'These Heavenly Saint Alchemists are habitual gamblers, equivalent to degenerates that only care about their own interests. While expected, they're easy to direct. The game of Mystics they held regarding the Knightly Dao Pavilion is a sign of their cold, callous behavior when factoring in the lives and fates of others. Amusingly enough, they are overwhelmingly arrogant of their wealth and means,
thinking themselves unstoppable while loving to play games with high stakes.' Wei Wuyin's thoughts were imperceptible as he challenged aggressively, regaining some momentum.
In the Utmost Unity Mind-Realm, the seven Zeniths had a specialty that others were unaware of, including their Dao Enforcers, and it was a unique means to communicate through the realm via mental transmissions. The act of communicating mentally was highly inadmissible, even for Ascended beings, as mental energy exchange can come with mental corruption and foreign, unnatural thoughts.
Normally, cultivators at a level where transmissions were within their capabilities relied on Spiritual Sense and Spiritual Energy, which was received and then processed through their Spirit of Cultivation and then converted and carried safely into the Sea of Consciousness, like a bodily organ filtering out potential toxins.
Alchemists with an Alchemic Soul, however, had the ability to execute mental transmissions with utmost safety on both sides without any chance of mind afflictions or dissonance due to the acceptance of foreign mental energies. This was largely due to their Alchemical Energies non-harmful nature.
Eden had displayed this ability very early on, and while it was largely due to its possession of Akashic Energy of Magi that it could do so at such an early stage of its development, the technique itself was intuitive. This was a sign of Eden's innate talent in the Mind Dao and Wei Wuyin's extraordinary alchemic talent, allowing it to flourish naturally and instinctually.
But for alchemists, they had to reach a sufficient level of understanding to communicate via mental transmissions and alchemical energies, generally only Heavenly Saint Alchemists had the depth and ability! These types of transmissions were telepathic in nature, and so were untraceable. Even with the Soul Perception of Supreme Sages.
This was the Zeniths' way to communicate with the utmost privacy! The Utmost Unity Mind-Realm was built on their principle of establishing a harmless mental realm. This was what fascinated Wei Wuyin and attracted his attention!
Unfortunately for them, Eden was an Akashic Alchemic Soul, a Spirit of Cultivation, and that gave it the ability to contain, read, decipher, and divulge existential experiences—this includes minds! Mental transmissions? They were just thoughts of the mind!
Wei Wuyin looked incensed as he threw out his aggressive demand befitting an Imperial Law cultivator, yet while the Zeniths seemed silent and pondering, they were actively communicating through mental transmissions at swift speeds.
'HAHAHA! See! Predictable!' Zenith Refinement was enjoying the sight of Wei Wuyin scrambling to regain momentum. In his eyes, Wei Wuyin might be powerful, but he was tethered by his ego and therefore was no more than a baboon that was a little stronger.
'You suppress him a little, and he already is ready to fall for our trap. It really is a wonder how he's survived to this day.
Moreover, his schemes? It is elementary and faulty." Zenith Fusion mentally shook his head in disappointment.
'It was all thanks to Heaven-Saint Growing Immortality. You were right. All I had to do was exert a little superiority, and his personality would refuse to back down, creating a chink in his armor. He's in a position that's unable to back down.'
Suo Kai-Ming respectfully gave credit to the one responsible for pushing this foreigner to the edge.
'Imperial Monarchs. Little creatures, nothing more. You could have come up with it on your own, Heaven-Saint Infinite Containment.' Zenith Growth's voice was androgynous, yet it was as soothing as a cup of cold water amid a scorching summer or a cup of hot chocolate in the middle of a snowstorm.
'While Daoist Su's location is important, including acquiring his secrets. There's a high chance his feat wouldn't be able to be easily replicated without significant risk. Who hasn't tried reincarnation? It's not like Daoist Su is the ONLY example of a success, but any other methods that were later widely circulated could only be achieved with a millionth of a chance of success, at its highest. There's very little reasoning to believe he'd be any different.
'It'll be better to enter into another market. Look at him; the fool's already at the edge of the pit we carefully laid out. And he's prime to jump in of his own volition,' Zenith Fusion commented harshly.
'While Daoist Su's secrets have a chance of being irrelevant, there's still a chance that it's practical enough to replicate.
But truthfully, what I desire is the Sword of the Transient Realm. A sword of that level, if refined, could allow an easier time to resist the challenge of ascending to the Resonant Soul Realm for us with Alchemic Souls.' Zenith Extraction responded, seeking an avenue to progress in his cultivation.
As an Alchemic Soul cultivator, the challenges of ascension were unimaginably difficult, and while the Zeniths were extraordinary cultivators, there was a severe gap in cultivation bases.
While Zenith Transformation, the youngest Heavenly Saint Alchemist in recent history, was only at the Heavenly Saint Phase, an Original Magistrate, the rest, excluding Zenith Growth, were Mystic Overlords or at the Ascended Saint Phase.
Not a single True Sage amongst them.
That wasn't to say that there weren't True Sage-level Alchemists. There were. The Seven Towers of Heavenly Sages were exactly that—Sages, Enlightened Sages, and Supreme Sages. Among them were the Great Unity Sage Tower, the creator of the Yin-Yang Dao Union Pills, the greater variant of the Yin-Yang Blessing Pills that allowed Nepit to ascend as a Sage by comfortably riding on Nepri's dragon lap.
They, however, were considered inferior for both their lineages and their lack of Alchemic Souls. They were, in fact, Heavenly Saint Alchemists!
Yet with an Alchemic Soul, ascending to the True Sage Phase of the Mystic Ascendant Realm was hellish in difficulty, to nearly impossible. When Zeniths retired, they often sought ways to ascend further, hence why most of the Zeniths were beneath the Sage-level. Additionally, there was a dark secret looming about, a well-known yet unspoken fact in the Utmost Purity Galaxy:
When former Zeniths retire, they expel or transform their Alchemic Souls, transitioning to Purists for the sake of ascending further and expanding their lifespan and soulspan. They lose their extreme Alchemic Dao's advantages and often drop out of being true Heavenly Alchemic Saints.
Historically, the Seven Towers of Heavenly Sages had been created by a former Zenith that had fallen from alchemical grace, and it later became its own faction that was independent and even fainty antagonistic to the Utmost Seven Towers as lineages were born. While they weren't officially recognized as towers by the majority of the galaxy, they provided an extraordinary alternative where cultivators didn't have to forfeit their power for alchemical advantages to the majority.
It served as an off-brand Alchemic Dao of the Utmost Purity Galaxy that was practiced by many. Even though their raw numbers of alchemists exceed the Seven Utmost Tower's, they repeatedly lose every clash at the upper levels, reinforcing that the Seven Utmost Tower's path of Alchemic Soul cultivation was the true path of the Alchemic Dao.
Despite this, their existence helped fuel the Alchemic Dao culture, and there wasn't a single cultivator worth their salt within the Utmost Purity Galaxy that wasn't simultaneously an alchemist as an auxiliary profession. Su Yi was an example of this.
In the Zeniths' eyes, Wei Wuyin was also a fallen Alchemic Saint, not even remotely close to their level, pursuing strength and territory over the purest Alchemic Dao.
He never had a chance to win.
'We've already pushed him into wagering higher than just Daoist Su's location. And as Zenith Growth has said, he's continuously raising the wager despite wanting us to determine his gains so arrogantly. Let's hurry before he has a sudden moment of enlightenment to his foolishness,'
Zenith Refinement was eager to an extreme, barely able to contain his desire to laugh in Wei Wuyin's face.
Initially, Wei Wuyin was betting with an advantage in negotiations, and yet they dismantled his momentum and even baited him into accepting an increased wager. This was a master class in manipulating these so-called monarchs who reigned over earth and believed they could contend with the authorities of heaven.
Zenith Transformation blinked. As the youngest, he was soaking in all of this while simultaneously realizing that his peers in the Alchemic Dao were unnaturally cunning and manipulative. He needed to be mindful in the future lest he suffer due to inexperience.
"Equivalent?" Zenith Fusion asked with a shake of his head.
"That's far too much of a loss on our end to be considered equivalent. After all, your empire establishing any so-called tower will diminish our Alchemic Dao. Us, seven Heavenly Saint Alchemists, establishing branches in your empire will only allow it to flourish to incredible levels."
His words stung to hear, yet the Zeniths were united in their beliefs of this. Even the Dao Enforcers were the same. In a way, this foreigner should be thinking of his blessing, and then deliberately lose for his Empire's fortune. This was what Zenith Fusion was alluding to, wanting to break his spirit and induce a calculative approach.
Wei Wuyin calmed the tone of his voice, reducing the seething anger within, and mimicked the shaking of his head. "I dare say that your Alchemic Dao is inferior in terms of potential, only superior in long-standing legacy and numbers. There's an Alchemist in my empire who was able to become a Worldly Saint Alchemist as a mortal, including concocting transcendent-grade mortal-grade products with consistent success in accordance with your concoction standards. All as a mortal not even a hundred years of age."
"...!" Everyone went silent instantly. The Heavenly Saint Alchemists' pupils either shrunk or expanded, shaken to their core by this declaration.
The words that Zenith Refinement was about to spit out about potential not being sufficient to qualify as an equalizer were stuffed into his throat, unable to leave. They didn't dare to say anything careless here.
"He's our empire's greatest pride, worshipped and revered by all within my empire. Even my Empress adores him to no end," Wei Wuyin smiled brightly. While they wanted to immediately reject such claims, they were all present as Mental Incarnations, and there was zero incentive to lie.
Was the Neo-Dawn Empire so developed in their Alchemic Dao? Or did they luck out in possessing a single individual of great alchemic talent vastly exceeding anything they've ever witnessed?!
Zenith Transformation was in complete disbelief, unable to reconcile such an astonishing talent that solidly placed him as an inferior talent. He was also a little too young in these matters, not understanding that there was no need to lie at this stage. "There's no way! Lying about a talent of yours to gain an unfair wager is unnecessary, World-Saint Neo-Dawn!"
Wei Wuyin began to chuckle in amusement while the other Zeniths looked at Zenith Transformation with odd glints in their eyes.
'Calm down, Heaven-Saint Transforming Worlds. It would be far too easy to verify these claims or establish Mythical Oaths before any wager is set to ensure the truth in his words,' Zenith Extraction informed Zenith Transformation calmly, trying to allow him to understand that such false claims had no purpose and would only serve to embarrass them. They were more focused on analyzing Wei Wuyin's words, trying to find a specific loophole, such as not mentioning that the cultivator had reincarnated like Su Yi.
Even if that was so, the fact this person existed was a heaven-shaking discovery.
"If what you say is true, then let's add something to the conditions of loss and victory on both sides." Tianshi Zaoxuan finally spoke out at this moment, triggering the interest of everyone present. Tianshi Zaoxuan looked at Wei Wuyin intently.
During their negotiation, this was the end goal. It wasn't to win or lose but to place this condition into the agreement. If it succeeded and the Zeniths agreed, this foreigner would have accomplished his task. As for actually claiming victory, whether it was Tianshi Zaoxuan or the Seers of the Night that was roped into this play had no belief of success. These were, after all, the pinnacle representation of the Alchemic Dao within the galactic cluster!
Suo Haoran's heart began to race. This was it! The moment when the true wager was made!
"What addition do you suggest, Heaven-Saint Containing Creation?" The Zeniths had already communicated mentally, and had mostly agreed to Tianshi Zaoxuan's proposal!
"Should we lose this challenge of the Alchemic Dao, then we'll provide ONLY this talent of yours with the alchemical legacies of all Zenith Towers in addition to your acquiring territory, capable of establishing your tower.
"However, should we win, proving our Alchemic Dao as superior, then your talent joins our Alchemic Tower for further nurturing. We'll teach him or her, and induct him as an official citizen of our Utmost Purity Galaxy. The things he learns from us can not be disseminated to others, and while it might not grow your empire, should he or she wish to, they could return to your empire after a quarter of a million years." Tianshi Zaoxuan calmly stated, and while the other Zeniths looked calm, the prospect of teaching an individual on the proper path was too tantalizing. They could eventually determine which one will claim him or her as a successor in an Alchemic Clash later.
Wei Wuyin's brows furrowed as if thinking of the implications. It was a win-win situation outwardly, but a significant loss to lose such a potential talent for his empire.
None of them faulted him for his openly shown emotions or his thoughtfully hesitant look, trying to navigate the negatives and positives.
Suo Kai-Ming added, "Don't tell me you think you'll lose? Weren't YOU supposed to make me beg you not to stop in the sheets...one of these days?" Her words were sent discreetly to Wei Wuyin, and while it seemed private, the others were listening in.
Wei Wuyin's eyes widened slightly in fury. He turned to her, "Then why not a separate wager? If I win..."
Suo Kai-Ming was utterly dismissive of Wei Wuyin's addition, and she disdained to even offer anything in the situation if she won. There was no losing here, so why bother?
She happily watched as Wei Wuyin grew increasingly infuriated as she remained unmoved and declined to add anything should he win, completely insulting him.
So their final wager, excluding the private wager between Wei Wuyin and Suo Kai-Ming that was the cherry on top to push him to a corner, was set.
Zeniths' Victory: Daoist Su's current location and any location that he moves to by Wei Wuyin's untraceable Void Formations; the rights to establish seven branches in the Neo-Dawn Empire and acquire all of its Alchemical Lineages, absorbing its Alchemic Dao into the Utmost Purity Galaxy; the acquisition of the Neo-Dawn Empire's ridiculous talent as a citizen of the Utmost Purity Galaxy that will be taught by all Zeniths for at least 250,000 years, and they'll determine who receives this talent as their successor at a later date.
The Neo-Dawn Alchemic Saint's Victory: The acquisition of all the Zenith Tower's Alchemical Lineages, unable to be shared with any other empire, galaxy, or organization without explicit permission; The rights to establish a tower within the Utmost Purity Galaxy that will be subjected to various protections and authorities to buy, sell, and exchange resources for 250,000 years, and unable to be removed during this period under any condition by the current Zeniths or the next two future Zenith generations, while remaining independent and under the direct control of the Neo-Dawn Ascendant Emperor; the sole acquisition of the Seven Utmost Tower's alchemical legacies to this astounding talent, which can not be actively shared unless the lineage had been mastered to low-quality minimum across the board.
The difference between Alchemical Lineage and Alchemical Legacies was crucial in this wager, as a lineage involved products and concoction methods, but legacies included teachings and techniques, studies, and discoveries that the lineage has learned of or developed. For example, the cultivation of unique materials via specialized methods was often used to create specialty products.
An example would be Zenith Refinement's Novacore Alchemical Lineage, which required a unique way to refine solar energy and solar essence to create a Mystic-World and potentially Mystic-Heaven graded material. Without it, even if one had the lineage and the accompanying concoction methods, they couldn't concoct the product no matter how hard they tried.
It would be like trying to make an apple pie without the ability to acquire apples. While it might be useful in developing your own lineage or pie by studying a successful recipe, the actual concoction process was impossible.
After all was said and done, they swore a very unique oath. An oath on their Alchemic Dao.
When it was all said and done, Wei Wuyin's heart relaxed. He smiled brightly, illuminating his very soul.
To think...this worked.... An absolute win-win. Now, to initiate the final act!

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