Cultivation is difficult.
A phrase almost as old as time itself. It was difficult to determine who said it first or in what language it was spoken, but it remained on the tongues of countless cultivators throughout the ages. It was as absolute as truth itself. While, like truth, it can be distorted at times, the fundamental foundation of truth was unchangeable, as was this phrase.
A cultivator of the Myriad Yore Continent might not reach the Mystic Ascendant Realm in their lifetime, struggling to touch upon the limits of the Qi Condensation Realm; meanwhile, a cultivator of the Exalted Republic of the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone would reach the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm with just casual cultivation. Despite this glaring difference, when either party inevitably reaches the peak of their respective worldly limits, the truth of that phrase will always reveal itself.
Throughout the ages, cultivators have found many ways to alleviate these difficulties. They ranged from Dual Cultivation, environmental changes such as elevating the quality or size of Solar Stars, enriching the soil of planets, moons, and flat continental earths, the creation of Secret Realms, World Realms, and Chaos Realms, consuming nutrients from cultivated various foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and beasts, and nurturing blessed grounds that contained earthly treasures and heavenly liquids.
These were the most natural means for cultivators to alleviate the difficulties of cultivation. The inclusion of Alchemy, Formations, Arrays, Tools, and Armaments were external methods, self-produced that went against the natural standard of the heavens and earth.
Alchemy to galvanize the latent, untapped potential of earthly treasures and heavenly liquids of the three great Daos of cultivation; Formations to extract and direct energies and essences to generate incredible effects; Arrays to bind together numerous formations to elevate these effects; Tools to assist one in the cultivation of energies, refinement, survival of dangerous tribulations or calamities; Armaments to assist in fighting and protecting oneself through various dangers.
These were basic cultivation principles that Wei Wuyin had learned when he first started cultivating. Now, after embarking on an unprecedented path of cultivation, seeking the utmost advantages at every stage, his Astral Souls pushing themselves to their absolute limits time and time again, Wei Wuyin's path of cultivation was the representation of 'difficult'.
Four days had passed since Wei Wuyin had openly seized the Endless Void Mirror and brought the Void Wyrm to heel. All his planning several years ago was thorough and his gains later only solidified this action. It felt genuinely pleasant when the plan one devised came together perfectly. In fact, even greater than perfect!
"Whether it was the terrifying commotion beyond the Ancient Sealed Regions or Xue Yifei's impeccable organization of the Neo-Dawn Stellar Region, nothing disturbed him in the slightest. The former lasted only an hour or so while the latter was ongoing, but didn't need Wei Wuyin's direct input on various matters. Xue Yifei was capable to an abnormal extreme, as if she was destined to be an Empress of a grand empire her entire life. She was gentle when she needed to be, forceful where she could, and ruthless in the face of opposition."
Several Evil Organizations that refused to cooperate with the transition, choosing to hide away in hopes of not being noticed so they could continue their wanton cultivation of the vile and murderous, were rooted out and slaughtered. Those who made themselves known were given soft limitations on their cultivation habits.
Wei Wuyin was not against the path of Evil Cultivation. Those who took this path weren't necessarily evil, and the concept of 'Evil Cultivation Methods' was largely decided by societal standards as being cruel or inhumane. However, since humans, demons, and beastmen could slaughter trees, pluck out their children for themselves to eat, rear beasts like slaves, consume their flesh and blood essence, or use their bones and skin as weapons or clothing, Wei Wuyin had no issue with others doing it to them.
As someone who was a human, a tree, and a beast in terms of mentality and spirit, it was hard to have any bias. In fact, he viewed them equally without any discrimination.
Wei Wuyin had long since instructed certain soft limitations on 'Evil Methods' and one of them was to not 'destroy or harm souls'. He would even go as far as allowing these Evil Organizations to submit their methods so they could be revised and improved by the Neo-Dawn Empire to reduce waste and enhance effectiveness. Additionally, there would be no mass rearing and captivity of any particular lifeforms. He didn't wish for incidents like the Trueborn's Shadow Eggs to rise again nor drive certain beasts into extinction.
This would inevitably prevent greater loss of life and waste of potential.
Those who refused to show themselves or readily agree to these soft limitations were hunted with extreme prejudice. They were already considered future violators.
This type of empire was fundamentally new to many, and the various laws and rules shook quite a few. Most empires openly condemned Evil Cultivators but covertly deployed them or used them for trade. After all, certain items and materials could only be generated by these so-called Evil Methods, such as the Primal Yin Dark Pearl, an astral-graded material that required refining a hundred thousand virgin women.
Wei Wuyin had already altered this particular method and allowed virgin women who possessed their Primal Yin to extract a small portion and willingly contribute, to the betterment of the refinement process, it only took roughly ten thousand willing participants at the First Phase of the Astral Core Realm, and this number lowered the higher their cultivation bases. Various sects could now make exchanges with lesser talented or weaker individuals, having these women donate portions of the Primal Yin like mortals donating blood.
The so-called Primal Yin Dark Pearl was no longer considered an 'Evil' Material.
There were other examples, and the initial opinion of the Neo-Dawn Empire's actions of allowing Evil Methods and certain revisions overturned the entire world's opinions in moments. Slowly through the diffusion of information and various changes implemented to renowned Evil Methods, making them far less so, the world's citizens, both simple and intelligent, began to experience a considerable shift in general attitude.
It was only in its early days, but the effects were already showing themselves.
In the future, the term 'Evil' would be removed.
Neo-Dawn Empress Xue Yifei was already making plans to change the title of 'Evil' Cultivator to 'Dark' Cultivator. Instead of using words with similar connotations such as wicked, unorthodox, or unholy, it was best to change it to something less defined, similar to 'rogue' cultivators. It would simply mean a cultivator that involved themselves in cultivating certain eccentric means.
In the future, Dark Cultivators would grow into a mainstay for naming convention, including Dark Alchemists and Dark Forgers that used various means such as humanoid essence blood, organs, Primal Yang and Yin, or refined bones to concoct and forge various things. They would be renowned for their uniquely powerful creations of various uses, and would one day be deployed by the various forces to create materials like the Primal Yin Dark Pearl of a higher grade, even mystic-grade. They would even create self-sacrificial arrays that could protect the fortune of the sect or organization, which would only ensure the safety of forces that might have been eradicated entirely otherwise.
Pushing out the ancient, clear-cut notion of 'Evil' and 'Good' in an empire openly was a breath of fresh air that no other nation dared to strive for in the Ancient Sealed Regions' history. It was remarkably different. The Neo-Dawn Empire and the Ascendants didn't hide behind righteousness and devoted themselves to good while denouncing evil.
They didn't enforce laws that they didn't abide by. If a place was labeled as a safe zone, it was safe from everyone and everything, even them. If a place was conflict-open, then regardless if you wished to slaughter tens of thousands or dominate a region, that was all up to you. It was mostly those who reigned over these regions that would enforce certain laws and protections to their liking, similarly, the Neo-Dawn Empire didn't interfere if it didn't break any of the pre-existing rules.
Neo-Dawn Stellar Region.
Desolate Dragnet Territory, Original Dawn Palace.
The last four days were incredibly eventful within the palace. Three World Emperors and Two Rune Kings were initially nervous and uncertain, especially with relations between each being quite unpredictable, but at the lead of a single man, the Ascendant Emperor of Neo-Dawn, they soon found their flow and indulged the sensual pleasure.
It was unheard of to have a 'Dao Discussion' in the Ancient Sealed Regions with three World Emperors and two Rune Kings, especially when the sole male was a mortal. The tension was dispelled as Wei Wuyin's body hadn't tainted theirs with turbid mortal energies. Their tension ebbed away after Wei Wuyin didn't directly explode.
The first hour was the hardest. The subsequent hours were the best.
A cacophony of moans and labored breathing resounded incessantly.
After three days, Wei Wuyin brought Liu Suyin away while the others rested and cultivated. Despite their unusual degrees of exhaustion, they were all shaken by the potency and purity of Wei Wuyin's Yang Essence. Despite originating from a mortal, they could freely absorb it and experience notable progression in their cultivation base, and faint changes to their Innate talents.
Wei Wuyin was patient with Liu Suyin, devoting his entire attention to her virgin body, and used every means to heighten the experience. She was the loudest out of all the women he'd ever been with, and her words shouted on impulse were enough to make a prostitute blush. Even though she was relatively inexperienced, she was quite active and entirely unlike her stoic attitude. All her walls crumbled.
She was incredibly insistent on Wei Wuyin using every part of her lovely body, unable to forget their passionate night in the Endless Voyage Realm. Wei Wuyin saw no reason to deny her. However, she genuinely had no Stamina. After five consecutive trips to the heavens, she was tapped out completely. After some nonsensical mumbling, she went to sleep for the first time since their last night together.
After the full four days were over, as each beauty was occupied with either sleeping or cultivating, Wei Wuyin sat cross-legged in an empty room with unremarkable grey walls on all sides. There were no doors or windows. This was Wei Wuyin's private cultivation chamber. He very rarely used it unless he needed complete isolation.
After all, he had placed this room within the Void itself. Not even Liu Yinlan would be able to reach him with her cultivation base without the Endless Void Mirror's powers. Only Zhangjie Wushu might be able to discover it by establishing a Void Formation.
The Yin Essence of three World Emperors, two Rune Kings, and Liu Suyin's Primal Yin was astonishingly potent. However, to Wei Wuyin, this would usually be a drop in a bucket, but Tian Xiaocheng's yin physique was strange and Zhangjie Wushu cultivated a unique formation that replicated her Primal Yin and nourished it. As long as Zhangjie Wushu remained celibate, she could nourish an artificial Primal Yin and get benefits similar to a virgin woman. Of course, any man she gave it to would gain a benefit equivalent to an ordinary World Emperor's Primal Yin.
Hu Meifang had a unique physique as well. Her innately high seductive qualities were a byproduct of this. Despite her attempts at repressing her sensual qualities, it was hard to hide anything from keen eyes. Her Yin Essence contained a Unique Intent called the Baleful Yin Intent. It was a vile, sinister yin force that could corrupt yang in abnormal ways. It bore similarities to Demonic Energies. She inherited it from her father, but it wasn't cultivated to any extent, likely due to its ability to affect the body and mind. But the essence of it was still innately contained within her Yin Source, and Wei Wuyin had absorbed that.
If not for his Stellar Paragon Physique, he might have had his Yang Source distorted in unimaginable ways, influencing his thoughts and habits. Perhaps even his Yang Quintessence and soul! Was Hu Meifang ignorant of this? She wasn't a virgin...
Meanwhile, Tian Xiaocheng's Yin Source eviscerated life energies. It was monstrously vicious. Fortunately, one could bypass this by using a surrogate method, but any man who tried to impregnate her would only have their life-bestowing yang essence that had the power of creating life be eradicated. It wasn't lost. She could then absorb the purest of yang energies after.
She was peculiar. Wei Wuyin determined that she could even dual cultivate with mortals without experiencing any dangers. Theoretically, she could even cultivate with those far, far, far beyond her cultivation and absorb 100% of the effects with the greatest ease. To her, dual cultivation was an ideal path for progression. Her physique gave her strangely incredible abilities but took away her ability to have her own children, such as having no fertile eggs. In fact, her physique couldn't develop any eggs beyond the initial ones.
It was like a human only able to grow their initial baby teeth. They didn't have the means to make adult ones!
If there was an 'Evil' category for Yin Physiques, then Hu Meifang and Tian Xiaocheng would be a perfect fit. If they cultivated their physiques and their respective profundities as Cultivation Paths, they would likely be the bane of all men.
Wei Wuyin exhaled a breath of pure air. "All of these women have interesting bodies. The more beautiful and alluring a woman, the greater the latent dangers." He couldn't help but think of Yue Songli, the former Number ONE Beauty. He should investigate her a little more.
After a while, Wei Wuyin's Stellar Paragon Physique had refined all of the Yin Essence. One of the amazing abilities of the Stellar Paragon Physique was an unnatural refinement time of Yin Energies and Essence. In a way, his physique had similar qualities to Tian Xiaocheng's. Well, only in regards to refinement potential.
After consolidating his cultivation base during the Chosen King Competition, Wei Wuyin had been so busy completing a list of objectives that he hadn't had time to diligently cultivate and explore all the effects of having a consolidated cultivation base.
"This journey should involve using my entire cultivation base. I'll spend more time familiarizing myself with my power."
"And don't rely on the power of Laws too much!" The Heavenly War Spirit echoed again. Her earlier words might have been a precursor of a panicked conscience, but she was genuine in her words. Wei Wuyin hadn't swung his saber in a long time nor fought against foes that brought forth his latent potential and sense of urgency. Only in war can true warriors shine.
The precipice of death's endless chasm was a warrior's greatest depiction of art. That's what the Heavenly War Spirit once said.
But while here in the Endless Void Mirror, those things can not reliably exist.
Wei Wuyin casually gave a 'hm' of casual acknowledgment before double-checking on the slumbering Qing Qiumu.
...
It was time to go.
He stood up. He opened a Void Portal. With a step, he arrived in a secluded room where Lin Xianxian was cultivating. She was taken aback by his sudden arrival, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation, but Wei Wuyin could only disappoint. After leaving behind some instructions, he left.
When he returned to the bedroom, the five women were all meditating and cultivating. They were all exceptional talents in their own right with great achievements in their cultivation, and they each had an unnaturally developed ethic toward cultivation that would put ordinary people to shame.
However, his yang essence wasn't so simple. Even Tian Xiaocheng had trouble refining the vast amounts of energy it was bringing to her, and her meridians, psyche, and dantian were experiencing notable advancements. It was like consuming a Mystic-World grade product with endless effects.
Notably, she swallowed the most.
Her skills were first-rate.
Wei Wuyin waved his hand and executed a spell, leaving behind lingering wisps of spiritual force before each of them. They contained instructions too. The most important of which was their path to leave the Ancient Sealed Regions. All of them. Not just them, but he didn't intend to keep any of the Endless Voyage Realm cultivators if they didn't wish to be here. If they decided to stay, there were methods left behind to properly integrate into the Neo-Dawn Empire as well.
Of course, this would have to wait until he returned.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuyin would leave the pathway access for Ma Zheng to control.
He thought for a moment. Wu Yu should have gathered the others and almost everyone should be ready by now.
After retrieving the slumbering Liu Suyin, Wei Wuyin placed her in his Saint Ring and opened another Void Portal.
"Let's get the last three," he paused for a moment and stared upwards, the Original Dawn Palace's ceiling became transparent as the starry skies of the Dark Void unfolded before him, "I wonder what this journey will lead me. The true world beyond...here I come."
With a single step, he entered the Void Portal.
