Chapter 1717: The Vast, The Pure, and the Utmost (3)
The situation unfolded as unexpectedly as an abrupt volcanic eruption.
White Sky was utterly baffled and horrified as her alabaster complexion became a ghastly shade paler. The sight of an Alchemic Edict was nightmarish to alchemists like her, and the outpour of alchemic light and fragrance was akin to a prelude to her descent into the harrowing depths of Hell.
Nepit wanted to mock her, but seeing the egregious degree of fear in her eyes, she wisely decided to stay silent to not add oil to the already blazing frying pan. However, she grew further concerned by the surrounding fleets of ships that acted as if they were facing a hostile force. Their aggressive aura was mounting. Subconsciously, her body leaned toward Nepri's direction.
Pakhet's brows were furrowed as she gave Wei Wuyin a subtle look. With the formations depowered, their every action was under scrutiny and observation. They all knew not to act recklessly. Suddenly, her pupils enlarged slightly as a wave of stormy anger surged within Wei Wuyin's normally calm expression, causing her heart to palpitate out of pure survival instincts.
The invisible, torrential pressure continuously mounting upon them froze all its increasing momentum. All eyes turned to Wei Wuyin at the helm; the Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity were extraordinarily bright, incredibly intense, and an unseen, dominating force swept forth from his body. The sensation overwhelmed even White Sky's fear.
The fully armored Sage that had arrived carrying the Alchemic Edict with a commanding presence couldn't help but focus on Wei Wuyin. Out of the auras on board this tiny vessel, he was initially the most unassuming, and his focus was largely on White Sky, but after observing him, the authoritative eyes beneath the dread-inducing helm violently trembled.
Transcendent Purity!
The irrefutable sign of a prestigious figure of the Alchemic Dao!
Why was a Transcendent Purity Alchemist here? At first, the sight of four Sage-level auras hadn't instilled the slightest degree of fear or apprehension within him. The sudden awareness of an Alchemist with a pair of Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity changed his entire emotional state. The supreme confidence earlier wavered, and Wei Wuyin immediately showed why.
Behind the helm, Wei Wuyin reached out toward the Alchemic Edict spewing light and fragrance, representing the oppressive will and alluring qualities of an Alchemist. With a light grab, the Alchemic Edict held steady in the armored Sage's hand erupted with seven-colored light, forcing itself out of his grasp before soaring toward Wei Wuyin. The edict cut through the void with the mesmerizing beauty of a luminous comet, dazzling the hearts.
The edict halted just short of the Minor Elysium's passively established atmospheric barrier. It quivered slightly. And then, as if bowing before an emperor of an age, it unfurled slowly like a slender river designed by a blessed artist.
"...!" White Sky let loose a soft exclamation. When she saw the Alchemic Edict, her heart had grown terrifyingly cold and her spine weakened. Only a native of the Utmost Purity Galaxy's civilization would understand the immense importance, authority, and representation of an Alchemic Edict, especially when used as a form of arrest. It was no different than a galactic-wide Imperial Edict, an utterly irresistible order.
To most.
And among the 'most', Wei Wuyin was a clear exception.
The full name for an Alchemic Edict was the Alchemic Edict of the Seven Utmost Towers, and only one of the seven towers, the highest alchemical authority within a given galactic zone, had the right to issue one. It represented the will of an external Alchemic Dao in the eyes of most alchemists, designed to uphold tradition and punish violators and defiers of the Alchemic Dao's rules and traditions established and maintained by the Seven Towers.
It was heeded as an absolute order no different than an Imperial Edict and used as such.
Her arrest order wasn't just definite and irrefutable, but resistance was no different than going against one of the towers. She didn't think of running or fighting in the slightest. If she did, perhaps if she even thought of doing so, there was no doubt that her life would be in immediate danger by a Dao Enforcer far stronger than this one. She might be sniped across the galaxy by a sudden attack.
There were three types of Dao Knights in the Utmost Purity Galaxy, and those galaxies were influenced by the Utmost Purity Galaxy's civilization after continuous exposure to their cultural traditions. The Dao Protector—a cultivator that was given the task of protecting a weaker cultivator; the Dao Enforcer—a cultivator given unilateral authority to act on behalf of a group of individuals or an organization, typically limited in authority to their organization to uphold traditions and enforce rules internally; the Dao Bearer—a cultivator designated with the future of an organization's hopes and dreams, often initially younger and tested endlessly throughout their lives until an ultimate culmination of effort was realized.
Dao Bearers were Chosen but differently named.
Chosen was a grand term invented by the King of Everlore, but most civilizations had varying titles for their Chosen. The Utmost Purity Galaxy's was the Dao Bearer, and they often were apex-tier, extremely talented Alchemists, Forgers, Architects, Heavenly Seers, Oracles, pure cultivators, etc., that were given the full investment of their respective organizations.
Wei Wuyin's Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity granted him a higher form of power over the Alchemic Dao, bestowed by the grand recognition of the Alchemic Dao. It was no different than Intent, representing his will of the Alchemic Dao. The Alchemic Edict was refined by Utmost Purity Mist and Alchemic Energies, so he could easily bring that under heel with a thought. Moreover, he showed no restraint in doing so.
Besides silently staring, the Dao Enforcer with a True Sage cultivation base did nothing at the sight of this. The vessels around hadn't depowered or anything, but no new orders were given.
Others were unable to see the words written on the Alchemic Edict without Alchemic Stars, but the Dao Enforcer knew its content in full. Wei Wuyin read the edict and furrowed his brows. He moved his starry gaze to the armored Dao Enforcer, "World-Saint White Sky's arrest, explain it to me."
This was not a question or a request, but a direct order. Each word of his caused the edict to tremble, his voice laced with suppressed anger.
White Sky was baffled. What was the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Saint doing? Is he trying to offend the towers on day one?! She wanted to say something, but then a galactic law flashed within her mind, and she couldn't help but give Wei Wuyin's starry pupils another look, and her heart began to race excitedly, drenched in a splash of hope.
The galactic law was complex, but it boiled down to those with sufficient alchemic authority, natural or bestowed, who had the right to question an edict's issuing and contest its legitimacy. She had taken Wei Wuyin's Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity for granted earlier given his strength, but she was finally reminded that the Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity were not some common power that could be picked up on the street. It required the genuine recognition of the Alchemic Dao!
She had neglected to consider why Wei Wuyin, a foreigner of the Utmost Purity Galaxy, would be so knowledgeable of obscure, highly specific galactic laws relating to an Alchemic Edict. But she wasn't in a position to care!
The armored Dao Enforcer thought for a moment and then nodded with their suppressive aura declining inch by inch. They said, "World-Saint White Sky's arrest was warranted on the basis of theft of a focal treasure wagered during a Dao Clash."
Theft?
Wei Wuyin was an abnormality in the Sages' minds, and they didn't know much about him or an Alchemic Edict, so their reactions to his domineering action were lukewarm, but White Sky's crime was intriguing to their inner curiosity. They looked at White Sky for answers.
"The-theft?" She stammered weakly. When had she stolen something? And what wager?
"Elaborate," Wei Wuyin coldly demanded.
The coldness in Wei Wuyin's tone sparked some anger in the Dao Enforcer's eyes, but they didn't unleash their aura once again or send orders to attack. They didn't even glance at the four Sages beside the unknown, likely foreign alchemist known as the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Saint. Since they were confident to be here, they were confident in handling the situation.
In the end, the Dao Enforcer elaborated thoroughly as instructed: "Several months ago, the Sea & Sky Institute had lost the White Heaven Jewel and the Alchemical Lineage rights of the Blood Calamity Concoction Series and Rising Sea Concoction Method to the Soothing Jade Institute in a Swift Dao Clash of Alchemy, and it was reported that the White Heaven Jewel, the treasure in question, had been taken by White Sky last minute and she departed the galaxy with her Dao Protector, Overlord Tigerheart, in an attempt to escape.
"Her actions violated the rules and regulations of the Swift Dao Clash and the Zenith Towers, and the order for her arrest was issued alongside a hefty bounty for any tangible reports of information regarding her whereabouts that would lead to her subsequent arrest."
At this point, Nepri found it difficult to hide her disdain.
But White Sky hurriedly waved her little hands in protest, "I didn't! I never stole the White Heaven Jewel!" As for the Blood Calamity Concoction Series and its lineage rights, that was something she had obtained long ago from her teacher, while the Rising Violet Sea Concoction Method related to the Rising Violet Sea Elixir, a high-tier Mystic-World graded product that could expand a cultivator's Dantian even as an Ascended being.
They were both specialty products that contributed heavily to the profits of the Sea & Sky Institute and the wealth of the leading World-Saints of the institute, including herself. The Blood Calamity Concoction Series ranged from fifth-grade to Mystic-World grade, and it was one of the forty-nine commonly used products during the game of Mystics, for the urgent survival of the pieces chosen by players or obstacles established against their opponents.
"..." The Dao Enforcer wasn't here to listen to excuses or make judgments of what is and what isn't. After explaining the situation, he brought out a pair of shackles. "Prepare to be arrested, Senior World-Saint White Sky of the Sea & Sky Institute or face immediate consequences for resisting." While he had acted in accordance with galactic law, Wei Wuyin didn't have the authority to halt the eventual outcome using just that. It simply wasn't enough.
White Sky panicked. She turned to Wei Wuyin and cried with growing tears in her eyes, "I was framed! I was framed! YOU HAVE TO—" Before she could go any further with her pleas, Pakhet placed her hand upon her shoulder and gave her a firm look indicating her to stop. Her voice choked up midway as she verged on tears. Overlord Tigerheart would normally have fought with his life on the line if a cultivator dared to touch White Sky's petite body, but he only quietly observed.
He knew that White Sky's panic or pleading wouldn't result in any benefit, only serve to lower her status. He didn't blame her though, because the heaviness of the situation was befitting such a panicked reaction, perhaps even greater. Some Alchemists would be even more unsightly, begging and attempting to bribe the Dao Enforcer to grant leniency. It never worked out.
Wei Wuyin asked White Sky, "The White Heaven Jewel, do you have it?" When Wei Wuyin was about to turn White Sky into a Soldier of War for his Legion, the Heavenly Daos had given a timely warning and deducted Karmic Luck Value nearing almost nine thousand, and she seemed ready to muster a final act of defiance. Was that the White Heaven Jewel?
He knew of it from Enlightened Sage Springfield's memories; it was a pinnacle Mystic-World grade item that could serve as the core foundation for a formation or array, or if used desperately, could be unleashed to release heavenly power that could devastate entire stellar regions or kill Sages. It was no different than a weapon of mass destruction in the right hands.
He had taken everything from White Sky, and that item was not present in her Saint Ring or Internal World.
White Sky's eyes were guilt-ridden. Then, she answered hesitantly with a nod, giving Wei Wuyin a shock. Where was she hiding this jewel?!
As if answering Wei Wuyin's unasked question, she rubbed her lower abdomen.
Dantian?
No.
Internal World?
No.
Wei Wuyin's brows furrowed, and as her delicate and alabaster hands went slightly lower, sliding across her abdomen slowly, his eyes widened slightly with disbelief. "You merged it with your…?"
White Sky nodded with a face blushing with an alluringly bashful pink.
"When?" Wei Wuyin's curiosity overwhelmed his self-restraint.
"When you attacked us. I hid it…there," White Sky confessed. What was she going to do? Tiger was being pushed to the edge before taking the Blood Calamity Pellet! Then she hurriedly explained, "Sage Springfield wanted us to leave too suddenly, so I thought trouble might occur, so I took the White Heaven Jewel as a last resort. I didn't expect that…that the Institute would lose it. I swear, I didn't know!"
Wei Wuyin was more amazed at her quick thinking and courage, hiding such a precious and dangerous object within her most precious and sensitive spot as a woman.
He could only sigh, "You're my guide. So let's first try to clear this mess up." While he seemed helplessly amused outwardly, internally, his mind was circulating with great thoughts. Given the timing, the Heavenly Daos' Karmic Luck fortuitous encounter that took nearly nine thousand Value was this event!
His heart was teeming with excitement at the potential profit here and the opportunity. This was perfect!
Let's begin with a great entrance!