Paragon of Sin

The boisterous cheers seemed to be on the trek of being immortalized, unending and everlasting, if it wasn't for Tuo Bihan's interference. But from this revelation of their future renewed, feasts were launched in every location within the Myriad Monarch Sect. The news spread faster than the most contagious virus, even to the households of mortals. 

The news of the Grand Monarch Lineage having returned alongside this brought many into a dream of surrealism, feeling as if good things truly came in pairs. While Long Chen's recognition ceremony had completed, it was still a side-dish in comparison to Tuo Bihan's ascension. It was blotted out like a solar star before millions of arrows. 

Few even knew of his name, merely that the Grand Monarch Lineage had been revived. 

With the crowd dispersed, many celebrating the news, Wei Wuyin was calmly resting in his Sky Palace. Even Da Shan and his other companions, Nyla Shur and Xiang Ling, were with their friends or family celebrating the news with hyped excitement. As for him, he was on his couch in front of the man of the hour himself, Tuo Bihan.

The grey bearded old man was nothing like the deified individual like before. He was sprawled on a comfy rocking chair, his eyes closed, his expression quite lazy. This reminded Wei Wuyin of the first time he had met Tuo Bihan, when he mistook him for another alchemist for a moment. It was only after a brief interaction that he came to a realization that this old man was someone special.

He had obtained news of the Celestial Eyes of Spiritual Divinity and received the title of a Heavenly King. His rise to prominence was truly in that moment and the Celestial Eyes of Spiritual Divinity had greatly helped him pursue further into the Alchemic Dao. 

"I didn't know why you insisted on revealing your cultivation base. It could've been a useful hidden trump card to fetter out ill-intentions and stomp them accordingly, in my original opinion. But I see it now." Wei Wuyin commented as he grabbed a golden apple from the table between them. With a hearty crunch, he enjoyed the succulent flesh and juices of this expensive Golden Star Apple. 

Tuo Bihan rocked in his chair a little, "To become a Realmlord is to become invincible to all those beneath your cultivation phase. Why hide when the end will remain the same?" While Wei Wuyin said he understood, Tuo Bihan still explained his point-of-view.

Taking another bite, Wei Wuyin said: "By the way, what's the difference between a naturally ascended Realmlord like you and the two Realmlords of the San Clan?" This had always been on his mind at the back, and while he tried to research the difference, it wasn't too clear. While he could ask Wu Yu, it simply hadn't come up. 

Tuo Bihan's eyes slightly opened, a faint misty gleam leaked from the opening, "Worldly Domain."

"Worldly Domain? Do they not have one?" Wei Wuyin wasn't so sure about that. He had heard about how the San Clan asserted their dominance over the starfield, and only the planetary formations established by the various hegemonic forces' ancestors were capable of resisting them.

No matter how strong a Realmlord was, the formations and arrays established by Mystic Ascendants wasn't something they could ever hope to break. It was similarly why the Myriad Monarch Sect remained alive despite being ganged up on by the three other hegemonic forces. They were driven to their last legs, only maintaining three planets and a dozen or so continental flat earths. All of these properties were deeply connected to the history of Grand Monarch Wu Yu, the Founding Monarch, such as the Bloodforge Continent or the Planets Wuyu and Junia. 

The former was self-created by a Mystic Ascendant, lifelong friend and subordinate to the Founding Monarch. The latter was named after two important figures, the Founding Monarch himself and his wife. It was also their respective birthplaces, and they had been relocated by the Founding Monarch to be close to the Myriad Monarch Planet.

The San Clan had still asserted their dominance enough to cow the four hegemonic forces, so it was unlikely that they lacked a Worldly Domain.

"They have one. The issue lies in its strength," Tuo Bihan responded. 

"Strength?"

"...I don't know the exact differences, but I know its lacking a crucial aspect that makes them more like False Worldly Domains. Still, they have access to spatial force and can navigate the Dark Void in their domains. They are the only ones with the ability to personally make a trip from planet to planet without a Void Gate. No, they were the only ones." Tuo Bihan had to readjust his mindset. He was now a Realmlord.

Wu Yu chimed in, "They had leapt past their tribulation with a pill that the King of Everlore had devised, the World-Infusion Realm Pill. Essentially, it's a leapfrog method that allows one to directly construct their Worldly Domain, and even tap into spatial force. But it requires immense and irredeemable sacrifice."

"...They avoided their tribulation?" Wei Wuyin couldn't help but think of the Everlore Ascension Pill. This World-Infusion Realm Pill...could it be similar?

"Correct your thinking. It is not the Everlore Ascension Pill. Not even close.  In fact, its not even a ninth-grade pill. It can be considered a peak-tier eighth-grade pill, or a pseudo ninth-grade pill at best. Anyways, it emulates the benefits one would receive from overcoming the World Genesis Star Astral Tribulation, without any danger. The issue is...one's cultivation path is forever halted. The cultivation world, the formless but ever-present laws, dictate that one must follow a set path. While this path had infinite variations, the critical and foundational aspects can not be altered.

"By leapfrogging into the Seventh Stage without receiving those essential, those critical, those foundational aspects of the tribulation, it is impossible to comprehend let alone challenge the next phase." Wu Yu explained with a hint of mockery and disdain. It was permanently cutting off one's future path for instant power. The path of a fool.

Wei Wuyin furrowed his brows a little. How come he didn't know about this pill? Was it not a part of the Everlore legacy? Why aren't there more Realmlords if that was the case. After all, an eighth-grade pill or a pseudo ninth-grade pill was still an eighth-grade product. It can be concocted by an Emperor Alchemist.

Wu Yu seemed to understand his thoughts. He briefly sighed and continued, "Long ago, when the pill was devised, it became hope for numerous individuals without the potential to become Realmlords. Even if they lacked talent, they could directly avoid that deadly tribulation and become Realmlords. But there was an issue, and that was the requirement.

"It required refining an entire planet to concoct. Not a continental flat earth, but an entire planet. It was a very contradictory pill, because you needed to be at least in the Realmlord level to even hope to achieve this in alchemy, so most alchemists at the time felt no need to refine it. Furthermore, it was quickly deemed forbidden by all the hegemonic forces of the era. After all, even Mystic Ascendants had trouble manifesting a planet. A few of them couldn't even make continents, let alone a planet or a solar star. It was too much of a hassle, and depleted long term resources for insignificant benefits."

After the King of Everlore had tested it, he hadn't touched it again, and the recipe was removed from history. The remnant impure pills must've made its way into the San Clan Ancestor's hands. Of course, at the time, no one cared. The starfield was filled with Realmlords, even Timelords and Starlords were more prevalent in terms of numbers than the thirty or so Sixth Phase experts of this era. Why would they?

A few flawed pills that cut off the lifeline of cultivators, their ability to advance. No one with sufficient status or talent would ever entertain the idea of using it. 

Wei Wuyin understood this concept deeply. The San Clan Ancestor was truly far-seeing, predicting the inevitable downfall of the cultivation civilization following the King of Everlore's departure. There was no wonder why there were only thirty or so Sixth Phase experts but merely two Realmlords. The current era's starfield truly lacked the ability to produce one.

"But what's the difference between those who use the pill and those who naturally ascend?" Wei Wuyin asked for clarification. 

Wu Yu was silent for a moment, and then said: "False Worldly Domains are an apt title for them. A Worldly Domain can fully control the ambient mana, energies, and astronomical forces within its range. But a False Worldly Domain can only control one aspect: energies. Mana is a fundamental aspect of cultivation, so they don't have the qualification to even touch it outside of their Sky Ruler means.

"To use the word 'control' might not be enough to let you fully understand. Think 'convert'. A Worldly Domain can convert ambient mana, energies, and astronomical forces into one's own power. To face a Realmlord in their Worldly Domain is like entering their personal Realm, their self-created space. You'll be facing the entire immediate world, but for a False Worldly Domain, merely the energies of the world can be converted."

Wei Wuyin ruminated over this information. He relayed this information to Tuo Bihan, whose closed eyes shot open as he was startled by the explanation. As someone who had touched upon the Realmlord level legitimately, he understood the difference between a False Worldly Domain and a Worldly Domain greater than any cultivator of this era.

If this was the case, then wasn't that too frightening?! 

As for Wei Wuyin's sudden knowledge of this information he had been ignorant of moments before, Tuo Bihan was aware of Wu Yu's presence. He had long since learned that Wu Yu's spirit was housed somehow in that unassuming black ring that hung around Wei Wuyin's neck.

Seeing Tuo Bihan's reaction, he guessed the ability to convert ambient mana and astronomical forces was far greater than simply energy. In fact, it might be the least important one of the three. When he thought about it, his expression became strange.

He waved his hand as his Elemental Origin Intent flared, the ambient elemental energies of the world came under his direct control. A Worldly Domain can replicate Intent, but Intent still exists. In that case, besides their spatial force, what uniqueness did they have?

But it was enough. Enough to claim the entire starfield as their own.

"To think there's such a difference. It's a little embarrassing, to be honest." Tuo Bihan had almost entirely eliminated the two San Clan rulers as opponents in his heart. It wasn't even intentional, merely his truest feelings. He glanced at Wei Wuyin, and he felt awed by his ability.

An under-fifty Mortal Sovereign Alchemist that could reform the cultivation foundation of a purist like himself to become a Realmlord. The entire world might think he succeeded because of his own talent, but that was utterly impossible. If it wasn't for this little fellow here, he wouldn't be able to enjoy the endless cheers and reverence of others.

"Little Boss, what's your next move?" Tuo Bihan had already considered himself Wei Wuyin's subordinate the moment he made that choice all those months ago.

Wei Wuyin finished his golden apple, even eating the core. From this, one can see he didn't like wasting anything. "In a month, I'll face the Princess of Everlore in an All-Alchemic Clash. Then, I intend to venture into the Gateway Door that had opened. I earned a spot, after all." He faintly smiled, not feeling too pressured by the Princess of Everlore's upcoming clash.

"...The Gateway Door. Are you certain?" Tuo Bihan felt that Wei Wuyin didn't need to enter any forgotten realm to explore.

Wei Wuyin lifted his gaze towards the ceiling, his silver eyes emanated a mystical shine that radiated beauty. "I'm certain. I can see that the Gateway is the location where I'll find something I want, something I'll need." His Eye of Truth could see the trend of the world, and similar to how his Sky Palace was rebuilt with utmost speed after he took action, he could see that the Gateway had something he needed when he decided to enter.

While he didn't know what, or even if its a who, but he knew it was there. Furthermore, the entire starfield didn't have this something. This only brought out curiosity in his heart that had to be sated. 

Tuo Bihan realized that Wei Wuyin was still a young man, with hot-blood and a desire for adventure. This is what he attributed Wei Wuyin's desire to venture into the unknown as. In truth, he had asked the question because he was wondering if Wei Wuyin intended to produce another Realmlord. Because if so, he had a few candidates in mind. Like that little lass, Qin Rui.

Tuo Bihan was just about to speak when his spatial ring brightly lit. He received a transmission message. After reading it, he looked at Wei Wuyin oddly. 

Wei Wuyin felt his gaze and lowered his own, observing the strange expression on Tuo Bihan's face. "What is it?" 

"The little prince has made his first request. How anxious...haaa…" Tuo Bihan said with a sigh.

Wei Wuyin's left brow lifted. What did Long Chen request?  Just as he was about to ask, he felt spatial force surrounding him. His eyes lit up and he chuckled in amusement, "Let's go then."

Tuo Bihan nodded with relief. They both vanished from the Sky Palace, shifting through space.