Paragon of Sin

The Neo-Dawn Starfield's territory consisted of two layers—the Defiant Dawn and the World Dawn, as coined by its recently thriving natives of the starfield. The Defiant Dawn referred to the Neo-Dawn Defiant Star's primary territory, the forty-nine planets, and eighty-one lunar satellites. The World Dawn was the ever-expanding Realm Region that consisted of all sorts of interconnected Secret Realms and World Realms.

These two territorial layers formed the basis of the Neo-Dawn Starfield's area. The most interesting fact was that the demarcated region of the Defiant Dawn was much smaller than the World Dawn; the Defiant Dawn's border was limited by the furthest lunar satellite in its territory, but the World Dawn expanded across the entire former area of the Heptasage Pillar Stellar Region!

There was a lot of debate amongst a few radicals, however. Some argued that the Defiant Dawn was the furthest that the radiance of the Neo-Dawn Defiant Star could reach, suggesting that its territory was far, far greater than the World Dawn. Fortunately, this was merely a small, inconsequential distinction of territory for now.

Wei Wuyin had no plans to expand the borders of the Neo-Dawn Starfield's Defiant Dawn, and this showed by the various formations established at the edges of its outlined boundaries. Placed at the border were strange objects that absorbed and reflected solar essence emitted from Baby Defiant, further blasting the celestial bodies with enriched solar essence, promoting their foundations at a quicker pace.

While the reflected solar essence was limited, with almost eighty percent returned into the Defiant Dawn's territory, the other twenty were still shining radiantly upon the rest of the world. This made the territory slightly beyond the Neo-Dawn Starfields a type of holy land that few starfields could hope to attain.

Baby Defiant's solar essence was a perfect amalgamation of Mortal and Mystic properties that exuded a type of indescribable harmony that was far greater than the forcefully refined and processed Mystic Radiance Belt solar essence of the Aeternal Sky Star. Furthermore, it was roughly ten times larger, so the quantity and quality of its solar essence were on a far greater scale, especially its quantity.

At the outer edge of the Neo-Dawn Starfield's Defiant Dawn territory, several lunar satellites beautifully orbited certain planets, bringing about an unforgettable night with an undeniably gorgeous and mystical view. They housed various races, from elves to humans, and like any thriving starfield, these celestial bodies were primarily used for mining and cultivating unique materials.

Lunar satellites' cores all had an inherent property to absorb solar essence at a greater rate than any other celestial body. So they were the primary celestial bodies that gave birth to Qi Essence Stones, Astral Essence Stones, and Mystic Essence Stones. In contrast, planets often gave birth to ores of various types and attributes, such as Mystic-Terra Ore, which contained properties of earth and metal.

The Moonfall Starfield was renowned for its single super-lunar satellite—the Moon—and its ability to absorb copious amounts of solar essence from the entire Grand Cyclic Stellar Region at varied rates, with the highest being the Aeternal Sky Star. The Moonfall Starfield, despite being widely considered the weakest due to its absurdly low population and severe lack of experts, was among the top five providers of Essence Stones of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region.

This was the primary reason why the various forces left the Moonfall Starfield alone and at peace, fearful that this uniquely created super-celestial body of the Moonfall Lunar Queen would somehow be destroyed by her anger, offending various forces as a result, especially those who received the most stone out of trades. Adding on the reclusive nature of the Moonfall Lunar Queen, the starfield was more or less left peacefully alone.

The term 'Moon' was born because of the Moonfall Starfield, and several lunar satellites were given the name 'Moon' as a form of respect, such as the Elven Sanctuary's four Moons. However, the name didn't originate from the Moonfall Starfield; the librarians of the Sacred Library were titled Azure Moon Librarian, Crimson Moon Librarian, and Silver Moon Librarian, so the word had an even greater meaning that transcended the Moonfall Starfield.

This sparked great debate at one point, but it quieted down as other events occurred, placing the curiosity about its origins aside. The general consensus was that any lunar satellite that was used as a replenishing mine for cultivating essence stones or other similar objects should be titled 'Moon', such as the forty-five Prosperous Moons of the Endless Prosperity Domain.

In the Neo-Dawn Starfield, all eighty-one lunar satellites were given the name of 'Moon', not because of the consensus but simply because Wei Wuyin was well aware of the origins of the name and what it meant. The origins were quite simple, and the only reason it hadn't fully taken form was solely due to the lacking of the Language Culture of the Sealed Regions.

In a loose translation from Mysticism, 'Moon' meant 'Solar Shadow', and it was one of the few words of Mysticism that Mortals could actually speak throughout the Mortal Realms without struggling. This strange phenomenon was a unique language exception that thoroughly exposed an inexplicable connection between the Mortal and Mystic Daos, and it existed among other things.

For example, 'Black Hole' meant 'Collapsed Star' in Mysticism, and 'Star-Devourer' meant 'Eater of Mortal Life'. It could be said that regardless of the cultivation realm, they could be heard and understood. Even if spoken in languages beyond the Mystic Dao, if it meant 'Moon', 'Black Hole', or 'Star-Devourer', every being could potentially understand it.

Wei Wuyin had been deeply fascinated by this profound truth, as if he'd seen a bridge between Daos in the most unexpected way when he learned of it. Therefore, when he named the eighty-one lunar satellites, he ensured they officially had 'Moon' in each of their names.

Ancient Crystal Moon was one of the oldest lunar satellites of the Sealed Regions, pre-dating the first recorded era, existing in records long before the development of the current cultivation civilization began, and it was something that Wei Wuyin had bought because it held traces of ancient legacies that a Blessed had once discovered, including a strange pocket-sized Secret Realm containing an ancient will.

Wei Wuyin had to spend quite a bit to purchase it, especially since it was the only celestial body that gave birth to the unique material—Ancient Crystal Water. This liquid contained Past and Future Time Energy alongside a Unique Intent. Its primary usage was to concoct time distortion products, such as pellets, that could assist in easing the recreation of events through Temporal Manipulation or in creating locations where time moved faster, thereby aiding cultivators to train longer under a deadline. Given that the Chosen King Competition was nearing, these types of products were insurmountable in value.

It was extremely valuable but only yielded a very small quantity in any given year. It was mostly used to help cultivators resist their Temporal Eye Astral Tribulation with great effect, a material that only a select few could enjoy. Since being brought to the Neo-Dawn Starfield, the Ancient Crystal Moon had produced a typical year's worth in a single month, a startling result!

In a large crevice of the Ancient Crystal Moon, a barefooted silver-robed figure was weaving hand-seals as faint wisps of Lunar Power etched themselves in the walls, glinting with a trace of gorgeous silvery lunar light. The figure was a young, unimaginably beautiful woman, seemingly in her early twenties, with a body that could provoke the lust of immortals and gods alike.

While she wore her robes modestly, her facial features or outstanding curves couldn't be well-concealed, nor was she trying to do so.

The Moonfall Lunar Queen!

Her aura was extremely subtle, almost non-existent, as she had erected a sealing formation that blocked off all fluctuations of Mystic Power to the outside world. She kept forming hand-seals as her Lunar Power poured out beautifully, etching across the crevice's jagged and uneven walls, creating a large formation!

The formation seemed to be connecting with the Ancient Crystal Moon, slightly amplifying its intrinsic property to absorb solar essence. It was discreet and subtle; its primary function wasn't to amplify but to redirect. The Solar Essence that would've normally entered the lunar satellite before going through the natural process of essence stone creation would instead be slowly extracted and stored inside the formation's core.

At a convenient time, she could return to extract the contained solar essence in vast quantities!

After roughly seven minutes, the formation was completed, and a faint smile formed on the Moonfall Lunar Queen's exquisite face! A face that was not one wick inferior to Empress Xiaocheng herself!

This was number 2,077! When she inspected the rate of Absorption, her smile deepened, bringing forth an intoxicating, heart-seizing scene.

"Quite an interesting Solar Essence Absorption Formation. It even contains traces of harmonized refinement powers and could produce Astralis Essence with enough time!" A surprised voice resounded from behind the Moonfall Lunar Queen, and her smile swiftly faded as her eyes turned to face the newcomer.

A silver-eyed man in a mixture of martial and alchemist robes sat on a nearby protrusion on the wall. He was inspecting the formation etched there with keen interest, with a hand held under his chin as he rubbed it softly. He wasn't looking at the Moonfall Lunar Queen at all!

"..." Her pupils constricted slightly.

Wei Wuyin felt a concealed spiritual sensory spell sweep across him and the entirety of the lunar satellite but he ignored it. "Such a curious task. But trying to siphon the fortune from my starfield without my permission? Don't you think that's a little rude?"

"..." While she didn't speak, her eyes contained unsaid questions, and her posture, while seemingly relaxed, had tensed greatly to the trained eye. She didn't doubt that the Ancient Crystal Moon was thoroughly surrounded, especially given the mortal youth that proclaimed himself as its Emperor was present.

Shockingly, however, she couldn't sense any other auras besides the inhabitants on the Ancient Crystal Moon and nearby Voidships traveling across the Dark Void.

"So, how about you tell me why you're doing this, and I'll consider sparing your life." Wei Wuyin finally looked at the Moonfall Lunar Queen, and her eyes pulsed with sharp intent.

"Let's at least tal-" Before Wei Wuyin could continue, the Moonfall Lunar Queen made the most sensible decision given the circumstances! She rushed toward Wei Wuyin! Her eyes flashed with lunar light as she moved like a shadow.

As long as she took Wei Wuyin hostage, she could plot her escape! As an Earthly Saint, she was extremely fast. Moreover, she didn't rely on any Mystic Power, so there was no indication of her taking action beforehand! She simply acted with her abnormally powerful body!

In a normal situation, and given their distance, this would be a perfect sneak attack! And if Wei Wuyin was an ordinary mortal, he would've been easily subdued! Unfortunately, he was far from the word 'ordinary'.

Wei Wuyin's brows furrowed slightly.

PA!

A crisp, soul-shaking, and world-shaking sound resounded!