The world above, that layer of sky that acted as a platform, and the world beyond, the numerous continents and planets observing the situation, went into an uproarious clamour. The events below were first interesting to them as Zuhei and Wei Wuyin came to a clash, but it ended abruptly and then left many in despair.
As Zuhei and Su Mei acted in concert to systematically use their advantage of beasts to lay waste to many participants. While they withheld killing outright, numerous pillars of lights were shattered as these participants of talent, prestige, and backing were taken out without much consideration.
There were even Myriad Monarch Sect members amongst them. Their speed and efficiency was frightening, with four Gold-Starred Beasts and an army of canines at their beck and call, this was a feat that was as easy as popping some grapes in the mouth and chewing.
In the Alchemist Association's abode, the expressions of the numerous members were dark and fallen. Was this the development they expected?
The member they nurtured for this event, the one they invested numerous resources for and pushed into the Soul Idol Phase with a six-ringed Soul Idol hadn't even met any actual contestants or combat before this. He was simply unfortunate to have met the Three-Eyed Tenebrous Crow and White-Blaze Tiger and was swiftly and shockingly eliminated.
Their mouths were wide in shock and horror, their hearts pounding with disbelief. Their best shot was eliminated before they could even react.
Furthermore, how were these Gold-Starred Beasts so freaking strong? Did the Myriad Monarch Sect infuse them with performance enhancing drugs to make them this terrifying? But the truth was not far from that, as Wei Wuyin had invested some minor effort to propel their strength.
He intended to take these three beasts away and have them act as guardians of his Sky Palace. If it suited him, he could use them as gifts to his lovers for protection. He was interested in what would happen if a beast entered the Realmlord level of strength.
This meant that, despite their wholehearted investment into their greatest talent, it vastly paled in comparison to Wei Wuyin's casual act. If the world knew the truth, who knew where the Alchemist Association's reputation would be or what face they would have.
The Association's Master, Qingye Yun, had a dark expression even more terrifying than night without the slightest light. Over 90% of the entire association were currently watching, and many of them saw their most praised genius eliminated in terror by two beasts. For his life, he crushed his tablet without hesitation.
The gorgeously veiled young girl beside Qingye Yun had eyes flashing with shock that was unconcealed.
An elder behind them trembled like a vibrator on high, "H-he…we lost?!" The despair, confusion, and fear was leaking through his eyes and lips. It was infectious as others couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions in their hearts. A cold hard fact of this trial was laid before them.
Even if they lost, they thought it would be under some epic clash or climax of the top Myriad Monarch Sect versus their elite, where their elite nourishing was contested against elite talent. But alas, the world was full of woe and surprises. Without his name even getting much traction, he was directly eliminated.
Truthfully, there were very few amongst the outside world who even knew of this genius of theirs. This was the only solace that let their cold hearts slightly relaxed.
"We…but we still have a chance!" After recalling the humongous bet, another old elder, a woman with grey hair yet youthful skin, cried out with hope. Her voice instantly enlightened these members of the association. But a cold water was soon poured over their heads.
"You think that someone else will claim victory in this event, leading to a nullification of the wager? Did you not see that subordinate of his? Even if we eliminate Wei Wuyin himself from this event, who amongst the various forces can possibly rival a nine-ringed Soul Idol?" This voice came from someone they never expected! The Alchemist Association Master himself, Qingye Yun!
His voice truly was cold as he added, "Even if we take another ten thousand steps back from the reality of the situation, do you all not see that young woman who's eliminating others like reaping cabbages on the field?" The main screen changed to Su Mei, focusing on her clashing with a Soul Idol genius of the Sacred Light Palace.
It was her versus a five-ringed Soul Idol with merely a saber and Darklight Force. She hadn't even unleashed her own Soul Idol, yet that Sacred Light Palace elite was beaten back continuously until they bled from their eyes and ears. It wouldn't be long before they were eliminated.
To fight another Soul Idol elite without their own was a feat few could accomplish in this era, but she was doing so with utter ease. Just as their fight popped on the screen, a few exchanges later caused the Sacred Light Palace member to scream out words of indignation and threats before vanishing like the others: eliminated.
A soft gasp resounded that resonated with the hearts of everyone.
Hopeless.
They had lost to Wei Wuyin's subordinates, and this revealed a frightening truth: the geniuses of the Myriad Monarch Sect, whether it be Wei Wuyin terrifying foundation and strength or those beneath him, were leagues beyond the current era. This was undisputed proof of the second coming of the King of Everlore.
Even more, the original King of Everlore had zero combat ability outside of pellets and arrays, so it was even less frightening than this. The King of Everlore could only nourish experts and rise alongside them, but Wei Wuyin had combat prowess and a genius level talent that eclipsed the world several times over.
At the Sky Ruler Phase, his Astral Core was a centimeter in diameter, a size that was beyond many, many, perhaps even all of the Grand Sage-level figures of this world, those four phases above his own. After all, the average size of a Sky Ruler's Astral Core was half a millimeter, two hundred times less.
While many hadn't seen Zuhei's size, with his nine-ringed Soul Idol that hadn't appeared for who knows how many centuries and millennia, this was frightening enough.
Qingye Yun's eyes flickered with defeat. But a moment later, he regained his composure. He was the Alchemist Association's Association Master, so while others could wallow in defeat and loss, he absolutely couldn't.
"We'll lose this bet, but that's fine. It's just unfortunate that we'll have to resort to other means," his words forced many to accept the reality before them. They had underestimated the Myriad Monarch talents, underestimated Wei Wuyin, but that's fine.
The young girl beside him turned her pretty head towards Qingye Yun. Beneath her veil, an expression that was indeterminate flashed alongside a little self-pity. If others were allowed to witness that look, perhaps they would feel the need to hug her tightly in comfort.
Qingye Yun felt the gaze, his expression like tempered steel. He didn't turn to face it but said, "Don't worry. As long as you're confident in your skills, your life and fate will still be your own. Always remember that. Furthermore, you have something he lacks."
When those words were said, the self-pity beneath the veil vanished, replaced by a renewed confidence. That was right…
Even if Wei Wuyin was an astonishing alchemist and genius, she was a true Alchemist! She was the first since the King of Everlore to possess an Alchemic Astral Soul!
Her eyes turned to the screen that displayed Wei Wuyin's nonchalant figure that sat down as he watched the ensuing chaos. She whispered to herself words only she could hear and only she knew.
—–
The Myriad Monarch Sect's abode was in utter shock, wry smiles on their faces. Many of the elders who knew of Wei Wuyin's style of doing things couldn't help but reveal that type of smile. It had merely been a few years but this youngster was domineering and shocking in everything he did.
Now, he watched while casually sitting as his subordinates eliminated all around, even other Myriad Monarch Sect participants. Wasn't this a little too vicious? A little too casual?
Ji Changkong's expression was dark as he saw Shudao besieged by wolves, his sword and saber flashed about with various lights as he dual-wielded valiantly. But in the end, a serpent shot out from underground like a ghost in the night and encapsulated his figure in a blink of an eye. He was left with no choice but to crush his tablet.
If it wasn't for the serpent's unwillingness to kill, perhaps Shudao's momentary hesitation and reluctance to depart while entrapped would've led to him becoming a bloody stain on its scales.
When he saw Shudao eliminated thus, his heart cried out. But what could he do? He might be a Grand Imperial Sage respected throughout the generations, but if this trial had revealed one thing, even if that thing hadn't been revealed before, it was that Wei Wuyin was an existence no one can offend.
If he was the next King of Everlore, he was all their hopes in extending their lives and becoming like the Myriad Monarch Grand Monarch in legends, to become an existence that exceeded the Astral Core Realm! Even if he wanted to cry out his woes, who would listen? Who would dare?
Qin Rui and Yao Zhen were already calm. That was because their hopes were either already safe or eliminated already. Yao Zhen, who was known as irritable to an extreme limit rather easily, only calmly laughed at his own descendant being eliminated by the forces of beasts.
"Well, this competition has been decided," Qin Rui remarked. The elders watching agreed with a nearly unconscious nod. In truth, when Wei Wuyin revealed his one centimeter-sized Astral Core, they knew the outcome.
This was because even if the Alchemist Association somehow produced a Spatial Resonance Phase expert, just Wei Wuyin's sheer foundation would be able to drown him. After all, his Astral Core Foundation exceeded Tuo Bihan by double, which meant he had double the Astral Force quality as their strongest Grand Imperial Sage.
While it lacked the quintessential benefits of cultivation stages, it couldn't be something these youths with very little combat experience could overcome, especially some newly ascended Spatial Resonance expert with less than six months to familiarize themselves with their cultivation base.
This was further reinforced when Zuhei revealed the fabled nine-ringed Soul Idol. The trial lost its point after that. After all, each ring was a multiplicative increase to one's energies. Who could match this? Even though they saw the six-ringed hidden expert of the Alchemist Association, was that even a comparison?
Perhaps there would be some excitement if Zuhei and Wei Wuyin were enemies, but the fact of reality was that they weren't. One was clearly a wholehearted subordinate of the other…
To these elders, how could they not know Zuhei's background? His fate? His destiny that had been overturned by Wei Wuyin's whim? Once set to rot in a cold, bleak cell, he was now free displaying a foundation, talent, and ability that left them in utter awe.
Let's not even think about that black-haired young woman with the saber, eliminating Soul Idols of the elite forces like she was reaping cabbages. Terrifying!
"Haha…" An elder who supported Wei Wuyin, even having done many things for him, couldn't help but laugh lightly. This laugh was low but unnaturally contagious as a phenomena emerged.
"Hahaha…"
"Hahahahaha…"
"HAHAHAHA!!"
A cascade of brilliant laughter resounded, cascading into a cacophony of excitement and relief. These old elders and those of elite status were laughing at the situation, whether at the absurdity or something else, no one really knew.
Even Ji Changkong started to laugh alongside them.
One abode filled with dark expressions, one abode filled with laughter, while the rest of the spectators were filled with shock, disbelief, and a tinge of horror.
The world was about to undergo a brilliant shift.
