Beastmaster of the Ages

”That makes sense,” the others said.

Yanri Huang’s explosive voice continued, ”This is a war, after all, but once it ends, the pressure Starmoon Haven puts on the slaves must intensify! Just brainwashing them has simply not been enough. To truly conquer a race, we have to conquer the minds of their descendants. We have to make them submit to their low stations the moment they’re born! We cannot give these livestock any chance to cultivate and get one over us. I believe that lesson should be internalized by everyone in the Eightpart Pantheons all across the Upper Star Ruin!”

”Agreed!” The other cosmic gods nodded.

***

There was an underground complex in Starmoon Haven within which many ragged people gathered. Most of them were astral gods who were under two meters tall, huddling together and silently waiting. At that moment, an old man came in with a face filled with agitation, holding a jade stone in his hand.

”Great Grandpa!” the thousands cried in unison.

”This is something Lord Long Xing sent! I heard there’s news about Emperor Tianming. Everyone, come watch it!” said the old man.

”Hurry up! Show it to us!” The crowd quickly grew excited. They had heard far too much about Tianming’s tales of late and knew that the cosmic god, Long Xing, called the youth his emperor. The slaughter at the Middlekin Star Ruin and the pillaging of the divine tomb were exploits that made them giggle with glee. They felt hope even though they were still confined to the underground, unable to see daylight or the outside world.

The old man caused the jade to brighten and project what the Starmoon Skyveil had recorded for everyone to see. The countless astral continents, glowing astral bodies, a terrifying cosmic crest beast, and the white-haired youth emperor were stunning sights to behold.

”This fight just happened a few days ago!” the old man said.

Everyone’s eyes widened as their breaths slowed, worried that they would miss exciting moments if they blinked.

”Whoa....”

”How can that be?”

”Heavens! He shattered Fentian He!”

”Wait, he’s reforming!”

”That’s too impressive...!”

Dreamy colors began surfacing in the tiny eyes of many children. All of them had the desire to be heroes. They all wanted a hero that would save them! In their darkest hour, someone who shone even brighter than Long Xing appeared in a recording for them to see.

”He even has a maniverse-class divine astralship!”

”Is that a middlekin star? It exploded!”

”That giant Fentian He must’ve been injured by that!”

”That’s great!”

They began to cheer and dance once the projection was over.

”The heavens sent us an emperor that’ll slaughter a path to our freedom!”

The light of hope had manifested in the eyes of thousands. And hope was the bridge to omnisentient threads. The jades had been distributed by Long Xing through his complex network of associates, reaching the darkest and most hidden underground lairs to give their residents boundless hope.

***

Back in space, a cold, nine-headed mechanical dragon orbited Starmoon Haven. It wasn’t too far from the world, a sign that Tianming was much bolder than before. The ship was silent on the inside, as everyone was worried that they would disturb Tianming’s cultivation. All they did was silently watch him. They saw countless dragon-like omnisentient threads of black and gold connecting his order to theirs, nourishing them. As time passed, more and more threads formed.

Two years passed by just like that. Word of that legendary battle had spread all across Starmoon Haven. The members of the Eightpart Pantheons that hid themselves in their mound cities had no idea that Tianming’s reputation was growing more and more.

Initially, there had only been a hundred million omnisentient threads in Starmoon Haven, but thanks to Long Xing’s efforts, even the flameyellow descendants hiding in the most remote reaches of the world had been found. Three years later, three billion new threads had formed! In total, Tianming had 4.5 billion omnisentient threads!

It was a number that far outstripped that of God Domain One. If Tianming hadn’t become an overflower, there would be no way for him to sustain such a large number! And it was only made possible thanks to his legendary battle against Fentian He that shook the fortuna-class world. He began levitating before them, connected to all 4.5 billion of them.

”Emperor!” Countless passionate gazes settled upon him.

”I should have enough this time, right?” Tianming looked down at his blinding body. ”I have an additional half billion from Wargod Haven—and Wondersky Haven, too....”

He really had Fentian He to thank for that. The recording of his battle had even reached the other two fortuna-class worlds for people in their mound cities to see! Among them were many flameyellow descendants who were forced to serve the denizens there. Despite still being oppressed, they witnessed Tianming’s shocking battle with a cosmic god and even heard of his thundering reputation, causing seeds of rebellion to form in their minds. That made the total number of omnisentient threads from the Midsky Tristars five billion!

”The most crucial thing is how these threads stretch between these three worlds. I’m slowly achieving a network effect similar to that in the Infinitum Mundus. The new Galactic Emperor is slowly taking form!”