Paragon of Sin

The atmosphere aboard the Minor Elysium the last few days had the air of a road trip, light and casual. Like Wei Wuyin, those who went to cultivate used Neo-Dawn Vortex-Zones to expedite their pace of cultivation, and during times of relaxation, they would find themselves on the deck of the ship peering into the beauty of the shifting cosmos.

Yue Songli was immersed in her artistic passion. She sat at various positions on the ship, painting all sorts of astronomical phenomena she could see or musings she might have. She had even completed painting the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone-Tartarus, Onesoul Continent, and the Three Radiant Empires. They were all extraordinary and colorful, depicting the weight of three mountains, the oddity of a single disc of varied lands, and worlds within shells of light.

Qing Qiumu had joined her. But instead of illustrating locations, she took to drawing people. Wei Si currently acted as her model with his hulking frame and silly smile.

"Done yet, Big Sis Qing?" Wei Si asked as he felt his muscles stiffen. He had been holding a single position for nearly two days. Moreover, Qing Qiumu had thrown out depictions and restarted entirely, extending the duration of his task to remain still.

"Almost," Qing Qiumu responded with a frown and a light bite of her lips. With a brush in her hand with freshly wet paint, she added another touch to its corners. When she gave her heart to something, she was thoroughly invested. That was the type of person she was. Wei Wuyin had told her to cultivate her heart and sense of self, and her imagination was serving as a gateway to do so. It's been a long time since she felt a sensation of focus and purpose enough to distract her mind from all her worries and concerns.

Ming Shufeng kept staying above deck while cultivating. Throughout the last few days, she would periodically perform a few divination spells and then find Su Mei. Shortly after, Su Mei would approach Yao Houyi and Shui Fengbao who would slightly change course.

A Heavenly Seer could grasp insights into the Heavenly Daos' intentions and bits of its knowledge but also acquire clues into calamities, fortunes, and the trends of the world at times. While the last few days had been without incident, that was largely due to Ming Shufeng's constant interventions and assistance. A group of mortals and a few lower-stage Ascended Beings traversing an entire galaxy was often fraught with catastrophically lethal opportunities.

The great expanse was not to be casually trifled with. Fortunately, Minor Elysium was an extraordinary vessel for transportation as long as one could pilot it properly. With Yao Houyi at the helm and Shui Fengbao providing the aura of Laws necessary to function many of its formations and arrays, they could use the Minor Elysium to a degree far surpassing the standard of mere mortals.

Tuo Bihan would periodically go below deck and rise back. Each time, his aura was purer, calmer, and more reserved than before. His cultivation efforts were showcasing noticeable results. By relying on the Vortex-Zones' temporal acceleration, Tuo Bihan was capable of experiencing weeks within a single day and was making leaps and bounds in his cultivation.

After staying in their rooms for the first few days, Cao Cuifen left and began to observe the vast expanse with interest. While Wei Wuyin was currently occupied with cultivation, she decided to oversee anything that may need her oversight. In her mind, Wei Wuyin had left her in charge due to her seniority and cultivation base.

Fortunately, whether it was Yao Houyi, Shui Fengbao, or Su Mei, they were all competent. They already had everything under control, so besides a few questions here and there, she allowed them to continue, only instructing them to immediately inform her should anything occur.

Su Mei catered to her wants. The Ascendants, however, knew that Su Mei was undoubtedly the leader while Wei Wuyin was away, especially since she was likely the strongest in terms of straightforward combat abilities, but since Su Mei herself didn't seem to mind Cao Cuifen, they kept their mouths shut.

Young Master Shang drank, ate, slept, and relaxed; he wasn't restrained by any fetters and did little else besides speak out poetry and drink at the edge of the ship, his legs often dangling freely and his spirit as free as an immortal's.

Su Mei remained alert as she observed the Dark Void with Xiao Bai by her side. Her pure black eyes stared into the endlessness of it all.

"Where are we now?" Cao Cuifen walked next to Su Mei and inquired. Su Mei managed their task of navigation and route planning, including any deviation suggested by the Heavenly Seer that Wei Wuyin had brought. They had been traveling for four days now atop Stellar Transit Light at speeds far beyond her. However, despite traveling for so long, except for some celestial debris, they haven't come across anything.No starfield.No living beings.She was worried if they were going the right way.

Su Mei glanced at Cao Cuifen lightly, "Lord Wei brought us to the edge of the Void-Blank Space between the Onestar Galaxy and the White Abyssal Galaxy. We're still within that region of uninhabitable, uncultivated space."

Her answer left Cao Cuifen shaken. How massive was the Void-Blank Space between galaxies? "Why hasn't this region been claimed by the Ascended Sovereigns?" She knew that Void-Blank Space was a region of space that was often categorized as the area between celestial territories such as Starfields, Stellar Regions, or Galactic Zones.

"They fear the natural power of the heavens in manifested, realized form. To put it simply: they avoid the aura of Laws. Of course, it has to be sufficiently powerful," Young Master Shang said as he took a few sips with a hearty chuckle as if he was no longer scared of the Kaku Eaters from hearing him.

"These aren't the only creatures of the void either, nor are they the most dangerous. Some consume the natural power of the heavens while others are attracted to it like moths to a flame. Not all of them are outright hostile, but to some of them, we're like small fishes to sharks. While they might not recognize us, we are still a potential food source at a single glance."And trying to colonize these spaces means trying to eradicate these creatures or quelling the astronomical celestial dangers that could even claim the lives of Resonant Soul Realm cultivators in the blink of an eye. And some of these things aren't brainless either, and they can hold incredibly long-lasting grudges that are borderline obsessive. Don't underestimate animals or any living being in this great world. There have been entire forces with dozens of Sages who've tried to expand only to have their entire civilization crushed and become a part of Void-Blank Space by these creatures. The vast expanse of the Dark Void is not a playground for the reckless." After Young Master Shang explained that, he felt thoroughly refreshed and kept drinking.

"You've probably heard of beast tides before? Where wild beasts attack cities due to migration, ecological distress, or instigation of cultivators by slaughtering the younglings of those leading beasts? Well, imagine a tide of these creatures. Hehe."

"..." Everyone felt cold sweat form on some part of their body, either their palms, back, or forehead. The thought was terrifying and they only saw a single type of creature!

"How come...Galactic Zones are safe?" Cao Cuifen couldn't conceive how these things exist and they were still alive.

"It's thanks to the Daos..." Young Master Shang began and then pursued his lips with a brief pause, continuing: "Let's just say Solar Stars generate a natural deterrent to creatures born within the void." He took another sip.

"Anyways, it's better to expand territory slowly and push these creatures away gently rather than with force. And that's why you'll see a lot of Void-Blank Space between galaxies. That said, a lot of intergalactic wars begin because one territory expands into the other eventually."

Su Mei issued another order, "Continue."

Yao Houyi reactivated the Stellar Transit Formation and continued. After a few minutes, Liu Suyin blushed as she realized that the so-called order of three hours that Wei Wuyin had given earlier was unnecessary. The thought of Wei Wuyin instantly eased her heart of any lingering terror and suffused it with warmth.

At different times, the complexions of each of the four women grew tender and warm as if reminded that despite the dangers, they were safe and secure. Qing Qiumu's mood improved and Yue Songli was inspired to paint those puffball-like creatures.

Young Master Shang chuckled. He remembered the first time he learned of these void creatures. He was so terrified of the Dark Void that he didn't even look out into the starry skies for a hundred years for fear of attracting something's attention. Seeing the influence of proper mental support, he felt extremely envious.

Most people would never explore the Dark Void again or travel in space except using Void Gates after learning about any of this.

As for Ming Shufeng, she was a Heavenly Seer, so she had confidence in the fortune of the Blessed she chose. She just had to be careful and nothing should happen.

"Well, at least they'll have a story to tell."