Paragon of Sin

Through spiritual transmission, Lady Clearwind's explanation was concise and detailed; she held back very little as she began to relay her knowledge to Wei Wuyin. Since the mythical oaths sworn earlier didn't include restricting her from telling others about this situation, as even the masked figure likely never accounted for Lady Clearwind to explain of her own volition, she freely did so. 

Wei Wuyin, Wu Yu, and Wen Mingna quietly listened, their interest growing with every passing second. From Lady Clearwind's story, she was contacted by an unidentified party, a single cultivator, who informed her of a Stellar Nest's spatial anomaly. A Stellar Nest was a unique realm that could be considered both a Secret Realm and a World Realm with strange fluctuations of space and various restrictions that made it difficult for even Ascended beings to detect, enter, or predict. 

This cultivator revealed that they had a way to detect a Stellar Nest, even breach a small opening in fixed space to connect to it. This was different than using the typical entrance, but was a man-made backdoor of sorts. The cultivator informed her that an Earthly Saint with their own Internal World was needed to create this man-made backdoor. 

After all, an Internal World bore remarkable similarities to a Stellar Nest, bearing qualities of both a Secret Realm and a World Realm. She was skeptical at first but was later convinced after seeing all the compelling evidence, and further tempted by the allure of the Zenith Stellar Source. 

When the Zenith Stellar Source was mentioned, Wen Mingna's breathing became a little unstable, catching Wei Wuyin's notice. Wen Mingna discreetly informed Wei Wuyin that the Zenith Stellar Source and its so-called Stellar Nest was unable to be scryed by Heavenly Seers. No one knows what it is or why it exists, but there were numerous colonies throughout the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region. Despite this, no one has ever been able to attain one. 

Still, roughly six thousand years ago, Stellar Rain concoction methods began to rapidly surge to popularity as the King of Everlore had refined a unique product called the Ever-Starlight Pellet. It was a ninth-grade pellet that held enough power to severely injure, if not outright kill, Mystic Star Phase cultivators. Furthermore, it could be used to replicate the speed of Stellar Rain, which was stupendously fast, and allowed one to escape even the most dangerous crisis. Most importantly, spatial restrictions, even World Prisons of Ascended beings and Earthly Saints were unable to halt this attempt. 

The popularity was fully warranted as forces began to collect Stellar Rain with a severe passion, causing the Void Hunter occupation to breathe a whole new life. While the occupation later found its footing from other miraculous treasures of the unexplored Dark Void, Stellar Rain helped it grow to its current level where there were organizations with Earthly Saints at the helm. 

Unfortunately, Stellar Rain was absurdly difficult to claim and the mortality rate in the venture to gather them was depressingly high. There was once a Demi-Mortal Lord who attempted to capture Stellar Rain in a heavy swarm but was met with over ten million of these lifeforms, causing them to be punctured to death. 

This brought to prospective the dangers and slowly decreased the attempts. Yet the Ever-Starlight Pellet was extremely desired, so only the experienced with all sorts of prepared tools sought to capture them for a hefty profit. 

As for Zenith Stellar Source, that was merely the name given by cultivators to describe the bring that births Stellar Rain. No one knew what it looked like or what it actually was, just that there wasn't just one in the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region. In fact, there were speculated to be hundreds of Stellar Nests out there, and even a Grand Stellar Nest that housed the first of their kind—their progenitor. 

Some architects that studied these beings theorized that every Stellar Nest was connected to each other, like an ant colony, and that these Zenith Stellar Source were just workers that refined the gathered solar essence and energies to feed it to their true queen. 

Of course, no one knew the truth due to the elusive nature of these nests and indiscernible characteristics of the Stellar Rain. When caught, these Stellar Rain imploded, leaving a unique form of essence that is used in the Ever-Starlight Pellets and other similar products including refined by Star Cores to elevate their intrinsic qualities. 

Wen Mingna was extremely well-read, reading published journals from architects and scholars regarding Stellar Rain while she cultivated at the Golden Gate Pavilion. Her erudite nature was why she was so outstanding, alongside her patience and resolve, she was a force to be reckoned with. 

"A Stellar Nest?" Wei Wuyin rubbed his chin in contemplation. This was slightly unexpected. 

"Indeed, Mortal Sovereign Wei. However, the Stellar Nest's spatial qualities are unstable. It reacts very negatively to mystic-graded tools, including energies, essence, and power." Lady Clearwind informed, slightly revealing her own dissatisfaction at this frustrating feature. This prevented any and all Ascended beings from breaching using this backdoor or their entrances. 

"..." Wu Yu looked towards the Stellar Nest's backdoor, which was just a nondescript set of continuously pulsating spatial ripples in a limited area. He turned to Wei Wuyin and sent a message, to which Wei Wuyin nodded. Lady Clearwind noticed this interaction and realized what Wu Yu wanted to do.

She cautiously warned, "The one who said he could retrieve the Zenith Stellar Source and copious amounts of Stellar Rain is still inside, and a thousand of my men." 

Wu Yu gave her glance and then a confident grin. Without saying anything, he flew towards the ripples and stopped short by a single meter. Raising his hand, his Mystic Runes of eight different sets began to revolve, gathering at his palm, and then he plunged his hand into the ripples. Suddenly, the ripples froze completely. His arm vanished without warning, and then he moved it up and down slightly before pulling it out. The ripples resumed movement.

Lady Clearwind was absolutely stupefied seeing this. When that hand was plunged in with mystic power enveloping it, she expected it to show signs of collapse, but nothing happened. She had tried something similar before, but it caused chaotic ripples to pulse through the Dark Void just coming near it. She hastily retreated in fear of destroying this backdoor. 

Wu Yu returned to Wei Wuyin and began to exchange a series of spiritually transmitted messages regarding his findings. 

"So even you can't?" Wei Wuyin realized that Wu Yu was also restricted. While he had means, and possessed a unique Internal World, he could only prevent it from collapsing and keep it stable, not enter himself. The backdoor was chaotic, so cultivators couldn't enter regardless due to its instability, hence the continuous ripples. The masked figure solved this issue, allowing him to enter.

Wei Wuyin wasn't quite keen on the idea of entering a nest of beings that could kill a Demi-Mortal Lord. That sounded foolish beyond belief. He had never been that reckless with his life without some confidence, but he would be lying to himself if he wasn't similarly tempted by the allure of an unlimited source of Stellar Rain. However, that masked figure was a mortal, and they entered with confidence that they could claim Stellar Rain and the Zenith Stellar Source.

There had to be a reason for this, no? 

"What do you think?" Wei Wuyin asked Wen Mingna. 

Wen Mingna answered with a frown: "I've tried to perform several divinations regarding the nest, but it's sealed from fate. The details of Stellar Rain and all the things surrounding it have always been restricted from Seers and Oracles alike. " She couldn't explain why, but that's been the case. If not, those Stellar Nests would've long since been discovered and plundered mercilessly by the greedy and ambitious.

"But," Wen Mingna continued, "there's two possibilities that could be assumed based on the evidence and information we know of." 

Wei Wuyin was all ears. He found it interesting that Wen Mingna set herself on two assumptions, because he too had thought two possibilities were likely.

"The first possibility is that the Stellar Nest isn't as dangerous as we expect. If unproven but reasonable theories of various records and scholars are to be considered, then Stellar Rain gains their power from solar energies. These energies are sent to the Zenith Stellar Source like food, so none of those Stellar Rain lifeforms contain powers exceeding Mortal Limits." Wen Mingna asserted, giving herself time to think and articulate her thoughts.

Lady Clearwind and Wu Yu inwardly nodded. These were their initial thoughts too. Since the masked figure was a mortal, then the danger posed by Stellar Rain had to be reduced considerably. To explain it away by saying their energies were drained after delivering it to the Zenith Stellar Source made logical sense.

Wei Wuyin agreed that this was a possibility.

"The second possibility is that the masked figure the United Source True Queen mentioned has a method to severely weaken the Stellar Rain and Zenith Stellar Source or they're severely weakened by the Stellar Nest's own limitations and restrictions." The idea that their home sealed their strength to prevent them from destroying it could be a flaw of their own design, preventing things beyond Mortal Limits from entering. 

"It could be two-fold," Wei Wuyin said.

"It could," Wen Mingna agreed. If both were the case, then it made sense why the masked figure had confidently entered, even negotiating with an Earthly Saint.

However, Wei Wuyin was a little disappointed. Wen Mingna wasn't wrong, but both possibilities could be combined under the category: "Weakened by circumstances." 

Wen Mingna's thoughts finally caught up, and her eyes lit in brilliance. "There's another possibility: If the masked figure is an Ascended cultivator in disguise, likely an Earthly Saint with ways to hide his intrinsic mystic qualities. If so, then he has the means to protect himself." 

Wei Wuyin faintly smiled, 'looking' towards the spatial ripples. Since these ripples caused a commotion, it was possible the masked figure sought to gain the local leader's support and not be hindered by every tom, dick, and harry with greed in their eyes. Asking for reinforcements and all the rest was a mere guise to trick the United Source True Queen into complacency, allowing her to believe she was in control.

Lady Clearwind understood Wen Mingna's assumption, and she gave an instinctive harrumph, "I'm no idiot; I've made them swear a mythical oath that their cultivation base was below the Ascended level. And they have to use the backdoor here to exit or else they'd fail another oath as well." 

Wu Yu gave Lady Clearwind a surprised look, realizing she wasn't foolish enough to be blinded by greed and overconfidence of her own power even when associating with mortals. He felt a little bit of admiration for her.

Wei Wuyin deftly nodded. "Good," he said. 

"Good?" Lady Clearwind furrowed her brows. She didn't need confirmation of her intelligence, every breath she took, every move she made, and all her achievements thus far was enough. Despite Wei Wuyin's mysterious status, it still felt weird to hear that type of compliment from a mere mortal.

Wei Wuyin didn't bother with Lady Clearwind's misunderstanding, having already made a decision in his heart.

"I know you told me all this in the hopes of getting me to not interfere, likely willing to concede some benefits as well, but I apologize: I don't like obtaining a small share of any fortune." Wei Wuyin told his truest feelings that were deeply developed as an Exploitative Blessed and Inheritor of Sin. 

Lady Clearwind was stunned. She indeed told Wei Wuyin all this in the hopes of him staving off any attempt or interfering. She was willing to give him a taste to gain his favor if the masked figure succeeded. In fact, she was about to launch into a wave of talks to discuss this exact matter, but Wei Wuyin had shut that down before she even spouted a single word.

She gave Wu Yu a look and her expression became unfathomably dark. This was what she feared. 

As if given a cue, Wu Yu's Mystic Aura erupted and pressed against Lady Clearwind. She had to unleash her own to prevent being suppressed, but her flustered complexion revealed that Wu Yu wasn't holding back this time. Moreover, she had to consciously protect her subordinates. Despite Wei Wuyin being in close proximity, that a single breath of hers could eviscerate him, there was nothing she could do with Wu Yu by his side. 

"WHAT!" She violently shouted, but then gradually calmed down, "do you want? I can give you fifte-, no, twenty percent of the profits of all sales, and give you a set amount of Stellar Rain every year for five hundred years. What do you think? Why fight when we can be allies?" 

Wei Wuyin shook his head, "United Source True Queen, you misunderstand. I'm not trying to fight you. I don't intend to receive or take a share of the benefits from you—I intend to obtain my own." When he said this, Lady Clearwind was taken aback so fiercely that her Mystic Aura became turbulent, causing her to be pushed back a few feet. 

"Stabilize the backdoor. I'm going in," Wei Wuyin began to undress. Since mystic-graded materials were restricted, he had to return to his normal attire. He was extremely swift, donning his black-colored, form-fitting, martial arts robes once more, giving him a strong and dashing appearance.

Wen Mingna and Bai Lin seemed to have expected this as the former gave Wei Wuyin a concerned look and the latter was smiling excitedly. 

Wu Yu and Wei Wuyin didn't pay any attention to Lady Clearwind's further reactions. Wu Yu brought Wei Wuyin to the ripples and pushed his hand through them once more, causing the ripples to stop. He looked at Wei Wuyin intensely, sending spiritually: "You sure? What if the masked figure is an Ascended being that tricked this woman?" If structured properly, all oaths could contain hidden loopholes.

Wei Wuyin grinned, "I have experience dealing with restricted Ascended beings." After saying this, he flew into the ripples and vanished.