Paragon Of Sin

Chapter 1778: A Game of Mystics (2)

At the edge of Armored Boon Stellar Regionʼs stellar-borders demarcated by fleets of Voidships and an-invisible celestial pressure floated a void vessel adorned-with precious jewels, the kind that would move Ascended beings, from Fire Spirit Rubies to Greater-Earth Diamonds, all of which were Mystic-Earth grade.

The largest gem was a dazzling, sparkling sapphire-emanating watery ripples, releasing deep azure light-with a holy, purifying aura, and exerting a strong-Worldly Pressure. It was the Empress Gem—the Hallowed Aqua Royal Sapphire, ranked 3rd on the

Precious Worldly Gems Ranking by the Blessed Sentinel!

It was a peak-grade material, often considered ʼpinnacle-gradeʼ by gemologist scholars and Earth-Hunters who made a living collecting and selling-precious gems and minerals! The single value of this-gem vastly exceeded an Incomplete World Soul! There-was a standing market price determined by the relevant-authorities of two billion Mystic-World essence stones!

TWO BILLION!

Within the Onestar Domainʼs Ancient Sealed Region,-qi-grade essence stones and astral-grade essence-stones had a simple conversion of a million to one; a-single astral-grade essence stone was valued at a-million qi-grade essence stones, and a million astral-grade essence stones were valued at one Mystic-Earth grade essence stone. However, in greater-galaxies such as the Utmost Purity Galaxy and Treasured Vale Galaxy, those galaxies with genuine-Supreme Sages without strict operational limits like the-Divine Guardian of the Resolute Dusk Galaxy, the value-of Mystic-Earth, Mystic-World, and Mystic-Heaven-grade essence stones did not have such simple conversions, largely due to both their ample abundance-followed by an unnaturally steep drop-off of supply.

In these greater galaxies, cultivating planets and entire-starfields that could give birth to copious amounts of-Mystic-Earth and Mystic-World grade essence stones-was a simple matter while cultivating specific materials-of similar grade was far more difficult, so they were-honestly of less value, causing a massively gross-inflation in practical products such as alchemical-products. After all, using essence stones for cultivation-was gruelingly slow. The average refinement time for a-Mystic-World grade essence stone by an ordinary and-average World Emperor can require one to two centuries, while Mystic-Earth could still take up to-several decades.

This was why a single peak-tier Arising Sage Elixir was-valued at one hundred and eighty million Mystic-World-Essence Stones! There were too many Mystic-World-Essence Stones, and not nearly enough alchemical-products or other materials!

However, there still existed a market conversion. A-single Mystic-World grade essence stone can be reasonably exchanged for a million Mystic-World

Essence Stones, but a single Mystic-Heaven grade-essence stone could only be unreasonably exchanged-for a billion Mystic-World Essence Stones! That was if-a trader was found.

The actual value of the Hallowed Aqua Royal Sapphire-was two Mystic-Heaven Essence Stones! An astonishingly vast sum!

Standing on the deck of this bejeweled void vessel,-three figures stood under the deep azure radiance of the-Hallowed Aqua Royal Sapphire Gem, especially as all-sorts of envious and greedy eyes observed from afar,-each possessing a cultivation base at least at the World-Emperor level. However, none of them dared to take-any action.

That was because two of these three figures were either-astonishing figures that should never be offended or-characters rising rapidly in fame by virtue of their-strength!

A young woman with deep black wavy hair with rainbow highlights stood at the bow, her two green-eyes glistened like emeralds, utterly mesmerizing and-potentially valuable, while she wore silver and gold-rings on her fingers and thumbs, each embedded with a-unique gem—onyx, ruby, amber, citrine, emerald, blue-topaz, aquamarine, amethyst, pearls, and naturally-last, a diamond.

If one observed closely, the gems seemed to depict the-orientation of Primary Light, beginning with black and-ending with clear, likely indicating True Light. Atop her-head was a thin crown with a rhombus-shaped gem of-uncertain origins, but it was crystalline, releasing-prismatic light that felt unusually soulful.

She was a picture of startling wealth. This was none-other than the Dazzling Jewel Alchemic Saint—Yue-Baoyue, a true representation of her title and name!

Moreover, her greatest beauty was how all these gemstones that would normally be considered gaudy-and excessive perfectly accentuated her beautiful-features of olive skin and berry pink lips.

Standing next to her was a humble, modestly dressed-young maiden, her role was both a maidservant and an-Alchemic Knight, and despite her unadorned appearance and lack of anything precious, she was a-natural-looking young woman who could get lost in a-crowd, her True Sage Phase cultivation base would-startle anyone!

Su Yi leaned on the railing, his posture relaxed, his-mood seemingly unfettered by the raging commotion-beyond the vessel, yet his voice carried hints of-exasperation as he spoke: ”Why must you involve yourself with this, Baoyue?”

Three days ago, the Dazzling Jewel Alchemic Saint had-intervened in Wei Wuyinʼs invitation, involving herself-in this game and causing five others to join as well. It-was difficult to know if this was Wei Wuyinʼs original-goal or not, but the situation grew increasingly-complex. After all, it was unclear if the pressure from-his Supreme Sage backing had forced Wei Wuyin to-compromise, unable to easily take Shang Wanqing away or kill him.

Yue Baoyue revealed a small dazzling smile, entirely-unafraid. ”If I hadnʼt, who would?” Her question-revealed a valiant disposition, but could easily confuse-outsiders listening in. She was fully aware that Wei-Wuyin was planning a scheme, and Su Yi was checkmated into an untenable position, unable to-extricate himself with Shang Wanqing in his

possession, so she had to throw her lot in to stir the pot-or expose his hidden intentions.

For example, if he refused others from joining, Su Yi-could try to sound out his real objective, gaining some-insight and understanding into his goals. This would-fortify Su Yiʼs precarious position. Unfortunately, he-had accepted her desire to participate with little-thought and opened the floor with a broad invitation to-anyone with qualifications. That said, the meaning of-ʼqualificationʼ was very specific, only known to those-genuinely involved in the Knightly Dao Calamity.

That ʼqualificationʼ was exactly those involved in the-Knightly Dao Calamity! Was this not Wei Wuyinʼs

attempt to give those whose plans he ruined a chance-to retaliate?!

While she wasnʼt a core player in what took place in the-Essence Sword Starfield that day, she had supported Su-Yi from afar with a few schemes, including delaying the-Zenith Creation Towerʼs response against Su Yi attacking the Knightly Dao Pavilion by relying on a-favor she worked extremely hard to acquire. She hadnʼt-expected that her actions would inadvertently cause-those scheming to gain an advantage. Moreover, the-Zenith Creation Tower didnʼt just delay their response,-they directly avoided the situation altogether!

Clearly, others had convinced all levels of the tower to-look away at this incident. After all, the combat of-Sages could have Galactic Zone impacting consequences. If not for Wei Wuyin and Su Yi, the-damage that would have wreaked havoc across the

stellar region and its neighbors would have been…-Anyhow, the earlier schemes, this invisible game that-had the lives of three Sages and involved at least six-Sages had ended disastrously due to Wei Wuyin and-was moved inexplicably to this new game.

Su Yi blinked, exhaling a soft sigh.

”Thereʼs no need to dwell on whatʼs already happened.

Todayʼs the day,” Yue Baoyue said meaningfully. Her-dazzling gaze observed the Original Dawn Palace that-floated atop a tiny continent. The list of players meant-this game wasnʼt going to be easy or simple!

”I already had a plan,” Su Yi said, but then halted his-next sentence as he shook his head, ”Just keep yourself-safe if something happens.”

Yue Baoyueʼs eyebrows lifted. ”What are you planning?”

Su Yi gazed at the vast starry skies, his eyes contained-an unparalleled sharpness, and his heart and will were-subtly ignited, burning blazingly with fighting spirit.

No matter what, he would save Wanqing.

Above him, the faint signs of tribulation of the Mystic-Dao brewed.

Yet simultaneously, the Heavenly Daos that would-normally be active remained silent.

On the other side of the Armored Boon Stellar Region, a-gargantuan green-colored void vessel shaped in a ʼCʼ anchored at the edge. It was extremely eye-catching,-not just for its size, but the incessant release of soul-light indicating an utterly supreme status. This void-vessel belonged notoriously to the Head Dao Enforcer of-the Zenith Creation Tower, Suo Haoran. While it acted-as a representative for him, very rarely was he personally on board.

Its mere existence unsettled countless souls, especially-among the surrounding planets that suddenly had a-green crescent moon appear in their skies, visible-regardless of day or night.

Suo Haoran was on board. Not personally, but his-Incarnation pulsed with a terrifying aura. Shockingly,-the fluctuations could be sensed and mistaken for a-Sage, not a Supreme Sage. This was a commonly difficult hurdle for Supreme Sages, as creating a-stronger Incarnation required the segregation of oneʼs-True Soul, an extremely dangerous process.

However, cultivating a few wisps of Breath of a True-Sage alongside gathering their Resonant Qi and

materials of the Mystic-World grade to construct these-Incarnations via spells wasnʼt too harsh.

Next to him was the Angelic Peach Alchemic Saint,-Tianshi Ya. She was dressed in a peach-colored alchemist outfit, her skin released soft, gentle, and-flawlessly enhancing light that elevated her graceful-elegance by a tier. The aroma of freshly ripe peaches-wafted from her body intermixed with the tantalizing-aura of Utmost Purity Mist.

Her outfit was modest in covering, exposing very little-skin, yet it did little to hide her bodacious backside that-stood out, faintly bestowing the image of the ripest-peach containing the juiciest fruity nectar, tempting-one to have a taste. Her aura was gentle yet carried a-peerless demeanor cultivated by confidence and time,-her mental state was prime for what was to come.

Suo Haoran was silently observing from a one-way-privacy window that revealed the Armored Boon Starfield and all its stars, planets, lunar satellites, and-visitors.

”Why play into his desires? Exposing yourself like-this?” Suo Haoran asked softly.

Tianshi Ya was in a state of prepared focus, and that-question couldnʼt douse or compromise her rising-competitive spirit at all.

Suo Haoranʼs eyes narrowed sharply, ”Acting as his-proxy to dole out his seething rage after suffering-disastrous loss. That old goat is spiteful to use you like-this, dangling your future to do so is even more-frustrating.”

”...” Tianshi Ya remained unmoved. She was determined, and Suo Haoran could sense that with-every fiber of his being. However, he couldnʼt fault her-at this moment. That old goat that stood at the top of-the tower, that tower that overlooks the Alchemic Dao,-reigning supreme as the foremost authority of alchemical creation, was naturally meticulous and-vengeful.

The thoughts of Supreme Sages were hard to decipher,-yet the mood of an Alchemic Heavenly Saint was unfathomably profound in impact, capable of deciding-the state of entire stellar regions and even the very-lives of Sages with a mere thought!

Suo Haoran, as a Supreme Sage, knew far more of the-undercurrent behind the Knightly Dao Calamity and-was keenly aware of certain indistinct details that not-even the various news outlets dared to publish casually-for their highest-ranked members.

The game board of seven.

A game of Mystics.

It was a different variation than Mystics: Cultivation,-not often played on a general scale. It was called-Mystics: Cataclysm and it was all an extended, heavily-invested game with a single victory condition for each-player, which had to be fulfilled within a very specific-window.

A very, very, very specific window.

For example, the 200,000th Birthday of an ancient-Mystic Overlord.

A game that began seventy-seven thousand years ago.

Among those seven that began this game, this far-reaching, insidious game that hinged on the lives-of three Sages, the incomplete World Soul of a continent, the life of a girl yet to be born, which were-subtly influenced little by little to advance to their-current stages of cultivation and their very existence by-unseen, unknown hands, was the Zenith Creation Alchemic Saint, the Heavenly Saint Alchemist of the-Zenith Creation Tower—Tianshi Zaoxuan!

A single unexpected foreigner had caused six out of the-seven players to lose, and only the last remained-somewhat victorious, but his victory was heavily-unclear due to various variables, and those seven were-still arguing the semantics of that specific winning-condition, leaving it deadlocked.

Moreover, this game was difficult to settle given that-there were endless variables that were unexpected. This-was why Wei Wuyin, a foreign variable, wasnʼt interfered with. They had agreed to accept all variables,-such as the outrageously strong Su Yi, the strange-tri-soul Shang Wanqing, and Wei Wuyin!

In their eyes, he was just another piece on the board.

Yet this foreign piece had shattered the board, flipped-it, and scorched it entirely!

Now, five involved forces had sent representatives to-this abrupt game, and the players of the old game were-aware that Wei Wuyin had no reason to challenge Su Yi-to any challenge given his strength and total disregard,-he was challenging them.

How could they not respond?!

To say that this game wasnʼt going to be easy or simple-was an understatement of an eon. The implications-were bound to be catastrophic, and Tianshi Ya was-already standing with a resolved heart to bet her very-life at a chance to advance a step further along the-Alchemic Dao, lured by Tianshi Zaoxuanʼs irresistible-promise.

But were the others participating not the same?!

In a rare display of emotion, Suo Haoran revealed a-concerned, unsettled look far unbefitting of an

Ascended being that has ascended to a stage that could-grasp heavenʼs power, more fitting for a mortal. He-looked at Tianshi Yaʼs upright back, ”I canʼt lose you.”

Those words were almost silent, yet the focused Tianshi Ya briefly shivered. However, only briefly.

Her figure seemed taller and her aura firmer than-before. As if telling Suo Haoran that she was not here to-fail. That she would…come back…alive…

Despite his peerless strength as a powerhouse, he was-unable to offer her the one thing that she sought. Suo-Haoranʼs eyes focused on that tiny continent with the-silver palace.

Tianshi Ya spatially shifted out to the Dark Void. She-withdrew a tiny-sized void vessel that resembled a-peach with six white wings, each wing etched with-runes emanating a holy aura. Boarding it, she resisted-the urge to look back at the gigantic void vessel as she-flew forward!

Wei Wuyin saw the six unique vessels incoming. ”What-a fantastic opportunity. How could I ever let this go?”

As an exploitative Blessed, Wei Wuyin had existed,-subsisted, and cultivated on profound principles of-seizing the slightest opportunity and maximizing it, as-long as they did not infringe on his morals and principles, and as he observed the chaos unfolding that-day, all the hidden hands moving about, even including-the Heavenly Daos, he more or less gathered the rough-details of what was happening, especially as he sensed-the disguised and concealed auras of those paramount-existences.

There were various bits of information he was unaware-of until recently, such as Shang Liuʼs personal prophecy-of obtaining an opportunity to ascend as a Sage during-his 200,000th birthday. Moreover, as a cultivator with-the Celestial Eyes of Spiritual Divinity, he was keenly-aware that Shang Liu had a hidden soul seal that not-even Enlightened Sages could perceive with their Soul-Perception.

This would forever prevent him from entering the True-Sage Phase regardless of external support, negating the-gathering of heavenly fortune, preventing him from-ever forming a Seed of Law, a deeply concealed plot to-keep him suppressed, while his body was filled with all-sorts of life-extending products with various auras that-were exceedingly profound. If his senses were correct,-they were cultivated by Heavenly Saint Alchemists. It-wasnʼt hard to deduce that Shang Liu was targeted by-insidious intentions, designed to lead him to a specific-moment.

While the debonair version of himself never took it too-seriously, he had actively played numerous games of-Mystics in his days, including defeating Su Nianzu with-a flawless record. He was certain this was a great board-with illustrious players. If he had to guess, players were-investing to develop the World Soul, players invested to-elevate Sui Yuan, Zai Yingwen, and Yuchi Yiseng to-either make other playerʼs victory conditions harder or-to give them a greater chance at accomplishing their-own, and lastly, there were players that were protecting-Shang Wanqing.

Her extraordinary protection to fend off the violent-fluctuations was a clear giveaway. To succeed, a casual-attack or attempt at snatching her and fleeing immediately wasnʼt going to do it.

Initially, he was slightly reluctant to interfere after-discovering these intricate details, even with Yue-Songliʼs disposition that didnʼt want her date to be-ruined by slaughter and destruction, but after considering everything, his thoughts swirled with-ferocious ideas. While he likely would have ensured the-masses survived, he decided to take it a step further.

Now, like irresistible bait to the lure, the piranhas were-coming for his held-out flesh.

But could they even get any?