Paragon of Sin

Luo Ning?!

The name was something most knew, especially those of the past Chosen King Competition generation several hundred years ago. She was none other than the woman who began a battle that humiliated the Everlore Association's younger generation by trouncing them in repeated Alchemic Clashes.

She was none other than the one exiled by the Imperial Clan.

She was the first and only Alchemic Soul vagabond!

Luo Ning's name only resurfaced recently during the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit, where she was unexpectedly selected as an instructor for Wei Wuyin during the challenging stages to nurture younger cultivators. Since then, she had vanished with all the recent happenings.Most knew her as a bitter, arrogant, old, and lesson-labeled Alchemist for the next generation despite her outstanding alchemic talent that allowed her to take the path of the King of Everlore. The others saw her as a pitiful creature which allowed them to understand that talent was not the prevailing factor in one's success. After her two-fold blacklisting, Luo Ning's talent soon faded into oblivion, while those she once defeated achieved greatness.

They became Ascended beings, obtaining power and a lifespan unimaginable for a mortal. One of them even became an Alchemic Sovereign under the Everlore Association.

However, those of her generation were beguiled by their senses. Luo Ning was a renowned beauty in her heyday, it was an unquestionable fact, and she had suitors lined up due to her talent. If it wasn't for her personality, given enough time to become an Emperor Alchemist, she would've easily obtained the lineage of an Alchemic Sovereign's discipleship. Unfortunately...

Yet here she was, as gorgeous and dazzling as the moons and stars in the vast void and equally as breathtaking as she had been before. There were no wrinkles or age spots on her complexion, her spine was tall, and her eyes exuded exuberant life!

She was currently holding a hand-seal before an Alchemic Table. A cauldron was before her, clearly of the mystic-graded level, alongside several assisting formations that brimmed with her aura etched into the table. Finally, those present came to a realization.

"She's frozen?"

Luo Ning seemed to be lacking all motion! She was in a similar state as those under the effects of the Neo-Dawn Vortex-Zone Pellet! While it seemed as if she was frozen, she was simply moving at an exceedingly slower pace relative to them.

Tian Xiaocheng's eyes flashed with a ray of emotions as she took a deep breath, "As this is an ALCHEMIC Expo, how could there not be feats of alchemy at several segments of our fantastic event? Because of this, the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Sovereign wishes to bless the expo with three unforgettable acts of alchemy, far beyond what one would typically expect.

"As you're all aware, our Main Host meticulously taught and prepared thirty-three Emperor Alchemists, having them all ascend into the Mortal Sovereign Alchemist level at the same time! I'm sure that was an astonishing feat, right?" Tian Xiaocheng asked rhetorically, yet the reminder stirred the crowd as intended.

Who could possibly forget?!

Countless voices echoed in cheer! Wei Wuyin had ingrained the name of the Hepta-Dawn Alchemic Corps and the Defiant Creation Association, which was only mentioned once, inside their minds with that single feat! It also further exacerbated their expectations for Evergod to act! Unfortunately, he remained stoic and detached despite all of the intentional attempts to provoke a reaction.

Tian Xiaocheng could feel the rising energy of the crowd. The thought of a competitor to the Everlore Association and avid discussion regarding its potential existence was once again being had. This only served to darken the expression of the Everlore Association.

In truth, if the Everlore Association wasn't too restrictive and wholeheartedly invested in creating Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, they would have at least three times their numbers. But the amount of resources needed to promote an alchemist to that level was extremely high despite the low rate of success. You couldn't simply throw money at the issue; you needed time and energy from established alchemists.

To put it bluntly, the Prime-tier and Grand-tier Mortal Sovereign Alchemists would have had to wholeheartedly teach and instruct countless disciples while providing them with as many resources as they could. This was a completely unrealistic goal, given the risks alchemists had to take without guarantee and then lose resources, not only for their Alchemic Knights but also for themselves to cultivate.

After all, the Mortal Sovereign Alchemists of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region were Ascended beings-genuine Ascended beings.

Wei Wuyin, however, had taken trash and turned them into thirty-three treasures. This reinforced many beliefs that unrestricted assistance could elevate Alchemists to the Mortal Sovereign Alchemist level, and this had somewhat doused the excitement at first because if Wei Wuyin could do so, then two Alchemic Saints could only do more, never less!

This was simply ingrained thinking after the thousands of years of the Everlore Association's supremacy and the towering shadow of a legacy that the King of Everlore provided with his existence! With his name!

The Radiant Wave Alchemic Sovereign frowned as he questioned: "Is the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Sovereign intending to showcase the final concoction of the Neo-Dawn Heavenly-Origin Paste?" He wasn't the only one to notice that Luo Ning seemed to be in a similar state as the others, on the verge of completing a concocted product.

If so, it wouldn't be too astonishing to witness, but definitely a treat.

Tian Xiaocheng smiled, but her heart rate increased as she received a set of transmissions on what to say and do. Her facial expression shifted, and her head tilted in disbelief, clearly taken aback by what she had heard. No one else knew what messages she received, but they noticed her reaction and thought it was because of the Radiant Wave Alchemic Sovereign's question and the shock at him guessing correctly.

Most felt disappointed; for the sixth fortune to be a concoction of the product felt extremely underwhelming. Regardless, they didn't have the right to dictate what the fortunes were, especially since many had already received more resources than they'd earned in their lifetime.Just the Astralis Dawn Mist and Pure Dream Liquid were sufficient to make this trip worth it!

After a deep breath, causing her chest to rise and fall alongside the gazes of countless men, Tian Xiaocheng looked toward Evergod and the Everlore Association's area. There was a strange emotion in her eyes. While it was very difficult to determine what she was staring at, the target of her gaze felt it intensely.

Evergod's brows furrowed ever-so-slightly. San Luoyang felt something, too, and he couldn't help but size Luo Ning up curiously. Wei Wuyin seemed intent on building his association and newly established corps on the back of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, showing the worth of his tutelage and lineage.

"If it was as simple as that, how could it be unforgettable?" Tian Xioacheng regained her host's charm, stirring the pot of curiosity that was the audience's attention. She looked at Luo Ning, her eyes flitting with a light of disbelief and uncertainty.

She first explained Luo Ning's legacy as she gestured toward the woman in incredibly slow motion. She began from her time as a youngster, retelling the story of how she was discovered as having a high Alchemic Talent and bravely deciding to take the path of the legendary King of Everlore as Sky Zenith once had. Then, she began to describe her journey and struggles.

The crowd gradually went silent as they listened. Seeing that beauty and hearing her story caused many to feel indescribable emotions of pity and frustration. Of course, if she was still her wrinkled, old self, most would've neglected her story, labeling her as arrogant and well-deserving, but beauty inspired greater emotions. Quite a few 'valiant' men felt aggrieved on her behalf!

The reputation of the Everlore Association scored another hit as they were revealed to have ruthlessly suppressed a competitive soul with incredible talent. They began to 'see' her side.

San Luoyang could only feel a hint of irritation in his heart from the judgmental gazes. Luo Ning's story was well-known, and she was heavily unreserved in her attitude and outright disrespectful to everyone. Her response to being chided was to push back with jokes and question the higher authority. Why else did she never obtain a master?

She had been given offers but rejected them all! She genuinely felt that she would become the next King of Everlore and sought after either Grand Mortal Sovereign Alchemists or Evergod himself as a master. Even he, San Luoyang, the Grand Secretariat, was rejected! If not for that, how else could he have so many complex emotions?

Unfortunately, Tian Xiaocheng's ways with words and displays of facial expressions further garnered one-sided pity.

Eventually, she reached the point of entering the Imperial Clan, where her beauty was sought after more than her skill, and they wanted to send her off as a concubine to Xun Yicao!

She suffered suppression from all sides but refused to yield!

Before today, some might think becoming the Concubine of a Grand Mortal Sovereign Alchemist and Demi-Mortal Lord Phase cultivator with an Earthly Saint-level Alchemic Knight would've been a high-held honor, but with Xun Yicao's unknown status, and the fact he had offended Wei Wuyin, they now began to cheer for her reluctance to concede!

Her reasons for her clothing style and title choice started to become clear for all to see; some laughed, others cried, and a few sighed heavily. Lavender! Lavender-Dawn Alchemic Sovereign!

Tian Xioacheng's story was compelling, with some facts being distorted or elevated to increase the impact, yet no one could refute those words. Even if they wanted to, there was no way their voices could be heard.

By the end, Luo Ning's fateful meeting with Wei Wuyin as Xun Yicao selected her as his instructor began, and-

"...the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Sovereign saw her potential. That day, upon meeting her, he swore to make her a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist. Now, she stands before you as one!" Tian Xiaocheng gestured once again toward Luo Ning as gazes flitted over.

Suddenly, Luo Ning's eyes lifted slowly, and within were seven radiant stars circulating in each eye!

ALCHEMIC STARS OF MORTAL SPIRITUALITY!

The sign of a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist!

The breaths of many were instantly caught in their chest; among them were some Alchemic Sovereigns. Not only had Wei Wuyin promised to make her an Alchemic Sovereign, but he had also done so while she remained at the Mystic Star Phase!

While the thirty-three Emperor Alchemists were startling, it wasn't too impossible to think about given the Neo-Dawn Vortex-Zone Pellet and Wei Wuyin's lineage that already established a young Mortal Sovereign Alchemist of his age. That said, many were doubtful of Wei Wuyin's true age, given that he likely used the pill to achieve his goals and current feats.

"Today, we show you...the rise of the Hepta-Dawn Alchemic Corps first..."

Each word was spoken with an increasing rise of energy and cadence that caused the heart to speed up and focus to gradually elevate!But at the end of her incomplete sentence, there were no other words as she formed a hand-seal. As if a bubble had popped, the sphere of light surrounding Luo Ning and her Alchemic Table exploded!

Luo Ning then formed consecutive hand-seals with exquisite control as her aura started to rise! Alchemic Power was poured beautifully, the strength of which was no lesser than a genuine Earthly Saint! The benefits of an Alchemic Soul!

A bright, dazzling lavender-colored radiance erupted as the fusion was initiated! Suddenly, across the World of Eden and the real space, countless faint Mystic Runes manifested around everyone!

"No way!" San Luoyang's eyes bulged as San Yongli gasped in utter shock. They were both extremely aware of this phenomenon!

TRUE EARTHLY RECOGNITION!

Evergod's stoic expression greatly changed as his eyes rippled with uncertainty. This...shouldn't be possible!

While it had yet to solidify, the fact that she could induce the preceding phenomenon to an Earthly Saint Alchemist's Ascension and acceptance of the Alchemic Dao only showed that she was concocting a Mystic-Rank product!!!