Paragon of Sin

One week later.

Wei Wuyin's athletic figure was surrounded by mystical energy, white and pure, light and free. He deeply inhaled, and the energy entered his nostrils, openings of his closed eyelids, mouth and ears. It was as if every orifice of his body was breathing as the energy used any means to enter his body.

When the energy had been fully consumed, Wei Wuyin's closed eyes snapped open. A scintillating multicolored light effused from his eyes, bathing the world in variety. A shimmering mixture of colors were beautiful and majestic.

A soft exhale later, and he spat out a wad of purified essence. There wasn't a hint of turbid or tainted essence within that breath of his. It was exceedingly pure and could be used by others to cultivate to great effect.

"Extraordinary!" Wei Wuyin excitedly exclaimed as he analyzed the myriad changes occurring in his body, in his qi, and in his spirit.

During this week, he had designated a majority of his efforts to fuse his fire, water, earth, wind, metal, lightning, wood, magma, and ice energies into one. It was the initial birthing process of Elemental Energy.

Condensing elemental energy wasn't difficult. In fact, the most difficult portion was birthing nine elements rather than combining them into one. That was because the nine elements were like pieces of a puzzle, and with all nine, one can easily fit them into a single whole.

Therefore, creating elemental energy wasn't difficult. Neither was transforming one's Heart of Qi. The sole reason why he took a week had to do with the Qi Method he was cultivating: Divine Element Form.

The Divine Element Form didn't just require the birth of elemental energy, but required the transformation of the core within the Heart of Qi. The core contained its quintessence, all of its energies, all of its substance, and was the hub that housed the spirit.

The 'Divine Heart' aspect referred to fusing all the nine-types of elemental energies within the core into true elemental energy, replacing the nine-types entirely. At that point, he would no longer possess Absolute Zero Frost Energy or Life Meadow Wood Energy, but Divine Element Energy.

Divine Element Energy contained the inherent abilities of all his elements and advanced elements multiplied by several-fold in terms of intensity and might. Therefore, the inherent vitality and lifeforce within was far stronger than before.

He had spent an entire week on this fusion process, making that completed puzzle into a single whole picture. There was no longer a way to disconnect or segregate them.

His core was no longer multicolored, but a pure white color. He could still feel yin, yang, yin-yang, and saber energies within, but its substructure had become true elemental energy.

The elemental energy generated Elemental Qi that swirled within the cyclone surrounding the core. From this cyclone, streams of white qi circulated throughout his body and tempered it as per usual.

He felt an exceptionally powerful strength emerge from his body with each tempering cycle completed. The attributes of his body from before had jumped considerably! He squeezed his fists and felt like he had endless and boundless power within.

"I have two Hearts of Qi, but only one has been thoroughly transformed into a Divine Heart of Elemental Qi. Now, it no longer contains basic energy or qi, just elemental energy and qi." As he muttered this, he checked his other Heart of Qi. Its core wasn't white, but multicolored containing all the thirteen-types of energy, including basic energy.

"I can produce elemental qi with either core, but the elemental qi from my Divine Heart is far stronger. Is this the inherent difference between a transformed heart and a standard one? One contains the energy, and one becomes it!" As he regarded these differences, he couldn't help but sigh in amazement.

He was originally planning on transforming both of his Hearts of Qi with elemental energy, but he stopped himself. In the end, he decided against it completely.

At first, he wanted two Divine Hearts of Elemental Qi, but now, with the Nascent Saber Soul, he felt the need to strengthen his saber qi. Therefore, he needed a Heart of Saber Qi.

However, he didn't want an ordinary one! He wanted a Divine Heart of Saber Qi! He planned to transform his core in much the same way as the other one, completely and on a fundamental level!

His decision was reinforced when he realized the benefits a Divine Heart gave his spirit, essence, matter, and mind! He had never felt so clear-headed, so physically empowered, and so hungry!

His meridians had experienced a change on a fundamental level, allowing him to absorb and refine elemental energies as easy as breathing oxygen itself. His spiritual sense now embodied the characteristics of all nine elements, and none of them could hinder his perception, either physical or spiritual!

As for his physique, each element had benefits when birthed and tempered one's body and qi.

Earth: Durability & Strength.

Water: Flexibility & Fluidity of Movement.

Wind: Ease of Control & Movement Speed.

Fire: Resilient to Heat & Cold.

Metal: Toughness, Durability, & Fluidity of Form.

Lightning: Reaction Speed, Reflexes, & Movement Speed.

Wood: Flexibility, Adaptability, & Strength.

Magma: Immunity to Heat(to a certain degree), & Fluidity of Movement.

Ice: Immunity to Cold(to a certain degree) & Toughness.

These were the specific benefits of an elemental birth outside of the overall general increase in physique with each inclusion. While they all increased physical attributes, some enhanced certain aspects more than others, such as magma may increase physical strength higher than ice.

If he included the benefits of his high-level essences, such as the Life Meadow Wood Essence's vitality and lifeforce, he realized that all of those traits had been increased by nine-fold, at least!

Wei Wuyin felt truly empowered! He knew with just his physical strength, he could kill a Mortal God level expert! He was absolutely certain of this.

If he created a Divine Heart of Saber Qi, who knew how powerful he would become!

He took a deep breath and started to remove the essence stones from his bag. He was going to transform his Heart of Qi at this very moment! Wei Wuyin had no intentions of settling, and was going to go for broke.

Sixteen days later.

A ferocious saber qi was born! It released a sharp keen of slaughter and ferocity! A hymn of sabers permeated the air as the surrounding space was sliced apart without mercy.

Wei Wuyin stood up, in his right hand was Element. Its long body, curvature of the spine, and sharp bladed edge carried a trace of slaughter.

"So this is what a Heart of Saber Qi can do!" Wei Wuyin grinned, excited. He had been making huge leaps in cultivation one after another, but he still felt pressured by the Eighteen Calamities of Hell. If it wasn't for that, he would've set his personal strength as a lower priority, but now, it was his greatest priority.

With a Divine Heart of Elemental Qi and Divine Heart of Saber Qi, he realized his entire aura had changed. He had a natural, attuned with the world, yet boundlessly overbearing and fierce aura.

A pure qi circulated around Element. It no longer left a trace of multicolored light as it moved, only a white streak.

This white streak was elemental energy of the highest purity, formed by the combined force of high-level elements. Even Divine King Han Xei hadn't reached this level!

His Divine Heart of Saber Qi still had elemental energies within, but they were thoroughly under the forceful lead of the saber energy. They could only bolster its strength and follow it into battle.

Wei Wuyin had also realized an inherent issue with Ethereal Qi Hearts. When he relied solely on his Divine Heart of Saber Qi, he couldn't execute any standard elemental qi arts. It wasn't that he couldn't create fire, but that it would always take the form of a saber, possessing an inherent saber quality. The saber intent birthed was exceptionally overbearing, forcefully inserting itself into everything.

Even movement arts were transformed, and with saber qi as its lead, it made controlling and regulating the qi arts according to its described ways difficult, if not impossible. This flaw was likely why there were no Divine Heart of Saber Qi Methods, or any 'Divine' Heart of Ethereal Qi in the Scarlet Dao Temple.

Luckily, he hadn't transformed his Hearts of Qi into only saber qi.

Fortunately, his elemental qi could execute any elemental art and increase its base strength by nine-fold! The difference was clear. It was already far stronger than normal Elemental Qi Hearts, as even Jiao Ning, who possessed a Heart of Wind Qi, could only increase her wind qi arts strength by three-fold.

"It's just unfortunate," he sighed. "I used six hundred and thirty-two essence stones to help transform my Heart of Qi." Wei Wuyin didn't need those essence stones for the Divine Heart of Elemental Qi. After all, his qi and core was already the nine elements to begin with. All that was required was a process of fusion and refinement.

This was why cultivating the qi method was too easy, but saber qi needed to be refined by his intent and infused. Luckily, his new Externalize Heart Qi Method sped up refinement speed by a tremendous amount. After all, essence stones were already refined essence to begin with, so it didn't need to enter his meridians.

He learned that using this method, he could drastically increase his cultivation speed and eliminate possible complications of pure energy or impure essence circulating within his body. Of course, there were downsides.

His Hearts of Qi were incredibly fragile to begin with. If he suffered an attack while cultivating while externalizing, it would be as easy as breathing for other cultivators to eliminate them. Therefore, he decided to only use it when he was absolutely assured of his safety.

Also, if he absorbed the Essence of Heaven and Earth, his Hearts of Qi would also absorb the impurities, bits and pieces of taint that would usually get filtered out by his meridians. This could lead to it becoming ill, slow in circulation, or weaker. Therefore, he couldn't rashly absorb the ambient essence from the world, having to rely on refined essence stones.

At the moment, he had barely any relations with anyone in Golden Milk City and no enemies, which was why he felt assured to take such a risk. However, in a place like the Scarlet Solaris Sect, even if he had a 99% assurance, he decided to never take it.

The price for a slight mishap was far too heavy.

After completing his transformative cultivation, he still had a few days before the month's due date was over. He used the Exteralize Heart Qi Method to rapidly absorb the remaining four hundred and so essence stones. He split the stones in half, and checked his progress.

If the False Reality Phase had percentages of development towards Sublime Qi Phase, then he was about forty-percent of the way there with both Hearts. He now knew that he needed about five hundred for each Heart of Qi.

Noting this, he finally left.

When he arrived at the Surabhi Emporium, it was still filled with a lively aura. He truly had nothing but praise to the one who devised such an establishment. It was suited for all needs, and sometimes, you might even discover something you didn't even know you wanted.

He even saw that friendly attendant just idling away, waiting patiently for confused or questioning arrivals. He softly smiled and went to Kosh's Energy.

Wei Wuyin saw the clerk who just sat in a chair with a look of boredom. Wei Wuyin realized that such an expensive shop didn't have a swarm of customers daily. After all, high-level essences weren't something just anyone could afford. Those who didn't have a strong backer or high cultivation base could only rely on lucky chances to obtain one.

The sheer prices were incredibly expensive, and if asked a year ago if he could buy a high-level essence stone for one hundred and fifty stones, he would've laughed and called the person nuts.

When the clerk saw Wei Wuyin arrive, he slyly smiled with eyes containing a slight trace of mocking. Wei Wuyin didn't bother with him, as he just stood in a corner and quietly waited.

He paid attention to the time and waited. It should be an hour before the total time of a full month ends. In the cultivation world, every month was determined by thirty solar and lunar cycles. When the sun and the moon descends and ascends.

Therefore, he didn't hold any doubt about the time of the meeting due to the agreement.

Soon, the minutes ticked away.

Then, an hour arrived.

Abruptly, two hours came and went.

Wei Wuyin's expression turned uglier by the passing second. He had already thought of the various one-day orders he would ask for. He had a belly full of dark desires yet no outlet.

Three hours passed.

Wei Wuyin's eyes were closed and the rage in his heart was becoming murderously fierce. Who liked waiting for someone? He sure as fuck didn't.

"You know, those two had already left the city. If you're thinking of begging for your magma essence back, you're out of luck." The clerk finally said after realizing the aura Wei Wuyin was emitting felt a little dangerous. At first, he found it funny, but Wei Wuyin's aura was causing him to shriek in fear within his heart.

"What?!" He whipped his head fiercely towards the clerk. "They left?!"

The clerk took a step back, awkwardly laughing in hopes of defusing the tense and uncomfortableness in his heart, "uh, yeah. They left the day of. I saw them leave the city, and I don't think they intended to come back."

"..." Wei Wuyin's eyes were wide, disbelief at their gall and the utter shamelessness. You make a bet and then depart? Aren't you just cheating people? Can you even call yourself a Godlord?!

The respect he had for Godlord Lin dropped to the lowest possible point.

"Where did they go?!" He was going to get his victory.

"Uh, northwest, I think. They should be heading to the Wu Empire's Capital City, Wudao." The clerk answered sheepishly.

"...Northwest? Fuck!" Wei Wuyin viciously stomped his feet. An aura of white elemental qi entered the air. The world became cowed as the various natural elements went awry, matching his anger.

The wind currents became enraged, chaotic and everflowing. The moisture condensed into ice droplets and steam vapor. The floor softened, hardened, cracked, and shifted. A slicing air surged, overbearing, imperious, and murderous.

The disturbance caused all those on the above and below floors to feel like an earthquake was happening. There were yelps of panic, fearful shrieks, and confused questions slinging from the crowd.

Wei Wuyin rarely ever lost his cool, but the fact they essentially cheated him made him feel stupid and naive. In fact, he was essentially robbed, and he gave it to them with the utmost confidence. How could he not be angry? How could he not be enraged?! His trust in the honor of a Godlord had vanished into thin air.

Zroom!

He felt a spiritual sense sweep towards his area. This spiritual sense stopped on him. It was penetrating and daunting. A strong taste of metal entered his mouth, and faint tingling itched at his skin. He could feel a hint of qi within.

He calmed himself down after sensing this spiritual sense linger on his body. As he did, the manifestations of elemental chaos and slicing currents subsided.

"Thanks for telling me," he said, looking dejected. He directly left the emporium before the situation devolved into Mortal Gods descending to investigate. The spiritual sense followed him out and then withdrew itself.

Whoever that spiritual sense belonged to, he knew it belonged to a Godlord. That expert was likely the Godlord who ran the Golden Milk City. Wei Wuyin had no desire of enraging someone who's qi were infused with their spiritual strength.

He heavily sighed in his heart, his emotions already soothing out. He knew that overconfidence was a weakness, yet he was overconfident. He also knew that people were unreliable, yet he trusted people. The prestigious title of Godlord had blinded him.

"Tch. Lesson learned. Take it as a learning experience." Was all he could say to comfort his heart.

However, he will have his victory...one day.