Paragon of Sin

Chaos looms! 

These words were abnormally heavy on the heart, especially when spoken by Wei Wuyin. This heaven-defying youth's presence had shaken the foundations of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, so when he said those words, it rang with a heavy tone. 

The trio left promptly. With their newfound status as Ascendants, their affairs and priorities changed along with it. Firstly, their forces had to be reorganized. If, before, their forces were still operating independently, freely following their interests, they could no longer do so. 

These three ascended were the sole subordinates of Wei Wuyin by virtue of their given oath, but now that they had become Ascendants, they could no longer act as freely, and their subordinates were equally part of the organization. While they might not be official Ascendants, they would be tethered to them, much like Xue Yifei's dragons and the Eternal Monarch Sect led by Wu Baozhai. 

Those following the Valkyries were similarly a part of the Ascendants, simply a sub-division led by them. 

Kun Yiming was a part of a Clan, the Kun Clan, so she had to select her most trusted subordinates and accept them, forming her own group, especially considering she ran the clan alongside another Ascended. Highlord Bluecloud and Venerable Slayingsword had founded their organizations, but it was now time to cut off some excess fat and corroded areas, choosing only the best and most loyal. 

Wei Wuyin saw them off with Wu Yu standing silently by his side. The Grand Knight was slightly pale; his countenance looked a bit feeble. He had exhausted quite a hefty amount of lifespan to revive those three using Temporal Reversion. Despite Wei Wuyin's efforts to soften the cost, it was still a lot. 

"..." Wu Yu couldn't help but stare at Wei Wuyin. He was forbidden from inspecting the area and was ordered to rest far, far away until he received a spiritual transmission, so he didn't know how the trio had died. But from their respectful and slightly fearful gazes, he intuited that Wei Wuyin was the cause. 

Was this a test to deem their worthiness? 

In Wu Yu's eyes, those three were incredibly lacking. They were Ascended beings, but their foundations were considered inadequate for Wei Wuyin's standards—the standards of a Saintmaker. The time and resource cost felt unnecessary to elevate their strength and foundation to acceptable levels. If Wei Wuyin wanted, he could grow Du Ling into becoming far, far stronger than them due to having an earlier start.

But this was his opinion, and he knew that Wei Wuyin's thoughts had always been mysterious and unpredictable since their first meaningful interaction. In his view, this recruitment likely was brought upon by the cause of his earlier words—chaos looms—indicating that time was limited and trouble was coming. While Wei Wuyin could create a better Ascended being with time, this was time he didn't have.

This could take a hundred or hundreds of years to achieve. It was easier, quicker, and more efficient to recruit them than foster his own Ascended beings for whatever was coming, so he understood and didn't probe Wei Wuyin's exact intentions or thought process as he usually would. For reasons he couldn't describe, the current Wei Wuyin felt unquestionable. 

Wei Wuyin observed his three new Seeds of Law. They revolved around King in a similar orbit as the Seeds of Time and Space had done for Kratos. These were legitimate seeds capable of being nurtured into true authorities. 

However, Wei Wuyin was stumped. From what King could gather and explain, the three Seeds of Law were the Seed of Saber, the Seed of Annihilation, and the Seed of Imperial. 

Yet Wei Wuyin found this highly confusing. How can saber be a law? As someone who grasped a Minor Authority of Law, he had some understanding of what constitutes a law. It was a profound law that governed the natural order within the heavens, such as the concept of war. It was broad and vast, encompassing many things, both conceptualized and realized. 

If his guess was correct, the Law of War should be connected to Sword, Slaughter, Aegis, Saber, Battle, and all forms of weaponry, defensive tools, tactics, and emotional wills. Saber should be included in that vast category. But…it wasn't? 

This left Wei Wuyin baffled by King's continuous assertion that the Seed of Law was for sabers despite the contradiction that it should be for war. Moreover, it remained adamant that it was for sabers, not war, and nothing would change its mind. Wei Wuyin's first instinct was that it was a Law Seed for the Saber, but what did that even mean? How did sabers constitute a law beneath the heavens? 

"Tch." King's sole response could be summed up as an unbothered shrug. Wei Wuyin kept feeling that something was amiss with this development, growing increasingly suspicious of this Seed. Unfortunately, the Library of Eden and his alternate self's memories were unable to find the reasoning behind this Seed.

He could only set it aside for now, adding it to the long list of things he needed to investigate regarding cultivation and the heavens. The memories of his other self barely grasped the entirety of this vast, vast world. 

"How's your cultivation coming along?" Wei Wuyin's focus shifted as he asked Wu Yu. The regal Grand Knight's ears perked up slightly. It had been nearly two decades since his ascension as an 8th Runic Ascendant Earthly Saint, and Wei Wuyin had provided him with resources and cultivation methods that greatly exceeded the standards of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region. 

The Blood Origin Method was his first true Mystic-rank, Low-World grade Cultivation Method, and he successfully cultivated it to completion within those two decades, displaying his outstanding talents and the benefits of having a competent Alchemist by your side. Fully cultivating this method had manifested a strange rune that exuded a World Aura that resembled World Heart Intent, containing a faint smell of blood.

After returning from his trip to the Endless Voyage Realm, Wei Wuyin told him what this rune was and its purpose.

It was a type of artificial World Rune that contained the uniquely formed power of World Heart Intent. This power could be shattered and assimilated into one's Awakened Mystic Intent to forcefully elevate it to the initial stage of Mystic Heart Intent and grant the cultivator the chance to assail their Fifth Ascension. This was the road to becoming a Worldly Saint!

It was a direct bypass to a stringent requirement, effectively eliminating the extreme degree of comprehensive power required to achieve this. This was how advanced cultivation societies mitigated the need for innate talent and intelligence.

However, the greater the World-grade Cultivation Method cultivated, the better developed the World Rune at its completion, and the greater one's chances of succeeding their Fifth Ascension and the stronger their Mystic Heart Intent would become. 

The Blood Origin Method might seem incredible, but by the standards of World-grade methods, it was Low-tier. There were still High-tier and Peak-tier methods, and Wei Wuyin actually possessed them. Wu Yu had a selection of World-grade methods he energetically mulled over and chose.

Wei Wuyin had pretty much cleaned the Commander's List of the Battlefield with his wealth of War Souls. There wasn't a single object that he hadn't taken, but the prices for methods were still significant. 

Eight years ago, Wu Yu chose one of these methods, and he courageously chose the most difficult one. 

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[Item]: (Peak-World) World of the King Method.

[Exchange Rate]: 420,000 War Souls.

[Availability]: Commander.

[Description]: WARNING: Not recommended for Low or High-Earth Refined Physiques. Nigh-Certain Chance of Bodily Death.

WARNING!: Not recommended for 7th or Lower Runic Ascension. Absolute Chance of Spiritual Death.

WARNING!!: Should possess NATURALLY formed Mana, Oceanic, & Spirit-type Runes of Mysticism. Low-Chance of experiencing Deviation of Mysticism.

Cultivate at your own risk. 

The World of the King Method forms a World Rune. Divided into three stages: Artificial World Stage, True World Stage, and King World Stage. 

If successfully cultivated to the Artificial World Stage, guarantees the success of the Third Ascension at the World Runic Ascension.

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The cultivation method had three full warnings, each meant for different stages of the Mystic Ascendant Realm—Mystic Star Phase, Soul of Mysticism Phase, and Earthly Saint Phase, excluding the Demi-Mortal Lord Phase. It was a forceful way to cultivate a World Rune beyond its natural timing; furthermore, it allowed one to cultivate a greater World Rune than naturally possible! 

Wu Yu had decided to take this difficult route, trying to cultivate this method to completion for his Fifth Ascension. However, after thinking of his efforts thus far, his eyes dimmed. It was absurdly easy to cultivate to the Artificial World Stage, as he already possessed one—the Blood Origin World Rune, but after years of continuous effort, he made little headway to the True World Stage. 

Why? 

Because the requirement to do so was to comprehend a type of World Heart Intent! 

He felt deeply frustrated at his slow progression. If the world knew that Wu Yu hated his inability to formulate World Heart Intent after a measly eight years, the cultivators of the Sealed Regions would throttle him to death with their justified rage. 

"Slow." Was Wu Yu's sole comment; dissatisfaction painted his entire expression. 

Wei Wuyin could tell where his vexation stemmed from. He grinned, "Fortunately for you, I have a way to assist." 

"...!" Wu Yu was taken aback immediately. Then, his eyes glowed brightly. This was why everyone wished to be an Alchemic Knight to a talented Alchemist! Their means were limitless. 

Wei Wuyin couldn't help but chuckle seeing Wu Yu's child-like glee. "I've tested it successfully on Venerable Slayingsword, so it's doable."

Wu Yu's glowing eyes almost erupted with radiance. He had felt like that Venerable Slayingsword had changed somehow, and it was how his aura contained a type of World Aura. So it was this! Waves of excitement surged in his heart.. 

"But first, I need you to collect these eighty cultivators." Wei Wuyin finally decided to bring out one of the greatest items he had obtained from the Battlefield! The Obelisk of War! 

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[Item]: Obelisk of Law.

[Exchange Rate]: 3,000,000. 

[Availability]: Champion.

[Description]: A monolith that has been forged by the Origin of Brilliance, All-World Gem, and Tear of the Golden Koi. When observed, a cultivator can perceive into their Soul, Spirit of Cultivation and all connective parts, also elevating their mind into a heightened state towards the world itself. Extremely beneficial to comprehending the Origin of All Light and Heart of the World.

Can only be observed by Eighty-One Cultivators. After complete usage, the Obelisk of Law will crumble into World Sand. This can be used to forge Mystic-World tools, talismans, and armaments.

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It was time to make the last preparations before the Chosen King Competition began!