Beastmaster of the AgesBeastmaster of the Ages
Shortly after, Tianming, Zi Zhen, and Chen Tianyong met.
Zi Zhen was still the same. However, her progress was rapid and she should have made progress toward becoming a third-level foundationeer. Her growth rate was related to both her bloodline and the curing of her xeno fatigue. It wasn’t simply because she was a sacredfiend skyghoul.
"I estimate that I’ll have a better chance of absorbing the manna when I’m a third-level foundationeer. Then I should be able to make a significant breakthrough in my combat power," Zi Zhen said.
"No rush, take your time. Don't leave me too far behind, so I don't look too incompetent," Tianming joked. He felt a bit pitiful. It seemed like the people who could grow in level faster than him were all the women around him. First there was Feiling, then there was Xiaoxiao, and now there was Zi Zhen. Their advancements were lightning-fast.
On the other hand, Tianming, because of having too many high-level orders, needed to use all his resources.
"Are you afraid?" Zi Zhen stared at him.
"Afraid of what?" Tianming irritably replied.
She smiled gently and said, "Go and absorb them."
Tianming now had six grade-six order fragments. With Chen Tianyong and Zi Zhen protecting him, Tianming's foundation in the Xenoabyss was already very solid. He didn't say much more and ate all the order fragments together.
Each of them was a fusion of six pieces. The power of order surged in them, like an incomprehensible code or key.
The order fragments immediately dissolved into a torrent of fragmented order power after entering Tianming, dispersing and diffusing through his entire body. All eight of his orders received irrigation
"The three years in Myriadpath Valley were still quite useful! If it weren't for those years, my orders wouldn't have been able to withstand the sudden increase in growth and they might have snapped."
It was the three years where he was guided by the powerful reverends that allowed Tianming's current eight orders to withstand the instability brought about by the sudden increase in order. They all quickly grew and turned solid.
"It's time to condense my third cosmic chart." Tianming hadn't demonstrated his cosmic charts in battle yet, so the people in Myriadpath Valley still didn't know that he was the strongest monster in fighting above his level! Even in Myriadpath Valley, he could cross six levels of combat when facing the top geniuses of the Million Mundi. No one would believe it. Tianming estimated that when his true strength was revealed, it would definitely cause a sensation.
"When I defeat a foundationeer as a cosmic cartographer, it’ll probably be hard to hide anymore." He could still conceal himself when he had few cosmic charts.
Under the direction of his order, his third cosmic chart took shape.
"Third cosmic chart—done!" As he absorbed xeno source to supplement his third cosmic chart, the upper limits of his and all his lifebound beasts’ power soared.
"In fact, I already have enough techniques. Even the only weak point, my soul, has an upgraded Vitasteal for attack and the Skysoul Tower for defense, which compensates for it. That means my cultivation level is still the most important thing for now!"
Tianming had the best of the best when it came to wonders, divine abilities, totems, battle arts, and weapons. In his current situation, once his strength grew, his overall combat power would significantly increase.
He immediately set his next goal.
"I need to enter the top thousand of the Fortuna Ranking so I can enter the middle ruins and cultivate with the caeli of eminents! Judging from the lower ruins, if I go to the middle ruins, the caeli I observe there will probably be second only to the previous valley lords? They would have been the top ten in the Million Mundi during their time.” Others may not necessarily be able to contact the top ten in the middle ruins, but Tianming was confident.
"Of course, the upper ruins, which contain the valley lord caeli, are the most terrifying!" Only the top hundred could access them, most of whom were likely prospective eminents like Huang Daosheng. The key was, the top hundred could also access the Myriadpath Sourcespring.
"With my current strength, it'll be difficult to enter the top one thousand. I estimate there's still a chance when I’m at the fourth level, so the next step is to go back to Myriadpath Valley and consolidate my growth. It’ll take several years.... Let's take it slow!"
Although the red dust was still running rampant on the Sun and Ebonia, there was no need to rush. Steadiness was important! And the Grand Myriadpath Ruins was a place where one could be steady at.
"However, I can continue climbing up the Fortuna Ranking to around three thousand." The higher the ranking, the higher the daily merit. With his current ranking, he could exchange for an Azure Dragon Descent every three years, and if he hit the three thousands, his daily merit would double. There were advantages he had to take.
After adjusting his breathing, Tianming turned to Chen Tianyong and said, "Let me take a look at the Kilopath Net."
"You can't look at it. It has an artifact spirit and it’ll eventually return to the side of Eminent Tiankui. If it sees you now and meets you again in Myriadpath Valley, it’ll react," Chen Tianyong said.
"Oh, I see!" Fortunately, Chen Tianyong was meticulous. Otherwise, things would get complicated.
It had been a while since Tianming had left Myriadpath Valley. After his breakthrough, he didn't linger and bade farewell to Chen Tianyong and Zi Zhen, returning to the valley once again.
"We'll continue paying attention to the movements of order fragments." Chen Tianyong had adapted very well to his current role. After being silent for so many years, he finally had something to do and was full of energy.
"Will it be more difficult later?" Tianming asked.
"It’ll indeed be more difficult. The order fragments that others use to break through to the Foundation stage only allowed you to progress from the second cosmic chart to the third. That shows that your order growth is more than ten times harder than prospective eminents. I estimate that you'll need at least a grade-seven order fragment to gain anything. There’s only ten grades of order fragments in total, and the highest level of order fragment in Antiquitas Mortis is grade nine. If there are any grade seven and above left, they’ll be firmly grasped by the imperial clan and will never be released in the form of auctions, let alone given to Myriadpath Valley. So this kind of robbery won't be possible again next time," Chen Tianyong seriously said. Even as the City Lord of Commonsky City, he had only obtained one grade six order fragment in so many years, indicating the 'stinginess' of the imperial clan.
Of course, it was only natural. Only by allowing the young people of the imperial clan to grow up as fast as possible could they ensure the permanent dominance of the imperial clan over Antiquitas Mortis. Nobility would always remain nobility.
In such a backward and close-minded place as Antiquitas Mortis, the hierarchy was even harder to break. Even Chen Tianyong found it difficult, let alone ordinary people and the poor.
"Understood." Tianming calculated that even if he could grab a grade-nine order fragment, this thing would probably only accelerate his progress by a few cosmic charts. The future without order fragments would definitely be difficult.
"However, by then, I should have some self-defense capabilities in Myriadpath Valley." Things would eventually work out. Tianming was not at the point that he had no confidence without order fragments, so his faith remained very strong. After all, his eight top-tier orders were his destiny, not his choice. The ability to cross six levels in battle wasn’t created out of thin air!