Paragon of Sin

"What?!" Lin Xianxei hurriedly shouted, "You're at the Temporal Eye Phase! This isn't in line with the standard procedure of the War Tribulation!" Her heart raced. There was a vast, unimaginable difference between a Realmlord and a Timelord. It wasn't just the qualities of their cultivation being elevated, but access to time energies and their ability, Temporal Dissonance.

If a Chosen beneath the Realmlord level just needed to fight a cultivator for a while to prove themselves, regardless if they were fourth, fifth, or sixth stage, then one can get a gist of how terrifying the difference was between them. It wasn't even comparable.

While Wei Wuyin had brutally killed Realmlord experts, they were third-rate Realmlord under the suppression of the Season of Regression, which rendered their abilities and cultivation advantages severely diminished. A genuine Realmlord wasn't so simple.

Let alone a Timelord!

But Timelord Duhan was unphased by Lin Xianxei's objection. "Guardian Han had arranged this. To equalize, I can only unleash three moves. If Lin Ming can remain undefeated after three moves, he'll receive the official title as a Chosen of the True Element Sect. If not, he'll be relegated to a normal disciple."

"..." Lin Xianxei was rendered speechless. How was this fair? Three moves? Wasn't this making it extremely difficult for Lin Ming? Was this because of Bai Yuxi? But what can they do? It was Han Yuhei who gave them this opportunity to prove themselves, to become an official Chosen of the sect. She could only grow solemn, her expression dark.

"You can forfeit at any time." Timelord Duhan reminded Lin Ming, his uncovered eyes stared directly at Lin Ming. The light in his eyes revealed a hint of kindness towards a talent. Even if Lin Ming wasn't worthy of being a Chosen, he could see potential within him. 

The score of 13,700 Spirit Units might be impressive, surpassing the average of a Realmlord by nearly four thousand spirit units, but that was the average standard for Realmlords. Furthermore, Ming Yuling, who wasn't even a Chosen, had over nine thousand Spirit Units at the Soul Idol Phase. His score was just barely enough to qualify him as a relatively decent disciple, but it was far from a Chosen's standard.

The average Chosen at the Soul Idol Phase had 12,000 Spirit Units. While those Chosen at the Gravity Emission Phase having 15,000 Spirit Units as an average, not even the greatest limits. If it wasn't for Lin Ming's age, being less than forty years old, he wouldn't even have passed the second tribulation.

Still, it wasn't outstanding by any means, just enough to be considered having the qualifications to fight for his Chosen title. 

Lin Ming's heart shivered continuously. He had expected that this test would be abnormally difficult, especially since he skirted past the first and the second wasn't challenging. As for Han Yuhei changing the conditions, he was an Earthly Saint, the strongest expert in the True Element Sect, he could make changes and decide things. Unless they were detrimental to the sect, no one will argue against him.

After what happened with Bai Yuxi, his beloved granddaughter, he didn't think that Han Yuhei was in the wrong. It was already lucky that he was even given this opportunity after almost everyone rejected his status as a Chosen after learning his Elementus Token was useless and the Elementus Cache was taken.

With a firm series of heavy breaths, he steadied his heart. Three moves? It was just three moves! He couldn't back down; he had to fight! This would decide his future.

Lin Xianxei tensely clenched her fists. This was an obstacle she hadn't anticipated. In her mind, Lin Ming possessed a Worldly Domain, and he had grasped control of a world's air, indicative of his developed control of this unconventional power for a Spatial Resonance Phase cultivator. It wasn't a question that Lin Ming could fight Realmlords. But a Timelord, that was concerning…

'Lin Ming, you can do this.' She had to settle her heart with words of belief. These three moves and its eventual outcome will determine both their futures. Her fists tightened that her nails nearly pierced into her skin. 

Lin Ming was just as tense, but none of it showed through his calm expression. With an upright posture, he wielded his Origin Spear with his right hand, pointing its tip to the armored Timelord before him. There was a flicker of ghostly white within his grey eyes.

Seeing Lin Ming's unwavering will, Timelord Duhan applauded this youngsters courage. However, he had no intentions of holding back during those three moves. Either Lin Ming rightfully earned his title, or he could settle for a stable life as a normal member of the sect. 

"..."

"..."

"Begin! Careful!" Timelord Duhan shouted, his first move was imposing! He manifested his Worldly Domain, his eyes erupting in spiritual light! The air became suffused with a density of spiritual strength, flooding the entire stadium.

The sheer power of which reached Lin Xianxei, causing her to project a ward to defend herself. The worries in her heart increased.

Timelord Duhan's Worldly Domain instantly unfurled to reach a diameter of 1.4 Kilometers! This was an effective range of 700 meters in every direction, completely and totally within his control! A true, genuine Worldly Domain! The world that it engulfed was theirs to control, theirs to follow their every will!

Like Tuo Bihan, who was a purist, Timelord Duhan's Worldly Domain was similarly a translucent sphere untainted by a strand of Intent. The doctrine of purists had survived the passage of time, finding its way into a very small minority of the Aeternal Sky Starfield's cultivators. While no genuine Ascended have ever been born from them, their belief was firm and carried its advantages.

Lin Ming felt the approaching Worldly Domain and felt his heart shake with an accompanying chill. He had faced a Realmlord before, but that Realmlord's Domain barely reached 200 meters in diameter, roughly 100 meters in every direction. But it was understandable, after all, this was a genuine Timelord!

He clenched his Origin Spear, with a swift series of kicks, he pushed back and retreated while interfacing with his Domain Seed. Just as he was about to unleash his own Worldly Domain, a wave of explosive rumbles echoed throughout his sea of consciousness, and his astral soul stalled and cried out in pain! 

He spurted out a mouthful of blood. The Worldly Domain hadn't enveloped him yet but the spiritual spell of Timelord Duhan had reached him! This was the means of combat for genuine experts, and he was utterly overwhelmed by this multifaceted assault. 

Timelord Duhan's spiritual force collapsed on him, bringing agony and pain to every ounce of his three states, mind, body, and spirit! 

"Argh!" He cried out in pain, stumbling and losing his footing. The Worldly Domain was just short of reaching him when his nine-colored dot at his glabella activated! It was a defensive treasure with its own will, and immediately acted to defend against the assault. A pulse of air erupted from his body and the foreign spiritual force was repelled!

Timelord Duhan noticed his Worldly Domain engulfed Lin Ming. He sighed, realizing Lin Ming wasn't very experienced in the battle of true experts. In a way, this meant he wasn't ready to become a Chosen. With a thought, he used his hand to reach out and clench. He was going to seal Lin Ming's body, mind, and spirit with his World Pressure, effectively severing his entire combat strength.

"It's over…"

Lin Xianxei felt her heart in her throat. She wanted to speak, but only soft sounds of panic came out.

For a brief moment, thanks to Lin Xianxei's defensive treasure, Lin Ming regained control of himself. His grey eyes erupted with white light filled with Elemental Origin Intent. Just as the Worldly Domain engulfed him, his Domain Seed was thoroughly interfaced with!

Woosh!

A translucent Worldly Domain manifested! 

Timelord Duhan felt a jolt in his consciousness. "A purist's Domain?!" His reaction was first of shock, then confusion, and then ferocious levels of disbelief! A Spatial Resonance Phase cultivator had a WORLDLY DOMAIN?!

When his Worldly Domain clashed with Lin Ming's, he felt the feedback from their fierce competition of ambient forces and energies, the clash of World Pressure. This was...this was…

He was utterly flummoxed that he hadn't reacted to continue his assault, giving Lin Ming time to erupt with his full strength, pushing his World Domain to its absolute limits, reaching 150 meters in diameter! While severely lacking in comparison to a real Realmlord, it was still a bonafide Worldly Domain!

Lin Ming used his greatest strength to speed backwards, leaving the effective range of Timelord Duhan's Worldly Domain. It was only then that Timelord Duhan reacted, his expression incredibly strange as he observed Lin Ming.

Lin Ming tightly clenched his Origin Spear, kept his posture upright and stable, and spat out a wad of blood from his lips. The light in his eyes was energized and fierce, not lacking a single ounce of confidence. 

"First move."