Beastmaster of the Ages

“What if we take on Yueling Starcage alone, without any reinforcements?” Tianming asked.

Li Muyang paused thoughtfully before speaking. “Morale and fighting spirit aside, their numbers are several times greater than ours. Our position in Nullity gives us a terrain advantage to hold them off for some time, but we can’t sustain this defense for too long. The outcome is uncertain, as the struggle between our elites will influence the entire war. What is certain is that many lives will be lost should the fighting begin.”

“So it looks like I’ve brought this disaster down on Nullity,” Tianming said solemnly.

”You shouldn’t think like that,” Li Muyang said. ”Deep disagreements don’t happen overnight. The issue with the Primospirit Ancestral Tree has been going on longer than your return. The oppression was already there and it’s only getting worse. Our very existence makes them uncomfortable, so they’re bound to cause trouble sooner or later.”

“What if we leave Nullity?” Tianming asked.

It was a delicate subject, so they all fell silent.

Finally, Li Muyang said, ”My child, we can’t leave this place. Outsiders don’t know this, but I can’t even step outside Nullity. If I could, I would’ve certainly been there in the Ruinless Zone, cheering you on.”

”You don’t need to worry about these things,” Wei Jing said earnestly. ”We’re allies with Nullity. The cosmic gods residing here, primarily the Mu Clan, have an ongoing rivalry and deep-seated animosity with Yueling Starcage. Without us, Nullity’s nova source would’ve been plundered and their imperial lineage stripped away. Just go outside and observe. They don’t regret supporting us, especially after the bet in the Ruinless Zone. We’re now truly united.”

Tianming understood this. Were it not for the disconnect to his order, he would have garnered the belief of almost every person on Nullity.

”Fine!” Gritting his teeth, Tianming said, ”In that case, I’ll give it my all and fight till the very end!”

Then he turned to Li Tianzi. ”Big Brother, how’s the search for dazzling radiances going?” He hadn’t even realized when the words ”big brother” had started rolling off his tongue so effortlessly.

”Some dazzling radiances are already on the way. We’re continuing to search for more and will seize them if necessary. If all else fails, I’ll go in and collect them myself. Don’t worry, just let me handle it,” Li Tianzi said.

”Thanks!”

Tianming looked at the three of them.

From this moment on, the distinction between truth and falsehood no longer mattered. Their identities were irrelevant; he would fight for this family. His yearning for his parents eclipsed all other concerns. The warm skypole stars brought them closer together.

”I’ll practice Daosteal first. And in a few years, I’ll receive the brides!” Tianming said confidently.

”Go and do whatever you want to do. Leave the rest to us.” Li Muyang looked at Tianming, his voice gentle.

Wei Jing smiled as well. They looked exactly as they did in the Flameyellow Continent.

Li Tianzi smacked Tianming’s shoulder with a look of disdain. ”A man should have aspirations beyond his hometown and avoid dwelling on unimportant things!”

***

Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Tianming finally chose an inauspicious day and sent one of Mu Qingqing’s 10,000-meter-tall clones to fetch the brides after informing Yueling Starcage.

Mu Qingqing helplessly rolled her eyes.

”As the principal wife, you must assert your position,” Tianming instructed her before she left.

”What about the bride price? What about the entourage?” Mu Qingqing asked.

”It’s all in my heart,” Tianming replied.

Mu Qingqing stared blankly at him. ”Aren’t you afraid they’ll tear me to pieces?”

”It’s fine, your main body is still there,” Tianming said.

”Go to hell!” Mu Qingqing couldn’t stand him anymore. What was this nonsense?

”So you never had any real intention of seeing this wedding through, did you?” she asked softly.

”No, I’m being very sincere. Just go,” Tianming urged.

”What if they won’t come?”

”Then they’ll be breaking the agreement and embarrassing themselves, which only makes me look better,” Tianming said.

”What if they mobilize a large heavencosmic army under the guise of the wedding procession to enter Skyplunder Capital?” Mu Qingqing asked.

”Let them come. Once they’re here, they’ll be considered people of Nullity,” Tianming replied.

Hearing this, Mu Qingqing was completely bewildered. What was this kid up to? How could he be so bold? Was he really going to humiliate the four female imperatores? The thought of them all dressed up, only to be met by her alone... Yueling Starcage would be furious!

”How exciting...”

It was thrilling indeed. Mu Qingqing, ever eager, was itching to go. After all, shouldn’t she, as the “principal wife,” demonstrate her power now that her husband was taking concubines? Under Tianming’s watchful gaze, she set off with Yin Chen who would monitor the developments on the other side.

”We’ve received... them,” Yin Chen reported after some time.

”Is it really grand?” Tianming asked.

”Dressed in... their finest... a grand... display of... red.” Yin Chen couldn’t find the right words to describe it.

Evidently, Yueling Starcage intended for the four female imperatores to join Tianming in a glorious fashion. Unfortunately, Mu Qingqing’s clone was the only one who showed up. Tianming couldn’t help but wonder just how explosive the scene would be. He desperately wanted to witness it firsthand.

After some time, he asked Yin Chen, ”Is it lively over there?”

Yin Chen cleared its throat. ”Frightfully so.”

”Have you received the brides?” Tianming asked.

”We’re on... our way!”