Chapter 708 - 703: Fear The Unknown
The sudden sweeping surge of Spiritual Pressure had come and gone, sending countless experts of all generations into a state of hectically drawn conclusions and theories as to what they felt. As more communicated with each other, understanding that it was a phenomenon felt by almost every existence at a certain cultivation, the theories soon became wilder.
However, there was one specific theory that eclipsed the others. It was related to a single individual and a single, world-shaking event, and the event had only happened once before: The World Awakening of a True Saint!
There was only one time that this event had occurred, and it had shaken the dynamics of the entire Grand Cyclic Stellar Region. Much like the Stellar Manifestation of the Mortal Sovereign, it was the officially recognized phenomenon of the Alchemic Dao! It only manifested itself when the successful concoction of a non-impure Mystic-World grade alchemical product was a success by the lone efforts of an Alchemic Saint, indicating the birth of a Worldly Saint Alchemist!
The prevailing theory was that a Saint Alchemist had broken the barrier and ascended beyond their limits, causing such a phenomenon to sweep throughout the world yet again. However, while some believed this, the many forces sought to disprove it. There were only three true Alchemic Saints, yet if the long-lived experts were to compare them to the feats and talent of the King of Everlore, they would certainly be lacking.
The only plausible choice was the Sky Zenith Alchemic Saint, the rumored disciple of the King of Everlore. The others, both the Evergod Pill Alchemic Saint and Ennea Hall Alchemic Saint, were instantly disproven. The two had outright denied it, even giving congratulations to the Sky Zenith Alchemic Saint indirectly.
Their words might not have directly confirmed it, but they alluded to her success, and such had instigated the world to roar in shocking surprise. However, the Imperial Clan of the Aeternal Sky Starfield had remained silent, caught off-guard by such accusations.
Shortly after the phenomenon, the Imperial Clan had gathered their bearings and put out a statement that the phenomenon had nothing to do with the Sky Zenith Saint Alchemist, and they would investigate to learn more of its cause. However, alongside their delayed response and the two Alchemic Saints' indirect congratulations, the Imperial Clan of the Aeternal Sky Starfield received heavy skepticism.
Furthermore, there were rumors passing around that the Mystic-World grade product was the legendary unnamed pill that was once theorized by the King of Everlore himself, the pill that allowed one to gain insight into the Worldly Saint Phase!
Wild speculation suggested that it was the same product that was within the Chosen King Competition! The secret and key to becoming a Worldly Saint! While there wasn't much evidence to support this, the phenomenon and implications of it suggested an iota of truth. And that was all that was needed—the smallest possibility of it being true.
To add, the Sky Zenith Saint Alchemist had not made an official statement herself, only sending out the proxy mouthpiece that was the Aeternal Sky Starfield's Imperial Clan. In fact, she hadn't made an appearance in nearly thirty years, causing the spreading theory that she was working on a Mystic-World grade product during that time a stronger foundation to stand on.
A silent undercurrent of uncertainty started to manifest across the twenty-two other starfields. It brought along the particles of fear, apprehension, and struggle. While there was the saying that the Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill from a few years ago would eventually create the true ruler of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, there was no real panic in the hearts of the twenty-three starfields and their mystic-tier forces.
Cultivation was a marathon, not a sprint. While the pill will accelerate a cultivator's speed, ensuring the successful completion of the Realm World Phase, it was merely that. It might be heaven-defying, world-shaking, and ruler-defining to some, but not to these forces. Eventually, the product will be widespread and available to them, and a few decades of advantage wasn't sufficient to cause them worry.
But a Mystic-World grade pill that might enlighten cultivators to the secrets of Worldly Saint Phase of the Mystic Ascendant Realm, this caused a surge of abject fear in their hearts. Because while a Worldly Saint appearing might not determine the ruler of the stellar region from the others, in the Imperial Clan, it most certainly would!
The core reason for this wasn't the Worldly Saint themselves, but the Sky Zenith Alchemic Saint's potential. The King of Everlore vanished shortly after his ascension as Worldly Saint Alchemist, and he was a neutral existence that didn't care about much except the Alchemic Dao in the eyes of most. A benevolently neutral existence that sought greater heights, not wealth, authority, and territory.
If she could concoct this product once, she could do it again, and again, and again! In the end, the amount of Worldly Saints born in the starfield after ten thousand years will certainly be numerous, and limited solely to the Imperial Clan!
While it wasn't certain, an unclear timer formed in the hearts of too many powerhouses. A ticking clock that would determine their eventual submission, loss of culture and tradition, forcefully assimilated into the Aeternal Sky Starfield.
A threat.
She was a threat to their independence.
She was a threat to their authority.
She was a threat to their lives, their family, and their descendants.
Sometimes, only an idea was enough to push the needle.
The twenty-two starfields could feel the looming pressure, hearing the ticking timer that would eventually lead to their end. Furthermore, it wasn't only felt by the other starfields, but numerous forces within the Aeternal Sky Starfield felt it. This was especially so for certain organizations that were at odds with the Imperial Clan, surviving off the mythical oaths established thousands of years ago.
Normally, they wouldn't be afraid. A Mythical Oath was insidiously difficult to break. However, difficult did not mean impossible. A Mythical Oath's strength was relative to the parities swearing the oath, much like how the degree of backlash was dependent on the one who swore the oath.
For others, but not a Worldly Saint Alchemist! Prior to his abrupt disappearance, the King of Everlore left seven products called the Seven World Wonders of Everlore, detailing and theorizing seven Mystic-World grade products.
One of which was the pill that could potentially create a Worldly Saint! The very same pill the others believed to have been concocted! Another was of an elixir that could shatter a Mythical Oath if forged by those at or beneath the Earthly Saint Phase! Like all oaths, a seed is planted within all those enforced by its limitations and rules, and this seed was vulnerable to high-level cultivators and the Alchemic Dao.
Wei Wuyin had given Tuo Bihan a Spirit Cleansing Elixir, a product of similar design whose primary effect was removing Spirit Oaths and secondary effect could purify the spirit of impurities. These products have existed.
The only oath that couldn't be broken was Heavenly Oaths, and that was only because the resulting power or means to do so was incredibly difficult, almost making it absolute and unshatterable by almost every existence. Yet its vague nature of decision making made it very unreliable.
If this product was successfully concocted by the rumored Sky Zenith Alchemic Saint, then the livelihood of every single force within the Aeternal Sky Starfield was no longer protected. They, too, felt that pressure. No longer protected by their past oaths, where would they go? How would they live?
A few of the Noble Clans didn't even have Earthly Saints, attaining their right to own rich resources and occupy an enriched environment from the supermassive Mystic Radiance Belt, including the protections promised by the Aeternal Sky Saint! Without those oaths, they would be kicked out or worse, outright slaughtered.
How could they not be afraid?
The straw that truly broke the camel's back, that pushed that needle to an unstoppable spin, was the Golden Gate Pavilion. When the theory was wildly thrown about, the top-tier forces didn't just seek answers from the Imperial Clan, but from the Heavenly Seers!
However, what they received was unexpected! While Ascended had protections against being peered against by some Seers, it wasn't absolute. If the Golden Gate Pavilion truly sought out information, none could hide from their all-seeing gazes. This was evident by their conflict with the Imperial Clan thousands of years ago, spilling their crucial secrets.
Yet when asked about the origins of the phenomenon, the Heavenly Seers response was: "Unknown!"
A single word.
To them, it was enough…