Paragon of Sin

The oath and details were hammered out by both groups before things were properly settled. The Alchemist Association's elders were quietly keeping their smiles concealed, while the Myriad Monarch Sect's elders had uncertain yet confident expressions. To both sides, their young elites were of the top-shelf, highest quality with no equal when contesting against those of the same generation. These emotions fueled their respective outlooks on this wager.

As for the Elemental Heaven Pavilion, they were temporarily relegated to being spectators and witnesses of this bet. They didn't have the financial qualifications to throw their hats in nor the certainty of their victory if given six months of preparations. Furthermore, they felt that the Alchemist Association's chances of victory with this ample time to prep were absolute. They would win.

They did not need to muddy the bet with their participation. Instead, they quietly brought up the allocation slots, but Qingye Yun responded with a carefree attitude. To him, his main purpose was to claim victory against the Myriad Monarch Sect and Wei Wuyin for their own purposes. As for the allocation of slots, it was secondary. Regardless, now that they knew about it, there was no way they wouldn't receive their share.

The Elemental Heaven Pavilion's dispute over their slot allocation was minor to irrelevant to him in their hearts. They were always just a segway to reach this point. Now that their original goal had been reached, what of the Elemental Heaven Pavilion?

Lin Ruyan could only be disgruntled in her heart. The Alchemist Association revealed their attitudes with clear indifference. Fortunately for her, Tuo Bihan wasn't neglectful and brought up the subject.

The raised subject brought the lights of excitement to the Elemental Heaven Pavilion's elders' eyes. Tuo Bihan laid down a few simple starter conditions to decide the overall allocation of slots, and it would be thoroughly restricted to the Elemental Heaven Pavilion and themselves. If other forces wanted to squeeze in, they would have to receive slots from these two forces.

This suggestion left the Alchemist Association with bloated cheeks as they were obviously unwilling, but even if they didn't originally obtain any slots, which force wouldn't concede a few to them? They had their own pride. In the end, they would definitely have a slice of this pie.

Lin Ruyan agreed to this, but when Tuo Bihan finally explained how the slots would be decided, her heart quietly trembled. Just as they expected, intended, and wanted when arriving, it would be decided by the former Monarch Spirit Trials, not Grand Spirit Trials, but this would be individual-based.

There were a limited number of slots available and there was an age limit to enter the Gateway. This age limit was similarly three hundred years, so he suggested that each genius would compete to earn their own spot. Since this new Grand Spirit Trials will likely include nearly all the eligible geniuses available from both forces, it was the best method to decide.

This also gave the Myriad Monarch Sect a definitive advantage, as it should. Lin Ruyan didn't have any legitimate reason to argue against this, her eyes were calm as she looked towards the Alchemist Association. Her only concern and attempt to invalidate this method was the Alchemist Association's participation. The fact it only included the Myriad Monarch Sect and Elemental Heaven Pavilion meant the Alchemist Association's involvement made things difficult and a chaotic variable to both sides.

Tuo Bihan was swift to come to an answer, as if expecting it. "We will have two sets of rankings. As the trials focus on the accumulation of points to decide placement and victory, one ranking will include all forces, and the second ranking will only include our two forces." The number of slots was a thousand, so the top thousand in the second list would earn their spot. As for if they'll keep their spot or give it up to others, that was their choice.

The final loophole was if the Elemental Heaven Pavilion won first, claiming victory. If this were to occur, the oath between the two forces would be rendered null and void with neither side claiming victory. Since they didn't owe each other anything, the Spirit Oath would also crumble. However, neither the Myriad Monarch Sect nor the Alchemist Association felt like they would lose, and even if they did, it definitely wouldn't be to the Elemental Heaven Pavilion.

Lin Ruyan snorted coldly, her calm eyes radiating an intention to flip the table and subvert expectations, proving the Elemental Heaven Pavilion's superiority.

After all the details were hashed out, the two forces left Junia with their elites in tow. Soon, only the Myriad Monarch Sect's young elite, elders, and leaders remained.

Qin Rui stepped forward, directly asking Wei Wuyin: "Are you two certain about this?" She didn't want to question Wei Wuyin and Tuo Bihan directly while in the presence of the other two forces. Now they were alone, she didn't hold back. This question was also on the minds of everyone else.

Tuo Bihan's aged shoulders shrugged, "Don't ask me. I'm just following this kid's lead." He completely and unhesitantly pushed the responsibility onto Wei Wuyin. To him, Wei Wuyin was a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist, a talented genius, and frighteningly intelligent. Even if he lost, he would probably be able to pay the wager with ease. In his heart, a tenth of the wager wasn't worth a single Everlore Ascension Pill.

After all, if looked at from a value perspective, the Everlore Ascension Pill was roughly equivalent to fifty thousand Astral Core Realm experts. And this was a guarantee. If the Alchemist Association knew this fact, who knew what they would do?

Wei Wuyin's eyebrow twitched. He sighed audibly and looked at the sky. His cultivation base was insignificant, but his skill in Alchemy was unsurpassed in the starfield. Did the King of Everlore feel this way?

During his era, he forged experts and led the cultivation civilization to its utmost limits. Wei Wuyin couldn't help but question whether the King of Everlore had died or simply left elsewhere. The more he thought about it, the more he felt the latter was the truth. While this little game was exciting, it was mostly an insignificant matter to the current him. If, no when, he survived the Second Calamity, he would eventually have to leave this place and scour for the possibility to enter the Realm of Sages.

He turned towards Tuo Bihan. This aged figure with a casual expression was the stable idol of the Myriad Monarch Sect. He was the strongest human of his cultivation level and one of the few Alchemic Emperors of the starfield. The only reason why the Myriad Monarch Sect recovered after the war was due to his actions, cultivating Qin Rui and Yao Zhen into their current states. He was worthy of respect and held the strongest feelings towards the sect.

When he thought about Wu Yu and Long Chen, how Long Chen obtained the Grand Monarch Lineage and tutelage of the founder of the sect, he felt a little frustrated. The only reason he hadn't fully focused on secretly developing the Myriad Monarch Sect to reclaim the starfield was this.

All his efforts would inevitably and rightfully belong to Long Chen by sect rules. That was because the Myriad Monarch Sect fully devoted to following and pious worship of the ancient experts and traditions. This old man definitely would not throw away tradition nor would he ask him to.

In truth, he personally loved how the Myriad Monarch Sect functioned as a whole. While strict and somewhat exploitative, it was far better than those nepotistic forces that relied on bloodline and birth to decide your limits. As someone who lost everything and rose into his current heights off his own efforts, he earnestly believed and respected this system.

But if he made the Myriad Monarch Sect the ruler, eventually…Long Chen's existence would inevitably allow him to reap benefits without having to exert a single bit of effort. Who would not be frustrated?

If it wasn't for that shadow, wouldn't he have long since picked an expert or two and supported their ascension to the Realm World Phase, becoming renowned Realmlords of the starfield. In a few years, this starfield would be theirs once more.

"We'll win," was all Wei Wuyin said. His unshakeable confidence caused those elders' hearts to race. Infected by this confidence, their questioning heart simmered down. They would have to wait and bear witness to how Wei Wuyin would ensure their victory.

Wei Wuyin glanced at Tuo Bihan, his eyes flickering. He flew off the platform, and Tuo Bihan stretched his back before following. Seeing them both taking off, the elders realized they wanted a private conversation. They decided to prepare to return.

Qin Rui and Ji Changkong waited on the platform. They still had more inquiries regarding this matter, and they were the only ones with qualifications to do so.

When Wei Wuyin and Tuo Bihan flew off, they went off to the second Sky Layer and hovered near each other. Wei Wuyin waved his hand slightly, a spherical barrier of spiritual force encapsulated them. This spiritual barrier was exceptionally solid.

Tuo Bihan was somewhat startled as he felt the inherent spiritual force within. It might have the aura of a Sky Ruler, but its power was incredible. There was likely not a single Soul Idol Phase cultivator that could rival Wei Wuyin in spiritual strength.

Tuo Bihan chortled, "If you participated in the trials, I'd imagine there's no one who could defeat you." He shook his head. Wei Wuyin's cultivation base had reached an astounding extreme. While in the Astral Core Realm's World Sea Phase, he could rival Qi Lang, and likely defeat him. This wasn't just abnormal, it was heaven-defying. Furthermore, he reached the Sky Ruler Phase in a short period of time, and his spiritual force was already so impressive.

"I don't have time for that." The Grand Spirit Trials was a year-long trial. He wouldn't waste an entire year doing something so tiresome.

Tuo Bihan didn't feel this to be out of place. Wei Wuyin was already capable of concocting ninth-grade products before the age of fifty, every year for him was a thousand times more precious than others. If he wasn't cultivating, he should be concocting, and if he wasn't concocting, he should be enjoying his life as he pleased, not involving himself in minor matters like this.

If the Alchemist Association and Elemental Heaven Pavilion knew that Tuo Bihan considered this competition a 'minor' matter, they might rage into a deathmatch.

"So little fellow, what is it?" Tuo Bihan asked.

"You should know what I intend to do," Wei Wuyin calmly responded. Tuo Bihan nodded. Wei Wuyin was going to select a talented group of individuals and develop them. This was the same method the Alchemist Association intended to do. Unfortunately for them, they paled vastly when compared to Wei Wuyin.

They likely had no more than three eighth-grade products, but Wei Wuyin might have dozens or more. There was no way they could cultivate an elite capable of sweeping the competition when facing him. They even got baited and allowed him the time of six months. If they didn't, perhaps Wei Wuyin would've simply participated himself and dominated the trials. Regardless, they had absolutely zero chance of winning in his eyes.

"I do. But why the need for privacy? Want me to pick some good seeds?" He smiled, causing the wrinkles on his face to lift. But he knew Wei Wuyin wouldn't care. Since arriving on the Myriad Monarch Sect, he had always been mostly deciding his own matters. As for who to develop, as an Alchemist, he knew that other people's recommendations were irrelevant.

Shaking his head, "No. I'll use this as a platform to develop Ascendants, my faction." Wei Wuyin stated before continuing, "I need to talk to you about two matters: How confident are you in becoming a Realmlord?"

"..." Tuo Bihan's smiling expression faded as his eyes flashed with an endlessly circulating wisp of solemnness.