Chapter 460 - 292: Finally Breaking the Secret Realm

The light in Tuoba Jing’s eyes dimmed again. "A pity..."

["I do not believe there is anything to pity."]

Emperor Heng, however, offered a humanlike smile.

["My Master once told me that all life must one day fall, but civilization is passed down for eternity, like an undying flame. Seeing the youth by your side has only strengthened my conviction."]

["To see civilization rise again, to see humanity flourish—it brings me sincere comfort. Do not yearn for our time, nor strive to become us. You are all splendid as you are."]

Tuoba Jing, who hadn’t made a sound even when his organs were crushed, suddenly burst into tears like a child.

Then, after weeping, he broke into hearty laughter.

"Excellent... Excellent. To learn the Dao in the morning is to be able to die without regret in the evening!"

["Of course, the evolution of the Beast Taming Dao has been a winding path. The Dao of the Current World was once as brilliant as the stars in the heavens, but its growing rigidity now is a true pity."]

Emperor Heng turned its gaze to Su Zhi.

["However, in you, I see a spark that has been absent for a very long time."]

Su Zhi’s mouth fell open. "You know..."

Emperor Heng chuckled lightly. ["When I was at my peak, Candle Venerable was but a little loach in a pond. The power of a Five-star is vast and mysterious, far beyond what you can currently imagine."]

As they spoke, the cavern began to shake violently.

The Earthquake Beast was a creature born from the Power Fragment that Clara had mastered. The entire subterranean structure was only sustained by the vast Earth and Gold Element Energy supporting it.

But now, as the Power Fragment began to dissipate, the overburdened ground showed signs of collapsing.

Finally, Emperor Heng looked to Yu Bao.

["I cannot help you much more in my current state. However, as a fellow Yu Dian Dog, I can bestow a gift upon you... for instance, I can help you unlock your Earth and Gold Element form."]

"Arf?!" Yu Bao perked up excitedly.

Emperor Heng chuckled softly.

["Yes. It was only after awakening different forms that I myself attained the Five-star rank. There were indeed different branches of the Yu Dian Dog in prehistoric times—a fact I only learned after my own ascension."]

["In you, however, I see even greater possibilities. I cannot predict your limits, but you may be able to achieve things that I never could..."]

As it spoke, Emperor Heng’s ethereal form dissolved into a stream of light that flowed into Yu Bao’s body. Its voice grew faint, then faded away completely.

RUMBLE...

The cavern’s shaking grew more violent.

Su Zhi was in no mood to inspect Yu Bao’s new gains. He rushed to Tuoba Jing’s side.

"Sir, hang on! I’ll get you out of here!"

"There’s no need... I’m well aware of my own condition."

Tuoba Jing smiled and shook his head. "The power in that strike was terrifying. Even with Profound Yellow and I splitting the impact, the wound is beyond recovery. All it did was grant me a slower death, a few more moments to draw breath."

Tuoba Jing gently embraced Profound Yellow.

Profound Yellow was no longer breathing, but the expression on its face was not of pain, but of peace. For it, to die in battle was the most honorable fate.

"You did well... I’m so proud of you," Tuoba Jing whispered.

Su Zhi gritted his teeth, his clenched fists trembling slightly.

But Tuoba Jing wore a smile of peaceful release, his eyes gently closed. Fuyue let him lean back into its embrace, while Zi Lu covered his wounds with a wing and rested its head against his chest.

’To be able to spend my final moments with the Pet Beasts I’ve lived with day in and day out... this is nice.’

A smile of utter liberation suddenly bloomed on Tuoba Jing’s face.

Fuyue froze, and Zi Lu’s eyes flew wide. ["You... you released the—"]

"Go... All of you, go. This is my final command to you. Go on and live, for my sake."

Tuoba Jing waved them away, laid Profound Yellow down beside him, and then, ignoring the agony of his torn wounds, sat down cross-legged.

Fuyue reluctantly wrung its hands. Zi Lu took one last, long look at Tuoba Jing, then, as if understanding its master’s resolve, turned its head away.

"Young friend Su Zhi, I’m entrusting them to you."

"Yes. You can count on me!"

Su Zhi wiped away his tears and nodded forcefully.

The passage was already beginning to collapse, making it unsafe to return the way they came. With the help of Shan Bao’s Flash Gold Teleportation, Fuyue and Zi Lu were sent to the surface one after the other.

Su Zhi recalled Yu Bao and Wu Bao to his Beast Taming Space, cast one last glance at Tuoba Jing, and vanished into the Golden Light of Flash Gold Teleportation...

All who could leave, had left.

Tuoba Jing let out a long sigh. The final weight in his heart had been lifted, and a smile graced his lips.

The cavern’s tremors grew more intense, and rocks of all sizes began to break free and fall.

As everything fell around him, The Last Beastmaster spread his arms as if in an embrace and began to chant a verse in the ancient tongue of Yu Dian—

"The wind whistles, the Yi River is cold; the hero leaves, never to return."

"He braves the tiger’s den and the serpent’s palace; his soaring spirit forms a rainbow in the sky!"

RUMBLE...

A torrent of rock rained down like a sudden storm, burying The Last Beastmaster.

[Assignable Attribute Points (Yu Bao)... 0.35]

[Assignable Attribute Points (Wu Bao)... 0.30]

[Assignable Attribute Points (Shan Bao)... 0.30]

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