Paragon of Sin

was merely an old human man with beady eyes, a skinny body, and average looks.
He wore normal blue robes that were very reminiscent of Tuo Bihan ’s own comfort wear.
He was known as the Imbibing Stars Elixir Emperor, or Li Che.
He originated from a legacy of Alchemic Emperors who mastered the Assimilating Star Elixir Method, being the fifth in line for the lineage, and the third Alchemic Emperor born from it.

These two figures both belonged to their own forces away from the hegemonic forces, with Yi Yun belonging to the Golden Coin Pavilion, and Li Che being an independent alchemist.

Amongst the five selected judges, none of them belonged to the Alchemist Association or the Myriad Monarch Sect to promote the utmost fairness. 

They were observing the situation below with keen eyes.
Without much explanation, a young man took to the stage without announcement.
This wasn ’t their venue, so they merely watched, and then Zen arrived, clearly sending spiritual fluctuations to him in a patient and collected manner.

But without warning, she grew angry and irritated.
Then, the young man shouted to the world four words: ”I will challenge him! ” And Zen went berserk.
She galvanized her immense strength and tried to forcefully remove the young man, but another Grand Imperial Sage arrived in his timely defense.
Thus, the current situation was born.

Zen was exasperated to the limit, ”Do you understand what you ’re doing? Where we are?! What today is?!?! ” Her voice throbbed with anger, staring at Ji Changkong with fierce rebuke.
She glanced around, trying to indicate this wasn ’t the time nor place.

But Ji Changkong, who had always been a stubborn individual, merely nodded his head with eyes filled with resolute understanding.
”I do.
Regardless of what, I won ’t allow you to stop this. ”

Zen ’s breathing became heavy, turning her gaze onto Long Chen.
The resolve he showed was unprecedented, shocking even her a little.
She wanted to ask ’why ’ but no words came out.
Looking into his eyes, she knew he wouldn ’t back down today no matter what. 

With clenched fists, she said: ”Grand Sage Tuo won ’t let this happen. ” 

Those words finally caused Ji Changkong ’s expression to change a little, recalling the only Realmlord in the Myriad Monarch Sect.
If he acted, they could only be stifled.
Despite this, he gripped his two hilts tighter.
”This is his right.
I won ’t allow it to be taken from him, ” he firmly stated.

Zen clenched her toothless jaws, a byproduct of her turtle lineage, in helplessness.
She could only turn to Long Chen, ”Do you understand what this challenge means? What would happen if you were to lose? Do you understand, do you truly understand?! ”

Long Chen had thought this through, so he was filled with certainty.
Heavenly Kings were the competitors of the Grand Prince, and if the Grand Prince proved themselves unable to be beyond their generation, to be unrivaled within the sect, they were no longer qualified for their position.
He would lose his right to be Grand Prince, stripped of his title forever.

But despite knowing this, he nodded with certainty.

He took a step forward, swept his gaze across the hundreds of millions of people, the vast number of elites, of those with prominent status, and even the five judges, and valiantly declared: ”I, Long Chen, Grand Prince of the Myriad Monarch Sect, challenge Wei Wuyin, Heavenly King of the Myriad Monarch Sect, to Imperial Combat!! ”