Beastmaster of the Ages

The burns on Qitian Jian had been caused by the energies in Tianming’s body that were converted by the solar sigil. That was what made maniverse-class battle techniques amazing!

Even though Qitian Jian could still fight, his myriadpath ring had already registered his loss after a certain injury threshold. People knew that the fight had come to an end when the Fortuna Arena opened once more.

”Pathkeeper Li won!”

”It really is the Greatsun Suishen Art. What an amazing move to witness.”

”Thanks to the battle technique, Pathkeeper Li has far too big of an edge! Coupled with his fourfold simulacrum, I suppose it’s reasonable for him to be able to defeat the strongest first-level foundationeer as a cosmic cartographer.”

”A miracle like Pathkeeper Li only appears once in tens of millions of years.”

On the Prehistoric Path, Tianming had dominated peers similar to his age. He had also managed to gain the recognition of the ancestors from the great Suishen steles. Many eminents from powerful houses began fervently discussing him.

”Based on the power he’s shown, I think it’s even possible for him to defeat the second-level Suishen Yao.”

”That’s right. Suishen Yao didn’t have an easy time taking down Qitian Jian, either.”

”Pathkeeper Li doesn’t seem intent on doing so, though. It would look really bad for him to beat his wife after just marrying her yesterday.”

People laughed at the thought of that. Even so, their laughter didn’t wipe away the shock they felt in the least.

”Since when were geniuses of Myriadpath Valley capable of challenging those above their level? Not to mention, there was a difference of two levels this time.” They believed that Tianming was a twelfth-level cosmic cartographer. Nobody would believe that he was only at the eighth level.

”Qitian Jian truly had a streak of bad luck. He isn’t bad at all, but he became a stepping stone for three people in a row.”

”Yeah. It’s just unfortunate.”

”Hopefully the strong values of House Qitian have prepared him to endure the mental blow.”

As people talked, Qitian Jian blanked out after the battle ended until a hand appeared before his eyes. It was Tianming’s!

”Brother Qitian, you went easy on me.”

”Heh.” Qitian Jian grabbed his hand and pulled himself up. He took a deep breath and looked at Tianming with admiration. ”I’ve lost three times in a row, but my loss against you was the most convincing one.”

”You flatter me,” Tianming said.

”I am serious. I look forward to your future in Myriadpath Valley.” Such a gentlemanly display gave people no room to mock him at all. Qitian Jian was an individual that people simply couldn’t make fun of. He had proudly fought and fairly lost, and even accepted his loss with grace.

”It’s a shame about Yumo Xue’s death. He wouldn’t have been able to stay at the top spot for long with you around,” Qitian Jian said before waving goodbye and returning to his group.

Those of House Qitian congratulated Tianming without saying much else, then left. Tianming had risen to the second spot of the Fortuna Ranking. There had been no red-and-black name before his that’d risen to such a height. And there probably wouldn’t be any that would follow.

In time, he would get even more merit and springwater.

”Congratulations, Pathkeeper Li and House Suishen!”

Many people, reverends and above, came forward to say their piece and formally get acquainted with Tianming. Tianming remembered each and every one of them, leaving no room for dissatisfaction. He knew that the fact that those elites had humbled themselves and taken the initiative to get to know him meant they were opportunities. They represented a top faction in Myriadpath Valley.

Suishen Yao couldn’t even squeeze her way through to him and angrily crossed her arms.

”Sis, everyone’s saying you’ll go back to second place forever soon enough,” Suishen Zhao said.

”Go away!” she snapped. She knew that it was only a matter of time before Tianming would dominate her... but only in the Fortuna Ranking, of course.

***

After the duel, Tianming had to wait for his springwater and merit to pile up to a decent amount. He had wanted to go to the Suishen Ancestral Hall or the upper ruins of the Grand Myriadpath Ruins for some cultivating, but Yin Chen’s urgent report changed things.

Given his high status, he no longer worried about his Yin Chens being discovered, so he let them roam anywhere there weren’t formations to stop him. Most people weren’t safe from his prying eyes.

”What’s going on?” Tianming asked.

”If you... don’t deal... with this... you’ll become... a goner...” Yin Chen said.

Tianming immediately asked it to elaborate. It sounded far too urgent. It was actually two different things. The first had to do with Gongsun Yan. Yin Chen had kept its eye on him the entire time since they had returned. At first, he merely cultivated after the debriefing of his mundus mission. But today he actually went to meet Lan Yun’s other three disciples, all of whom were foundationeers!

Gongsun Yan said, ”Senior Brothers, you must’ve been rather troubled lately, right? I know a mundus with amazing local beauties. Do you want to go there to have fun?”

”Is it the mundus you went to the last time?”

”That’s right! Oh, that smooth, white skin! Even though their acting rex mundi is super used goods, there were quite a lot of other clean beauties. It’s really exotic, I assure you,” Gongsun Yan said.

”Well, if you’re inviting us, how can we refuse?”

”But wait. There’s still a long line at the Myriadpath Celestial Formation. Let’s go after this wave of people are done.”

”There’s too few women in Myriadpath Valley, and they’re all proud and stuck up. No matter how hard we try, we’re nothing but black ring disciples and they completely ignore us. I’m going insane.”

”At least when Master was still around, I could dream about her! But now....”

Gongsun Yan was an eleventh-level cosmic cartographer, while the other three were first-level foundationeers. However, their status was among the lowest of the low. They were far from comparable to Qitian Jian and around the age of five hundred, having not the slightest chance of getting into the Maniverse Ranking.