Paragon of Sin

There was a small continental flat earth within a quiet corner of Myriad Monarch Astral Territory. It extended nearly a hundred kilometers in length, being relatively small in size. It was often used to breed various beasts and herbs for taming and growth. It was named the Yellow Rain Continent.

It was dubbed this due to the unique phenomena of yellow rain drenching the continent during certain times of the year. This yellow rain lacked any uniqueness, mostly a chemical reaction from the dissipation of some type of harmless chemical element during the condensation process. Despite this, the ground, trees, homes, and mountains were tinted in shades of yellow.

At the moment, a tall and outstanding figure stood atop a flat mountain peak. Dressed in black, the figure stared at the sky in a blank daze. Their silver eyes were undergoing various transformations that seemed to grasp a hint of the world's truths and hidden secrets.

Wei Wuyin had arrived on the Yellow Rain Continent via a Void Gate. Due to the various complications brought about by his tribulation, he felt it was for the best that he left to somewhere secluded. As he peered into the endless flow of the world, he felt heading to this continent would have the best effects. It was a strange feeling, trusting the revealed truths of the world.

Regardless, considering Su Mei and the incident of his exploding Sky Palace, he felt it only right to avoid any further possible damage. Considering Wen Mingna, Lin Ziyan, Xiao Bing, Hong Ru, and Wu Baozhai, these five women, were cultivating within his Sky Palace in a diligent manner, he didn't feel right to move them.

He felt a rising sense of anticipation within his heart, within his Astral Souls, as he looked into the thin Sky Layer of the Yellow Rain Continent. He was about to commence his Third Astral Tribulation, the third tribulation of his life as a cultivator. It went by many names but when one felt its calling force, they could only regard it as one name: Soul-Pulse Manifestation Tribulation.

This was the first tribulation that showed a clear display of foundation and cultivation advantages. Those who could construct their Soul Idol, establish their Soul Rings, can grasp a higher form of Spiritual Strength that exceeded the norm. According to the many records of ancient and recent cultivators, this trial was the first where an individual could simply stop at will.

It was almost extremely unlikely to die in this trial, having very little mortal danger, and that was all due to the ability to purposefully cease. But, ceasing inevitably meant a lesser state of Soul Idol formation. The casualties from this trial were from two unfortunate reasons: One, lacking foundation leading to an inability to pass the very first portion of the Astral Tribulation; or two, overestimating one's strengths and exceeding their limits.

As long as one remained cautious, succeeding this tribulation was relatively easy. This was one of the core reasons that a hegemonic force like the Myriad Monarch Sect classified those at the Soul Idol Phase within the Mortal Captain-Rank as Elders. Numerous of these so-called Soul Idol experts had completed the First Ring only.

Even Continental Guardians, those who oversee various continental flat earths, had a minimum of Two Rings formed. With each ring formed, the cultivator experiences an undeniable multiplicative leap in spiritual strength and quality of innately refined spiritual energies.

Those at One-Ringed Soul Idols might have spiritual strength a hundred times less than Nine-Ringed Soul Idols, creating an insurmountable chasm between them. These rings also had another name, another purpose. They were referred to as Soul Pulses. It was clear that the greater the number of pulses, the higher the spirituality of one's Astral Soul, the more vivid it becomes when manifested, the greater the space it occupies.

Wei Wuyin calmly inhaled and exhaled in a soothing rhythm. He had four independent Astral Souls, requiring four separate Astral Tribulations. He knew that with his Astral Souls high-level energies and qualities, the Soul-Pulse Manifestation Tribulation was relatively easy to accomplish. He only wondered why miraculous changes would take place from this.

In his first Astral Tribulation, he had learned there was no mortal danger to the Mortal Star Formation Tribulation. It was merely a teacher that instilled the knowledge of whatever Astral Soul it faced, allowing them and its cultivator to glimpse at the truth regarding Intents. It formed a blueprint in one's mind.

For Ori, his Divine Elemental Astral Soul, it had given him the pieces to Elemental Origin Intent, and left the much larger, greater pieces for the Heart of the World, World of the Elements Intent. It was otherwise known as the Elemental Heart Intent.

It was the highest form of Elemental Origin Intent, requiring the merging of nine high-level elemental intents into one. He had six at the moment, gaining the Desolate Intent relating to the Earth Element after the tribulation. He still required high-level Intents for fire, water, and wind.

While he had tried to briefly search for these other high-level Intents for the basic elemental natures, he soon peered into the flow of the world, gleaming that what he desired existed within the Gateway Door. This was the greatest reason he intended to venture inwards. As for finding them in the outside world? He hadn't been able to.

The Desolate Intent had formed naturally due to aging and decay of an Ancient Void Gate. He didn't know how long it'd been there, preserved and undisturbed by all forms of life. He couldn't find any other Intents that fit with the other elements, even trying to comprehend Aquatic Intent wasn't appropriate. It seemed he had to find compatible Elemental Intents.

After a while, he decided to focus his attention elsewhere and strive to complete his Elemental Origin Intent in the Gateway Door.

"Let's start! Let's start! Let's start!" Ori rushed.

It was anxiously excited, wanting to ascend to the next level with greater enthusiasm than even him. He knew they were all waiting for him. They required his comprehension of the next realm, but their foundations with the various energies had already reached their limit, unable to be increased by a single iota more for more than a year now.

Due to their extremely fast refinement speeds, they absorbed endless alchemical products to grow until their limit. This was why they each had one centimeter-sized Astral Cores, the limit of a Sky Ruler. They had similarly done this in the World Sea Phase as well, reaching four millimeters.

"Okay!" He withdrew his Celestial Eyes and interfaced with Ori. The distinctive sensation of a tribulation trigger was present, wrapped within his endless insights into Soul Idol Formation. He unhesitantly triggered it!

Fortunately, he made ample preparations to prevent the soiling of his pants in case his Astral Souls felt mischievous once again! He had learned his lesson! Therefore, when he was washed once more in that familiar feeling, he welcomed it with wide arms.

Lifting his head, he instantly felt the world go silent. As if he was isolated from existence, and an existence beyond his understanding had faintly decided to glance his way. His heart tightened. This familiar feeling existed in every trial.

He knew it was the world, maybe even the Heavenly Daos themselves, observing his state of cultivation to determine the Astral Tribulation needed. It exerted an oppressive force into the very mind, forcing one's thoughts and ideas to contort in unique ways. For some, fear might develop within their hearts. For him, a sense of fearless strength swelled within him.

"Yi! Yi! Yi!" This strength was the shared emotional connection he had with Ori. It was very animated as it excitedly shouted various noises. This caused Wei Wuyin to quietly await any changes with stability in mind and soul. In his Sky-World Lightning Tribulation, Ori and the others had somehow manipulated the Astral Tribulation to amplify itself. Then, they fused it into one to spontaneously refine their personalized mana.

Their Zenith Mortal States had evolved into Zenith Origin State. This higher grade of mana brought about numerous changes, including an increased control over his Intents, capable of exciting ambient mana into a frenzy, and capable of creating higher-quality products.

He hadn't explored all the benefits yet, but simply these three aspects of the Zenith Origin State were heaven-defying to him. He had his suspicions that the Zenith Origin State might involve the secrets of the Mystic Ascendant Realm, but even Wu Yu was clueless regarding its name. This surprised him, so he wasn't exactly certain. But, Wu Yu was merely a First Stage Mystic Ascendant, who hadn't yet explored the true depths of that realm. He was somewhat unreliable. No, extremely unreliable.

Uuuurrrrnnn!

A sound erupted, like the strange bellowing of a great aquatic beast. His heart pounded as he stared at the sky. He felt the world twist, contort, and change in an unpredictable fashion. He realized the colors of the world were changing and moving, forming a kaleidoscope-like effect of perfect symmetry. But this was only from his point of view.

All those present on the continent felt a looming pressure that pressed against their souls, their spirits, and their minds. Some, a few who were trying to reach the Qi Condensation Realm, unable to connect with their souls, throbbed intensely as they felt an enlightened sensation surge throughout their bodies. Immediately, they cultivated without hesitation and started to form their Heart of Qi.

Wei Wuyin's eyes shrunk to needlepoints. The world above him had changed in an instant. He was always watching the sky, but it was as if there was no indication of change as nine objects appeared. The sensation of watching something intently only for a new object to emerge without rhyme, reason, or indication caused his mind to stumble.

It was so disconcerting that even Ori went silent, feeling shocked to its core. Its playful yelps ceased entirely. Especially due to the sheer presence of these nine objects! The only thing that remained in his thoughts was one word: Incredible!

Up above, nine cyan-colored rings had appeared. They were of varying sizes, but their sizes were massive, with the smallest, the closest, being hundreds of thousands of kilometers in size! As for the one above, it was larger! It was thicker! It was more radiant than the three solar stars themselves!

It didn't stop.

As it got further away into an impossible distance, the size, thickness, and radiance of each following ring became even brighter forming what seemed to be a cone of rings with him, no, the continent, as the tip. He gawked, his heart beating with the might of a million drums pounding in unison!

The last ring seemed to encircle the starfield or perhaps even greater. He felt his mouth go dry as he recalled the details of Soul-Pulse Manifestation Tribulation!

He had to race through each ring!!

His mind flared as he questioned Ori, "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"...Yi?"