Paragon of Sin

"The third strongest starfield, the Hexaflame Starfield, has five Earthly Saints! They include the Pope, his three descendants, and a rogue by the sole name of Endless. Amongst Earthly Saints, Endless is regarded as one of the strongest, only beneath the three strongest Earthly Saints." Lin Xianxei began to explain with her original zeal, relaxing Lin Ming as the distance between them seemed to have diminished alongside the growingly invigorated light within her naturally alluring eyes. Her fanaticism of this character was clear.

The Hexaflame Starfield's Endless was a terrifying existence, only beneath the three strongest! Lin Ming was deeply curious about the true elites of the stellar region. He couldn't help but ask: "Who are the three strongest?" 

Lin Xianxei's eyebrows lifted slightly. She had to take a deep breath as she observed the fleet of outstanding ships from the Hexaflame Starfield, with the Inferno Solaris Church as the leading figure. 

"While this isn't factual without errors, mostly by public opinion based on accomplished feats, joint discussions of scholars, and the listing of unorganized top ten Earthly Saint rankings released by the Golden Gate Pavilion, the top three Earthly Saints are: the Soul Saint King of the Ninestar Sainthall, the Boundless Martial High King of the Boundless Martial Sect, and finally, the Imperial Advisor of the Tian Clan." As she spoke, reverence gradually infected her tone. By the end, she was genuinely excited. 

None of these figures were insignificant; all of the highest status with the greatest prestige, a part of the strongest forces. 

Lin Ming felt his horizons expand as he grew to know who possessed the publicly held titles of strongest amongst the elites. At this point, the Hexaflame Starfield had finished its descent into the pillar, and a strange ship emerged in their view. 

It was a Voidship composed of three identical large-sized ships connected through bridges, forming a triangle. The unity of these vessels was astonishing as they propelled towards Ever-Sky. No one questioned the Starfield's qualifications to enter after the Hexaflame Starfield! 

It was none other than the Trihex Starfield's Trihex Unity Sect. A sect with similar functions as a World Sect of the Aeternal Sky Starfield, an amalgamation of various clans, organizations, and cultivators but on a scale of an entire starfield. While it was still smaller than the Boundless Martial Sect in terms of population and total size, it was nevertheless an exceptional accomplishment. 

"The Trihex Unity Sect, rulers of the Trihex Starfield and fourth strongest starfield!" Lin Xianxei announced. Her excitement was downright pure and genuine. She had always wished to traverse the world, visiting the greatest forces with diverse environments. While this was merely a hidden desire of hers, it was her most cherished one. Unfortunately, she was the Saintess of the True Element Sect and the Lin Clan's future leader. 

Just leaving the Aeternal Sky Starfield to oversee the Chosen trials, she nearly lost her life due to infighting and internally malicious schemes. If it wasn't for Lin Ming, she'd be a rotting corpse at best, a captive at worst. 

Recalling her fate, she bit her lips, but instantly, an image of a handsome silver-eyed man flashed through her mind. Almost all of her worries and issues had been wiped away within a few years time. She was free of almost all shackles. A state she never believed she could possess. 

As she grew emotional, Lin Ming's expression changed as he asked: "Wait, you said the top three strongest, right? What about the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor? Isn't he ranked number one?" His confusion was justified. How could the leader of the Imperial Clan, the strongest clan throughout the stellar region, not be ranked? 

Lin Xianxei gave Lin Ming a sidelong glance. An intrusive thought emerged in her mind, feeling as if Lin Ming wasn't using common sense. However, she reminded herself that he was still young and filled with ignorance. 

Lin Xianxian stepped forward at this moment, her voice filled with a solemn tone. "How can the strongest expert in our stellar region be ranked on the same level as anyone else? The Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor was originally the undisputed strongest Earthly Saint Phase cultivator, until…" 

Lin Ming felt his heart race. 

"...until he ascended to the next stage." Lin Xianxian's words seemed to affect the refined mana within the false atmosphere of their Voidship causing it to quiver slightly as if the world was responding. 

Lin Ming's eyes ardently blazed with enlightened light. All his doubts were swept away, many questions answered, and his understanding of the stellar region had risen uncontrollably. He spoke out loud in his unique state, "the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor is a Worldly Saint!" 

Those last two words caused the chaos mana outside and refined mana inside to begin to swirl around the ship. It was as if a strange force was being imposed on the beings on the ship.

In a faraway location, a seated figure slowly opened their shut eyes revealing eyes containing boundless stars of the cosmos. The stars moved profoundly, invoking awe and inspiration in the hearts of any lucky enough to be blessed to see. 

After a few seconds, those cosmic eyes slowly closed once again. 

The swirling mana ceased. It went mostly unnoticed. Lin Ming's awe was ongoing. The Imperial Clan's leading figure was a Worldly Saint! No wonder he wasn't ranked amongst the top, his existence was undeniably the strongest of the strongest. As a cultivator, he knew that each stage of difference grew greater in both accessible power and difficulty to reach. 

Lin Xianxian's eyes lifted in a specific direction. As an Ascended being at the Soul of Mysticism Phase, she felt as if she was being observed for a split second. The feeling wasn't discomforting, just strange. She concluded that an Earthly Saint must've sent their Spiritual Sense here for a brief period. 

Lin Xianxei's excitement was once again ignited as she pointed, "The Rainbow World Starfield!" Seven Voidships chained together by transparent chains were traveling together, each emitting different colorful lights, leaving a wake of gorgeous, lasting glow behind. 

Red! Orange! Yellow! Green! Blue! Indigo! Violet! 

Seven colors!

Their movements left behind a stretching rainbow! 

"The Rainbow World Starfield doesn't have a single leader, jointly led by seven individual forces that cultivate various Material Intent called the Rainbow World Alliance! It's said that the Rainbow World Alliance is the oldest organization, predating the previous Imperial Clan rule, even going further than that!" Lin Xianxei announced that at the moment the Rainbow World Alliance entered. 

"Do they have seven Earthly Saints?" Lin Ming was shocked by this reveal. If so, this Rainbow World Alliance was definitely amongst the strongest forces.

"No! They only have one, but they are still the fifth strongest starfield. Their strength comes from their Rainbow Veil Array, a nightmare to every force that has tried to exterminate them. It's said that even the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor had tried to conquer them shortly after his rise to power as an Earthly Saint but failed horrendously, forced to go into seclusion to heal. Since then, no one has tested their luck since." Lin Xianxei's excitement was palpable. 

Lin Ming was awed. According to Lin Xianxei, the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor was the first Earthly Saint, and since then has kept his supremacy and undisputed title as the strongest, yet he was sent back? It felt as if there was much more to the story! Unfortunately, only those who lived then would know.

The ships kept coming in order of renown and strength. Next was a fleet of dull gray ships, emitting an uncomfortable aura that felt dreary and harsh. 

"The Great Desolate Starfield…sixth strongest…" 

A fleet of ships emanating starlight, greatly resembling miniaturized Solar Stars.

"The Star Sanctum Starfield…seventh strongest…"

From eight to twenty-second, Lin Xianxei called them as they arrived and entered the pillar of light with their experts, elites, and geniuses. 

All-Fury Starfield(8th), Beyond Light Starfield(9th), Gaia Prime Starfield(10th), United Source Starfield(11th), Treasured Light Starfield(12th), Twisted Earth Starfield(13th), Abyssal Genesis Starfield(14th), Dark Genesis Starfield(15th), Daylight Starfield(16th), Radiant Spirit Starfield(17th), Thousand Bone Starfield(18th), Verdant Paradise Starfield(19th), Great Blue Starfield(20th), Everbloom Starfield(21st), and Moonfall Starfield(22nd). 

Lin Xianxei also gave brief descriptions of each, especially towards four starfields that she was deeply invested in, clearly wanting to visit due to geographical irregularity.

"The Gaia Prime Starfield is the only starfield with a single planet and a single Solar Star! It has the largest planet known to man, larger than even a Colossus-sized Solar Star!" Solar Stars were given titles based on their size and mass, from the smallest Dwarf Star to Absolute Star. They were classifed into five categories, smallest to largest: Dwarf, Titan, Colossus, Supermassive, and Absolute.

"The cultivators there continuously refine the planet, going as far as using a special method to return their refined energies back to the planet for nurturing, and even going into the Void-Blank Space to look for for Rogue Celestial Bodies to merge with it. Its massive size is largely due to these practices. Additionally! It's said that Void Hunters occupation originated from this starfield. True or not, it's definitely the most developed in that regard."

"The Dark Genesis Starfield's elites have refined each Solar Star of theirs with Darklight Intent, emitting rich Darkness and Light Energy in the form of black-colored light throughout the world! Supposedly, it's entirely dark there. Every inhabitant naturally has darkness and light energies within them, granting them the ability to see through the obscurity. Of course, their environment is quite dangerous as it's more prone to strange oddities of the Dark Void, such as Vanishing Points and Stellar Rain.

"They're the leading exporter of Stellar Rain; their tactics and methods to seal and capture them are impeccable. No other force dares to deploy their methods, nor matches them in effectiveness.

"The Abyssal Genesis Starfield was once a part of the Dark Genesis Starfield until they renounced the cultivation of Darklight Energies, believing in pure Darkness Energy. It has the lowest population amongst the twenty-two starfields yet the harbors the strongest Darkness Cultivators and Cultivation Methods known. They're terrifying, but they don't live in darkness. Their Solar Stars emit light, but their planets refine it to the extreme, generating the purest form of darkness energies through unorthodox methods." 

"The Moonfall Starfield! A Starfield without a Solar Star. It's said they shattered their Solar Stars, infusing their power into Lunar Satellites. They created Lunar Stars, a unique existence said to be absolutely beautiful, emitting gorgeous silver light. According to what I've heard, it's the most beautiful starfield in the entire Grand Cyclic Stellar Region. Some World Realms even deploy a lesser method, especially if they can't construct a Solar Star of their own by slowly siphoning the energies of another Solar Star before infusion. Unfortunately, it's also the weakest." 

Lin Xianxei had abundant knowledge of every starfield, and she held little back as she explained. Soon, the twenty-two Starfields had entered the pillar of light, leaving behind the last remaining forces—independent forces! 

The Clans, Associations, and Sects that didn't act as subordinates to their respective Starfield's leaders, such as the Aeternal Sky Starfield's Noble Clans! 

The True Element Sect was still here, unable to venture forward without their Earthly Saints. At the same time, the Void Voyage Sect never sent more than one person to attend major events that required them, and their arrival has never been showy. Likely, the envoy sent had already arrived! 

The Boundless Martial Sect was the publicly recognized third strongest force. Unless they went forward, none of the other starfields dared to move ahead of them, especially due to how domineering and aggressive they were. They would totally initiate an all-out war off a single sign of disrespect! 

The Noble Clans soon began to move!

Suddenly, two white ships began their approach with a large, white greatsword hanging above them—a spiritual projection! It emanated a fierce light of Sword Intent that hurt to look at directly.

Lin Ming had to close his eyes after a single glance, his eyes leaking tears. Others leaked blood, wreathing in pain as they clutched their faces. Agonized screams resounded throughout the weaker forces. 

How vicious!

Shockingly, this didn't break the oath! It must not include injuries brought about by courting death actions. After all, the Sword Light was clearly dangerous with a single glance, yet there were those that overestimated their ability and stared in awe. Such as Lin Ming…

Lin Xianxian sneered, "Only capable of acting so arrogant after the strongest forces have left" She mocked openly, feeling disdain as she observed the Greatsword with a single character at its hilt. 

Jiang!

Rulers of the Onesword Domain, specializing in the Sword Dao, their fierceness was incredible!

Lin Xianxian was unharmed by the Sword Light, her eyes squinting as she stared. She didn't even need to be prompted before she explained, "The Jiang Clan, the strongest Noble Clan, and led by two Earthly Saints." While she said this with a vexing tone, the fact that a Mystic-tier force could have two Earthly Saints meant they were stronger than most lower-ranked Starfields that only had one.

Their might was unquestionable. 

The Jiang Clan boldly entered the pillar of light. Their ship's sword light dimmed, clearly avoiding offending the other Voidships anchored nearby, led by genuine leaders of starfields. While tyrannical, they weren't stupid even if it wouldn't break their Mythical Oaths.

The Noble Clans began to arrive one after the other, entering the pillar of light. 

Lin Xianxian had taken Lin Xianxei's job, explaining the Noble Clans: "The Jiang, Yu, Chen, and He Clan all have Earthly Saints amongst their ranks, with the Liu Clan's Earthly Saint sealed away in the Imperial Prison for treason, a sentence set at 20,000 years, so it can't be considered to have one, and its decline made it quite difficult rise another Earthly Saint, an already heaven-shocking feat. Besides the Jiang Clan, the rest only have one, an already impressive feat. The other three, Bing, Tang, and Ming Clan, have none."

Lin Ming was enlightened again. Lin Xianxian's timely explanation allowed him to mostly understand the power structure of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region. Forty-four Earthly Saints! The Aeternal Sky Starfield was unquestionably the strongest starfield! 

And despite their lack of union, unlike other starfields like the Ninestar Sainthall and Inferno Solaris Church, the Imperial Clan alone could triumph against any single force based solely off their Earthly Saints and military might, let alone the Worldly Saint at the helm! When he thought about how the population of the stellar region exceeded quadrillions of cultivators, he was reminded of the utmost difficulty of the cultivation path.

The other Noble Clans began to fly towards the Ever-Sky, intending to enter the pillar of light! 

Lin Xianxian watched as the lower Mystic-tier forces entered after. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, "there's no way it'll be so simple." She couldn't fathom that each of these forces had the right to voice its opinion. There was no way those three existences that were like gods, or the Everlore Association, would make it that easy.

"What do you mean?" Lin Ming felt something was off initially, and after hearing Lin Xianxian's words, he knew his feeling was spot-on. 

"Mother's right; there's no way the Everlore Association will grant them all permission to enter as simply as this. There's definitely more to it." Lin Xianxei elaborated, musing at the intricacies that could be factored in. After an hour, the gold-rank and silver-rank forces began to enter. The sheer amount of lesser forces was absurdly high. 

If she guessed right, there was definitely a screening process about to unfold! How many forces and cultivators will lose their right to participate? Unable to voice their opinion in this era-defining moment? Who will lose this qualification to be a part of history? 

Those questions will definitely be answered very soon! 

At this moment, Lin Xianxian received a spiritual transmission. Her eyes became awkward as she stared at her spatial ring, baffled by what she had received.

An elder at the Demi-Mortal Lord Phase spoke up, receiving the same message. "Sect Master, shall we?" The message was from Han Yuhei, telling them to go on without them! Without their Earthly Saints!

Lin Xianxian took a deep breath, looking at the surrounding experts, Chosen and her daughter—the Saintess of their sect. In the end, she nodded. 

"Let's go." 

Their Voidship began to move!