Paragon of Sin

Within the Main Hall, a peaceful passing of time began with the occasional uproarious development that kept the event lively, thrilling, and fresh. The arrival of the Soul Saint King was the first major event that occurred roughly two months after the cultivation blessings provided by the Everlore Association came to an end. 

Since the beginning, the Ninestar Sainthall's Soul Monarchs, every last one of them, had been absent from the event. When their ships arrived, they had been noticeably missing from the typical display of authority and might. This stirred much gossip amongst the crowd, Earthly Saints, and supreme Creationists. After all, it was known amongst those at the highest level that Pope Huoyan was not meant to announce the initiation of the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit, but the Soul Saint King instead! 

He was a substitute. Furthermore, he wasn't even the first choice! This created quite a lot of drama as the Boundless Martial Sect's Boundless Martial High King, amongst the top three strongest Earthly Saints in the entire stellar region alongside the Soul Saint King, had rejected the opportunity. 

Facing this 'insult', the Boundless Martial High King shattered his throne into dust before everyone and flew directly into Evergod's segregated sub-space, where he resided with a raging heart. 

Since then, no one has seen or heard from him. However, those throne-sitting figures knew that the Boundless Martial High King was certainly watching, observing from a lofty position, similar to Evergod, the Godforge Emperor of the Godforge Association, the Imperial Advisor of the Imperial Clan, the unknown Seer of the Golden Gate Pavilion, and the elder of the Void Voyage Sect.

It was clear from how the Golden Life Pavilion and Boundless Martial Sect's respective leaders' thrones, the Boundless Martial High King wasn't considered amongst the apex members of the Earthly Saints, unworthy of entering that sub-space. This would enrage anyone. 

The Soul Saint King's grandiose arrival was accompanied by seven Soul Monarchs and two unexpected characters that shook those on the platforms and thrones alike. 

The first was Yue Songli, an unforgettable figure amongst the previous generation, renowned as the Long-Lost Saintess that had once reigned supreme on the Immortal Saintess Ranking as number one! When she arrived, her sensual body and color-draining beauty left many speechless and gaping.

Alongside her was an explosive announcement by the Soul Saint King regarding the recently 'traitorous' Soul Rising Saint previous position as a Soul Monarch; she was removed from her position, replaced by an entirely new Soul Monarch formerly known as Highlord Worldbreaker—Yue Lixiang! Her status as Yue Songli's mother and a newly ascended Earthly Saint caused a tremendous commotion amongst those observing from the platforms and thrones. 

She was given the title of Soul Breaking Saint, and her Domain will be the Soul Rising King's former Domain, renamed as the Soul-Breaking Domain. A new era of leadership was in place!

It didn't take long for the Soul Monarchs to find their thrones, with the Soul Breaking Saint replacing the Soul Rising Saint's throne. The Soul Saint King didn't stay, however, taking Yue Songli with him as he vanished, presumably into the sub-space. 

There was a strange interaction that was noticed by those throne-sitting figures. Before the Soul Saint King left, he gave Wei Wuyin's dome a lingering gaze. Quite a few were intrigued by the reason behind this! Very few had noticed that Yue Songli's eyes were transfixed on the dome. 

When the scene finally settled down, questions regarding the reasons for the Soul Monarchs' delay were rampant in the hearts of many, and quite a few Earthly Saints probed in their boredom. Since the event wouldn't remain a secret for long, the Soul Breaking Saint had revealed that the Ninestar Sainthall underwent a thorough cleansing after dealing with some 'pests'. 

It was soon revealed that the Soul Monarchs had destroyed three Shadow Eggs concealed in the Ninestar Starfield, freeing millions upon millions of innocent souls used like livestock by Trueborn. The shock in the eyes of most was thunderous! The Ninestar Sainthall had acted against Trueborn, cleaning them out? A righteous deed, but at what cost?

"..." 

The next major event was only because it was the first before many—Astral Tribulations! The first was a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator that brazenly made their breakthrough attempt in the Main Hall, succeeding and becoming an Astral Core Realm cultivator. 

After witnessing the Earthly Saints and supreme Creationists merely observing, having no issue with Astral Tribulations being attempted, the fireworks began with wild speed! Cultivators throughout had reaped great harvests from the Astral Mist, growing confident in overcoming their Astral Tribulation, and recklessly attempted them!

They weren't all successes, however. But when the first failure was on the cusp of losing their life to the Realm World Astral Tribulation, the first genuinely lethal tribulation, the Earthly Saint of their starfield interfered! Saving their lives and affecting the Mortal Dao! They were granted a magnanimous second chance.

This brought about a new wave of Gravity Emission Phase cultivators attempting their Realm World Astral Tribulation fearlessly, and when they were on the cusp of failure, their respective Earthly Saint would intervene. This event was an absolutely major, unimaginably massive, extremely rare chance! 

Every expert, especially those who were at the Realm World or Temporal Eye Phase, unsure if they could overcome their next tribulation, used this chance to gauge their current level and gather experience, saved in the nick of time by their supreme leaders. 

While Mystic Ascendant Realm cultivators could intervene with Astral Tribulations, only those with Awakened Mystic Intent, a firm hold on the Mystic Dao, could involve themselves in the Mortal Dao without significant repercussions to their lifeforce or lifespan, merely exhausting some mystic power to do so, bearing remarkable similarities to Temporal Reversion. 

While those below were unimaginably excited, those above constantly sent glares at the first Earthly Saint to take action. While it might seem like a small amount of 'mystic power', every iota of their mystic power required tremendous resources and ample time to refine through the typical process. This was now a matter of face. Since one took the lead, the rest would be deemed 'inadequate' should they refrain from acting on behalf of their citizens.

Fortunately, most were successful in their attempts. For example, Xue Yifei, the Dragonborn Saintess, and Na Xinyi, the Extreme Yin Saintess, both prominent characters, had successful breakthroughs to the Realm World Phase, creating a massive commotion as they did, signifying their astonishing cultivation foundation. 

The last event was a highly anticipated one! The conclusion of the Development Stage for the Saint Cyclic Alchemic Clash. After forty-two months, the first stage was coming to an end! 

The crowd was seething with excitement at seeing what three years of dedicated nurturing by these Mortal Sovereign Alchemists could achieve! How will these Chosen Knights change? Will they be like carps going through the dragon's gate? Will they soar into the sky and begin their legends today? The expectations were unimaginably high, and rightfully so! 

245 Chosen Knights, and only one will be the final victor! 245 Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, and only one will gain the singular voice to dictate the preliminary standards of Chosen!

At this moment, when the clock ticked down to zero, the first Mortal Sovereign Alchemist exited out of their manifested palace with their Chosen Knight and Mystic Star instructor by their side!