Paragon Of Sin

Chapter 1904: Chapter 1896: Imprisoned

Out in the depths of Void-Blank Space, an ancient ruin existed within a fragmented Secret Realm, undisturbed by cultivators and Void Creatures alike.

A Void Portal manifested abruptly, anchored by the profoundly vast Void. Wei Wuyin walked out, the transcendent Edict Potion in hand. The Void Portal remained open. He formed a hand-seal, and the anchor strengthened under the major authority of space, time, and imperial laws. After taking a gentle breath, he stayed silent and unmoving until his Samsara Spiritual Energy and Draconic Void Mystic Force were entirely replenished.

After once again ensuring his condition was at its peak, he flow forward briefly before turning in the direction of the faraway Utmost Purity Galaxy. It was a mere seven-colored swirling speck, likely a full decade away under the full speed and a direct course using the Minor Elysium.

After silently calculating the time it took to link the two locations, requiring a little less than two minutes in total, Wei Wuyinʼs eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

”Back here,” Wei Wuyin calmly remarked as he examined the Secret Realmʼs location. Before arriving at the Utmost Purity Galaxy, after persuading the Resolute Dusk Galaxy to become vassals to the Neo-Dawn Empire through a variety of schemes, the group had located four locations of fortune via Ming Shufengʼs instructions.

At the time, the option to explore the Secret Realm and its ruins was given to White Sky and the Sages of the Resolute Dusk Galaxy—Pakhet, Imentet, Nepit, and Nepri. Everyone except Nepit had refused to venture inwards, and after she had left on her lonesome, Nepri had damaged his foundation to bring her back, sealed her cultivation, and accepted her fiery scorn.

Imentet was seething with rage from her foolish action and then an aggrieved expression as if her husband had wronged her when she had harmed all of their foundation in resistance, while she was healthy and hearty.

However, there was a reason why Imentet, Pakhet, and Nepri had refused to enter the fragmented Secret Realm housing an unexplored ruin: there was no Gateway Door. Not even a fragment.

The significance of a lack of a Gateway Door to any Secret Realm, fragmented or not, was overwhelmingly significant. After all, a Gateway Door was connected to the core of the Secret Realm, and if the core was destroyed or no longer existed, there wouldnʼt be a Secret Realm. A Secret Realm that was still capable of existing without a Gateway Door was very, very, very telling.

There was a high likelihood that this fragmented Secret Realm leading to ruins was not a Secret Realm but a prison or cultivation grounds of a secluded expert. If it were a prison, the encaged existence within could have generated a fragmented Secret Realm as a lure for unsuspecting idiots. Also, there was a chance it was the stomach of a Void Creature to attract unsuspecting cultivators or other Void Creatures for lunch. A stationary predator.

The fact that no Void Creatures were nearby, even the smallest and relatively harmless ones compared to their strength, was a great indicator of something nefarious afoot. Wei Wuyinʼs direct reminder at the time and the faint sensing of something supreme through their Minor Authorities was enough to force their mental alarm bells to ring without end. Nepri acting back then was to protect Nepit, accepting an injury to his cultivated foundation after she refused to heed his spiritual transmission warning.

Even Wei Wuyin had decided not to investigate or explore the ruins, utilizing his Void Arts to take nine Soul-Bound Azalea. When he observed the ruins with his Celestial Eyes at a surface level, he had discovered a garden of exceptional treasures, containing tens of thousands of Soul-Bound Treasures, but billions of Spirit-Bound Treasures, including Spirit-Bound Lotuses.

He restrained both his curiosity and his greed, not taking the risk. At the time, he hadnʼt acquired the tools to confront Supreme Existences on any level, and at most had means of mass mutual destruction or abrupt escape. Even then, he wasnʼt certain either option could work against those at the legendary level of the Resonant Soul Realm.

Looking back, those methods were absolutely not enough. He had made the right call, relying on his instinct and judgement despite the majestic sign that indicated a riddle-ridden trial was established here. However, just as he was leaving, he received a tenth Soul-Bound Azalea and a single offer: ”One thousand years of Dao service, grant freedom.”

At the time, Wei Wuyin was speculating whether the structure of the sentence meant that the existence was offering freedom or desiring it. He was slightly hopeful that the Supreme Existence could shed him of his Bloodline of Sin, freeing him from the threat of the inevitable Eighteen Calamities of Hell.

However, after interacting with Supreme Existence, from Superior Sages that could notice Karmic Surges, or a Heavengazer, he felt that none of them had noticed his status as a Bloodline of Sin Inheritor. And then, when the woman suspected of also being a Bloodline of Sin Inheritor appeared before Su Mei, he was increasingly certain that his Blessed status or the Bloodline of Sin tattoos themselves were heavily concealed, either by themselves or a unique circumstance.

After coming back, he was able to sense the prohibition imposed on the region. The garden was likely a byproduct of the Soul Aura of the existence within, exuded outwards in small quantities, manifesting as these Spirit-Bound, Soul-Bound, and likely nine unbloomed Dao-Bound Treasures.

A Spiritualist.

A Supreme Sage Spiritualist.

Wei Wuyin couldnʼt deduce their exact level, but after engaging with Heavengazer Encompassing-Night, he learned that there was a stage of cultivation within the Resonant Soul Realm: Daoseed Seeker. Moreover, based on those words, this Supreme Sage was likely a Daoseed Seeker.

If he took what he knew, Microheaven Envoys werenʼt all Superior Sages, but all Superior Sages were at least Microheaven Envoys. If so, then Daoseed Seekers werenʼt Cardinal Sages, but all Cardinal Sages were at least Daoseed Seekers.

If he took what he knew, Microheaven Envoys werenʼt all Superior Sages, but all Superior Sages were at least Microheaven Envoys. If so, then Daoseed Seekers werenʼt Cardinal Sages, but all Cardinal Sages were at least Daoseed Seekers.

As for the strength of Cardinal Sages, according to the legend of the Sky Heart Galaxy, the Prohibition of Heavenʼs Resonance could only be deployed by them, or those stronger than them. The scandal of the Sky Heart Galaxy involved a true Cardinal Sage!

Looking back on that story, Wei Wuyin found it quite outrageous that an entire galaxyʼs future potential was condemned due to a womanʼs infidelity. However, such was life in a world of beings that could wield powers akin to divinities of Myriad Yore Continentʼs myth.

Finding himself back at this location, he observed the Secret Realm, peering into the garden using his Celestial Eyes. The presence was there, but it was distorted and vague. Back then, he hadnʼt sensed even this presence using his Celestial Eyes, only by relying on his Minor Authorities, similar to Imentet, Nepri, and Pakhet, did he sense something.

Now that his Laws had transcended Minor Authority, becoming mutated Major Authorities, alongside the increase in his spiritual limits and increasing familiarity with Resonant Soul Realm fluctuations, especially after operating on a Resonant Soul on the verge of collapse, he could sense the presence through them with great clarity.

It was a humanoid in shape, seated cross-legged within the depths of the fragmented Secret Realm. They were enveloped by eighteen pillars of pure gold that reached three kilometers in height, etched with massive, radiant heavenly runes that Wei Wuyin had only seen vaguely observing the Prohibition of Heavenʼs Resonance surrounding the Sky Heart Galaxy.

Each pillar was distinct and majestic. They contained the Heavenly Essence of different sources. Were these…pillars condensations of Microheavens? Eighteen Microheavens used as formation flags to establish a binding array!

He couldnʼt be certain if they were genuine Microheavens or emulated Microheavens using Mystic-Heaven grade materials to construct a replica. Either way, these formation flags were extraordinary. Each pillar exuded an active aura, absorbing ambient energies and essences from the heavens to fuel itself.

A perpetual array that might last until the heavens collapsed!

He frowned at the realization but he didnʼt find this too insane. As cultivators advanced in their cultivation, they became increasingly harder to kill. If Su Yi werenʼt a Cardinal Sage who devoted himself to tyrannical killing arts, he wouldnʼt have been able to eliminate Sovereign Vilesnow, Heaven-Saint Littlefather, or Heaven-Saint Gloomdark so easily.

Wei Wuyin was absolutely certain that his attack against Long Shiya exceeded Su Yiʼs Sword Arts in terms of raw power, but that was irrelevant as the profound qualities of Resonant Soul Realm cultivators were unique. Just wielding Heavenly Laws wasnʼt enough to reliably kill one.

He was irrefutable proof of that fact.

Wei Wuyin can honestly admit he has no idea to kill someone on an existential level. However, if this Supreme Existence was a Cardinal Sage and a Spiritualist at that, there was a strong chance killing them was nigh-impossibly difficult. Eternal sealing was the next best alternative, allowing their lifespan or soulspan to inevitably run out.

”Are you awake?” Wei Wuyin sent out a wide-range spiritual transmission.

”—” After several minutes, no response.

Wei Wuyin looked at the transcendent Edict Potion thoughtfully. He wanted to create a contingency if this potion caused his death. He always made preparations. This one, however, came with some risk.

Draconic Ascension!

Wei Wuyinʼs body transformed into a perfect hybrid of void, human, and dragon. With a soft breath, Void Flames were naturally expelled from his lungs, invisibly burning all of space, time, light, and mana.

Kratosʼ voice roaringly echoed out in his heart:

”THEREʼS NO PLACE THAT I CANNOT REACH!”

Wei Wuyin took a step forward, merging with the Void with a seamlessness that was unrivaled. He swam through the Void, penetrating the fragmented Secret Realm with ease, exiting out amidst the garden, the cryptic and majestic sign behind him signifying rules of extraction, limited to only nine.

Kratosʼ voice roared once more:

”THEREʼS NO PLACE I CANNOT ESCAPE!”

Wei Wuyin stepped back, leaving, returning to his original location where the anchored Void Portal remained. Closing his eyes, he sensed his execution of his Bloodline Abilities. This was something his Draconic Void Mystic Force couldnʼt perform with flawless perfection, only his bloodline energies can allow his physique to inhabit the true qualities of the Void with such seamless perfection.

”But can I enter and leave that prison?”

”Thatʼs not our concern,” Eden remarked. ”When we came here, the Minor Authorities of Heavenly Laws reacted to the eighteen pillars. Do you think itʼs feasible? To use the Edict Potion and potentially use these pillars to assist in the formation of the Seed of Law for War?”

”They are Microheavens…” Wei Wuyin mused. There was a reason why he came here first. He wanted to verify something, and he had more or less discovered what he wanted. These eighteen gold pillars were siphoning energies and essences from the Heavenly Realms.

”Wasnʼt that our original plan with a normal Edict Potion? We still donʼt know what the effects of a transcendent Edict Potion are or what it will do.” His Second Mind chimed in its opinion. They had both plotted to leverage the connection to the Heavenly Realms of Laws here to gain a tiny advantage, even if it amounted to nothing.

This was simply how he was. How they ALL were.

”An Edict Potion can only be used once by each cultivator, guaranteeing the development of a Seed of Law and a persistent connection granting a wide range of benefits to its development. If I use it, all four of you will likely simul—” Just as Wei Wuyin was about to continue justifying his reasons, a voice interrupted him!

The Supreme Existence!

”Youʼve returned.”

Wei Wuyinʼs draconic pupils looked toward the source of the voice, that humanoid existence encaged by eighteen pillars of heaven. His demeanor exuded paragonic excellence, six auras of Major Laws swirled obediently and domineeringly around him, as his Spiritual Aura reached a flourishing zenith!

”I have. I keep my word.” Wei Wuyin had once said that when he was done, he would return. The Utmost Purity Galaxy couldnʼt be realistically turned into a vassal. None of the greater galaxies could. But by successfully establishing his Neo-Dawn Empire and his alchemical lineage within the core of the Utmost Purity Galaxy, he had achieved the totality of his objective. What was left was development, which took time. No temporally-accelerated zone could assist with that.

”I do, too.” The voice responded.

”One thousand years of Dao service, grant freedom.” Wei Wuyin repeated its offer.

”Yes.” The reply was somewhat delayed, taking almost an entire hour to come out. The existence was obviously struggling to communicate. Wei Wuyin could even sense that the humanoid existence was trembling in place.

”Dao service…” That term was unique to Resonant Soul Realm cultivators. It meant true servitude, akin to inviolable slavery. If Wei Wuyin demanded that he fight against divinities, there was no room for refusal, and no room for giving anything less than 100% to achieve the order.

It was pure obedience.

Moreover, Wei Wuyin had subtly inquired from Su Haoran during the private auction of the ways to establish a ʼproperʼ Dao Service Agreement. He paled instantly upon hearing it. The person who swore the oath would have their existence controlled at the whim of another. Because of that, rarely, if ever, would Resonant Soul Realm cultivators do such a thing.

Moreover, it required a Dao-Bound Treasure to initiate, making it one of the rarer oaths. At the time, Suo Haoran had thought Wei Wuyin was trying to establish one with Hong Xuannu. When he learned of that, he only commented that it was reasonable, but these oaths could never last forever, as the Dao-Bound Treasure would eventually dissipate.

According to him, a Dao-Bound Treasure can typically only hold an oath for 111 Years.

Wei Wuyin was instantly enlightened regarding the nine flowers that seemed like emperors amongst Soul-Bound and Spirit-Bound Flowers. The person imprisoned was planning to offer this service with the material required.

But Wei Wuyin was immediately skeptical; those Dao-Bound Flowers might be false traps made to lie to others, especially if they were nurtured by the person in question. The more he thought about it, the greater that was exactly the situation.

Trust was difficult to acquire. Unfortunately, Dao-Bound Treasures were so rare that the Utmost Purity Galaxy had none publicly available. They were typically used for a variety of reasons, or sold to Cardinal Sages or ambitious Supreme Sages beneath the Daoseed Seeker phase, for absurdly high prices or favors.

There was a reason they were known as Daoseed Seekers!

Fortunately, Wei Wuyin had no intentions to trust these Dao-Bound Flowers. According to Suo Haoran, there was an alternative option, but it only lasted for nine marital years.

By using oneʼs Major Authority of Lawʼs quintessential source to tether the oath. Wei Wuyin had six, so he could hold for fifty-four years. After getting the initiation spell from Suo Haoran for a few products, including another Arising Sage Elixir, he was ready to rely on this alternative method. As for the Dao-Bound Treasures, obtaining them for himself for study or future concoction sessions was better than anything else.

”I have a counteroffer: All the Dao-Bound, Soul-Bound, and Spirit-Bound Treasures within your garden and your internal dimensional spaces, and you will only have Dao service for fifty-four years. There will be no negotiation here. You can only accept or decline.”

”—”

Wei Wuyin could clearly sense within the region that the existenceʼs mental fluctuations were in a tirade of frustrated curses, stirring the surrounding mana subtly, only noticed by his sensitivity of Mana Dominance. Clearly, it sensed his six Major Authorities and therefore understood Wei Wuyinʼs intent.

After a long, long stretch of several hours, the voice responded:

”I. Accept!”

Wei Wuyin grinned as he clutched the bottle with the transcendent Edict Potion tighter.