《Paragon of Sin》 Chapter 1: Wei Wuyin "No¡­" Plop. Plop. Plop. Droplets of crimson blood fell without end on the cold ceramic tiled floor of the hall. A ghastly silence overtook the night filled atmosphere. A body, a male corpse, laid on the floor. He was sprawled on the floor, holding his own throat with both hands, and eyes as wide as full moons. The chaotic blood lines in his eyes were filled with malicious hatred and disbelief, as if unable to accept that he had died like this. The droplets of blood originated from an object with a particularly pure silver sheen. A saber. Holding this saber was a young man. His hair was as black as an unlit night with a unique pair of contrasting silver eyes that gleamed with an unexpected purity. He was without clothes, holding only a saber, and stood upright while looking at the corpse before him. On his face was a light smile, gentle and pure. A bloody smell flowed into his nostrils, but it couldn''t affect him in any manner. In fact, he looked down towards the only other warm body in the room. A young girl who was on her knees, also without clothes, just a few inches away from his body. Her mouth wide and dripping with obscene liquid. Her eyes were wide and in shock with tears seemingly ready to burst into existence. She obviously couldn''t believe the events that had transpired. It was like a nightmare where one could only wish to awake from. "S-senior br-brother¡­Yu..." her words were filled with disbelief and sadness. Her mental faculties went haywire as her mind could barely make sense of what lay before her. A wave of despair surged into her mind as she recalled early memories and recent events. Their first meeting. On that autumn morning during their sect selections. He was unassuming but contained a unique hidden quality that attracted her. He had relied on himself, progressing through cultivation with a fierce momentum until he captured her heart and mind. It was as if all things were meant to be. When she was in his embrace, she was enlivened and happy. Then, the nightmare began. The tragedy of the cultivation world. A rival sect, stronger than hers, used various reasons to justify war. Without suspense, the sect''s resources were taken and her fellow junior and senior brothers and sisters were killed, captured, or escaped for their lives. She and her senior brother Yu Jin, her love, escaped after the collapse of their sect. He had claimed several enemy lives, escaped the pursuit of many, and survived. Until¡­ Her eyes traced towards the young man. His black hair was spiky, full, and long. He had glistening silver eyes that beat back the worldly darkness. This young man was a core disciple of the enemy sect, and he had captured her after hunting them down with other members of his sect. With her captured, her fate was no longer in her hands. A tragedy of an enemy, a tragedy of a weakling, and she knew she would suffer the tragedy of being a woman. However, she trusted with all her heart, all her soul, that Yu Jin would arrive and save her. She believed him. She believed in him. And just like she had thought, her senior brother Yu Jin had arrived with heroic fanfare and deadly killing intent. Just moments ago, despite her current actions and position, she felt a blossoming strand of warmth and happiness. Then, hell descended with a swipe of a saber. The young man slightly smiled, looking towards her as if he had not claimed her lover''s life. "You can continue." His words caused her to shiver as the taste in her mouth she''d forgotten returned. The rancid memories rushed into her mind like a flood. To survive, she had to buy as much time as possible. Even doing unsavory things in hopes to buy enough time. Her eyes revealed hatred, dense and uncontrollable. They burned with an ardent killing intent. A will to fight to the death for revenge, for vengeance, for her senior brother, was born. However, when the sheen of the saber met her gaze, her courage deflated like a popped balloon. Reality set in immediately. With her cultivation base, her strength, the most she could do was lunge and be beheaded at this distance. Like a light at the end of the tunnel, her eyes glistened as she looked at the young man''s manhood. It was beyond the norm in dimensions, an organ of god-crafted quality, and sufficient for any man to be proud of. She knew that her life would come to an end, either in terms of freedom or her actual life, so how could she allow this man to live peacefully?! With haste, she intended to use her jaws and rip off the only thing that would ensure the most amount of pain. "Sigh¡­" a soft exhale sounded like a whisper of a death god. The young girl panicked, lunging forward, but a brilliant silver light slid swiftly across her neck. Before she could continue, her head slid off her shoulders and with a heavy thud, landed on the ceramic floor. It rolled slowly due to the momentum and stopped only when the crazed eyes faced the corpse of Yu Jin. "At least in death, you two will be together." A swishing sound echoed as the young man with silver eyes, black hair, and a slim frame waved the saber in his hand about. The loose blood shot away and left only the silver blade clean. "Wei Wuyin, are you decent?" A soft, melodious voice echoed and entered the hall. A masculine figure appeared, filled to the brim with muscles, a bronze skin, and dressed in scarlet animal fur. The young man named Wei Wuyin turned his gaze impatiently towards this voice. Despite the softness and feminine characteristics of his voice, his body was brimming with a unique sense of masculinity. Coldly snorting, "It seems your Yin Echo Method has reached a new peak." Wei Wuyin waved his right hand and a scarlet robe appeared from his storage ring. He wasn''t quick or slow as he dressed himself up. The set of clothing, including the scarlet robe, originated from his sect and held not only its colors but its insignia. On his back was a black dire wolf of legend atop a mountain, with its claws lunging forth in a frightening pounce. Its eyes were beyond fierce and filled with killing intent. "Indeed it has, jealous?" The masculine bearing yet feminine sounding man jeered, a peal of hearty laughter echoing out. "Jealous?" Wei Wuyin laughingly responded, as if he heard the funniest joke in the world. Then, as if he recalled something, he looked at the young man whose throat was sliced and held no sign of life. "Chu Yan, did you need to lure him here? It''s not as if he could''ve killed me." Chu Yan frowned. A faint light of disappointment surged in his eyes, but he quickly covered it up with a trace of indifference. "I have no idea what you mean. This young man bypassed our defenses using some unique methods and entered your impromptu palace, how was I to know? Only the surge of Qi allowed me to realize my mistake." Those words were said without a hint of truthfulness. His very words and reactions alluded to his involvement, but he obviously didn''t care. Wei Wuyin didn''t even feel the need to look at Chu Yan''s expression, as if it was irrelevant. "You''ll receive the appropriate reprimand for negligence. Clean this up." After commanding such, he started to walk towards the entrance to which Chu Yan entered. "Of course," Chu Yan said with false respect. The punishment for negligence was just a subtraction of resources, nothing too serious. He wanted to get this over with, so he walked over. As Wei Wuyin walked past Chu Yan, his eyes turned sharp, flashing a murderously dreadful light. Slink! Chu Yan felt an abrupt sense of deadly crisis, not expecting Wei Wuyin to make a move at this moment. When he wanted to react, a blade had already entered his temple and pierced into his brain. He had many words, regrets, and memories that flowed through his brain as it was punctured and subsequently destroyed. Unfortunately, they would never see the light of day. As Chu Yan''s corpse fell, his head in a bloody, unrecognizable mess, Wei Wuyin strongly sniffed, gathering a wad of saliva, and coldly spat on his corpse. "You ruined my fun, so do you even need to live? Piece of trash." With a carefree gait, Wei Wuyin walked outside and met the guards who were stationed outside of his quarters'' doors. His eyes casually swept these men, remembering their faces. "Lieutenant Chu Yan died from a sneak attack of an intruder. I killed the intruder as a result. Clean up the mess, I will report it to the sect."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The guards were shocked hearing this, their mouth agape. While they did not expect Wei Wuyin to die to the intruder, they didn''t expect Chu Yan to fall to his own scheme. Their hearts grew cold. They felt a shade of calamity loom over. ----- It was in autumn. The tree leaves were transitioning into a beautiful color, flowing about wildly in the wind like dancing feys. Littered about were a tart smell and colors ranging from red, yellow, purple, black, blue, orange, magenta, and brown. Sitting atop a tall, thick tree branch, Wei Wuyin looked quietly at the surroundings. A camp was set not too far away from him. This camp held various young, old, and strong men and women. They all adorned purple outfits with a patch on various parts of their clothing depicting a crescent moon. No one in the camp had noticed his arrival or his gaze as it swept about wildly in thought. "The last camp¡­" his words were soft and filled with disdain. His sect, the Scarlet Solaris Sect, which held the Legendary Dire Wolf as its symbol, had declared war on this Violet Moon Sect. It was without much pretense, and while there were many established reasons for the war, he knew the truth. It was for a woman. A particular, yet an extraordinary woman. She was the Violet Moon Sect''s Sect Leader''s descendant, unsure if she was a sister or niece or granddaughter, but they were related. Born with great natural talent, a countenance reminiscent of a fallen immortal fairy, and a powerful faction, she was beyond blessed. However, in a world of cultivation where the strong take from the weak, beauty and talent of such level was guaranteed to attract envy and lust. Her fate now? He knew for a fact that she had already been captured, given to the young lord of their sect as a present. Her fate was now to be seen as a toy, a prisoner, restricted and used as one pleased. Looking towards the clear skies that held a light blue hue, Wei Wuyin shook his head. He lamented with pity in his eyes, "She''s wasted on that fool. If she was with me¡­" a cold, callous smile couldn''t help but tug at his lips. The glint in his eyes was dark, cruel, and lascivious. Licking his lips, he held out his palm. A faint surge of qi and a perfect red apple appeared in his hands. Crunch! Taking a harsh bite, he chewed loudly and without care. The people within the camp grew alert. A few guards vigilantly looked in his direction and their eyes shrunk to their limits. That scarlet garb that haunted their dreams and made them hellish nightmares was glaringly obvious. He smiled, a strand of fruit juice flowing down his lips. "Hello." "Enemy! ENEMY! ENEMY!!!" The guard with the quickest of mind shouted at the top of his lungs. He was already running, attempting to take a predetermined escape route. It seemed that his only job was to alert and the lives of others weren''t his responsibility. No wonder he reacted quickly. "Smart," Wei Wuyin admired the man''s actions. Decisiveness in the cultivation world was truly lacking. "Kill those who resist. Capture the rest." Unlike the loud exclamations of the guard, Wei Wuyin was much more moderate in the volume of his voice. Even his tone contained a hint of casual activity. Swish! Swish! Swish! Streaks of scarlet shot out from the surroundings and encircled the camp. The members of his sect pounced like ancient Dire Wolves towards their prey. They wielded sabers and swords, weapons of war and death, and struck out with deadly force. Those who even looked remotely like a threat was slain, their blood staining the autumn leaves endlessly. Wei Wuyin''s gaze reflected the gushes of blood, horrific screams of agony and pain, and the despair in the air. It looked somewhat...beautiful. "Hm?" An abnormality caught his eye. A cubical, five by five-meter cage was situated at the far end of the camp. It seemed that the cage was carried by these weak, pathetic cultivators to this location. As a core disciple and commander of this team, he didn''t feel the need to pay too close attention to the slaughter. Therefore, he threw the half-eaten apple in his hand aside and leapt forward. His movements were casual as he walked upon the chaotic battlefield of death and agony. His subordinates were skillful, bypassing their leader and hunting down the remnant forces diligently. "Help me!" A young woman, in her early twenties, caught sight of Wei Wuyin''s casual stride and knew her only chance was here. Without hesitation, she didn''t run away, knowing her legs and cultivation would not get her far. Instead, she hoped to seek a way of survival. She lunged to Wei Wuyin''s feet, halting his steps. Before the girl could say another sentence, several trained blades had already attempted to pierce through her body with dense killing intent. She squealed. Frowning, Wei Wuyin waved his hand at the last second. Truly, as the furthest blade was already piercing the girl''s backside by a millimeter. The wielder of this blade was a woman as well. Her eyes were cold and indifferent. The others stopped as well. They looked to Wei Wuyin''s tall figure, handsome visage, and powerful aura. Wei Wuyin looked at this young woman and smiled at her. He squatted down. Bringing forth his right hand, he turned his palm upside down, and a ripe red apple appeared in his palm. "Hungry?" He asked. Startled, the young woman''s mind lapsed briefly before a sudden scream and its abrupt ending snapped her back to reality. A head of a middle-aged man rolled just a few feet from her, prompting her gaze to shift. Her heart constricted as if a ruthless viper had seized it. Was that going to be her fate? She was unwilling! Decisively, she nodded towards Wei Wuyin, despair and hope in her eyes stronger than ever before. She reached out and grabbed the apple, grasped her hope, only after receiving it did she take a bite. "Mn. Keep her alive," Wei Wuyin ordered. The others nodded. The cold, indifferent woman struck the back of the young woman''s head before she could thank the heavens for her survival, and rendered her unconscious. With a heft, she carried the young woman by the shoulder and left. The others gave a small bow and started capturing or killing the others. Wei Wuyin ignored it all, continuing his walk towards that cubical cage. The cage was rusted with a single sliding entrance and a window the size of a baseball. It was this window that provided the small amount of sunlight and oxygen. He touched the cage, feeling its coldness on his fingers. He was startled. "Froststeel?" Wei Wuyin knew that froststeel was a very particular and tortuous piece of material. Regardless of whether it was summer or autumn, froststeel remained at a constant low temperature. Even if you threw it into a normal fire, it would remain the same. Only by using a fire several times stronger than the melting point of normal steel could one even think of forging something from it. He frowned. It must be an icy hell within a cage made of it. However, his curiosity was abounding. What could a group of stragglers running and hiding for their lives need a cage like this for and what was inside? Without pause, he gripped the handle of the cage and slide open the entrance. A darkness seemed to linger in the icy cage. As he breathed, a frosty white air emerged. "Cold¡­" commenting, he waved his hand and a silver saber emerged in his hand. Walking inside, he looked around with curiosity. This cage was small, barely capable of fitting him, but it felt oddly spacious. "Aaah!" A piercing scream shocked him, his body turning around as his blade slashed out. However, his blade sliced through nothing but cold air and scraped nothing but froststeel. Before he could react, he felt a presence behind him. A piercing pain emerged from his neck and his eyes widened. With a roar, a burst of qi flowed from his qi bodily points and exploded from his body. A black shadow smashed heavily into the cage. A sickening crushing of bones sound echoed, but no cry of agony. A searing feeling emerged at his neck as he winced slightly. It only served to give birth to violent urges. Holding his neck, Wei Wuyin turned and pointed his saber. A rage flowed endlessly through his eyes, and killing intent surged. However, what was left was maniacal laughter. Getting a good look at the figure, Wei Wuyin realized it was a male. It was a young man, not much older than him, in his early twenties. However, his body was malnourished and scrawny to the limits. His dark eyes were sunken and his silver hair was long, unkempt, and dirty. He wore no clothes, taking the cold temperature of the froststeel with only his fleshy body. His coarse skin looked shriveled and frostbitten. Wei Wuyin could tell that this young man was tortured as well, marks, cuts, and bruises left like a series of roads on his flesh. The laughter broke Wei Wuyin out of his murderous rage and curiosity abounded instead. Pressing heavily on the wound at his neck, his eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?" He asked. "Why are you here?" A rough, gruffly voice filled with endless insanity asked in response. It sounded crazy. Wei Wuyin kicked out. His legs were like the wind as it whipped at the head of the young man. A sickening sound of flesh and bone meeting force resounded. The head of the young man violently recoiled and smashed heavily on the cage froststeel constructed walls. Bang! "Why are you here?" Wei Wuyin asked again. The young man, rattled and barely conscious, couldn''t even respond. Bang! Wei Wuyin kicked again. "Why are you here?" This time, after the young man regained his balance and the blood flowed heavily from his skull with a noticeable indent within it, he looked at Wei Wuyin with clear, sane eyes. It was the eyes of a scholar who''d traveled a thousand miles and read countless books. "Oh?" His interest was piqued. Did this fellow regain some sense with that blow? "Are you good or are you evil?" The young man spoke, his voice was soft yet powerful. It was completely different from before. Wei Wuyin frowned but replied without hesitation. "Good or evil? Are you a child?" Such a nonsensical question belonged to those philosophical scholars and children''s stories, it had no place in the cultivation world. He was about to kick out once more in hopes another blow would help but the young man smiled and nodded randomly, prompting him to halt. "Good. Evil. Morale. Immoral. In our world, the Good gain karmic luck. In our world, the Evil gain infernal sin. The moral is just. The immoral are condemned. This world is one where the strong preys on the weak, the weak are evil and immoral, the strong are good and morale." "In my life, I have done no wrong, yet I was deemed wrong. In my life, was I good or evil?" A deep unwillingness surged from his words. Wei Wuyin shook his head. This prisoner had clearly lost his mind, so why did he need to stay alive. With his saber, he pointed it towards the young man. He felt merciful today, so he decided to make it only slightly painful. "No!" The young man shouted fiercely. "I was simply weak. That is the greatest source of sin, but also, the greatest source of luck!" Wei Wuyin ignored him, jabbing his saber into the emaciated shoulder of the young man. A bloody mist and crimson liquid exploded, but the young man didn''t react or scream in pain. His eyes were clear and strong, and his expression stable. "Be reborn in sin, steal karmic luck. I will be karmic cause, you will be karmic effect!" The young man strongly claimed. What greeted him was a stab into his abdomen that pierced out of his back. Wei Wuyin had fiercely penetrated the man with his saber. "Nonsense," Wei Wuyin coldly spat. "If you want to be reborn, I''ll send you off to reincarnate a little sooner. Say hello to Old Lady Meng Po for me." He removed his blade and placed it on the young man''s neck, his eyes indifferent to the man''s insanity. "I. Have seen my sin. I. Have seen my karma. You...Be rebor-" A bloody line appeared at his throat to seal his voice. A soft thud occurred as the young man''s head smashed into the floor of the cage. "Useless," Wei Wuyin coldly spat in disdain. With that, he walked out and was greeted by the blazing sun of autumn. His eyes squinted. He held his neck as a trickle of blood seeped through his fingers. He watched the slaughter before him unfold. He knew the situation was reaching its climax, and felt oddly relieved. For some reason, he felt abnormally tired and wanted to return to the sect in haste. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and exhaled. A faint crimson light, brighter than blood, flickered briefly from his neck wound. Chapter 2: Scarlet Solaris Sect In the cultivation world, there was a country and in this country, there was a mountain that radiated a faint scarlet glow. This glow emanated a profound aura that caused all mortals who dared to glance to suffer the palpitation of the heart. In the mornings, it stood tall and wide, capable of touching the clouds and covering the sun. At night, it was like a scarlet sun giving direction and meaning to the life of its inhabitants. This mountain was the headquarters of the illustrious Scarlet Solaris Sect. Around its bends and etched into its body were various buildings giving a sight similar to a long-winding city. One could notice defining lines indicating levels of sorts, and the higher one went, the greater the scarlet glow. At times, birds of legend could be seen soaring about. These were white cranes that stood at several tens of meters in size. On these cranes were people who radiated grand auras going to and fro various areas. On a particular bird, a young man approached the mountain. He was young, handsome beyond description with silver eyes, jet black hair, and scarlet robes. His physique wasn''t particularly large, but one could see ample definition of muscle. He stood calmly on the crane as the wind battered his figure. Next to him was a young woman. She clutched at the feathers of the crane, attempting to not fall to her death due to a slight mistake. Her knuckles were white and her face was pale in fright. The inhabitants of the mountain caught sight of the young man, their eyes swirling with thoughts. "Senior Brother Wei Wuyin! He''s returned?" An honorary disciple exclaimed. He was middle-aged, likely having been a part of the sect for a long time yet was incapable of promoting. "Wei Wuyin? Who''s that?" A younger, naive looking young boy asked with curiosity. They were working together, tending the herb farm with dozens of other nearby disciples. "Haha, you don''t know? Well, let me tell you!" The middle-aged man took up a teacher-like expression with a hint of pride and smugness, as if bringing enlightening to the ignorant brought him immense pleasure. "You haven''t been here long so you don''t know. Senior Brother Wei Wuyin is one of the nine Core Disciples of our sect! His cultivation is said to have exceeded the Third Stage of Qi Condensation, Elemental Birth, and has given form to Qi!" His excitement was intoxicating as he spoke. The surrounding disciples who were eavesdropping turned towards the middle-aged man and paid rapt attention. "Really?!" The young man gasped in wonder, his eyes brilliantly bright. Even if Wei Wuyin wasn''t important, the fact that he was capable of ascending to the Third Stage of Qi Condensation made him an incredible figure worthy of admiration. "Haha! Damn right! Not only that, he''s just like you and me. He came from a small clan, broke free from his limitations, and rose from an honorary disciple to a core disciple step by step!" His words were laced with pride. From his eyes, it was as if he lived vicariously through Wei Wuyin. It wasn''t just him. The other disciples who had lived in the sect for long had eyes filled with pride and excitement. They wished to jump through the dragon''s gate like Wei Wuyin and become prestigious and extraordinary. "Didn''t you say cultivation without resources was impossible? How did he become a core disciple as an honorary disciple where we receive none?" The young man''s mind gave birth to curious questions. In the sect, rank was divided into four disciples: Honorary, Outer, Inner, and Core. Climbing up the ranks was rumored to be as difficult as ascending the Nine Heavens. A middle-aged woman, who wore common cloth indicating her status as a married woman, interjected, "Cultivation without resources isn''t impossible, just incredibly difficult." In the cultivation world, everyone had a chance to enter the road of cultivation. The world provides the most abundant resource, the Essence of Heaven and Earth, and allows such. However, unless one entered Qi Condensation, it was impossible to be considered a true cultivator. The middle-aged man glanced at the woman and snorted, "Cultivation without resources is impossible, and the Essence of Heaven and Earth is a resource." It was clear he had a feud with this woman as he directly contradicted and corrected her. The middle-aged married woman pursed her lips and kept silent, obviously unwilling to get into an argument. "Hmph! If you cultivate with just that, entering the Qi Condensation isn''t impossible, but what it can provide is limited the further you go. The world of cultivation starts with a singular realm and three phases." "The realm of Foundation Establishment, divided into the three phases of Physique Tempering, Meridian Awakening, and Dantian Establishment. Only then can one enter the Qi Condensation Realm, gathering external forces with internal power and generating Metaphysical Energy called Qi. One day, I will do the same!" The middle-aged man''s excitement reached a peak as, near the end, his voice went up several octaves. The middle-aged woman rolled her eyes, "Even establishing a foundation is too difficult, and sometimes a century isn''t enough to establish one''s dantian. Don''t let this old fool trick you, cultivation is anything but easy, and he hasn''t even finished Physique Tempering in three decades." "Oh?!" The young man was shocked both internally and externally. Despite being a part of a sect for so many years, he hadn''t even broken free of the first phase of cultivation? Recalling the earlier conversations he had with this man, his expression darkened. He had clearly realized he was lied to about various things. "Hmph!" The middle-aged man flourished his sleeves in annoyance. Noticing that they went off-topic, the crowd started to get further information on cultivation and Wei Wuyin, but besides some basic rumors and gossip about his earlier years, not much came from it. It wasn''t long before they all went away to perform their respective duties. ----- Thud. The crane landed in a courtyard. Its body was light, so it hadn''t made much of a commotion, but the young woman jumped off in fright. It was a blessing to touch the ground again. She even had the urge to kiss the ground in thanks. Wei Wuyin dismounted from the crane, landing softly unlike the woman. This place had a relatively denser level of Essence of Heaven and Earth than other areas within the sect. It was more suitable for cultivation. It was a benefit of core disciples. The Scarlet Solaris Sect was worthy of its name. It even contained Scarlet Qi, birth from the Scarlet Spirit Vine that ran through the mountain. This qi defined the Scarlet Solaris Sect and was used in many of its cultivation methods to bolster one''s cultivated qi. The soft pattering of footsteps sounded out from the distance. A set of labored breathing was heard as a middle-aged man with a goatee was revealed. He was chubby in physique with bronze skin and looked a little slovenly.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. He smelled of sex, and the belt of his robes wasn''t fastened properly. It was obviously done in a rushed manner. Wei Wuyin didn''t mind. "M-master! You''re back!" The middle-aged man exclaimed excitedly. His name was Du Ling. He was Wei Wuyin''s butler. Someone who he had known before becoming a disciple of the sect. "Oh? You''ve established your Dantian," Wei Wuyin mildly noted. The aura of Du Ling was no longer just a strong physical presence, but a trace of the Essence of Heaven and Earth lingered inside his body. This indicated that he had established his qi center. If he had reached the Meridian Awakening Phase only, the Essence of Heaven and Earth wouldn''t linger, but flow naturally inside to outside his body in a complete cycle. Du Ling was briefly taken aback before nodding his head like a pecking chicken, "Yes, yes! It was thanks to Master''s support." Wei Wuyin slightly nodded. He looked towards the young woman. This woman he had spared was originally a part of the Violet Moon Sect. Her name was Li Yin. She belonged to some unassuming clan a ways away and was just an outer disciple of the sect. Her cultivation was nearly similar to Du Ling, who was Dantian Establishment Phase of the Foundation Establishment Realm. In that realm, the Essence of Heaven and Earth would strengthen the body and give one inhuman levels of strength. She, while in the Foundation Establishment Realm, was only at the Meridian Awakening Phase. "Find her a room. Give her a suitable job in the meantime." He ordered. Du Ling nodded quickly and walked towards Li Yin with a gentle, yet somehow dirty smile. Li Yin was in a daze. The courtyard''s atmosphere had given her a huge shock. She had been in the Violet Moon Sect since she was eight and had never been in any place remotely as comfortable as this one. The dense Essence of Heaven and Earth made her pores celebrate. Wei Wuyin didn''t linger. He left the courtyard and arrived at the entrance of his personal abode. The sound of hushed talks drew his attention. Two women were around the corner speaking of various things. He frowned. They were Du Ling''s women and honorary disciples of the sect. Clutching at his neck wound, he winced slightly and entered, decidedly ignoring the two women. As he arrived, he was met with a well-maintained, nearly too clean, room with a single bed and a table with a lone chair. Despite its size being several times greater than any room in the building, his room highlighted his liking towards minimalist design. The only two features that stood out were the orderly bookshelves filled with books and scrolls, and a pill cauldron. The cauldron was verdant green, small in size, and emanated a faint medicinal fragrance. Its state was indicative that it had been often used and treasured. He laid down on the bed as he felt exhausted in mind and body. Since his meeting with that young man with silver hair and black eyes, his body felt like atlas, being constantly weighed down upon. At first, he thought infection or poison from the bite. However, there was no indication of either and the wound was healing nicely. In fact, the wound was already faint and healed for the most part. Having just led a successful mission to eradicate the remnants of the Violet Moon Sect, it was understandable that he was exhausted. Holding his palm out in front of his face, he couldn''t help but sigh. "That one who snuck in an attempt to kill me was in the Third Stage of Qi Condensation, the Elemental Birth. If it wasn''t for my recent ascension into the Fourth Stage, I would''ve likely fallen to Chu Yan''s schemes." As he recalled the woman he briefly fancied and later killed including her relentless lover, he clenched his palm into a fist. The Scarlet Solaris Sect was one of the Five Great Sects of Wu Country, alongside the Aqua Echo Sect, Earthly Titan Sect, Sky Sword Sect, and Jade Lotus Sect. They held enormous power and strength in the Wu Country, enough to summon the wind and rain. Even the royal family would have to give each sect the appropriate amount of face. The strife between sects was already complicated and filled with all sorts of schemes, but inside was worse. Chu Yan was just a pawn in a bigger scheme. Wei Wuyin''s status and background drew many envious and discontented eyes towards him, while others believe he carried a cultivation secret. There were just too many who wished him dead or worse. "I was given that mission because of Jiu Lang...I''ll have to deal with her sooner or later." As he recalled a beauty so great that nations would war at a single word of hers, his eyes flashed with dense, malicious killing intent. As his mind wandered and forgot the passage of time, a soft knock resounded from outside. "Master, it''s Du Ling. I received a letter of invitation for you." Wei Wuyin took a deep breath. He had just returned to the sect and was given a letter of invitation. It wasn''t much of a surprise as to who it originated from. He lifted his tired body up and reached the door. When he touched the door, his eyes flashed. Immediately, he retreated fiercely backwards. A piercing sword penetrated the door and stabbed towards him. The resulting impact caused the wooden door to explosively shatter into fragments. Before he could get a good sense of his attacker, a shadow appeared behind him like the looming dread of death. He didn''t bother turning around or pressing forward. He formed a handseal and pressed toward the ground. Elemental Wind Art: Wind Wall! An explosive boom echoed as chaotic wind flow was born that shrouded his body protectively. The shadow held a sharp weapon of sorts, obviously capable of immense cutting power, as it attempted to slice through the chaotic wind flow, but shockingly found that it couldn''t. With its trajectory disrupted, Wei Wuyin mobilized his cultivation base further. He formed a double-handed seal, and his right leg stepped forward as he breathed towards his initial attacker. Elemental Fire Art: Serpent''s Breath! A roaring tongue of flame large enough to engulf a human body was expelled directly from his mouth. The form of a serpent could vaguely be seen as rushing heat enshrouded the room. A surprised exclamation echoed as his initial attacker retreated with haste. His eyes flashed a scarlet light of death as he fiercely pursued. Only after breaking through his own fire art safely did he see the appearance of his attacker. A woman, petite and firm, dressed in black. "Du Ling''s women?" His mind quickly concluded. A chill suffused from his eyes. Both of his attackers were at the Second Stage of Qi Condensation, External Flow, and were practiced in stealth methods and the art of assassination. If his qi had yet to give birth to the elements and taken form, he would have suffered severe injuries or even death from those collaborated strikes. The Elemental Birth Phase of Qi Condensation allowed one''s Qi to give birth to the four natural elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. However, this was in a formless state and uncontrolled. Outside of raw creation, not much else could be done. Unless one wants to throw random tongues of flames, spurt water at someone, or send out a gust of random wind, it was essentially useless in combat. The most crucial aspect was strengthening one''s qi and body using the four elements, allowing it to be more fluid, tougher, resilient to temperature, and easier to control. However, the Fourth Stage of Qi Condensation, Yin Form, enabled one to harness innate yin energies to give shape to Metaphysical Qi. With that, a wall of wind could be formed, a serpent of fire, and bodies of water. It was a qualitative increase in cultivation that allowed one to be nearly invincible to all those below it. His enemy hadn''t expected his cultivation to increase to that realm, which was notorious for being insidiously difficult for men, who possessed little natural yin energies, to reach, and possess such prowess to boot. This was clear by that exclamation of surprise from a trained assassin. He wouldn''t let up, however. He flicked his palm and a silver saber appeared. A gleam of silver qi, sharp and deadly, formed at its tip. He roared, brandishing it in an attack. A ray of sharp, silver qi expelled from the blade and violently met the shadow. "Metal qi?!" A voice sounded from behind him in shock. It was understandable as metal qi was outside the four natural qi elements and giving birth to it was exceptionally difficult. Thud! A body, now a corpse, fell heavily on the ground. A spray of crimson blood was left on the nearby wall. A glaring evidence of death. "Ah!" The shadow behind took notice of her partner''s death and retreated decisively. Without hesitation, she jumped out of the nearby window causing shattering sounds to resound. "Since you''ve come, stay!" Wei Wuyin coldly spat before urging his qi within his body. He kicked off explosively as he turned around and sped forward like a bullet. It wasn''t long before a brief clash of metal on metal, blade on blade, sounded and then resounding silence. A moment later, Wei Wuyin carried a segregated head and headless body through the shattered window. It was of a delicate and beautiful woman with a sliced mask. Her eyes were without focus and direction, even cross-eyed if one looked closely. Her death was sudden and filled with resentment. "I''m so tired," Wei Wuyin softly muttered as he looked at the shattered cauldron. He dropped the head and body on the ground and took out a transmission crystal. He sent a message to Du Leng. Before long, a chubby man walked through with a shocked and fearful expression. It was obvious that he had heard the commotion but stayed away for his own safety. If his Master couldn''t handle it, he would only get in the way. "Clean this mess up. I''m going to take a bath." Ordering such, he left. Du Leng shivered slightly when he realized the scorch marks, destroyed objects, and corpses. The two bodies were those he was familiar with and had even accompanied him through many late nights. An expression of guilt and apology surfaced on his face as he realized he was an unwitting accomplice to an assassination attempt. He wanted to curse himself endlessly. Instead, he focused his energy elsewhere, growing calm as a result. Without further hesitation, he started to diligently clean. Chapter 3: Du Ling Wei Wuyin sat at a table with brewed tea. It was a picture of peace. The deaths of the two assassins were reported to the sect. However, even after several days, only a perfunctory investigation was held. Of course, nothing came about it. They were deemed to have acted on their own reconnaissance and had no ties with any figure in the sect. Wei Wuyin didn''t waste his time or breath on pleading for a further investigation. He knew who was behind the assassination attempt and why. It was this very person that could sway and influence an investigation by the sect into a murder attempt of a core disciple, something that should''ve caused cataclysmic waves. After all, if a core disciple was attacked in the sect, who would feel safe? This had to be handled and, normally, people would''ve been blamed and publicly executed with the utmost swiftness. Yet, it was swept under the rug and he received a bit of contribution points from the sect as a reward. A reward for surviving. This was a clear sign of mocking and abuse of influence and power. Someone wanted him to know that even his death was acceptable by the sect, that he was unimportant and worthless. In the end, he didn''t pursue it. Even Du Ling''s carelessness didn''t bother him. Thinking of Du Ling, he recalled a vivid memory. ----- Ten years, three months ago. The Wei Clan''s Red Dove City in the Zhan Prefecture. A bustling crowd had gathered in the city''s central square as a platform stood at its center. A guillotine was erected high and above, nearly thirty meters tall. On the stock, fresh blood lingered and a ghastly aura chilled the air. The crowd seemed impassioned by events as idle discussions took place. There were all kinds of people ranging from elders to children who had come to watch the public execution of criminals and other unsavory individuals condemned by the City Authority - the Wei Clan. "Didya hear? The Bucklion Gang has been found!" An excited young observer said. "The Bucklion Gang? Is that why we''re all here?" An inquisitive young maiden asked. The young observer, male, eyes lit up as he obtained the attention of the young maiden and laughed. "Yeah! Those guys were finally hunted down by the Wei Clan! Haha, I bet they regret their actions now!" "If it''s true, they deserve what they get!" A random disgruntled elderly man interjected. The conversations grew wildly from speculation, to gossip, to factual belief. As the crowd grew with anticipation, a group of people, with shackles tied to their ankles, were dragged here by a lone man. This man wore heavy armor and a black demon mask. He was the executioner. When this group of people arrived, the world went silent as all eyes turned towards them. There was the occasional hushed whisper, but mostly the shaking of the chains and shackles resounded amidst the quiet. "It seems it''s true, the Bucklion Gang has been captured." The elderly old man whispered quietly. His eyes were filled with complex emotions as he looked towards the condemned men and women. Many of those captured were famous individuals who were known by many as being a part of or affiliated with the gang. "To think, a lofty Qi Condensation cultivator was captured. Look, it''s their leader, Tu Si!" One of the crowd pointed towards a man ahead of the prisoners. His body was muscular and tall, leaving a distinctive impression of immense power in the minds of others. However, that impression was weakened heavily as his hands were stitched together by barbwire, and his bare feet were covered in dry blood. Even his flesh seemed mangled in certain areas. What was once a Qi Condensation expert, an individual who formed their Heart of Qi, used their mind, matter, essence, and spirit to condense Metaphysical Qi and become an expert who could lord over tens of thousands, now cut a sorry figure where even the local beggars felt pity. Tu Si''s eyes were dim and lifeless. The aura of dejected spirit and acceptance of fate lingered that could make children cry in sadness. As he trudged his body beneath the gazes of the crowd, his head hung low. In the crowd, a young boy who was but fourteen was watching. His silver eyes, black hair, handsome appearance, and slim physique was hidden behind a conical hat and black robe. Wei Wuyin watched the proceedings silently. His eyes were lively and aspiring. "To think Big Brother did it." He smiled cheerfully at the accomplishment of his family. The execution of criminals was a regular pastime in Red Dove City as the Wei Clan acted with an iron fist. They held no quarter for anyone who went against them and they held the power to back it up. The strongest member of the clan, one of their patriarchs, was a member of the Saber Wolf Sect, a subordinate to the Scarlet Solaris Sect, and a cultivator at the Third Stage of Qi Condensation, the Elemental Birth Phase. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. A gust of wind could become a typhoon. A wisp of fire could whip up into becoming a maelstrom of flames. While it didn''t hold a permanence of creation, where the things created could last until destroyed or interact deeply and naturally with other elements, it promoted the interaction and growth of qi in relation to similar origins. Experts at this level could dominate vast stretches of land, such as an entire City and govern its immediate surroundings in the cultivation world. As Wei Wuyin watched in excitement. A shouting and active noise echoed in the originally silent atmosphere of gloom and death. "I''m innocent! I''m innocent!" A skinny, nearly unhealthy, underweight man cried as he was brought along with the others from the gang. He repeated those words and cried, sobbing without end as snot gathered in his nose. "I did nothing wrong! Nothing wrong!" He cried more. The crowd and prisoners turned a deaf ear to his pleas. In fact, they wanted him to cry and beg some more, enjoying the disgusting display of criminals who acted without restriction and now getting their comeuppance. To them, those normal citizens who were plagued by the gang for years, all members and those affiliated deserve death. The leader and the rest were brought near the stage, where the executioner and two other men arrived next to Tu Si. They unshackled him and brought him onstage. There was no fighting spirit left in his body as he was calmly placed on the stock. The executioner with a rough, powerful voice asked, "Do you have any last words?" Tu Si''s eyes were still dim, but he lifted up his head to see the crowd smiling and filled with anticipation at his death. He lowered his head and said, "I should''ve killed you all." "What?!" A member of the crowd shouted violently. "How arrogant! Kill this idiot and be done with his kind! I feel stupid and dirty just by looking at him!" Another added in rage. The crowd loosened insult after insult. Wei Wuyin looked about and couldn''t help but think how those in safety and who felt a little superior to others based on circumstances truly were brave. If Tu Si had his cultivation base and freedom, the women would stay silent and serve him, while the men would lower their pride and be slaves to his every word. After all, he could decide their life and death easily. Now that he was weak and facing death, they lashed ruthlessly at him without any regard. "So be it," the executioner didn''t hesitate. After they gave his name, listed his crimes, and declared his sentence of guilt and death, a lever was pulled and the angled blade fell like a blade from hell. Thud. Tu Si''s head fell. A lofty expert was executed just like that. "Woohoo!" There was a resounding cheer as even children and the elderly grew excited seeing a monster, a mass murderer and rapist, killed with a single stroke. It liberated their souls and deepened their trust in their government''s power. This was why public executions were held, to allow the people to regain the faith in the government and instill fear in criminals. Wei Wuyin smiled. He watched with pride as his Big Brother had performed the capturing. To him, he believed his brother was powerful and could take on any obstacle. It wasn''t long before heads rolled at an even pace as the members of the gang were executed in a consistent fashion. Their deaths elicited relief and excitement from the crowd. As their last words were either silence or curses, this allowed the crowd to insult them heavily. Then, a man was placed on the stock. This man had dried tears, fierce exhaustion, and impossible levels of fear in his eyes. As he looked at the hyped crowd chanting for his death, his heart grew cold and his mind flashed with memories. He had entered the Bucklion Gang just a month ago, lured there by a woman. He had been a slave, a servant for the stronger members, until he used his wit and words to get freedom and become a part of the gang. He was planning on running away when the time was right, but before he could even do so, the very next day, the gang was attacked by powerful experts who seized them all. Unlike the prisoners who wore shackles, he was just given his freedom a day before, and branded with the gang''s insignia. Because of that, the attackers had taken him to be a member and when he tried to explain his circumstances, no one listened. In fact, the other gang members straight lied. If they were going to die, they may as well take him too, no? "Do you have any last words?" Those words were like the reaper''s scythe at his neck. It caused icy-cold shivers to run down his spine and for his pants to grow wet from urine. He was afraid. "I¡­" he wanted to say what he had already said before, and pray for someone to listen to him. Maybe, just maybe, they''d believe him. However, a sudden thought emerged in his mind and he spoke words that he never thought he would say at a moment like this. "I''m hungry." "..." "..." The expected insults were stifled by the irregularity. The man said he was hungry, throwing everyone off. In a moment where your life was about to end, you say something so unimportant? However, while they were silent, a young man in the crowd couldn''t hold back his laughter. "Hahaha! You''re hungry? Hahahahaha!" He clutched at his sides and he couldn''t cease his laughter. It was infectious, as a few others also awkwardly laughed. Before long, the entire crowd was laughing at the situation. "Hungry?! Have fun eating dirt in hell!" "Did he really just say that? Well, he''s about to get a blade full of metal, so at least he''ll be full! Haha!" "No, no. Perhaps, haha, that won''t fill him up so he''ll regrow a head to get a second helping! Haha!" The crowd railed into him. His last words were indeed strange and hilarious. "So be it," the executioner nodded and was about to pull the level, ending the skinny man''s life. However¡­ "Wait!" A black figure soared through the skies and landed, a conical hat preventing his identity from being seen. The guards took arms, intending to fight if need be. The people in the crowd were shocked. "Haha! You''re pretty funny and unlike any criminal I know." Wei Wuyin ignored their aggressive stances and went to the skinny man with a smile. "Uh...thanks?" The skinny man awkwardly said. Wei Wuyin flashed his badge towards the executioner which stated his identity before ignoring the surroundings. The executioner grew shocked as he immediately gave a halting order, shocking the crowd. Wei Wuyin waved his hand and a ripe, red apple appeared in his hand. "You hungry?" He pushed it to the skinny man''s face. Unsure of the situation, the skinny man just nodded. "Good. What''s your name?" "...D-Du Ling¡­" the skinny man replied. "Then, Du Ling, let''s get you something else to eat." ----- A knock on the door awoke Wei Wuyin from his daydream. He waved towards the door as it was opened by a gust of wind. A chubby man with a goatee walked in. For a moment, Wei Wuyin felt like a skinny man with dried tears and urine drenched pants was before him. That image superimposed on the current chubby, well-dressed man before him. "Master, the Sect''s Outer Disciple Competition will start in an hour," Du Ling said solemnly. Wei Wuyin smiled. "You hungry?" Du Ling received an immense shock, his heart trembling fiercely with all sorts of emotions. He nodded almost instinctively. "Let''s eat then before we go." Saying such, he rose and left. Du Ling followed with unshed tears in his eyes. As he looked at the back figure of this young man, his heartfelt warm and conflicted. He swore softly in his heart that he''ll be more careful in the future. He had to be.