Paragon of Sin

"..." Ma Zheng's attention shifted as soon as Yun Che spoke about finding the other two Heavenly Cores. When Wei Wuyin had brought it out, his heart had experienced great, crushing waves of shock. If it wasn't for his long-lived life and numerous unexpected experiences throughout it, he might've exclaimed an embarrassing sound. 

Ma Zheng had instantly identified the object as a Heaven Relic, an ancient device described in records of eras long past. It was often said by scholars and prominent historians to contain the secrets of the heavens hidden beyond the world, a cryptic description that alludes to a cultivation level beyond Earthly Saint. It was highly sought after, and his Mystic Soul had only confirmed its existence by throbbing fiercely in response, the urge to absorb it ravaging his Sea of Consciousness. If it wasn't for his respect for Wei Wuyin, he might have rushed forward to seize the Heaven Relic at all costs. 

To think its true name was the Heavenly World Core. 

"How?" Wei Wuyin inquired. 

Yun Che was waiting for this exact question. "My sword is how. As long as I have it, I can find out the location of the other two cores, or at the very least, what happened to them." Since the black-robed cultivator had told him to follow if he wanted his sword back, he knew that the fate of regaining his weapon was dependent on Wei Wuyin's will.

"I see," Wei Wuyin thoughtfully said. His assumptions were right; the sword had a similar function as the Nexus War Flag's Spoils of War ability granted by the Law of War. The warning from the Heavenly Daos was critical, and for a split second, he was thankful for its alert. 

Unfortunately for Yun Che, Wei Wuyin didn't need to return the sword or get his assistance. Fortunately, however, Wei Wuyin might have a use for him. Yun Che was the personification of a rogue cultivator, existing solely for his agenda and fighting for opportunities using whatever means available to him. 

°My Bloodline of Sin seems to draw me into conflict with Blessed, extracting fortunes or influencing their paths without any clear signs of doing so. But what if I obtained a Blessed under my direct control? Will a change happen?° Wei Wuyin's eyes glinted with a calculating light, trying to foresee the possibilities. Neither he nor his alternative self had experience reigning over a Blessed that was notable.

While there were countless low-leveled Blessed, such as his past self before meeting the Black Skeleton and inheriting the Bloodline of Sin, they were utterly insignificant. Their fortunes were too minor or their standings, existences, and strength were irrelevant at his current stage. They simply went under the radar. 

However, Blessed that notable auras such as Long Chen, Lin Ming, Yuan Longshi, Jing Jiu, and Tian Xiaolu were beloved by the Heavenly Daos, their Karmic Luck Value clearly beyond a thousand. As for the Temporal Reincarnator, whoever they were, their Karmic Luck Value was certainly absurd enough to affect the entire timeline. 

Yun Che fit into that category; if left alone to mature, he would certainly impact the world in a great, astonishing manner. 

"With my sword, I can guide you to wherever it is. As for the Heavenly World Cores, you can have them all. It would be my honor to assist you, Alchemic Sovereign Wei." Yun Che was growing anxious despite his outwardly calm appearance which contained signs of fervent worship. It was a mask, of course. 

Yun Che was smart enough to know when he was at an absolute disadvantage, and he was willing to suffer a loss for the sake of greater benefits in the future. To gain Wei Wuyin's favor, as well as his forgiveness, was his only way out. 

Wei Wuyin smiled a smile that wasn't one, a very rare expression of his. At that very moment, he realized that Yun Che wasn't a good candidate for a Blessed subordinate. If he had to choose a Blessed for this test, he would choose Tian Xiaolu. 

Yun Che's emotions were too hidden. He lived as a rogue cultivator and only trusted in himself while he had a penchant for taking revenge after suffering any loss. Just the horrible fate of Bing Tian, Bing Jingru, and Ice Jade was enough to display proof of this devious behavior. He was unscrupulous in his methods, capable of biding his time and planning, and then launching his schemes with perfect precision and determination. 

While this gave birth to a little bit of excessive greed, as a rogue cultivator who thrived off seizing opportunities despite the wanton dangers present, it was a necessary personality quality to be greedy. Wei Wuyin, as an Exploitative Blessed, also sympathized with the mentality. 

In truth, he wasn't greedy for opportunities, but his inner pride in himself pushed him to seize opportunities within his capabilities. It was a slight difference, but they still shared this trait. 

"I recommend you kill this guy, he has strange eyes that make me uncomfortable. It's like…I can't tell who he is." The Heavenly War Spirit advised from his Sea of Consciousness. This was the first time the Heavenly War Spirit had suggested killing someone out of weariness. Moreover, she was a Heavenly War Spirit, Wei Wuyin assumed she would be influenced by the Heavenly Daos to spare Yun Che. Was his Bloodline of Sin affecting her too?

"I don't like him either," Bai Xiu jumped in. "Just refine him; I know a few methods to generate some unique materials." 

"..." Wei Wuyin. 

"..." Heavenly War Spirit.

Bai Xiu's violent suggestion had taken both of them by surprise! Refine him! While this world had many methods of refining other people to generate resources, they were all considered Evil Methods. For example, the Primal Yin Dark Pearl was an astral-graded material formed by refining about a hundred thousand virgin women. It was also the core material for the Absolute Yin-Creation Pill that Na Xinyi used to elevate her physique. 

Wei Wuyin has no issue using these materials, but he had never thought of actively making them. After all, the deed had already been done, those hundred thousand virgins weren't coming back to life, and the Primal Yin Dark Pearl or materials like it can't simply remain unused forever. 

"I'll shelve those suggestions for now," Wei Wuyin said with a wary tone. If people heard two young girls speaking of killing and refining so calmly, who knew how many would find this soul-chilling? Wei Wuyin didn't shy away from the darkness of the cultivation world, as he was no saint himself, but there were certain things he wouldn't do unless necessary. 

"Pavilion Master Ma will assist you in consolidating your cultivation base. I'll be holding onto this mask in the meantime," he said, rising from his seat. Wei Wuyin felt no further need to interrogate this Evil Blessed, not even interested in his name. If those two in his Sea of Consciousness were against keeping Yun Che alive, it would be foolish to use him as a test without additional planning anyhow. 

More importantly, Wei Wuyin didn't have any uses for him yet. The recently ascended Demi-Mortal Lord was stronger than the average Demi-Mortal Lord, but his strengths seemed to stem from his unique sword and mask, not his cultivation base. 

However, Wei Wuyin had ideas for his mask and for this Sword, ideas that no longer needed Yun Che. Still, that doesn't mean he wouldn't find a purpose for an Evil Blessed. Regardless of his thoughts or those who stayed comfortably in his Sea of Consciousness, Wei Wuyin couldn't kill Yun Che due to his pressing need for time. He couldn't afford to lose precious time to prepare for the Fourth Calamity for a scant amount of Karmic Luck Value.

It was clear from Yun Che's Blessed Aura that he was beneath Tian Xiaolu. It simply wasn't worth it.

"What?" Yun Che was extremely stunned. When he heard Wei Wuyin mention a mask, his thoughts subconsciously floated into his Spatial Ring that housed his Thousand Faces of Man. He made a strange yelp of disbelief. It was no longer in his spatial ring! 

Before Yun Che could launch a series of hectic and frantic questions filled with panic, Wei Wuyin walked off and vanished into a nearby wall as if it was a portal. Along with his mysterious disappearance was Yun Che's hope of ever regaining his sword or mask. 

They both were heavily flawed in their refinement, mostly because they tethered to the Soul, but Yun Che had not given birth to Primary Soul Light. He had to rely on an external method and his Seed of Law to forcefully connect to two, a shoddy method with many issues. It was clear that his early years of fortune were insignificant, and his current cultivation foundation was a sign of this unfortunate fact.

Left baffled, Yun Che stared at the wall. Ma Zheng walked toward Yun Che and lightly touched his shoulder, placing a tracking spell on his body openly. "Come," he ordered emotionlessly. 

-----

In the beautiful picturesque courtyard within the Worldly Equilibrium Moon, Wei Wuyin's designated residence, a shimmer of fixed space formed. Wei Wuyin walked out with a hulking sword by his side, exuding a vile, rampant aura while holding onto a featureless black mask. 

"So you know how to refine this sword?" Wei Wuyin asked the Heavenly War Spirit.

"It has a slumbering Evil Spirit, not too difficult for you. But you shouldn't," the Heavenly War Spirit suggested.

"Oh?" 

"The Evil Spirit's influence isn't a threat to someone like you, but you already have two Spirits of Dao already occupying your Sea of Consciousness, tethered to you by irrevocable ties. If you continue to add more, when you face certain tribulations in the future, it'll lead to a great, irresistible calamity. Additionally, the Evil Dao isn't suited for you." The Heavenly War Spirit advised once again, the concern in her voice was hard to miss. 

She had once given Wei Wuyin a cryptic warning about Bai Xiu and the consequences of giving her a name. He didn't underestimate the severity of her warning but it had come too late, so he could only face what came.

"Not suited for me? That's a lie," Wei Wuyin grinned as he glanced at the Heretical Berserk Godsword. 

"So what if it's a lie?! You don't need it anyway; you cultivate the saber, not the sword." The Heavenly War Spirit shamelessly admitted and refused to yield. It was clear she had her reasons for trying to pull Wei Wuyin away from the sword, likely reasons she couldn't properly articulate. 

Wei Wuyin shrugged, "I never intended to refine it fully. Hm, you didn't notice?"

"Notice what?" The Heavenly War Spirit's vehement resistance fell to her curiosity. 

"Haha. This sword urgently wanted someone, and it wasn't me," Wei Wuyin commented while rubbing his chin. To think the slumbering Evil Spirit would react so strongly despite being sealed by layers of the Void. It didn't even react like that when he was talking to Yun Che, and while there was a strong resonance, it was incomparable to when he met that person.

Before the Heavenly War Spirit could inquire more, Wei Wuyin touched the Heretical Berserk Godsword, infusing copious amounts of Seven Source Soul Light into it. It absorbed the soul light like a sponge to water. In a blink, Wei Wuyin had exhausted half of Eden's Primary Light Source. He was used to throttling most of his Soul Light in one go due to the Nexus War Flag, so he was extremely practiced. 

Suddenly, the sword shone with beautifully icy light!

A closed-eyed, cross-armed figure of light was projected from the sword as if they were deceased. The figure floated mid-air with similar toned flawless skin, her nude figure exposed to the world. She exuded an exuberant Yin Aura that felt extremely stimulating.

Wei Wuyin was taken aback by Bing Tian's countenance; she was incredibly gorgeous! Clearly, her attempts to reduce her physical appearance hadn't been imprinted into her soul. Was this the result of an untouched Primal Yin for thousands of years cultivated to the Demi-Mortal Lord Phase with a Cultivation Method possessing a beautification effect? 

Astonishing.

Slowly, the eyes of Bing Tian's soul fluttered as she seemed to be regaining her consciousness. When she opened her eyes, and revealed a pair of crystal-like irises with icy, alluring, soul-stirring light, Wei Wuyin was once again taken aback. Would Xiao Bing become like this? Or even better? In terms of body, Xiao Bing was certainly more well-endowed in every area that mattered. This boded well for his future.

"Where…am I?" Bing Tian's soul voice shook the courtyard, and the pond instantly became solid ice.