Beastmaster of the Ages

Auntie’s hands are so soft.

After grabbing Suishen Jiguang’s hand, Tianming was pulled into the dark storm by her. The entire world was dead silent and she was the only shining light in front of him, her hair brushing against his face and her scent filling his nose. He wished he could stay like this forever.

Such a kind, dedicated, and pure woman should be allowed to fulfill her long-cherished wish! After all, he had also promised Suishen Yao that he would help her find her mother.

They passed the Blissful Union and headed toward its destination.

***

When leaving the monochrome planet, the tensource beast wrapped around the silver-haired valley lord’s arm suddenly frowned and turned toward the storm behind them.

”What’s wrong?” the valley lord asked in a deep voice.

”It seems like someone from House Suishen.” The beast wriggled its nose. Its sense of smell was so sensitive that it could even identify starblood in such a violent environment.

”You can tell it’s House Suishen?” Narrowing his gaze, the valley lord asked, ”Is it Suishen Xiao, Hongtian, ​​or Ranxing?” Only the three major-zenith elders could enter the depths of the Inner Yin.

”None of them. It’s Suishen Jiguang!” the beast said.

”The little girl? How can you tell?” the valley lord asked.

”Suishen Blood has a tempting fragrance. This one’s so rich it’s been brewing for at least two thousand years. How else could I have caught it? My sense of smell was damaged earlier and it’s only just begun recovering. I wouldn’t have known it was her a little while ago!” said the beast.

”Can we find her?” The valley lord frowned.

”She’s close, so she must’ve seen the astralship... but she can’t know that we failed to take control of it, right?” Qitian Muyu asked.

”It’s hard to say. There’ll be trouble if she returns and starts talking!” The valley lord’s eyes were filled with killing intent.

The most frustrating thing was that he, a dignified valley lord, already had to go back and put on a show to intimidate House Yumo and Suishen despite his failure. It would be dangerous if someone were to expose him, or even learn that he had been poisoned.

”Kill her.” They couldn’t afford to make any mistakes at such a critical juncture. Even if Suishen Jiguang knew nothing, she had to die.

Just as the valley lord made his decision, the tensource beast’s face fell. ”Dammit! The insects are rushing up my nose again—I lost her scent!” How could the poison left by the Yin-Yang World insects be so easy to remove? They were just like maggots clinging to a corpse!

One momentary interruption was all it had taken; it would be difficult to find Suishen Jiguang in the violent storm again.

”Go back first! We’ll wait for her in the Lumistar Formation!” said the valley lord.

”Yes!” Qitian Muyu nodded. His sister, Qitian Muyue, was still hiding near the formation. A fierce look flickered across their faces. Without another word, they continued on their way out.

Tianming and Suishen Jiguang, who’d traveled deeper into the Inner Yin, had no idea that they’d escaped another disaster.

***

Soon after, the valley lord and Qitian Muyu appeared near the continuously flashing Lumistar Formation. For the reverends in the Outer Yin, the flashing indicated that the calm season was about to end and the stormy season would soon arrive. If they failed to leave by then, they would surely die. Thus, a large number of reverends and eminents had already left via the Lumistar Formation.

In fact, many had been leaving over the past year. At this moment, there were less than five thousand remaining in the Yin-Yang World, hoping to try their luck, though they would also be forced to leave in the end.

”Return to Qitian Cave first,” the valley lord said to Qitian Muyu.

”What about you?”

”There’s too many people here. No one can see me in this condition,” said the valley lord, his voice cold.

”Yes!” Qitian Muyu nodded.

There were only two major zenith specters left in House Yumo. Qitian Muyu could still take charge even without the valley lord present. There wouldn’t be a problem, as long as it wasn’t a fight to the death. And he already had a plan for how to suppress House Yumo.

”Let your sister stay in hiding and watch for Suishen Jiguang. Kill her if there’s no one else around,” said the valley lord.

”What if there’s others present?”

”Then we can only wait.”

”Understood!” Qitian Muyu nodded and left.

When he turned around once more, the unhappiness in his eyes had completely faded, replaced by a look of arrogance. He looked as if he was planning something. After passing through the Lumistar Formation and briefly explaining the situation to Qitian Muyue, he hurried back to Myriadpath Valley to take charge. The eight specters of House Yumo wouldn’t be too far ahead of him.

In the Outer Yin.

”When Yumo Diyan returns, the first thing he’ll do is contact House Suishen....”

Among the members of House Suishen, Suishen Hongtian had just been released and had little say. Control of the house lay in the hands of Suishen Xiao and Suishen Ranxing.

”You’re telling me that Suishen Xiao and Suishen Hongtian are both near the Lumistar Formation?” The valley lord stared at his beast.

”Yes. Suishen Hongtian appears to be waiting for someone, while Suishen Xiao is watching him,” said the tensource beast. In terms of monitoring, it, which had recovered a little, was ahead of everyone else other than Yin Chen.

”What’re they up to?”

Close to the formation, Suishen Hongtian glanced at anyone who passed by. Wouldn’t he see them in their ragged state if they were to appear? How could he return and put on a show?

And if Suishen Hongtian caught sight of them, so would Suishen Xiao. The valley lord had never imagined that he would ever have to sneak around like a rat scurrying across the street, afraid of being seen. He was so angry his lungs were about to explode.

”The specters must’ve missed Suishen Hongtian and Suishen Xiao when they left. Otherwise they would already be plotting. So Suishen Ranxing’s the only one in Myriadpath Valley?”

Not all the members of House Suishen were present, so Qitian Muyu would have an easier time even if the two houses dared to join forces and start a war. But not even Suishen Ranxing could make such a big decision without the old patriarch. It was the only good news they had.

Thus, the valley lord and tensource beast were forced to wait for as long as Suishen Xiao and Suishen Hongtian remained. They watched the reverends and eminents leave the Yin-Yang World one by one as the storm in the Outer Yin grew more violent. The calm season was almost over.

However, both Suishen Hongtian and the valley lord were stunned to find that Suishen Jiguang, who they were waiting for, had yet to appear.

”The yin-yang essence storm will enter its most turbulent period in just a few days. Even a minor-zenith foundationeer won’t be able to stay in the Inner Yin for too much longer. Are we sure Suishen Jiguang isn’t going to leave?” The valley lord stared into the depths of the Yin-Yang World.

”The last person in this exact situation was also from House Suishen. Myriadpath Valley believes she’s dead. Half of her subsoul is gone,” the tensource beast sneered.

”Yes, isn’t she Suishen Xiao’s daughter-in-law, Suishen Xiyue?” The valley lord’s lips curled slightly.

”Yes. It looks like Suishen Xiao will lose another family member who has great hopes of reaching major zenith in the future. Hehe....” The tensource beast grinned.

It was, of course, a good thing for them.

BOOM!

The storm intensified. As time passed, the possibility of Suishen Jiguang coming out alive diminished.