Beastmaster of the Ages

The benefit of the competition format was that even if their opponent found them, there was a chance they wouldn't send out all their members to take on the defenders. That would give Team Rou an advantage in numbers in the short term. Most weaker teams used defensive tactics like that.

Naturally, there were some who opted for sending one or two people on the offensive. Being completely defensive had its downsides as well, the main one being that they wouldn't know the location of the enemy's base even after their own was exposed. The enemy could simply retreat and gather the rest of their team for a proper assault. As such, the key point after having one's base discovered was whether or not they could count on their numbers to hold their ground.

However, that wasn't an issue for Tianming at all. With Yin Chen around, he was a god on the battlefield, at least in terms of seeing through the fog of war. For a truly strong party, they could afford to send three people out on the offense without compromising on their defense at all. They wouldn't be afraid of any tactics, and each of them could probably take on ten others alone. In other words, while tactics helped, the core winning formula was still having insurmountable power. The rules were only flavor for the main dish.

"Let's go!" Tianming spread Yin Chen out from their base in all directions. The silver cockroaches didn't fly fast, so it would take some time for their vision to expand. However, Tianming would find out about the enemy and their base first either way, not that he would tell Bai Feng about it for now.

"We have to dream big. There's been many instances of weaker teams defeating stronger ones with a good defense and surprise offensives," Bai Feng said.

"Interesting." Tianming was talking about the format of the battle. With the fog of war limiting their vision, attacking and defending became much less certain. The thought of their base being attacked before they even found out about their enemy's location was exciting, to say the least, not that it was something Tianming would experience since he would have eyes everywhere.

"The battlefield is quite huge." Even if one side sent out people to search and scout, they stood a rather low chance of being able to overcome the enemy defenders even if they found it. Tianming stood facing the south side of the astralis, while Bai Feng faced north. Bai Huai was facing the east, while the two from the Bluemarked Star faced the west. The fact that Bai Feng had chosen such a formation showed her trust in Tianming being able to take on one direction alone. However, Zhong Yirou came to him not long after.

"What're you doing?" Tianming asked.

"I'm worried that you won't be able to hold your own, so I came to help keep watch," Zhong Yirou said.

"No need."

"What're you talking about? I'm not helping you, I'm doing my part to defend the astralis! It's for my own sake and the party's!"

"Is that so? How praiseworthy of you."

"At least I'm not messing around like you."

"Sigh, do you have a problem with me? Why are you always getting under my skin?"

"Don't you know why? If not for your interference, the one standing here would've been Brother Kou. Only he can give me a true sense of security."

"Kou Mingyou, huh?" As Tianming spoke with her, Yin Chen gave him an important piece of information.

"That's right. What about it?" Zhong Yirou pouted. "He's stronger than Sister Feng and a beastmaster like me. Mine can even elevate his beasts to a whole new level."

"Looks like your wish is about to come true."

"What do you mean?"

"Look. Your ideal partner is here, but as an enemy," Tianming said, shamelessly smiling.

Looking ahead, they saw five people approaching them. The opponents were taking a huge risk by completely ignoring their astralis and launching an all-out attack! The perfect counterplay to going fully defensive was a full offensive. When the numbers were equal, the stronger side would dominate. Not to mention, the attackers' astralis would still be undetected, while the defenders couldn't even leave theirs to hide away in ambush. It was a completely opposite approach to Bai Feng's.

Tianming knew that their enemies weren't just acting on impulse. There were bound to be more weak parties compared to strong ones, and the weak parties would normally choose to go full out on defense. As such, there was a good chance they would encounter weak parties that did just that, and the enemies had made the right guess this time.

What Tianming didn't expect was that the leader of the enemy party would actually be Kou Mingyou. He wore a headband that covered one of his eyes. Given his leadership style, it made sense that he wanted Bai Feng to follow his every order. Someone as aggressive as him couldn't work well with someone that wouldn't follow his orders to the letter. However, there was another surprise in store for Tianming: Ye Chen's presence.

"It's like he's haunting me or something...." It was a crazy coincidence. Ye Chen had come at the last minute and managed to join Kou Mingyou's party, out of all peoples'. He looked above the head of Kou Mingyou and saw 'Darkfiend Heptus Disciple Kou Mingyou, Direwolves'. Direwolves against Team Rou.... It didn't take one with much imagination to know what would happen.

"Ye Chen again... I bet Violetglory is going to freak out again." Tianming was already sick of fighting him. They had reached a 'draw' in their previous duel only because Tianming couldn't be bothered to fight against him. He was far more interested in Kou Mingyou, who was supposed to be a top genius from a skypiercer-class world. I can tell with one look how arrogant he is. He must have the skills to back it up.

All of Team Rou noticed the incoming enemies. Unsurprisingly, Zhong Yirou's expression immediately collapsed as she teared up. She glared at Tianming, as if she were blaming him for jinxing them. Tianming only thought, I wonder if team-killing is okay here....

The five of them joined up in a defensive line, facing off against the approaching enemy. Apart from Ye Chen, the others Kou Mingyou had selected seemed to be cold, powerful, and adept at fighting, completely unlike Zhong Yirou and Qiao Xingzhou. They were just as surprised to see Bai Feng's team.

"Interesting.... I didn't think such a coincidence would be possible. Looks like the heavens have plans for us, Bai Feng," Kou Mingyou said, nonchalantly waving.

"Stop. It's gross," Bai Feng snapped.

Though Ye Chen was initially shocked, he immediately calmed down and smiled at Tianming. Even so, that didn't mask his urge to finish their fight from before. The others picked up on how they were both from the same star.

"Are the two of you nemeses?" Bai Feng asked.

"Him? My nemesis? He doesn't deserve that honor," Tianming said with a shrug, causing killing intent to surge from Ye Chen, as well as an uproar back home.

"Since that's the case, I'll leave your acquaintance to you. Help out my brother and the others if they need it. I don't think Kou Mingyou's that easy to deal with," Bai Feng said. Even though they were both from skypiercer-class worlds, Darkfiend Heptus was situated in the core of the Mysterium Cluster where the resources were most plentiful.

"Let's trade. Leave Kou Mingyou to me and I'll deal with my fellow Violetglorian when we get home," Tianming said, much to the shock of Bai Huai, Qiao Xingzhou, and Zhong Yirou. Zhong Yirou had planned to beg for mercy from Kou Mingyou, yet the other two were already deciding who would fight him.

"Stop messing around, Li Tianming. This is no joke," Qiao Xingzhou said. With how pale he looked he had definitely lost all hope for his own party.

"Are you saying you'd rather take on Kou Mingyou?" Tianming asked.

"Of course... not...." He took a step back.

"Then shut up. Only say things you mean."

Qiao Xingzhou and Zhong Yirou exchanged glances, rolling their eyes at Tianming's attitude.

"Hey, you can get yourself killed for all I care. Qiao Xingzhou's totems are ranged totems, so your mission is to not let others approach him," Zhong Yirou said.

"You fucking idiot!" Tianming was losing it. Xiaoxiao was a ranged fighter herself, and everyone seemed to just assume it was Tianming's job to be her shield. He decided to ignore the two of them. Looking at Bai Feng, he indicated his readiness to fight. The other five had also detected the astralis behind them and had their own little discussion before they glared at them, applying huge pressure.

"Since your fellow Violetglorian is so capable, I'll leave him to you, Ye Chen," Kou Mingyou said.

"No problem," Ye Chen said, yet neither of them expected that their enemy would attack first!

The white-haired youth struck with his left hand holding a silver whip, using Painstaking Separation. Flower petals instantly manifested all over the place as the Lifesteal Silverdragon's bladed body lashed out toward Kou Mingyou, who defended himself with a spiked club. The chain wrapped around it and its tail spike struck Kou Mingyou's face, drawing blood, much to the shock of others. Tianming was far too ruthless, striking without even saying a word and actually managing to wound Kou Mingyou. Even though they were caeli, the pain they felt was still all too real.

"You!"

"Step out. Let's not bother with a messy group fight. I challenge you to a duel," Tianming said, walking to the side and leaving his chain wrapped around Kou Mingyou's weapon. Waves of dark frost traveled through the chain and instantly froze the spiked club. It appeared to be some kind of black plant that even threatened to stretch toward Kou Mingyou's hands. This was the power of the Frozen Glasstree!

"Huh?!" Kou Mingyou seemed surprised. Tianming had used the Frozen Glasstree to make an opening, and his challenge caused his eyes to turn red. He refused to let go of his weapon, only to be pulled along by Tianming towards him. The two of them clashed near a green lake.

"Are you courting death?!" Kou Mingyou instantly released his lifebound beast.

The Lifesteal Silverdragon flashed, causing a lot of lake water to splash through the air as all five of Tianming's lifebound beasts were unleashed, Lan Huang shining the brightest among them and drawing the most attention and shock.

"A sovereign beast?!" Even for peak geniuses like Bai Feng and the rest, sovereign beasts were incredibly rare. All of his beasts had different main elemental attributes, making them quite a contrast, completely overshadowing Kou Mingyou's single lifebound beast. Zhong Yirou and Qiao Xingzhou were completely flabbergasted by the dramatic entrance.

"Is he really that powerful?!"

"Didn't Sister Feng say that he's only a second-level solarian?"

The two of them felt really awkward all of a sudden. Fortunately, the other four enemies charged toward the astralis, so they didn't have to face the consequences of their behavior just yet and could focus on the fight at hand.