The eight chosen were unexpected, yet they consisted of four men and four women; the current eight Sages had a very similar composition. The males of the former eight were Sage Khepri, Sage Khonshu, Sage Nepit, and Sage Shattered Sphinx. The females of the former eight were Sage Pakhet, Sage Amunet, Sage Hathor, and Sage Imentet.

Due to the Major Regions' allocation, including Sage Shattered Sphinx's existence that was shrouded in mystery, Sage Nepri was regarded as the eighth Sage, creating a lopsided ratio that brought contention to the rumors. Only now, after seeing the eight Sages actively guard each door had some of the more intelligent cultivators realized the truth of the matter, giving some credence to the former theories!

Sage Nepri, however, was none other than Sage Nepit's Dao Companion, but a conflict while they were World Emperors led to a schism in their relationship, yet even today, every so often, they would find each other privately for intimate cultivation.

Sage Khonshu was explaining all of this to Cao Cuifen after the reveal of eight chosen cultivators. He didn't find the matter necessary to keep hidden, and Cao Cuifen seemed more receptive to the eight Sages' proposition to offer repayment for damages after calculation. They were absolutely giddy with excitement, and even Sage Imentet was brightly smiling to the point of being able to move a eunuch's heart.

"What of the tenth Sage?" Cao Cuifen asked curiously.

Sage Khonshu was drowning in happiness after the extra compensation and discovery of eight other cultivators who were destined to receive their legacy. The Sages have already agreed to bring those eight under their tutelage and give them as much instruction as possible. This was an incredible fortune for those eight! With a single breath, they became direct disciples of a Sage!

"Tenth? Right! Sage River Oasis. She's quite the outsider. While she's well-respected and certainly powerful, she often travels beyond the galaxy after becoming a Sage and acts as our ambassador. She was the one who helped facilitate many of our galactic trades," Sage Khonshu answered.

"Galactic trades? Like for the Mystic-Heaven Alchemical Lineage?" Cao Cuifen mused aloud, yet the mere mention of it ruined a large portion of Sage Khonshu's good mood. He sighed as he slowly nodded.

Sage River Oasis wasn't present during the Sage-level fight because she wasn't within the galaxy, but visiting the Utmost Purity Galaxy with a group of their Alchemists and subordinates to conduct a trade for alchemical products useful for cultivation and other necessary things. For example, Sage Nepit often purchased Yin-Yang Blessing Pills, a high-tier Mystic-Earth grade product that helped facilitate dual cultivation on both ends.

He was a consistent buyer of that pill, and it had heavily contributed to Sage Nepri's current cultivation, especially during her early years. Moreover, if he was fortunate enough to find good timing, they could acquire the low-tier Mystic-World grade Yin-Yang Dao Union Pills that were far, far, far more effective than the Yin-Yang Blessing Pills.

"Is there a Yin-Yang Alchemical Lineage?" Cao Cuifen's eyes brightened at the thought.

Sage Khonshu could easily read Cao Cuifen's thoughts. "There's a Mystic-Heaven Alchemical Lineage within the Utmost Purity Galaxy. It belonged to none other than the Great-Unity Alchemic Saint, a genuine Heavenly Saint Alchemist. There's a Great Unity Sage Tower within the Utmost Purity Mist among the Seven Towers of the Heavenly Sages."

"Seven Towers of the Heavenly Sages? The Seven Sage Tower?!" Cao Cuifen was taken aback visibly as her eyes widened slightly. Sage Khonshu didn't take her surprise as anything unexpected. The implied meaning within the Seven Towers of the Heavenly Sages was that there were Seven Heavenly Saint Alchemists born within the Utmost Purity Galaxy.

There was a good reason it was regarded as the golden standard for the Alchemic Dao amongst the neighboring galaxies! However, he corrected: "Over the years, there have been far more than seven Heavenly Saint Alchemists born within that freakish galaxy, but only seven lineages have solidified themselves as a pioneering leader of the Alchemic Dao. For example, the Mystic-Heaven Alchemical Lineage isn't among the dao lineages of the Seven Towers. The others were often inferior lineages that were defeated by some impressive Mystic-World lineages in terms of effectiveness, ease of concoction, and refinement times. How could they possibly compete even if the Alchemic Dao acknowledged their achievements?

"In the eyes of society, only value exists!" Sage Khonshu passed along this piece of wisdom. Cao Cuifen was, however, originally shaken by the fact that the Seven Sage Tower within the Ancient Sealed Region existed, similarly born from the same logic of seven Mortal Sovereign Alchemist lineages! While there might not be a connection, she had a nagging feeling that the Seven Sage Tower that caused the Dark Stars Era had some connection with the Utmost Purity Galaxy, regardless of how obscure it might be."Oh!" Sage Khonshu suddenly exclaimed. "We're done," he noted as the hall was empty. Every participant had already left while Sage Nepri had already taken the eight chosen to a private secret realm within the Land of Manu. She was instructing them on their newfound destiny. Despite not being a part of the original eight, her cultivation base was heavily reliant on the Ascension Art that Sage Nepit cultivated.

She was trusted. Additionally, she was the most trusted Sage by the others, hence why she was given the task of manning the God Cage of Eight Directions Array. While she was Dao Companions with Sage Nepit, she was the type of genuine good-natured soul whose galaxy was one of the most prosperous for its citizens, borderline a utopia where hunger, thirst, and illnesses were at an all-time low. This was also why they gave her the duty of receiving the destined so none of the others would be influenced by the other Sages early.

Even as Sage Nepit's Dao Companion, she definitely wouldn't act nefarious for him. Their schism was caused by their inability to share similar morals and conduct.

Cao Cuifen looked out to the empty corridor. "The Eight Directions Summit is beginning soon?" She asked.

Sage Khonshu thought for a moment and decided to be honest, "Truthfully, Lady Cao, the main purpose of the Eight Directions Summit was to find eight successors. The rest is informing everyone of the incredible loss of that dastardly bastard's actions, and then announcing an effort to recoup our losses through planned action of farming and mining."lightsnovel

"Oh?" Cao Cuifen expected as much. "This might unite the galaxy, huh?" She muttered absentmindedly.

Sage Khonshu smiled with a touch of amusement on his lips, "Unite? Unlikely. Haha! Let's go in. I'll bring you to your seats, Lady Cao." Sage Khonshu gestured gentlemanly. With his handsome features and irreproachable demeanor of politeness, he was a good host to accompany. Cao Cuifen followed without any resistance, and they left the corridor, entering the Main Hall of the Land of Manu.

-----

"I've completed the purging," Su Mei sent to Wei Wuyin via spiritual transmission after finding a befuddled Yue Songli and Liu Suyin. She then entered the Main Hall with Liu Suyin.

The method given by Horus had extracted what had attached itself to Yue Songli and Liu Suyin's souls, while also reacquiring the original portion of their soul energy that was taken from the doors. She was incredibly efficient at completing tasks with the utmost competency.

-----The Eight Directions Summit was finally underway! The gathering of the No-Name Galaxy's elites and connected talents was unprecedented since the galaxy's inception, and today was certainly bound to be marked into history as the day the galaxy gathered after a great, horrifying tragedy.

-----

"Interesting," Wei Wuyin thought aloud. Whether it was the details of the unique Ascension Art embedded upon the eight False Doors that Su Mei had shockingly obtained, Horus' description of the Resonant Soul Realm, or the completion of this so-called destiny, Wei Wuyin found all of it deeply interesting.

Quite a few pieces of the puzzle began to fit, yet he developed so many other questions. Unfortunately, Horus was tight-lipped on anything relevant to the doors or the function of this array. He didn't try to force it either. Horus might be restricted from acting against him directly due to whatever shackles were placed on it, but there were bound to be contingencies in place if he was severely harmed.

"The summit is beginning!" The Heavenly War Spirit reminded him eagerly. While she hadn't actively assisted Wei Wuyin recently, his actions across the White Abyssal Galaxy and Sky Heart Galaxy were something she secretly approved of, and she was anticipating his next move. After all, Wei Wuyin's schemes ran so deep that she couldn't predict his actions, only a few objectives of his.

For example, both the White Abyssal Galaxy and the Sky Heart Galaxy were subdued, becoming vassal states of the Neo-Dawn Empire, which was an unthinkable fest given the Neo-Dawn Empire was a tiny, newly created empire contained within a Heavenly Treasure! Yet a single man was championing across the galaxy, achieving this by wit, charisma, and far-reaching plans alone.

What if...the No-Name Galaxy was next on the chopping block? How could she not be excited?!

Wei Wuyin stretched his limbs as a wave of euphoria coursed through his decompressing spine and loosened joints. The feeling was quite nice after suffering that backlash from halting the withdrawal of his saber. Fortunately for Horus, it hadn't left its sheathe, or there was no turning back.

"Alrighty then! Let's finish the last brush stroke," Wei Wuyin remarked as he glanced at Horus, who seemed to be unable or unwilling to directly communicate with the eight Sages. Given what he just found out about the Land of Manu's hidden array and that infectious objective at the doors, he reasoned it made sense. After all, who would want to be a pawn in some grand scheme?

lightsΝοvεl ƈοm "See ya, Mr. Endless Sky. I'll probably be back one day," with a hearty, good-natured laugh, Wei Wuyin exerted his Draconic Void Mystic Force and slipped out of the World Core.

It was time for him to make his entrance to the No-Name Galaxy!

-----

Erdiul's Note: Author going on break til 14th, knowing this guy it's probably more than that, so yeah, no updates for some time.