Paragon Of Sin Chapter 2 - 2: Scarlet Solaris Sect

In the world of cultivation, there existed a nation, and within its borders stood a mountain that gave off a subtle, crimson radiance. This light carried a deep, powerful aura that struck fear into the hearts of any mortals who dared to look upon it.

During the daylight hours, it loomed massive and tall, reaching for the heavens and obscuring the sun. By night, it transformed into a scarlet beacon, providing a sense of purpose and direction to those living in its shadow.

This peak served as the primary base for the renowned Scarlet Solaris Sect.

A network of buildings was carved into the mountain's slopes, winding around its frame like a spiraling metropolis. Distinct boundaries marked different societal tiers; the higher the elevation, the more intense the red glow became. Occasionally, mythical creatures could be spotted in the sky—giant white cranes measuring dozens of meters. Atop these birds sat individuals emitting formidable auras, traveling between various points of the sect.

A young man approached the mountain riding one such avian beast. He possessed an indescribable handsomeness, characterized by silver eyes, hair as black as ink, and flowing scarlet robes. Though his frame wasn't overly bulky, his muscles were lean and well-defined.

He remained composed on the crane's back even as the winds whipped against him. Beside him sat a young woman, desperately gripping the bird's feathers to avoid a fatal fall. Her face was drained of color, and her knuckles were white from the sheer terror of the height.

As the young man came into view, the mountain's residents watched him with a flurry of different emotions.

"Senior Brother Wei Wuyin! He has actually returned?" shouted an honorary disciple. He appeared middle-aged, likely a long-time member of the sect who lacked the talent to advance his rank.

"Wei Wuyin? Who is he?" a young, naive boy asked, his curiosity piqued. The two were working alongside dozens of others, tending to the various plants in the herb garden.

"Haha, you’re unaware? Then let me enlighten you!" The older man adopted a scholarly air, his expression filled with a smug pride, as if sharing knowledge with the ignorant was a great privilege.

"You’re a newcomer, so it makes sense. Senior Brother Wei Wuyin is among the nine Core Disciples of our sect! It is rumored that his cultivation has surpassed the Third Stage of Qi Condensation, Elemental Birth, and he has already learned to give physical form to his Qi!" He spoke with an infectious energy. Other disciples nearby stopped to listen, their attention fully captured by the man’s words.

"Is that true?!"

The boy gasped, his eyes wide with amazement. Even if Wei Wuyin wasn't a legend, reaching the Third Stage of Qi Condensation made him a monumental figure to be admired.

"Haha! You better believe it! Moreover, he started out just like us. He originated from a minor clan, shattered his own limits, and climbed the ranks from an honorary disciple to a core disciple, one step at a time!" There was a deep sense of pride in his voice. It seemed as though he was living his own dreams through Wei Wuyin’s success.

He wasn't the only one; the veteran disciples all looked on with excitement and pride. They all harbored the hope of one day leaping through the dragon's gate like Wei Wuyin to achieve greatness.

"But didn't you say that cultivating without resources was impossible? How did he become a core disciple starting from the honorary rank where we get nothing?" the boy asked, his mind buzzing with questions. Within the sect, the hierarchy was split into four tiers: Honorary, Outer, Inner, and Core. Rising through these ranks was said to be as grueling as climbing to the Nine Heavens.

A middle-aged woman, dressed in the simple attire of a married commoner, chimed in, "Cultivating without resources isn't strictly impossible, it is just incredibly taxing."

In this world, the path of cultivation was open to everyone. The environment itself provided the most common resource—the Essence of Heaven and Earth. However, one wasn't considered a genuine cultivator until they successfully entered the Qi Condensation realm.

The man scoffed at her, retorting, "Cultivation without resources is impossible, and the Essence of Heaven and Earth is itself a resource." It was obvious there was a grudge between them, as he was quick to challenge her statement.

The woman pressed her lips together and stayed quiet, clearly wanting to avoid a public spat.

"Hmph! If you rely solely on that, you might reach Qi Condensation, but your progress will eventually stall. The path begins with a single realm divided into three distinct phases."

"First is the Foundation Establishment realm, which consists of Physique Tempering, Meridian Awakening, and Dantian Establishment. Only after completing those can one enter the Qi Condensation Realm, where internal strength is used to harvest external forces to create the Metaphysical Energy known as Qi. One day, I'll reach that level too!" The man's voice rose in pitch as his excitement peaked.

The woman rolled her eyes. "Setting a foundation is brutally hard; sometimes a hundred years isn't enough just to form a Dantian. Don't let this old windbag fool you; cultivation is a struggle, and he hasn't even finished Physique Tempering after thirty years."

"Oh?!" The young boy was stunned. Despite being in the sect for decades, the man hadn't even cleared the very first stage? Thinking back on their earlier talks, the boy’s face soured as he realized he had been fed a lot of tall tales.

"Hmph!" The middle-aged man flicked his sleeves in frustration.

Realizing the conversation had strayed, the crowd tried to dig for more details about Wei Wuyin, but they only walked away with basic gossip and old rumors.

Soon enough, everyone dispersed to return to their assigned tasks.

-----

Thud.

The crane touched down softly in a courtyard. Despite the gentle landing, the young woman scrambled off in a panic. She looked relieved to be on solid ground again, appearing as though she might kiss the earth in gratitude.

Wei Wuyin stepped down gracefully. The air in this area was thick with the Essence of Heaven and Earth, far more concentrated than in the lower sections of the sect. This was a luxury reserved for core disciples.

The Scarlet Solaris Sect lived up to its reputation. The area was infused with Scarlet Qi, drawn from the Scarlet Spirit Vine that grew throughout the mountain. This specific energy was the sect's trademark and was integrated into their cultivation techniques to enhance their power.

The sound of hurried footsteps approached, followed by heavy breathing. A slightly portly, bronze-skinned middle-aged man with a goatee appeared. He looked quite disheveled.

He carried the scent of recent intimacy, and his robes were haphazardly tied, clearly thrown on in a hurry.

Wei Wuyin remained unfazed.

"M-master! You’ve returned!" the man cried out happily. This was Du Ling, Wei Wuyin’s butler and a long-time acquaintance from before his sect days.

"Oh? You’ve finally established your Dantian," Wei Wuyin remarked casually. Du Ling no longer just had a strong physical aura; a lingering trace of the Essence of Heaven and Earth could be felt within him. This meant his Qi center was formed. Had he only reached Meridian Awakening, that energy would simply circulate through his body rather than staying settled.

Du Ling paused in surprise before nodding vigorously. "Yes, yes! I only managed it because of Master’s help."

Wei Wuyin gave a small nod of approval before looking at the young woman. He had spared this girl, Li Yin, who was originally an outer disciple from a minor clan within the Violet Moon Sect.

Her cultivation level was close to Du Ling’s, who was at the Dantian Establishment phase of Foundation Establishment. At that stage, the Essence of Heaven and Earth provides massive physical power. However, she was still only at the Meridian Awakening phase.

"Assign her a room and find her some work to do," he commanded. Du Ling nodded eagerly, approaching Li Yin with a smile that felt a bit greasy.

Li Yin stood there, dazed. The atmosphere of the courtyard was overwhelming. Having spent her life in the Violet Moon Sect since childhood, she had never experienced an environment this rich. The thick Essence of Heaven and Earth felt refreshing against her skin.

Wei Wuyin didn't stay to chat. He walked toward his private residence, but the sound of whispering caught his ear. Two women were tucked away around a corner, gossiping.

He frowned, knowing they were honorary disciples and Du Ling’s consorts. Touching the injury on his neck, he winced slightly and went inside, choosing to ignore them.

His room was immaculately clean and surprisingly sparse, containing only a bed, a table, and a single chair. Despite the room's large size, the minimalist decor reflected his personal taste. The only exceptions to the simple room were the organized shelves of scrolls and books, and a specific pill cauldron.

The cauldron was a small, green vessel that smelled faintly of herbs. Its worn appearance showed it was a frequently used and highly valued tool.

He collapsed onto the bed, feeling completely drained. Ever since his encounter with that silver-eyed, black-haired youth, he had felt an immense weight pressing down on him. He had initially feared the bite was poisoned or infected, but the wound was healing perfectly fine.

In fact, the injury had already mostly faded.

It was natural to be tired after leading the mission to wipe out the last of the Violet Moon Sect.

He looked at his hand and sighed. "The one who tried to assassinate me was at the Third Stage of Qi Condensation, Elemental Birth. If I hadn't recently reached the Fourth Stage, Chu Yan’s plot might have actually succeeded." Thinking of the woman he had once liked—and eventually killed—along with her obsessive lover, he squeezed his hand into a fist.

The Scarlet Solaris Sect was a titan in the Wu Country, one of the Five Great Sects alongside the Aqua Echo, Earthly Titan, Sky Sword, and Jade Lotus sects. They held enough influence to sway the entire nation, and even the royalty had to treat them with high respect.

Inter-sect politics were messy, but the internal power struggles were even more treacherous. Chu Yan had been a mere tool in a larger game. Wei Wuyin’s rapid rise and background made him a target for the jealous, and many believed he possessed a secret cultivation technique. Plenty of people wanted him dead.

"Jiu Lang was the one who pushed that mission on me... I’ll have to settle things with her eventually." As he thought of the legendary beauty who could start wars with a single word, his eyes filled with a cold, murderous intent.

As he lost track of time, a quiet knock came from the door. "Master, it’s Du Ling. An invitation has arrived for you."

Wei Wuyin exhaled deeply. He wasn't surprised to receive an invitation so quickly after his return. He dragged his tired body to the door, but as his hand reached for it, his instincts flared.

He threw himself backward. A blade pierced through the wood, aimed right at him. The force of the strike caused the door to shatter into splinters.

Before he could identify the first attacker, a second presence appeared behind him like a shadow of death. Rather than turning or moving forward, he quickly formed a handseal and slammed his hand toward the floor.

Elemental Wind Art: Wind Wall!

A loud boom filled the room as a turbulent barrier of wind erupted around him. The hidden attacker held a razor-sharp weapon designed for killing, but the blade was unable to penetrate the chaotic winds.

With the ambush disrupted, Wei Wuyin pushed his cultivation further. He performed a two-handed seal, stepped forward, and exhaled toward his first opponent.

Elemental Fire Art: Serpent’s Breath!

A massive plume of fire, shaped vaguely like a snake, roared from his mouth. The room was instantly filled with intense heat. A cry of shock came from the first assassin as they scrambled to retreat.

His eyes glowed with a lethal scarlet light as he gave chase. Passing through his own flames unharmed, he finally saw his foe—a small, fit woman dressed in black.

"One of Du Ling’s women?" he realized, his gaze turning icy. Both attackers were at the Second Stage of Qi Condensation, External Flow, and were clearly skilled in stealth and killing. Had he not reached the stage where Qi takes form through the elements, those coordinated strikes would have likely killed him.

The Elemental Birth phase usually just meant one's Qi could manifest the four elements—Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water—but in an unguided, raw state. Without control, it wasn't very effective in a real fight.

Usually, it was only used to enhance the body’s resilience and fluidity. Using it for direct attacks like random sparks or gusts was generally inefficient.

However, the Fourth Stage of Qi Condensation, Yin Form, allowed a cultivator to use internal yin energy to give their Metaphysical Qi actual shape. This allowed for the creation of wind walls, fire serpents, and water structures. It was a massive leap in power that made a cultivator nearly invincible against anyone at a lower stage.

The assassins hadn't expected him to have reached this level, which was notoriously hard for men to achieve due to their lack of natural yin. His sudden display of power had clearly rattled the trained killer. He didn't give her a chance to recover.

With a flick of his wrist, a silver saber appeared in his hand. A sharp, deadly silver Qi gathered at the point. He swung the blade with a roar, sending a beam of silver energy flying toward the shadow.

"Metal Qi?!" a voice behind him gasped in terror. Metal Qi was outside the standard four elements and was famously difficult to manifest.

Thud!

A body hit the floor, now a lifeless corpse. Blood splattered against the wall, a grim sign of the end.

"Ah!" The remaining attacker, seeing her partner fall, immediately tried to flee. She crashed through a window in a desperate attempt to escape.

"You aren't going anywhere!" Wei Wuyin growled. He surged his Qi and lunged forward like a projectile. After a brief clash of blades and the ring of metal, silence returned.

A moment later, Wei Wuyin climbed back through the broken window, carrying a severed head and a headless corpse. The woman had been beautiful, her mask now ruined. Her eyes were vacant and distorted in a final moment of shock and spite.

"I'm exhausted," he whispered, looking at his ruined cauldron. He tossed the remains onto the floor and pulled out a transmission crystal to message Du Ling. Shortly after, the portly man entered, looking pale and terrified. He had clearly heard the fighting but stayed away, knowing he would only be a liability if his Master failed.

"Clean this up. I'm taking a bath," Wei Wuyin ordered before walking away. Du Ling trembled as he looked at the scorched room and the bodies of the women he had spent so many nights with.

Guilt washed over him as he realized he had accidentally helped an assassination plot. He wanted to curse his own stupidity, but he forced himself to stay calm. Without another word, he began the grim task of cleaning the room.