Paragon Of Sin

Chapter 1756: Xi Ning's Fortune

Husband?

Not a single cultivator present, excluding the speaker herself, wasn't taken aback with some degree of surprise displayed vividly in their expressions. The only outward exception was Wei Wuyin, but internally, his mind was intently focused on this unexpected outcome.

"She…" Sage Moonrise was stripped of her ability to speak any coherent sentence, truly unbefitting of her status of superior might and prestigious reputation as a Sage! Her voice stammered, unable to process what just happened. It took a struggle and a half before she and everyone else finally had something click in their minds.

"She wasn't dead…" Sage Avenging Heart and Pavilion Master Shang Liu both spoke in eerie unison, they exchanged glances, seeing the disbelief in each other's eyes, and for Shang Liu, a flickering light of intense regret lingered as it dawned on him. Xi Ning wasn't just not dead, she had hidden away the way for her to be revived to escape the clutches of a Sage.

Her feat was extraordinary, to say little of anything else. To add with immense praise, she succeeded!

However, Shang Liu was unable to determine if Wei Wuyin's favor, if his denial to sell Xi Ning and look deeper, or if something else entirely was supposed to be his fortune. Disregarding the Arising Sage Elixir, Xi Ning possessed a Catalyst Body that upper-level Mystic Ascendant Realm cultivators like him would consider a heavenly treasure. It was enough for a Sage to take action!

It was almost as if he had missed hitting two attempts, largely due to his own students, and there was a growing fear of missing the third. What if that was it? Whether it was Sage Painted Star or Sage Avenging Heart, they either failed to seize the opportunity or outright sabotaged it, and Sage Moonrise had helped with the sale!

The more it dawned on him that their lack of foresight, intuition, and knowledge was directly harming him, someone who desperately sought the path to Sagehood! It was hard for his expression to not darken. Moreover, the three Sages weren't idiots.

Meanwhile, the 'false' fourth Sage—Sage Skytouch—was an observing party to all this absurdity from start to finish. She said nothing nor dared to speak. She was maintaining her reserved and stoic bearing. Wei Wuyin could tell that initially her mental fluctuations were a little tense, but it made sense given that she was fearful that Wei Wuyin would expose her disguise, and it relaxed on the walk through the hall gradually as he never gave her another glance.

To her, she was only able to understand a few things that just happened, her cultivation base and knowledge simply lacked the essentials to grasp how Xi Ning was brought back to life without a shred of cultivation, her body was fresh as a newborn, and her brimming vitality on the verge of collapse, unable to keep tethered to her soul. This was a sign of a strong lifespan yet a weak soulspan. To many cultivators of their level, it was a sign of inevitable death, and their vitality would begin to rapidly disperse regardless of how much excess they had or acquired via alternative methods.

Cao Cuifen, Liu Suyin, Qing Qiumu, and Yue Songli were all eyeing this newcomer with varied emotions. But shockingly, not a single one of them felt threatened by Xi Ning, only interest, while Yue Songli was visibly in awe as she witnessed what could be described as pulling a soul out of a painting! This woman had etched her entire chance of survival on an artist, and this moved her in unimaginable ways. She escaped captivity as well, so there was a kindred feeling within her spirit and heart.

Those who suffered that torturous fate understood how vicious it lashed at the soul and shredded the will.

Cao Cuifen walked forward before everyone's gaze, and approached Xi Ning, giving her a rather direct up-and-down inspection. She was only two steps away before she reached out gently with her fingers and cleared some of the excessive growth of violet hair from her face, exposing her facial features that were sharp, beautiful, and moving to the eye. If one could read faces, they could tell she was a valiant and decisive woman at the core.

Xi Ning could do nothing to resist Cao Cuifen's approach, nor did she try. She only blinked a few times at this older woman who exhibited not even the slightest trace of hostility. She didn't expect Cao Cuifen to conjure a robe, fitting it onto her as if by magic, covering her hazy and enticing body, and asked: "Do you have a room I can borrow?"

Her question was directed at Shang Liu, who thoughtfully saw this exchange, and gave Wei Wuyin a look. Wei Wuyin smiled but said nothing. Shang Liu could only nod his head, and Sage Moonrise said, "Come with me. I'll bring you to my former residence. It'll be much better and appropriate than anything else." While she hadn't directly asked for World-Saint Azure Rain's input, they were actively communicating through spiritual transmissions this entire time.

Cao Cuifen gave a brief nod, holding Xi Ning's hand, and bringing her away with brisk steps. Liu Suyin followed along. Yue Songli left as well. Qing Qiumu hesitated for a second, and then she looked to Wei Wuyin who bent over and gently spoke in her ear in words that no one could understand, his lips lightly kissing her left cheek, causing her to violently blush, and she hurriedly followed the group of women.

Xi Ning didn't resist. But she did look back to Wei Wuyin, her eyes which were filled with gratitude and hope were slowly filled with a sense of relief. While Wei Wuyin didn't speak, she knew her gamble had, in some ways, paid off. After all, Shang Liu and Sage Painted Star hadn't said a single word about her being taken away or her claim. They didn't even dare to scheme openly and refer to her as Junior Sister in an attempt to get closer or find an excuse to bring her back. They were wary of this man who was exceedingly, excessively, and extraordinarily handsome with a uniquely mysterious and vague aura.

She bit her lower lip slightly and looked at Wei Wuyin with wanting, a sight so seductively intense that ten thousand suns would pale in comparison to the heat it could give rise to, but she was inevitably brought away until she vanished from view.

In actuality, Wei Wuyin hadn't expected the outcome of Xi Ning's actions. He acted purely out of selfish intentions solely because the revival of a painting would be an interesting experience and wondrous tale for Yue Songli and Qing Qiumu, even harming Pakhet's foundation a little bit in exchange was worth it.

Of course, her presuming that she could become his wife so easily was a bit excessive. It would be an understatement to say that Wei Wuyin accepting her would be her greatest fortune. As for using her as a catalyst for cultivation, doing so against her will would be devastating to Yue Songli, and he didn't even think of it. However, he wouldn't outright refuse her kind intentions to repay him, even if she was hoping that the person who could revive her would solve her soulspan issue and stagnated rate of cultivation, not to mention her loss of it all.

It was, by no means, a simple problem.

At least, for the typical Sage or Worldly Saint Alchemist.

Shang Liu resumed the walk. They all followed him as Sage Painted Star actively began to describe his paintings one by one. Additionally, not a single one of them hadn't stopped and executed all sorts of Ocular and Spiritual Observation Spells to inspect each painting with a thorough scrutiny that was distorting the air a little with expelled mystic power.

They couldn't be faulted for this. Only Sage Skytouch remained indifferent. She didn't dare to execute her burrowed powers of a Sage or try to give any of them any chances of seeing through her disguise. She, at times, would glance toward Wei Wuyin with rampant curiosity beneath her concealment. Who was this man?

Pakhet was openly chugging Mystic-World elixirs and pills as if they were juice and candy. When they saw this, seeing how each product was of peak-quality, they were stunned speechless by the wealthy expenditure, noticing exactly how valued Wei Wuyin saw Pakhet. Some of these products were fast active with lasting benefits to one's cultivation, and they recognized a few as specialty products of openly sold alchemical lineages.

Pakhet licked her lips after half-drinking a peak-quality Mystic-World elixir that was designed to heal any internal damage to her body. Imentet naturally plucked the half-finished bottle from her hands and finished it. Pakhet didn't seem to mind either.

"So delicious," Imentet licked her lips too, yet the seductiveness from that simple action was heart-pounding. What was envy became a tinge of lust as Sage Avenging Heart was trying his best to hold his desires in before Sage Skytouch. Whether it was Imentet, Yue Songli, or Xi Ning, they all had a seductively enticing flavor that was hard to resist.

"Your Dao Protector is rather impressive," World-Saint Azure Rain said as the group inspected another painting.

"Thank you, World-Saint Azure Rain." Wei Wuyin's reply was laced with an unhidden prideful tone, continuing forth braggingly: "Sage Pakhet is an extraordinary cultivator that I've had the fortune of accepting as my Alchemic Knight just a little while ago, but her ability to understand my intentions and act without hesitation has left me with nothing but happiness."

World-Saint Azure Rain wasn't expecting such a reply, and her gaze lingered on Pakhet for a bit longer. Then, she asked directly: "I've heard that World-Saint Neo-Dawn has touched upon the heavenly entry, I wonder have you found any success?" Her question instantly caused the rampant inspections to cease as they all focused on this conversation.

The term 'heavenly entry' was a specific term that was somewhat alchemical archaic, rarely used, but it was meant to refer to the Heavenly Gate of Heavenly Saints, which was the entry to the Three Thousand Realms of Heavenly Law that they absorbed and cultivated heavenly radiance from. She was asking if Wei Wuyin had become a Heavenly Saint Alchemist!

Wei Wuyin thought for a moment. That question was a little difficult to answer. After attaining the Alchemic Stars of Unparalleled Creation, he felt confident in concocting a Mystic-Heaven grade product. He had no desire to lie, but with his experience with elevating the Soul Pill, he felt that making a low-quality Soul Pill was possible if he relied on using elevated grade five alchemical energies as he had during mystic transcendent concoction. In truth, concocting a transcendent-quality Mystic-World product should be easier than concocting a Mystic-Heaven grade product.

"I have yet to step into that path, but I feel that it wouldn't be difficult to do so officially during my next concoction session."

"..." That response sent each of them into a silence. This was especially so since Wei Wuyin's direct admission that becoming a Heavenly Alchemic Saint was a matter of time and nothing else!

Azure Rain's approach became incredibly friendly, and as they walked forward, even Sage Avenging Heart and Sage Painted Star were openly acting to befriend Wei Wuyin. A powerful Exalted Worldly Saint Alchemist had a slim chance of creating a Supreme Sage, but a Heavenly Saint Alchemist with enough resources and time and a talented subject was enough to do so.

Eventually, they arrived at the main hall!

When the double doors were open, giving way to a flood of firelight and vocal commotion, exposing the beauty of the venue and its exquisite decor that felt ancient and eternal. There were tens of thousands of attendees! They all went silent and turned to see the main characters of the event!