Paragon of Sin

"How's it?" Wei Wuyin mentally communicated with Bai Lin, who was exerting herself to an extreme, all while being fed endless unrefined strands of lifeforce to sustain her blazing rage of heaven-swallowing flames. They were interlinked, and the Mark of Eden's reservoir of lifeforce kept gushing out. 

"It's absolutely great!" Bai Lin energetically replied; not a wisp of exhaustion could be heard from her. In fact, she could be considered to be extremely excited. It had been a while since she got the opportunity to unleash all of her strength, and after consuming that feather, her strength underwent a qualitative change. Moreover, she never lacked alchemical products that helped enhance her innate, physical, or bloodline energies and was certainly stronger than any other Fire Phoenix her age. 

Of course, she was remarkably young for a Fire Phoenix, akin to an infant still waddling in diapers, but she wielded unimaginable power. Similarly, Wei Wuyin was in the same position as Bai Lin. As a Timelord at the age of sixty-nine, he could kill Highlords, and that was before refining the Neo-Dawn Paragon-Forging Pill and acquiring Origin Fire. 

They were both infants relative to their age, species, and cultivation stage. 

"Good," Wei Wuyin felt comforted as he kept contributing more lifeforce. "Keep it at this level for now," he said as he realized roughly thirty percent of the defensive array was covered, adding: "and lower the intensity of the Nirvanic Flames' heat. Make it seem as if it's gradually going down as they reinforce the barrier. Have it coincide with each major explosion." 

Bai Lin acted as instructed; her control of Nirvanic Flames was unmatched and seamless. This control was undoubtedly due to alchemical products she regularly refined that enhanced the qualities of her mental energy, greatly amplifying her connection with every iota of flame that existed. 

Wei Wuyin's Celestial Eyes glanced beyond the flames and observed the changes of the Born True Starfield. Continuous spatial ripples were manifesting in the Dark Void. As a True Void Dragon, his sensitivity toward those fluctuations was the highest among any mortal. 

"I think there's more!" Bai Lin exclaimed as she realized the defensive array was growing stronger. It was being reinforced by Venerables, Highlords, and Earthly Saints. At this point, the explosions on the defensive array were less intense, and her Nirvanic Flames were being destroyed with an equivalent amount of power. 

"Increase the intensity of the flames! Cover fifty percent!" Wei Wuyin then interfaced with the Mark of Eden and poured vast quantities of lifeforce into Bai Lin's head, and her Nirvanic Flames exploded with greater intensity as she acted. 

The expressions of the newcomers became aghast; they hurriedly called out for additional assistance as a particular area was being breached, melting in such a way that it felt as if the energy that was solidified by the array's profound power was turning liquid. A few screamed as a small tongue of Nirvanic Flames broke through, incinerating a limb or two in an instant. Some were engulfed, dying then and there. 

While Bai Lin went to work pressuring Trueborn, Wei Wuyin's Celestial Eyes transformed into draconic pupils. He kept the transformation limited to his eyes and observed the ripples within space. He looked around and marked a series of locations based on intensity, direction, energy consumed, ripples produced, and numbers sent. After performing high-speed calculations, his eyes glinted with a grayish-colored Void Light. 

From within the defensive barrier, the masked negotiator's face behind the mask was as ashen as a ghost on the verge of death. The sky was on fire! The Born True Starfield was bathed in scarlet-gold radiance! It was endless, spreading in every direction, sometimes penetrating inside. 

The masked negotiator retreated fearfully. How could a Fire Phoenix exhibit such unreasonable power? Where was it getting the energy to unleash this torrential storm of endless world-blazing flames?! It wasn't just unreasonable; it should be downright impossible! 

"Assist!" A Highlord shouted at the masked negotiator, causing their eyes to flicker as they contemplated helping. Then, from the corner of their eye, they saw a Venerable channeling their power into the barrier when a breach occurred, and they were swept by the flames. It only lasted for a microsecond, but not even ash remained. Terror suffused every fiber of the masked negotiator's existence as they sent over, "I have to keep negotiating!" 

The response caused the Highlord to glance over and then focus on reinforcing the barrier. They all had their jobs. Furthermore, if the masked negotiator could cause Wei Wuyin to pause his aggression like earlier, it would buy them more time.

Seeing their flimsy excuse work, the masked negotiator heaved an incomparably heavy sigh of relief in their heart and began to shout out words toward Wei Wuyin. While those words were ignored, and they knew there wouldn't be any response, they persisted. 

"How does the Fire Phoenix have such massive reserves of bloodline energy?!" Tian Lingyu was astonished, her mouth gaping out from utter shock. They were all Ascended beings, all Earthly Saints, so they could accurately measure the quantity of energy needed to produce every iota of flame and then calculate the total expended energy based on area. 

Even Empress Xiaocheng's normally calm and dignified expression grew solemn; the depths of her eyes revealed the light of disbelief and uncertainty. Every living being had a limit to the energy they could contain within their body or Energy Center, such as the Dantian or fleshy hearts, and what the Fire Phoenix had used vastly exceeded her limits by thousands of times. It was unimaginable! 

"Could it simply be the ability of its flames?" Tian Muyang asked with an uncertain tone. Some abilities could restore energy by devouring external sources such as essence or energies. 

"No." Kong Yi shook his head; his third wife was from the Tang Clan, and he had discussed the Nirvanic Flame Intent with her and knew that it didn't have such an absurd power. While it could ignite other objects, it was limited in what could be caught on fire. Mystic Power was not one of those ignitable sources. 

"If Alchemic Sovereign Wei can unleash this level of power freely, then very few within the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region would properly be able to deal with it." Kong Yi glanced at Empress Xiaocheng, his eyes weary and a little joyful, continuing: "The Imperial Advisor's foresight is exceptional as always." 

Empress Xiaocheng's expression flashed intensely but subdued almost immediately after. She nodded, agreeing, "As always." 

Da Shan's eyes widened uncontrollably as the beautiful burning of the Dark Void reflected in her pupils. The Born True Starfield seemed like a Solar Star being eclipsed; half of it was drowned by fiery radiance. Wei Wuyin's location was beautifully chosen, as the furthest location was the Great Blue Sea, so it'll reach it last. 

"Your little husband reared a fearsome beast…" The Titanic Hell-Crushing Queen remarked admiringly. Da Shan was startled, then a glint of unconcealed pride flowed in her eyes, and she bore her well-endowed chest as well. A tantalizing sight, for sure. 

The Titanic Hell-Crushing Queen caught her prideful stance and touched her own chest, pouting with discontent. Not only had Da Shan gained two feet in height, but she was also already incredibly 'gifted' in other areas. She wagged her finger, forcefully causing Da Shan to sit. "Stop making a fuss," she said as she ignored Da Shan's eyes filled with grievance directed her way. 

"If this continues, he might just eliminate the entire Born True Starfield by himself," Huoyan Liulan said in wonder. But Cardinal Song shook her head; she gestured toward the space around the burning barrier. "Do you not see the wake of Spatial Traversing? Trueborn is calling forth reinforcements. Chances are they're about to teach this young mortal a brutal lesson."

Huoyan Liulan furrowed her brows, "Isn't this playing into Alchemic Sovereign Wei's hands? After all, he rallied quite a few to his cause. It's obvious that Alchemic Sovereign Wei wants a fight." They, too, were aware of Wei Wuyin's gathering of forces over the last two months. It was a well-controlled act, but it was soon seen through by many of their networks of information. 

"Do you believe Trueborn is so weak that a few meddling rogues can fight against it? At best, that Grand Knight of his, the Armored Saint, and the Fire Phoenix are threats. But not even they are enough to handle Trueborn's true power," Cardinal Song said with disdain. If Trueborn was so weak, the organizations of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region would've long since eradicated it. 

"True power? What do you mean?" Huoyan Liulan was taken aback. While she knew Trueborn was powerful, from the sound of it, it was far, far stronger than she was made to believe. 

Cardinal Song gave Huoyan Liulan a side-long glance, restraining her contempt, "The Pope hasn't told you the fullest extent of Trueborn's history. But they've existed since the beginning of the First Era, tens of thousands of years ago, when humans first learned to cultivate. Their cultivated forces and hidden reserves are inestimable, and they simply don't concern themselves with imperial power."

"What?! So long?" Huoyan Liulan didn't know this despite her position and cultivation base. She felt ignorant, and this spurred a little anger. "That doesn't make sense; what force doesn't want to rule?" 

"...I once met the Divine Emperor about four thousand years ago alongside other peak forces to discuss what to do about Trueborn. We asked a similar question then, especially given their desire to seek out resources and territory in secret but their unwillingness to expose themselves. Do you know what the Divine Emperor's response was?" 

Huoyan Liulan's eyes widened, never having heard of that meeting before. She had only Ascended three thousand and four hundred years ago, so she wasn't privy to that information. That said, she was over twelve thousand years old. She shook her head in response, unable to guess. 

Cardinal Song stared at the burning world before her, "For every speck of darkness in existence, there is light that is driving it away, protecting the world from its encompassing ambition." 

"..." Huoyan Liulan.

Cardinal Song sighed, "They didn't because they couldn't."

"But they're establishing a base of operations now after tens of thousands of years? Why would they do it now?" Huoyan Liulan instantly questioned that statement. 

"Then the light has been weakened, and the darkness and its encompassing ambition are no longer as restrained." After saying this, Cardinal Song no longer spoke out. She had an idea as to what that light was, a force as enigmatic and hidden as Trueborn, an organization that acted freely and didn't concern themselves with any external matters—the Void Voyage Sect. 

Her expression became gloomy and grim. 

They weren't here. 

Within a mass of Nirvanic Flames, Wei Wuyin began to reduce the levels of lifeforce he was sending to Bai Lin. "Reduce your range slowly, but gradually intensify your strength." 

Bai Lin acted as instructed. She began to feign weakness as her Nirvanic Flames slowly drew back, but its strength increased as it did! 

The Venerables, Highlords, and Earthly Saints all had the same thought: "the Fire Phoenix was finally spent!" It was about time!

"Prepare for its last-ditch attack! REINFORCE!" They were very coordinated as they began to recede together, reducing the range of their reinforcement alongside the reduction of the Nirvanic Flames. Their movements were effective. Soon, the barrier was covered by only ten percent. However, the Ascended beings were fiercely sweating as the heat intensified, penetrating the barrier. 

"Hold!" They shouted.

"Hold!" Wei Wuyin instructed. 

"Yes!" Bai Lin kept the intensity at eight percent, holding strong as if it was using its last remaining energy to keep the assault going. This was a good sign for Trueborn's forces. They saw an end! 

But Wei Wuyin, too, saw an end! The end of the Void Gates' transports! It soon came with no other reinforcement in sight. Most of those who arrived stayed hidden, only sending Mystic Power from the shadows to not give away their existence, waiting for Bai Lin to grow exhausted! 

"That's it," Wei Wuyin said with a heavy breath. Then, he looked at the vast Dark Void, and his eyes brightened considerably as he sent a single spiritual transmission out. 

Then, Bai Lin's fiery form violently receded like a tide preceding a tsunami, all accumulating until she reverted to her twenty-two-meter-sized form. Wei Wuyin calmly stood upon her back, gazing at the Ascended beings that were exhausting themselves to defend wholeheartedly. 

"You have a tough turtle shell; I'll give you that. So, why don't we talk?" Wei Wuyin stared at the masked negotiator, a hint of a smile on his face.

The masked negotiator gulped. 

-----

Venerable Bloodtorrent was situated in a lightless space, isolated and large. Within this space were hundreds of other Ascended, including an Earthly Saint that made her feel uncomfortable. The sanguine aura enveloping him felt supremely evil and vile, yet this being's spiritual sense was firmly honed onto her body, giving her great discomfort. But she forcefully ignored it; her eyes focused on the mission instead. 

The sanguine aura was behind a mortal woman. It was an auburn-haired woman that gave off a floral scent, had a sword on her hip, and possessed an innately commanding presence. She was Hong Chunhua!

After a while, Hong Chunhua's eyes sharply narrowed. "We have our orders; we leave in twenty seconds!" She exclaimed, her aura surging, and despite being a mortal, to Venerable Bloodtorrent, she felt stronger than any Starlord cultivator she'd ever met. It was baffling. How did she cultivate?

Twenty seconds later, a large-sized Void Portal, enough to fit a hundred people, manifested before them. 

"Go!" Hong Chunhua roared. The Ascended listened, shooting into the Void Portal with killing intent flaring in their hearts, minds, and spirits. As Venerable Bloodtorrent entered, she heard Hong Chunhua icily shout: "KILL!"