Beastmaster of the Ages

Eminent Ranxing was the father of the Suishen siblings. They also had a grandfather, but Tianming had no idea how terrifying he was.

Almost a hundred eminents stared at Tianming at the same time, but Eminent Ranxing’s gaze was especially scathing. Walking toward him felt like swimming in a flaming river of stars. Every step Tianming took, he felt something push back against him, ravaging his body bit by bit.

”This is tough!” Tianming held his breath and grit his teeth, letting the Order Relic resist the power of order that swept toward him. Few fortuna disciples would be capable of such a feat.

The reason Suishen Zhao had such an easy time walking was that he wasn’t under any suppression at all. Almost all of the suppressive aura was focused on Tianming alone. But the more that was the case, the higher the rebellious spirit in Tianming rose. He wouldn’t let it show on his face, however, and only wore a stoic expression that seemed completely unbothered.

As everyone watched, he reached the eminents. ”Disciple Li Tianming greets Your Eminences!”

The other eminents looked at him without saying a word, as it was Eminent Ranxing that had summoned him. Suishen Zhao gave Tianming a nudge to remind him of that fact.

”My most humble greetings, Eminent Ranxing.”

The middle-aged man had long, flowing black hair. His face was prominently rectangular and he gave off a mighty presence. He cast a blazing gaze at Tianming with his arms behind his back, as if he wanted to look through him. The first thing he said to Tianming was, ”Manifest your totems.”

”Yes, Eminent!” Tianming manifested the decapath era godswords from the bane-rings on his arms. They rose into the air, all ten swords of different make. Everyone turned their attention away from the Fortuna Path and Maniverse Path toward Tianming’s totems.

Eastdivinity Acme, Westvoid Progenifiend, Southsky Chaos and Northapex Perpetuity, all four cardinal swords, brightly glowed. The other six displayed their unique polar aspects of heaven and earth, life and death, and space and time. Now that everyone had gotten a clear look of his totems, they began to evaluate them differently, including many totemancers.

”Are those supposed to be fragmented totems?”

”There’s no way!”

”He’s a true decabane! Unlike House Suishen, he doesn’t need to manifest his vita as a totem!”

”Attack me,” Eminent Ranxing instructed.

”Yes!” Tianming didn’t hold back and instantly sent the totem swords shooting toward the eminent, who widened his eyes and closely observed each and every sword.

”Flame, darkness, death, spacetime? A single set of totems that has ten different aspects....” Not even Eminent Ranxing could completely see through the full extent of those aspects’ powers.

”It’s truly rare! The aspects of those totems aren’t trash, either. They seem pretty potent,” said another curious eminent.

”So this is a true decabane? I’ve never seen something like this.”

”So true decabanes do exist in the astralscape of order....”

The forty-odd totemancer eminents seemed rather dazed at the sight.

”I knew there was a reason for his comprehension talent and capabilities at his age. Being a true decabane must be the source of his talent.”

”It’s a sign of true totemancer talent! It’s not a fluke!”

”Who was the one that said he was a fragmented totemancer? How laughable! His totems possess great potential!”

”The key lies in his simulacra....”

The eminents had a rough idea and immediately focused on the key point.

”How many folds of simulacrum can you use so far?” Eminent Ranxing asked, loosening up and allowing Tianming to pull his totems back. ”Onefold,” Tianming said without hiding anything. It sparked quite a commotion. Having only onefold simulacra in a place like Myriadpath Valley made him seem rather pitiful.

”Ten totems, but only a onefold simulacrum?”

”That’s far too specific and narrow....”

”No matter how many bane-rings he has, we can’t ignore such a weak simulacrum....”

”It’s such a shame. It’s no wonder totems aren’t his strong suit. If he didn’t have his lifebound beasts, he’d be weak because of such a low-tier simulacrum.”

”However, that doesn’t mean that his simulacra are limited. He isn’t even eighty years old and has been cultivating almost all his life in an outer mundus. When I was his age, I only had a twofold simulacrum. What could it mean....”

”It means that once his simulacra improve, he’ll have an even more terrifying arsenal!”

”Really? Doesn’t that mean he’s really powerful on all fronts?”

Even Lan Yun had mocked Tianming for wanting to be a jack of all trades but master of none, yet he’d proven to those in Myriadpath Valley that he indeed had the potential to be a master of all. His lifebound beasts were obviously stronger than those of normal beastmasters. He had ten totems, but limited simulacra. While few people had studied his divine wonders, they’d heard terrifying things about them.

”Truly, a gem in the rough!”

”All of you recall that House Suishen is great at improving simulacra, right? All that’s required is an experienced person’s guidance and perhaps something like Suishen Blood to improve that talent. If Eminent Ranxing really decides to nurture him, he might be able to make up for that weakness!”

”If even we can figure that out, no doubt Eminent Ranxing can as well.”

Everyone awaited Eminent Ranxing’s decision.

”Father?” Suishen Zhao’s hands were clenched tight. He didn’t say anything, but it was clear that he was worried that his father would disappoint him. He hoped that Tianming’s record of fifteen seconds would shatter his father’s prejudice.

Eminent Ranxing ignored his son and focused on Tianming, then he had a few hushed discussions with the eminents of House Suishen. Tension built up until he turned to look at Tianming sternly. ”Li Tianming.”

”Yes!” Tianming slightly bowed.

”We’ve come to the conclusion that you’re a prospective eminent!” Eminent Ranxing declared.

It was an explosive revelation—Tianming had been officially recognized by other eminents as a prospective eminent! It wasn’t something that eminents would carelessly proclaim. They had to be completely certain, as that marker immediately set becoming an eminent as the disciple’s goal, changing their status and identity in the process.

Huang Daosheng, for instance, had completely changed House Huang’s position just because Eminent Tiankui had proclaimed him a prospective eminent. Reverend Daolie boasted about it everywhere he went and began aiming to make House Huang a sacred house.

Prospective eminents were superior to gold ring disciples and only inferior to minor pathkeepers, who numbered only ten in the Fortuna Ranking, all of whom were from the Three Exalted Houses.

With this, I’ve gained an official untouchable status in Myriadpath Valley! Even without the Suishen siblings, the likes of Reverend Daolie won’t be able to mess with me any longer!