Paragon of Sin

San Yongli's eyes shone intently as she stared at the aurora borealis. While she had sent forth a message, she couldn't be certain that the message was delivered.

"If only I knew where she was."

Her heart was abnormally tense at the thought of losing Xiao Yanyue, but she regretted not using her genuine trump cards to slay that vile fiend and letting Xiao Yanyue face off against that beast alone. She hadn't wanted to expose too many of her cards when Wei Wuyin, another Temporal Reincarnator, could be watching her closely.

She didn't know if he had always figured out her identity or not. Fortunately, she had decided to remain more shadowy in her actions and less flashy, unlike Wei Wuyin; she firmly believed that there was very little chance that Wei Wuyin could guess that she was like him due to the various drastic changes he'd inflicted on their original lives trajectory. Tiangou's arrival had changed everything, and then it was hard to pinpoint anything else.

The only reason she could push forth with foreknowledge was the Book of Heaven's Path which displayed the various paths of incredibly blessed heavenly talents meant for greatness. While she hadn't fully understood the Book of Heaven's Path, she knew those who were written within its pages had some type of grand destiny bestowed upon them that was supposed by a heavenly presence.

Because whenever she encountered these blessed individuals, the book responded and showcased their pre-destined futures to her. It was convenient, to say the least.

Her eyes narrowed. She was the daughter of an Earthly Saint Alchemist and a top-tier Chosen in her own right, so she was hoping to rely on this. However, if Wei Wuyin received her message, would he respond?

Far away from San Yongli, Wei Wuyin rubbed his chin as he began to ruminate on this unexpected proposal of hers. His thoughts were rapid fire, but after a few milliseconds of consideration, he shook his head.

Anything that he wanted, San Yongli definitely would not give. For example: that piece of the Heavenly Daos. Wei Wuyin still didn't understand the implications of having a piece of the Heavenly Daos, whether it could be used offensively, what properties it has, or its potential dangers of interacting with it as an Inheritor of the Bloodline of Sin.

Others in his situation may have long dealt with a potentially troublesome individual like San Yongli given his strength, trying to seize the piece of Heavenly Daos that the Black Skeleton described. Who wouldn't? But that moment was a pre-recorded response to those Inheritors of Sin exposed to a Temporal Reincarnator.

He might be an Inheritor of Sin, but he was also NOT a genuine Inheritor of Sin-yet. All his astonishing powers cultivated through arduous tasks, inventiveness, and bold feats aside, an inheritor of Sin's minimum was to reach the Realm of Sages, cultivate the Soul of True Sin Method, and likely have a greater degree of control over their Bloodline of Sin.

He had none of that. Nada. Zilch. Wei Wuyin didn't think that he could take this piece of the Heavenly Daos even if he wanted to as he was. In fact, it might even expose him outright trying to claim it or be used to kill him if it had any offensive power. These were merely a possibilities, but if they were true, then the only result for him was immediate bodily death, obliteration of the soul, and eradication of his existence. That was the consequence of exposure.

He didn't dare risk it nor was he infused with wild confidence and belief that he could refine or contain a piece of the Heavenly Daos. Furthermore, he didn't want to rely on Fuxi's interference. He didn't even know much about Fuxi! He refused to leave his life in the convenient will of an Unseen Divinity like that.

According to the Black Skeleton, San Yongli was a recipient of the Heavenly Daos' will, granting her a second life by damaging itself and the River of Time! He distinctly recalled Fuxi's words to the River of Time. Considering the Heavenly Daos' resorted to that, he didn't think even ordinary Inheritors of Sin could easily seize it. Of course, that was purely a guess, but even the Black Skeleton had voiced caution when dealing with a Temporal Reincarnator.

"But I could be an exception..." Wei Wuyin was considered a Blessed before he was an Inheritor of Sin, and this granted him Blessed protections. There was a chance; as a Blessed himself, the Heavenly Daos might accept him as a new recipient of its piece. The chance was definitely there. And he had considered this possibility deeply for years, even trying to resort to gaining sufficient Karmic Luck to rival San Yongli's and eventually trying to use that to seize the piece before any of the Inheritor of Sin's qualifications were met. Unfortunately, he had no proper estimate as to what that could potentially be.

200,000 Karmic Luck Value? 500,000 Karmic Luck Value? 1,000,000 Karmic Luck Value?! What was enough to cause the Heavenly Daos to harm themselves and the River of Time for her?!

Karmic Luck Value: 195,754.0.

He glanced at his Bloodline of Sin tattoo. He didn't feel like he had enough, so it had to be higher.

Unfortunately, his only reliable avenue to learn was still trying to comprehend certain aspects of the Heavenly Daos and was still a mortal-level existence.

He would need to give her time to develop.

And because of this, San Yongli had nothing Wei Wuyin wanted. How could she? He was a Worldly Saint Alchemist, the Ascendant Emperor of Neo-Dawn, and wealthy beyond the limits of the Sealed Region.

Just the Nexus War Flag was enough to bring all of San Yongli's current means she acquired scurrying and scheming all over to shame.

Moreover, Wei Wuyin wasn't particularly inclined to interfere with his competition. Even for the Ascendants, the Mark of Ascendants' protection formation was something he had imprinted on them a long, long, long time before he planned anything for the Chosen King Competition. Just like Zuhei's gains and his timely assistance, leading to the Silver Wolf to forfeit his participation rights, he didn't want to dirty the fairness of the competition.

If he did, he might as well determine the winner here and now, ending the competition. Those who die, died; those who live, survived. Even Lin Ziyan, a Valkyrie, wasn't going to receive any favoritism here. Neither would Xue Yifei, Na Xinyi, the Prime Ascendants, Ascendants, the Commanders, or any woman or talent he was interested in.

Only once did he interfere and that was solely out of his admiration, a reward for being the first non-Ascendant to notice his gaze. Moreover, even then, he had only given a single word that could have been interpreted in many ways based on one's character and experiences. Since then, Wei Wuyin had only conducted the plans that he originally intended from the beginning. Even the Evil Sentinels' participation had been part of his original intentions for this fierce contest, but he didn't expect that they were scheming and hiding away despite the allure of a wish, so he had to push that along.

Another surge of spiritual strength was blasted into the aurora borealis by San Yongli.

Wei Wuyin sighed to himself, shaking his head. San Yongli had the means available to find the Evil Sentinel, but she clearly wasn't thinking with her head at the moment. The heartfelt panic and soul-pounding sense of guilt had obscured her mind a little and it showed.

28:01!

The next aspect-Refinement-was about to appear. The remaining Ascendants and Chosen readied themselves.

In the end, Wei Wuyin decided to assist similarly as he handled that woman and Zuhei's situation. He sent a spiritual transmission to Lin Ziyan: "I will not interfere directly to save her. I won't sully the hard work of the competition of any participant, and the Evil Sentinel is a participant," Wei Wuyin paused here, making sure he emphasized this point, before continuing: "Find the Ascendant by the name of Yi Yun-a half-elf, half-human hybrid. However, after you're done, whether you succeed or fail in your task, I will take you out of the competition. And should Yi Yun assist you, he will also lose his qualifications for the Evercrown. Moreover, you are no longer permitted to fight for the Evercrown."

Lin Ziyan received the message and her ocean-like blue eyes lit up as a brilliant smile overtook her beautiful countenance. She didn't feel the slightest pity or sadness that Wei Wuyin was removing her from the competition-she enjoyed enough sightseeing anyway. As for the Evercrown? She was with her destined partner, what other wish did she need? Especially since Wei Wuyin was...well, Wei Wuyin! What couldn't she receive as his woman?

"I understand!"

However, Lin Ziyan also understood that the implications of her failure were likely Xiao Yanyue's untimely and brutal demise. It was up to her to not let her die, to save her friend, and she rubbed her bracelet with readiness and determination in her eyes. As for Yi Yun, she didn't recognize the name, but she did see the half-elf, half-human hybrid get targeted by the Evil Sentinel! Moreover, he had the aura of an Ascendant's Mark on him.

"Apologies but I won't be able to help you retrieve the Evercrown," Lin Ziyan said to Bo Kay and Da Shan. The former frowned slightly but thought that she was going to go off and find Wei Wuyin to save that friend of hers. As for Da Shan, she didn't comment on her decision, only nodding in understanding.

Lin Ziyan didn't ask them to help her. They were both aspiring for the Evercrown, and she didn't want to implicate them in her own choice. She rushed off to find Yi Yun; her bracelet lit as spatial power engulfed her, and she spatially shifted!

28:00!

27:59!!!

"Kekekeke!" A feminine, ear-clawing voice cackled in the air, infused with Mystic Heart Intent as it contained an unpleasant Spiritual Strength.

BOOM!!

BOOM!!

BOOM!!

A few weaker Chosen of the Sealed Regions and World Beyond, both Mortals and Ascended beings, experienced Cultivation Deviation from hearing the sound, outright losing control of their Spirits of Cultivation and detonating on the spot! They couldn't even release what would have certainly been harrowing, nightmarish howls of agony before they exploded.

Xue Yifei's expression drastically changed. First a Martial Cultivator and now a Spiritual Cultivator?

"This is a little troublesome..." Even Wu Baozhai commented on the severity of the situation.

Na Xinyi landed directly before them, having no luck trying to find that Evil Sentinel. A frown was now on her frosty expression.

"We can't let those two team up."

Wu Baozhai and Xue Yifei gave brief nods, fully agreeing.

Those words echoed in the hearts of the Ascendants almost in unison. A Spiritual Cultivator and a Martial Cultivator, both with World Heart Intent at the Earthly Saint Phase? This could descend into chaos.

Once again, a bevy of Evil Sentinels tainted the skies with their malevolent auras. They rushed forward. This time, however, they seemed to be overall stronger than before! And in much, much greater numbers!

[Author's Note: I know there's a lot of debate as to why Wei Wuyin hasn't just put an end to the Temporal Reincarnator from day 1 after determining her identity, so I wanted to give a little insight as to why she's still breathing. XD]