Paragon of Sin

Attracting the attention of all those above the deck of the Minor Elysium, the vessel that emerged from fixed space arrived with a tempestuous momentum, announcing its presence to all those near, specifically targeted toward the Minor Elysium.

It was shaped like a perfect triangle, two of its vertices were colored a deep, dark red while the last vertex was sky blue. The centroid of the triangular vessel, the very center point, was a purplish circle of roughly a tenth of the ship's size, that protruded a little beyond from above and below. With a single glance, one could count fifteen segments of clearly demarcated floors, each likely a portion of the ship's internal design housing facilities for cultivators or perhaps even entire realms, be it secret or world.

From the Minor Elysium's perspective, it seemed to fly across the Dark Void using the sky blue vertex as its directional indicator while the purplish circle acted as a stabilizer, allowing the triangle to always fly while laying flat. With Wei Wuyin's Celestial Eyes, the purplish circle also contained its core, exuding rhythmic pulses of Law aura.

The entire vessel was quite massive, roughly the size of a Sky Destroyer from the fallen Imperial Clan of the Aeternal Sky Starfield. In comparison to the small vessel that was Minor Elysium, it was like a firefly facing a hippo. However, its tempest-like momentum that sent waves upon waves of chaos mana surging about was unable to shake the Minor Elysium.

A mighty voice filled with authority and mystic power erupted in their direction, carried by a terrifying and threatening Spiritual Strength. The speaker was certainly powerful!

"Void Vessel! State your-oh?" The voice halted unnaturally as if it was just informed of something midway, causing the surprise to even leak into his Spiritual Strength.

"It's you again!" the voice suddenly sounded more amiable and less imposing than before. A few hundred miles before the Minor Elysium, strands of tawny mystic power gathered into a swirling whirlpool that soon took the shape of a humanoid, and then swiftly materialized into a substantial form. A middle-aged human male was revealed with ginger hair, a heavy beard, and bright orange eyes that were fierce without trying.

The man was well-built with form-fitting robes that hugged his muscles while having a strong, upright posture and a simple smile that wasn't too friendly but lacked any antagonistic feelings. While he was only an Incarnation, the depths of his powers could be determined by the mystic power used to create it.

Grey Rose sent a spiritual transmission to Cao Cuifen: "Lady Cao, that person's mystic aura has signs of heavenly radiance within, likely an Original Magistrate or a World Emperor cultivating a unique method. Shall I...?"

Cao Cuifen's left eyebrow lifted as she sized up the Incarnation. If it was before, she might have felt fear and insecurity at facing such a terrifying foe that had once exceeded the very limits of her world, but after this recent trip, alongside having Wei Wuyin and Grey Rose, she no longer felt that this Original Magistrate was a threat. She had enough time to calmly observe him. "My husband will handle this," she replied calmly.

"As you wish, Lady Cao." Grey Rose's cultivation base had been circulating at the ready, but she slowly calmed her internally seething aura, only quietly standing beside Cao Cuifen protectively, her indifferent gaze focused on the triangular vessel.

The man jovially said, "Brother Teng, I didn't think you would arrive again so soon. Making your way back so soon?" His eyes roamed the Minor Elysium as confusion set within him. Wasn't the ship pristinely white? Why was it fiery red now? Different pilot? If not for the Minor Elysium's unique design and the fact that they had met just two years or so prior, the man might have mistaken the ship for something else.

Wei Wuyin released his hold on Qing Qiumu and Yue Songli. He took a few steady steps closer, "Teng Jiangwen has already ceased to exist in this world. Who might you be?" He inquired using a pulse of wide-range spiritual transmission.

"Ceased to exist? Dead?" The facial expression of the man's Incarnation vividly changed into one of shock and disbelief. Teng Jiangwen was a powerful Sage, and he had an extraordinary bearing and aura that made it seem as if he wasn't ordinary. He could easily conquer a galaxy if he wished.

"How?" Curiosity caused him to ask a question that he wouldn't have otherwise dared to, especially after learning about his recent friend's death. Moreover, it was a very powerful friend! In the cultivation world, connections were vital, and he had chanced upon a meeting to obtain that friendship with a genuine Sage, and a vagabond cultivator no less. Those were the best friends to have because they had fewer constraints when acting and very few responsibilities to uphold, allowing them to be a fearsome card to scare off others.

"I ended him," Wei Wuyin truthfully answered.

"..." The man's pupils constricted slightly. It was hard to hide his shock and he didn't seem like the sort to try hiding his emotions to begin with. "I..."

"I'll give you ten seconds. You can choose to stay and die or leave and live. Your choice," Wei Wuyin said with an air of understated ease as if deciding this man's life and death was as easy as drinking water or as easy as deciding what to eat. The feeling chilled the souls of those on board the triangular vessel.

"..." The man was still processing this newfound information and debating whether it was real or false. He even replayed the conversation in his mind, and he suddenly realized that this person likely knew who he was! After all, he had never said the name Teng Jiangwen before yet he directly told him of his fate.

Regardless of the situation, he was still duty-bound. "Do you understand what you're-"

"Nine," Wei Wuyin interrupted.

"Uh?" The man was taken aback, but shortly after, his eyes became filled with frustrated anger. He hated being interrupted the most and has slaughtered others for daring to do so.

"Eight."

"Do you-"

"Seven."

The Incarnation rapidly grew calm after being interrupted a second time. The Incarnation's mystic aura seethed as the surrounding chaos mana distorted and twisted around him, his expression might be calm, but his eyes radiated boiling fury.

From the deck of the Minor Elysium, everyone could sense that this Incarnation possessed the strength of a World Emperor. This meant his true body was likely a powerful Original Magistrate or Mystic Overlord! That was a Heavenly Saint or an Ascended Saint!

"Six."

The counting experienced no change in tone or cadence despite the raging aura. Moreover, the Minor Elysium didn't deploy any defenses yet remained unshakeable.

"I am the-"

"Don't care. Five." Wei Wuyin announced flatly. Yao Houyi proceeded to get into an archery position, taking a slight breath before using one hand to hold the invisible bow and another to grab the invisible string. The mere stance caused Grey Rose's heart to shake slightly. There was a terrifying Intent diffusing outwards from Yao Houyi.

"Don't care?!" The man was unable to even adapt to this extremely unreasonable situation and this domineering voice. Due to the shroud, it was difficult to inspect those on board without violently sending his spiritual sense through to investigate. The urge to attack at this very moment swelled within his heart.

"Four."

Yao Houyi pulled back the invisible string, revealing a translucent bow that rippled with astral light. An outline of an arrow was formed as the string was pulled 99% back! A surging aura besieged everyone on board, and they looked on with anticipation. None of them felt the slightest trace of fear.

"This goes against the laws set by Sage Spri-"

"Three."

Yao Houyi released the arrow! An opening appeared inexplicably and timely within the Shroud of Law by Shui Fengbao, and the arrow pierced through space, time, and chaos mana with blinding speed! The others felt a blasting gust that fluttered their robes, all originating from Yao Houyi's position.

"...Sag...Sage Springfe..." The Incarnation was unable to finish their words as he looked down, staring at the gaping hole in his chest. A twisting power of space, time, and destruction seemed to have shattered and unraveled all stability and mystic power within its body. The Incarnation dissipated as it tried to lift its head upwards, scattered into essence and energy.

"Two."

Wei Wuyin didn't stop counting. The triangular vessel stayed where it was, but the last utterance of the count...

"One."

And it spun with the speed of lightning. Without hesitating further, it re-entered fixed space within that remaining second and vanished entirely.

Young Master Shang had a wry smile on his face. How domineering! How forceful! However, if he was going to have a brother-in-law, it was best to be someone like this anyway. Who else could handle the daughter of his family? However, thinking about how the interaction will go between his mother...

He dreaded that moment.

"Who was that?" Yue Songli walked forward and asked. She didn't think anything of Wei Wuyin's decision to act hostile from the beginning, especially given that the man was obviously on good terms with Teng Jiangwen who wanted her.

"A mere servant of an Enlightened Sage set to alert those of his arbitrary rules, designed to prevent anyone from destroying their schemes on a whim. It's nothing to be concerned about," Wei Wuyin said and Yue Songli treated it dismissively. Since Wei Wuyin didn't care, why should she?

"Are we entering?" Yue Songli followed up as she gazed at the galaxy and the vague shadows.

"I'll be sending you all to different areas within the galaxy. I'll give you one month to train, travel, sightsee, and cultivate as you please." After stating this, Wei Wuyin created seven Void Portals around the Minor Elysium. "Choose one."

The Prime Ascendants didn't hesitate; Shui Fengbao and Yao Houyi chose two different portals and entered. The Void Portals closed immediately after. Su Mei glanced at Wei Wuyin and then brought Xiao Bai with her. Ming Shufeng hurriedly followed after her, entering the same portal.

Four portals remained.

Cao Cuifen stared at a particular Void Portal and then smiled brilliantly, her eyes glistening as she walked into a Void Portal with the same staunch will as the Prime Ascendants. She had decided to take the route of a true cultivator, and she couldn't fear any dangers or rely too heavily on Wei Wuyin for everything. She had to brave forward even with a backing that didn't fear Enlightened Sages and could obtain a Mystic Overlord servant.

Grey Rose was only a step behind. She was now a part of Cao Cuifen's strength, in much the same way that the Legion of War was Wei Wuyin's, and this was her choice, so she intended to follow through and see it to whatever end it brought her.

The two vanished within a Void Portal, leaving three left.

Wei Wuyin flicked his finger and a silvery light entered a Void Portal. The light radiated a savage aura of an apex predator! A faint howl hung in the air.

Two portals remained.

Yue Songli and Qing Qiumu looked at Wei Wuyin. "You can go together and bring Wei Si with you. I'll be watching." After receiving his assurance, Yue Songli nodded with a smile that could skip a heartbeat or two and walked forward into a Void Portal, grabbing Qing Qiumu's hand while doing so, and pulling her along. The elven girl could only follow along.

This wasn't the first time Wei Wuyin had left Yue Songli to explore the world with others. Clearly, he was willing to share the most precious moments with her but didn't wish to stifle her freedom or create a one-sidedly dependent relationship. If it was before, she didn't have any 'real' friends or trusted anyone after being kidnapped for five hundred years, but now that Qing Qiumu and the silly Wei Si were with her, she could enjoy herself like a normal person.

Her stolen mortal life was being returned to her!

Wei Si stomped forward and looked at Wei Wuyin, "I'll look after them too!"

"I know you will," Wei Wuyin smiled back.

Wei Si jumped into the portal, leaving only one left as it closed.

Young Master Shang pouted between sips, "I'm not going." How could he not realize that Wei Wuyin was aware of the Enlightened Sage's schemes? He was definitely going to do something exciting! Very exciting! And this was supported by Wei Wuyin's ability to traverse vast distances with ease. Why visit a beast-ridden, heaven-prohibited galaxy like this with all sorts of ruin and chaos within if not for an objective? He could just go to the Treasured Vale Galaxy in the shortest amount of time!

Wei Wuyin ignored Young Master Shang once again.

Tuo Bihan sighed with a smile. "Guess that's for me, Head Honcho?" He pointed at the last remaining portal.

Wei Wuyin replied, "Only if you want to."

Tuo Bihan stretched and nodded. A decisive glint emerged in his eyes. With a leap, his body entered the Void Portal and his shadow wiggled as it gave Wei Wuyin a respectful bow before entering as well.

Wei Wuyin's silvery gaze looked out into the Dark Void, locating the triangular vessel that was hiding, observing from afar. When his gaze descended, the middle-aged man's tawny Mystic Ward was unleashed by instinct, startling the crew as they felt even more anxious.

Wei Wuyin didn't unleash any attack, only a spiritual transmission that bypassed their protective formations and arrays as if it was sent through the Void itself. "Tell your Master that I, the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Saint, have a proposition for him."

Suddenly, the Void-Blank Space for hundreds of thousands of miles stirred as the aura of the world began to erupt!

One of the seven Alchemic Stars abilities!

Phenomenon Manifestation: Worldly Awakening of a True Saint!

[Author's Note: Alright! Fair warning!

POV changes upcoming! But don't worry too much, Wei Wuyin isn't going anywhere! >:D

KevinAscending]