Paragon of Sin

Wei Wuyin leaned against a corner of an expansive room with an opening in the wall that exposed the vast Dark Void and majesty of starry radiance and astronomical phenomenon, observing Yue Songli and Qing Qiumu display their respective artistic prowess, placing paint onto canvas. The former was refined in their strokes and depictions, detailed with a clear emotional undertone alluding to a greater tale, while the latter had a more realistic flair with a depth of story that wasn't difficult to understand after a few seconds.

By his side, Su Mei stood while silently eating an unreasonably large chocolate chip cookie she had obtained from the White Abyssal Galaxy's Violet Abyss. It was held by two hands. Wei Si was quietly watching the two women like a patient and interested child with a contemplative and equally silly expression.

Since Wei Wuyin left the Samsara of Stars, three whole days had come and gone. Three days ago, Su Mei had informed him of her impending ascension. It was unstoppable. Furthermore, Wei Wuyin's Mortal Intent had reached a level where he could thoroughly sense the urgency of the Mortal Dao to push her forward, and his resonance with the Mystic Dao was beckoning her forth.

Su Mei took a bite, chomping and chewing in content. She held roughly a little over half of the gigantic cookie left, still larger than half her torso and a single finger thick. With a gesture, she offered Wei Wuyin some without any words. Wei Wuyin didn't look, but the ease at which he grabbed a piece and ate was a clear indication that the two of them were bodying this cookie together. It was unable to resist their teamwork, destined to be devoured.

More importantly, an answer as to why Su Mei's talent was explosively rising had to do with this sensation. And after grasping his current level of Mortal Intent through Little Defiant, he discovered that the Mortal Dao had been assisting Su Mei. Not just a little bit. An absolutely freaking excessive amount.

It was hard to truly quantify the sheer amount of hidden assistance, and the ultimate ease of her refinements of all mortal energies and mortal products was a sign of this excessive guidance. Moreover, the Mystic Dao was not innocent of this either. This caused her innate talents to already reach the peak in all categories as if in the most natural manner. With the added assistance of the daos themselves, she was already surpassing her level.

Wei Wuyin saw her refine his Mystic-Earth products with similar ease. However, there was another, even greater earth-shattering discovery: the Mortal Dao wasn't doing so willingly or unwillingly, but doing so because it needed to be done-no, it HAD to be done. Neither was the Mystic Dao any different.

He side-eyed her as she very faintly smiled with satisfaction, taking another bite. She felt his gaze and offered again, which Wei Wuyin accepted as he chewed on the soft cookie with thoughtful bites. The cookie was not ordinary and could be classified as a mystic-grade treasure of the culinary profession amongst the sub-group of alchemists that delve into the art of cooking, baking, and such.

When he inquired about the feelings or reasons for the Mortal Dao's assistance, it was fairly neutral and vague. All it relayed was that her 'time had come', and something even more vague as if saying she could no longer 'hold' her. However, the fact that the daos themselves were pushing her talents to an extreme limit while assisting was strange. Incredibly strange.

Wei Wuyin heaved an internal sigh.

It was hard to believe that a simple girl who was once of lowly status and ordinary birth could inexplicably possess so many mysteries around her. He contemplated if it had something to do with his Magi lineage or the Spartan lineage... Perhaps she was a third mysterious lineage?

Would Fuxi know? If only he could contact him somehow or the Black Skeleton. Both were beings far beyond his level and knew things surpassing his limited knowledge by a considerable degree.

But he had no way to seek out answers. He had no way to contact Fuxi except by defying the daos or risking his life and forcing an intervention, but he didn't dare to play around with his life on the off-chance of being saved by another. Meanwhile, the Bloodline of Sin was only passively controlled and he had no way to interact with it without a True Soul of Sin, at least by his assumptions.

"I'll be fine," Su Mei said those three words as she took another bite. She could sense Wei Wuyin's apprehension, and since they had separated after the destruction of their home starfield, he had repeatedly and adamantly insisted she wait for him to tell her to ascend, and never do so beforehand. Now, she didn't have a choice. This frustrated her, but she was helpless to do anything about it short of crippling herself.

"..." Wei Wuyin's gaze flickered with a raw, emotional light. While he hadn't experienced it himself, the sensation of losing Su Mei was etched heavily upon his mind by foreign memories of one life and a long-told tale of another. He refused to do so again. Not in this life. Not due to his ineptness. Never again.

"You're right," he reached to grab a rather big piece. "We'll be fine," he corrected.

Su Mei's smile widened at the sides of her lips, illuminating the room in ways that were hard to describe for any literati or artist. All those years ago, Wei Wuyin had come to her while she was beaten, bruised, and humiliated. With a serene smile that was as warm as the most gentle caress of a radiant star and silver eyes that revealed neither pity nor disgust, she was greeted by a single question that would change her entire life.

That day, she decided without a shred of doubt in her True Soul that she would follow him anywhere.

Anywhere.

Wei Wuyin and Su Mei defeated the cookie with impeccable coordination. It stood no chance.

"Let's go to the Sky Heart Galaxy," Wei Wuyin announced and Su Mei decisively nodded.

Unbeknownst to Wei Wuyin, the Neo-Dawn Ascendant Emperor, the first Mortal Saint Alchemist, the Stellar-Paragon of the Mortal Realm, Blessed Soul turned Inheritor of Sin, the reason why Su Mei was on her current strange path that was as brilliant as any star in the vast expanse of the void...was largely because of him.

Wei Wuyin stood before the railing with his arms folded against his chest, exuding an imposing presence. Young Master Shang and Ming Shufeng were both above deck behind him, staring out as Yao Houyi, Shui Fengbao, Su Mei, Xiao Bai, Tuo Bihan, Luo Ning, and Cao Cuifen accompanied by a dark-skinned young woman of the Abyssal Race, Grey Rose, took various positions on Minor Elysium.

Grey Rose was no longer dressed in her tight, form-fitting attire, as she had more modest clothing of violet, white, and black design, but this only accentuated her youthful beauty and starfield-toppling facial features, while her mystic aura as a Mystic Overlord was not concealed but not erupting either. She was a step behind Cao Cuifen, her gaze serene and respectful.

She had seemingly adapted unnaturally well to being Cao Cuifen's maidservant. Her decision back then was the correct gamble. Just the last few days, Cao Cuifen had given her a high-tier Mystic-Earth product designed for Abyssals as a reward for her due diligence, attitude, and assistance in cultivation. Just this alone was a sign that her decision was absolutely correct!

As for lowering her status? A Mystic Overlord like her who ascended by Dark Methods means was unfathomably lower in status to begin with when compared with a peak Worldly Saint Alchemist and potentially Resonant Soul Realm's beloved wife. Not even Crimson Blade would dare to touch a single hair on her head unlike before, already indicating her superior status.

Yue Songli and Qing Qiumu finished their paintings, coming above deck and out of their room with a transparent opening to the moving and endless stars. Wei Si followed with a hearty chuckle, but the moment he arrived above deck, the atmosphere shift caused his expression to change. It was solemn and alert.

A faint hint of battle intent surged.

The only others absent on deck were observing from his Saint Ring except Liu Suyin who was diligently cultivating to tame the Living Vortex of Space and Time, a feat that could take decades to centuries effectively do, and even with the assistance of the Neo-Dawn Vortex-Zone at the Mystic-grade, it would still take her time to complete. Wei Wuyin respected her decision and didn't offer any objections.

"The Sky Heart Galaxy has long since been conquered by beasts. The races within are humans, beastmen, demons, and hybrid demons. While the most predominant bestial races are Rocs, Almiraj, and Hyenas. Do not underestimate their bestial lineages, especially Almiraj. They have established territories, traditions, and even culture; they are not unintelligent or purely feral. Don't treat them as such." Wei Wuyin informed as he lifted his palm toward the vast expanse before him.

"Also!" Wei Wuyin exclaimed, "Do not use any power of Laws."

"..." Shui Fengbao pouted.

"But if you find yourself unable to help yourself, don't mind it. Just do whatever you need to do. The sky won't fall. And if it tries to..." With a grin, he executed-

VOID PORTAL CREATION: GALACTIC RANGE!!!