Paragon of Sin

Since the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit had officially begun, three cultivators had since passed, all youths beneath the age of a hundred, all females of outstanding quality, and none of them originating from any of the top forces of the stellar region. A strange feeling swept through the hearts of the Mystic-tier forces with top-tier Chosen. 

Many intelligent elders were aware of San Luoyang's hint. The benefits here, those condensed symbols and observation of fights, might pale compared to the benefits one would receive should they enter the Void Gate, joining the preliminary discussions before its conclusion. However, the heavy threat of death and thoughts of observing first, acting after gaining an understanding, prevented them from allowing their Chosen to haphazardly challenge for qualification. 

They, too, wanted their Chosen to stand out. They wanted them to rise above others and show their potential to claim the Chosen King title, to one day have the possibility of developing into the strongest expert, and much more. None of them were fools. 

The Earthly Saints and Mortal Sovereign Alchemists were all watching from the Main Hall. They had to be. And this was a chance to showcase their might, their worth, and their talent. 

Yet, the Chosen of the top-tier didn't descend madly with the hot-bloodedness of youth and defiance. There were a few Chosen that were intimidated by Su Mei and Wu Baozhai's power. Mostly, they were intimidated as their elders discussed the measuring system of the Everlore Association's entity levels. 

Wu Baozhai was from an obscure, unknown, unranked force, and despite being at the Sixth Stage of the Astral Core Realm, the Gravity Emission Phase, she was given the task of defeating, no, slaying a Greater Realmlord. As for Xue Yifei, she was the 8th Ranked Saintess, but not a Chosen, and at best, the Leader of a Gold-Rank force—Dragonborn. She was given a Lesser Timelord at the same stage of cultivation with only a twenty-year age difference.

It was clear that the Everlore Association was prioritizing personal backing and status in determining entity-level. Ye Ming, a Starlord level Sect Master of the silver-ranked Ironheart Saber Sect, whose age neared six hundred, was matched with a Pinnacle Starlord. This clearly showed that age contributed heavily to the entity's level

Almost every known Chosen had only received their official Chosen title after they reached the Soul Idol Phase and proved they could fight against Gravity Emission Phase cultivators, under the old standards of Chosen. Even then, most were beyond the age of 100 at the time, let alone now. 

How could a cold chill not slither down their spines? 

Would a Gravity Emission Phase Chosen of a Mystic-tier force with a Soul of Mysticism leader be given a Timelord level entity? Higher? What if they had an Earthly Saint at the helm? Or two? Or seven! What type of rubric was the Everlore Association using? 

The unknown was truly frightening. 

"Digest what you can from the fights thus far; we can't wait forever," Some of these Ascended Elders of Earthly Saint-led forces heavily reminded their Chosen. They emphasized 'we' because these Chosen would represent the voice of their sects during the Preliminary Discussion. It wasn't that they would speak equally with their Earthly Saints, but that they would generate sufficient evidence that their Earthly Saints had the qualifications to have a stronger say in the proceedings. 

It was of critical importance to display to the world that they could develop proper Chosen and their confidence in using them as a standard to support any arguments of theirs. 

Soon, the Chosen of these forces began to cultivate, replaying the scenes of those three women from earlier. They digested what they could from their tactics and their actions. While they were all extremely swift and brief, they contained direction to fight their opponents.

Su Mei had inspired a unique art that Lin Xianxian had randomly called: World Armor. Since the art utilized the Domain Seed's initial explosive torque from unleashing of one's Worldly Domain, typically used to repulse a sudden erection of an enemy's Worldly Domain, creatively generating a skin-tight defensive shielding against foreign Worldly Pressure, it felt appropriate.

As if accepted by some strange law, it was referred to as World Armor by every cultivator present, either consciously or subconsciously, openly or in thoughts. In actuality, the application of World Armor was not invented by Su Mei, a tactic devised to fight against higher cultivation levels, and she had merely stumbled upon it in her cultivation. It was an advanced application of one's Worldly Power and Domain Seed, and the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region reached the level where this application was necessary. 

"This World Armor will be the deciding factor of whether you all can enter the Main Hall or not," Lin Xianxian solemnly said to Lin Xianxei, Lin Ming, and the Zhang Chosen duo. 

They were all extremely serious at this moment, realizing the standards of their challenge will certainly be absurdly difficult. After all, they were a World Sect that was supposed to be supported by four Earthly Saints, exceeding the total strength of some lesser-ranked Starfields. Their standards should be overwhelmingly higher than others.

Unfortunately, these Chosen were all the result of a fragmented World Sect with three factions, and one of those factions had been wiped out alongside their presiding Earthly Saint. They were at a severe disadvantage. Therefore, they were all incredibly tense and feeling insecure at the moment. 

"What if we team up?" Zhang Yang asked Lin Xianxian as he looked at his sister. They were twins, their energies and souls had a heavy resonance, so they could easily execute collaborative arts and spells that could greatly enhance their strengths. Together, they could take down Realmlords. 

"If you think that's best, then try. If the level of the assigned Entity is too high and you believe you're unable to challenge it, don't push yourselves." Lin Xianxian didn't wish for Zhang Ziyi to go crazy if she lost these two, but she also knew they were future pillars of the sect. It would be foolish to force them to their deaths. 

SHATTER!

Suddenly, a figure descended. It was a strapping young man, tall, possessing a good set of handsome features, not too thick or thin, with eyes that contained a wisp of rich blue watery light. When he landed on the stage, very few recognized him at first glance.

But those from the Great Blue Starfield(20th) recognized this figure. It was the prospective Chosen of the ruling force, the Eighth Sea. In its long-standing history, the name of the ruling organization had always changed following a new leader's ascension, with the Eighth Sea signifying the seventh change of leadership. 

The Eighth Sea Grand King was the leader of the Starfield. It wasn't a sect. Its hierarchy resembled a mortal Kingdom ruled by the Eighth Sea Grand King as its legitimate King.

The prospective Chosen's expression was calm, but concealed behind his brightly lit eyes was a wisp of anxious dread. 

"34th Prince of the Eighth Sea. Age: 164. Cultivation Realm: Astral Core. Cultivation Stage: Fifth. Entity Level: Mortal, Pinnacle Realmlord."

When the age versus cultivation base was announced, what would've once left many in praise of the 34th Prince, had left them feeling underwhelmed instead. The last three youths were all under a hundred and all at obscenely high levels of cultivation. 

Zhang Yang and Zhang Yin both paled along with many others. This reminded them once again of the vast difference between having the Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill or Ever-Domain Pill versus not. 

Lin Ming's eyes glinted with glowing light, not nearly as dejected as the others by this revelation. After all, he was only forty-six years old and at the Gravity Emission Phase, his cultivation might not match an absurd freak like Su Mei, but she should've received a Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill long, long ago, so she definitely had an excessive head start, and it soothed him. After all, head starts might give one an advantage in the beginning, but the limits one could reach have yet to be solidified. 

With unwavering self-confidence seething in his heart, he couldn't help but recall Lin Xianxei's words about how greatly inferior the Everlore Starfield was to the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region's weakest bronze-rank force. She once confidently stated that foundation aside, cultivation speeds of the stellar region were vastly superior. It fueled his belief that the Everlore Starfield was a mere stepping stone for his future during his time there.

In the Myriad Yore Continent, reaching the Sixth Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, the False Reality Phase, before the age of sixty was considered a genius. In the Myriad Monarch Sect, successfully ascending into the Astral Core Realm before the age of two hundred was considered a genius. In the True Element Sect, the age requirements to determine a cultivation genius were entirely different.

It was a mad race to the Gravity Emission Phase for most; the earlier they reached that stage of cultivation, the longer they would have to make preparations to face the lethal tribulations ahead, greatly increasing their chances of success and survival. It was also where a cultivator's foundation was established. As such, reaching the Gravity Emission Phase in the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region before the age of 180 was considered a cultivation genius, having the slightest chance of becoming an Ascended. At this age, they had roughly 300 to 500 years to cultivate to the Star Core Phase, refine their Mystic Rune Seeds, comprehend what they could from them, and challenge their Ascension. 

It was clear that the difficulty to ascend the Astral Core Realm was extremely difficult the further one progressed, and the 34th Prince's age was on the track of being a cultivation genius, yet…

"It was reported that Ma Luling, the prospective Chosen of the Golden Life Pavilion, had gone from Soul Idol to Gravity Emission in only five years." An elder with a heavy expression said in a dark, defeated tone. As the Summit continued, everyone became more aware of the heaven-defying effects of an Ever-Domain Pill or Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill.

The summit needed to happen! 

The 34th Prince had an extremely odd and difficult expression, and when San Luoyang's voice asked if he was ready to challenge, while everyone was ready to see how a prospective Chosen would measure up, the prince did something only a few expected.

"Do you wish to continue?"

"I do not." A dejected ripple infected his tone, making it quiver with unwillingness. A silver light enveloped him, shocking everyone as he looked around fearfully, glancing upwards to see his force with a clear grievance in his eyes, and then he vanished.

He was sent out!

"..." 

A Light Reflection Phase genius had to face and kill a Pinnacle Realmlord? How freaking absurd was this?! Was that even possible?

Maybe, if they had a False Worldly Domain and could replicate the World Armor! But clearly, this 34th Prince hadn't acquired either. After all, Worldly Domains made one near-invincible beneath their cultivation.

"He was a sacrifice for information," Lin Xianxian calmly stated. A cruel fate for a talented young man. Yet, a very needed sacrifice! They had learned three critical things: 

Firstly, all they believed was accounted for—age, status, cultivation base, and backing.

Secondly, refusing to accept the challenge meant receiving the boot! 

And lastly, likely most important of them all, the entity's levels were determined by a new grade of standard, taking into account all of these things! This was far from the current standards that were simple and universal. What did that mean? 

The Everlore Association, and likely all the Earthly Saints and Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, were possibly actively discussing and deciding each their challenges! The Preliminary Discussion was in session! 

And they?

They were its ongoing, ever-evolving trial run!