Magnificent! Unrivaled! Breathtaking!
The astonishing sight of Bai Lin's transformation into her ancestral lineage was almighty and soul-etching! With Wei Wuyin acting as a focal point, she accentuated his innate majesty and glory ten-fold, bestowing the world with an unforgettable experience!
This further heightened the impact of his declaration! Those from the Endless Voyage Realm were all taken aback, either stunned, fearful, or questioning, but none had openly rebellious thoughts or concealed expressions. They had just witnessed this young man eliminate Tian Taizong with three slaps and one palm, the same Tian Taizong that forced Peng Yue to execute Temporal Reversion, which held an absolute advantage against their World Emperors in a three versus one, and while they might realize there were nuances within the fight of potentially holding back, the Tian Taizong at the last moment executing his Aeternal Imperialism of the Exalted Transformation was a sign that he hadn't gone all out either!
They were at a loss. Some of them had acquired precious mystic-tier planets, realms, and lunar satellites, including a strong, established workforce, resources both material and living, and quintessential to the development of one's own region of territory, and they were extremely reluctant to return such treasures. But what could they do?
They turned their gazes to the armored Su Nianzu and the giant-sized Jia Yang. While they seemed outwardly calm, the two were a flurry of concern and thoughts internally. In the end, Su Nianzu walked forward and clasped his hand in a respectful greeting.
"World-Saint Neo-Dawn," Su Nianzu properly called Wei Wuyin by his alchemic title, before introducing himself, "I am Su Nianzu, City Lord of one of the City of Guardians." While one might typically think that Su Nianzu wouldn't speak in a manner that was servile or overbearing, he was skewing toward the former and it wasn't hidden at all.
Wei Wuyin gave Su Nianzu a close look, a tinge of visible approval shining within his silver eyes. Su Nianzu's act of deference was enough to earn a few points in his book. Moreover, his intentions of earning favor were evident without any schemes. This would make things much easier in the long run. After all, while he could cow them all into submission, dealing with people like this was better.
He decided to be a little more talkative and reciprocate.
"Su Nianzu, was it? I've heard of your reputation during my visit to the Endless Voyage Realm. You've not let them down," Wei Wuyin's words were laced with an appreciation of strength and heavily regarded Su Nianzu as being astonishing. Those who were aware of his reputation within the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone's Exalted Republic would thoroughly understand how his words echoed with praise.
A few of them held hope that Su Nianzu could negotiate with Wei Wuyin so that they could keep their gains during this perilous journey. However, those hopeful few had their entire dreams shattered in the next moment.
"Considering all of the traversable void is yours, my Endless Voyage Realm has made a mistake. If we had known earlier, we definitely would not have caused any sort of trouble. I hope we haven't inconvenienced you." Su Nianzu's voice was rather ordinary, but his words were like thunderous booms to the ears, not just to the Endless Voyage Realm's denizens but the Neo-Dawn Stellar Region's denizens as well!
Wei Wuyin faintly smiled, revealing a spectacularly unearthly sight that caused most women to fall into an immediate daze. Meanwhile, the men were either shaken or reverential.
Those observing carefully could tell he was in a good mood and as Bai Lin slowly regressed to her elegant form of a white-feathered, non-blazing phoenix, the oppressive will enveloping the world considerably lessened. With just a few sentences it was clear that Su Nianzi had perfectly given Wei Wuyin sufficient face and caused him to change his earlier aggressive stance!
"Thank you for your kind words, World-Saint Neo-Dawn." Su Nianzu bowed slightly, deactivating his armor and keeping his lance. Jia Yang saw this and his mighty figure shrunk. However, his gaze was effused with deep concern. It was only when he checked Hu Meifang's life talisman and knew that it hadn't shattered or showcased any additional stress that he felt at ease.
Wei Wuyin strode forward as Bai Lin hovered beneath him, ready to be ridden at a moment's notice. "While I can't let any of you keep the planets, lunar satellites, or denizens of my Neo-Dawn Stellar Region, I'll carve out an area for you and allow you to get situated without interference. Moreover, I'll assist you in reversing your losses."
After saying this, Wei Wuyin's eyes glowed with a temporal light that shook the void. An instructable law of time pulsed outwards. The restraints of Temporal Reversion were considerably lessened within the Aeternal Sky Starfield. "It'd do good if you also reverse the damage you've caused."
Su Nianzu's eyes glowed beneath his helmet as he felt the law of time shift slightly. With his experience, he immediately realized that he could now execute Temporal Reversion on recently destroyed Highlords by expending only Mystic Power and the tiniest amount of lifeforce. If he decided to exhaust a little more Mystic Power, he could negate the lifeforce cost altogether.
Law of Time?! His heart was like a war drum after coming to this conclusion!
Jia Yang was no different! As World Emperors, they were naturally attuned to the world on a mystical level, so discovering this shift was easy. There were a few training grounds that had these changes to stimulate life-and-death battles without severe consequences in the Exalted Republic! Was this the Endless Void Mirror? No, this felt supremely greater! His gaze and thoughts toward Wei Wuyin rapidly changed.
Su Nianzu thought for a moment and briefly considered negotiating, but he decided against it. He clasped his hands once again and bowed slightly deeper than before. "Thank you, World-Saint Neo-Dawn." Without hesitating, he began to take action and instructed the others to begin Temporal Reversion of those who died. It was common practice to do this and siphon off some good fortune from those revived this way, and Su Nianzu had done so thousands of times in his lifetime. Quite a few Ascended beings, both men and women, find servants, followers, or lovers like this.
They would hover about mortal realm-level battlegrounds with undiscovered talents with little background, slowly deciding to 'revive' those who lost their lives, and either putting them to work to 'pay off their debt' or serve as a form of gratitude.
"...World-Saint Neo-Dawn," Jia Yang said with a wisp of uncharacteristic anxiousness.
Wei Wuyin gave Jia Yang a cool look, transmitting spiritually: "Your daughter's fine. I'll send her to the Twin Beacon Territory after I've settled some matters. She won't be harmed."
When Jia Yang heard this, his pupils constricted. However, after a short while, he let loose a calm breath and clasped his hands as well. The fact that Hu Meifang was his daughter was a secret that not even Su Nianzu knew! Why else would he stay in the Endless Voyage Realm after retiring as a Guardian of the Time Vortex? Well, besides the beautiful women.
He didn't question how Wei Wuyin knew, only assisting Peng Yue and Zhen Yang. They both suffered considerably and likely had their foundations damaged to an extent, especially Peng Yue who was almost a withered husk, her innate energies cultivated for millennia had almost been entirely drained. That was disastrous for her. Without proper alchemical products and resources at the Mystic-World grade, she might need thousands of years to remotely recover.
Wei Wuyin eyed Jia Yang's fleeting figure. Within his gaze, the vivid image of a drunken, slovenly, and licentious old man offering him a drink and words of advice with good intentions flashed. The alternative version of himself had met Jia Yang before, and this was right before Liu Yinlan had stripped him of that version of its freedom. The old man had warned Wei Wuyin to be careful of Liu Yinlan and her sinister schemes, but alas...it was too late by then. The warning had come far too late and wasn't taken too seriously by that version of himself. A regret that he carried for decades.
While in this timeline, Wei Wuyin owed him nothing, the act itself was a sign of a person he felt was worthy of his respect.
Wei Wuyin's eyes moved to the Sky Destroyers with Tian Lingyu, Tian Muyang, and Yang Chaoyue. Slowly, he landed on Bai Lin as he flew over.
Yang Chaoyue's eyes brightened while Tian Lingyu's gaze was complex. The latter was unable to sort her emotions. After all, Wei Wuyin, her lover, had just killed the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor and stripped her bloodline of its Imperial title. Moreover, she said nothing in defiance. She couldn't even muster a single word.
So when Wei Wuyin landed on the ship's deck, she didn't know how to feel or what to say. However, as he walked forward, her voice eked out slightly with an indistinguishable word as if about to say something, nearly choking on her saliva, but she was unable to get anything substantial out.
"Ah!" Her eyes widened as she felt her slender, soft body was held tightly. Strong, reliable arms wrapped around her as her head naturally leaned against a chest that she had often used as a makeshift pillow before, sleeping to the all too familiar sound of powerful heartbeats with her exhausted body and spirit.
Wei Wuyin didn't need to say any words of apology. Sometimes, a single gesture was enough to say a thousand words. Tian Lingyu's hands grabbed at Wei Wuyin's robes, leaning further into his chest as if wishing to push forward all her complex feelings out. Her body shivered.
Tian Muyang gave a soft, contentful smile. While the Tian Clan era was over, the Imperial Lineage gone, Tian Lingyu hadn't lost her position of importance in Wei Wuyin's heart. The entire world now knew.
Yang Chaoyue was stunned. She didn't feel jealous in the slightest. Instead, she felt relieved. Wei Wuyin's rise was abrupt and startling, and he'd reached the peak of their world, yet he could still do simple, deep gestures like this.
Wei Wuyin turned to Tian Weilong and said, "I've lessened the restraints of time on this region of the Neo-Dawn Stellar Region for a short period." Those words caused Tian Lingyu to clutch at his back tighter, burying herself deeper. One must know that Tian Lingyu never allowed those around her to die, and treated everyone, from the mortals of her crew to her family, like precious treasures. She was willing to defend them with her life and exhaust her own lifeforce. She was simply that good-natured.
However, the invaders had slaughtered many of those she knew and cared about, and her hatred was a part of those complex emotions. She didn't feel it was within her right to ask Wei Wuyin to seek vengeance, especially since he abolished the Tian Clan's Imperial lineage and authority just then. At the very least, she was conscious of that.
Tian Muyang nodded as Tian Weilong was stunned, "We'll bring back those who should be brought back." Then, he brought the female Sky Monarch, Tian Weilong, and the Highlords still alive with them.
Wei Wuyin leaned forward slightly, mentally transmitting in a gentle voice: "Become the leading Matriarch of the Tian Clan and lead this region for me."
"...?!" Tian Lingyu's voice shook.
"Tian Taizong isn't dead; I've spared him because of how good he's been to you in this lifetime of his. His only saving grace." Wei Wuyin didn't hide this from her. He had said earlier that only those close to Tian Taizong would know he was still alive, regardless of his choice. After all, without Tian Taizong's dutiful care and oversight, how could Tian Lingyu have reached the Earthly Saint Phase at her age? Remain a virgin despite her beauty and talent? He protected her from all those with ill-intent and ulterior motives, and allowed her to make her own choice in the end.
"..." Tian Lingyu was unable to control her rampant emotions and Wei Wuyin's robes grew wet with hot tears. They stayed like that for a long, long moment. Yang Chaoyue observed by the side, recording this moment on a spiritual jade.
After an hour, the cultivators of Endless Voyage Realm had left the former territory known as the Aeternal Sky Starfield, slowly making their way toward the Twin Beacon Territory. The planets, lunar satellites, and realms were returned, albeit reluctantly.
The invasion from the World Between the Fold had come to an end, and its end ushered forth the Neo-Dawn Defiance Era!
Wei Wuyin rode Bai Lin. She soared through the Dark Void as they made their way to the Elementus Domain!
As he got closer, his bloodline stirred.
