Beastmaster of the Ages

Li Tianzi’s chain whipped around at blazing speeds. His four lifebound beasts also launched their abilities to suppress the old man completely, using Sixpath Infernal Lotus, Yinyang Boltwheel, Daybreak Worldslash and Ghoulface Fiendblossom.

Lin Shouzhong’s constellation form broke apart from the relentless barrage by the imperator-level combatant. Eventually, the Lightning Blinding that had tortured him for thousands of years scattered. In his dying moment, he opened his eyes for the first time in thousands of years, getting one last look at his violet home before his body disintegrated.

”General, rest in peace!” Many violetblitzians cried out passionately from a distance, tears streaking from their faces.

”They’re making us out to be bad people.” Tianming felt rather troubled over it.

”There’s nothing much that can be said about it. We’re fundamentally from different sides. It’s kill or be killed,” Zi Zhen said.

”You’re right.” Li Tianzi said, feeling somewhat lamentful. ”This is nothing but a single blip in the grand scheme of things. If it had been us who perished, the ones who would suffer would be the billions in Nullity. However, the violetblitzians will survive here. Even though they lost their imperator, Imperator Feng can’t possibly exterminate all the violetblitzians. He doesn’t even have complete control over Violetblitz Capital yet.”

Tianming watched as the violetblitzians left. There was no point in chasing them down. ”It seems that it won’t be easy for Uncle Feng to take over the entire capital. The battle was still raging on when we left.”

”It’s only a matter of time, if he has it, that is. Even with Lin Tianjian gone, the violetblitzians still have many junior leaders who are loyal like Lin Shouzhong. They won’t be able to do too much as long as they don’t have the Violetblitz starsource, however.”

”I worry that he won’t have that time. Should we go back and see what Uncle Feng thinks about it?” Tianming asked.

”Yeah, let’s go.” Li Tianzi had the same idea. They would reach out to Li Yanfeng privately using Yin Chen. With Imperator Ji and Imperator Tu gone, nobody was left to watch their every move.

***

After cleaning out the place of dazzling radiances, the three swiftly left the Skyflash Boltdepths and secretly returned to Violetblitz Capital. A messy battle continued to take place in the city. The violetblitzians and firemaples numbered more than ten billion troops in total. Battles suddenly started without warning all across the city.

The three came to a hidden corner while they waited for Li Yanfeng after reaching out through Yin Chen. Soon, the imperator descended in a casual fashion, trying to not draw attention to his intentional arrival at that place.

”Uncle Feng, how’s the situation?” Tianming asked. He addressed the imperator casually since nobody else was around.

”It’s still more or less a stalemate. Lin Tianjian’s death did cause quite a few violetblitzians to surrender, so our lead is slowly growing, hahahaha! As for the other cities across the star, they’re rather well defended. But I will be able to take over them sooner or later as long as I have the starsource in hand.”

”The Adjudicator might interfere now that so many things have changed,” Li Tianzi said.

”That is indeed so.” Li Yanfeng’s expression turned grim. ”However, I will continue to claim that this civil war is entirely between us and the violetblitzians. It’s only a matter of fighting for supremacy in our own homeworld. Outsiders have nothing to do with it, so the Adjudicator has no pretext to interfere.”

”He might be desperate enough to disregard all convention,” Tianming said.

”That’s not impossible,” Li Yanfeng said, feeling the onset of a headache. ”Either way, I’ll continue to press the fight and go into hiding to feign my death once we conquer the capital.”

”I do have a suggestion,” Tianming said after some pondering. ”Uncle Feng, you already have the foundation to take over Violetblitz Starcage with the starsource in hand. So, you’re free to take your time with your conquest. No matter where you hide here in Violetblitz, we won’t be able to help you if the Adjudicator strikes. Instead, you should claim victory and conquest over the capital prematurely to shock all sides but pull your troops back in actuality. This way, you’d be able to sneak your trusted family and associates to Skyplunder Capital with us. What do you think?”

Li Yanfeng’s eyes brightened as he laughed. ”I was waiting for you to say that!”

He gave Tianming a deep hug and slapped his back heavily.

”Uncle Feng no longer has the luxury to pull back anymore, after all. Instead of awaiting your fate, it’d be better to just take things into your own hands. In Skyplunder Capital, we can face it all together no matter what comes!”

Tianming felt rather odd when he sensed the warmth from Li Yanfeng. This wasn’t the same person he had known in the Chaos Skyjail even if they looked identical. Li Yanfeng was my stepfather of sorts back in the Vermillion Bird Kingdom. But the rift between us got too big after I killed the Lightning Seigneur. I didn’t think I would have such ties with this version of him in the Realm of Chaos. We’re even able to stand and fight on the same side!

All of these experiences made Tianming feel like he was able to let go of what transpired in the distant past. In fact, it even made him think about Mu Qingqing. He would never have been able to forgive her for what she did in the Vermillion Bird Kingdom. But the Mu Qingqing of the Realm of Chaos had patiently waited for him for all those years without doing anything that would wrong him. How should he face her?

After some time, Li Yanfeng loosened his grip and looked at Tianming admiringly. ”Skyplunder Imperial Son, it seems like I’ve made the correct bet with your lot!”

”Let’s start preparing. We’ll be waiting. Wait for Boss Chen to tell you the meetup point,” Li Tianzi said.

”I’ll be as fast as I can,” Li Yanfeng said before he left. Tianming watched him fly off silently.

”Little Li, I don’t know why you’re so sentimental about all that. Just let things take their course and do what’s most natural to you. Why overthink it?” Ying Huo said as its head popped out of his right arm, patting Tianming by the shoulder with its wing like a big brother.

”You’re right.” Tianming nodded, but furrowed his brow once more. ”Wait, since when did you ever have good things to say?”