Paragon Of Sin

Chapter 1912: Chapter 1904: Unite the Spirits

Thirty-two days.

Neo Zenith Tower.

Designed after the Original Dawn Palace, located atop the Blank Dominion’s spatial coordinates, the tower that has slowly integrated itself into the societal conversation and progression of the galaxy was currently bustling. Its main goal was to establish a sight of unrivaled beauty, the envy of men and some women everywhere.

Within its main hall, nearly a dozen figures stood or sat. Their emotions and gorgeous facial features were varied. Of these figures, all were women. And of the finest of their gender, capable of moving men and galaxies and decimating the ecosystem of active cultivators’ hearts.

Among these women, standing upright with a scroll in her hand, reading the contents calmly, was none other than the valiant Su Mei. Beside her, seated with her legs crossed over each other, and her lover standing behind her, was Luo Ning. Her eyes that were once filled with extraordinarily vibrant energy as she expertly interacted and mentally navigated the political, commerce, and upper levels of the Utmost Purity Galaxy’s society were now showcasing exhaustion and thinly-veiled annoyance. If not for Imentet whispering words unbefitting of her station.

Scattered throughout the room were prominent females that Wei Wuyin had made connections across various galaxies Despite his short time beyond the Onestar Galaxy, he had established varied degrees of relationships, from potential concubines, professionals, and subordinates.

The Shang Clan’s Young Mistress, Shang Wanqing.

The woman who was thought to be deceased, Xi Ning.

The Worldly Saint Alchemist of the Sea & Sky Institute, Mei Xiaoyang.

The Worldly Saint Alchemist of the Soothing Jade Institute, White Sky.

The two outliers of the Resolute Dusk Galaxy’s leadership, Sage Nepit and Sage River Oasis.

The seventh-ranked alchemist on the Seven Rising Heavens Alchemic Rankings, Yue Baoyue.

The representative in the game of Mystics for Shadow Veil, Qi Yinying.

Luo Ning glanced at Yue Baoyue. This woman was openly protected by Wei Wuyin against Supreme Existence under the threat of completely offending a Heavenly Saint Alchemist, and the fact that she was even here was slightly amusing to her, especially given the situation. After Wei Wuyin had dealt with Su Yi’s problems at her request, she had momentarily become one of the most important figures in the entire galaxy.

Already, rumors had spread of the Dazzling Jewel Alchemic Saint that held the heart of the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Saint. Not even Supreme Existences would neglect her, treating her as an extension of Wei Wuyin’s prestige, and offering help or assistance in the hopes of earning her favor. Despite her status as a seven Rising Heavens’ ranker, few among the true powers believed she was truly powerful and influential thought she would ever really become a Heavenly Saint Alchemist as the rank itself was rarely alluded to to a future genuine Heavenly Saint Alchemist.

It was all hype and bluster, a commonly deployed tactic by cultivation societies to generate ambition and glory were the best bait for potential. After all, fame and glory are temporary.

And her prior success in the Alchemic Dao was largely generated by the concoction-assisting abilities of the Pure Utmost Cauldron, without it, she was a subpar as a Worldly Saint Alchemist at best, so her chances had been further reduced to near-impossibility. With her weak cultivation base and inferior innate alchemic talent, it was no wonder Su Yi had so freely do whatever else he wanted, fighting for opportunities and chasing fortune.

Luo Ning heaved an audible sigh that reverberated throughout the hall, calling to attention everyone within the room, disrupting the conversations between Nepit and Qi Yinying. Imentet smiled, silently supporting Luo Ning.

Su Mei lowered the scroll in her hand.

All focus within the room was drawn to the seated Luo Ning. Despite her short time operating as the Manager of Affairs for the Neo Zenith Tower, she had acquired an air of natural authority and a dominant presence. She tapped her finger three times on the table, then she looked at Shang Wanqing.

The Catalyst Body of the Shang Clan, and a focal point of great mystery that even Su Mei had warned her privately regarding interacting with her without taking precautions. Despite her enchanting face and sensual figure which was only inferior to Yue Songli’s, blessed by the heavens with a Catalyst Body, she was insistent on becoming Wei Wuyin’s concubine.

She wanted to be Wei Wuyin’s woman. However, recalling the Council of Yri in the Blessed Yri Empire and their traditional rule that two daughters of the Shang Clan can not belong to a single man, Luo Ning had a headache on behalf of Wei Wuyin. Back then, she showcased filial piety to her father, and Wei Wuyin had responded in kind.

Despite the short time, Shang Liu had successfully ascended as a True Sage! However, her reasoning for being here was enough for her to be annoyed. She had urgently requested that their relationship be officiated. While concubines weren’t official wives, the acceptance of their status was declared via a ceremony and subsequent gathering. This was a tradition of the Utmost Purity Galaxy. And while each galaxy had its own cultural differences, this was meant to allude to consummation of their relationship.

Luo Ning looked away from this woman of mystery, who was quite literally asking when Wei Wuyin was going to take her body in an an official capacity, claiming it as his. How was that not amusing?

Her gaze then landed on Xi Ning. This woman was here for the same reason.

But they were here because of a greater cause. There was a hostile rumor going around that Wei Wuyin had suffered a disastrous calamity, his life and death unknown, and they had come to find answers as well as officially seal the deal. This dreaded rumor was one of many. A few that went about on a galactic level as the Neo Zenith Tower was the hot topic of the entire galaxy, suggesting that Wei Wuyin had offended a great power seeking to bring harm to his women after saving Su Yi and Yue Baoyue.

This was the main reason some of them were here, especially Shang Wanqing, Xi Ning, and Yue Baoyue.

Xi Ning was actually attacked four days ago while traveling with some friends. She was granted great freedom after her bold declaration, so she often cultivated and traveled across her native stellar region. Finally, she didn’t have to fear her secret as a Catalyst Body garnering lustful intentions. No one in their right mind would dare to harm her given her status as Wei Wuyin’s concubine.

The attack was thwarted by Pakhet, who arrived via a Void Portal, and those conducting the assault were destroyed on an existential level via a suicide-bomber that couldn’t be retrieved for interrogation. Not a hair on Xi Ning’s head was harmed or a nail chipped; Wei Wuyin’s safety contingencies were thorough and the response was nigh-instant, exposing to the world that Wei Wuyin did not leave his freely traveling women without protection.

The primary suspect was Shadow Veil, and that’s why Qi Yinying was present. Luo Ning’s gaze landed on her.

Qi Yinying calmly said, ”Iʼve said it before: Shadow Veil has no relation to the assassins that attacked Lady Xi. But we had received a lucrative offer to do so, which we immediately refused. Even explaining this to you is breaking a few of our internal codes of conduct. I can only imagine that someone is shopping around with malicious intent, and they may not stop at just this.”

Shadow Veil’s Qi Yinying explanation caused Luo Ning to take a soft breath. She was clearly aware that this was a devious tactic to verify Wei Wuyin’s current state, and after the incident, his absence was becoming increasingly evident, suggesting something was happening to the Imperial Cultivator.

Given his strength, means, and domineering personality, there was no way in the eyes of the majority that those assassins wouldn’t be resurrected and subsequently interrogated, finding the cause, and then giving those responsible a very public and brutal execution. However, nothing. Not even an announcement or appearance.

Of course, this was based on his previous actions.

Luo Ning had issued a galactic bounty to find the culprits with evidence; however, much to her frustration, every interested Supreme Existence that wanted to take the mission desired to negotiate with Wei Wuyin directly, unanimously refusing to agree without doing so.

Yet...

Wei Wuyin remained absent, giving fuel to the speculative rumors.

White Sky and Mei Xiaoyang had come here after hearing the rumors, wanting to show their support and offer assistance. In truth, they both wanted to join the Neo Zenith Tower as official alchemists. Wei Wuyin had already predicted this outcome, so she was ready to give them a position by offering relocation funds and support to bring their institutions closer.

As for Sage Nepit and Sage River Oasis, the former was accompanying the latter to meet Wei Wuyin which wasn’t a grand gathering, to discuss plans, and likely vie for cultivation resources. Unlike Imentet and Pakhet, Nepit and Nepri had been given a set stipend. In comparison to ordinary Sages, the low stipend was compared, it was pathetically low.

Nepit was outside the main hall doors. Luo Ning didnʼt even want to meet him, cursing that Imentet and Nepri had a soul-connection, capable of sensing each otherʼs growth rate and cultivation path. Nepit was benefiting from Imentet and Pakhetʼs success, but his cultivation was falling disastrously behind, and she, for some ungodly reason, refused to deal cultivate with her own Nepri.

Since they were technically vassals, it wasnʼt unreasonable to ask for a raise. The timing, however, was a little unpleasant.

Whether they were great or mundane, Wei Wuyinʼs presence was necessary after recent events. Unfortunately, Luo Ning had no idea where that busy emperor of hers was off to. She glanced at Su Mei, who didnʼt hesitate to order: ”All of you will stay here for the foreseeable future.” As she issued that command, her gaze lingered on Qi Yinying. ”You, come with me.” Folding her scroll, she pressed her hand at the space behind her, creating a Void Portal, shocking those unfamiliar with the Void Ringʼs functions.

Qi Yinying was a little reluctant, but she complied.

Luo Ning looked at the remaining women after their departure, and heaved another sigh. She would have to arrange all of their residences.

------

Meanwhile, Wei Wuyin stood in mid-air, two grey draconic wings expanded outward from his back, garbed in sanguine armor with golden heavenly runes etched upon its every surface, and at the center of his chestplate was a crystalline saber embedded within, glinting with unending majesty. He stood beneath a a sanguine sky and golden clouds, dancing vigorously around him.

And beneath him, 300,000 soldiers stood in flawless column formation without any discrepancy. Their spines were upright, firm, and their figures resembled pillars that could support the heavens. There existed tools of war, from giant siege crossbows to mobile trebuchets, from the swords in their hands or the banners they carried etched with the insignia of a saber, from the spirits roaring silently from their bodies to the bloodlust emanating from their gazes, nothing was missing.

A single man stood above 300,000 soldiers ready for war.

Wei Wuyin’s sclera had been infused with the Law of War, becoming sanguine instead of white, while the outline of his pupils transformed into a heavenly gold, illuminating and majestic, surrounded by the silver brilliance of creation that was his irises.

Another army stood in his path. Far larger. Far less organized, less disciplined, they were cooperating out of necessity.

A necessity of survival.

A single man had spent what could be calculated differently than a few days or a single month, but what could be classified as three years, gathering forces and developing a heaven-shaking army that quite literally shook the world with their marching momentum.

They numbered thirty million. A sea of soldiers. A literal representation of heaven’s will to resist an unfathomable invasive force.

Beneath the crystalline saber embedded in his armor, nine heavenly runes shone brilliantly. ALL NINE!

”MEN!” Wei Wuyin roared with boundless momentum, causing the clouds to swirl and the ground to tremble.

”HU!” His soldiers responded in unison, their shout caused the clouds to swirl and the ground to tremble.

”Today, we stand side by side, shedding blood, weeping tears, we have fought side by side, shedding blood, weeping tears, we will protect that which we must protect! However, we have not lost a single one of our brothers. Not since the inception of our faction. Do any of you know why?”

”That’s right! Carry that answer in your souls! Claim the lives of our enemies with that answer! Continue to do so! Never forget! Never stop! Kill with it! Survive on it! So that TOMORROW, THEIR BLOOD WILL STAIN THE GROUND WE WALK! TOMORROW, WE WILL WEEP WITH VICTORY!! TOMORROW, WE WILL FEAST ON THE CORPSES OF OUR ENEMIES!!!”

”HU!!!”

”HU!!! BY OUR EDGE, WE BRING AN END TO ALL! KILL!!!” A heaven-rending shout erupted, creating a storm of violent force.

Wei Wuyin unsheathed Element, holding it aloft, ”By our edge, we bring an end to all! KILL!!!”

A grand battle of a single soul waging war across the heavens began.