The last few days have been rather eventful for all in the Ancient Sealed Regions with countless changes. The most discussed and prominent topic was the main cause of these changes: the Neo-Dawn Ascendant Emperor, Wei Wuyin. There wasn't a single organization alive that wasn't mentioning him, the Neo-Dawn Defiance Era, the Neo-Dawn Starfield, the Neo-Dawn Stellar Region, the Neo-Dawn Empire, or his gorgeously competent future Empress-Xue Yifei.
As for the young mortal himself, his series of eventful occurrences was enviable and heaven-defying, unbeknownst to those avidly discussing his existence and ever-growing sphere of tangible influence and power. While his individual growth was unsettling and gargantuanly earth-shattering, the true envying event was his rampage of sheets, pillows, and the joyfully blissful exploration few several captivating, nation-toppling, salivating bodies, each with their very own unique tastes and incredible feels.
Wei Wuyin hadn't begun his return from the Chosen King Competition expecting his claim of so many beautifully enchanting women. If not for the conception of the Primordial Dao Seed: Lust and the newfound Bloodline of Sin tattoo etched on his left arm, a near-identical copy of his right arm's tattoo, it would be hard to accept that all of that had happened.
After permitting Xue Yifei to act with the authority and dignity of a future Empress, Wei Wuyin eradicated the Imperial System, defeated Tian Xiaocheng, declared the beginning of the new era, announced the establishment of his area of control-the Neo-Dawn Stellar Region-and rekindled or reunited with several relationships.
Wei Wuyin touched the Myriad Yore Crystal that exuded a familiar, comforting heat, as he sat upon a lone comet gliding across the Dark Void. The silence of the Dark Void and the gorgeous scene of the vast starry skies in the distance brought an unexpectedly comforting feeling.
[RIGHT ARM]
Karmic Luck Value: 212,530.5.
First Calamity: Survived - 7/7.
Second Calamity: Claimed - 1/1.
Third Calamity: Claimed - 3/3.
Fourth Calamity: Suppressed - 18 Years.
[LEFT ARM]
Karmic Luck Value: Sealed; Initiating Rite.
First Calamity: --
The words 'Initiating Rite' felt emotionless and ominous at the same time. Long ago, when Wei Wuyin inherited the Bloodline of Sin tattoo, supposedly connected to the Primordial Dao Seed: Pride, his Karmic Luck Value had already been activated and was deducted then and there, bringing him a fortuitous encounter that one could only pray for at his cultivation. It was different now.
"This must be the typical route for those who've been given this path," Wei Wuyin concluded. He was in a unique situation before being given his status as a Heavenly Daos' Blessed prior to receiving his inherited Bloodline of Sin. This also gave him additional ways to earn Karmic Luck, such as slaying Sinners, those who've accrued Karmic Sin in their lifetime.
He was unable to concisely define what else was different. However, given his status as a Mortal and lack of a True Soul of Sin, Wei Wuyin had guessed his Karmic Luck Value was currently in a passive state, only allowed to be used by the Heavenly Daos' and machinations. He theorized that true Sinners could actively use their Karmic Luck Value to fool the Heavenly Daos into giving them assistance toward their own goals.
If true, the difference would inevitably be massive, and further incentivize being antagonistic against Blessed. Similarly to how the Blessed are incentivized to slay Sinners to receive a greater fortune, true Sinners were incentivized to slay the Blessed for their fortunes.
"I wonder if I should even be able to see or read these tattoos," Wei Wuyin gazed at both of his arms with the sleeves pulled back, seeing the intricate designs and esoteric language that he instinctively knew but couldn't identify. He had the faintest of feelings that he shouldn't be able to see these tattoos as either a Blessed turned Sinner or a natural Sinner.
"Magi?" Wei Wuyin's thoughts inexplicably swiveled to this particular term that possessed the divine-like being known as Fuxi behind them. An existence so great that he could interfere with the Heavenly Daos and the River of Time in their rage, saving him both times.
When he first obtained the Celestial Eyes of Spiritual Divinity Method, he learned a bit about Fuxi's lore and saw the Records of Fuxi alongside it. It was adorned by an esoteric and eccentric diagram that depicted the sky, heaven, rivers, mountains, marshes, earth, and flame that was divided and disjointed yet oddly harmonious.
"Let there be fire, let there be words, let there be safety, let there be prosperity, and the future of the known."
Then, he was plunged into what he could only imagine was an illusion of sorts. A world of yellowish water that contained a single, soul-entrancing light. The entire world shattered before he could determine what it was or where he was. He could only determine that it was the Yellow River by comparing the contents within the Scripture of Sin, a river that surrounded the eighteen levels of Hell's calamities. It was the segue for the souls of the deceased to be sent into the calamities for cleansing.
Fuxi was detailed as a benevolent entity that loved humans. He was a teacher, the most prominent and illustrious teacher of humanity, and gave them instructions on how to create fire to warm their bodies, cook their food, and light the darkness. He taught them how to fish and hunt, to grow and sustain themselves amidst a barren world. He taught them how to perceive the future so that they would no longer fear the future.
After experiencing everything and learning more about the Magi ahead of time thanks to Wei Si, he knew the Magi were like paramount scholars of the cultivation world, taking a page from Fuxi's book. While Wei Si never painted them in a promising light, he assumed they might be emissaries of Fuxi given how familiar and caring Fuxi was in ensuring that he didn't die to those beings far beyond his mortal existence.
Perhaps instinctively understanding these languages was a Magi's innate ability? As of now, it was impossible to determine the truth. However, there were questions he couldn't quite figure out.
Why did reading the Records of Fuxi show him the Yellow River? What was the connection between the Magi, the Bloodline of Sin, and the Heavenly Daos?
Was there even one? Or could it simply have been a glimpse into his future? Visiting the eighteen levels of Hell's Calamities?
"..." Wei Wuyin's silver eyes shone with spiritual radiance. Starting from his pupils to his irises to his sclera, a pulse of imperial light rippled across his eyes.
"Emperor Wei! Wait!" A panicked voice exclaimed as a space roughly two thousand miles from him shook. A figure cried out in shock, their groans of pain echoing through the Dark Void. "I MEAN YOU NO HARM!"
Wei Wuyin slowly rose as the comet came under his control, acting as his temporary vessel of the void, moving closer to the figure. "Oh? Do you?" Wei Wuyin smiled amusingly as he arrived. A figure was tied by chains of solidified chaos mana and solar light. All things within Wei Wuyin's territory were under his complete control. Unless someone actively contested his claim, it was all his.
"I do! I can swear a Heavenly Oath if you believe otherwise!" The figure hastily swore.
Wei Wuyin arrived a few dozen feet away and halted his comet. The white-robed figure was very familiar. Her golden-blonde hair glistened with resplendent gold glitter and her eyes were soul-stirringly blue. Tied up, her feminine figure was accentuated on every curve and every arc, and her luscious lips trembled. She could properly be described as heavenly without any further argument.
"It's been a while, Ming Shufeng."
"You...remember me..." Ming Shufeng muttered strugglingly.
"How could I ever forget the woman who made a bet with me and ran away? It has barely been over half a century since that day, I'm not that forgetful." Wei Wuyin grinned with amusement sparkling his eyes.
Ming Shufeng was momentarily lost in his eyes. How could eyes be so beautiful? How could a man be so handsome? She could only sigh in her heart. All those years ago, if she had tethered herself to Wei Wuyin and not the late Long Chen, how glorious would her path be?
"Can you release me?" She pleaded sweetly. Her voice was lovely and heavenly, truly an extraordinary feeling to the ears.
Wei Wuyin waved his hand across the air in a slicing gesture and her fetters collapsed into harmless chaos mana and solar light. "If you speak like that, how can a man possibly say no?"
Ming Shufeng blushed, slightly embarrassed. She instinctively relied on a sound-based spiritual spell to enhance the persuasiveness of her voice, capable of subtly influencing others in a similar way as the Heavenly Daos. But she knew full well that it was entirely useless on those blessed by the heavens, and if anyone told her Wei Wuyin wasn't blessed by the heavens, then she would consider them the largest idiot in existence.
That could only mean that Wei Wuyin was either pointing out her little tricks or flirting. Or both.
Wei Wuyin eyed Ming Shufeng, this Heavenly Seer and Wen Mingna's fellow disciple. Her growth was certainly noticeable. She was more alluring than before, and this wasn't a direct relation to her cultivation, simply her body maturing a little more. However, her cultivation was certainly higher than before. She was an Ascended being!
To be exact, her cultivation base was at the Mystic Star Phase, the first stage of the Mystic Ascendant Realm. He also felt the remnant fluctuations of temporal misalignment, a sign of her body having been subjected to an accelerated flow of time recently and trying to readapt to the standard flow of time.
Sensing his gaze, Ming Shufeng's body trembled slightly before she fixed her white robes and hair. "Thank you."
"Of course. So," Wei Wuyin lifted his left brow in curiosity, "How did you find me?" While he wasn't actively hiding, his aura was concealed naturally by his True Void Dragon Bloodline and the Bloodline of Sin's influence. Moreover, he was in a random territory of his that was once a desolate stellar region.
Ming Shufeng blinked, a wisp of pride in her eyes as she answered: "I did a broad spectrum scrying for several things and triangulated your position. I scryed for the trailing aura of the Void Voyage Sect's Sect Master, and not her directly. I scryed for the aura of those who left the Imperial Sky. I scryed for the aura of those who recently left the Shattered World. I scryed for all those who came in close contact with Xue Yifei. I scryed for all the recent Void Portals conjured in those areas and where they could lead. I scryed for those that I've met before. I..."
She listed eleven additional ways.
"After doing all that, I had many different spots that were potentially possible, but by eliminating all those that didn't immediately align, I was then left with only three areas with a majority cluster. This was my second choice." Ming Shufeng described her roundabout way of determining his potential location.
"Why the Void Voyage Sect's Sect Master?" Wei Wuyin asked curiously. While he had slept with the Void Voyage Sect's Sect Master and was still digesting all of her remnant aura, he didn't think anyone would know that yet.
"I was told that it'll assist me in finding you by the Grand Seer," Ming Shufeng didn't hide anything. She didn't dare.
"Huh," Wei Wuyin hadn't thought about that. She didn't try to divine anything about anyone specifically, only general information. Was this a loophole for the anti-divination runes that were commonly used by the cultivators of the Ancient Sealed Regions? Perhaps even by the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone? A weakness?
"Why?" Wei Wuyin approached a few feet closer. The floating Ming Shufeng swallowed her saliva as her body trembled.
"I..." She hesitated for a moment before a steely light surged within her eyes, "I was instructed by the Grand Seer that I should seek to be your Heavenly Seer and advisor of the Neo-Dawn Empire. At the very least, I should try."
Wei Wuyin's brows furrowed. "But?"
Ming Shufeng felt like her heart and thoughts were being seen through and she lightly clenched her fists. "It wasn't just me given the task to do so, the Fated Royalty of the Nine Gates. I don't want to be a Heavenly Seer of your Empire. I also don't think you'll even consider me when there's more capable among the Fated Royalty of the Nine Gates. So I broke through the Mystic Ascendant Realm before them, who cares about the so-called 'Blessed One', and found you using my newfound cultivation.
"I wanted to ask you to bring me with you!" She said with a staunch tone infused with resolve.
"Bring you with me? Where? My bed, perhaps?" Wei Wuyin was stunned as he joked.
"You're leaving! I know you are. Those like you whose fortunes haven't run out always leave for greater pastures, to seek out a wider world, to reach higher cultivation, and to escape any fetters imposed on you or latent dangers that would fester and destroy you otherwise." Ming Shufeng said assuredly. She was familiar with the typical route of being blessed by the heavens.
Long Chen followed that path. The other Blessed One that she had chosen and abandoned had followed that exact path. If anything, the Heavenly Daos were predictable to an extent. This was especially so for Heavenly Seers who peer into the secrets of the Heavenly Daos and dare to harness a fragment of its power.
Wei Wuyin was somewhat taken aback. "I just established my Neo-Dawn Empire. Why would I leave now?"
"The All-Ending Stellar Calamity is near! That's why..." Ming Shufeng announced and she brought up her previous words. "The latent dangers that could destroy you otherwise..."
Unbeknownst to Ming Shufeng, Wei Wuyin had no latent dangers. Not even the Demonic Sovereign or the All-Ending Stellar Calamity were dangerous. In fact, both of these existences were scrumptious meals waiting for him to eat as much as he could. The former was obediently listening to his commands as he held the key to its freedom. While the latter had been determined entirely, cause and effect.
Him leaving had little to do with the Heavenly Daos and more about his own decisions, ego, and needs. He didn't even need to travel outward for the Heavenly War Spirit's cultivation. Technically, Wei Wuyin could declare war against the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone or at least one of their organizations.
Kill an Ascended Saint? The Azure-Prime Galactic Region a few. A potential target was the Northfrost Royal Duke who was a potential Blessed. He felt that if the Heavenly Daos were trying to push him in any direction, it was to be in conflict with the forces of the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone, especially the buffet that he intended to exploit until he and the Ascendants were full.
However, Wei Wuyin thought about Wen Mingna and how he wished he could have brought a Heavenly Seer with him to this venture.
"Sure." Wei Wuyin's tone was airy and carefree. If Ming Shufeng wanted to come along, then he didn't mind it. Moreover, he could grow more familiar with the methods of having a Heavenly Seer as an aid. As for bringing those so-called Fated Royalty of the Nine Gates, Wei Wuyin didn't care whether they were more talented or skilled. "But if you're useless to me, I'll have you warm my bed daily. Understood?" Wei Wuyin teased.
Ming Shufeng blushed as her eyes brightened with an excited light. This was a heavy risk for her since she abandoned her Blessed One and directly broke into the Mystic Ascendant Realm for this opportunity. If Wei Wuyin had declined her, she would have destroyed her future prospects for nothing. The risk was enormous!
But the rewards reaped were equally as good!!
As for Wei Wuyin's teasing joke? It was advised by the Grand Seer and taught to Heavenly Seers, especially females, that it was beneficial to cultivate an intimate relationship with their Blessed One. The dangers of accompanying Blessed were unimaginable and in pursuit of greater fortunes was the accompaniment of greater dangers. If the Blessed One considered you as relatively unimportant or a mere assistance, it was common for you to be abandoned in moments of lethal danger or even sacrificed.
"Oh! I won't be useless. I promise you that. And to prove it, I'll tell you something important that I discovered while searching." She flew forward and stood on the comet. Her fragrance waffled into Wei Wuyin's nostrils even through the Dark Void. Even her perfume exuded a type of influencing power that could traverse the vacuums of space. These were the subtle means of a Heavenly Seer, and these means were those that Wen Mingna hadn't deployed at all on Wei Wuyin in the slightest. This was enough to see where her heart and trust lay.
"Hm?" Wei Wuyin was already contemplating whether to give Ming Shufeng a revised version of the fate method to assist her and better observe her interactions with the Heavenly Daos. "What is it?"
"The Trueborn Leader that's been captured by those foreigners, you should bring her along! She'll be helpful."
