Paragon of Sin

Tuo Bihan remained quiet, his expression was the only one that was calm. 'Idiots!' Despite his internal curses, he decided to take the lead to speak with Qingye Yun. "Qingye Yun, you wish to meditate our dispute?"

Qingye Yun lightly nodded, turning towards a woman of the Elemental Heaven Pavilion. She was a beautiful human with a sharp chin, limpid eyes, and a shapely figure. When she stepped forth, her short white hair and blue eyes were dazzling and attention-grabbing. This was the one and only Elemental Heaven Pavilion's Pavilion Master, Lin Ruyan.

This was beyond shocking, her actions of arriving on the Junia was tantamount of an act of aggression. But with the Alchemist Association acting as the in-between, this could be mildly dismissed as long as they didn't act too impudently. This was the face that must be given to the Alchemist Association.

While they weren't individually powerful, they controlled the market for sixth-grade and seventh-grade products. If there was a force that had the most wealth, it was the Alchemist Association. While their tributes to the San Clan were far more massive than the four hegemonic forces, they still can be said to contain the most wealth and second most influence.

The San Clan only exceeded them due to their two Realmlords, purely through strength. If they wanted, they could gather the experts of the starfield into an impressive line-up to assault any single force. They could, in theory, do what Wei Wuyin had done to the Grand Axis Faction on a much larger scale.

While the Alchemist Association's strength wasn't centralized, focused, they had connections with nearly every force on the starfield, remaining neutral and active. There wasn't a single force that wanted to have them as enemies.

Tuo Bihan's eyes shifted between Lin Ruyan and Qingye Yun. As he did, he couldn't help but think about Wei Wuyin. In a moment of impulse, he sent a message via transmission crystal. He didn't know why he did so, but he felt that this matter wasn't simple.

The Alchemist Association had requested to observe the Monarch Spirit Trials. Not expecting them to pull a stunt like this, the Grand Imperial Sages unanimously permitted them to open a small-sized Void Gate within Junia. This temporary authorization led to them bringing along the youths and elders of the Elemental Heaven Pavilion.

As for acting as meditators, they clearly wanted to settle the allocation of spots for the Gateway to the realm they located. It was located on their borders but had been discovered also by the Elemental Heaven Pavilion's subordinates. Due to this, a fierce debate had ensued which was still ongoing. After all, the Myriad Monarch Sect didn't have to share, but if they did, they didn't want to share too much.

The Elemental Heaven Pavilion was quite demanding, wanting half the spots. Their unyielding tact led to unending arguments.

The Alchemist Association's presence and their willingness to act as a mediator might be good to come to an immediate conclusion between both parties, but it was overall better for the Elemental Heaven Pavilion if a third-party wasn't involved. Furthermore, the Alchemist Association was simply not a force that could be underestimated nor were they humble eaters when it came to benefits. Their knowledge of the Gateway and the realm it leads to will definitely cause them to want a piece of this fallen sky-pie. It would be forcefully split three-ways.

This was why Tuo Bihan considered the Elemental Heaven Pavilion idiots. The Alchemist Association would want a slice, but there's no way the Myriad Monarch Sect will allow the Elemental Heaven Pavilion to receive an equal number of spots. They will definitely suffer a loss.

This confused Tuo Bihan. Lin Ruyan was considered relatively intelligent and cunning. Why would she make this clearly disadvantageous move?

Lin Ruyan said with a smile, "I think any further argument would lead to an unnecessary delay in visiting the Door. Since you've established a trial for the younger generation, and I've brought a few untalented youths from my sect with me, I suggest a wager to settle it all." Her first series of sentences were direct, not beating around the bush.

From Qingye Yun's calm eyes, he clearly agreed with this line of resolution. He even added, "I agree. I've similarly brought a few youths from my little association. I hope you won't mind us participating in this too." His words were indicative of their firm stance. They were quite direct, which left the elders of the Myriad Monarch Sect rather speechless.

"Hahaha!" Ji Changkong laughed wildly, his sword-light receded as he launched a leveled gaze towards these powerhouses of the starfield. They wish to test the mettle of their talents against theirs? This was not a fight he was afraid of.

This wasn't just him. Even Qin Rui had a look of disdain behind her concealment, clearly she viewed the upbringing and innate talents of the Myriad Monarch Sect's juniors as superior to the others. This wasn't without justification.

These youths were forced to navigate through schemes, stronger opponents, and cultivate with the utmost diligence in a highly competitive and deadly environment that was the Myriad Monarch Sect. The vast majority of resources they received were earned by their own effort, intelligence, and strength.

Other sects were knee-deep in nepotism, choosing their descendants over talent. But the Myriad Monarch Sect treated everyone equal, and while backing can help you in certain manners, it wasn't a reliance. However they wanted to decide the allocation of spots, if it was to compare their younger elites, they would take the vast majority with relative ease—at least in their eyes.

Tuo Bihan, however, shook his head. "The Monarch Spirit Trials is to decide the chosen member of our Heavenly King Wei's Spatial Spirit Pill. The purpose and sanctity of the event isn't something we can disturb simply for our dispute." His words caused Ji Changkong to stop laughing.

It was only with this reminder did he recall their purpose. He had nearly lost himself in their provocation. This trial was important, likely the next Grand Imperial Sage will come about from these young talents. They ranged from the first stage to the third stage, but they were all under three hundred years old and exceptionally talented.

Qingye Yun seemed entirely unbothered, but the slight moment when 'Heavenly King Wei' was mentioned, his eyes slightly twitched unnaturally. He said, "You're right. It wouldn't be fair. So, how about we place something also as the first place prize? If we do, then the winner will take all prizes and there should be no unfairness."

The eyes of Qin Rui brightened. "All prizes?" If they wanted to add their own prizes into the trial, it would have to be equal or greater than a Spatial Spirit Pill.

Lin Ruyan seemed to have expected Qingye Yun, clearly they had coordinated previously as she hadn't skipped a beat before she responded: "Grand Association Master Qingye is right. It would be a little unfair to intrude abruptly, so how about my Elemental Heaven Pavilion places a drop of Spiritual Mana."

"What?!" The elders of the Myriad Monarch Sect were in shock. Spiritual Mana? A single drop of Spiritual Mana was beyond rare! That was because it was man-made. Liquid Mana can be produced by refining mana through unique formations over decades or by a natural process through various special circumstances. Liquid Mana can help enhance a Natal or Astral Soul's Mortal State, even produce Mana Essence to reach the Zenith Mortal State.

But Spiritual Mana was different, far, far more special, and endlessly beneficial to all cultivators. The difficulty was in the time to produce and the man-made component. It required liquid mana to be refined constantly for at least a century in spiritual energies of a dozen Soul Idol cultivators. After it was produced, it was said that it can increase the Soul Rings around an Astral Soul by at least a ring, at most two rings.

While this might seem small for such a sacrifice, if someone like Tuo Bihan could obtain it, he could retroactively increase his Soul Idol from six to eight-ring, the resulting strength might give him sufficient confidence to ascend the Seventh Astral Tribulation. Each ring of a Soul Idol essentially doubles the innate spiritual qualities of a cultivator and having a higher quality of spiritual energies also enhances the quality of one's Astral Force.

It was boundlessly useful.

If someone at the Sky Ruler Phase were to obtain it, they could amplify their innate spiritual qualities to attempt to obtain a seventh, eighth, or even ninth-ring Soul Idol!

While the shock of this gamble hadn't left their faces, Qingye Yun added with a calm voice: "Since a Spatial Spirit Pill was the first place prize, I'll add a Soul-Spirit Pill."

"...!"

A Soul-Spirit Pill was similarly an eighth-grade pill, but it can increase the spiritual qualities of one's Astral Soul. Be it strength, aura, sense, or energies, it was beneficial to those at all phases. This was especially so for Sky Rulers, giving them the confidence to assail the Soul Idol Phase and reach the five-ring Soul Idol at minimum.

Given to a talented genius, even a six-ring Soul Idol could form! If these three treasures were used by one talent, if they were properly nurtured, their chances of ascending to the Realmlord level would be the highest in the starfield!

Tuo Bihan frowned, even his heart was moved by this!

Just as he was about to deliberate with the other Grand Imperial Sages, after all...this was a matter of utmost importance. But a voice resounded, cool and calm as the vast blue sky, "We accept."

Everyone turned to see a figure flying over!