Paragon of Sin

A sudden emotionally-stirring scene had unfolded before them, leaving almost everyone watching with many, many questions. Besides Su Mei and Bai Lin, there was practically no one here that was aware of who the man named 'Du Ling' was nor how important he was to Wei Wuyin.

After leaving for the Myriad Monarch Sect, as Wei Wuyin began to slowly establish his power base as a Lord Alchemist, one of the first things he did was to deploy dharma guardians to the Myriad Yore Continent solely to watch over a select few individuals on the continent, and Du Ling was the single most important of those on that shortlist. 

Since then, Wei Wuyin regularly received updates on Du Ling's status, ensuring that difficulties he faced would be swept clean and obstacles towards his life's ambitions were handled, including leaving a stable fortune for him and his offspring. There were countless times Wei Wuyin was tempted to bring Du Ling over to the Myriad Monarch Sect and reunite with him, but the San Clan and Alchemist Association's intentions were unclear at the time, and danger was ever-present. 

Wei Wuyin forcefully convinced himself to let Du Ling have his blissful happiness with his wives, concubines, children, grandchildren, and a luxurious lifestyle with little to no danger. It was selfish of him not to give Du Ling the choice. He knew that. And every day, he agonized over it, wondering if his decision was incorrect.

Seeing Du Ling, who was still at the Qi Condensation Realm's fifth stage, the Yang Growth Phase, Wei Wuyin inwardly heaved a sigh of relief, feeling that his decision back then was perfectly fine. After staying in the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region's higher-graded environment for over seven years, he hadn't made that leap. 

Cultivation was difficult; Wang Yutian once said he spent thirty years on a single stage in the Qi Condensation Realm despite reaching the Worldly Saint Phase in his lifetime. When Wei Wuyin received his last update on Du Ling, shortly before entering the War Devil Realm's Four Extreme Continent, Du Ling was at the fifth stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.

It's been over a decade since. 

Wei Wuyin's robes became stained with tears. Du Ling's arm was unwilling to let the Young Master that saved his life on that fateful day go, not again. While he never believed that Wei Wuyin had died despite the news during his decade-long disappearance, he had to accept that he might not see Wei Wuyin again.

Later on, he eventually learned that Wei Wuyin wasn't just alive, but he had arrived at the Scarlet Solaris Sect and departed shortly after, taking the Captain of the Aerial Guardians, Su Mei, with him. 

He didn't even say hello…or goodbye. 

But from how those in power reacted, it was clear that Wei Wuyin's arrival and departure weren't on good terms. Du Ling took his family and left the sect, forging his own path. When he was transported with the trillions of the Everlore Starfield, he decisively chose Planet Everlore. There, he started astral-graded plantations where he cultivated a variety of materials that established his wealth.

He was even endorsed by the Eternal Monarch Sect, given a firm foundation to establish his business and accumulate wealth. Despite his low cultivation base and talent, he was capable of hiring powerful Astral Core Realm cultivators and outsourced a Voidship to travel here. He brought along all his sons, leaving his daughters and women behind. 

Du Ling knew from the moment that Wei Wuyin became a household name, the future 'era-definer' of the starfield, that he wasn't forgotten this entire time. Considering how smooth every project was and how powerful cultivators were actively ensuring his safety, his success, and assisting his children in their cultivation, Wei Wuyin's involvement was easily noticeable. 

After a long while of 'manly' crying, Du Ling finally let go of Wei Wuyin with an extremely reluctant heart. Du Ling was stunned to find Wei Wuyin holding his youngest son, Du Ping. The young boy was chewing on the apple while poking Wei Wuyin's cheeks with his little index fingers, staring intently at every depression he caused.

"Is there something on my face?" Wei Wuyin curiously asked as he hefted Du Ping into a more comfortable carrying position. 

"Mn hm. Daddy was right." Du Ling retrieved his finger and blinked innocently. For a boy no older than three years old, his eyes were illuminated with intelligence. 

Wei Wuyin gave Du Ling a look, smiling amusingly, "Oh? Daddy was right about what?" 

"She is a little inferior," Du Ping said with a crisp nod, another adorable bite, and a neutral, accepting-of-the-truth type of expression. 

"She?" Wei Wuyin was intrigued, eyeing Du Ling's stunned face that swiftly grew red with embarrassment. Was Du Ling comparing him to a woman now? The gumption! But seeing the panic in Du Ling's eyes swim as he resisted the urge to close Du Ping's mouth with a hand, not that Wei Wuyin would give him the opportunity, was beyond amusing. He asked, "Whose she?" 

It should be known that besides this interaction, it was as if time had stopped for the entire Main Hall. They took center stage, and all ears were firmly placed on Wei Wuyin, Du Ling, Du Ping, and his other sons that were gathered around him. The pace and spotlight were solely dependent on them. 

So when Du Ping accurately pointed at the air with his little finger, the eyes of everyone moved along with it, finding themselves staring at a woman that was widely considered the number ONE beauty of the Aeternal Sky Starfield—Empress Xiaocheng! 

Wei Wuyin turned around; his eyes flickered slightly, turning back to Du Ling with barely concealed mirth in his eyes. "Inferior?" 

Yet the entire crowd reacted similarly. How can a mere Qi Condensation Realm cultivator, a chubby little man, dare give such an opinion to his children no less? But as their eyes flickered from the exquisitely sculpted features of Empress Xiaocheng, enough to instigate all sorts of feelings, and Wei Wuyin, the comparison seeded into their minds, and they felt themselves…subconsciously agreeing?

While in terms of womanly charms and manly aesthetics, they both were unrivaled in their respective categories, strictly comparing pure attractive features objectively, Wei Wuyin was shockingly a little better. It was those silver eyes that pushed him as the superior, seemingly containing endless truths, boundless creation, and limitless imagination. 

"Yes," Du Ling fearlessly admitted! Why wouldn't he? It was the truth! 

"..." Empress Xiaocheng remained silent through it all, her enchanting eyes emanated a distinct distance and disassociation from tha conversion.

Wei Wuyin could only inwardly shake his head, giving the adorable Du Ping a closer look. Despite being only three years old, his cultivation was not low, at the third stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, Elemental Birth Phase, and his still-developing eyes contained a unique force. It was strange that a child this young could peer into such a vast distance and accurately perceive Empress Xiaocheng from up high, despite being on the disk. It was easy to miss, and even Wei Wuyin's Celestial Eyes hadn't noticed it at first glance until he looked closer. 

"This little one's quite talented, huh?" Those words brought the crowd back to reality, reminded that Wei Wuyin was here to select his Chosen Knight, not have a reunion. Du Ling's eyes glinted with emotion. It would be his dream for his son to receive treatment from Wei Wuyin! 

However, Wei Wuyin looked at Du Ling and said unexpectedly: "You ready to shake the world, Du Ling?" 

"...Me?" Du Ling pointed to himself, blinking a few times, a little confused. But seeing Wei Wuyin nod, hoisting Du Ping up and pushing him to his oldest son, Du Ming, who was barely in his twenties, born shortly after Wei Wuyin's departure, he realized that Wei Wuyin was indeed referring to him.

"Let's go," Wei Wuyin rubbed Du Ping's head with a warm smile, reaching out and grabbing Du Ling's robe. "I'm going to take your daddy for a while. Don't worry; we'll come back every month to check up on everyone So be good and cultivate." 

Du Ling felt his surroundings change as he found himself off the disk and next to an old woman sitting on a cushioned chair. This was the instructor that was chosen for Wei Wuyin! Was this for real? Was Wei Wuyin truly going to choose him for such an important competition? 

Du Ling's heart shivered; he recalled all of his miserable mistakes learning to serve Wei Wuyin, even once allowing his lust to grant his enemies an opportunity to kill him. Was he really suitable for this?

San Luoyang confirmed it with his latest announcement: "All Chosen Knights have been selected, and all instructors are finalized! For the next forty-two months, the Saint Cyclic Alchemic Clash's first of three stages, the Development Stage, shall begin!" 

"To ensure fairness, all products must be inspected before consumption by the Chosen Knights. Furthermore, only materials given by the Everlore Association will be allowed to be used for concoction. To request resources, simply send me a spiritual transmission, and you'll receive them within three days at the latest." San Luoyang briefly went over the rules, reminding the Mortal Sovereign Alchemists that the Everlore Association would be providing all resources for concoctions and only fresh, unaltered products could be used. There was no need to remind others not to cheat. All these Mortal Sovereign Alchemists cared about reputation a much more than their slim chance of victory, and cheating was extremely easy to discover.

The various Mortal Sovereign Alchemists manifested Sky Palaces with their mystic power, bringing their instructors and Chosen Knights with them inside. The entire sky was covered by Sky Palaces of various designs and sizes, a gorgeous sight to see. 

Wei Wuyin didn't feel the need for all that. Wu Yu acted; a dome of mystic power covered the three, concealing their figures entirely. The dome wasn't very large but had enough space for typical cultivation.

The Saint Cyclic Alchemic Clash was officially starting!