"...!" An explosive wave of realization and astonishment battered Wei Wuyin's heart as his mind made a distinct connection between the Voyage Academy of Myriad Transformations and the Myriad Tower of Seven Paths of the Alchemic Associations. Details regarding the latter's history surged to the forefront of his memory, and he recalled the second most prominent figure of the Alchemic Dao within the Everlore Starfield—Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist.
A figure that rose up after the King of Everlore's disappearance in the starfield, he was renowned for his amazing skill in concocting all four types of alchemical products with astonishing success. Even the King of Everlore was prestigious because of his pills, and while he dabbled in other types, his pills eclipsed everything else.
The Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist not only had astonishing ability in the Alchemic Dao, but he also had innovative brilliance, foresight, intelligence, and the gumption to act on his visions. The Alchemist Association was established as a safeguard for alchemists after the King of Everlore's era had passed, knowing that cultivators might take advantage of their weakness, establishing a strong form of protection.
He was entirely right to take such precautions. The War Devil Realm was a piece of untouched society by the outside, grown in a way that would be natural in the case of alchemists not rivaling the skills of the top-tier cultivators, creating a lesser need and a weaker foundation for their power. To clarify, the War Devil Realm had no Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, only Emperor Alchemists at best, capable of concocting eighth-grade products suitable for middle-stage Astral Core Realm cultivators, but it had Starlords.
Due to this, the value of alchemists slowly dwindled for the top cultivators, and they sought alternatives such as forcefully enslaving alchemists to concoct quantity over quality, even introducing Alchemic Proxies into society. The Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist had prevented this development in the Everlore Starfield despite similar circumstances.
Wei Wuyin harbored a heavy degree of respect for this figure. Now, it was clear that there was an undeniable connection between the Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist and the World Between the Fold's Voyage Academy of Myriad Transformations.
"That gate…" Wei Wuyin muttered as he remembered the Alchemist Association's Master, Qingye Yun, desire to send Qingye Ying through a gateway within a tower called the Gate of Myriad Excellence Tower. It was built for the purpose of sending through an Alchemic Soul cultivator with appropriate talent, an action reportedly done by the King of Everlore after his departure. Qingye Ying had ruined her Alchemic Talent by consuming an impure Everlore Ascension Pill and eliminating her chances of entering.
There were a lot of inconsistent things regarding the story that felt sketchy.
°From the very beginning, I've been coming into contact with great matters and legacies of the World Between the Fold.° Wei Wuyin briefly mused at how even in the Myriad Yore Continent, a small continent in a small corner of a vast sealed region of a much greater external world had allowed him to come into contact with so many things.
Liu Suyin allowed Wei Wuyin to bask for a while before proceeding to introduce the Voyage Academy of Myriad Transformations. "The Voyage Academy is not the only academy of the world, but it's for those who study to become Creationists."
She gestured slightly as she began to move towards the academy's gates. At the edges of the academy, the foot traffic was extremely high, with a lot of cultivators scurrying to and fro with purpose. They seemed like servants in fancy robes performing tasks.
Wei Wuyin followed along and once again was reminded of how weak the Vice-Sect Master position was in terms of prestige and recognition. While they received gazes, most of them were directed at Wei Wuyin with the typical emotions of curiosity and heat.
Liu Suyin wasn't bothered before, but when she saw all the fiery gazes of these women directed at Wei Wuyin, almost drolling and panting like dogs, her irritation levels rose. She, uncharacteristically, mockingly commented: "You should consider wearing a veil."
"..." Wei Wuyin nearly tripped. Hurriedly catching himself, he awkwardly chuckled. Veils were often used to conceal women of unimaginable beauty to prevent troubles, and they can give an air of mystery and allure. It was also a little too prideful as if telling the world you're a nation-toppling beauty and don't want to deal with it.
In the Myriad Yore Continent, girls took to wearing it for the sake of elevating their image, even if their beauty was middling. It soon skewed towards those with lofty status rather than genuine beauty, losing a portion of its original function. But, the veil can still be used for its initial purpose.
Seeing Wei Wuyin's reaction, Liu Suyin realized her comment was out-of-pocket, especially towards a man. She added, "A mask works too. It'll just save you a lot of trouble at being stared at. Isn't it troublesome?"
Seeing her try to explain with that indifferent tone amused Wei Wuyin. "Not really," he shrugged. "My mother and father gave me this face, so I'll be letting them down by hiding it for fear of public reactions." Of course, if he was a criminal or acting in the capacity of an assassin, he wouldn't hesitate to wear a mask.
"..." Liu Suyin's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing those words from Wei Wuyin. When Wei Wuyin spoke of his mother and father, the leakage of emotion, intermixed with joyful pride and depressing sadness, was extremely apparent. An untold sad story was behind that unearthly handsome face and alluring silver eyes.
They stayed silent until they arrived at the crowded entrance of the academy. Shockingly, there was a thick line of people that were shoulder to shoulder blocking the way inside, a literal sea of people extending for miles. There was pushing, thrusting, grunting, and shouting that caused the scene to be chaotic. Despite that, it didn't devolve into a fistfight as cultivators struggled to push forward but with patience.
"What's this?" Wei Wuyin was taken aback by the sight.
"The line to enter the academy," Liu Suyin flatly answered.
"For what?"
"The Academy has a year-round training agenda for its students of every grade, and this service is provided for free—a part of their practical curriculum. Those here are striving to obtain the free services of these students." Liu Suyin said as she paused at the edge of the thick line. There were cultivators of all ages and cultivations, except Ascended beings, who were within this line.
Wei Wuyin was stunned to sense a few Starlords at the forefront. They had clearly used their refined physiques to push their way to the front, and no one could really stop them. The services of Creationists were always highly valued, and free services would be to die for, definitely to kill for.
"So…we wait for someone to bring us in?" Wei Wuyin asked curiously. There were males and females in this line, and he wondered if they would experience various assaults on their persons considering the close proximity of these cultivators, all striving to push closer. It was inevitable for some hands to roam about with lascivious intentions.
"No; we go in through here." After saying that, she gave Wei Wuyin a glance. Clearly, Wei Wuyin caught on to the fact that they weren't there with a special status nor were going to be treated well. It seems Liu Yinlan's power was limited, and the Voyage Academy was beyond her means to influence.
Liu Suyin walked forward. She warned, "Don't use your aura or astral force." Then, she sliced into the crowd with ruthless momentum, causing quite a few cultivators to tumble and fall as she shot forward. When others sensed her Mysticism of the Soul Phase cultivation base, they paled and kept their curses in their throat.
She was surprisingly quick. It was clear this was not her first rodeo, and seeing that there were no Ascended beings in the crowd, they must've entered with a quickness. Wei Wuyin soon lost Liu Suyin as she was sucked into this sea of people. He could only see evidence of her rampage by the grunts and shouts in the distance.
Wei Wuyin sighed. Everything about the World Between the Fold was novel as if it was a different society. Wei Wuyin felt an urge to experience the grandeur of the outside world, not simply upon a blood-soaked battlefield, but how different everyone and everything was. The desire burned furiously in his heart.
With a steady breath, Wei Wuyin pushed onward. When he came in contact with the first person, it was an old man who tumbled to the side for several feet, pushing others along with him. Of course, this opening swiftly was closed by opportunists.
With his refined body, it was easy to pierce through this crowd. And he was right, there were some figures who would use their hands to inappropriately take advantage of others, but the first sight of it wasn't towards a man to a woman, but a woman to a woman, as she grabbed with a hefty snap on the other's groin area.
A wail later, the woman used that opportunity to push ahead and then proceeded to sneakily give certain men and other women in her way the same experience. She waded through with experience until someone grabbed her, but she gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound as she viciously retaliated. A man cried out in pain, and then she pushed forward again.
The entire experience left Wei Wuyin speechless. Were the services of these students worth it?
Pa!
Wei Wuyin instinctively slapped away a man's hand that reached out for his groin. His eyelid twitched slightly before he decided not to linger. With invincible momentum, Wei Wuyin barreled through like a rhino, lowering his posture and protecting his nether regions. With accurate slaps, he remained unmolested by the vicious crowd.
After traveling for miles, he finally arrived at the gate of the academy. When he did, a hand shot out and pulled him out of the crowd. It was Liu Suyin. Her indifferent expression was rather strange as Wei Wuyin could've sworn he could make out a smug smile.
Wei Wuyin's expression darkened. As an Ascended being, none of those mortals would dare try to take advantage of her, but as for him…if it wasn't for his senses and ability to detect mental intentions, he might've lost a portion of his innocence in that hungry and hectic crowd.
Looking back, Wei Wuyin realized there was a thin film that blocked the crowd from approaching. Liu Suyin had brought through it. The Starlords he sensed were pressed against the thin film like glass, their expressions awkward, but their gazes were heated as they begged Liu Suyin. It was a little unnerving.
"The Academy only allows entry at certain times where a limited number can enter, but Ascended beings can come in and bring a few over into this small area, obtaining priority." Liu Suyin's explanation lifted the confusion in Wei Wuyin's mind. This made sense that there were no Ascended beings in the crowd. Looking at the small gap between the crowd and entrance, he saw a few Ascended cultivators with some haughty mortals by their side. The disdain in their eyes as they observed the struggling crowd wasn't concealed in the slightest.
Wei Wuyin shook his head. This was how people who believed themselves better often acted. "So what now?" The entrance to the academy was closed by a grandiose gate forged from gold and silver, etched with designs that lent it a unique beauty.
"We wait until the gate opens," Liu Suyin replied.
"We're really not entering as guests, are we?" Wei Wuyin could tell that his expectations of being highly treated and given astonishing levels of free access were dashed.
"We're here for you to experience the academy's means and purpose. A tour, so to speak."
Wei Wuyin heaved a sigh.
Creak! Creak!
The gate began to move, releasing creaks that caused one's heart to throb with anticipation. It seems they were lucky!
Suddenly, a soft, feminine voice resounded which caused Wei Wuyin's expression to dramatically change. "We apologize, but the academy will be delaying their next acceptance due to an ongoing Alchemic Clash."
It seems they were unlucky!
A wave of disappointment flowed in the eyes of many cultivators, but no one left. They were here for the long haul! Days? Weeks? Months?! They were fine with being here for years!
The gate fully opened and revealed a petite young human woman. She stood with pride despite her soft, gentle voice, and the air about her was enriched with an alchemical aura.
"Let's go," Liu Suyin said. This stunned Wei Wuyin. They're leaving? But when he saw Liu Suyin walk towards the woman that was seemingly prepared to give an in-depth explanation to the Ascended beings waiting, he immediately realized she wasn't leaving! Excitedly, he followed.
The young woman was quite pretty with delicate features and a slender body. She smiled after seeing Liu Suyin's approach. Wei Wuyin immediately realized this young girl that seemed no more than sixteen years old was an Ascended being as well, her cultivation base equal to Liu Suyin.
"Envoy? Surprised to see you here. How may I help you?" She asked with the bare minimum of respect, clearly, she didn't consider Liu Suyin with any degree of importance. Liu Suyin pointed toward Wei Wuyin, "this is a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist, and he's seeking to discuss the Alchemic Dao with the instructors of the Academy."
"...?" Wei Wuyin didn't expect her to put him on blast. The gazes of everyone instantly attracted to him, suffused with doubt and surprise.
The woman glanced at Wei Wuyin, her eyes shocked by his visage. Her gaze flashed with spiritual light for a fraction of a second and her expression changed. There were no lines of falsity on Wei Wuyin's face and he was a mortal! The former was more shocking than the latter to her.
"Don't waste time; show her," Liu Suyin urged impatiently.
Wei Wuyin sighed inwardly. Was he the key all along? Without hesitating, his eyes morphed into the manifestation of the Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Mortality, seven stars of seven colors in each eye, signifying his status as a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist approved by the Alchemic Dao!
"Alchemic Stars!" The woman exclaimed in abject disbelief.
The doubtful expressions of those surrounding him instantly evolved into heated and desirous gazes that bore into Wei Wuyin's body from every angle. When he glanced at Liu Suyin, she nodded as if this was the way.
And it was.
The woman bowed respectfully, despite the difference in their states of existence and strength, and said: "Please, Lord Alchemic Sovereign, come in."
Liu Suyin kept true to her intentions to not waste time, grabbing Wei Wuyin's wrist and pulling him into the gate. The woman ignored everyone else, no longer offering an explanation, as she followed after them and the door closed amidst the envious gazes of others with a heavy thud. Discussions soon became rampant amongst the crowd.