Paragon of Sin

"..." 

A stifling silence descended across the chaotic, bloody-filled, and battle-ravaged Vermillion Domain within an instant of Wei Wuyin's announcement. Enemies looked at each other, once pointing deadly blades at each other's throats, with confusion and uncertainty. Neo-Dawn Alchemic Sovereign?! This title, in recent years, has been like a whirlwind of change and power, and no one could easily ignore it. 

The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen stared at her opponents. Behind her veil, there was a torrent of thought-provoking light within her eyes. Moreover, her entire soul tensed. The mere thought of the Grand Knight of Wu Yu or the Armored Saint arriving with unknown intentions was infecting her serenity. 

She could only find some comfort in the confusion that was in her opponent's eyes, especially Matriarch Vermillion's reaction. The leader of the Tang Clan was as confused and disturbed as she was. Unfortunately, this put them all in a conundrum. 

They were in a red hot phase of the battle, and if they put down their knives and killing intent, there was bound to be greater variables developing. However, if they continued and Wei Wuyin decided to intervene, this matter could go against whoever was too stubborn to relent. 

The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen lightly clenched her pearly white teeth and fists. This was an organized assault that was devised from years of coordination and planning, and she was on the verge of seizing victory. What to do? 

Matriarch Vermillion's heart pounded at Wei Wuyin's voice, but there was no excitement or hope within it. In fact, she was terrified. They were already on the cusp of being pushed back, and it wasn't hard to determine Wei Wuyin's thoughts towards the current Tang Clan's leadership, especially her who had hunted down and attempted to capture his Fire Phoenix. 

However, just like her ambitious twin, she was also unable to determine what to do. If she ignored him, then wouldn't this essentially solidify his distaste for her? She violently clenched her teeth and fist. She had to take the risk! 

"Stop fighting!" She told the Earthly Saint that fought beside her, the Volcanic Fist True King, a Grand Elder of his own organization in the Hexaflame Starfield, no, former Grand Elder, as he had resigned to assist them in this conflict without involving them and fully joined the Tang Clan. Moreover, he was her grandfather-in-law. The Highlord fighting beside her was her husband, Tang Xingyun's father. They listened to her and stood down. 

The Volcanic Fist True King was preparing to escape the Shell World. Unlike these two sisters, he was sharply aware of Wei Wuyin's importance and didn't want to display the slightest disrespect towards the young up-and-coming Alchemic Sovereign. There were simply too many feats under Wei Wuyin's belt despite his ridiculously young age, and unlike the King of Everlore, this Alchemist had his own force that not even the Inferno Solaris Church could underestimate. 

The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen deeply frowned. The urge to launch a sudden critical strike swelled within her chest, wanting to take advantage of this seemingly poor decision, but she hesitated. 

Seeing her react like this, Matriarch Vermillion shot this rebellious sister of hers a piercing gaze, "Are you going to keep us trapped here and prevent us from meeting Alchemic Sovereign Wei? Are you not going to greet the Alchemic Sovereign yourself?" 

Considering that Wei Wuyin's voice had breached the Shell World, then he must have eyes on all happenings here. Whether it was through Wu Yu, the Armored Saint, or his other hidden force, the fact he could grasp the happenings here was in her favor. She decidedly showed a willingness to go out.

"Bitch." The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen wasn't a blind idiot, so she was fully aware of this calculated move. If she refused to let them go, it would be the same as giving Wei Wuyin no face. After all, if he didn't want them to greet him, he didn't need to announce himself. Clearly, this was an announcement to cease the conflict.

Facing this insult, Matriarch Vermillion smiled brightly, enough to infuriate the entire world. She was clearly provoking her sister. 

"..." The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen silently waved her hand, and the Shell World began to tremble. Then, it collapsed. They were soon exposed to the Dark Void of the Vermillion Domain, and they easily spotted Wei Wuyin floating in the Dark Void beside a tiny-sized Voidship.

The Volcanic Fist True King sighed in his heart; he was losing against this woman even with the assistance of Highlords and had already suffered several severe injuries. If this lasted a few more minutes, chances were he would suffer catastrophic injuries. Of course, he didn't think the Traceless Emptiness Void Queen could kill him. After all, she was suffering injuries too. 

He wasn't that weak. 

The middle-aged man with an athletic build and firm muscles, brought the Highlords along as he flew towards Wei Wuyin. The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen did the same, her sleeves clenched a second Shell World Pearl, ready to trap the Volcanic Fist True King and Matriarch Vermillion at the slightest sign of seeking an escape. If they did that, then even Wei Wuyin wouldn't have any grounds to suggest her actions were disrespectful.

If the world knew that all these peak experts in their home territory were being so cautious toward a mere mortal, they would completely understand! It was, after all, Wei Wuyin—the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Sovereign! 

Wei Wuyin floated calmly in the Dark Void. He naturally gave off an imposingly dignified bearing. The first thing the Earthly Saints noticed was that the Armored Saint, Wu Yu, and the Fire Phoenix were absent from the scene. Were they hiding? Regardless of what, they wouldn't think for a moment that Wei Wuyin had come alone with no protection. Even if they had that thought, he was bound to have tools, talismans, and Protection Runes forged by Earthly Saints on his body. 

Moreover, there was a type of unseen protection that no one talked about. And that was the hectic and spontaneous support he would receive from all sorts of figures if he was assaulted seeking to earn his favor. As for those idle Earthly Saints viewing the Vermillion Domain at the moment? They wouldn't hesitate to interfere to assist Wei Wuyin.

After all, he was notoriously generous toward his helpers. At least, that's what rumors say. There was even a faint rumor that Tian Muyang had kept the Great Blue Sea Starfield's experts uninvolved as leadership changed and received an untold amount of resources in return for a simple act. The reports of Wei Wuyin's payment toward those vagabonds were leaked, and they were outrageous. 

Some even thought that Wei Wuyin's wealth felt too excessive for an Alchemic Sovereign. There were even rumors of Mystic-Earth products being awarded to those Highlords and the Sanguine Demon Evil King. This only elevated Wei Wuyin's reputation, and endless requests to become his Alchemic Knight was born. 

Unfortunately, how many could compare to Wu Yu? An 8th Runic Ascendant with several Earthly Saint kills under his belt?

"Alchemic Sovereign Wei," Matriarch Vermillion greeted respectfully. If it was any other time, she would be slightly trembling since this day that the Tang Clan dreaded had arrived. She and everyone else knew that Wei Wuyin hadn't taken overt action out of fear, no, considering he had no fear toward Trueborn, out of caution toward the Imperial Clan. 

"If you try to activate the Domain array, I'll kill you even if I have to ignite my Mystic Soul." The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen sent a Spiritual Transmission to her sister. Matriarch Vermillion's expression changed drastically, becoming slightly unsightly. She had thought of discreetly accessing the Domain-wide Array, and with it, this little coup d'etat would end here, but this caused her to no longer take that risk. 

Wei Wuyin's eyes moved toward the female Earthly Saint as if he noticed her transmission, and she grumbled internally before offering her greetings as well. "Alchemic Sovereign Wei, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Her tone came off as amicable, skillfully hiding her annoyance. 

"Oh? Didn't you refuse to accept my invitation before?" Wei Wuyin grinned, the very picture of amused. 

"I was busy then with private matters, so I ask for your understanding." There wasn't even a single lapse of silence before she properly responded. She expected Wei Wuyin to bring that topic up. 

The Volcanic Fist True King then greeted as he introduced himself, his face full of smiles despite his internal injuries. "It's my honor to meet the great Neo-Dawn Alchemic Sovereign today. I was blessed with seeing your splendor at the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit, a pride of mine. Unfortunately, I was unable to have a conversation with you at that moment before your departure." 

Wei Wuyin gave this flatter a curious look and recognized him as a Grand Elder of the Blazing Eruption Sect, a World Sect belonging to the Hexaflame Starfield, second only to the Inferno Solaris Church. "How unfortunate indeed," Wei Wuyin's aloofness perfectly matched his status. Even before two Earthly Saints, he was the one with the limelight. 

"May I ask why you're here?" The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen grew slightly anxious, and she no longer held back.

"Right! How can the Tang Clan assist you, Alchemic Sovereign Wei?" Matriarch Vermillion jumped on this and then added with a beautiful smile, "If it's regarding our ignorance-fueled folly of harming the majestic Fire Phoenix you reared, I'll first like to deeply apologize for it. It was a misunderstanding of our fault, and our Tang Clan admits it fully, and we're willing to offer suitable compensation even if we have to sacrifice an arm and a leg." 

"..." Eyes immediately darted toward Matriarch Vermillion. When had this arrogant woman ever lowered her head so easily before? Even her husband had a shocked expression. 

"..." The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen could only hope that Wei Wuyin wouldn't interfere. If it was any other force, she genuinely wouldn't give any thought to it. After all, the Mythical Oaths of the Aeternal Sky Starfield were extremely protective, but Wei Wuyin was an Oathless Calamity who slayed the Incarnation of Xun Yicao, and the act was swept under the rug and turned into a minor matter. 

He was an Oathless Calamity that caused Trueborn to become turtles in their shells, quietly licking their wounds, and there was still no news of the thirty Earthly Saints or how they were brought away. It wouldn't be a lie to say she deeply feared Wei Wuyin. Who didn't? And the Imperial Clan would certainly not engage in conflict with him over the Tang Clan. They'll find some loophole to avoid any conflict. 

"Then I'll get right to the matter: Where's Hong Ru?" He didn't bother hiding his intentions. He couldn't find her in this mess. If she hadn't been killed through Wu Yu's protection, she must be somewhere else. 

"Hong Ru?" The Ascended beings they were listening in and those before him were all taken aback. 

The Crimson Jewel Saintess? 

This was a figure that had reached the top 100 Saintess Rankings shortly after emerging, her talent and strength were rising. She was a rising star of the Tang Clan despite her foreign status, and she had high compatibility with the Tang Clan's signature Cultivation Method—Blazing Unity of Twin Flames. 

Xiao Bing clenched her fists; she was also a Saintess, but her status had more or less dissipated after the death of the Bing Clan's Young Master. 

"Hong Ru?" Matriarch Vermillion was stunned by the name. Unlike the Bing Clan, the Tang Clan hadn't paid much attention to Hong Ru's history or background. They accepted her off the merits of her outstanding show of talent. However, her eyes brightened considerably. 

"We protectively seek all our talents away from the conflict. She should be in our Secret Realm safely. Do you wish to see her?" Matriarch Vermillion instantly saw this as her chance. Hong Ru was a beauty, and while she might have suffered some injustice as one, the Tang Clan hadn't neglected her cultivation or livelihood.

"A Secret Realm?" Wei Wuyin now realized why, despite his Celestial Eyes and Spiritual Sense, he couldn't find the slightest traces of Hong Ru. He had imagined it was due to her shift in her aura and other changes, but he was wrong. She was elsewhere entirely. "Bring me there." 

"Alchemic Sovereign Wei!" Traceless Emptiness Void Queen urgently exclaimed, "We're currently-"

Wei Wuyin dismissively said, "I don't care about your coup, simply bring me to Hong Ru." The chill in his voice was spine-shivering, and his eyes reflected a killing intent. If anyone tried to hinder him from reaching Hong Ru today, then he'll deal with them decisively. 

"You…" the female Earthly Saint clenched her fist anxiously, her intuition was telling her that Hong Ru was the key to Wei Wuyin's involvement, and she wasn't certain if this would cause him to lend aid to the Tang Clan or not. 

She couldn't let all her planning turn to dust!