Paragon of Sin

Tiny Heart Starfield.

The starfield was renowned for its small Solar Star, the smallest classification possible for a dwarf, yet the solar emissions were astonishingly intense and pure, rivaling a Supermassive Solar Star; additionally, it was a multi-ringed Solar Star with four Mystic Radiance Belts with the distinct color of the aspect of growth. They purified the Solar Essence and enriched the entire starfield, enhancing the Cultivation Methods that focused on growth while stimulating the entire starfield, including its planets and lunar satellites.

A casual sweep of the starfield would find its overall and potential value to be exceedingly high, with resources of all types, from plants, ores, liquids, mountains, and more with high-level mystic-graded quality.

The Swirling Growth Stellar Region was certainly vast, possessing tens of thousands of starfields, yet if it was measured and calculated, the value of this single starfield, the Tiny Heart Starfield, would be priced at roughly 20% of the entire stellar region's natural resource value. The Utmost Purity Hall of the Northwestern Region of the Growth Zone was located here so this was only expected.

The Utmost Purity Hall wasn't located on a planet, lunar satellite, or asteroid, but a tiny-sized continental flat earth whose orbit was as fixed as the whims of the Utmost Purity Hall. On this free-floating continent was a palatial construct that was extremely massive and grand, exuding excessive wealth. The walls were bricks, yet each brick that was layered and placed was not a normal object, but a Mystic-Earth Essence Stone. Due to its immense size, just the walls, not to mention the tile floors within, roofs, and foundation, the number of essence stones that could be crafted out of it could be estimated to exceed a few tens of millions.

It was difficult to understand the degree of wealth this single palatial building was worth, but if it was placed into casual terms, during the auction within the Ancient Sealed Regions, the value of a small-sized, astral-graded planet was worth just over three mystic stones! In terms of alchemical product value, a single high-tier, low-quality, Mystic-Earth grade Mystic-Will Convergence Pill was worth 300 Mystic-Earth essence stones!

At the center of this opulent structure was a circular clearing that had a tower at its center. The tower wasn't too tall, only seventy feet tall with seven floors, and its external appearance was designed using the core color of the aspect of growth, supplementing that particular color with six other colors, which were the six other distinct colors of the seven alchemical aspects. It wasn't gaudy, but it was exceedingly imposing as it stood alone, surrounded by lush grass and paved stone paths that were being traversed. While the tower was certainly smaller than the palace's walls, the tower stood out and could be seen from any opening in its direction as if it was drawing one's gaze and focus, tempting one's attention.

This was the Utmost Purity Hall!

The foot traffic here was incessant, while void vessels were docked nearby in controlled asteroids that orbited the free-floating continent. It was quite interesting as the activity there was considerable, with incoming and outgoing traffic every few minutes. At times, there would be a slight build-up as various cultivators had to actively direct the flow to prevent stoppage.

In an abrupt burst, the three rays of Stellar Transit Light halted at the edge of the Tiny Heart Starfield. The multicolored, rainbow trail and protective shell that facilitated such fast travel dissipated beautifully.

The Tiny Heart Starfield's space was under a blanket protection that prohibited spatial travel of any type. This was simply a rule, not enforced by a formation, but that was enough as it was a rule set by the Utmost Seven Towers of the Utmost Purity Galaxy, which meant that violation was met with nigh-instantaneous retaliation.

There was once a powerful Mystic Overlord who was fleeing from being hunted by assassins after having a hit placed on them. In their panic, they Spatial Shifted away using a randomized void treasure designed for escape and accidentally entered the starfield of the Fusion Zone's Southeastern Utmost Purity Hall.

An Enlightened Sage launched an indescribably swift attack from a tenth of the galaxy away, slaughtering him instantly. Not even their last throes of death could be heard. No questions asked. The assassins didn't know he was killed until two centuries later when a Heavenly Seer was commissioned by the original issuer of the kill contract to find the target as a way to reignite the pursuit and place another hit that was certain to land, unable to sleep without knowing if or when they would strike again.

When news broke of their unfortunate fate, it let loose a torrential flood of news of thousands of cultivators that had vanished without any explanation due to spatial anomalies or usage of sporadic spatial or void treasures. Since then, the usage of randomized escape treasures has been universally considered banned.

This led to an insanely unbelievable battle later. That Enlightened Sage acting as a Dao Enforcer for the seven towers had killed a beloved 32nd husband of a Junior Mystic-World Alchemist who belonged to an Institute. The alchemist demanded an explanation, at the very least, to give her husband's life back. But it was already numerous years later, and that was a feat that Temporal Reversion wouldn't be able to easily achieve without a great, soul-damaging sacrifice.

In return for their refusal to either request, the Junior Mystic-World Alchemist was unreasonable to the utmost, offering her entire lifetime of wealth, lineage, and concoction methods for the Enlightened Sage's head, and if someone could bring their head during her remaining lifespan, she would devote the remaining portions of her life to their service and cultivation.

This caused a fight that rocked the foundation of the Fusion Zone, further reinforcing the sheer moving power of a single Junior Worldly Saint Alchemist, and while the alchemist was unable to leave to see the Enlightened Sage's death, it was said to have caused the Enlightened Sage to suffer fundamental damage to their True Soul and cultivation, preventing them from advancing on the path of cultivation and stepping forth into the legendary path of the Resonant Soul Realm.

The rules of the Seven Utmost Towers did not, unexpectedly, exempt or protect the Enlightened Sage! In fact, it heavily contributed to their unfortunate fate due to the egregious levels of protection of an alchemist and the assisting of their wills. Despite that, the fact that any violators would be killed was still enforced, but by the successor of that Enlightened Sage.

White Sky was explaining all of this to Wei Wuyin and the others during their travels. Unknowingly when, Luo Ning and Imentet had stepped onto the Minor Elysium and were with the others, leaving the Hidden Wind empty. When they came to a stop, Imentet kept Hidden Wind.

"How domineering," Imentet exhaled in awe.

A Junior Worldly Saint Alchemist ruined the path of an Enlightened Sage.

"Is the contract still active?" Nepit asked, her eyes glowing with desire.

While the alchemist was deceased, her entire lifetime of wealth would likely be incredible for even a Sage like her. Why else would a battle unfold?

White Sky nodded, "It is. The Enlightened Sage in question has long since confined himself to an Utmost Purity Hall while declaring perpetual seclusion until he could ascend, but that is very unlikely, and an excuse to seek protection. It has been nearly 43,000 years since. However, since the contract is still active, they must be alive."

Nepit pouted. While the established rules of the Seven Utmost Towers were excessively partial to alchemists, even allowing a non-related alchemist to issue a contract on the life of one of their Dao Enforcers, even preventing the Dao Enforcer from killing the alchemist in retaliation, this method of theirs was the best to hide away. They'll likely live the rest of their lives in comfortable seclusion, dying there.

Nepri didn't know what to say from Nepit's dissatisfaction, so he kept his mouth shut.

"Don't underestimate an Alchemist," Luo Ning said from her heart.

"I don't disagree," Imentet laughed as she gave Luo Ning a suggestive glance, possessing a wide, mischievous grin.

"..." The Dao Enforcer that had been forcefully taken away, holding the Alchemic Edict, was silently watching as his heart experienced great waves. He had just had his everything frozen by an irresistible Spiritual Strength and then brought here via a ray of Stellar Transit Light. He didn't know what to make of it.

Moreover, he didn't dare to act recklessly. Wei Wuyin's strength terrified him, and his Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity were indicative of his incredible accomplishments in the Alchemic Dao. Since Wei Wuyin could execute such a powerful spell, he certainly wasn't an Alchemic Soul Mystic Ascendant Realm cultivator, but likely a Supreme Sage!

To pile on, he had deep connections with the Incandescent Star Palace! Why was he involved in this matter now? Why was he given the Alchemic Edict? Why did he rush over with an overly zealous attitude?!

He wanted to go home.

This was bound to get complicated!

Wei Wuyin took the reins of the Minor Elysium, looking at the Sage-level Dao Enforcer, "We're ready to be brought in."

"..." The Dao Enforcer had nowhere to cry or hide, so he could only nod as he interfaced with the Alchemic Edict.

"Let's go," he didn't dare to unleash spiritual chains or a tone that was anything but flat and emotionless without the slightest trace of disrespect.

White Sky was still anxious, but she began to inexplicably relax. Her emotional state caused her to turn to the Dao Enforcer and ask, "What happened after the clash?"

She was curious since Azure Sea had lost somehow, and they were unable to fulfill their side of the wager.

"..." The Dao Enforcer was reluctant to answer. Normally, giving anything more than a basic explanation was enough, and they would seal the criminals and bring them in without any further interaction. If they refused, even less interaction as they would be slaughtered then and there. But as he was about to grunt out a dismissive snort, a powerful gaze pierced through him, and his spine shivered.

He couldn't help but remember Wei Wuyin's earlier threat:

"I'll be taking us to the Growth Zone directly. If you take action, I'll kill you first; then, I'll settle your death by exchanging a few products with the Tower."

This was a rule that was established by the Seven Utmost Towers. Unlike normal, an Alchemist would be fined if they killed someone, not even Dao Enforcers were exempt. While vice versa was prohibited except as the result of a Dao Clash or a wager from a game of Mystics. This made it so offending an alchemist, regardless of your cultivation base or status, was the stupidest thing to do.

While that Enlightened Sage-level Dao Enforcer's life would certainly be more than just a few products, their life could still be bought. Of course, this was only viable under two circumstances: a Worldly Saint Alchemist or an Alchemic Soul Alchemist of at least the Earthly Saint Alchemist level.

That said, Alchemists were killed quite often through wagers and competitions.

Seeing as his own life would be worth less, he didn't dare to stay silent.

"World-Saint Azure Sea and the Sea & Sky Institute of the Growth Zone have been placed under an embargo of trade within the Utmost Purity Galaxy, and all alchemists are under world-arrest with a concoction order until the matter has been resolved or the other party receives ten times the compensation of the total wager alongside what can be feasible given at the time."

"Concoction Order?" White Sky paled immediately as her expression became uglier by the second.

"Concoction Order?" Nepit blinked curiously.

Nepri explained, "A Concoction Order is an enforced demand for an Alchemist or an Alchemist Organization to concoct products without pause, often to repay a debt or fulfill a promise."

"Enforced demand?" Nepit was stunned.

"It's essentially like this: Everyone within the Sea & Sky Institute are alchemic slaves forced to concoct a specific product or set of products without pause. Any violators are executed, and anything except recuperation cultivation is disallowed during the contract period or until the contract is fulfilled."

Pakhet sighed with a shake of her head, adding:

"If the order is limited to a set period of time or just quantity-based then all is fine, but if it's quantity-based with a time limit and that quantity hasn't been reached at the deadline, the entire organization would be completely 'cleansed'."

"...!" Nepit had heard of something similar, but that was insane!

Unbeknownst to Nepit, the most insane Concoction Orders were the ones like this, where it ends after a certain debt has been fulfilled. Who knew how many in the Sea & Sky Institute would spend their entire lifetimes concocting products?

"That's fine. You have the White Heaven Jewel, so settling this matter shouldn't be too difficult."

Luo Ning tried to reassure White Sky with a warm smile.

But it did little good as her pale expression turned deathly pale.

"It's not so simple," the Dao Enforcer added, trying to hide his disdain at Luo Ning's optimistic thinking. However, when he sensed that gaze, his throat swallowed and he hurriedly elaborated:

"The matter is unlikely to be settled except by compensation, and a single White Heaven Jewel wouldn't affect much, since eleven White Haven Jewels would have to be given as compensation or items, materials, or treasures of equivalent worth. Not to mention…the valuation of the lineage rights and concoction method, which must also be compensated multiplied by ten in addition to those rights and concoction method."

"..." Only then did Nepit and Luo Ning comprehend the sheer debt they were in!

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