Paragon of Sin

Xun Yicao's emergence brought the scene to another level, especially as his young, handsome Chosen Knight followed proudly behind him. Last time, the attention was stripped from him ruthlessly by San Luoyang's Earthly Saint cultivation reveal and his outstanding Chosen Knight, Duze Beixuan. Now, all eyes were on him, and so when he unleashed his aura to the world, eliciting all sorts of exclamations and envious gazes, he felt validated and at peace. 

Mu Yura's gorgeous eyes of two vastly different colors swept against Xun Yicao and his Chosen Knight. She faintly smiled, revealing an enchanting sight imbued with endless confidence. "Third Stage…" She softly muttered in her heart, inwardly feeling like Li Qingli had a great chance to outlast the others and claim victory during the Chosen Stage. 

While it was merely two stages, from the World Sea to the Soul Idol Phase, they were unimaginably difficult to transcend in comparison to the Qi Condensation Realm's stages. Furthermore, the young man's aura was robust, his spiritual light infecting the world with every sweep of his gaze, indicating a terrifyingly powerful Spiritual Strength. 

Soon, the others began to come out one by one. Not everyone amongst them was impressive, but they all reached the Astral Core Realm. These Chosen Knights have experienced the greatest fortune imaginable at the summit, and from their expressions, it showed. While they might not have much confidence in outlasting the other Chosen Knights, their future path was almost entirely guaranteed to be unimaginably smooth. 

These Alchemic Sovereigns will definitely not simply abandon them after nurturing them to this extent for five years; likely, they will all jump from Chosen Knights to genuine Alchemic Knights, their status changing forever. 

They were all outstanding with auras far surpassing what the previous prospective Chosen at their age and cultivation could compare to. It was unfortunate that this type of dedicated treatment where an Alchemic Sovereign focused solely on them was likely impossible to replicate if another Saint Cyclic Alchemic Clash isn't initiated again! 

These Alchemic Sovereigns were all dedicated to the Alchemic Dao, and they likely wouldn't even give their child this level of attention and effort. They would delegate various non-essential products to their subordinates, ignore their cultivation base unless absolutely needed, adjust regiments to better suit specific methods, or inspect and correct innate talent deficiencies.

Moreover, they received instruction from Mystic Ascendants. While they were merely Mystic Star Phase experts, they've transcended a portion of the Mortal Dao, and thus grasped it entirely. Their lessons towards the Mortal Realms were astonishingly comprehensive and easier to regurgitate essential information. This was something even Starlords would find impossibly difficult to do. 

But how many cultivators can realistically enjoy the luxury of Mystic Ascendants expounding on the Mortal Realms? Only those who had parents or masters in the Mystic Ascendant Realms could reliably enjoy such generous benefits, an extreme rarity as is. 

Speaking of parents, the last Alchemic Sovereign to emerge was the one everyone wanted to see! San Luoyang! The SOLE Mortal Sovereign Alchemist with Earthly Saint cultivation! The ponytailed alchemist confidently walked out with Duze Beixuan and Tian Zhuxian.

Xun Yicao glanced over, his eyes flickering with a strange light. Shockingly, Duze Baixuan's cultivation hadn't increased in the slightest! He was still at the second stage of the Astral Core Realm, the Sky Ruler Phase, evident by the complete lack of faint spiritual light created by Manifested Spirit Energy.

Mu Yura's expression grew dignified. This was a sign that she feared to see. It seems Du Ling's outstanding improvements were not enough to push everyone into striving for higher cultivation bases. This considerably lowered Li Qingli's chances of outlasting Duze Beixuan. 

Duze Beixuan was unbothered by the questioning gazes of those below. He could feel the thoughts and judgments towards his lacking comprehension, unable to reach the Soul Idol Phase. In his heart, he scoffed with disdain. During these eighteen months, he was given a regiment of foundation-enhancing products. The average Sky Ruler would be like an ant before him.

The confidence in his eyes was absolutely on the verge of overflowing, spewing out into the world, yet he restrained his urge to laugh and smile. The Chosen Stage would pit other prospective Chosen and established Chosen against these Chosen Knights based on their cultivation bases, so strength and foundation at all stages were absolutely crucial here. 

The point of Chosen wasn't meant to determine who can cultivate the fastest, but who can reign supreme in their cultivation base! 

Duze Beixuan glanced at Luo Ning and Du Ling's location. He felt a wave of great relief not seeing Wei Wuyin. While he was cultivating, San Luoyang once told him that Wei Wuyin's Alchemic Talent was unmatched, his young age and skill in the Alchemic Dao proved this, and with Luo Ning acting as his proxy, using mystic-graded alchemical energies, he would be able to match him. 

San Luoyang attributed his weakness to being unfamiliar with his newfound strength, still adjusting, and if given enough time, not even Wei Wuyin's talent alongside Luo Ning's Alchemic Soul energies would match him. Not even Xun Yicao will be remotely his rival. While it was a short conversation, Duze Beixuan felt that San Luoyang was more or less confirming his rise to becoming an Alchemic Saint! 

For three days and nights, his heart was unable to settle down as it raced wildly. San Luoyang had long since said that he'll accept him as an Alchemic Knight, calling their meeting in this era-defining event as a 'fated' one. If so, wouldn't he be an Alchemic Saint's Alchemic Knight?! Who would be able to calm down in the face of this astonishing reveal?

Lofty dreams of reaching the Earthly Saint, standing upon the peak of this world, were manifesting as he cultivated. 

Down below, Lin Ming's eyes brightened as he inspected these outstanding Chosen Knights. He was genuinely stunned at their rate of progression, including their strong, exceptional auras. He wouldn't be able to confidently say that at their cultivation stage, he would be their match! 

Wasn't this a little unfair? A wisp of bitterness formed in his heart manifested from all his difficult memories of fighting tooth and nail for every resource and opportunity. All the life and death experiences he faced, all the obstacles he overcame, and so much more all so that he could have their strength. 

"The benefits of becoming an Alchemic Knight isn't to be underestimated; those Ever-Knights of the Everlore Association were all casually created by him, and they could only be considered half-Alchemic Knights at best. He only spent roughly five years on all of them as a favor, similar to these Chosen Knights, and this opportunity spun to an easy path to the Earthly Saint." The voice calmly said.

"Him? The King of Everlore?" Lin Ming was astonished. Did he spend only five years making three future Earthly Saints? These were figures that stood at the top of the vast Grand Cyclic Stellar Region! The reverence in his heart towards the figure that was the King of Everlore subconsciously grew three times. 

"The genuine Alchemic Knights of the King of Everlore vanished alongside him; those Ever-Knights must've felt grateful and blessed despite being abandoned without remorse." A tinge of rancor leaked from the voice's tone, but it didn't seem to be directed towards the Ever-Knights.

Lin Ming was still absorbed in expanding his understanding of what outstanding alchemists could achieve. He realized that the voice's advice towards finding an alchemist might have some merit to it. 

Later, Evergod's voice resounded, ending the Excavation Stage, and initiating the Chosen Stage. The Main Hall began to change. The platform between his feet shifted. He was still at the highest elevation besides the throne-sitting leaders above, but those on the lower platforms were forcefully shifted into a circle, resembling an audience for an arena.

When the shifting finished, he realized that a ring was formed with the crowd inside, and at the center was a square stage resembling the inverted stage at the Hall of Qualifications. A coliseum! The Main Hall had swiftly changed into a coliseum fit to host over a million spectators!

A wave of heated excitement began to flow throughout the hearts and minds of those in the stands. The final stage of the Saint Cyclic Alchemic Clash was beginning, and it'll determine the initial standards for Chosen of the new era! After experiencing numerous unexpected boons, the audience was fired up, feeling tremendously grateful that they took the risk to view this event. 

Those who felt as if they were unable to enter would certainly regret not coming here in the future! Unfortunately, despite all these Mortal Sovereign Alchemists present, none of them could concoct a pill for regret. 

Lin Ming was with the others who succeeded in the test, including Xue Yifei, Wu Baozhai, Na Xinyi, and Su Mei. Strangely enough, Bai Lin was there as well, hanging around the three girls excitedly. They stood at the second highest viewpoint, only beneath those sitting upon thrones. These thrones were now grounded, placed upon the podium like kings observing the crowd. 

Since the announcement of Evergod's voice, no one amongst the Chosen, prospective Chosen, Immortal Heroes Rankings, and Immortal Saintess Rankings were cultivating any longer. They were all awake, fully focused on the upcoming final battle.

Wu Baozhai's eyes gleamed as she stared at Du Ling on the stage below. Su Mei didn't conceal Du Ling's history with Wei Wuyin, knowing him even before she did. This brought interest into her eyes, wanting to know how Wei Wuyin was as a youngster. It wasn't just her, even Xue Yifei was curious.

Lin Ming briefly glanced at the three outstandingly beautiful girls that rivaled or faintly exceeded Lin Xianxei, yet he still preferred his Senior Sister Lin. She was the perfect combination of gentle, intelligent, warm, thoughtful, and strong. Not to mention, she was extremely beautiful. Despite his preference, he was still awed by how Wei Wuyin had so many outstanding women near him, recalling that short-haired girl that arrived with him in the True Element Sect.

He turned his gaze away, staring at the stage of Chosen Knights. They were organizing, with Du Ling accompanying his sons still, and the instructors giving last-minute words of wisdom. 

"Who do you think will win?" Lin Ming asked the voice in the Aegis of the Elements. He had a guess who this voice belonged to and highly valued his opinion. 

"Win? Hmm," the voice hummed thoughtfully, and then answered confidently: "Du Ling."