Paragon of Sin

"How excessive!" Luo Ning exclaimed. How could a cultivation society that worshiped alchemists to such an unreasonable extent treat alchemists so viciously that they, or their entire lineage, could be thrown into slavery?

"The phrase: 'the winner becomes king, the loser becomes an outlaw' is exemplified perfectly here," Nepri softly remarked with a complex and somber facial expression. Unreasonable as the society might be, these were still accepted traditions by all.

"All things under the heavens have benefits and detriments; while the Utmost Purity Galaxy might be a safe haven for alchemists and a place of great legacy and knowledge toward the Alchemic Dao, it is capable of being the inverse, an absolute hellish experience with no path of redemption," Wei Wuyin commented.

The faces of the four Sages, Luo Ning, and Ming Shufeng turned solemn and dark, contemplating the profound truth within those words. White Sky, however, was living that truth. Without Wei Wuyin serving as an invisible support here and now, she may have broken down at the mere sight of the edict. Her return would have left her with an astonishing debt; the next few thousand years or longer might have been under strict enslavement.

If Wei Wuyin was unable to resolve this matter, her life would be a hellish one for a long, long while. Despite retaining a relatively stable heart and mind, it was drenched in despair. What did Azure Sea do? How could she let this happen?

The Dao Enforcer had explained the situation to the best of their knowledge, but there were noticeable gaps in their knowledge. For example, they didn't know the exact circumstances of the clash that occurred, the conditions to determine victory or defeat, or why the situation unfolded so soon after White Sky had made an urgent departure. Fortunately, Wei Wuyin didn't fault them for this.

They eventually entered the Tiny Heart Starfield. Wei Wuyin hadn't reactivated the Minor Elysium's formations or arrays. Despite his display of dominance and shift in dynamics, the Minor Elysium was an incoming prisoner's 'captured' vessel. So the Dao Enforcer was forced to drag the Minor Elysium along with their mystic power, carefully and without exerting the slightest trace of pressure to suppress the party.

They navigated around the makeshift docks that were asteroids that adhered to the free-floating continent's gravitational orbit, receiving numerous curious gazes from cultivators of all cultivation ranges. The glow of the Alchemic Edict instinctively generated reverence and fear within their hearts, including heaps of curiosity. Those with stronger cultivation had noticed the Stellar Transit Light's arrival and were even more baffled by the new group.

Fortunately, the Dao Enforcer's presence alongside the edict naturally warded off any wanton acts of curiosity such as sending their Spiritual Sense over to inspect those on board the Minor Elysium. Those with powerful Ocular Spells saw White Sky from afar, and this instantly produced a rumor mill of spiritual transmissions. By the time they reached the continent's atmospheric borders, countless voices discussed White Sky's appearance.

The downfall of the Sea & Sky Institute was juicy news, and the culture of information exchange within the Utmost Purity Mist was highly developed.

Nepit frowned and asked, "What's the Observing Chronicle?" She had heard some individuals speak about how the Observing Chronicle has been updated, discussing the various tiers they offered, including speculating White Sky's appearance, either its untimely nature filled with schadenfreude or interest.

White Sky coughed slightly, "It's a news outlet for the Utmost Purity Galaxy. It has a system of rapid dissemination of information spread across the galaxy through specially refined Spiritual Jades."

"News outlet?!" Ming Shufeng was stunned.

White Sky nodded, "It's run by Oracles. Specifically, only Oracles. They view events of the world, including speculating its veering trend by using fantastical descriptions that could snare one's intentions. There's also the Fortuitous Gazette run by Heavenly Seers and The Blessed Sentinel. The Fortuitous Gazette is a little strange, doing a little bit of everything, and isn't limited to the Utmost Purity Galaxy, but The Blessed Sentinel establishes all sorts of top lists for geniuses, beauties, heroes, and blessings across the galaxy."

Wei Wuyin nostalgically recalled the Immortal Saintess Rankings. At one point, Su Mei was also on that list. In fact, Na Xinyi, Wu Baozhai, Lin Xianxei, Yue Songli, and the sort-of late Tang Xingyun were all on that list, declared as Saintesses of their generations. He was presumed to be a ranker on the Immortal Hero Ranking and due to an underground bounty placed on their heads by Trueborn, he and Bai Lin were illegally detained and brought to the Shadow Egg. There, he met Yue Songli.

All those memories flushed through him as he contemplated whether he should establish a news outlet for his empire and how that would serve as a benefit or detriment to its development. He subconsciously rubbed his necklace as a pang of longing struck his heart.

Bai Lin…

Just as his thoughts were swerving away, the Dao Enforcer looked his way intently. Wei Wuyin realized they had paused just short of the atmospheric layer, and the Dao Enforcer seemed to be waiting despite holding the Alchemic Edict. Clearly, they were seeking permission to announce themselves. They didn't dare to send a spiritual message without Wei Wuyin's knowledge.

Wei Wuyin acknowledged and granted him permission with a slight incline of his head. Seeing this, the Dao Enforcer relaxed as he sent a Spiritual Transmission, and then openly announced: "By order of the Alchemic Edict, I've brought World-Saint White Sky to the Utmost Purity Hall to determine and settle her sentencing for violating the principles of our Alchemic Dao."

White Sky once again turned ghastly pale, but this time, a shade lighter and a degree sicker. It was difficult to salvage her emotional state.

"I love the distinction of using 'our' Alchemic Dao," Wei Wuyin commented lightly as he felt that the Seven Utmost Towers didn't act as divinities or apex authorities of the Alchemic Dao. It was a small matter of wording usage yet it showed their stance toward understanding that their rules and laws were their rules and laws for the Alchemic Dao.

Luo Ning smiled cheekily, holding her laughter after Wei Wuyin's light joke.

"?" Ming Shufeng was clueless about the joke and felt that Wei Wuyin's comment didn't have a much deeper meaning. Only established alchemists would understand.

The Dao Enforcer took a deep breath, looked toward Wei Wuyin, and calmly said: "I hope that you don't cause trouble here."

Wei Wuyin calmly smiled in response but said nothing. This only fueled the anxiety of the Dao Enforcer, and just as he was about to apologize for his words, a group of cultivators on a ship designed for planetary travel, a Skyship by the Ancient Sealed Regions standards, which was aligned in appearance with the sea-faring passenger vessel known by those of the Myriad Yore Continent as a Schooner, approached.

At the helm of the ship was a young, round-faced woman while a group of five others stood on the deck of various ages; the leader among them was a grey-haired elderly man dressed elegantly with a dignified expression. The elderly man was slightly hunch-backed, yet exuded a very highborn aura that felt exceedingly distant and lofty. This wasn't rampant arrogance but a core part of his nature etched into his very bones.

This was the World-Saint Dustpath, also known as Hao Chengxue, an established Worldly Saint Alchemist of the junior-tier. While his alchemical status equaled Azure Sea and was below White Sky, his alchemical authority was significantly higher due to his bestowed status as Hall Manager of this branch of the Utmost Purity Hall.

"Hall Manager Dustpath," the Dao Enforcer greeted respectfully.

Hao Chengxue acknowledged the Dao Enforcer with a nod. Then, he glanced at those on the Minor Elysium, and his pupils instantly contracted after he saw the calmly swinging Wei Wuyin, whose eyes were none other than displaying the Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity! What should have been a simple matter of enforcing rules was bound to get complicated by the passing second.

"Greetings. My name's Hao Chengxue—Dao name: Dustpath, the Manager of this Utmost Purity Hall. I hail from the Profound Mutation Lineage. How may I address you, Great Alchemist?" Hao Chengxue gave an alchemist's greeting to Wei Wuyin. If there was a level of respect, then the Dao Enforcer was two levels lower than the tone of Hao Chengxue's voice.

"Wei Wuyin of the Neo-Dawn Lineage—Dao name: Neo-Dawn," Wei Wuyin introduced himself, also signifying himself as the founder of his lineage.

'Neo-Dawn Lineage?' Hao Chengxue was unable to recall such a lineage, but he didn't dare to disrespect it. Instead, he said: "Ah! The Neo-Dawn Alchemical Lineage! I've heard some great things regarding such a prestigious lineage and your accomplishments in the Alchemic Dao. I wonder if they are as true as they are legendary?"

Luo Ning held her mounting urge to roll her eyes. But Wei Wuyin didn't mind Hao Chengxue's roundabout probing questions, and he didn't toss dirt in his face, answering as he'd done before.

"I've made modest achievements as a Worldly Saint Alchemist. Fortunately, out of sheer coincidental fortune and the guided blessing of the Alchemic Dao, I've touched upon the heavens' truths of the soul."

Those words caused not only Hao Chengxue but also the Dao Enforcer's eyes to violently constrict. While Wei Wuyin had changed some words to more aptly fit the location and person, he had said similar things to Violet Sea, and this was no less than an admission that Wei Wuyin could be considered a 'half-step' Heavenly Saint Alchemist!

Those behind Hao Chengxue immediately changed their thoughts. The indifference and coldness they had when looking upon the group of 'criminals' had been forcefully dispelled by those two sentences.

Not only were they shocked, but the four Sages were just as flabbergasted. They were aware that Wei Wuyin was at the Mystic Star Phase of the Mystic Ascendant Realm, the very first stage of the Mystic Dao's lofty path, after their irrefutable loss, yet they hadn't expected Wei Wuyin's accomplishments in the Alchemic Dao to rival or faintly exceed his combat and conquest achievements thus far.

If Wei Wuyin didn't have the Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity on full display, Hao Chengxue would have only taken it as outrageous bragging, but since Wei Wuyin had four Sages as his entourage, arrived by Stellar Transit Light, and threatened an Enlightened Sage-level Dao Enforcer, it was hard for anyone to refute his claims.

This meant that Wei Wuyin was at least an Exalted Worldly Saint Alchemist! That was already lofty enough. Of course, by Wei Wuyin's 'standards,' he had just only reached the Senior-tier as a Worldly Saint Alchemist.

"White Sky had heeded my orders, and due to that, she had inadvertently caused her force to suffer such a grave violation. This is something I take responsibility for, and I wish to seek a solution. Hall Manager Dustpath, can you assist me in this matter? I'll owe you a favor." Wei Wuyin explained with a smile, causing White Sky's heart to race. This was the most critical moment!

Normally, Hao Chengxue would have dismissed Wei Wuyin's words, detained them for interrogation, and then initiated relocation orders for White Sky to serve out her sentence with an apathetic wave of his sleeves. But Wei Wuyin's existence changed everything.

Moreover, a favor?!

He had to consider it. A promise like that carried the heaviness of a great mountain that could change a person's fate. Although Wei Wuyin was a foreigner and there was no news regarding his identity, those Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity could not be faked! And it was reasonable to think that White Sky, a Senior Worldly Saint Alchemist, has connections beyond the galaxy.

She must have sought out assistance after fleeing. This was his belief. And she was smart to do so!

He pondered briefly while rubbing his chin, "An Alchemic Edict issued isn't easily retracted and the conditions of the Swift Dao Clash that occurred leave very little room for maneuvering..." His words caused White Sky's heart to drop into an icy bath of despair. If she wasn't already an emotional bag of instability, she would have realized that those roundabout ways of speaking were not a clear no.

Wei Wuyin nodded, "I agree."

"...but," Hao Chengxue put on a cheerful smile, "we can extend the period for her arrest, and summon the Soothing Jade Institute for you to discuss changing the conditions before any irreversible decisions are made."

This was essentially an extension given. Those behind him were utterly shocked by his decision. When did the Utmost Purity Hall relent? They were simply too young and inexperienced. Hao Chengxue understood the importance of a favor from an Exalted Worldly Saint Alchemist more than anyone, especially one that had the confidence of reaching the legendary Heavenly Saint Alchemist level!

Even if one took ten thousand steps back, Wei Wuyin's cultivation was bound to be at or beyond a typical Supreme Sage. This matter on the Alchemic Dao front was already heavy, but offending someone who could wield or rally the external strength of a Supreme Sage was not worth it for a mere White Sky. It just wasn't.

"How about I send my Alchemic Knight and assistant over to fetch them alongside this loyal Dao Enforcer here? To quicken the time?" Wei Wuyin didn't want to waste much time or give the Soothing Jade Institute time to delay their summons.

Pakhet naturally exerted a faint golden aura of her strength, flowing with the Law of Metal, announcing her presence to Hao Chengxue. Luo Ning also revealed her Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Transcendence.

"Oh? Sage Pakhet of the No-Name Galaxy?" Immediately, Hao Chengxue noticed Pakhet. Then, he noticed the other three Sages, especially the heart-stopping, drop-dead gorgeous Imentet.

"Our galaxy no longer goes by that name. Our name is the Resolute Dusk Galaxy," Imentet beautifully smiled as she announced.

Within seconds, news began to travel across the various news outlets, especially the Fortuitous Gazette. Even Hao Chengxue received an alert from his spatial ring containing his spiritual tablets from all three sources as if confirming her words.

"..."

"I'll issue another Alchemic Edict then," Hao Chengxue didn't delay despite his shock. He executed a few hand-seals and brought out a jade bottle containing Utmost Purity Mist. With a pop, he opened the lid, and a surge of mist that contained the uniquely refined aura of the Imperial Law. Slowly, a much smaller edict formed, and a tenth of the mist within the bottle vanished.

He sent it respectfully over to the Dao Enforcer, who received it with both hands and kneeled to the edict, their head lowered.

"Have you observed the edict?" Hao Chengxue asked solemnly.

"I've observed the edict," the Dao Enforcer replied in a deep voice carrying immense weight and reverence.

Pakhet and Luo Ning flew off the Minor Elysium. Then, Wei Wuyin tossed over a small rainbow disk that exuded a luminous, warm light. Pakhet grabbed it and immediately understood how to use it.

She looked at the Dao Enforcer who was standing up, carrying another Alchemic Edict now. The orders within were an immediate summons of the Soothing Jade Institute's leadership.

"Shall the World-Saint Neo-Dawn wait in my hall? We can discuss the dao while we wait, enjoying great wine and each other's company," Hao Chengxue said smiling. He knew that traveling to and fro might take months, or even a year, depending on how they do so and navigate with their True Sage cultivation.

Wei Wuyin laughed, "No need. This shouldn't take longer than ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?" Hao Chengxue and the others were shocked. But then something unimaginable happened. The trio left the nearby restricted region in the blink of an eye. Pakhet then sent a wisp of her Spiritual Strength within the rainbow disk, and then she, Luo Ning, and the Dao Enforcer were immediately enveloped in Stellar Transit Light as they vanished!

"..." Hao Chengxue's jaw dropped.

Meanwhile, the spiritual tablets of the Observing Chronicle and Fortuitous Gazette began to release sonorous rings of alerts!

If once was an experiment, then twice was a guarantee!

Moreover, they saw the disk activate!

The Incandescent Star Palace had a mobile Star Bridge!!!

This was revolutionary!

After eight whole minutes, a single ray of rainbow light was rushing toward the Tiny Heart Starfield! They were back!!

***

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