Paragon of Sin

The Main Hall of the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit kept elevating continuously in its level of liveliness and animated discussions as the summit continued, both above and below. The eight Noble Clan elites and talents gathered to observe of the other challengers, speculating about chances and estimating their ability. The Earthly Saints and Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, these genuine powerhouses and world-shakers, similarly discussed the changes in standards and justifications of their previous decisions. 

The Main Hall was cluttered with golden mats decorated by embroidered spiraling patterns, brightly lit as purified, refined, and exceptional astral essence exuded from it. Those on the golden mats didn't even need to cultivate actively; the astral essence seeped into their pores, entered their meridians, and converted into their strength, firming their foundations and elevating their four essential energies. 

By this point, the existence of this astral essence was known by the young talents as they marveled with astonished expressions. This astral essence wasn't ordinary astral essence, but the highest form of astral essence known, extracted from the very core of the only Supermassive-sized Solar Star of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region—the Aeternal Sky Star, also known simply as Aeternal Sky. 

The star's name was the sole reason for the starfield's designation, given its name by the former Imperial Clan and the previously ruling powers at the time. It was a sign of the utmost respect towards their sacrifice and history, still ushering the current generation to new heights with their blood, bones, and souls. 

It was called Astralis Essence, the core essence of a natural-born Solar Star, considered one of the the rarest essence in the stellar region, even rarer than mystic essence. This essence was the same material needed for the Echoing Stars of the Vastness Pill but in its raw form. The current Astralis Essence had been thoroughly processed, diluted by various refinement formations, and allowed for safe absorption by these utmost talents of the stellar region beneath the ninth stage of the Astral Core Realm, the Star Core Phase.

He Yanglei was euphoric as he absorbed the Astralis Essence. His only gripe was that his absorption speeds wasn't greater than anyone else, with a steady, equal stream of Astralis Essence being emitted and given to each of them. It was too little to satisfy his innate bodily talent of absorption or anyone else's, but each iota of it was of the greatest benefit. 

He could feel every aspect elevate to a higher level each minute. The benefits were unimaginable. No wonder San Luoyang had suggested there would be benefits to those who succeeded. A wisp of envy grew within his heart as he glanced at Su Mei's meditating figure alongside the light of thinly-veiled desire. She had arrived first and obtained the most benefits out of anyone here. 

"This is incredible," Chen Dong breathily said with his tall, robust figure shaking slightly from sheer excitement. At the moment, this domineering existence amongst the youths here seemed like a child at a candy store, given the best and most expensive candy that he had only been able to window shop before. 

"To think the Everlore Association had paid the price of using Astralis Essence for us! They're truly the richest organization, capable of exhausting such tremendous wealth without fear." A Chosen of the Yu Clan, known for their formation masters and talisman crafters, inspected the exquisitely designed formations that were the golden mats, in awe of the price the Everlore Association had paid.

Even Wu Baozhai was completely amazed by the effects of the Astralis Essence. It was like every hour equated to consuming a peak-tier seventh-grade alchemical product, and they didn't need to absorb or refine, as these formations passively cultivated for them. 

When she felt this level of treatment, she couldn't help but compare her time under Wei Wuyin's care, given copious amounts of alchemical products to cultivate with. She was shocked to discover that the golden mat exceeded Wei Wuyin's investment into the Valkyrie, but just barely, and if it lasted for several months. She pouted her lips slightly, gaining a renewed sense of the Everlore Association's means.

While the youths below gushed over the premium treatment and benefits, the floating thrones were isolated in their own world, observing their conversation and every challenge that was issued. 

If one took the time to count each throne, they would discover a total of 188 large-sized thrones, carrying figures of unfathomable auras, possessors of an inkling of the Mystic Dao, these were all non-Creationist Earthly Saints given generalized invitations. Some thrones were empty, others filled with imposing, domineering, gorgeous, handsome, or shrouded figures, but 188 thrones there were. 

Smaller-sized thrones of various artistic designs symbolizing certain forces or organizations were also present, all possessing spiritual images, such as cauldrons, forging hammers, or pagodas. Each signified the status of a Creationist, and each invited based on name, granted the right to personally be here with their own seat. An honor of the highest!

The cauldrons represented Alchemists. The thrones were noticeably more expressive in their identities, emitting a faint alchemical radiance and being ever-so-slightly larger than the other two types of Creationist thrones. A total of 244 seats were filled, all Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, and they consisted of all the stellar region's publicly known Alchemists of that level.

The forging hammers represented Forgers. The thrones all emanated a faint heat and metallic sheen. There were only three of these seats, and they all were occupied by a single force—the Godforge Association. Yet, each figure was an Earthly Saint, representing different Starfields. A unique quality of the Godforge Association, not restricting those from outside from entering, joining, or attaining highly dignified statuses and positions. These three were widely known as the Trinity of the Forge, the three highest ranking elders of the association, only beneath the Godforge Emperor himself.

The pagoda represented Architects. The thrones emanated a scholarly light that elevated the function of mental energies; just glimpsing at it made one feel as if they were slightly smarter. Unlike the Forgers, they consisted of exactly 18 thrones, and they each belonged to different organizations. Furthermore, there were greater distinctions, as some had pagodas with talismans plastered on their surface, others with glowing esoteric runes and some with characters formulating lines of profound sentences leaping about. 

There were Talisman Crafters, Array Masters, and Architects of Arts and Spells. Each one was a formation master worthy of their reputation and name, such as the Soul-Creation Saint of the Ninestar Sainthall, who was amongst them at this moment, the Yu Clan's Yu Yilang, and the absent Shuang Xi of the Golden life Pavilion, the top three Architects throughout the stellar region.

Surprisingly, their three thrones were ever-so-slightly larger than their Creationist peers, signifying their paramount importance and absolute superiority in their profession. A clear sign of respect that, while the other Architects might find muffling, would be unable to refute lest they call forth humiliation on their heads. 

If counted all together, the thrones amounted to 453, and each represented a figure of the highest status, might, and means. A genuinely world-shaking sight to behold, considerable lending credence to the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit's purpose and importance. While there were absent Earthly Saints and Architects, such as the Soul Saint King, Shuang Xi, Sun Li, Han Yuhei, Zhang Ziyi, and such amongst the Earthly Saints and Architects, one would notice that all 244 seats of the Mortal Sovereign Alchemists were filled! 

Not a single one was absent—not even the Ma Clan.

Seated firmly on one of the Mortal Sovereign Alchemist's floating thrones, a beautiful figure sat in a lovely alchemist robe that tightly hugged her figure, accentuating her every curve, yet revealing not an ounce of skin. She used her long, flawlessly white fingers to tap against the armrest as an impatient light flickered within her two vastly different colored eyes. Not a single individual would be ignorant of this woman's existence, above or below, as she was none other than the Twilight Alchemic Sovereign—Mu Yura. 

Those eyes instilled with the beauty of heterochromia and a high bearing effused a level of presence, dignity, and pride that was not inferior to any Earthly Saint. 

"Where is he? Where is he?" She softly muttered to herself, her anxiety openly leaking. However, she wasn't the only one displaying some signs of impatience. These Mortal Sovereign Alchemists were all here to meet a worldly elusive figure that shook the stellar region time and time again yet was as concealed as a dagger in an assassin's sleeve—Wei Wuyin! 

Moreover, with all the seats filled, they wondered if this was indicative of his absence as a foregone conclusion. But to many, he was the man of the hour, and the preliminary discussions kept bringing up the Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill. Unfortunately, there was a piece of information that the Ma Clan lacked…

There was no information regarding the abilities of a peak-quality Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill! This was an essential, crucial, absolutely significant piece of information that caused much discussion amongst the Mortal Sovereign Alchemist. Some even almost came to blows, figuratively speaking, about to challenge the other to an All-Alchemic Clash. The theories thrown about its possible effects ranged from granting a False Worldly Domain with the full power of a genuine Worldly Domain to allowing the artificial Domain Seed to merge with the genuine Domain Seed.

Of course, this also had its sub-division of contested beliefs, with some thinking it elevated the Domain Seed's limits, transcending the concept of a 'Transcendent Realmlord' to bolstering the genuine Domain Seed's initial strength, eliminating a large need for further refinement, amplifying cultivation speed by several notches.

The 'transcendent' title meant a limit. It was theorized by alchemists, architects, and cultivators of renowned skill. Yet, few had ever been able to reach it without sacrificing their entire future, largely due to the time-consuming part of refinement and cultivation. When they reached Star Core, their soulspan's limit would restrict them from ascending. It would be putting the cart before the horse if you tried to maximize your foundation, a feat extremely difficult to do if you hadn't done so in previous stages. 

The arguments flew about and even the Earthly Saints just silently stood aside, unable to chime in, yet knowing the significance of its 'peak-quality' effect. Why? Because if, or when, the pill becomes a generalized product, the top-tier Chosen would receive the top-tier pills for their growing foundation, and the Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill would be a staple in any half-decent cultivation regimen. It was clearly vastly superior to the Ever-Domain Pill, its cheaper and less reliable alternative. 

As such, Mu Yura and the others were restless. They interrogated Na Xinyi, Su Mei, Wu Baozhai, and Xue Yifei but learned that none of their Domain Seeds were forged from peak-quality pills. They didn't try pressing their relations or how they came upon the Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill, with the vast majority already aware of how, why, and when. 

At this point, even Su Mei's background was exposed before the eyes of these world-shaping figures. The only detail that eluded them was that Na Xinyi was Wei Wuyin's fiancée, but nothing else of their general origins was hidden from their terrifying gazes. 

"Without him, this summit could be reduced to a joke," the Ma Clan's Mortal Sovereign Alchemist, Ma Leihan, shook his head. To establish standards on incomplete information without the core reason for the change was a horrific mistake in his eyes. But how was he supposed to know that not even Ma Zheng was aware of the peak-quality effect? And no one had a remotely decent enough skill, time, or access to the method to concoct one at this point and time.

"A little premature," an elderly man with a long, grey beard said with a wry smile. This was the Mortal Sovereign Alchemist of the True Element Sect, having arrived long before the True Element Sect ever left for the summit. Like the rest, they had been gathered together, holding a discussion lasting since the announcement of the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit; hence, they were all present now without a single one absent. 

It was the Everlore Association's machinations and alluring benefits that drew them here. Clearly, the association didn't want any of them missing this, personally sending escorts in the form of oath-bound Ever-Knights. 

At this point, over a hundred Chosen or prospective Chosen beneath the Realm World Phase had passed, already moving on from the eight Noble Clans to the other top-tier powers of the starfields. As if mutually agreeing on it, the Moonfall Starfield(22nd) took the stage first. Besides some Chosen, no other cultivator succeeded, with most of them ending in death. 

The vast majority had neither the Ever-Domain Pill nor Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill. This was a result of supply and demand, with only the most powerful and richest obtaining these limited products, especially amongst the lowest ranking starfield—a tragic result.

However, it allowed the casualties of the Everbloom Starfield to drastically lower its predicted amount as those aware of their lack of qualifications sat back and watched, keeping their lives but throwing away their chance at a voice and their title as Chosen in the upcoming era. 

It was at this moment that the thrones floating up above felt a powerful incoming aura. All the Ascended beings looked in a singular direction as if prompted in coordination.

Mu Yura's two eyes brightly lit with an excited radiance, "The Golden Life Pavilion's here!" 

Since they were late, it could only mean one thing:

They were fetching Wei Wuyin! 

The four women all gazed in that direction a soft, gentle spiritual light emanated from their spatial rings. The very same rings left to them by none other than that man! 

Su Mei faintly smiled, breaking away her stoic expression and revealing a rarely seen, indescribable charm.