"It's really him…" Qingye Ying clutched her hand against her chest, her heart throbbing with the intensity of thunder as her eyes reflected the image of the calm silver-eyed youth. Of all places, she hadn't expected Wei Wuyin to be here. Not here.
Decades ago, her many-great grandfather had schemed against Wei Wuyin in the hopes of attaining a portion of his talents willingly, changing her depressing fate brought about by an impure-quality Everlore Ascension Pill, and allowing her to cultivate once more. Qingye Yun was patient and non-violent, waiting for the right opportunity, and at the end of the Grand Spirit Trials, he acted.
The two clashed in a great battle of alchemy that was witnessed by tens of millions. It was as grand as could be given the size of their starfield. In that battle, she hadn't just lost to Wei Wuyin, but Qingye Yun had submitted to Wei Wuyin, granting him control over the Alchemist Association. Of course, this was all within his thoughts as he tried one last time to bid for Wei Wuyin's willingness to save her future.
He refused.
She birthed strong resentment and unwillingness in her heart. If it wasn't for the Heavenly Seer arriving, giving her a glimmer of hope, she may have tried to end it all. What was the point in living if a person couldn't cultivate? Moreover, she had an Alchemic Astral Soul, so she didn't have any form of combat ability. A flawed Alchemic Talent, inability to properly cultivate due to her meridians, and unable to fight—unimaginably cruel fate.
In her mind, Wei Wuyin's future in alchemy wasn't nearly as great as her own. He didn't have an Alchemic Soul, so he'd never reach the peak of the Alchemic Dao.
Fortunately, a mysterious Heavenly Seer arrived at the Alchemist Association and brought her great news of changing her fate. The War Devil Realm! There, she would find a chance to change her destiny without Wei Wuyin. And she did! She found a human of a familiar name with an Alchemic Talent sufficient enough to perform the Meridian Grafting Method on, solving all her issues.
But all of that was ruined by the Devil War Realm's mercilessness, causing her to be relegated to a slave, hopeless and lost as her future days might be reduced to a pill dispenser or worse. Then, like a ray of warm sunlight in the cold night, Wei Wuyin's people arrived and freed her without asking for anything in return.
And when Hong Chunhua's group saved her, they swore on their lives to bring her back safely to the Alchemist Association. Hong Chunhua's words, words that Qingye Ying had never forgotten and never will, had changed her thinking of Wei Wuyin entirely.
"We'll ensure you return to the Alchemist Association safely as long as we're alive. But remember this, this is only because of his Majesty."
This was only because of his majesty! It wouldn't be wrong to say that Qingye Ying owed Wei Wuyin her entire life, and every breath she took from that moment onward, especially that of freedom, was only because of Wei Wuyin's intentions to not harm her which was reflected in his subordinates' actions.
Her eyes glistened with wetness. The emotions of her heart were rampaging endlessly as she saw that silver-eyed young man who defeated her and saved her. She had so much to say, but facing him, facing those Alchemic Stars radiating brightly in his eyes, she could only tremble slightly.
Tian Xiaolu's thoughts were entirely different. She wasn't surprised or shaken that Wei Wuyin was a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist or his Alchemic Stars of Mortal Spirituality, as someone who was proclaiming themselves as one, this was the bare minimum of proof. She wasn't even shaken that Wei Wuyin was in the World Between the Fold. His entire existence was abnormal, likely suggesting he originated from one of those obscure forces hiding in the Sealed Regions, receiving shadow support from organizations from the World Beyond the Fold.
This wasn't just her belief alone. Higheater and his companion long ago had believed Wei Wuyin was invested in by a Worldly Saint Alchemist, likely a carefully selected descendant sent into the Sealed Region to conduct some major plot. A plot that might have taken tens of thousands of years of planning to pull off.
But they didn't care; they were Firstborns, and they didn't involve themselves in the fights between Destined, Seekers, and those who wish to overturn the entire world. If they hadn't been, they might've reported Wei Wuyin's existence in the War Devil Realm, captured him, or if they were more extreme with their approach—kill him.
The Sky Zenith Alchemic Saint also had her suspicions, but as a mortal, Wei Wuyin himself was relevant enough to change her plans. And it was clear that whoever stood behind him wasn't ordinary at all! It was just extremely unlikely that it was the King of Everlore, simply due to the planning that must've happened to get Wei Wuyin or his ancestors into the Sealed Regions safely and invest in them until they became natives unrestricted by the Sealing Array.
'Whatever his purpose, as long as he doesn't interfere with my goals, I won't have to deal with him.' Her thoughts were simple, direct, and contained the heated determination of recently forged steel.
Wei Wuyin was unaware of many of their thoughts, so he didn't react to them. Seeing as how he was now the center of attention, he decided to push on through. He left the viewing box, leaving Liu Suyin there, and soon arrived beside Cao Cuifen who faced the three judges. After arriving, he saw Tian Xiaolu's neutral gaze and Qingye Ying's emotional one. He was curious about the latter…
The three judges were all top-tier figures of the academy, all seated on a high podium overlooking the coliseum, and they were shaken that Wei Wuyin even existed. From their senses, they could tell that Wei Wuyin was extremely young, not even seventy yet, but he had manifested Alchemic Stars. Even Qingye Ying and Tian Xiaolu were older!
More shockingly, however, and likely the most unexpected discovery that almost sent them spiraling into abject disbelief and gloomy silence, was that Wei Wuyin didn't have an innate aura of an Alchemic Soul cultivator! This type of aura was very difficult to conceal, almost impossible, as an Alchemic Soul was a reflection of one's four essential energies, and it affected one's bloodline, bones, and organs.
An Alchemic Soul, any type of defined soul, changed one's innate aura at the fundamental level.
A Mortal Sovereign Alchemist!
Under seventy!
Without an Alchemic Soul!
At first, it was a little shocking, but as it goes on, it becomes absolutely ludicrous. But it wasn't without precedent, and each of the judge's eyes became incomparably solemn, glinting with exceptional light of excitement, fanaticism, pity, and sadness.
"What a waste…" The male judge known for his elixirs said with a heavy, heartfelt sigh. Those three words echoed in the hearts of each judge, their sentiment was one and the same.
WHAT A WASTE!
Wei Wuyin was taken aback by their reactions. The initial surprise had given way to sadness and pity. Furthermore, it was all directed towards him!
Cao Cuifen leaned in, her sweet fragrance attracting Wei Wuyin's attention. Did she recently put on perfume? Wei Wuyin's thoughts aside, Cao Cuifen whispered: "To reach the Mortal Sovereign Alchemist level as a Mortal without an Alchemic Soul isn't unprecedented or without reason, if one's Alchemic Talent is at least the Heavenly Overlord level. If you had taken the pure path of alchemy…"
She didn't need to say more, but Wei Wuyin perfectly understood. He couldn't help but smile warily. He had an Alchemic Soul! But Eden and Kratos were strange. On an intrinsic level, they were hidden perfectly inside him. Eden was often sensed as being a slight anomaly in his Sea of Consciousness by others, like a byproduct of a unique cultivation method, and Kratos was seen as either a unique bloodline or method, like the Blood Origin Method's third stage.
The only one that had seen through them was Lin Ziyan, and she originated from the bloodline lineage that allowed him to have four Spirits of Cultivation, so her innate sensitivity and affinity towards Spirits of Cultivation were absurdly high.
"As a Dao Instructor and the youngest with priority, you have the right of challenge for shared property right. But, you must defeat Qingye Ying or Tian Xiaolu in a Swift Dao Clash of their choice. Are you willing?" The female judge said.
Wei Wuyin unhesitatingly nodded.
"Then," the female judge's voice shook the coliseum, inducing a silent atmosphere, "who will you choose?" With the crowd silent, they all waited for Wei Wuyin's choice.
Wei Wuyin didn't even need to think about it. He pointed at Qingye Ying with his right index finger outstretched, "Her." The most expected choice! This instantly made many envious of Wei Wuyin. Regardless of what, the Swift Dao Clash of the Alchemic Dao will involve concocting fourth-grade products, not fifth-grade like with Tian Xiaolu, and he had the Alchemic Stars of Mortal Spirituality, with its assistant and the proof of his skills, he should trounce Qingye Ying!
The hearts of all Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, especially Qiao Leng, wailed with envy and frustration.
Tian Xiaolu frowned heavily, but she expected this.
The three judges looked at each other, seemingly deciding something, and then simultaneously nodded. "Then, we will begin the Swift Dao Clash in one hour." With that, they were about to bring individuals in to do prep and ensure all the formations and arrays were properly functioning.
"Wait!"
The crowd was raring to go for another round. Perhaps an upset will occur! After all, Qingye Ying had an Alchemic Soul while Wei Wuyin didn't seem to have one and it was fourth-grade, not fifth-grade. Mort importantly, none of them had ever seen Qingye Ying perform in a Swift Dao Clash, only Tian Xiaolu devastating the other Dao Instructors mercilessly and she might be more capable than they thought.
If so, then Qiao Leng had a chance. With Wei Wuyin's young age, how could he or Qingye Ying rival three thousand years of alchemical experience?
But the voice had silenced them all.
Qingye Ying stepped up. She looked at Wei Wuyin, the light of gratitude was shining in the depths of her gorgeous eyes. "I surrender."
"..."
But when she said this, Cao Cuifen and the three judges' expressions changed drastically! Not only her, but Liu Yinlan was also equally as shaken hearing the real-time updates from her eyes and ears in the academy.
Tian Xiaolu reacted with total disbelief and an unexpected expression as well, but the navy blue-haired woman noticed that Cao Cuifen and the judges' expression was different than hers and the others. Wei Wuyin noticed this too, not expecting Qingye Ying to surrender before putting up a fight.
Wasn't this her time to have another match with him? Prove her words spoken long ago, that her renewed abilities meant Wei Wuyin wasn't her equal. But it didn't matter why Qingye Ying did it, this would save him a lot of trouble.
Or so he thought…
"You…surrender?" The female judge asked solemnly.
Qingye Ying didn't realize that the atmosphere around the judges was changing, and her thoughts were focused on repaying Wei Wuyin for saving her life when she was at her lowest, about to be sold as a slave, and used for other means. Because of him, she kept her purity and her freedom. Why would she fight against Wei Wuyin to share the Pure Excellence Cauldron? If he had asked, she would've just given it to him!
She had never been someone ungrateful, taught good principles by her many-great grandfather.
"You sure?" The male judge that commented about Wei Wuyin's wasted existence said deeply.
Qingye Ying gave Wei Wuyin a steady gaze and nodded firmly and strongly. "I am."
'Fool!' Cao Cuifen's expression darkened considerably. Who couldn't see that Qingye Ying had no ill-intentions? But the road to hell was often paved with good intentions!
The last remaining male judge nodded, his eyes stern as he gazed at Tian Xiaolu. "In accordance to the laws of Shared Property in the Endless Voyage Realm, should a co-owner of the shared property show sufficient evidence of reasonable doubt in the other co-owners from fairly conducting or accepting a challenge, then the responsibility will fall onto the other co-owner, deciding the fate of the shared property, even dissolve joint-ownership. Should you, Dao Instructor Tian, choose to do so."
"...!" Qingye Ying instantly started. Some in the crowd were slow and others were fast in comprehending what this meant exactly, so the reactions were a little mixed. But those Dao Instructors all instantly understood! And their expressions were twisted in shock.
Since Qingye Ying has shown her unwillingness to accept a challenge for shared property and defend it, she had lost the right to that shared property! Tian Xiaolu, in a single moment, after a single choice, had become a sole decider of the shared property fate, even to the extent where she can become the sole owner!
"..."
This law protected a co-owner from having to share their property unfairly with another should the other co-owner willingly throw a challenge! After all, two-thirds was more than a half! And since shared property typically referred to useful cultivation tools, resource-rich environments, etc., this was a needed law to avoid scheming.
Qingye Ying was unaware of this, but Cao Cuifen, the three judges, and Liu Yinlan weren't!
Now, Tian Xiaolu was given a choice. Should she choose to remove Qingye Ying, then the shared property status of the Pure Excellence Cauldron will be removed! And Wei Wuyin's chance?
Like dust in the wind!