Paragon of Sin

Outside of the Neo-Dawn Palace, the foundation that kept the palace afloat was like a large, flat sheet of ground, and pacing upon this foundation at the palace's entrance was a young woman. With furrowed brows, foggy eyes, and seemingly occupied thoughts, Wen Mingna waited. 

Since Wei Wuyin's successful tribulation, she had been continuously consolidating her cultivation base while simultaneously working on Wei Wuyin's orders. While Wei Wuyin cultivated and concocted during the four months prior to his breakthrough, she and Si De were been tasked with various matters, such as starting the Four Extreme Pavilions with the loyalists of the Four Extreme Continent. 

There was a total of 48 shops formed in a few months, and they had grown abnormally fast. However, the purpose of establishing these shops was multi-layered and not just an avenue for unloading the alchemical products that Wei Wuyin had in surplus from excessive experimentation. It was a test-run, surprisingly effective in its tactics for rapid, extensive growth over the entire planet. 

Wei Wuyin had taken the absolute lead as the foremost alchemical product provider within a matter of months. A fearsome achievement that had almost driven many, many businesses and alchemist organizations into the ground. There was still lingering controversy regarding these alchemist associations and businesses' practices and abilities, contrasted to the Four Extreme Pavilions' products' exceptional effects. 

Without any restrictions on his growth on the planet, it was a concept that was extremely powerful. However, this was secondary to the task she was given. Wen Mingna, riding this wave of sensationalism, had formed contractual oaths towards certain clans, organizations, lone rogue cultivators, and strange groups. 

In a matter of months, information poured in as agents were enlisted. This didn't just extend to Origin, but the entire Elementus Domain as the reputation of the Four Extreme Pavilion's products was widespread. With vast wealth, even the most complicated task was completed without a hitch.

And while the recent terraforming and renaming of Origin had caused some impediments to these agents' purpose, the rest of the Elementus Domain was still extremely active. 

Suddenly, her pacing came to a halt as she felt a familiar aura approach. Her foggy eyes cleared up, replaced with a steady gaze that contained intelligence, respect, and admiration. 

Wei Wuyin exited the palace's entrance with a lingering smile on his face. Dressed in black, Wei Wuyin's demeanor seemed to have changed from before his ascension to a Realmlord. If before, he appeared to be as profound and mysterious as the void, at the moment, he was like a grand king of the world, and it lingered on his every word, every action, and every thought. 

It was inexplicable. 

Wen Mingna was prepared for Wei Wuyin's arrival, but she was still momentarily stunned by his appearance. It was common for cultivators to seem more attractive after a breakthrough in their cultivation base. Their aura simply became more alluring, and while their appearance may not change, it heavily affected how others perceived them—how others were attracted to them. This was greatly due to the Yin-Yang Resonance Link, and even the same gender was affected to an extent.

However, when she saw Wei Wuyin, she could swear up and down that his appearance had elevated an entire level. She was speechless; If she tried to speak at this moment, she would undoubtedly fumble over her words, distracted by Wei Wuyin. 

"Wen Mingna!" Wei Wuyin called out with a layer of excitement in his tone, smiling brightly, and arriving before her in close proximity, only separated by a few feet of distance. His actions had caused Wen Mingna's mind to snap out of her thoughts, and, strangely enough, she calmed down instantly, bringing her a stable comfort.

She faintly smiled, "Wei Wuyin." 

Wen Mingna couldn't help but think that her entire life had changed that day when Wei Wuyin approached her in the Myriad Monarch Sect. Her little prospects had explosively changed, allowing her to become a Heavenly Seer and receive endless benefits. In what she thought would repay his efforts, even if it cost her her life, she had dug herself deeper instead. 

Suddenly, Wei Wuyin's expression grew slightly dignified. "Are you certain? How reliable is this information?" 

Wen Mingna's smile faded, replaced by a serious look. "At least 70-80%, and I received similar news from multiple sources. Since you asked me to look out for information on a woman called Yue Songli, I wouldn't bring to you anything short of likely.

"She's in the Ninestar Starfield, and I sent for verification to the Vanishing Colossus, and their reports were varied, but there was some consistency in them to the ones I received from the Elementus Domain's network. However, our current net isn't too wide, merely affecting a few powerful experts."

Wei Wuyin gently nodded, not questioning her intelligence or the recent avenues of information that he had built. While he had wealth, what he lacked was information and a network. Since he was mostly alone and the Ascendants were spread out, he had to rely on what he could. He had also learned of various Ascendants' circumstances and communicated with those not bound by restrictions if they were in the Elementus Domain.

Wen Mingna continued, "It seems there are signs of Yue Songli being targeted. There's an increasing amount of chatter about her having a 'unique' physique amongst certain groups. We have a contact with a Realmlord, a direct descendant of an Ascended being based in the northwestern region of the Elementus Domain. The Ascended being is highly likely to be a member of Trueborn; the Realmlord is certain an attack is coming. According to her, the Ascended being is currently  in their typical combat preparations, and it seems they plan to take a trip to the Ninestar Starfield instead of the Everlore Domain for the upcoming Summit."

Wei Wuyin frowned slightly. "Ninestar Sainthall?" 

Wen Mingna shook her head, "Besides the Vanishing Colossus, our net isn't deep enough to gather their response or actions at the highest level. We got lucky with the Realmlord." Truthfully, Wen Mingna was quite surprised when she learned that Wei Wuyin had established a growing organization in the form of a crew of former pirates that was producing agents of information. While they were low-tier, it was always those at the bottom, unobstructed by roofs, that could always see the sky churning. 

It was a mess to cycle through all the random bits of information, rumors, and strange details flowing to her. Fortunately, clarification could be sought after pinpointing on a specific subject, such as Yue Songli. It was frightening that Wei Wuyin thought this far ahead.

"Divination?" Wei Wuyin asked.

Wen Mingna's eyes grew a little distant, but they eventually returned to normalcy. She sighed softly, shaking her head. "She is protected by a powerful divination blocking spell; I can't gather any information on her. I think an elite Demi-Mortal Lord, maybe even an Earthly Saint, created it."

As the matter didn't concern her personally, it was much harder to grasp details, unlike when her life was in direct danger. Even then, she could only glimpse the severity of such a catastrophic crisis. She wouldn't have been able to escape the range of Rainbow Sky's destruction or Wu Yu's predicament if she was alone.

Wei Wuyin had done his own research into Yue Songli, and kept himself apprised of her recent activities; He knew that she was the daughter of one of the strongest Demi-Mortal Lord Phase experts in the Ninestar Starfield. It was expected that she would be well-protected. 

"I expected this," Wei Wuyin calmly stated. Yue Songli was treated with an abnormally special treatment during her captivity, and she remained untouched despite her beauty and kept under watch in a Shadow Egg, a powerful construct that could kill an Earthly Saint. To Trueborn, she surely had a heavy degree of importance.

After all, she was 'taken' before becoming an Ascended, yet she had reached that level while in captivity. Moreover, after being freed, she had the strength to return to her home. This was already a sign of all sorts of interesting possibilities. 

This 'unique' physique might be the cause or something else entirely. Unfortunately, he didn't ask her more questions regarding her capture. 

"..." Wei Wuyin lowered his gaze, placing his hand contemplatively across his chin and mouth. Yue Songli was a woman he was openly interested in, but it would be a lie if he said that he was so pure in his intentions to court her. To be strictly honest, she was bait—bait for Trueborn. And she was currently showing amazing effects.

He had a strong feeling that this clandestine organization would be one of his greatest obstacles to completing his core goals in the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region. It involved too many uncertain factors, and they seemed to have their hands in a lot of different pots, likely abusing the oath-based culture of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region—just as he was.

Unfortunately, the organization had many years to grow its network, establish its bases, and he was nascent in his activities. Still, he had something others couldn't match—the Alchemic Dao. Wei Wuyin was no longer blinded to his abnormalities, such as concoction time and stunning quality. The Four Extreme Pavilions was evident of his superiority in these two categories, especially concoction time. 

He would dare say that he had the highest concoction speed of any Mortal Sovereign Alchemist in the entire Stellar Region. It was stupendously high, absurd to the maximum! He knew why, and he had leveraged this ability to obtain his current rising network of information, including his rising reputation built on false assumptions. 

"Amazing work," Wei Wuyin praised. Wen Mingna had handled this as well as Su Mei, demonstrating a level of competency and awareness worthy of all the praise. As a Heavenly Seer and capable person, Wei Wuyin decided to bring her to the utmost priority for all future nurturing. 

Wen Mingna was stunned. She lowered her gaze, her expression concealed, yet her emotions were churning with a heated feeling. Suddenly, she lifted those eyes of hers to see Wei Wuyin in deep thought. She couldn't help but look at his lips, an urge flowing through her mind. 

Step.

She took a single step forward, closing the distance a little more. She noticed that Wei Wuyin noticed, his gorgeously silver eyes focusing on her face; She felt as if he was seeing into her mind. 

Step.

She was so close that their chests were almost touching. If it wasn't for their height difference…

Wei Wuyin was internally shocked by Wen Mingna's abrupt actions, and he could sense her mental fluctuations at the moment. They were fluctuations that he was quite familiar with. If it were any other subordinate, Wei Wuyin would've established boundaries at this moment, reminding Wen Mingna of her status, but considering she had saved his life not once, not twice, but three times, he wasn't going to reject her—if this was what she wanted.

"I…" Wen Mingna stood on her toes, her hands pressed against Wei Wuyin's chest and her eyes staring into his. She knew that Wei Wuyin wouldn't reject her. 

Woosh!

Once again, a figure descended nearby in a flicker, an unfathomable aura permeating out naturally. The presence shattered Wen Mingna out of her impulsive thoughts, causing her to retreat rapidly, her eyes looking elsewhere, her cheeks clearly a little heated with a blush. She was frighteningly cute at this moment.

Wei Wuyin stayed silent. The one who arrived was once again Han Yuhei. Clearly that his disruption and arrival were deliberately timed, and Wei Wuyin gave him a questioning gaze. There wasn't any anger or regret within his eyes. 

"The Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit is approaching, and we're leaving in an hour," Han Yuhei explained. The Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit was still over a month away, almost two, yet the procession there was going to be massive, including most of the Elementus Domain's established forces, and Void Gates weren't an option. These forces would be taking were going to take entire groups as a sign of growth.

While the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit was going to be happening, smaller events were going to take place amongst those not directly invited. There will be discussions, trading, and even All-Alchemic Clashes, a justified reason to commence a peaceful gathering without the possibility of war on their doorstep from negligence. It was a perfect opportunity.

The travel there via Voidships will be costly and lenghty. The Elementus Domain didn't have high-speed Sky Destroyers; even if they did, most of those traveling to the Everlore Domain would not fit. Other Domains, further than the Elementus Domain, that neighbored the Everlore Domain, were already in transit. 

Most watched the Golden Life Pavilion's event from their Voidships. As for the Elementus Domain, its close proximity allowed it to go the latest, and the various planetary events thus far had delayed them.

Wei Wuyin nodded, "You can leave." Then, he thought for a moment and said, "I need to talk to you." 

Han Yuhei was shocked for a moment, but he nodded. He wanted to be Wei Wuyin's Alchemic Knight, to receive all the glorious benefits that vexing Wu Yu had gained. This was his chance to ascend to a stage beyond Earthly Saint, so he was happy to hear that Wei Wuyin wanted something specifically.

Wen Mingna's expression seemed to regain her neutral countenance, and she lifted her gaze to look towards Wei Wuyin. But that expression changed explosively as she saw Wei Wuyin arrive before her, and with his strong arms, he grabbed her by the hips, brought her close, eliciting the cutest of surprised sounds, and pressed his lips against hers. 

After what seemed like an eternity, Wei Wuyin's lips and hers parted reluctantly. 

"We'll talk about this later, okay?" Wei Wuyin said.

Wen Mingna shakily nodded, "Okay." 

"Okay," Wei Wuyin looked towards Han Yuhei and vanished into a flicker. Han Yuhei looked at Wen Mingna for a moment, and then vanished as well. 

Wen Mingna was left with her own thoughts, reliving the moment again and again. While it wasn't their first kiss, it was the first one that mattered.