interest in the adult world and things weren’t so simple. Shrine Master Mu loved his daughter, but he also loved himself. There was no way he would pass up such an opportunity.

”Yes, Shrine Master. I’ll make arrangements right away.” Mu Fu bowed, leaving Mu Ling behind for Shrine Master Mu to study. But just as he was about to exit the hall, Mu Fu suddenly let out a scream.

”What’s going on?” Shrine Master Mu quickly rushed over to the entrance. Following Mu Fu’s gaze, he saw a sentence carved into the rocks outside the hall.

It said, Mu Fu, gather our brothers. We’ll lay low first. He won’t be able to leave once he’s saved my daughter.

Those were the exact words that Shrine Master Mu had just said. Not a single word was left out. Shrine Master Mu knew best what it meant and his expression drastically altered.

”There are more words in front,” Mu Fu said.

Shrine Master Mu quickly walked over to see what was written.

I’ll give you one last chance. Don’t try to be smart. I can choose anyone to save, but you only have one daughter.

Shrine Master Mu turned gloomy upon reading the words.