Paragon of Sin

After Wei Wuyin's departure, the various powers and clans of human and elven races were left without a purpose. They returned to their homes, marking the year-long date in their minds. Until then, it seemed there wouldn't be a conclusion to the Holy Children's War.

Due to the continuous fights and deaths of Realmlords, the inhabitants of the entire continent had termed the Holy Challenges between the various Holy Children as a war, a religious battle to determine the most powerful Holy Child that will become the central Holy Bloodline. There were only two that remained, so they were a little late. Still, history would be written regardless of the outcome and this period would forever be regarded as the Holy Children's War.

"You said what?" A stern voice resounded. It belonged to Tang Xingyun. She was currently sitting on a throne-like chair within the Voidship's Main Hall with a gloomy glint within her eyes. The Voidship had never left the Zephyr Plains. She feared that Wei Wuyin might return, acting against Lin Ming and breaking their set condition. 

She had bought Lin Ming a year to regain himself and once more fight for his right. Furthermore, she planned to give him the Badge of Divinity that was in her possession. Yet, she just heard disturbing news from one of her envoys. 

The envoy was a petite-looking young woman, rather short in height, with pigtails and black hair. Despite her young, child-like appearance, her cultivation base was extremely profound, causing the surrounding space and rays of light to tremble slightly with every breath. She was a cultivator at the Gravity Emission Phase! From how unstable and uncontrollable her aura currently was, she was clearly a newly ascended Gravity Emission Phase Cultivator.

"Young Miss! I-I…" The young girl stumbled over her words, clearly afraid of Tang Xingyun's anger. The young girl's form address was noted by Tang Xingyun, who frowned, but she wasn't about to mention it. 

The young girl wasn't a native of this World Realm, but her personal attendant turned Envoy in disguise. She had entered due to her unique status, having to pay a rather expensive fee to accomplish it. Her efforts weren't wasted as she made a breakthrough. 

Tang Xingyun sighed, calmed herself down and gently said: "Speak clearly."

Sensing the change of mood, the young girl perked up and slowly explained: "A message was sent over by Grand Priest Zi Gu, and it stated that the former Holy Son is currently sealed."

Tang Xingyun clenched her armrest, "What do you mean sealed?" She needed clarification. This concerned Lin Ming's second chance!

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The young girl recalled the details of the message and clarified, "The former Holy Son's Dantian, Acupuncture Points, and Meridians are sealed by an extremely powerful Spiritual Spell Restriction. The Grand Priest is unable to undo it, and all of Lin Ming's own efforts are rendering little to no progress. It was calculated that it'll probably take Lin Ming roughly seventy-three years to dispel the spell formations with his help." 

Tang Xingyun felt her heart clench with every additional word spoken. Who could cast such a powerful Spiritual Spell?  "Who?" 

"...Who?" The young girl was confused.

Tang Xingyun impatience erupted, "WHO ESTABLISHED THE SPELL?!" Her anger manifested in a shout, a tinge of unexpected rage effused from her normally calm, cold, and imperious eyes.

The young girl shrank back. She shivered in fear, nearly kneeling from the sudden explosive shout. As she stammered an answer, it offered no further clarification. 

"..." Tang Xingyun realized her actions were a little too much. The young girl's sunken head, trembling lips, shaking hands, and quivering knees was more than enough to show her fear. She softly sighed, "Tang Baiyu, I'm not mad at you. Just tell me."

The young girl tried to calm herself down as she bit her lips, "Th-the Grand Priest's message said it likely had to do with the Holy Son of the Desolate Lands. That's all he said." With that, she sighed a breath of relief as there was little else that she needed to say at this point.

Tang Xingyun frowned for a moment, "You're dismissed." After saying this, the young girl lifted her eyes, bowed in a practiced manner, and left the Main Hall with an eager step. For a long moment, she remained silent. The one-year agreement was made in hope of Lin Ming's comeback, a feat she felt he could perform, yet this obstruction was a huge hindrance to that possibility.

Only after she exhaled a deep breath, showing her resolution, did she say to the empty surroundings: "Can you undo the spell?" As she asked this, her heart was shaking with hope. If the Grand Priest couldn't undo the Spiritual Spell, then it was highly unlikely that she, a Light Reflection Phase Cultivator, could do so. 

"..." There was no answer from the surroundings. 

-----

At this period of time, several miles away from the Voidship, Bai Yuxi was currently looking at a series of spatial ripples that revealed a silhouette of a figure. The figure was clearly a woman, yet there were no other distinctive traits that could be determined.

"Venerable Spiritwalker, I can only request this from your esteemed self." Bai Yuxi had sent her plea towards the Dharma Protector of Tang Xingyun, seeking out an avenue to remove the Spiritual Spell Restriction placed on Lin Ming. She had already gone to the Dharma Protector of He Yanglei, hoping the other might take action out of a grudge against Wei Wuyin, but she was sent away before she could even speak a few words. 

The other Dharma Protectors were hidden in the shadows, with no intent to interfere with anything regarding this training grounds lest it concerned their charges. She had tried to contact one of them, yet they didn't even give her a reply.

The one called Venerable Spiritwalker was her last resort.

"...It's not impossible." The voice that had sent Wei Wuyin away, enforced that one-year agreement, said with a vague implication. 

Bai Yuxi's eyes brightened, finding hope. "Please instruct me, Venerable Spiritwalker." She bowed in respect, understanding that a request was incoming.

"The Spiritual Spell placed on that young man is extremely thorough, quite affixed to his critical areas with vast, powerful spiritual strength. Even those newly Ascended would find it difficult to undo," the voice explained up to this point, pausing to allow Bai Yuxi to digest these words.

Indeed, Bai Yuxi was fiercely shaken by those words. Even those newly Ascended would find it difficult to undo? How strong was this spell? Did Wei Wuyin use a powerful external device to cast it? But she had to find a way to break the spell, or Lin Ming would lose this chance forever.

The voice continued after seeing the determined light reflected in Bai Yuxi's eyes, "But I can undo the spell. However, you'll have to ask yourself if this young man is worth it. After all, I've already taken action once, why should I do it again?"

Bai Yuxi was startled by her words. Clearly, whatever Venerable Spiritwalker intended to ask in return was not going to be a low price. Her emotional connection to Lin Ming was brief but not shallow. This could clearly be seen as Lin Ming was fully willing to surrender the title of Chosen for her, despite it being just an illusion.

"I'll do anything," she answered.

-----

In the True Desolate Temple, Wei Wuyin stood at the entrance with a gaze fixed on the horizon. As his silver eyes gleamed with calculative light, a soft voice resounded behind him.

"What are you thinking about?" A soft hand touched his shoulders, caressing it until it became a gentle massage. The light-bronze skin of that hand was quite delicate.

Wei Wuyin knew it was Ai Yin, but his eyes remained fixed on the horizon. "I have to make a trip to the Scorched Skies. I'm wondering if I can make it in one go." The Scorched Skies contained the last piece of the puzzle in forming his Elemental Heart Intent: high-level Fire Intent.

"Make it?" Ai Yin was confused by Wei Wuyin's words. It took her a moment to come to the conclusion that Wei Wuyin was somewhat concerned if it was safe to travel there, being the last territory not under his control. "You shouldn't have any issue traveling there with our power. Me and Si De will protect you. The entire Grey Sands Elves are by your side." 

Wei Wuyin faintly smiled, touching the back of her hand that rested on his shoulder. "Thank you, but that's not what I meant." With a lift of her hand, he smoothly turned around and gave it a quick kiss. 

"I'll be right back," Wei Wuyin said, using her astral force to float within the air. He turned into the direction of the Scorched Skies and kicked off in mid-air. His body vanished leaving endless spatial ripples in his wake!

Ai Yin's mouth went wide.

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-----

Over one hundred thousand miles away from the Desolate Lands, faint ripples in fixed space occurred for a brief moment. These ripples continued to expand from the size of a small coin to a man-sized oval! 

Woosh!

A figure shot out from this oval. Instantly, he was welcomed by falling grey ash that seared the flesh and a bleak sky that hid the Solar Star. 

"I did it!"