Paragon of Sin

The events that transpired on the Lin Clan's skyship left those present on it distraught, regretful, and remorseful. An air of gloom remained. If what Bai Yuxi said was true, then this Wei Wuyin figure had the markings of an obscenely talented junior. His combat potential surely rivaled Chosen yet his alchemical skills faintly exceeded the King of Everlore's younger days. 

This junior could've been theirs if Lin Xianxei had performed her job a little more particularly.

Lin Ming scoffed internally, finding their judgmental gazes and emotions laughable. They didn't care a single iota about the Elementus Chosen Trial until the Elementus Cache's contents was revealed nor paid much attention to a Chosen determined by an archaic trial. Now, they were acting as if it was of vital importance. 

How shameless.

Regardless of his own feelings, he was most concerned about Lin Xianxei. While Han Yuhei had protected him, he left Lin Xianxei out in the lurch to shift blame from Bai Yuxi to her. She was a scapegoat. This was all too clear. 

The Earthly Saints, Zhang Ziyi and Gong Lau, informed Lin Xianxei to deliver herself to the Traceless Regret Valley, an area specifically designed for torturous punishment for defectors, traitors, rule-breakers, or vicious criminals. Its poetic name did not justify the extent of its horrors.

Lin Xianxian, Lin Xianxei's own mother, went completely pale after hearing those orders. It broke her heart. She wasn't in a position to do anything about it, especially since their strongest backer, Han Yuhei, had silently consented. 

Lin Xianxei remained endlessly fearless before her sentence. She had mentally understood that this was a possible eventuality, and while she didn't expect such harsh punishment, she expected some form of consequence to be laid at her feet. While she wasn't totally at fault, she bore some responsibility in this matter, and there was no way the Shattered Element Faction would let this chance go.

Zhang Ziyi revealed a wisp of admiration at Lin Xianxei's stability facing such drastic circumstances. But, it was only a wisp. The feud of her faction that consisted of all allied clans suffering due to the Lin Clan's decisions wasn't so easily overwritten.

Zhang Ziyi gave a last fleeting glance towards Lin Ming. She had kept tabs on this young man, even witnessed him resist three moves from Timelord Duhan. Aware of Lin Xianxei's plans to use him as the ignition for their freedom from those parasites, she felt inclined to give him the opportunity to breathe. Unfortunately, his feats and past revealed nothing but fraudulent behavior, and even she couldn't find it in her heart to follow-through with protecting him. 

The truth will certainly isolate Lin Ming, creating an absolute stink of a reputation that no one sought to near. 

Eventually, the two Earthly Saints departed. The stifled breath of all these disciples and elders were finally allowed to be released. The presence of three Earthly Saints felt like a block of cement had formed around their hearts. 

Still, there was a strange and uncomfortable silence as most observed Lin Ming and Lin Xianxei. They didn't expect to bear witness to such mind-blowing developments today. The descent of three Earthly Saints. The absurd reveal that this Ascendant Emperor of Neo-Dawn had earned himself as a Chosen, but faced constantly outrageous odds. Despite that, he still claimed victory and was simultaneously a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist.

They were baffled by how Wei Wuyin even achieved this feat. A unique cultivation method to simulate sufficient alchemical energies? Did he use the long-eradicated method of having an alchemical proxy with an Alchemic Astral Soul? Did he have the support of another Mortal Sovereign Alchemist? There were many details that bred suspicion and further questions. Unfortunately, there was no place to obtain an answer.

-----

Three hours came and went. The entire Aeternal Sky Starfield, however, was in an explosive uproar. Just the sheer number of investigative efforts were outright mind-blowing. The name 'Wei Wuyin' traveled swiftly throughout the starfield. Everyone, their mothers, and their cousins joined in. 

There were even experts who were planning to travel to New Everlore to further their efforts. 

However, that wasn't even remotely as intense as the mobilization of the sixteen greatest forces within the Aeternal Sky Starfield. Not a single one was absent from obtaining a ticket to the upcoming Golden Auction. There would be only a single product—the Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill. 

But it was enough.

While the priority rights were involved, purchasing the pill was most vital. The thought of obtaining it, reverse engineering its concoction method, and having endless supply at their fingertips were far too tantalizing to ignore. Even if they can't immediately reverse its concoction process and materials used to produce it, the priority to obtain these world-shaking products was just as valuable.

Not a single of them lacked an understanding of the Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill's effects and how it'll redefine the standards of genius, be it in age or cultivation base. 

During these three hours, an Official Mortal Sovereign Alchemist by the name of Liu Fei, a female alchemist of the Liu Clan, one of the Eight Noble Clans, had issued a statement that circulated like wildfire in the driest of times. She said: "This pill will determine the ruler of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region."

Her words were chaos piled on already fragile legs. Her intent, whether to harm those who wanted to buy it, or if she truly believed this, was irrelevant. What mattered was her wording.

She had mentioned it'll produce the ruler of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, not just the Aeternal Sky Starfield! The Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, while heavily affected and reduced in number of active starfields due to the ancient Imperial Clan's wide and rapid conquering efforts ages ago, had a total of twenty-three thriving starfields. 

The Aeternal Sky Starfield was merely the strongest on the surface, with the best environment thanks to the Mystic Radiance Belt and its gigantic Solar Star. However, that did not mean it lacked competitors. Despite the cautionary tale of the former Imperial Clan's ambitions, other starfields similarly annexed and merged weaker starfields to grow in strength and talent. The original tens of thousands of starfields within the Grand Cyclic Region just a few tens of thousands of years ago had been reduced to twenty-three, so it was clear none of these starfields lacked sufficient means or strength. 

The Ninestar Starfield ruled by the Ninestar Sainthall had a genuinely recognized Alchemic Saint, the Ennea-Hall Alchemic Saint. They were often considered the second strongest starfield in the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, so one could see just from this that the Aeternal Sky Starfield was not without its competitors.

The words of Liu Fei stirred everyone. In a mere three hours, not just the Aeternal Sky Starfield's sixteen greatest forces were participating in the auction, but several other starfields. While they hadn't purchased a ticket to the Grand Demonstration, they paid an absurdly high, outrageously exaggerated fee, to gain a seat at the Golden Auction. 

The Golden Life Pavilion was a business. As long as they could make money, opening a window for those wealthy enough was within their modus operandi. There wasn't an ounce of dissatisfaction spoken. For fear of being excluded…

However, there were those with doubts. Not from outside the Golden Life Pavilion but from within. The Third Branch of the Golden Life Pavilion was managing this entire procedure, as it was within their authority to do so. But the other branches were completely ignorant of the validity and effects of the Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill. Like most, they believed it would just be fantastical, not utterly world-shaking! 

There were questions raised in dissatisfaction from the other branches regarding the Third Branch's decision to publicize such an outrageous product, to keep hidden such a talented alchemist! They were outstepping their authority and acting in self-interest! Is what the dissenters cried, even if untrue and hypocritical.

Their thoughts were similar to Ma Sujiang. It was similar to Liu Fei. This product will rearrange the world's structure, but to publicly sell it? Who would ever do such a thing? While the effects might not be immediate, give it a thousand years, and there would be an outrageously clear difference between similarly aged geniuses.

An unsurpassable, chasm-like gap.

That force would eventually be set to rule the entire Grand Cyclic Stellar Region! That could've been them!

That old Ma Zheng must be a fool!

However, those with a little bit more intelligence would come to realize that Golden Life Pavilion's Third Branch actions weren't bad at all, especially in terms of gaining an advantage. The sheer wealth they'll obtain from the pill will generate endless benefits. These benefits will include mystic-level resources and materials, cultivation grounds not one bit inferior to the Devil War Realm, perhaps even entire planets. 

The Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill might elevate their geniuses, produce high-end experts in a thousand years, but those resources could be used on Starlords today to enhance their chances to become genuine Ascended. Could be used on Ascended to reach the Demi-Mortal Lord Phase or breakthrough into an Earthly Saint. It was short-sighted not to see these immediate advantages, especially since a large portion of the profits belonged solely to the Third Branch, specifically, the Ma Clan.

Furthermore, they still had full and free access to the product, greater than any other force. They lose very little. Let alone the scandal if this Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill was revealed on other's terms. The blowback would be explosive, but now, they controlled the narrative, and everyone was forced into an acceptingly passive state, unable to criticize or strike.

They can freely purchase the product soon. Even be the first amongst many to obtain it. Who knows, they might be able to buy the concoction method with enough wealth and goodwill or reverse engineer the product for their own uses. Why wage war for a pill that wealth can buy? 

Many of the forces were just waiting for an idiot to act, hoping to jump in and obtain the Golden Life Pavilion's favor to obtain better benefits by crushing them. After all, the Golden Life Pavilion wasn't an alchemic association, but a merchant association. They sold more than just a single pill.

This upcoming Golden Auction was bound to be intense. To obtain the lead in developing geniuses, in reverse engineering the pill, in restricting their enemies from having it, not a single force worth its salt on the entire Grand Cyclic Stellar Region was going to miss this.

The three hour mark was hit.

And the Golden Auction began.