Paragon of Sin

An open invitation! 

Personally spoken by San Luoyang himself.

It shook the entire world. While skepticism and uncertainty were seeded within the minds of most, it was destroyed by a few brave organizations that fully trusted the Everlore Association's integrity and word. These organizations took their crew, leaving behind a few essentials, and took to the Dark Void. They flew their way into the pillar of light without any hesitation. 

Their success had instantly alleviated all their festering fears, and they followed along with excited eyes and racing hearts. The scene of thousands upon thousands turning into hundreds of thousands flowing into the pillar of light was a grand sight. It inspired others, those without the capability of flying in the Dark Void, to bring their Voidships closer.

Those with an Astral Realm Core cultivation base began to leap with their children in tow. It was shocking to think there were those at the Qi Condensations Realm present, waiting, just observing the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit from afar without the slightest expectations of participating. They hoped, by some godly reason, that the Everlore Association and Earthly Saints granted them the ability to witness the crucial moments of the summit.

It was a foolish thought, but not it wasn't every day that cultivators lived through an era-changing event. The Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit had been explosively hyped thus far, spread far and wide as the next great change. How could they miss it? 

The proving stage acted as a segue for these cultivators. Some decent Exalted acted without being prompted, flying towards the new arrivals and gently ushering them through the Void Gate into the Main Hall. The few good-hearted cultivators became a growing trend as more and more decided to help the weak, especially considering the vast distance between the entry point and Void Gate. For them, it was merely a blink of an eye, but for some of these Qi Condensation Realm cultivators, they could take days. 

The development caused those in the Main Hall to feel shocked, not by the genuine acts of care, but by the sheer number of cultivators pouring into the Main Hall.

Chen Yibo sighed, "They're serious." The lost wager by Wei Wuyin was a sight of the Everlore Association being tricked. The Everlore Association had many opportunities to decline it, even avoiding some blame, such as bringing the Earthly Saints in as having deciding power over this wager, and since they hadn't spoken yet, it wouldn't be verified. 

Their neglection might have aroused some anger in them, but most were too lazy to involve themselves. Moreover, doing so will offend Wei Wuyin. The Earthly Saints and Mortal Sovereign Alchemists present, especially the alchemists, were subconsciously considering Wei Wuyin a threat. 

He revealed his Mortal Sovereign Alchemist status, likely verifying that he was indeed a Grand Mortal Sovereign Alchemist, as the Golden Life Pavilion had reported years ago, and this had an extraordinary impact on his value. Even if one excluded his alliance with the Golden Life Pavilion, the reveal of the Fire Phoenix made many leaders distance themselves from this.

The Fire Phoenix!

Who didn't know of the losses the Tang Clan experienced at the hands of an armored Earthly Saint? None of them were ignorant idiots; the two recent deaths that shook the stellar region, the Ravenous Edge True King and World Prison True Queen, followed by the downfall of a starfield, were all caused by this event. 

Wei Wuyin had two terrifyingly powerful Earthly Saints, Wu Yu and the armored Earthly Saint, including an ancient Fire Phoenix, a young age with extremely high Alchemic Talent, and access to the Golden Life Pavilion's resources. It was clear that, despite being a mere mortal amongst Ascended beings, he was one of the most terrifying figures here. 

In truth, at times, many of their gazes flickered to the entourage of the Imperial Clan, intrigued by their eventual responses to the Tang Clan's losses. Will they take Wei Wuyin to the task? After all, 'that' woman had a relatively high status and importance to the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor.

However, Empress Xiaocheng and the eleven Earthly Saints representing the Imperial Clan were all silent. Some had their eyes closed, others were staring at the rushing flood of cultivators, and most were looking at Wei Wuyin with unreadable gazes. It was difficult to discern their thoughts! 

Soon, San Luoyang began to wave his talisman around, executing some exceptional morphing spell that seemingly touched upon the foundation of the Main Hall's unique environment. For example, the Main Hall was expansive yet felt closed off, but without warning, it became abnormally spacious. It just felt larger.

Those successful challengers gasped and exclaimed as they were shaken by the ground beneath their feet. It lifted upwards, and a circular platform rose to just beneath the thrones, spanning tens of miles. Then, a ring rose covering hundreds of miles that surrounded the circular platform. In the eight directions, stairs were present on the platform.

Suddenly, three areas were formed, the central platform and two rings. Those who entered were stunned as their bodies began to move without their power, whisking them away from the kind-hearted cultivators, and placing them in one of the three rings. 

Those aged cultivators without much cultivation base to speak of were sent to the outer ring. It expanded tens of thousands of miles, capable of housing billions. They were scattered around the outer ring as they came, grouped in the order they came in to restrict unwanted separations.

Those young cultivators beneath the age of five hundred, whether they were five or four hundred and ninety-nine, were all brought to the inner ring. This was an unavoidable separation, causing some parents and guardians to exclaim and shout in panic.

"My child! Stop! BABY NO!" 

"Yan'er! Yan'er!" 

"Don't let go! Okay, don't let go!"

For a while, it became a tragic scene that caused those with power to frown. Fortunately, San Luoyang was quick to act. "Calm. All those beneath the age of five hundred will be brought to the Inner Ring of the Summit, given a treatment befitting Chosen. Do not panic; they will all be returned to their rightful homes after the summit concludes without harm. Until then, each of them will be the Everlore Association's responsibility!"

Some of these children were no more than three years of age, barely cultivating, still at the Foundation Establishment Realm, which was wrestled away from their parents. It was a wonder who decided to bring them on a to view the summit which lasts for five years. But their foolish action had inadvertently caused their children to benefit to an exceptional level! 

Sometimes, it paid off to be reckless. 

Those parents and guardians were in confused tears as the voice resounded, but when it finished, their hearts pounded with exhilaration! These youngsters were going to receive a fortuitous encounter that could only be wished for! A tinge of envy had emerged in the hearts of a few. 

It was shocking how many cultivators beneath five hundred there were. San Luoyang had to activate the talisman again, causing the inner ring to expand a few tens of miles to accommodate. He had a little bit of a headache.

'Vice-President Evergod is thinking long-term.' San Luoyang had to constantly remind himself as he recalled the details of the wager. Then, he turned to Wei Wuyin with a faintly forced smile, "Our supply of Astralis Essence is limited; we'll be using the alternatives to satisfy the wager, all roughly equivalent in their benefits. Any thoughts?" 

Wei Wuyin knew that Astralis Essence was the core material within a natural Solar Star's core. When he initially arrived in the Main Hall, his Celestial Eyes swept the entire scene once, and he acutely noticed a diluted form of it effusing from those golden mats below. It would be delusional to think the Everlore Association could provide the same type of treatment for the hundreds of thousands of beings beneath five hundred. As such, he had no thoughts on the subject.

"Do as you please," Wei Wuyin's words came off rather indifferently. He was still skeptical if the Everlore Association could afford to bring out such a great amount of wealth and resources.

"Furthermore, this degree of treatment will only last until the Preliminary Discussion ends or six months is reached. That was our original intention." San Luoyang informed Wei Wuyin which was rather reasonable. It would be insane to think it was for an entire five years. 

Wei Wuyin inwardly smiled, "Understood." The Everlore Association had an out, but the losses will not be small. He looked downwards. There were almost seven hundred thousand cultivators already present. This included low-level talents such as every last Qi Condensation Realm cultivator and those of a lower-stage, weaker-talent Astral Core Realm. They were mostly at the first stage or second stage, many reaching four hundred or five hundred years. 

As for those in the outer ring, it wasn't much greater in population, barely eight hundred thousand. This was mostly due to how the vast majority of those beneath five hundred were crew members and members of wealthy families, while those in the outer ring included those wealthy members and elders of forces. 

Those juniors not Chosen, prospective Chosen or relatives to powerful figures of their homeland were all at home. They simply had no reason to come, sacrificing five years of their lives and cultivation time without benefit. Not to mention the months of travel time in the Dark Void or cost for Void Gates.

It was already shocking that the number neared two million! 

Suddenly, from the central circular platform, a square platform covered in golden mats rose slightly higher from its center, creating another ring, the central ring. This ring included all those Chosen and prospective Chosen that had passed their challenges. 

San Luoyang had another headache.

Wei Wuyin and the rest realized the issue; the rings and platform were elevated by importance, an invisible signal of whose voice held greater weight, yet it was difficult for those Ascended beings to receive the proper relevance in this setting.

In the end, San Luoyang said: "All Ascended! Listen, fly up!" His order shook a few before some took action. They soared upwards until they met an invisible barrier that formed a demarcation line, separating them from the floating thrones, yet their elevation was dependent on their cultivation stage. Some were halted at the outer ring. They were all Exalted, those at the Mystic Star Phase, considered 'false' Ascended beings. 

The Venerables reached the height of the Inner ring, alongside those under the age of five hundred, before being stopped. The Highlords were halted at the center ring, a few meters away from the successful challengers' square platform. Their voice was limited to this. 

San Luoyang then said, "While you've all been granted entry to the Saint Cyclic Renewal Summit, those of talents can still challenge entities to gain qualifications to represent their forces!" 

The pupils of many shrunk! They still had to risk their lives for a greater degree of representation?! This was a nightmare to some! But to the vast majority, this was still great because they were given front-row seats! 

"No need." A voice resounded in the heads of everyone, carrying a terrifying level of spiritual strength.