Beastmaster of the Ages

Chapter 2699 - Nine-Firmament Supracloud

Tianming radiated an imperial aura that was further enhanced by the countless cheers. Lin Lingxiao couldn't relax in the slightest. Tianming's gaze had forced him to draw his sword, a mid-ether-class cosmic artifact called the Nine-Firmament Supracloud. It was a white-and-gold greatsword, sporting a similar shape as the Grand-Orient Sword, except it had white and gold patterns that were shaped like clouds. Each of them was formed from an ether-class cosmic impulse called Nine-Firmament Steelcloud, giving it a similar fierce and domineering aura to the Grand-Orient Sword. In actuality, however, its designation as a mid-ether-class artifact meant that it could unleash even more cosmic impulses.

Lin Lingxiao's white-and-gold robe fluttered along with his hair on the sandy battlefield. His face was a work of art that had earned him the affection of countless girls in the Lin Clan. "Lin Feng, you’re the miracle of this star and the hope for our future, not to mention a well-rounded warrior. I heard that you have terrifying totems as well, so let me witness their power today! As a sign of respect for you, I’ll fight you with my full power from the start!"

His bold proclamation made the crowd go wild. Even if Tianming didn't win, the mere act of holding up against a foe of this caliber in a spar would greatly elevate his position in the hearts of many. Currently, he was still a little short from gaining the faith of people so many years and levels his senior.

"No problem, Brother Lingxiao!" With his base of operations secured on the Sun, there was no need to hide his totems any longer. This would be the first time he unveiled his totems to the Lin Clan, and by extension, the others in the Infinitum Mundus once word of the challenge made its way back to Ebonia. Yi Daiyan was also a totemancer, so it would add an extra layer of mystery to the circumstances of Tianming's birth. Either way, it was inevitable.

"Alright. I'll make the first move!" Lin Lingxiao slapped his chest as his grade-six swordheart began pumping. Being a top talent of the clan, he had six lifebound beasts, like his sister, Lin Linglin, with all of them being of a different species but the same metal type, making him somewhat fiercer than Lin Xiao. There were avian, terrestrial, aquatic, plant, rock, and insect beasts, each of which seemed covered in metal! As expected of the Gold Sunflower Line.

The metallic plant beast that was shaped like a sunflower was the signature of the ninth branch. The beasts quickly assimilated into the Nine-Firmament Supracloud in their spiritforms, greatly boosting Lin Lingxiao's single-target combat capability.

Tianming noted that the beasts all had close to half a million stars each, much more than his beasts’ star count of three hundred thousand or so. Even Lin Xiao and other seniors’ beasts only had star counts of eight hundred thousand. A star count of a million was the limit in the Infinitum Mundus. Back when the mundus didn't have foundationeer beastmasters, there had been no lifebound beasts with a star count of a million. Five hundred thousand had been the absolute limit then.

"Once Ying Huo and the rest grow even more, I'll try to get them to go for six or seven hundred thousand!" Tianming planned to be a little savvy for now, and save them for the right time. Then again, the Sun now had more than enough ordered manna, thanks to the defeat of the Exterminatus Army and the Star Hunters.

Once the six swordbeasts entered Lin Lingxiao’s sword, it exploded with power. Tianming could feel the power of the lifebound beasts blend with the cosmic impulse that was channeled by his opponent’s swordheart. Lin Lingxiao was the manifestation of a golden swordgod! His strongest combat form sent waves of cheers and worship through the crowd.

Then it was Tianming's turn. People were already familiar with Ying Huo and Meow Meow. As for Ji Ji, it usually gathered its clones while Tianming was focused on cultivation, so the Ninedragon Imperial Tomb and the Sun looked like they were in their normal states and didn't have any shades of pink to them. That allowed Ji Ji to unleash its terrifying full power. As Tianming was facing off against a single human target, he didn't call Xian Xian, Yin Chen, or Lan Huang to fight. Ji Ji, Ying Huo, and Meow Meow would be enough. Ji Ji's current mass was equivalent to a small nova source world, and all that power entering the two tiny beasts' bodies was quite a terrifying prospect. They turned completely pink from top to bottom.

"No! Why do I look so girly?!" Ying Huo almost couldn't take it any more. The power of genesis ancestral nova source was far too volatile.

"Say that again?!" Ji Ji hissed.

"My Ji Ji, forgive me! I was wrong!" Ying Huo cried in pain.

"Who's your Ji Ji? Shameless! Hmph!" Ji Ji stopped messing with them. The two hypercharged critters rode on Tianming's shoulders, though they didn't manage to take the spotlight from Lin Lingxiao's six beasts.

That, however, wasn't a problem as the star of the show was Tianming's totems. People watched with bated breath as the white-haired youth spread his arms wide and sword ki immediately filled the surroundings!

"Totems, manifest!"

Ten explosive booms resounded one after another as the decapath era godswords shot into the sky from Tianming's body. All ten giant swords of different types revolved around him in the air, radiating an ultimate sword ki that caused Tianming's hair to flutter in the storm.

"They're actually sword totems!"

"As expected of someone from the Swordgod Lin Clan. Even his totems are swords!"

"Ten of them, too, and all of them are of a different type!"

"Who knows what it means for someone to be born with lifebound beasts and totems...."

"He also has a divine wonder, and his black arm's strength rivals that of a specter!"

"That child is too terrifying.... He's perfect in every way!"

Tianming's first showing had already impressed the members of the Swordgod Lin Clan and Grandnorth Dongshen Clan, completely stealing the limelight from Lin Lingxiao. Without another word, Tianming used his first simulacrum, Swordheart, causing his totems to fuse into the Grand-Orient Sword, giving it a radiance that matched the Nine-Firmament Supracloud's. In fact, it looked even sharper, despite radiating a little less energy. That wasn't the end, however.

"Ying Huo, Meow Meow, be prepared to be pushed to your limits today!" Tianming began absorbing the power of faith.