Considering Tuo Bihan couldn't answer, he didn't question it. Regardless of whether Wei Wuyin was the reincarnation of the King of Everlore or not, he was alive and young. If the King of Everlore could be birthed, then another could as well, no?
In the end, it didn't matter. For now, Wei Wuyin was Wei Wuyin.
"Will my smokescreen hold?" Wei Wuyin ate a grape, asking Tuo Bihan. He was uncertain that others wouldn't notice his manifestation. If the Alchemy Association and other hegemons learned of his potential, he feared they might launch an attack on the Myriad Monarch Sect in an attempt to slay him. This was because he represented the Myriad Monarch Sect.
This was quite different from the Princess of Everlore's existence. The Alchemy Association's stance on matters was similar to the King of Everlore, aloof and detached. It was unlikely they would dominate the starfield. But the Myriad Monarch Sect was different.
They were dealt a severely punishing blow by the other three hegemons and bore a heavy grudge. If they became rulers, developed a few Realmlords, he had no doubt the Myriad Monarch Sect would once attempt to rule the starfield as they had done once before. Their mantra and modus operandi aligned with such ambitions.
If they rose to power, the other three forces would definitely be eliminated. In fact, Tuo Bihan knew this was the case in his heart. Which of the Grand Imperial Sages today hadn't lost family, children, and friends due to the war hundreds of years ago?
Yao Zhen lost his father to the Sacred Light Palace. He was trapped in a formation and exhausted to death.
Qin Rui's parents were captured and refined by the Demonic Abyss Mountain.
Zen's budding clan that was slowly rising to prominence had been exterminated by the Elemental Heaven Pavilion.
Ji Changkong's wife was directly slain in front of him.
These were the casualties of the war. They bore grudges that ran deep, and even Tuo Bihan experienced losses. When the fighting had begun, he was a top-tier elite with intricate and emotional relationships. He watched his comrades die in gruesome ways. How could he not hold hatred? In fact, he was in love with Qin Rui's mother. It was this very reason that he treated her differently than others, wasting half a decade to ensure she had a smooth path into the ranks of an expert.
It was this very reason that Ji Changkong, Qin Rui, and Yao Zhen demanded war at the first offense. They wanted to kill to their hearts' content now that they've gained strength. For rivers of blood to run and the wailings of their enemies to resound!
Wei Wuyin had always known about this grudge and the documented war and its final result. It was this reason why he purposefully concealed his true talents when he fully arrived. He wanted to even conceal his combat strength, but Xue Yifei's existence had changed his intentions.
Tuo Bihan frowned deeply, "Absolutely not. It won't hold."
"…" Wei Wuyin's eyes became dark. This was indeed troublesome.
"Not as it is now. There are ways to do so, however. We'll get out in front of this, explaining the worldly disturbance away as a result of a method that drew in the entire world's innate energies to support your pill concoction. As for the manifestation, I don't think many would realize its significance immediately, not even the Alchemist Association. Eighth-grade products have a manifestation, but not like this. Fortunately, not many can tell the difference or explain it in person.
"We can say it was a manifestation produced by the world's formation as it drew energies from the stars, moon, and planet. I don't know if it'll hold forever, but considering your age and cultivation base, as well as the short time since you've started practicing alchemy, we'll have to rely on others' disbelief. Furthermore, rascally babe, you've kept yourself hidden quite well so there's an argument we can throw to muddle things."
"Hm?" Wei Wuyin's left eyebrow raised slightly. He ignored the fact Tuo Bihan had referred to him as 'babe', slowly becoming accustomed to his odd addressing. After all, he called him a lass once before.
Tuo Bihan smiled with a hint of cunning, "It's a fact that all alchemists know. It's absolutely impossible to concoct a ninth-grade product without an Alchemic Astral Soul. And…" He didn't finish as his eyes brightly shone with brilliance.
Ah!
Alchemic Souls were universally renowned for having no combat abilities. Since his strength was verifiable and his cultivation lacked evidence of an Alchemic Astral Soul, it was the perfect counterargument. Anyone who tried to peddle his true abilities as a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist would be laughed at.
Wei Wuyin grinned.
Good.
—–
The uproar over the next few days was absolutely massive! Especially after consecutive news was released. Wei Wuyin had drawn upon the innate energies of the Myriad Monarch Planet's core to strengthen his concoction abilities to strive to produce an eighth-grade pill! Furthermore, he succeeded!
He had displayed that, with a sufficient cultivation base, he could succeed in concocting an eighth-grade product! This was evidence that he was an Emperor Alchemist that will soon come to fruition in a hundred or two hundred years! This excited everyone as they realized that Wei Wuyin's potential was grand beyond belief.
The Prince of Everlore was living up to his name, establishing legend after legend before fifty years of age! While some were concerned about the planet's innate energies being used, considering the pill that was created was the Spatial Spirit Pill, all could be forgiven.
Who didn't know about Qin Rui? The Grand Imperial Sage of the Extreme Origin Mountain? Didn't she use this very pill to establish a solid enough foundation to become a Grand Imperial Sage? This was the same as selecting another expert to reach their level. In fact, the following news revealed that the Grand Imperial Sages decided to host a trial to find the one worthy to obtain the Spatial Spirit Pill!
Even if the innate energies of the planet were damaged slightly, a new Grand Imperial Sage easily balanced out this offense. In fact, it was greatly appreciated that many wanted Wei Wuyin to concoct another pill regardless of the damage! This was especially so for those Sky Nobles and Heavenly Kings that desired this pill!
They scrambled to prepare for the trial in hopes of obtaining the pill and ascending into the highest limits of the sky! Literally and figuratively!
In Long Chen's Earthly Elite Palace, the group was discussing various matters, especially the recent news. They were filled with disbelief at the announcements, but the room was filled with tension. This was because of what Long Chen had said before; the Stellar Manifestation of the Mortal Sovereign meant the birth of a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist.
When Lu Feng had exclaimed how awesome Wei Wuyin was, they froze as an unwillingness crept into a few of their hearts. These few were particularly Wu Baozhai and Lian Yu, and especially Long Chen.
He didn't divulge the true meaning of the manifestation, keeping its truth to himself. According to Wu Yu, the Stellar Manifestation of the Mortal Sovereign will only appear with the successful concoction of a ninth-grade pill. As for using the innate energies of the planet, three suns, and moon to support his concoction process, it was absolute bullshit.
This only depressed him further. In a blink of an eye, Wei Wuyin had gone from someone at the same level as him, with merely five years older than him, to heights that rival a figure that even Wu Yu could only look up to.
In his heart, he had always considered Wei Wuyin as having a slight advantage. What genius or elite didn't have decades or centuries on him? He inevitably overcame them all in victorious glory. This birthed boundless confidence in himself. As for seeing Wei Wuyin as a rival? He did, but he was an alchemist! He, Long Chen, focused on the Martial Dao! He comprehended Sword and Slaughter Intent, merged two Astral Souls, and cultivated the profound Imperial Heaven Qi Method.
He was set to become a Grand Monarch of the sect, taking control over the Myriad Monarch Canon, and ushering the Myriad Monarch Sect to new heights. He merely needed time and he would one day exceed even Wu Yu with his foundation. Wei Wuyin's win was temporary, and he felt confident that he could triumph against him now that he ascended to the Astral Core Realm.
But Wei Wuyin's reported combat strength exceeded his own by a level!
Furthermore, his title of Prince of Everlore was rightfully given! If one compared his achievements with the King of Everlore, it would be an insult to Wei Wuyin! The King of Everlore was trash before him. Moreover, with each passing year, Wei Wuyin would have the support of alchemical products like the Spatial Spirit Pill and other eighth-grade and ninth-grade products to establish the purest foundation imaginable.
He would have a near-limitless amount of wealth and access to the sect's resources. The support of all its experts and full authority within the sect. Even if he became the Grand Monarch, he would be forced to bow before a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist lest Wei Wuyin supported a competitor and created endless trouble for him. If he was like the King of Everlore, a figure that remained neutral and supported every race equally without allegiances, then that would be best. After all, the King of Everlore had no practical combat ability due to his Astral Soul.
But Wei Wuyin had true combat strength.
He witnessed this when he was suppressed by him in the Myriad Yore Continent. This was not false.
"At least…he's not a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist," Lu Feng said with a depressed expression. He was just informed of the 'rivalry' between Long Chen and Wei Wuyin. His big brother was facing this giant with endless talent. It was hard to muster a confident heart.
Those words caused Long Chen's heart to tense. Not a Mortal Sovereign Alchemist?
Wu Yu spoke to him telepathically, "It's best you settle your grudge in your heart. He's not an existence that you can consider overcoming. At least not now."
But Long Chen remained reluctant. He wanted to return the humiliation that was given to him in the Myriad Yore Continent. He wanted to prove to Na Xinyi that her love for him was justified, and she didn't need Wei Wuyin; he would ensure her the greatest happiness! He wanted to prove to himself that he had no limits, simply needed time.
"I refuse!" Long Chen stubbornly resisted accepting this. In the depths of his heart, Wei Wuyin was a demonic wall that he had to overcome. There had to be a way to do so. The cultivation world was boundless and limitless. There had to be some way!
Wu Yu remained silent for a period as he felt the seething emotions within Long Chen. He sighed and felt sympathetic towards Long Chen. His path thus far had been met with countless obstacles, but with the support of himself and others, he always thrived and overcame them all with his tenacious will and honest emotions. For someone like him to accept inferiority after being referred to as trash during his childhood, it was highly unlikely. He had something to prove to himself, and he wouldn't accept anything less than the best.
Wu Yu said suddenly, "There might be a path you can take. But it's rather…uncertain." These words were like cool, refreshing water to a dehydrated man in the desert. Long Chen's eyes brightened. Wu Yu had never steered him wrongly, so he believed him wholeheartedly.
"It's difficult but possible."
"I'm willing!" Long Chen internally shouted. He wasn't willing to admit his inferiority.
"If it was my era, it might not be possible, but in this era it is…you have to gain the full support of the Princess of Everlore," Wu Yu explained. If Long Chen could obtain the Princess of Everlore full support, then he would essentially have a future King of Everlore supporting him. Regardless of how impressive Wei Wuyin was, he could only rival her achievements in his eyes. This was because she had the support of the Alchemist Association and an Alchemic Astral Soul.
Even to Wu Yu, he never noticed Wei Wuyin's Alchemic Astral Soul. He simply believed Wei Wuyin had found a workaround, likely by refining alchemical energies until they reached the appropriate point and using conversion methods. His thoughts weren't wrong because it was how the Alchemist Association had created the Princess of Everlore!
Furthermore, Wei Wuyin still had to provide for the sect. If the Princess of Everlore dedicated herself completely to and for Long Chen, then his cultivation would explode without end!
Those words embedded a seed within Long Chen's mind. Since he was young, he had unusually great luck with females. Especially talented beauties. He had never intentionally pursued them, trying to focus on his cultivation, but a relationship would naturally develop and their relationship would become intimate.
This was so for Na Xinyi, Lin Ziyan, Qing Qiumu, Wu Baozhai, Lian Yu, Hong Ru, and Xiao Bing! There were also other women he hadn't accepted that he knew how crushes towards him.
But…what if he purposefully tried?
The idea deeply entrenched into his thoughts, permeating his sea of consciousness, and became hopelessly infectious. He could do it! He had the charisma, talent, and potential! Would any woman be able to resist if he tried to court them?
If Wei Wuyin was privy to his thoughts at this very moment, he might laugh for three days and two nights. Regardless, he would feel that the ensuing events would be incredibly interesting.
