Paragon of Sin

Time flowed onwards, and the destined date of the All-Alchemic Clash between the Princess of Everlore and the Ascendant Emperor of Neo-Dawn neared. The entire starfield was in an uproar, filled with excitement and anticipation. To many the King of Everlore was a figure of myth with the ability to create gods. This was even more exaggerated to lower-leveled cultivators, those who hadn't understood the limitations of cultivation.

The raging and raving emotions of everyone, from the lowest level cultivator to those at the peak of the starfield, had been riled up into a storm. This All-Alchemic Clash would be broadcasted to an audience even larger than the Grand Spirit Trials!

It was later arranged by the Alchemist Association to have the four hegemonic forces work in conjunction to bring the event to everyone they could, expanding its range to the very edges of the starfield. Those continental flat earths that were ignorant of all things except the King of Everlore, were swiftly brought up-to-date and understood this near-divine level event.

The Successor of the King of Everlore, Qingye Ying, Descendant of the Grand Association Master of the Alchemist Association was to face the Alchemist of unimaginable talent, capable of concocting an eighth-grade pill before the age of fifty, and a new generation of Alchemist, Wei Wuyin! Unlike the former, Wei Wuyin had combat prowess that placed him at the very top of the starfield's youths.

In fact, his one centimeter Astral Core while in the Sky Ruler Phase while less than fifty years old made him practically unmatched in terms of cultivation foundation across the entire starfield. The only ones that came remotely close were the mysterious Lin Ming and Zuhei.

The event was a battle of the New Era of Alchemist and Old Era of Alchemist! Will Wei Wuyin prove that an alchemist that hadn't followed the standard path of an Alchemic Astral Soul be able to exceed those who had? Were their thoughts of the King of Everlore's mythological abilities restraining their own growth?!

The venue had already been set. The Myriad Monarch Sect shall have it on their Main Planet. Of course, with the Realmlord Tuo Bihan present, the other three hegemonic sects were hesitant to enter such dangers, but after a well-crafted Spirit Oath, they were ensured that no vile efforts to harm them would occur.

This only exploded the news more as it was soon stated that nearly all of the elite powerhouses of the starfield will once more gather to observe the All-Alchemic Clash. In fact, there would be five judges, including the three leaders of the Sacred Light Palace, Demonic Abyss Mountain, and Elemental Heaven Pavilion. The other two will be neutral Alchemic Emperors who will ensure fairness of the competition.

It was gearing up to be an event of the highest grade! While a battle between elite juniors was exciting, the end result of this clash will be heaven-determining! If Qingye Ying wins, she will truly represent herself as the future face of the Alchemic World! If Wei Wuyin wins, he will cement himself as a talent that could exceed even the King of Everlore himself!

Of course, there were those of differing opinions. They felt that it was unfair that Wei Wuyin was less than half Qingye Ying's age. This gave her an advantage of practice. Furthermore, she was trained by the number one alchemic force in the statfield!

But those opinions were smoldered by the booming excitement. If Wei Wuyin had no objections to this, what right did others have to raise the matter?!

With less than a day left, the Myriad Monarch Sect's Main Planet was filled to the brim with visitors, having a grand colosseum seemingly built overnight that could house more than a hundred million observers, spanning thousands of miles. Above this colosseum was a translucent platform that was quite similar to the Grand Spirit Trial's platform.

It was the location where a single gigantic palace was perfectly placed, the future housing abode of the most elite figures of the starfield. There were likely very few individuals who would miss this!

While the world was raring to go, two individuals were discussing something above the eighth Sky Layer.

"Grand Sage Tuo, I want to know the truth!" A firm voice resounded. Qin Rui floated in the sky, staring daggers at a grey-bearded old man. Despite his cultivation base having reached the apex of the starfield, he wore a helpless smile before Qin Rui.

He had just returned from setting up everything properly when Qin Rui had intercepted him with an inflamed passion. She wore an adamant expression beneath her veil, but he could see from her eyes that she was unwilling to drop this matter. This woman who he always took care of, who he paid special attention to, who he protected, was acting like that little girl again. It brought back many tender emotions to his heart.

"...What do you want to know?" He wasn't certain what truth she wanted, but he felt it concerned his cultivation base. After all, he'd reached the Realmlord level despite being weaker than that Sacred Light Palace's elven genius from before.

Qin Rui said, "I've completed Hong Ru's bodily reconstruction and revival-"

"It worked?" Tuo Bihan interrupted, interested in this matter. After all, a revival was a wondrous thing. According to Wei Wuyin, he could attempt to do so in the future. This intrigued him to an extreme.

Qin Rui paused for a moment, nodded, and continued. "It was a total success, but when I was delivered the materials to use for her revival, they were all eighth-grade products, and some were high-tier!" Her eyes flared with a questioning light.

Tuo Bihan was startled. Of course…

He faintly smiled in understanding, a hint of helplessness within his eyes. Wei Wuyin wasn't the type of individual to perform a deed half-assed. It made sense that he wouldn't hold back and deliver eighth-grade products. He couldn't help but sigh.

Scratching his head, he said: "Yeah, that."

His response invoked confusion from Qin Rui. She knew that there was something suspicious about it. "Did you make them?" She and everyone was aware that Tuo Bihan was an Emperor Alchemist, and he had even supported her and Yao Zhen's rise to their current levels.

Tuo Bihan shook his head. Even if he wanted to create eighth-grade products, he'd have to spend a few years to a decade in the attempt. It was simply not worth it at his advanced age.

"So Wei Wuyin made them?" Her suspicions were almost confirmed, which caused her heart to be battered with waves of surprise. How was this possible?

Tuo Bihan looked at this little girl that he'd seen grow up into the extraordinary woman she was today. He softly asked, "What do you think of the little boss, of Wei Wuyin?" He had wanted to suggest to Wei Wuyin that Qin Rui should be the next candidate for a Realmlord, but he seemed to have little intentions to do anything of the sort. Without his support, Qin Rui would never be able to surpass her current phase.

He understood it a little. It was much better to invest resources into his own people, to develop them from the beginning and grow into greater subordinates than these old monsters who lived for a thousand or so years and had their own thoughts. If it wasn't for his advanced age and knowledge of his alchemic prowess, he might've not made that choice that day.

Qin Rui stilled. She immediately recalled Wei Wuyin's silver eyes and handsome features. He had given her the Spatial Spirit Pill to decide however she liked. Her expression immediately changed. "What do you mean?"

Tuo Bihan didn't feel like beating around the bush or lying to her, "You should know how the little boss feels about you. If you sought him out, he wouldn't reject you."

Qin Rui frowned, "I'm over twenty times older than he is. Grand Sage Tuo, please don't be so ridiculous." While she said those words, she did know that Wei Wuyin had intentions towards her that he never pursued. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Tuo Bihan stared directly into Qin Rui's eyes for a long while, and helplessly sighed. He decided to tell the truth. There was no Spirit Oath that Wei Wuyin had placed on him to prevent him from doing so and this showed a distinct trust. Moreover, a complete lack of care if the world even knew. Since he gave Qin Rui eighth-grade products without an excuse, his actions already spoke volumes.

"Do you remember the manifestation that had engulfed the little boss' Sky Palace?"

"Yeah, I do."

"That was the Stellar Manifestation of a Mortal Sovereign. The phenomenon that manifests during the creation of a Ninth-Grade Alchemical Product!" His eyes never left Qin Rui's.

"T-that...that means?!" Qin Rui was taken fiercely aback, her eyes widening at Tuo Bihan's words. She had always wondered what that was. Even today, numerous individuals speculated on its existence. While it had been explained away by using the planet's vital energies, she had always had a scratching suspicion.

Tuo Bihan gravely nodded, "Our Ascendant Emperor of Neo-Dawn is a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist! During that time, he successfully concocted the Everlore Ascension Pill! And it wasn't of impure-quality, but at least low-quality!"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Qin Rui felt her heart beat heavily with every sentence. A realization dawned on her as her mouth became agape, her eyes widened to their utmost, and her skin became pale from shock. She gulped a wad of saliva, her mouth had become instantly dry.

How?!

Her mind tried to reject the possibility, but when she recalled that unique phenomenon and the eighth-grade products, the numerous events of sixth and seventh-grade being circulated throughout the sect like candy, landing in the hands of those with power, her heart knew the undeniable truth.

Wei Wuyin was a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist!!