Paragon of Sin

"Another?"

Up above the clouds, beyond the layers of the Evercrown Ceremony's planetary atmospheric territory, the Overseer exclaimed gloomily as they felt the fluctuations of Alchemical Auras permeate the world. She was a lithe, dainty woman of the human race, roughly eighteen to nineteen in physical appearance with shoulder-length cinnamon hair and olive skin tone. Her emitted life aura, however, foretold the vicissitudes of the ages, exceeding tens of thousands of years.

She faintly exuded a distinctly potent will of Mysticism; her aura indicated she was a Worldly Saint, a genuine World Emperor. Despite her exceptional cultivation base, her cute facial features were washed with anxiety and vexation. The Parasol of the Paragon that Wei Wuyin was upholding kept her from entering. She didn't dare try to use her full power to breach through the obstruction. Furthermore, the inherent formations to prevent external forces from acting upon the ceremony were as silent as a dead sea.

Despite her cultivation base and her possession of an Ever-Key, she was unable to act. Her anxiety was fully warranted as she sensed the distinct aura of the merging phenomenon for fragments. Earlier, extremely far from the gathering of Chosen and the subsequent slaughter, the exact aura manifested as well.

The Aspect of Creation and the Aspect of Extraction had been fused. Unfortunately, she was unable to sense the countless stars in the sky at the moment, only feeling their presence and influence over the world. Not only had this allowed the two fragments to regain their original powers, but they gained an additional benefit for cultivators. However, the Alchemists who had a hand in the process were bestowed with the blessing of the Evercrown.

She began to mutter to herself distractedly, "The intensity is considerably higher. How many Alchemists are participating?" If anyone had heard them, they would have realized that the number of Alchemists did not diminish the benefits, only increased the power usage of the Evercrown. It was a fragmented portion of a Heavenly Treasure, and a Heavenly Treasure were things only those at True Sage or True Soul Phases of the Mystic Ascendant Realm, the eighth and ninth stages respectively, could produce. Additionally, this Heavenly Treasure was an Alchemic Dao treasure, one that only a peak Worldly Saint or Heavenly Saint could generate.

Additionally, few knew that for Worldly Saints to have even a chance to produce this type of treasure, they needed the ephemeral and rare Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity. Then and only then could Worldly Saints create a Heavenly Treasure of the Alchemic Dao.

The Overseer tensed as she quietly observed the area, muttering once more: "The blessing of the Evercrown has always been likened to the Unity of the Alchemic Stars, but it's far greater than that. Not only can it elevate an Alchemist's innate talent towards Alchemy, raising even a Standard-level talent to Overlord-level, but it also enhances a cultivator's Alchemic Soul considerably, should they possess one, greatly purifying and strengthening their bodies, and elevating their Mortal State! Through the Evercrown, there was a chance to obtain sufficient Everlore's uniquely refined essence found in Everlore Ascension Pills and Everlore Mortal Ascension Pills to enter the Origin State!

To further clarify the potential of elevating innate talents, they were divided into categories of Null, Standard, Excellence, Overlord, and Chosen, further divided into tiers of Earthly, Worldly, and Heavenly. Wei Wuyin's Stellar-Paragon Physique had elevated his innate talents toward all aspects of cultivation to Heavenly Chosen, perhaps slightly beyond such limits. For someone to elevate from Earthly Standard to Earthly Overlord would be as if an average cultivator had suddenly become a supreme talent.

The Evercrown was one of, if not the only, known treasure throughout the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone that could elevate one's innate talent in the Alchemic Dao. Not even a peak Mystic-World Product could accomplish this feat or the Ascended Sovereigns. This was an opportunity that was extremely difficult to come by. Moreover, the benefits to one's aptitude and innate talents only grew the more times they were exposed to the Evercrown. Unfortunately, every eighty-one years with a restriction of five hundred years of age made it extremely difficult for anyone to enjoy this feature too often. It was also less effective the higher the talent, with the highest reported elevation of alchemic talent to reach the Earthly Chosen after an Alchemist experienced seven baptisms, and their talent began at the Earthly Excellence.

She was a little taken aback that there were so many Alchemists being exposed to the blessing. The four differently colored stars that only Alchemists with Alchemic Stars' ocular Perception could see soon faded after an hour, twice as long as typical. Clearly, four fragments had been merged at once, a very rare event, but the result would have some tangible benefits from simply merging two alone.

"A great battle will unfold soon..." Her anxiety continued to grow as she looked down at what she should be providing oversight over. Her eyes immediately began to widen as the obstruction of annihilating power began to swiftly recede. She suddenly sensed a ravaging of the air and mana, as if a punishment of the Mystic Dao had unfolded nearby. She was flabbergasted. Was that obstruction preventing her from sensing the Mystic Dao's fury?

Her heart began to rapidly pound at the sheer implications. Whoever acted could elude her senses then, even affect her connection to the Mystic Dao! She grew incredibly agitated and deeply fearful.

Suddenly, a majestic yet soothing voice came from an indeterminate direction, almost as if it was happening from all around her.

"I'll oversee the rest of the Evercrown Ceremony," the voice was infused with the Minor Imperial Law and Minor Spatial Law, outright causing the Overseer to feel a quivering sensation of reverence. Her golden-brown eyes widened as she exerted a burst of her Mystic World Intent as if to defend herself against any threat, to showcase her readiness to fight. But when she processed the words, her expression changed.

She looked beyond the horizon of the Evercrown Ceremony, into the vast space, finding a bluish figure that looked over with a helpless smile. She recognized this figure as the Spiritform that handled the Everclash. They had separate domains, but she could similarly observe the situation there.

She hadn't this time, however. Typically, the Everclash was far too boring for her taste, so she often observed the simultaneously ongoing Everpath Voyage, and that was endlessly exciting.

Before she could even speak or reply to the voice, Wang Yutian calmly transmitted. "You no longer have a choice. Simply sit back. I can assure you he has no intentions to cause chaos to the Evercrown Ceremony."

"...?" The Overseer was incredibly confused. She had initially thought that the voice belonged to Wang Yutian and that he was utilizing some Heavenly Saint-level treasure to tap into two auras of Laws, but his response left her realizing instantly that the situation was not like that at all! Was a Mystic Overlord trying to interfere?

Her expression grew solemn and cold, "You should be supervising your section, not acting as a voucher for another. Is this man not afraid of the King of Everlore's reprisal?" Her voice was not transmitted, but only those beyond the Evercrown Ceremony's limits could hear it. She wanted to remind Wang Yutian that even a Mystic Overlord had lost their life, causing the swiftest descent of familial lineage and fortune that had ever been witnessed.

Wang Yutian's smile became even more helpless. Fear reprisal? Wei Wuyin was not a typical cultivator. "I'll take that as you agreeing to stand aside?" Wang Yutian could only reply as such. What was he supposed to do? Tell her a mortal younger than a century with the personal strength to smack away the Void Wyrm who was a Worldly Saint Alchemist was saying this?

The Overseer frowned. After a few moments of consideration, she mockingly scoffed. Her heart, however, was still quivering from the annihilating power and the remnant influence of the Minor Imperial Law, so she was less willing to lose her life by disagreeing. While she didn't outwardly say that she had agreed, she didn't openly deny it either. She was leaving herself a way out to explain to her superiors.

After doing so, she floated in the boundary beyond the Evercrown Ceremony's vast lands, her eyes observing the world below. Without warning, her eyes explosively widened as she saw a figure moving about, planting crystalline flags in various parts of the numerous regions. These crystalline flags subtly merged with the world, and if it wasn't for the disturbed air and mana, she wouldn't have been able to spot this figure.

"You!" She suddenly felt an urge to make a move. This was against the rules! Her Mystic World Intent began to flare, but as she was about to make a move, her heart suddenly felt a wave of trepidation. She felt that a single step would end her life. Just a single step.

Wang Yutian vanished back to his subrealm. He couldn't help but bitterly smile. He, too, had shockingly discovered Tian Yinwu just now, and even he had the urge to stop him. How did he plant so many flags? There were tens of thousands, at least nine in each region, and he didn't seem like he was going to stop.

The Imperial Prince's schemes had inadvertently been exposed by the disturbed air and mana that was dispersing, ruining the effectiveness of every Environmental Integration ability, thereby exposing the flags. While Tian Yinwu himself could successfully hide, the flags had given way to his position, and he was seen through their unique senses.

San Luoyang was also taken aback as well. What was this Imperial Prince doing? Everyone with an Ever-Key instantly became aware of his actions and locations. How did he plant tens of thousands of formation flags without the Overseer doing anything? Moreover, they were quite clearly integrating with the formations of this unique world! Touching these formations was a no!

However, he had no authority to impose his will on the Evercrown Ceremony-only the presiding Overseer there could.

And right now?

The recently self-appointed Overseer presiding over the Evercrown Ceremony was inside a cubical container and slowly allowed his Stellar-Paragon Physique's inhuman levels of regeneration to exert itself, swiftly recovering the lacerations and destroyed flesh to heal so fast that the naked eye of a mortal could see it. He didn't have to use the Mark of Eden or Ori's Alpha Originwood Force to heal.

In a corner of the cubical container was a human woman, the farthest position from Wei Wuyin, with her eyes closed as she silently meditated, digesting an alchemical product while maintaining a tenth of her spiritual awareness focused on Wei Wuyin as if she was afraid of any sudden moves.

Wei Wuyin was unbothered by her vigilance. While he had saved her life twice and given her products that those from the Sealed Regions would likely slaughter starfields for, this was a good sign of a cultivator in this brutal world. Who could know what Wei Wuyin was scheming? He couldn't blame her.

The Neo-Dawn Alchemic Saint could only accept it as she refused to speak or engage at all with him. Even after giving her a high-tier Mystic-Earth graded pill at the high-quality, trying to get her to say a few words, she only took it without any response. After ascertaining that the product wasn't tampered with, she didn't hesitate to begin cultivating in the corner after consuming it.

He was utterly helpless in the face of her reluctance and attitude. She knew that Wei Wuyin didn't have any ill intentions given that he saved her twice and fully healed her nigh-crippled state, allowing her to attain benefits from the Life-Establishment Pill. She had obtained enlightenment and her gains were not small.

Wei Wuyin sighed in his heart; he had even used a Neo-Dawn Vortex-Zone Pellet to expedite her recovery.

"Northfrost Royal Duke, hm?" Wei Wuyin gave her a sidelong glance. The Imperial Prince he had just protected from being expelled from the Evercrown Ceremony recently gave him a warning about this woman. He had acquired the memories of those from the Everclash, so he was aware of this Royal Duke of the Exalted Republic.

According to their memories, he was a prominent figure with the title of Original Magistrate, a cultivator at the Heavenly Saint Phase, the Sixth Stage of the Mystic Ascendant Realm, and was at the precipice of becoming a Mystic Overlord, a true Ascended Saint. It was unknown whether he had succeeded in his recent cultivation seclusion efforts, but there was ample speculation regarding the possibility of leaning toward a success. Going off of the Northfrost Royal Duke's recorded history, Wei Wuyin speculated that he was a Blessed. If he had to guess, considering his spectacularly growing harem of beauties and the bevy of neighboring allies and teachers that benefited from association, he was an Interlinked Blessed. The same type as Long Chen.

This woman here...

She was one of his designated concubines, awaiting a specific date. The Royal Duke would then officially announce the concubine status of nine women, a sign of good blessings in the Exalted Republic. That date? It was tied to an event: After he becomes an officially recognized Mystic Overlord.

None of those given a designation was lacking in status or talent, all belonging to lineages of World Emperors, forces that once had Original Magistrates overseeing them, losing them due to some conflict or the end of their lifespan, thus falling out of power.

He thought for a second, recalling how he was always in inadvertent conflict with Blessed as if ordained by an unseen force.

Wei Wuyin asked a single question to the silent woman: "Are you unwilling to become a concubine?"

"...!" This question caused the woman's eyes to open wide with intensity and shock swirling within her pupils. She focused her entire attention on Wei Wuyin.

A sigh was heaved from his very soul.

Was the Bloodline of Sin trying to lead him to water? But was he the horse?

-----

At the completion of the merging process, only two fragments remained. However, the Evercrown Ceremony did not just have six fragments.

WHOOOOSH!!! DUUUUUUNNNNN~!

A sonorous sound resounded as a pillar of gushing light spanning tens of miles geysered toward the sky, unleashing radiant light that could be seen from any location of the Evercrown Ceremony.

The Seventh Fragment, the Aspect of Fusion, had finally APPEARED!!

-----

Author's Note: ANOTHER SUB-ARC BEGINS!

Erdiul's Note: Another fucking blessed like Long Chen, oh god...