Paragon of Sin

Roughly forty seconds before that last clarion cry, the entire world fell into a shaken, deeply disturbed silence as they saw a colossal, planet-sized Sky Destroyer get cleaved in half, so cleanly and forcefully that it broke into two! Not even the defensive barrier was enough to stop this from happening! The hearts of the Imperial Clan's members, especially Tian Weilong and Tian Shangyang who were fully aware of the terrifying power of these Sky Destroyers that could rival the Voidship Boundless of the Boundless Martial Sect, including their defensive potential and the amount of precious, valuable earthly material of the mystic-grade was invested into every inch.

Yet they witnessed it split into half from a single move. It was heart-rending and soul-frightening! One could imagine how they were feeling!

Thousands of years of effort, sliced apart by a single move! Who was this person?!

The handsome visage of Zhan Yang was made readily apparent as everyone couldn't remove their gazes from him. The slowly segregating, collapsing colossal Sky Destroyer beneath his feet.

With an utterly contemptuous voice steeped in disdain, "Is that all?" He asked. Those words stung.

Mystic light flashed wildly as Earthly Saints acted. The severed Sky Destroyer suddenly seemed to exert an aura of time, inverting past and present, causing the colossal Sky Destroyer to rapidly reconnect, its defensive formation established as if it was undamaged and uncut.

"Oh?" Zhen Yang was pleasantly surprised. A Voidship that could execute a type of Temporal Reversion that could revert damage of a Worldly Saint?! How exquisite! "You're using your Imperial Aura to parasitically latch into my remnant Mystic Heart Intent, facilitating the reversion while simultaneously removing its inherent powers of temporal restrictions. How creative."

The golden barrier enveloping the colossal Sky Destroyer that looked like a golden, starry atmosphere thickened as if it was covered in viscous clouds, completely preventing Spiritual Sense from even trying to peer through the inside. Zhen Yang was once again surprised. "Intricate principles of the Sky Arts of the Exalted Republic's King Clans? Let's see how much it can withstand!"

Lifting his hand lightly, a sharp golden sword light jetted into the heavens and formed the edge of a sword that could slice into a planet!

Just as he was about to slam down his hand along with this vigorous sword light, the two other colossal Sky Destroyers unleashed an instantaneous starry, prismatic beam of mystic-world graded energies, condensed into a three hundred meter wide beam! While it wasn't large, it was unbelievably compressed! They came from two angles, and his pupils slightly contracted. Alongside these two beams was a triple-layered World Prison!

Meanwhile, Peng Yue calmly floated above the deck, looking down at the Imperial Advisor. Her comment of turning a great Rune King, otherwise known as an Earthly Saint, of nine Mystic Runes, an exceptional 9th Runic Ascendant level foundation, as a maidservant was unbelievably arrogant, yet when she spoke out, it was as if she was delivering a great honor to the Imperial Advisor. Should she prove herself worthy, none doubted that Peng Yue would bestow her that honor!

The Imperial Advisor's tightly gripped greatsword hilt was slowly released, and her closed eyes 'observed' Peng Yue's naturally arrogant bearing and she couldn't help but think that...

...she was lacking in presence in comparison to 'him'. It was this thought that eased her tense heart, and the terrifying presence of Peng Yue's Mystic World Intent of the Yin Sword felt significantly weaker, far less terrifying, and she couldn't help but release a faint smile.

Peng Yue frowned slightly at the sight. That was not a smile of resignation and defeat, and she noticed this immediately. She instantly turned vigilant.

"Let's fight," the Imperial Advisor suddenly said directly. She was known for her intelligence, foresight, and indescribably profound plans, perfectly advising the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor. Furthermore, she was lauded by the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region as an undisputed top-tier expert of the world, among the top three Earthly Saints!

"..." Peng Yue's frown deepened.

BOOSH! An explosion of violent air erupted from the colossal Sky Destroyer. Peng Yue's figure was swift; she was already tens of thousands of miles away from the colossal Sky Destroyer, cruising across the Dark Void as Yin Sword Light. She held her hand before her, exerting her Yin Sword Power, blocking off a closed-eyed Imperial Advisor who held her greatsword before her, trying to hack into her in a single strike. Her expression was extremely calm.

The Imperial Advisor's greatsword pressed against the Yin Sword Light, pushing Peng Yue away from the colossal Sky Destroyer. The Sky Destroyer emanated a strangely mystical power. Suddenly, all the smaller Sky Destroyers began to shimmer with mystical light, resonating with a visual pulse of energy.

"An Artificial Wound-Bound Star Domain?" Peng Yue said as she felt the Imperial Advisor's aura rapidly skyrocket, faintly matching her own Mystic World Intent of the Yin Sword.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!! Within a single mortal's blink of an eye, the two figures were embroiled in an intense melee, exchanging tens of thousands of blows. With her greatsword, the Imperial Advisor sliced at Peng Yue viciously, supported by the power of a single colossal Sky Destroyer and the remaining intact Sky Destroyers! It felt as if she was drawing strength from a starfield's multiple Solar Stars!

Peng Yue's movements and attacks were smooth and measured while the Imperial Advisor unleashed torrential sword light with heavy strikes. However, it was clear that Peng Yue was on the defensive in each clash. Unfortunately, she was only using her bare hand!

BOOM!!! A world-shaking explosion ravaged the world; the planets had to unleash their planetary arrays to prevent being launched out of the starfield! The center of this explosion, with space sundered until only chaotic space remained, and time distorted until only present time remained, was Zhen Yang's previous location!

"Yes!" Tian Shangyang cheered! The dwindled faith in the Sky Destroyers was renewed as he was shoved back by the shockwave of the blast. Even if he hadn't taken the brunt, if he was within ten thousand miles of that epicenter of that explosion, he would've died ten times over!

Yang Chaoyue was already piloting her Sky Destroyer toward Tian Lingyu's ship, no longer thinking of engaging with the other Earthly Saints. They also avoided both of them as if they were diseased, and seeing this, Tian Muyang brought what remained of his Sky Destroyer over, hastily trying to make repairs.

However, they all stared at the ensuing chaos of that dual-beam collision, and they felt their hearts shake. The Imperial Clan's true power was not to be underestimated!

But...

...could they kill these invaders, two genuine Worldly Saints?

CLANG! HUM! A sword hymn shook the void, dispersing the devastation, and revealing an immaculately handsome figure. Zhen Yang held out a golden sword three feet long and three inches wide, on the blade was lined with profound white-colored mystical runes that exuded a worldly presence! He was shrouded by a faint golden Mystic Ward.

A true Mystic-World graded Armament! It was something every Earthly Saint and a few educated Ascended beings from the Endless Voyage Realm knew. The Mystic-World grade Yang Tide Rending Sword! It was an ancient weapon wielded by a prestigious Original Magistrate of the Exalted Republic's Yang Clan!

"What killing power! That combo could have severely injured an ordinary Worldly Saint, even if they had guarded against it." Zhen Yang announced with genuine shock in his voice, speaking to Peng Yue from afar. Then, he smirked.

"Unfortunately, I'm not an ordinary Worldly Saint."

HUM!! A sword hymn was released from his golden sword. Just as he was about to launch a strike, an inexplicably indescribable light caused his soul to shiver. Then, he felt as if all the colossal Sky Destroyers resonated with a single entity, including the flow of mystical energy originating from dozens of Earthly Saints. His pupils constricted instantly.

He hurriedly turned, locating Peng Yue who was engulfed in a soul-searing light.

"Soul Blaze?! She's cultivating Soul Blaze in her eyes as Primary Light Power?!?! YUE'ER!!!" Without hesitation, Zhan Yang changed tact, bursting into a ray of golden light as he unleashed an Ascension Movement Art of the 8th Way! He was unimaginably fast-faster than light, and he blitzed into the soul-blazing radiance without blinking an eye or expressing a frown.

The panic in his voice was tangible! It sent shivers down the spines of all who could hear it.

When the light faded, the Imperial Advisor was back on the Sky Destroyer, her expression pale and pained. Her eyes were tightly shut and blood that resembled flowing, liquid blue light leaked from the edges. It was as if she was crying blood from her soul.

She had channeled the full power of the fleet of Sky Destroyers entirely within a single second. Her back and hands were sweating profusely.

This was a Worldly Saint, she dared not be careless or hold anything back. Her Soul-Scorching Radiance Method was a profound Cultivation Method given to her by His Majesty, and she had cultivated it to complete mastery. According to the information within the art, the Soul-Scorching Radiance Method cultivated something referred to as Soul-Burning Radiance, a type of pseudo-Primary Soul Light, and required one to use their cultivation base as a furnace and forge a Soul Blaze and cultivated Primary True Light prior. It was extremely dangerous as it had stringent requirements and could backlash, turning one's Mystic Soul to ash. Its power was undeniably terrifying!

She added her own knowledge of cultivation and ingenious principles, tempering not one but two Soul Blazes-each within one eye. In a way, she cultivated the method twice! This wasn't a simple two-fold amplification either! It also granted her eyes unfathomably soul-piercing properties that could see the essence of things! She had established her own method of cultivation!

With her 9th Runic Ascendant cultivation, it was enough to injure a Worldly Saint by itself, but backed by the power of the fleet of Sky Destroyers' cores and dozens of Earthly Saints, she was sure that she could kill a Worldly Saint!

AND SHE TRIED!!

"You!"

When that voice was heard, the Imperial Advisor's heart dropped into an icy abyss.