Paragon of Sin

The Blazing Graveyard of Blessed Vermilions was a Secret Realm that's existence predated the Mystic Enlightenment Era—over fifty-eight thousand years ago; during ancient times, before Imperial Clans dominated the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, cultivators and beasts were not disjointed in their relationship, both governing their own societies, starfields, and stellar regions. 

The Desolate Dragnet Stellar Region was a prime example of this history. It was named after the dragon lineage beasts that inhabited it and its inhospitable environment unsuitable for cultivators. However, similar to how societies had divisions, there were alliances between them as well.

The Blazing Unity of Twin Flames was irrefutable evidence of this; the Cultivation Method was devised by cultivators and structured under the principles of Vermilion Birds and Fire Phoenixes, two birds with uniquely powerful flames. By cultivating this method, cultivators could emulate the two birds' flames and forge bodies that resemble theirs. 

During that time, Vermilion Birds and Cultivators were allied, and they survived, traded, fought, and survived together in the Sealed Regions. Unfortunately, the Sealed Regions' altered environment was no longer conducive to sustaining a Genesis Beast's flourishing societies, and a great war caused their eventual downfall. With the Sealed Region separated from the World Beyond the Fold, there was no longer a Solar Star exuding life-bearing and sustaining solar essence for beasts at the Mystic-level.

To put it simply, they began to die off rapidly—they starved. Their bodies regressed toward the Mortal Dao, thereby lowering their intelligence and diluting their bloodline, eventually devolving into feral beasts with the bare minimum of intelligence. 

Bai Lin was of the crane lineage, an avian borne from a mixture of Fire Phoenix and tons of other beasts, a desperate attempt made to maintain their existence. It had failed—Fire Phoenix, Vermilion Birds, Dragons, Garudas, and other beasts that were once flourishing went extinct. They became myths. 

They became lesser birds, lizards, and horses.

Unlike beasts, human cultivators thrived under adversity, and they survived through the decline using various methods. Eventually, throughout the Ancient Era, the Mystic Enlightenment Era, the Heaven-Bound Imperial Era, the Dark Stars Era, and the Aeternal Sky Era, they developed from the ground up and entered the Way of Mysticism. It perfectly displayed human cultivators' extreme resilience and will to survive.

The Secret Realm, the Blazing Graveyard of Blessed Vermilions, was the designated ancestral grounds of Vermilion Birds to house their deceased bodies, a burial place respected and secured by profound means. Unless one was a Vermilion Bird or cultivated the method to emulate their blazing aura, it was impossible to enter through this Void Gate.

Wei Wuyin calmly observed the Void Gate as he was told all this by Matriarch Vermilion. The history lesson was things he had already known. Xiao Bing and Tuo Bihan's expressions, however, were full of unconcealed marvel.

The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen's eyes flashed beneath her veil, and her emotions grew unstable. She glanced at Wei Wuyin's tall figure; her mind stuffed with the imagery of his eyes as she was helpless, at his complete mercy, and still unable to comprehend what had happened. Without being prompted, she began: "Those who try to peek into the Vermilion Graveyard without permission are considered the vilest criminals. Being exiled by the clan was the best outcome while suffering immediate execution was not only the worst outcome but also the most likely to happen." 

"..." Matriarch Vermilion glanced at her sister, her eyes narrowed. "To trespass deserves such punishment," she icily said. "It is an insult to our ancestors. A violation of the greatest degree to the Tang Clan and our origins." 

"Go to hell!" The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen gnashed her teeth, her fists tightly clenched, and murderous light erupted fiercely within her eyes. If Wei Wuyin wasn't present, she would wring this obnoxiously self-righteous bitch's neck until all the puss spewed out of her skin. 

"Hmph!" Matriarch Vermilion sneered. 

The atmosphere grew tense, and the passively released aura of an enraged Earthly Saint was oppressive. Tuo Bihan and Xiao Bing winced, their hearts starting to race and sweat beginning to form on their foreheads.

"Enough," Wei Wuyin softly said. The atmosphere instantly settled into serenity. They both obediently obeyed, no longer speaking to each other. Instead, they focused their gaze on Wei Wuyin as he began to walk forward. When he reached the Void Gate, Wei Wuyin was genuinely impressed. 

This Void Gate was forged using the Minor Spatial Law. The profundities inside perfectly conjoined Fixed, Stable, and Chaotic Spatial Energies. It was a self-contained Secret Realm, a realm surrounded by chaos—a Chaos Realm. 

The Battlefield was also a Chaos Realm, and even though the scale of this Secret Realm was considerably smaller and less profound, it was equally as terrifying. To enter or exit, a cultivator didn't need a basic Void Gate or Void Point but Stellar Transit Light, an amalgamation of Chaotic and Fixed Spatial Forces. Stellar Transit Light was Chaotic Spatial Shifting.

However, there were additional layers that were independently established on the Void Gate itself. It would actively restrict those without Vermilion Bird's Aura from entering. This type of semi-permeable formation was well-crafted and a sign of an expert. 

This was a product of a unified effort among beasts and cultivators. Wei Wuyin was able to determine this much with his knowledge of two lives, grasping principles of the World Beyond the Fold. In some areas, the development of the Sealed Regions exceeded the ancient civilization prior to the Sealing Array, but in others, there was still a stark contrast of knowledge and understanding, so it made sense that the Tang Clan still referred to this realm as a Secret Realm. 

"Both of your preconceptions of limitations need to be shattered," Wei Wuyin indifferently stated. Then, he tapped against the Void Gate three times, and each time infused a different aspect of Spatial Force—Fixed, Stable, and Chaotic. 

Then, he sensed it.

A wave of cool relief swept his mind; he sensed Hong Ru's Spatial Ring. He instantly felt the feedback of her lifeforce; it was lively and vibrant.

"Alchemic Sovereign Wei…" Matriarch Vermilion grew a little anxious. She feared that Wei Wuyin would destroy the Void Gate by trying to do something reckless. She instinctively wanted to warn him to be careful. After all, the Void Gate was a product of an ancient civilization. 

However, before she could put her anxiety into words, the Void Gate activated, and a surging wave of light erupted outwards. When it calmed down, a vortex was multicolored light twisted and churned—a portal! 

"Bypass the restriction, touch upon the essence of space, and pierce through; the pathway has been opened to all. Shall we?" Wei Wuyin turned to see the agape Matriarch Vermilion and Traceless Emptiness Void Queen. They were twins, and at this moment, their likeness was eerily the same, down to the wide eyes to the extent their jaws had dropped.

Wei Wuyin reached out to Xiao Bing, and the latter was stunned. "Let's go see Hong Ru," Wei Wuyin's words caused Xiao Bing's eyes to alight with joy, and she smiled beautifully, reaching out to grab Wei Wuyin's hand. The two sauntered into the portal side-by-side. Tuo Bihan chuckled softly after catching a glimpse of their shock, entering soon after.

The Highlord and Earthly Saint were unable to believe what had just happened. The two exchanged gazes as if asking if this was reality. 

"..."

Suddenly, Matriarch Vermilion's eyes constricted. She realized her current situation, but it was too late. Before she could move, the Traceless Emptiness Void Queen blocked her way, her eyes as cold as a blizzard of icy death. 

"..." 

The two stared at each other. Matriarch Vermilion clenched her teeth, "Do you think Alchemic Sovereign Wei will agree to you acting recklessly a second time? Should I die, you may as well follow me by ending it yourself. Or do you think you can run? Run from him?" She fully leveraged Wei Wuyin's name here, clutching at all straws. 

"..." The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen icily observed the squirming-for-life sister of hers. The urge to end her life here and now was raging in her soul, but she held back in the end. "Step down as the Tang Clan's Matriarch," she said. 

"What?!" 

"Your life is hanging by a thread, but you and your ilk have already driven the Tang Clan near its demise. Do you think I acted now because it was convenient? Do you think I had the means and designs to infiltrate the Aeternal Sky Starfield with countless foreign allies because I'm invincible or something? Think Tang Heihei, think." 

"..." Tang Heihei's eyes flickered. 

The Traceless Emptiness Void Queen, Tang Baibai, heaved a soft, exhausted sigh. "I was sent to save the Tang Clan, and while I hate it, my blood runs through these lands as much as yours. Even if I was stripped of my lineage, I still possess the Mark of the Vermilion in my heart."

"Save?" Tang Heihei was unable to process Tang Baibai's words. 

"Not accounting for the fact you offended Alchemic Sovereign Wei, the Tang Clan has been strangled from all sides, being alienated by the Golden Life Pavilion and all its allies, especially since the Imperial Clan has long since severed their relationship with us. We no longer have allies anywhere, and within our territory are traitors waiting to seize the opportunity to betray us; my actions today were not plans made over many decades or centuries of a bitterly contained need for vengeance, little sister, but by someone else's design. I'm simply riding the wave." Tang Baibai's words caused Tang Heihei's heart to race.

"I don't understand. Even if that is true…we can and will survive." She refused to believe that eventual outcome. Just like now, they could overturn the situation by getting in Wei Wuyin's good graces, even if they had to grovel, and the issue with the Golden Life Pavilion would resolve itself shortly thereafter.

A flash of pity flickered through Tang Baibai's eyes, "It's not so simple. You really don't know, do you?"

"Know what?!" It was hard not to get emotional, given the discussion. The Tang Clan was her life, and she refused to believe she'd drive it to the edge of collapse and push it off. Momentary suffering and decline were common among all clans; without this attempted coup, the Tang Clan would be perfectly fine with the Mythical Oaths established and the Vermilion Domain. 

Tang Baibai stared into her sister's eyes. Then, she removed her veil to display a similar likeness and her eyes. "Your daughter is no longer a virgin." 

"...what?" Tang Heihei started, she took a few steps back, her eyes roaming in thought, and then she shook her head. "Wh-what are you talking about? Tang Xingyun isn't so reckless. Even if she were, this would only strengthen the relationship with the Imperial Clan. While it's a little early…it's fine. Yeah, this is an investment." At this moment, the Traceless Emptiness Void Queen could only watch as her sister stumbled into a secured sequence of logic, half-accepting those words, and from this…it was clear that the outcome of the truth was lingering in her subconscious.

She didn't deny that it was false—she just refused to believe that it was with someone other than Tian Yinwu. 

"Tang Xingyun has debased and ruined herself, and while she has avoided suspicion publicly, the Imperial Clan already knows this. You should understand why this isn't publicly disclosed. This is your lifeline. Your only lifeline. So take it," Tang Baibai indifferently said before she began to walk toward the portal.

"Wa-WAIT!" Tang Heihei anxiously called out. Shockingly, her sister stopped. She mustered the strength to ask, "Why?" 

"..." Tang Baibai halfway turned her head, "I met my niece. She reminded me of myself when I was younger—foolish and thoughtless of consequences. I don't want the Tang Clan to vanish because of such idiocy." 

The response that Tang Heihei expected was not that, causing her heart to shake. She could only be stumped as she watched her sister enter the portal. She clenched her fists tightly, her body trembling fiercely, and her mind spiraling from the implications.

And then…

An idea formed. 

A face of unearthly countenance belonging to a man of unfathomable power. Her eyes looked into the portal, and they brightened considerably, and she deeply inhaled before exhaling every turbid thought. With a firm will, she marched into the portal too.