Beastmaster of the Ages

Chapter 3486 - Where's My Darling Son-in-Law?

"Can we really do that?" Suishen Jiguang had always just been the little sister and had never had any intention of vying for power with her elder brothers. Those two had been at each other's throats for the right to lead, whereas she, being the youngest, had never thought the responsibility of their house would fall on her shoulders.

"Why not? Women may be soft by nature, but mothers become strong! I've already made up my mind. This time, anyone who dares harm my children or house will have to go through me! It's always been about who’s got the strongest fist in Myriadpath Valley. Titles mean nothing, they still bleed with one swing of a blade!" Suishen Xiyue's gaze was so intense that any man who met it would feel a chill.

"Yes!" Eminent Jiguang felt a rush of adrenaline and remembered her responsibility. Her gaze began hardening with determination.

"We need to stand up and protect House Suishen. That doesn’t conflict with Suishen Ranxing and Suishen Hongtian having to die. Our house would be better off without them," Suishen Xiyue fiercely declared.

Eminent Jiguang understood her hatred. She couldn’t advocate letting go without experiencing Suishen Xiyue’s experiences. But empathy was one thing, and having a concrete plan was another. She thought for a moment, then asked, "Sister Xiyue, do you have a specific plan?"

Though they both had major-zenith cultivation, they didn’t have any advantage against the old patriarch, or his sons. They also had no advantage against House Yumo or House Qitian. Recklessly charging in and being exploited would only lead to the worst kind of death, a lesson Suishen Xiyue understood better than anyone.

"A plan?" Suishen Xiyue looked at her sister. "You mentioned that the survivor from the Yin-Yang World told you the valley lord didn’t receive the Yin-Yang World's inheritance, but was instead poisoned by a fake control core, leaving him gravely wounded. So doesn’t the current strength of House Qitian seem like an illusion, a display of arrogance to hide their inner weakness?"

"Yes, I'm certain of that. Right now, only the two of us know," Eminent Jiguang nodded. She had originally planned to tell the old patriarch upon her return. But after witnessing the ambush at the Myriadpath Celestial Formation, she saw things clearly and decided not to tell him.

She didn’t resent her father. He was caught between a rock and a hard place and he’d had no choice but to stand by her brother, as he was the sole candidate to lead House Suishen. Thus, they would go their separate ways and she would keep the information to herself.

"That information’s invaluable. We must use it wisely." Suishen Xiyue didn’t elaborate on how to use it, but instead changed the topic. "So what do you think of that man from the Yin-Yang World?"

"Him?" Remembering the decade they spent together, Suishen Jiguang’s face flushed and she softly replied, "I've already told him we’ll never meet again, so there’s no need to discuss him."

Suishen Xiyue laughed and lightly tapped her head. "Silly girl. Are you only growing in curves and not in brains?"

"Sister Xiyue, what do you mean?" Suishen Jiguang blankly asked.

"What do I mean? Think about it. A man who isn’t even as strong as you, yet sits on an inheritance as vast as Myriadpath Valley. That’s a genuine golden opportunity. He’s infatuated with you, yet you’re pushing him away? What kind of foolishness is that?" Suishen Xiyue scoffed.

"I...." Eminent Jiguang was embarrassed.

Suishen Xiyue sighed, taking her arm. "Jiguang, I know this was all so sudden and it’s hard to accept, but to be honest, Suishen Blood is our destiny. You waited over two thousand years, but never found a suitable match in Myriadpath Valley. His arrival now just proves he’s the destined one for you. Once you let go of your reservations and sincerely engage with him, you’ll see that a man with an endless inheritance is actually quite something."

She smiled and added, "Surprised? Even though a scoundrel broke my heart, I don’t hate all men. The universe has good and bad men. I was just unlucky in love, but you’re different. You’ve had good fortune since childhood and you won’t need to walk the same painful path as I did if you have a good partner."

Suishen Jiguang’s face turned red and she didn’t know how to respond.

"Are you really still so shy at your age?" Suishen Xiyue rolled her eyes, playfully pinching Jiguang. "I’m serious. Make him fall head over heels for you and the two of us would have a real chance to protect House Suishen and see it thrive."

She took a deep breath, her gaze turning resolute.

"Jiguang, House Qitian’s valley lord made a huge mistake. Plus, he hasn’t gained the Yin-Yang World’s treasure. Houses Qitian and Yumo are now sworn enemies. House Yumo will never forget the shame of their senior madame’s death and the destruction of the Hellfiend. The two houses are bound to clash, and that’s our house’s opportunity to grow by manipulating the course of history. If we can stay out of harm’s way while the other two houses destroy each other, our house can rise to the top of the Three Exalted Houses. And you, as the youngest major-zenith cultivator, could even become the next valley lord!"

"But if House Qitian and Yumo are gravely weakened, would House Suishen alone be able to control Myriadpath Valley’s two million cultivators? Wouldn’t they develop rebellious thoughts?" Eminent Jiguang cooled down and voiced her concerns.

"That’ll depend on you. If you’re willing to embrace this beautiful love, even just part of what the Yin-Yang World offers will let House Suishen ascend to new heights. You’ll have at least four thousand years at the peak as the valley lord. That’s enough time to develop House Suishen to the point it can subdue Houses Qitian and Yumo! Then Myriadpath Valley would have a new order: a powerful House Suishen strictly adhering to the Myriadpath Sacred Code and ancestral teachings. Who wouldn’t want to follow?" Suishen Xiyue made no attempt to hide her ambitions. She was different from Suishen Jiguang, and her grand vision was exactly why her husband had been jealous of her and had never truly subdued her.

"Me as the valley lord?" Suishen Jiguang had never imagined herself in such a role. Female valley lords were rare in Myriadpath Valley’s history.

People speculated that the next valley lord might be Qitian Muyu, Qitian Muchen, Yumo Diyan, or Suishen Ranxing. But never Suishen Jiguang, who had only become a tenth-level foundationeer a scant few decades ago.

"Yes! You, Valley Lord Jiguang!" Suishen Xiyue intensely looked at her, holding her by the arms. "Jiguang, do you know what advantage you and House Suishen have?"

Suishen Jiguang shook her head.

"You have a good reputation in Myriadpath Valley—you’re popular and known for your kindness. If you grow stronger, people will support you!"

After discussing the valley as a whole, Suishen Xiyue moved on to House Suishen. "Now, House Qitian is infamous for their myriadpath source beasts and for openly violating the Myriadpath Sacred Code and ancestral teachings to abuse the weak. House Yumo has the same problem. Starblood has caused major conflicts between me and Suishen Ranxing, and you and your father. It’s an unsolvable issue. But now that House Qitian has exposed House Yumo’s misuse of starblood, they’ll never gain the public’s favor in Myriadpath Valley. Only House Suishen remains untainted as the only ones who can build a pure Myriadpath Valley that doesn’t rely on oppressing the Million Mundi to assert dominance!"

There was a gleam in Suishen Xiyue's eyes and her tone became more intense as she looked at her sister. "As long as Houses Qitian and Yumo, as well as your brothers, die, the two of us can fulfill our ambitions and bring a pure new world to all!"

"A pure world?" The words struck a chord in Eminent Jiguang's heart. Her greatest conflict with her father lay in their differing views on House Yumo’s starblood. She opposed it, and she led the faction against it within House Suishen.

Meanwhile, Eminent Ranxing, who was close to House Yumo, naturally supported it. They used the unity of the Three Exalted Houses to suppress her. He portrayed starblood as a part of the natural order, like House Qitian’s devouring of lifebound beasts in the Million Mundi.

The Million Mundi had suffered under the two houses for far too long,

“Who says only men can achieve greatness? Why can’t the Three Exalted Houses be clean and upright, serving as the lighthouses of the three cultivation paths? Why can’t we purge Myriadpath Valley of all its corruption and cancers, turning it into a true sacred ground in the hearts of the Million Mundi?

“Jiguang!” Suishen Xiyue, as if fueled with boundless energy, fervently looked at her and growled, “We have a chance to seize our destinies, to laugh in the face of life and death. Give me one reason we shouldn’t fight for our ideals!”

Eminent Jiguang was almost shaken to pieces by her. “Sister Xiyue....” She was deeply moved. She found it both amusing and overwhelming and replied, “Alright, alright, I’m infected by your spirit. From now on, I’ll do things your way, but can I have one request?”

“What is it?” Suishen Xiyue asked.

“My nature is too gentle to hold the fort. Why don’t you lead, and I’ll support you from behind? I truly don’t have the presence to be in the spotlight,” she said, embarrassed. It was truly daunting for someone like her, who preferred a quiet life, to go out and rally the masses.

Suishen Xiyue, hearing that, was instantly frustrated. “I don’t care! Even if you’re just a figurehead, you’ll stand in the front for me!”

Suishen Jiguang was left bewildered.

“Is it a deal?” Suishen Xiyue glared at her.

“I’ll follow your orders, Sister!”

“Alright, in that case, I order you to do one thing: use your beauty and charm to completely seduce that man from the Yin-Yang World for me!”

Suishen Jiguang was speechless.

“Sister, you only live once. You have to make some sacrifices for your ideals. What’s wrong with becoming someone’s wife? Once you stand at the pinnacle of the Million Mundi, even your husband will have to support you and kneel at your feet!”

Suishen Jiguang was speechless again.

“Now stand up tall for me! A big chest isn’t enough, you need a big perspective too!”

The eminent was still speechless.

After rallying for a long time, Suishen Xiyue herself was overflowing with adrenaline. “No more talking. I want to try the Greatsun Suishen Stele. Will you come with me?” she asked.

“Obtaining a maniverse-class technique shouldn’t be difficult for a major-zenith foundationeer like you.” Suishen Jiguang nodded.

That was the gap between the minor and major zeniths. Once it was crossed, securing a maniverse-class technique was within reach.

The two left the water.

Just as Suishen Xiyue was about to instruct Suishen Yao to stay behind and cultivate, she suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right—where’s my darling son-in-law?”

She knew, of course, that Suishen Yao had lost her Suishen Blood and gotten married. She had also heard stories of her son-in-law these past few days. Pathkeeper Li, who had risen against all odds to reach the top of the Fortuna Ranking, was a legend among the youths of Myriadpath Valley.

“The mother-in-law’s been back for days now, and he still hasn’t come to pay his respects. Is that acceptable?” Suishen Xiyue said with displeasure.