Paragon of Sin

The twister was merely the size of an average human, but its powers could not be estimated by its size! It was composed of condensed wind and spiritual force and every rotation seemed to produce a tearing force that ripped away astral force! 

Those in the ceremony experienced a dip in color on their faces, turning as pale as ash. This was especially so for Astral Core Realm experts who weren't protected. They hastily circulated their astral force and shot off like scurrying ants in every direction. This included the old man.

That twister felt like it was pulling out his astral force and spiritual energies! He had never felt so terrified in his long life and the twister wasn't even directed at him. As for its target, Yuan Longshi was very courageous as he stood his ground and circulated his astral force to withstand the twisters tearing powers.

His astral force was tinged with a reddish and black light, and it seemed to rumble with the faint sound of roars. Wei Wuyin looked on and his eyes narrowed.

This was a type of Draconic Force. It was potent, honed, and dangerous.

"Oh?" Qi Lang was mildly shocked when he realized the twister's powers were resisted. However, it was merely mild, so he pressed downwards and the twister shot towards Yuan Longshi without mercy. In a blink, it was directly before him, threatening to engulf him whole.

「Thunder Astral Spell: Erupting Bloom」

Yuan Longshi was about to unsheathe his saber when Qi Lang coldly snorted. It was like a thunderous clap to the senses as everyone below the Astral Core Realm felt their vision go briefly black, and that was while protected by the Astral Array.

Again, the main target wasn't them but Yuan Longshi and he stilled and trembled. This momentary lapse allowed the twister to engulf and surround him, capturing him fully! It spun rapidly to the point Yuan Longshi's body could no longer be seen.

Qi Lang wasn't an inexperienced puppy, and he fully executed his superior Spiritual Force with continuous attacks. It was this superiority that made the Sky Ruler Phase and Soul Idol Phase massive. Regardless if it was spiritual strength, aura, energies, or sense, they held absolute supremacy.

In most cases.

Wei Wuyin frowned. Life and death battles between experts were often handled in a few moves, and this held true regardless if you were in the Foundation Establishment, Qi Condensation, or Astral Core Realm. Superiority was determined by cultivation base, arts, armaments, or simply taking the initiative, but it was usually decided very quickly.

However, if there was an obvious exception to this rule, then it had to be Blessed. Even though he had demanded Qi Lang to go all out, and he had made optimal actions, he hadn't summoned his Soul Idol Manifestation! If he did, his combat strength would rise depending on the number of Soul Rings he possessed.

It was typically understood that those with one Soul Ring had no multiplicative effect, but from two onwards, each Soul Ring doubled one's Spiritual Strength when activated, and this bolstered Spiritual Spells!

If someone had three Soul Rings, their strength would increase by three-fold! If someone had nine, it would be a nine-fold increase!!

However, Heavenly Daos influence was hard to fight against. While he was a Blessed, and he wouldn't be affected by it, Qi Lang would definitely be influenced regardless of what he says. This included Zuhei. Even if they didn't notice it immediately, they might never go all-out.

ROAR!

Interrupting all thoughts, Yuan Longshi's captured silhouette started to glow within the twister, forming an outline of his form. He was currently being ripped apart by the astral force, but seemingly held on with an exceptionally powerful physical body. Considering he had a Draconic Astral Soul and his heart acted as his dantian, his physical body was many times stronger than ordinary cultivators at his level.

The roar was vicious and powerful! Its sheer force caused the twister to slow down and then without any other indication, explode apart! Freed, Yuan Longshi's eyes stared at Qi Lang with monstrous killing intent. However, his tattered robe was completely devastated and turned into loose rags. 

The robe was a broken Astral Armament that he obtained from an enemy. After killing him, it acted as a protective shielding, but its upper limits had been reached and broken by Qi Lang's twister. If it wasn't for the robe protecting him, he would've been instantly killed.

A lingering trace of fear circulated within his heart even as he seemed ready to murder the world. He hadn't expected his recent breakthrough into the Second Stage of the Astral Core Realm would be followed by a battle with someone at the Third Stage. Perhaps if it was an ordinary expert, he could easily hold his own without any trump cards due to his foundation and strong physical body, but Qi Lang was an elite of the Myriad Monarch Sect!

He had a sublime foundation, exceptional talent, and elite-tier combat strength for his phase. He might be at the very top! Considering he was assigned as the Guardian of an entire continent, he would not be weak. There weren't many of them in the Myriad Monarch Astral Territory. 

Qi Lang was taken aback by Yuan Longshi's survival. His attacks were capable of eliminating any Sky Ruler with ease. He frowned slightly. When his gaze subconsciously turned to Wei Wuyin, he saw his stern and solemn gaze which caused his heart to nearly leap out of his chest. He had to finish this cleanly and swiftly.

Therefore, he no longer held back. 

「Soul Idol Manifestation: Astral Soul of Wind-Lightning」

Behind Qi Lang's back was a three hundred meter image. It was vague and indistinct, nearly ethereal and transparent, but it held a dominating presence that overtook the senses. The image was of a twister engulfed in lightning, crackling incessantly within and rotating at world-ripping speeds.

This three hundred meter-sized image was truly mind-stirring to the spirits. Everyone felt as if their Spirits, Natal Souls, and Astral Souls descended into a world of twisting winds and electrifying lightning. It stimulated their senses to a point of almost overloading them, and they had to hurriedly retreat their spiritual senses.

Surrounding this twister was a set of three white rings that emitted misty light. These were Soul Rings, and they worshipped the Soul Idol! They also indicated the level of progression of a Soul Idol.

"A three hundred meter Soul Idol!" The old man exclaimed with disbelief. At some point in time, the old man had arrived next to Xue Yifei. Fortunately for him, Wei Wuyin enshrouded him in the protective ward. All other Astral Core Realm experts were already thousands of kilometers away in horror, trying to avoid the devastation released by a Soul Idol Phase expert.

Xue Yifei's eyes glowed slightly. "What's so special about it being three hundred meters?" She asked with a hint of curiosity. She wasn't very well-versed in the basics of cultivation. After all, Soul Idol Phase experts were a rarity within continents. They were a rarity even in the entire Myriad Monarch Astral Territory.

The old man couldn't move his eyes away from the shocking idol and explained with a hint of fervent desire and reverence, "A Soul Idol's size is a direct representation of the quantity of spiritual energies! The solidness of it in the material world is determined by the quality! And the rings indicated how far they completed the Third Astral Tribulation: The Soul Rippling-Creation Tribulation!"

Xue Yifei once more saw the three rings, the transparent form it possessed, and the size. She felt like she now understood a little way to determine the strength of these elite cultivators.

Wei Wuyin didn't add anything to this. It was true that the old man was correct, but he didn't explain that a Soul Idol's rings started from one to nine. The fact Qi Lang had a three meant his spiritual foundation was piss-poor. Before true talents, he would be very insignificant. 

However, Qi Lang finally bringing this out meant he was no longer held back by the influence of the Heavenly Daos. Or perhaps, it was too late.

Indeed, just as this thought entered Wei Wuyin's mind, Yuan Longshi didn't simply stand there and die. He lifted his head to the sky. After taking the deepest breath, he released a bellowing sound reminiscent of a dragon's roar!

ROAR!!!

The clouds parted, the thin ward protecting the continent rippled ceaselessly as it was influenced by the sheer force of this roar. Even Qi Lang's eyes shrunk as his Soul Idol was directly shattered. As for him, he was blown away by the pulsating surge of compressed air that exploded towards him. He could barely react before it hit, and his body was sent flying into the Sky Layer. Without even a shout, he was out.

The eyes of everyone trembled as they focused on Yuan Longshi. At the moment, his upper-body was covered in blood-colored runes that gave him a demonic feeling. With his hands, he tore at the rags on his body and revealed his bare chest. His muscular and defined form was impressive without looking grotesque. Its natural curves and bends alluded to an exceptional physical form.

It could barely match Wei Wuyin's own. 

"He didn't draconify?" Wei Wuyin quietly murmured to himself. He had expected Yuan Longshi to execute Draconification, instigating the Mark of Mortal Myth's potential and allowing his innate bloodline abilities to match Qi Lang. However, Yuan Longshi did not. Instead, he seemed to have invoked a separate transformation that increased his physical energies ten-fold.

With just the power of his physical body, he blasted an expert like Qi Lang away. This once again allowed Wei Wuyin to realize the trump cards possessed by Blessed. He was still holding back yet could reach this level of strength.

If Long Chen reached his level, would he have a similar situation? Considering who his guardian and master were, it seemed likely. Wei Wuyin's silver eyes brightly lit for a moment as a wisp of excitement surged within.

Yuan Longshi roared once more, causing the air to rumble and quake. He turned his bloodthirsty and murderous gaze towards Wei Wuyin. If looks were hungry, Wei Wuyin likely would've been eaten whole by this gaze. It felt somewhat disgusting to be stared at.

'Evil Methods?' He realized this feeling originated from Yuan Longshi's entire body that was now focused within his gaze. Just as he was about to take action to end this…

BOOM!

The above sky layer exploded as a figure sped back like a missile. He was surrounded by green winds and crackling lightning, and his forehead was bloody. Even his clothes were ripped apart, causing him to lose his Immortal bearing. At the moment, only murder remained. Qi Lang clenched his fist and didn't hold back, especially since the Astral Array was activated.

「Wind-Lightning Astral Art: Thunderous Storm」

He viciously lanced his fist downwards as he dived into Yuan Longshi. A rumbling storm engulfed his entire body that crackled ceaselessly with lightning. Even the hue of the world changed and the air carried traces of electricity. 

Yuan Longshi turned his gaze away from Wei Wuyin and saw this attack. His ferocious aura and presence were quickly suppressed by this strike. Qi Lang held nothing back in this, unleashing everything he had. 

ROAR!

This time, Yaun Longshi actually started to release a draconic aura as if he was on the verge of Draconification! From behind him, a faint and incredibly blurry image of an eye was being formed. Wei Wuyin could see faint ripples emerge from the eye.

"Ahhhh!" A delicate and gut-wrenching scream resounded, but it wasn't from Yuan Longshi or Qi Lang, but Xue Yifei! She was on the verge of seizing and her body was emitting a faint draconic aura.

Wei Wuyin's eyes snapped towards her and saw something he hadn't before. From within her sea of consciousness, directly at her Mind's Eye, a silhouette was moving about and resonating like a bell. This bell-like echoing soundwave was not just being emitted by that silhouette, but by Yuan Longshi's manifested image.

Even with his Celestial Eyes, he hadn't noticed this before. 

His eyes revealed an unimaginable dense level of interest. "She has an actual Dragon Soul attached to her soul! But it's only the Yin portion." When he deduced this, he realized that Yuan Longshi likely held the other half, the Yang portion. 

These two pieces of a completed dragon soul were connected together, and it influenced them. It bonded them. It was likely this very reason that allowed Yuan Longshi to continuously improve his bloodline purity and create a Draconic Heart of Blood(line). It might be why they had an unordinary relationship.

After all, if it wasn't for him using hundreds of thousands of pure lifeforce to refine his True Dragon's essence blood, it was unlikely he could absorb it into his heart safely, but a Dragon's Soul could easily contain and regulate such power. 

If that's the case, then Yuan Longshi's cultivation of the True Dragon Transmutation Method was heavily reliant on this Dragon Soul of his.

Before the epic clash of Qi Lang and Yuan Longshi was about to initiate, Wei Wuyin sent out an explosive shout backed by his cultivation base.

"Stop!" 

This single word was like the authority of a judge and Qi Lang halted, he held his astral force and redirected his trajectory. In a matter of the briefest of moments, he floated above the Ceremonial Grounds with a solemn gaze.

Yuan Longshi was startled. He turned his heterochromia eyes towards Wei Wuyin. 'Did he realize my strength? Tch, even if he did, I won't bend a knee to you.' His thoughts were defiant and confident. After all, what alchemist wouldn't want to have a Second Stage of the Astral Core Realm cultivator that can fight across phases? If Wei Wuyin wanted to recruit him, he wouldn't simply agree.

The thought of having the support of an Alchemist like Wei Wuyin supporting him however, that was particularly appealing. That didn't matter who was the cultivator.

However, his thoughts were entirely unnecessary as Wei Wuyin walked forward and left the Astral Array's protective ward. As he did, he waved his hand and a saber was formed. With a clench, he grasped it and it emitted sharp saber light.

"I'll kill him myself."