Paragon of Sin

"You're totally serious, aren't you?!" Guan Yu cried out as he leaned his bident against the back of his neck, hanging his arms from its sides, a position he seemed to find enjoyable to be in. Unlike the despondent and lifeless form he had been in before, he was presently filled with life.

Wei Wuyin beside him, distanced by a few meters of open space. They walked the Earthen Horizon Zone together, side-by-side. However, Guan Yu was clearly following along. Wei Wuyin was absorbed in his thoughts, head down, brows furrowed, and outright ignoring the exuberantly astonished Guan Yu.Â

Guan Yu, however, was fine with being ignored. The tether to life was before him, so as long as it could pull him from the clutches of certain death, he didn't mind any form of abuse. And this was merely being ignored, so he wasn't offended at all.Â

Step! Step! Step!

A series of rushed footsteps resounded, approaching the two with determined swiftness. The air of blood lingered, growing stronger by the second. Guan Yu glanced at the direction of the sound and a figure soon came into view. The figure saw the two of them from afar, buddied together as if they were allies. The expression of the figure immediately changed, and then their eyes glinted with a dark and heavy light, clearly preparing for a fierce fight that might end up in its loss of life.

Guan Yu frowned while Wei Wuyin ignored this development, his thoughts and focus elsewhere. Guan Yu casually shrugged with indifference in his eyes, "You can leave."Â

Those dismissive words startled the figure for a moment, looking at Guan Yu and then Wei Wuyin. These two seemed unhurt and gave off a strange feeling. The figure realized that pushing the issue might be unwise. They proceeded to retreat cautiously, their eyes never leaving the two potential enemies. After shuffling back for a bit, seeing the two not pursuing, the figure turned and rushed off with maximal effort. A one versus two battle was not something the figure wished to engage in.Â

Guan Yu watched the figure scurrying off in a hurry, "I wonder if they'll be executed when they leave'¦" A forlorn emotion suffused his low tone, remembering that many talented soldiers were caught in the ignorance of their ancestors, misunderstanding the purpose of the Battlefield and suffering unfair deaths as a result. They sought a better future with greater rewards, but all they'd receive was death in the false mental triumph of victory.

"Doesn't matter," Wei Wuyin indifferently commented. "Those capable will think for themselves. Those incapable will die unjust deaths. Those capable and willing to ignorantly indulge earned their deaths."Â

Guan Yu's expression drastically changed, becoming incredibly ugly and twisted. Wasn't he a full-fledged member of the third type? After all, he had the means and knowledge, yet he didn't have the forethought to ask a single question or think for himself, following the teachings about the Battlefield left by his clan. However, he couldn't refute. He firmly fit that description.

Wei Wuyin and Guan Yu continued onwards at a steady pace. That little encounter hadn't just happened once, but multiple times since they departed for the central area of the Nexus Battlefield with multiple different Soldiers of War. They had been walking slowly through the Earthen Horizon Zone, making their way towards the center of the Battlefield where the Obelisk of War was standing tall. Wei Wuyin used this period of travel to slowly and efficiently refine that new poison of his.Â

While doing this, King and Ori were pulsating within his Dantian. Kratos pumped fiercely as his fleshy heart and Eden stretched its roots deeply within his Sea of Consciousness. With his newly refined physique, he could handle the base limits of their spiritual strength, so he felt far better than before with all four unsealed. Since they were crucial to the final phases of his plan, he decided to see where his bodily limits lie.Â

Guan Yu's expression had eased considerably since Wei Wuyin's brutally honest comment. When they reached the edges of the Earthen Horizon Zone, seeing a field of dense trees ahead, Guan Yu used this opportunity to start another conversation.Â

"What do you think the Heavenly War Spirit means?" Guan Yu was well aware of all the pricing and offering of the Nexus Battlefield's War Soul Exchange. This particular detail had been theorized by his clan for over two hundred thousand years.

When Guan Yu first learned of this, learned about the typical population size of the Nexus Battlefield, he believed the Soldiers of War all had sufficient War Souls to pay the 5,000,000 price tag. But he'll have to slaughter half the Nexus Battlefield to obtain it. That or ask very nicely, of course.Â

Unfortunately, Guan Yu also knew that War Souls not earned by oneself were unable to be traded in the War Soul Exchange, it was only useful to be traded outside the Battlefield, so that crushed all his dreams. It wasn't just the end of that dream, but the majority of the exquisitely high-level items available were unable to be purchased. They could only be looked at wistfully.

It was unfortunate too, because one could only enter the Nexus Battlefield as a mortal once, and upon leaving, they'll have to wait until they become an Ascended. Because of this, those cultivation methods like the Swordlight Dawnbreaker Cultivation Method requiring 900 War Souls, a method that far exceeded even his own, could only be stared at with frustration and desire.Â

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he felt. That Warring Soul, Triumphant World Method was outrageously valuable. To think it guaranteed the establishment of a physique capable of handling a 9th Rune Seed Ascension, even giving the chance to ascend using a World Rune Seed!Â

However, it was limited to the Soldier's List! So even Commanders, those Ascended beings that might have the slightest chance of landing here with that amount, were unable to purchase it for their forces.Â

There was once a sect from his stellar region that had luckily obtained a High-Earth Method from the Battlefield. In a thousand years, they had matched the previously strongest force. In another thousand years, they became the absolute rulers of the stellar region. While certain things happened that eventually led to its demise, that force had sparked legends towards the Battlefield and its offered treasures. This was just a cultivation method too.Â

Wei Wuyin sniffed slightly. He smelled the scent of wood and foliage. A forest was nearby. According to Guan Yu, this forest was called the Forest Horizon Zone; the Nexus Battlefield wasn't very creative. It was very close to the Obelisk of War.

"It doesn't matter," Wei Wuyin answered Guan Yu's question after a long delay.

"How can you say that? Come on, you must have some ideas. I've never met someone as logical and smart as you, and I've met a lot of cultivators. Come on, you must have a guess at least!" Guan Yu egged, lavishing praise onto Wei Wuyin's ego, trying to rid himself of his vexed thoughts.

Wei Wuyin sighed. That statement definitely wasn't true, but he didn't feel like calling out Guan Yu for his nonsense and pitiful attempt at persuasion. "My guess? It's the War Spirit itself. "Â

"War Spirit?" Guan Yu was baffled for a moment, then his eyes brightened considerably. "THE War Spirit? Isn't that the ruler of this entire chaos realm?! That can't be, right? If one can own the War Spirit, wouldn't that mean ownership of the Battlefield?! AND everything in it?!"

Wei Wuyin didn't respond, merely gave an indifferent smile. It didn't matter what he or Guan Yu believed to be true. Unless they could afford it, none of it mattered. That said, he was already exposed to Spiritform beings, such as Wang Yutian.Â

According to Wang Yutian, his lifespan and soul had been transformed by the King of Everlore somehow, becoming essentially immortal and a new lifeform. This unique state afforded Spiritform beings further, more profound, advantages very suitable for overseeing realms. The various cultivators of the Everlore Starfield, such as Divine King Han Xei had implemented such means to leave behind legacies and regulate the stability of the realm.

Despite this being his guess, he wasn't absolutely certain about it. There were a few peculiarities if this was indeed the case, leaving too many unanswered questions. But at this moment, Wei Wuyin simply wanted to focus on the upcoming task, not delve into the incredible mysteries of the Battlefield.Â

"Earning the qualifications to observe the Obelisk of War is my only priority," Wei Wuyin reminded himself.Â

As an Exploitative Blessed, he was exceptional at grasping opportunities amidst difficulty and dangers. And as an Inheritor of Sin, it seems his ability to snatch the fortune of other Blessed was a destined occurrence. While this wasn't his fortuitous chance, he sought to make full use of it.

The two trekked across the Forest Horizon Zone, meeting a few Soldiers of War along the way, but their united presence led those lone soldiers to depart in haste. None of these warriors wanted to risk their lives in an uneven fight, so they turned tail at the first opportunity.Â

The two soon arrived at the very center of the Nexus Battlefield. If Wei Wuyin could see it, he would instantly recognize it as the monolith he saw after acquiring the Mark of War.Â

"We're here," Guan Yu said, his expression darkening considerably.Â

Wei Wuyin nodded. To be honest, Guan Yu was a valuable asset. While he wasn't very strong, he had two things that Wei Wuyin lacked at the moment: sight and direction. If he had traversed alone, it would've been a hellish hassle. To begin, he didn't even know which direction was the center, and if he interrogated others, they might lie to him out of grievance, seeking to take advantage of his current state.Â

Moreover, with the two traveling together, he didn't have to deal with others assaulting him without rest.Â

"Are you really serious about this?" Guan Yu solemnly asked, lacking the exuberant demeanor he had earlier. There was true skepticism now that he faced the Obelisk of War, now that he was truly here.Â

"Serious about what?"Â

The two immediately turned their heads, with Guan Yu visually seeing the presence of a young woman a dozen or so meters away, her hair was white, and her eyes were dark grey with multicolored flecks of white, black, and even a bit of orange. It reminded one of an uninhabited lunar satellite. She was slim in physique, roughly five feet and four inches in height, and dressed in form-fitting white and black robe.

While Wei Wuyin heard nothing, not a heartbeat or sounds of breathing coming from that direction. So when he heard that voice, his expression changed slightly, becoming dignified. Eden's roots quivered within his Sea of Consciousness.

"Guan Yu," Wei Wuyin called out.Â

"...Yeah?" Guan Yu's eyes were honed intently on this woman that had just spontaneously arrived. Her face was blurry and a little painful to look at. She was clearly using a strange tool to conceal her facial features. A strange action in this Nexus Battlefield. Still, from her body, and the contours of her face, it was highly possible she was a beautiful existence blessed by the heavens.

"She's an assassin," Wei Wuyin stated.Â

"What?" Guan Yu was startled. However, he understood Wei Wuyin's intentions, and he prepared himself for any sudden assault.

The white-haired woman seemed entirely unbothered by their exchange of cautionary words, standing completely while observing them. "I'm harmless, with no ill-will to speak of.. I'm just curious why you're here. So, what are you serious about?"