"How bothersome." Wei Wuyin complained in his heart as he rested on his bed. Shortly after returning to the Myriad Monarch Sect, he happily arrived at his home between the sky. Since returning, a full week had passed, and that week was riddled with various issues that plagued his thoughts recently.
Not externally. All things on the outside were developing decently. The Gateway to the recently discovered realm had been planned around, but there was a little conflict with the Elemental Heaven Pavilion, a dispute over who owned and could enter. Within were likely boundless benefits and both hegemonic forces didn't wish to relinquish their right to it.
Its location was the Auric Sea, a location within the Myriad Monarch Astral Territory, but it bordered the Elemental Heaven Astral Territory, so they discovered it when the subordinates of the Myriad Monarch Sect had. By right, it belonged to them.
But the Elemental Heaven Pavilion was relentless, unwilling to surrender. That being said, it was soon agreed that they wouldn't inform others and seal information regarding the Gateway so no others infringe on their rights. A conflict still arose, and this was on the limit of individuals that could enter.
After investigating the Gateway, they determined it was likely a World Realm. Within was a location similar to a continental flat earth developed and raised by the Timelord or Starlord responsible. As for why Realmlord was eliminated from being suspected to have created this Gateway: it had a complicated Temporal Spiritual Formation embedded within. This restricted those above the age of three hundred years old from entering.
It was either a training ground for the ancient elites or a legitimate world used to protect descendants.
Since none of them wished to risk shattering the Temporal Spiritual Formation, they decided to enter with those of that qualification. Despite that, there were likely ancient tools, resources, and cultivation grounds that remained that could be used to develop their youths or bolster their forces overall strength.
But there was another issue. The Gateway had a limit on how many could enter. This furthered their belief that the Gateway led to a trial to train young elites or a desperate hideaway for descendants. This issue meant they could only send a limited amount each, having to divide their spots between each other. It was similarly this reason why they locked down news from transmitting outwards about the Gateway.
As a Heavenly King, below the age of three hundred, he was clearly an individual that will enter. He reserved his spot and would be waiting for them to hash out all the details and prepare their youths. According to the Grand Imperial Sages, this could take a few years to prepare. With this newfound free time, he decided to explore his Infinite Void Wings ability to travel into that unknown space.
Unfortunately, his bloodline source was thoroughly exhausted and recovered very slowly. Even after a week, he couldn't draconify. While his Draconic Force and Void Force restored swiftly, his bloodline powers were unavailable. Therefore, he was severely lacking the key to do so.
However, Kratos and Eden had informed him of a few things regarding his trip. Firstly, Eden had said his sea of consciousness was overwhelmed with information, memories, and details. These pieces of information seemed to originate from everywhere and everything at the same time.
In the simplest explanation: his brain took a flash photo of everything throughout that point of time and all of space. If it wasn't for Eden using his Alchemic Eden Energies to deconstruct and obliterate this information, he would've become a full-blown mentally disabled at best, and his sea of consciousness would've exploded at worst. The strain of eliminating so much energy had caused it to draw energies from Ori. They both were exhausted completely by the time he exited.
Furthermore, Eden couldn't rid his sea of consciousness of all of it, having to seal and slowly eliminate it within itself. Even now, information was still there. When Wei Wuyin tried to gleam into it, he fell unconscious. A single strand of information was beyond intense.
What he saw, felt, heard, tasted, and smelled overtook his senses and thoughts until his entire self nearly exploded. Furthermore, this was merely information about an air molecule. Yes, an air molecule. He had never thought so much information could be contained in such a small existence.
He allowed Eden to slowly destroy this information. Perhaps his cultivation base would reach a level where he could glimpse into this photo and gain an understanding of the entire universe, but his ability was obviously severely lacking.
Kratos had also told him unfortunate news. This regarded the lag he experienced. But while it was explaining, he didn't get it. It was too vague and pretty much gibberish. The only thing he understood was that he had nearly died, but Kratos used the King's energies to support the transition. When he exited the portal, besides his innate energies stored within his flesh and bones, he lacked all the astral force and energies within his four Astral Souls.
If they lacked even a little bit, his death might've been certain. Essentially, he escaped death from two different directions. While relieved, he couldn't help but be happy about Xiao Bai's discomfort at his bloodline pressure. He was planning on taking him, but that would've been a horrible decision.
If he came, Xiao Bai's death would've been certain.
With all said and done, he exhausted his bloodline source and nearly died.
'Xue Yifei is stuck on the Bloodforge Continent.' Thinking of that gorgeous woman, his heart burned with a little feverish heat. While he exerted impeccable self-control, she was his concubine. The thought of such a gorgeously enchanting woman wreathing beneath and above him stimulated his natural male instincts.
"Haaa…" he sighed. While he could travel to the Bloodforge Continent via a Void Gate, returning was impossible for now. He didn't know how long it would take for his bloodline source to recover, and there was no pill or elixir at the eighth-grade that influenced bloodline source—only ninth-grade.
This meant becoming a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist. If he could concoct the ninth-grade, low-tier Everblood Source Pill, then recovering would be a relatively easy feat. This particular recipe was renowned for recovering, promoting, and birthing bloodline sources. This was typically used for Star Beasts like Xiao Bai or Beastmen who cultivated their unique Bloodline alongside their Natal Souls.
For example, Zen cultivated an Aquatic Astral Soul with her bloodline powers bestowed from her beast-side. She can, like him, tap into the powers of her bloodline and intermix it with her Aquatic Astral Soul. This was all due to her bloodline being an Aquatic Bloodline. With these two portions of strength combined, her power could not be underestimated. This was especially so when surrounded by water.
"Bloodline Source... it's essentially what generates my Essence Blood. I draw power from my Essence Blood to activate my Innate Bloodline Abilities. Essence Blood contains my purest bloodline strength and defines my power. My Mark of Myth's level determines the quality of my Essence Blood. When it is used up, I use my Bloodline Source to replenish my Essence Blood. However, if my Bloodline Source is exhausted, my ability to generate Essence Blood stalls." Wei Wuyin quietly recalled this information.
It was Anu's three Essence Blood drops that allowed him to refine legitimate True Dragon Essence Blood and travel the path of a Draconic Heart of Blood(line).
He felt depressed slightly. His two partners had left the planet after his departure, and Xiang Ling was in secluded cultivation with Long Tingyu. With Xue Yifei, he couldn't idle the time away with comfort.
"Why not try?" Ori's voice resounded in his mind.
"Hm?" Wei Wuyin's inner thoughts shifted as he focused on Ori. This Divine Elemental Soul was energetic and kinda childish, but it was definitely not unintelligent. In fact, it was likely smarter than Kratos and King. They both had difficulties conveying their thoughts, especially the former who spoke in vagueness that was borderline hairpulling. However, Ori was outspoken and clear.
"Try! Try! Try! You know, try to concoct the ninth-grade!" Although Ori tended to come off a little…
Regardless, Wei Wuyin understood its thoughts. "You want me to try concocting a ninth-grade product?" The thought had occurred to him, but for some reason, he was slightly nervous in imagining himself doing so. This was the first time since he started concocting that he felt like this.
Perhaps it was because only the King of Everlore, a living legend of grand proportions, was the only existence in the entire starfield's written history to achieve this feat. In the entire Myriad Yore Continent, there were only three Emperor Alchemists. As for the entire starfield?
Less than twenty.
He hadn't even officially entered the ranks of Alchemic Emperors, and while he could concoct eighth-grade products, he never revealed this fact. While he did so mostly to ensure his shine wasn't too much of a threat to others before he gained enough strength to defend him, the truth was that…
The moment he concocted more than a hundred eighth-grade combat pellets, few in the entire starfield could threaten him. At that point, he could've revealed his ability without fear. If enemies besieged the sect, he could just spend his time concocting pellets before allowing the Grand Imperial Sages to throw them at his enemies.
Who could defend such an assault?
The nervous itch didn't vanish. The mental reverence towards the King of Everlore was somehow entrenched in his thoughts. He wanted to reach his limits, but he also was terrified of failing. Considering he now had Alchemic Astral Force, ninth-grade products shouldn't be an issue.
He closed his eyes.
"You should do it! Do it! Do it! Who cares if you fail or not?! Do it! Do it! Do it!" Ori was very energetic as she urged him to push forward.
"There's nothing we can not do, and no one we need to look up to," Kratos added. Its innate arrogance was clear. To it, it was a supreme existence.
"Ninth-Grade? Too low." King merely stated this with a sharp, biting tone filled with disdain and contempt. This was likely the most words it spoke at a single time, shocking Kratos and Ori. Four words?!
Eden remained silent for a moment, but the three Astral Souls were clearly 'looking' in its direction. In truth, Eden was the driving force behind the concoction. While Wei Wuyin essentially was the conductor and literal driver, and whether they succeeded or not was definitely a large part based on him, Eden still was what provided that strength.
His opinion on the matter was the utmost of importance. Furthermore, it was the one who decided who received what. They had long since treated Eden as a jolly grand existence, delivering presents for them to improve themselves.
"...Let's." Eden added only a single word, but it contained boundless confidence and desire. It was defined by the Alchemic Dao, how could it not wish to improve and touch the limits of Mortal Products? It wished to enter the realm of Mystic Products, touching upon the profound mysteries the world had to offer.
One day, it wanted to meet the sun and the moon.
Wei Wuyin grinned. He lifted himself off the bed and stretched lightly, "Let's." The determination to concoct a ninth-grade product and enter the Mortal Sovereign Alchemist level blazed within his heart. This step will define his future; he felt it in his bones.