Beastmaster of the Ages

"A cluster has ten thousand stars, and a mundus is made up of a thousand clusters, with more than ten million nova sources?" Tianming asked.

"Yes."

"A deific-class world is merely the main star of a cluster and not the largest nova source?" Tianming asked again.

"How could it be the largest? That’s a third-level nova source. The difference in volume between each level is ten times. A deific-class nova source is only a hundred times that of a heliacal-class one. It’s not very big," Li Muyang said.

That was true. In Seventh’s star map, Tianming had seen stars that were bigger than the deific-class, much bigger. But he was so small that he couldn’t help but resist the truth.

"Can it be that big?" In fact, the First Aeonic Ancestral Star in his dream had already given him the answer. Human beings were afraid of the cosmos because it made them feel pitifully small and short-lived. "Father, what’s the Infinitum Bodhimanda’s nova source level?" Tianming asked.

"Infinitum class" Li Muyang said.

"Infinitum class?"

"The main star of a mundus is a sixth-level nova source world. With the increase of each level, the nova source increases by ten times, so the volume of a sixth-level nova source is a hundred thousand times that of a heliacal-class nova source, making it equivalent to a hundred thousand heliacal-class worlds or a thousand deific-class worlds gathered in one body. Go and have a look and you’ll know how big it really is. Why else would I be sure that you won’t make it into the main ranking?" Li Muyang said.

A hundred thousand heliacal-class worlds! There were heliacal-class, skypiercer-class, and deific-class worlds in a cluster. On the other hand, sixth-level nova sources existed in a mundus. Tianming had originally thought that fifth-level worlds were the top.

"Father, what level is an imperial-class world?" Tianming eagerly asked.

"It’s above infinitum class. Don\'t just look up, look down so you don’t frighten yourself," Li Muyang laughed.

"A-above infinitum class? Seventh-level? Damn, a million heliacal-class nova sources? Are you kidding? I don\'t believe it!" Tianming grit his teeth.

"Let Seventh show you the way. You’ll know if I’m telling the truth when you go to the Infinitum Bodhimanda. Silly boy, don\'t be afraid of the cosmos. You have extraordinary talent. One day, you’ll walk above the sky, grasp the stars in your hands, and rule the universe. Then you’ll realize that it isn’t so big after all,” Li Muyang solemnly said.

"You have to at least tell me what the fourth and fifth levels are called," Tianming said.

"The fourth level is the sanctuary class, and the fifth is the ether class. According to the customs of the astralscape of order, the ruler of a third-level, or deific-class, world is called a suzerain, the ruler of a sanctuary-class world is called a custodian, the ruler of an ether-class world is called a etherean, and the ruler of an infinitum-class world is called a rex mundi," Li Muyang explained.

"So the Wonderhaze Suzerain was the ruler of a deific-class world? So that’s why he compared himself to the Three Sovereigns Mysterium!" Tianming suddenly came to a realization. However, the two were older, so they had similar statuses but weren’t as strong. They were considered one of the weaker rulers. Third-level suzerain, fourth-level custodian, fifth-level etherean, and sixth-level rex mundi—the astralscape of order’s complete system had finally appeared before Tianming.

"So it’s going to be very difficult for me to defeat their number one and become rex mundi? Are they much stronger than sovereigns?" Tianming said.

"The Sovereign stage is the final phase of the astral physique. The divine stages are the initial stage of the gods of the cosmos. If you want to dominate a sixth-level nova source, you must break through to that stage.... Theoretically speaking, it’s extremely difficult, but you’re still young and have plenty of time. I’ll give you a thousand years," Li Muyang said.

"A thousand years.... Who’re you looking down on? Who knows? I might do it in three!" Tianming retorted.

“Silly boy." Li Muyang was amused.

Tianming knew it would be difficult, but he wanted to tease his father. In fact, knowing what he now knew, he already had an idea. All he had to do was picture the gap between his lifebound beasts as they were now versus how they were in the dream, and he would know how far he was from being as strong as the ruler of the universe. However, he already felt strong as he was. Could he really become stronger? Strong enough to split a deific-class world with one strike? He suddenly thought that might not be an exaggeration. There were so many nova source classes, so why couldn\'t there be more cultivation stages?

"Father, would I be noticed by those that’re looking for you if I show up with my lifebound beasts in the place where you spent your eighth reincarnation?" Tianming asked. After all, he had the mark of a sky plunderer.

"Look at the cosmos," Li Muyang said.

"Okay?" Tianming looked up. It was so fucking big!

"In the vast cosmos, your supposed conspicuousness is like an ant moving its nest in the dust to those who are after me.... Would you pay attention to see which ant is stronger? Besides, the artifact under the Infinitum Stele makes this place completely hidden. My eighth reincarnation was safe and sound, let alone you. What happened in the alternate world was an accident, so do whatever you like. Your mother and I fled and attracted all that attention to give you a chance to grow in safety. We won’t be in as much danger when you solve the problem," Li Muyang sincerely said.

"You fled to protect me?" Tianming knew that that was the reason. They had fled to draw fire away from him.

"Don’t be so touched yet. And you’d better not be lazy. We’re both waiting for you to save us!" Li Muyang didn\'t know whether to laugh or cry.

Tianming was indeed moved. His parents were great, but unless they were asked, they wouldn’t reveal anything because they didn’t want to be repaid. All they wanted was for him to grow up safely and escape the danger.

"I got it. My next step is to go to the Infinitum Bodhimanda and make up for your regrets." Although Tianming didn’t say anything, his heart was aflame. Li Muyang wouldn’t tell him how dangerous their escape was, but Tianming could guess. He wanted to know what they were facing, but he couldn\'t. Apart from his father’s eighth life, he couldn’t get any closer or have any involvement with the two of them. The opportunity for this conversation was most likely the result of their lengthy efforts, otherwise they would have talked to him every day. They did everything to ensure that they wouldn’t affect him.

"Go!" Li Muyang looked at him with a smile.

"One last thing, you must be careful of one woman," Li Muyang said.

"Who? And why should I be careful of her?" Tianming asked.

"Because I died at her hands," Li Muyang explained.

"An enemy? Got it. I’ll avenge you if it works out. After all, she killed you," Tianming laughed.

"It\'s hard to say. I haven\'t figured it out yet. Anyway, there’s animosity," Li Muyang said.

“Animosity? Could it be some dramatic story? She murdered you on your wedding night, and five hundred years later, you’re reborn, vowing to send the beauty to the depths of hell?" Tianming chuckled.

"Get lost.... There was indeed a marriage contract at the time, but it was complicated and there’s no point in pursuing that now. Just be careful of her," Li Muyang said.

"Okay. You haven’t told me her name."

"Yi Daiyan"

"A bag of salt? She must be hideous."

"Yi as in her, Dai meaning era, and Yan as countenance. She was rather pretty... ah!" Needless to say, he must have been pinched by someone. [1]

"Okay, I\'ll keep it in mind. I’ll avoid the bag of salt while I’m still not her match so that I won’t be salty," Tianming said.

Lin Mu, Yi Daiyan, and his grandparents. How interesting.

"Tianming, if my home is still there, protect it for me." Li Muyang sounded solemn once more.

"No problem. If it fits, it\'s my home too." Tianming nodded.

"That’s about it." As Li Muyang spoke, his image within Tianming’s Plundering Eye became blurry.

Tianming\'s eyes turned red; he knew it was time for them to part again. Who knew when they would meet again? The safety of his parents who had fled to protect him was unpredictable.

"Father, tell mother I miss her so much!" Tianming shouted. Against all control, the tears fell, dripping onto his Plundering Eye.

"Your mother said don\'t just miss her, but set aside some time to give her a grandchild. By the way, we might not be able to use the Plundering Eye to speak in the future. If there’s a chance, let’s speak face-to-face when we’re finally free, all three of us...."

Free? When would that be? That meant Tianming would spend countless years without seeing them. Li Muyang had completely disappeared, but before that last moment, his figure materialized once more.

"I was wrong! Your mother said that the next time we meet, it won’t be just the three of us, but five, six, seven, eight, nine, or even ten! She wants grandchildren!" Wei Jing must have pinched him while she said that. "Finally, don\'t go to the realm of chaos unless it’s absolutely necessary.” After saying that, Li Muyang completely disappeared. His voice was no longer there.

Tianming stood still for a long time. Their conversation had been too short. He had even forgotten to ask about the realm of chaos. But at least Li Muyang had given him a warning.

“Unless it’s absolutely necessary? Then what’s necessary?" Staring at the blank eye, Tianming fell into deep thought. "A sixth-level nova source world? The Infinitum Bodhimanda? Let’s go!" His blood was boiling with excitement.

1. The name Yi Daiyan is pronounced Yī Dàiyán, which, when written as 伊 代颜 means “beauty of a generation/era”, but is a homonym for 一袋盐 (a bag of salt) ☜