Beastmaster of the Ages

Tianming felt nothing but destruction after his lifebound beasts swallowed the 999-aperture manna and merged with his body. But there was something different this time. The tremors and change to the body caused by top-grade ordered manna were definitely accompanied with some pain and destruction. Unlocking the bloodline shackles was a process similar to evolution, a transformation of the entire being enacted by discarding the old and welcoming the new, which inevitably involved pain and suffering.

The difference was that he could also feel the joy of successful evolution, which overpowered everything else. The astrons belonging to Ying Huo, Meow Meow, Lan Huang, and Xian Xian were changing in shape and volume, and dramatically increasing in size. Lan Huang’s astrons in particular, which had not only doubled in size, but also in quantity. If it had its own body, it would have grown four times larger than it was before. However, its astrons were distributed over one leg and part of Tianming’s torso, reaching a terrifying density that also increased his overall astron density. Tianming could sense the hardiness of his flesh and explosive power concentrated in his leg and torso without even having to use his cosmoforce.

As a specter, Huang Daoxiong’s physique was as tough as cosmic artifacts, giving him the confidence to physically resist a weapon as powerful as the Grand-Orient Sword. Right now, Tianming’s flesh had reached the same level of resilience.

Lan Huang was one of the toughest Primordial Chaos Beasts, in terms of its physique, but it didn’t mean that Ying Huo, Meow Meow, and Xian Xian weren’t as strong. Their strengths simply lay elsewhere. Although Xian Xian’s astrons weren’t as large, it had over thirty times as many astrons as Lan Huang, so Tianming’s left leg actually had the highest astron density. That, combined with its abilities, balanced out both legs. Lan Huang was adept at attacking while Xian Xian was as steady as a mountain.

In comparison, the astrons in his arms were smaller, which was consistent with Ying Huo and Meow Meow’s sizes. Their transformation and abilities were what enhanced the toughness of Tianming’s flesh instead. Ying Huo’s sword-shaped feathers in particular were not only lethal, but also highly defensive, while Meow Meow’s lightning acted like a shield.

In fact, the four of them weren’t restricted to Tianming’s limbs. Ying Huo and Tianming’s infernal heart, Meow Meow and his genesis spleen, Lan Huang and his primordial lungs, as well as Xian Xian and his radix liver were all connected in an extensive interoperation. Their astrons were evenly spread out over his torso and converged at his chest. In fact, his “specter physique” had no weaknesses and was as authentic as a skyghoul like Huang Daoxiong.

Tianming possessed maximum protection, with the Skysoul Tower and Ying Huo and Meow Meow’s resilience reaching all the way to his head. Formed by the integration of the Purple Tower and Soul Tower, the Skysoul Tower could protect him against everything except the dark mirror spirit.

”There’s no doubt they’ve successfully evolved with the three-hundred-aperture manna.”

Although his lifebound beasts had failed to evolve with the 999-aperture manna, their previous experience had laid the groundwork for this evolution. It almost felt like a walk in the park, and as their “host”, Tianming certainly didn’t feel as much destructive energy as he had before.

”How do you feel?” he asked. As the power of the manna was gradually absorbed by the beasts, his body grew strong and he regained composure.

”They’ve been fully absorbed. It feels like our broken bodies have healed a little. I’m going to try coming out.” Ying Huo was smaller in size and more agile; it made sense for it to try first.

Tianming’s right arm burned with pain. Looking down, the sword-shaped feathers were being pulled out of his skin. Under the feathers were countless Aeternal Infernal Phoenix astrons that resembled molten iron. They poured out from his pores and slowly came together outside his body.

”Ah!”

The process was naturally accompanied by pain. Tianming was sweating bullets, but there wasn’t much he could do except grit his teeth and take it. It felt like piece after piece of his flesh was being ripped off of his entire arm.

”How’s it going?” he asked. The molten iron and sword-shaped feathers began forming the shape of a little yellow chicken before his eyes.

”I’m almost there. I think it’ll work....” Ying Huo’s voice trembled. It was obviously very difficult for it to reassemble its astrons into its previous form after its body had crumbled. But it was giving it its all.

Tianming felt his heart race. Although the fusion of man and beast worked wonders, they weren’t in their right form; they were injured. Returning to their former state was best. His anxiety grew as Ying Huo inched closer to success.

But at that moment, a loud boom resounded. The cluster of astrons that was about to form a little yellow chicken suddenly fell apart and drilled into his arm like casting molten iron on his skin. An ugly grimace formed on his face as the pain hit.

It was a failure. Ying Huo returned to Tianming’s arm, its cosmic chart fusing to his infernal heart, their cosmoforce merging together once more.

”Dammit! I was so close!” Ying Huo snapped.

A while later, they were completely joined together again and the pain had subsided. Tianming shook his head. ”If that’s the case, your form will still be unstable even if you succeed by some fluke. Who knows? Your body might just crumble in a fight.”

”You’re right! But dammit! The world has lost my heroic figure again!” Ying Huo lamented.

”It’s fine. I guess I’ll continue being a tainted beastmaster. They already despise me anyway,” Tianming said.

”It’s good news though! You got close, and that proves we’ll eventually return to our normal selves if we continue absorbing better manna and improving our cultivation level!” Xian Xian cheered.

”You’re the smart one, sister,” Ying Huo praised.

”Of course!” Xian Xian proudly said.

Meow Meow and Lan Huang looked confused; anyone with a brain could figure that out....