Paragon of Sin

"Equal!" The sonorously harmonious voices of three judges—two men and one woman—resounded throughout the coliseum and spiritual network. It shook the hearts of everyone without end. A stifled atmosphere instantly formed as they held their breaths. 

"This Alchemic Clash has unequivocally and unchangeably been deemed a tie!" The official announcement was like a form of release. A sensation of amazement, disbelief, uncertainty, and fascination surged throughout the viewers' hearts. Since the founding and creation of the World Between the Fold all those years ago, when has there ever been a record of an Alchemic Clash ending in a tie? 

Within the Spiritual Network's depths, Wei Wuyin amusingly rubbed his chin; his thoughts towards the Heavenly Daos' intentions were growing keener. Unlike others, he could see the invisible strings pulling the pieces. Formless confidence manifested in his heart, reinforcing his will to cultivate. With each passing day, the Heavenly Daos that were originally unimaginably unfathomable were slowly being understood. 

"This is unprecedented!" Cao Cuifen exclaimed with shock. Then, she turned to Wei Wuyin, her thoughts seemingly swift as can be, and she placed a delightful smile on her face, directing it towards him. "Dao Instructor Wei, this is your chance!" 

While she said those words, the inner circle of nearby elites was in an uproar. The male scholar had revealed a major flaw in the rules that could be exploited. With the Pure Excellence Cauldron being shared between them, this meant for the next three years, they would have an undeniable connection with Tian Xiaolu and Qingye Ying, and likely learn the inheritance with them. At least what could be learned. 

If they take another step, they might be able to defend their position and keep it going for decades. These Mortal Sovereign Alchemists with Mystic Ascendant Realm cultivation bases had full confidence that if Tian Xiaolu wasn't considered, including her abnormally extreme skill in lesser graded products, then they would've dominated Qingye Ying in the true Alchemic Clash.

Unfortunately, Tian Xiaolu might be impressive in lower-graded products, but she was still a mortal, and she clearly devoted too much time to mastering the concoction of those lesser grades to the extent that she couldn't defeat the Emperor Alchemist of the Elven Race. A sacrifice for her success. But, her luck hadn't faded as she pulled off a shocking tie against Qingye Ying!

This, while a little displeasing, was far better for them. This gave them a chance to share the brilliance of the Myriad Transformations Alchemic Saint in accordance with the rules and laws in place. An unexpectedly joyful surprise! 

Liu Suyin frowned; this opportunity was a little dubious to her. She was an outsider, and this all felt too fortunate. Skepticism was her first instinct. She couldn't explain why, but as she thought more about it, that feeling gnawed further.

Wei Wuyin was aware of the existence of karmic luck, the hand of the Heavenly Daos directing others to fortune, so he had fewer suspicions. Still, he didn't expect to have this opportunity fall in his lap. Instinctively, he checked his right arm but realized he was a spiritual body at the moment, and the Bloodline of Sin tattoo wouldn't be present. 

In a bizarre twist of discovery, when he lifted his sleeve to inspect the state of his Karmic Luck Value, it was unbelievably there! Wei Wuyin was thunderstruck! This wasn't his first type of incarnation, but it was his first pure spiritual incarnation.

Karmic Luck Value: 41,555.3.

First Calamity: Survived - 7/7.

Second Calamity: Claimed - 1/1.

Third Calamity: Suppressed - 11 Years.

"Assistant Cao?" The male scholar had exited from his spiritual observations, finding Cao Cuifen standing beside two others. His eyes brightened when he saw Liu Suyin. That calm indifference that repulsed others and brought them discomfort was causing his body to tingle a little. "Come, Assistant Cao." 

Cao Cuifen looked at the male scholar with a pleasant smile; her attitude was beyond reproach as she apologized to Wei Wuyin, only leaving after he acknowledged her and didn't show any disapproval, and she walked over. Cao Cuifen was well-received, even by the female scholar, as they began to talk amongst themselves. 

"Assistant Cao's expertise in shared property laws is amazing; she handled Dao Instructor Jian Lihei's ownership matter with the Supreme Aqualake last year. So, tell us: is this so-called loophole of Dao Instructor Shui correct?" The female scholar spoke out, causing Dao Instructor Shui Lun, previously referred to as the male scholar, to form a grim look. 

"Dao Instructor Mo, Dao Instructor Shui's idea is pretty sound to my knowledge." Cao Cuifen answered respectfully. This caused the female scholar, Dao Instructor Mo Shishi, to pout slightly in discontent. If there was something wrong, she could humiliate him a little. 

"Hmph!" Dao Instructor Shui Lun coldly snorted. °As if she'll disagree with me! If it weren't for Assistant Cao, I wouldn-I would've found out eventually, right?° The instructor's thoughts were kept concealed, and his interest was elsewhere, so he didn't bother with Mo Shishi. He gave Cao Cuifen some visual cues, directing her to Liu Suyin. 

"She looks familiar." Since they were all spiritual incarnations on the spiritual network, transmissions could be easily sensed and traced to both or all parties, so Shui Lun only spoke in a hushed tone. He tried to understand who she was since Liu Suyin could reach the depths of this place, so she was bound to be connected to someone equivalent in status to himself or be of equal status herself.

"Fairy Cao! Haha!"

Cao Cuifen was about to reply when a peal of boisterous laughter resounded, taking everyone's attention away. Gazes filled with envy, rage, thoughtfulness, and distaste were flung at the origin of this voice. It belonged to none other than the youngest Mortal Sovereign Alchemist present, Qiao Leng! 

He was only three thousand and seven hundred years old, having manifested his Alchemic Stars sixty years ago, and his cultivation base was at the Soul of Mysticism Phase. His handsomeness was clear, and his youthful talent showed as well. Not only was he an Ascended, but he was a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist at an exceptionally young age.

That said, he didn't have an Alchemic Soul, so the 'exceptionally young' was based on the scale of non-Alchemic Soul alchemists. Tian Xiaolu had an Alchemic Soul, and while she was extremely young, she had an inherent advantage, a hefty sacrifice for having no tangible power, and an exceptionally difficult cultivation road ahead of her.

While she was only at the Realm World Phase, there were quite a few treasures, tools, or alchemical products that could assist cultivators during their lethal tribulations without causing irreparable damage to their path, and a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist could afford them, albeit barely. Just that statement alone made it clear how rare and expensive those types of treasures and tools cost that even Mortal Sovereign Alchemists could barely afford these special objects.

Even if she reached the Star Core Phase, the peak of the Astral Core Realm, using unique methods that dominated the Mortal Dao, the Mystic Ascendant Realm's Second Ascension was a gate of hell, absurdly difficult and unimaginably impossible to overcome without serious help. Help that Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, even Earthly Saint Alchemists and Worldly Saints powerhouses, would find abnormally difficult to obtain. 

Qiao Leng walked happily to Cao Cuifen's side, excitedly about to touch her lower back with his palm, a sign of intimacy. But Cao Cuifen's movements were swift like a cat and smooth like silk, evading that touch with breathtaking ease and positioning herself in a way that he'd find it difficult to pursue her. 

"...hm?" Stunned, Qiao Leng was unable to comprehend why he hadn't felt a soft body in his palm. His words that were about to celebrate his future access to the Pure Excellence Cauldron were severed then and there, stifled by the awkward situation. "Fairy Cao, I'll-"

Dao Instructor Shui Lun furrowed his brows slightly. "Assistant Cao, Dao Instructor Qiao has priority for the upcoming challenge, so he'll definitely possess the Pure Excellence Cauldron in the future." He warned her and cursed in his heart. Why was his assistant acting so foolishly? If she got into Qiao Leng's good graces, wouldn't she and himself come in contact with the secrets of the Pure Excellence Cauldron? Don't spoil this for me, Cao Cuifen! 

Qiao Leng's eyes brightened. With this card up his sleeve, wouldn't he be able to use this to finally bring Cao Cuifen to his bed? Perhaps they'll become husband and wife, and if he truly played his cards right, they could simply be lovers! This was a double opportunity! How many beautiful young alchemists will seek him out as the sole male with access to the greatest alchemic legacy in the academy? Moreover, wouldn't he be in close contact with two mortals? While Qingye Ying was an elf, she was top-tier in looks.

Hehe! His excitement was rampaging in his heart and mind, and even his lower body felt burning blood rushing into it. Fortunately, he was a spiritual incarnation, so as long as he willed it, it wouldn't reflect in this avatar.

Cao Cuifen's smile didn't lessen, "Oh? Is that so?" She said this, but everyone could hear an apparent skepticism in her voice.

"Is there something we don't know?" The wizened alchemist kept rubbing his long beard with intense emotion, reflecting his anxiousness and frustration. 

"There is; there's someone younger amongst Dao Instructors who also cultivates the Alchemic Dao. This person has priority first, before Dao Instructor Qiao." She politely informed them with a steady voice, directing her gaze towards Wei Wuyin. The entire group became shaken instantly after seeing Wei Wuyin's Alchemic Stars, alchemical aura, and mortal-grade spiritual strength!

Another Tian Xiaolu?!

Wei Wuyin didn't mind the gazes sent his way. His thoughts were elsewhere as all this happened, and he was trying to figure out why the Bloodline of Sin tattoo manifested on this avatar. More importantly, looking at Karmic Luck Value, he felt that this could be a ploy of the Heavenly Daos, but his heart was telling him that this wasn't an opportunity designed for him by the Heavenly Daos. Moreover, it didn't feel like the result of the Bloodline of Sin either.

This was all instinctual, so he could be speaking total nonsense, and it could be genuinely coincidental. But, he felt a strange hand guiding him here. So this brought intense confusion as it'd be easier to explain it as part of the over 3,000 Karmic Surge or the Bloodline of Sin's influence to clash with Blessed. 

Did Liu Yinlan influence this outcome somehow? While he pondered, Cao Cuifen slid smoothly back to his side. "Dao Instructor Wei, shall I handle the process of filing for a shared property claim of challenge?" By this point, the judges were announcing the results of the tie, including the circumstances regarding shared ownership of the Pure Excellence Cauldron for the next three years, giving many alchemists growing hope of being able to claim the Pure Excellence Cauldron from Qingye Ying. 

"Hm? Please do." Wei Wuyin was unfamiliar with all these laws and rules. He decided to allow Cao Cuifen, an assistant to Dao Instructors, to handle this task. Since this was a chance to take this benefit, he was willing to do so regardless of his feelings. Why else did he come to the Voyage Academy if not to obtain more knowledge about the Alchemic Dao? 

She brightly smiled, sweet and direct, before nodding her head and vanishing abruptly. Exiting the Spiritual Network, she returned to reality. She saw the closed-eyed Wei Wuyin and Liu Suyin, and a complex emotion flickered in her gaze. She sighed softly and then left soon after. 

Not long after, Wei Wuyin's eyes opened, gazing in Cao Cuifen's direction. Unlike others, Wei Wuyin had two minds, so he didn't have to focus entirely on one area, and he was extremely sensitive to mental fluctuations. However, he couldn't quite pinpoint what Cao Cuifen felt at that moment, but it was certainly powerful enough to sense. 

-----

Beyond the City of Guardians, Liu Yinlan was standing beside a seated and cultivating Ye Ziling. The Lord of the City of Endless and Sect Master of the Void Voyage Sect had her delicate eyebrows scrunched in thought. 

She had just received news about the Alchemic Clash for the Pure Excellence Cauldron's result. To think it would be a tie, such a strange sequence of events. As the City Lord of one of the three cities, her knowledge of various laws and rules was unquestionably among the highest. Hence, she swiftly realized the possibility of the Pure Excellence Cauldron having another co-owner. Additionally, Wei Wuyin was in the perfect position to claim it! 

It would be an understatement to say she was shaken by the event. This was a coincidence of insane proportions. But she knew that Wei Wuyin's goal couldn't have been that, so her interest was still piqued. Despite that, she was even more excited. If he claimed the cauldron, his will to leave would be snuffed out instantly. After all, he couldn't take the cauldron out of the World Between the Fold.

She might not even have to resort to her plans. Perhaps, just perhaps, that simple ultimatum and everything thus far is enough to have him take the mantle of True Destined Voyager! 

"But…he has to win first. Without an Alchemic Soul, younger and in a location deprived of sufficient knowledge of the Alchemic Dao, will he have the means to face Qingye Ying?" She was highly skeptical and concerned. An Alchemic Soul was almost unbeatable in a Swift Dao Clash of the Alchemic Dao, with the only proven counter being mystic-graded alchemical energies and absurd amounts of experience. 

"Should I assist? Hm…" She touched her index finger to her soft lips, tapping it lightly. 

-----

The three judges were Mortal Sovereign Alchemists with Earthly Saint Phase cultivations. They were well-renowned, highly revered figures with the potential to become genuine Alchemic Saints in the future. While the chances were extremely slim, they met many of the requirements, and only luck, effort, and practice will open that gate. 

They weren't just judges but Head Dao Instructors, each voted by the majority to hold that position, proven by their skill in a specific category. Each skilled in one of the four main types of the Dao of Alchemy—Elixir, Pill, Paste, and Pellet, widely considered the best Mortal Sovereign Alchemist of their type. They were each proficient in one type, excluding paste. 

When Cao Cuifen bowed before them, talking clearly and reciting certain laws, the entire crowd was allowed to listen. She stood on the stage; a little behind her were Qingye Ying and Tian Xiaolu, their expressions dignified and dumbfounded. There was such a thing?

Cao Cuifen finished her words with, "Per Article 3, Section 17 of the Shared Property Laws of the Endless Voyage Realm, I invoke the right of proper challenge on behalf of Dao Instructor Wei Wuyin!"

Wei Wuyin?!

Tian Xiaolu and Qingye Ying's expressions drastically changed, and confusion besieged countless audience members as they had never heard of that Dao Instructor! 

One of the judges frowned, his aura imposing yet stable. "The youngest has the right of priority to contest for shared property. From what I know, amongst the Mortal Sovereign Alchemists of our Academy, Qiao Leng has that title." 

The other two judges nodded. Who was this so-called Wei Wuyin? 

Cao Cuifen's momentum didn't falter, continuing: "Dao Instructor Wei is less than a hundred years old." She directed her gaze towards Wei Wuyin's box, causing the three judges to send their spiritual senses there. Instantly, the reflective concealment was lifted as a silver-eyed youth was shown behind the glass. Within those pupils of his, seven stars rested in each, each exuding a profound will of the Alchemic Dao. 

"..." The three judges were stunned. 

"He's here!" Qingye Ying's heart was thoroughly shaken.

"So it is him…" Tian Xiaolu's expression grew dignified, lending her a unique beauty that could ensnare the heart. 

It seems the plan of that figure could be met with an unexpected variable…