Paragon of Sin

Silently, the world screeched, thrummed, and quivered.

Between the vast, cold, unforgivingly dead space between the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region's lively but recently reduced population and the Neo-Dawn Starfield's thriving and budding populace, Evergod's incessant mutterings and high-speed movement violently distorted the nearby three layers of space.

"Never again. Never again. Never again." It was clear that Evergod's mental state had suffered tremendously and was on the verge of, if not already, shattering with every additional muttering. However, this was not a sudden event but a gradual process that began long ago, resurfacing due to the silver-eyed trigger named Wei Wuyin, reinforced by the constant shadow of the legendary King of Everlore, and founded by treasured belief in his sense of identity and purpose.

The threat to it, that is.

The chestnut-skinned Earthly Saint Alchemist gathered his Earthly Saint cultivation base and explosively shot forth with no attempt to hide his tracks. In fact, he was unable to do so. Within his tightly-clenched right fist, an irradiant light bled through his flesh, muscles, and bones. It was like a kaleidoscope of colors, exuding a world-trembling power. While subdued within his enclosed fist, there were clear signs of it being difficult to contain, such as his fingers being pushed sporadically away, only to be forcefully entrapped by his strength.

Evergod's flight soon led him to enter a long-defunct, abandoned Stellar Region known as the Earthbound Wave Stellar Region. Before the Sealed Region's formation, it once belonged to a prominent Titan King, a cultivator of the Titan Race with an Earthly Saint cultivation base. They, too, were affiliated allies with the Grand Cyclic Titanic Emperor during that time.

By this point, Evergod regained a sense of clarity as he looked at his hand and cursed in his heart. This item couldn't be casually carried through fixed space. If not for that frustrating restriction, he would've already long since completed his goddamn objective! Even now, that dastardly bastard was likely chuckling at his snail-like movements, finding enjoyment in his pain.

The face of that silver-eyed bastard flashed incessantly within his mind; the cause of his tens of thousands of years of hard work to be invalidated within moments, taking everything he and worked for as his own, from his realm to his dignity to the organization that he had built from absolutely nothing during the darkest of times in recorded history. Just the thought of it all caused his soul to feel a wave of unbearable pain. And now, that image that had lingered within the depths of his soul had been replaced by a fresh set of eyes even more villainous, younger, and conniving.

"Grrr!" Evergod gritted his teeth, and a low-sound guttural roar shook his throat. Those eyes that still seemed to exude the utmost calm and focus were bloodshot to the utmost.

"Stop."

A voice resounded, thundering toward Evergod. Despite its loud volume, it gave off a calming sensation, reaching the depths of one's Sea of Consciousness. The sound, however, didn't cause Evergod to stop. Not even for a single moment. He pushed onwards; the reflection of his pupils was indistinct, showing the images of two men side-by-side with the shadow of a Solar Star behind them.

Before Evergod could travel ten thousand more miles, a tall woman shimmered into existence directly in his path. Her Mystic Aura spread out, explosively transforming into Fate Power, forming a gargantuan wall of heaven-like clear-colored power that seemed capable of ravaging all life at the slightest touch.

If Wei Wuyin was here, he would be deeply shaken by this wall! Why? Because it bore extreme similarities to the Wall of Heaven! The same wall that he had to survive as a Rite of a Sinner.

There it was, spreading out to hinder Evergod's path, seemingly unable to be surpassed. Evergod's pupils flickered as he gradually slowed down, reaching a ten-mile distance between him and the newly arrived woman.

"Do you think that'll be able to stop me?" Ironically, Evergod stopped, his voice calm, yet the sinister undertone resulting from his chaotic mental state caused the woman's body to flinch subconsciously. The murderous intent laced in each and every one of his words was undisguised, deep, and merciless.

The tall woman had eyes with no pupils or irises, simply a sea of gorgeous white that instilled her an enigmatic bearing.

"Grand Seer," Evergod called out. The bright light bleeding through his right fist intensified a single level.

The Grand Seer stared at Evergod as she retracted her power. As she did, she stated: "I've been sent by the Grand Sage." She needed to establish grounds for the current Evergod to listen to her, so she unhesitatingly used the Grand Sage's name.

"So?" Yet, against expectations, Evergod was emotionless before that name. "Do you intend to protect him?" His words were once again calm-the peak of serenity, yet the baleful intent was laced within every syllable.

"..." The Grand Seer realized that Evergod was off the deep end. "Your flagrant actions have leaked into the world; You're handling power far beyond your means to control, and your actions have caused great alarm and disturbance. I've been tasked with steering you away, to prevent you from risking your life." Her words were flat, emotionless.

"Ha," Evergod chuckled. "Make your choice," he didn't give her words any heed. It wasn't that he was ignorant of the dangers but simply believed that their attempt was all to dissuade him from bringing an end to that promising chess piece of theirs.

"Choice? Do you not see? Earth-Saint Evergod, the Grand Sage told me that should you wish to continue this road of no return; you'll have to pass along the Ever-Key." The Grand Seer only attempted to convince Evergod once, no longer bothering with reminding him again.

"So that's your goal. You wish to give that brat you've nurtured the Ever-Key?" By this point, those once serene eyes began to exude a dangerous light of madness. "Was this your plan all along? Haha! Was it?! TO GIVE HIM EVERYTHING OF MINE! AGAIN! AGAIN!! AGAIN!!!"

Madness was like a seed of the dead, infecting one's heart, mind, and soul until that was all that was left. Evergod felt his beliefs were reinforced, so it only nurtured that seed. The Golden Gate Pavilion, in his eyes, slowly was merging with those silver-eyed bastards, their symbol etched into the solar star behind them.

"Conspirers. The w'hole lot of you." Evergod's right fist clenched a little harder. The entire Earthbound Wave Stellar Region trembled!

"..." The Grand Seer might have tremendous powder, but the Evergod before her terrified her to no end. She found herself taking a few steps back through the Dark Void. If she had pupils, they might have constricted to their limits. The aura of that power and feeling of deadly might was enough to bring her, an Earthly Saint, to her knees.

She gathered her courage, "You're wrong; the Grand Sage will pass it along to Earth-Saint Luoyang. The risk of losing it to Wei Wuyin is why I'm here. Don't be blinded. If the Grand Sage wanted anything of yours, would you even have the ability to react before he seized it all? Moreover, only the Everlore Association can use the Ever-Key. You should know' this."

"..." Evergod went stiffly silent for a long, long while. Eventually, the madness retreated slightly as the reasoning was there. He, too, didn't want the Ever-Key to end up in his enemy's hands should anything unexpected happen.

Seeing this reaction, the Grand Seer hastily added: "The Grand Sage has already sw'orn an oath that the Ever-Key will be delivered and kept in San Luoyang's possession. If you feel it's needed, I can attest to being a witness to that event by swearing on my spirit."

"..." Evergod stared at her. His eyes said: "Then do so." Clearly, the trust he had in the Grand Sage was no longer as absolute as before.

The Grand Seer didn't feel bothered by this, only relieved as she swore an air-tight oath regarding witnessing the Grand Sage personally swearing an oath to the heavens regarding delivering the Ever-Key to San Luoyang. Then, and only then, did Evergod's eyes ease, madness gradually receding. With a toss of his left hand, a seven-colored skeleton key exuding a rich and refined alchemical aura was sent to the Grand Seer.

This was the Ever-Key, the only way to access the Chosen King Competition's Secret Realm! Without it, not even the Trueborn's leader or Divine Emperor could breach into its confines without dying. If this was lost, the chaos that would follow would be unimaginable.

The Grand Seer reached out and carefully pocketed the Ever-Key. Just as she was about to leave, she turned around and said: "Earth-Saint Evergod, your actions have alarmed the world. The consequences of your intentions are too difficult to divine, even by the Grand Sage. I advise you to retreat for today lest you suffer." After saying those words, the Grand Seer shimmered out of view, vanishing entirely.

"..." Evergod.

After a few seconds, an explosive outburst erupted, and Evergod's trajectory remained steadfast-the Neo-Dawn Starfield!

"I won't make the same mistake I did before. Today, he dies!"

Silently, the world screeched, thrummed, and quivered.

All over the Sealed Regions, a few felt this change.

Within the Stellar Nest, a voice rippled through the faintest cracks within the strange, icy surface.

"Interesting."

The incessant pounding on the icy surface continued.

Within the Ancient Sky Realm, San Luoyang's World Realm, San Yongli sat quietly in the lotus position, diligently refining the Neo-Dawn Star-Seed Pill. From time to time, seven-colored shiny mist left her orifices. This was the expelled Alchemical Spirit Remnants that were being simultaneously refined out as the pill was.

From within her Sea of Consciousness, the discarnate soul of a woman caused the soul-containing, mind-nurturing jade to tremble.

"Fool!" She cried out angrily. The rage and panic she felt bled into San Yongli's mind, and the young Temporal Reincarnator began to suffer a seizure. San Yongli shouted in agony as she tumbled to the ground.

"You!" She slowly crawled up, weakness in her eyes. She hurriedly formed a few hand-seals, sealing the pill mid-refinement, and cursed the soul out countless times. Yet her rage received no response as the woman was too preoccupied to respond.

Desolate Dragnet Stellar Region, Myriad Dao Palace Secret Realm.

Wang Yutian's gaze was focused intensely beyond the realm. There was a solemn light within his eyes alongside a deeply furrowed set of spiritual brows. "Idiot! What are you trying to do?!"

From the depths of his gaze, unforgettable memories surged. He subconsciously shivered as he gritted his spiritual teeth. "If that thing wakes up..."

He kept observing, praying in his heart.-----

Woosh!

Within the vast Dark Void, ripples began to manifest at strange locations. As if answering the world's call, something began to move.