The spectators instantly went into a clamour, commenting on the extreme amount of points of these two irregular existences at the Soul Idol Phase, and including their origins. While one thing or another was said about them both, they were mostly irrelevant. The upcoming battle made their thoughts irrelevant, and the two that had taken the stage had already entered their own world.
Lin Ming had a faint smile on his handsome face, radiating ungodly levels of self-confidence. Despite his lack of arrogance or superiority in his expression, not a single person could conjure a thought of him suffering a single loss—in anything—as they looked at him.
With those grey eyes that seemed to contain the genesis of all things, he said to Zuhei as he leveled a calm gaze: "I've been waiting for this day."
Zuhei's silver eyebrows lifted up slightly in response, but his eyes emanated a light of intrigue. Unlike Wei Wuyin, he was quite fond of having brief conversations before initiating a slaughter. Thus, his lips arced upwards a little.
Lin Ming met Zuhei's smile with his own, turning his already faint smile into one filled with interest as well. All those months ago, Zuhei and Wei Wuyin had fought with three simple moves that tested their foundation, and during that, Zuhei had revealed his Nine-Ringed Soul Idol. This was a sign of a pinnacle genius of cultivation.
He had thought that this little starfield that was desolate, nearly forgotten by the grander world, was incapable of producing a genius of this level. This was also what his Senior Sister had informed him, telling him of the truth about the environmental conditions and disadvantages this starfield had. Without the support of alchemists, simply the environment alone would make it nearly impossible for a cultivator to exceed the Fourth Stage of the Astral Core Realm, the Spatial Resonance Phase.
This was her assessment and a tested truth that had been present before the King of Everlore had risen to prominence. It was due to his abrupt descent that the cultivation conditions of this world improved greatly, with many using a variety of ways to exceed this starfield's limitations.
Yet Zuhei existed.
Either he was like him, someone who had obtained a legacy of a being beyond the Astral Core Realm, possessed an ungodly degree of natural talent, or found a cache of an ancient alchemist. Regardless of which, Zuhei's existence had intrigued him.
It had never occurred to him that Wei Wuyin was responsible for Zuhei. In fact, he paid little attention to Wei Wuyin. His Senior Sister had long informed him that without an Alchemic Astral Soul, one can never reach the heights of the King of Everlore. In fact, they can't concoct ninth-grade products, limiting them to just beyond the Seventh Stage of the Astral Core Realm, the Realm World Phase.
All the hubbub about Wei Wuyin was simply ignorant pandemonium by the hopeful masses. Only the Princess of Everlore intrigued him, as she was the only one to take the true King of Everlore's mantle. It was also for this reason that he couldn't fathom that Wei Wuyin contributed to Zuhei's Nine-Ringed Soul Idol.
While Wei Wuyin could be considered gifted, he was simply too young. To be exact, even his Senior Sister's judgement of him was as such: A bright, but fleeting star. It'll burn for a bit before fading into obscurity. She had even chuckled at the labeling that he was the so-called Prince of Everlore. He was intrinsically gated to never reach a certain level, so it was all irrelevant in the end.
"So have I," Zuhei finally spoke out. A dialogue had finally been opened. "I actually have a question."
Lin Ming was joyful that they hadn't immediately come to blows, and he could glean a little information about Zuhei beforehand. But he hadn't expected Zuhei to say those words. "Oh? Feel free to ask away."
Zuhei's smile turned into a grin, "Master treats you differently. Why is that?" While he could simply ask Wei Wuyin, his instincts told him that wouldn't get a direct answer. Still, he was quite curious. The way Wei Wuyin looked at Lin Ming was a little different than others. It was with caution alongside a pinch of greedy desire.
"Master?" Lin Ming pouted slightly, "Do you not know how talented you are? Your potential worth? Why make yourself subservient to someone and limit your future?" He didn't answer Zuhei's question. He couldn't even if he wanted to nor did he care about the answer. It could be that Wei Wuyin wanted to recruit him thinking his limited skills in alchemy could drag him over to his side or something else entirely, but it was all irrelevant. He had no intention of entertaining Wei Wuyin like the masses.
Zuhei revealed a smidgen of surprise at Lin Ming's reaction. As if struck by enlightenment, his eyes brightened considerably. The realization dawned on him that Lin Ming considered Wei Wuyin, a under fifty Alchemic King, with little importance. This was legitimately his first time he experienced someone who reacted to Wei Wuyin in such a way.
Even Grand Imperial Sage-level characters danced in his palm, seeking his favor and attention. When Zuhei joined Wei Wuyin, the latter had already established himself for a few years, performing numerous feats and having pervasive connections.
As for his talent?
If it wasn't for Wei Wuyin, he would be a nearly desiccated husk trapped in a cage awaiting inevitable death. Now, he had stepped upon the grand path of cultivation and reached levels of power he hadn't even believed was possible.
Zuhei stared into Lin Ming's eyes. "Potential worth? Talented? Limited future?" He chuckled softly, "I am his claws. I am his fangs. That is my future, and it is and will always be glorious—even in death." Those words were spoken with such conviction that it nearly seemed fanatical.
Everything he was today, even his very life, had been given to him by Wei Wuyin. From being considered as a rabid mutt that took a bite at the system that nurtured him, crippled and condemned to death, he had been reborn into a thoroughbred with extraordinary might.
Lin Ming simply couldn't understand, "So you want to be a slave?"
"I want to be Zuhei," he stated in reply.
Lin Ming was taken aback by that response. He still couldn't quite understand, but he felt a little saddened in his heart. If Zuhei looked beyond this world, beyond that person, perhaps he could enter a grander stage! He inwardly sighed in his heart. Alas, everyone chooses their own paths.
He would trek his path and Zuhei would trek his. There was no need to feel emotional. Therefore, he shifted his mentality and simply considered this as what his Senior Sister wanted him to do—a platform to hone himself. Zuhei seemed to be an excellent whetstone. As for the Grand Spirit Trials? While an eighth-grade product was an item that had unfathomable value to the Tri-Vision Starfield, he didn't consider it much.
Lin Ming withdrew a white spear, grasping it in his right arm as its pointed end was diagonal to the ground. His aura changed, with the multi-colored dot between his brows emitting a faint, nearly indiscinerable light. In a blink of an eye, he seemed to have integrated with the natural elements of the world. It was profound and unfathomable. It swept across the platform, suppressing the world it inhabited.
Zuhei felt this aura, finding it quite familiar. "Elemental Origin Intent?" He thought out loud.
Lin Ming was somewhat shocked that Zuhei had recognized this Intent so swiftly, but then he recalled Wei Wuyin. He had somehow used a haphazardly formed Elemental Origin Intent or a pseudo-form of it via a secret art. He was present on that day, so it shouldn't be too difficult to recognize.
Of course, Lin Ming's assessment was thoroughly incorrect due to his ignorance of the Zenith Origin State and how it influences Intent via the world's mana, giving it an extremely elusive feeling that was hard to pinpoint. To put it simply, it was beyond his cultivation and understanding.
When Zuhei felt the Elemental Origin Intent, he too recalled his clash with Wei Wuyin. He was confused. Why were the two Intents so different in terms of suppression? When he faced Wei Wuyin, it was as if an ocean was encapsulating his entirety, wishing to crush his entire existence. As for this Elemental Origin Intent, it felt…weak. Extremely weak.
It was there, but it was like comparing a feather to a brick in terms of impactfulness.
Boosh!
Zuhei explosive released his Intents, unleashing his Battle and Slaughter Intent all at once. It immediately collided with the pervasive Elemental Origin Intent.
Lin Ming's eyes narrowed slightly. Both of Zuhei's Intents were extremely powerful, well-refined, and very compatible with himself. His Elemental Origin Intent had three high-level Intents from the Advanced Elements, each one corresponding with one of the three fragments he obtained from his legacy. They were extremely powerful, but his Elemental Origin Intent was still incomplete.
The clash caused the world to be upturned, with rays of bloody light emerging sporadically, gusts of torrential winds, quaking ground, and erratic temperatures. Those near the platform were immediately buffeted by the intense clash, their expressions grew pale regardless of their cultivation and they hastily retreated.
A challenge had yet to be issued, but a battle of Intent had already begun!
Both Zuhei and Lin Ming no longer continued their conversations, and they both exclaimed!
"I, Lin Ming(Zuhei), Challenge!"
