I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 157

Chapter 157: I have no intention of letting him come back alive; Heaven’s destiny is finally here

Buzz!

Gu Changge departed from his current location and ventured into the void. His destination was the town where Ye Ling resided. He had just received information from Yin Mei through a secret method, indicating that Ye Ling had already discovered the reincarnation cave.

This was favourable news for Gu Changge, as it meant it was time to reap the benefits of his labour. Though his words were brusque, Gu Changge knew that locating the remains of the Reincarnated Heaven Lord with Ye Ling’s guidance would be easier.

Now, it’s time for everyone to head to the ruins in search of Ye Ling. No one will be able to trace his steps.

Besides, the exposed tombs there will prove my claims.

Gu Changge murmured and made sure to pin the label of the inheritor of demonic arts firmly onto Ye Ling. He understood that upon hearing news of Ye Ling, cultivators would undoubtedly be drawn to investigate, ultimately leading to the tombs’ exposure to the public eye. Among the relics unearthed, the ancient corpses, with their dissipated essence, would serve as compelling evidence. This was all part of Gu Changge’s meticulous plan.

Even if Ye Ling attempted to absolve himself of any wrongdoing, it would be futile. Unbeknownst to Ye Ling, Gu Changge had no intention of allowing him to return alive.

….

When Gu Changge received news of Ye Ling’s appearance, word spread quickly among the younger generation.

“Ye Ling’s been spotted in the ruins to the east,” remarked one youth.

Chi Ling, who had been searching for Ye Ling in an ancient town, couldn’t hide her surprise. During their time together, Ye Ling hadn’t shown any signs of abnormal behaviour, nor had they ventured near those ruins. However, Ye Langtian’s earlier remarks had sparked some suspicion in her mind. It seemed plausible that Ye Ling had entertained the idea but found it difficult to act upon with her around. The recent news only reinforced her suspicions.

I hope Ye Ling hasn’t found himself in one of those tombs… It’s unsettling to think he could’ve kept such a secret from me for so long

Chi Ling muttered, her expression turning cold. A sense of betrayal surged through her; she harboured a deep-seated aversion to deception, mainly when it came from someone she considered a friend.

“Chi Ling, if you cross paths with Ye Ling, don’t dwell on the past. We all know the perils associated with inheriting demonic arts,” urged Kong Yang, dressed in vibrant feathered attire. His handsome features were marked by a grave seriousness. Clearly, his animosity toward Ye Ling ran deeper than most.

As they reminisced about their previous journey with Ye Ling, a chilling realisation dawned upon them, sending shivers down their spines. They considered themselves fortunate to have been in a group back then, as facing Ye Ling alone would have likely resulted in dire consequences due to his deadly nature.

Now, their thoughts turned to Yin Mei, the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan, fervently hoping for her escape from the devil’s clutches. Chi Ling’s once cold and proud demeanour morphed into a visage filled with murderous intent.

“I’ll put an end to him once and for all,” she declared icily.

Meanwhile, in other mountains, valleys, and plains, Wang Wushuang, Ye Langtian, and the descendants of the Undying Lake also received the news.

“The inheritor of demonic arts has surfaced in an eastern ruin. Stay vigilant, and don’t let him slip away!” a young Supreme warned their fellow brethren, emphasising the gravity of the situation.

“Ye Ling dares to show himself again. I fear he won’t be caught this time,” Ye Langtian remarked with a furrowed brow.

Radiant divine light enveloped his body, accentuating his formidable presence. Despite his seemingly honest appearance, he was well aware of Ye Ling’s deceptive nature.

With determination, Ye Langtian wasted no time, immediately summoning his followers to head towards the ruins based on the provided information. The pressure from the White Tiger clan only intensified their resolve to apprehend Ye Ling without delay.

Furthermore, other inheritors closely monitored the situation, feeling the weight of responsibility upon their shoulders. Ye Langtian, in particular, was eager to personally dispatch Ye Ling and capture him to quell the growing public outrage.

Wang Wushuang and the other young Supreme beings wasted no time, mobilising their forces to pursue Ye Ling based on the received intelligence. The nearby mountains buzzed with an astonishing momentum as chariots streaked across the sky, and divine lights illuminated the surroundings, converging towards the relic.

Even the Ancient Immortal creatures in the vicinity were taken aback, gazing upwards in curiosity. The Black Heavenly Eagle, Ancient Snake, and Divine Crocodile groups were among those who joined the rush.

“What’s happening? Why the sudden influx of people to that location?” speculated many creatures, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Initially planning to unite against Gu Changge, they redirected their efforts towards the relic.

Meanwhile, a young girl stood poised atop a cloud-shrouded cliff in the Black Sky Eagle Clan territory. Adorned in white attire with delicate features and nine phoenix hairpins gracing her dark cloud-like hair, she exuded an ethereal aura. Clad in resplendent robes reminiscent of rivers and mountains, her unparalleled beauty radiated purity and grace.

The Ancient Immortal Dragon Clan has issued the True Dragon Decree, calling upon the young generation of all Ancient Immortal Legacy clans to join the crusade against Gu Changge.

The girl murmured to herself, her gem-like eyes glinting with determination.

With Long Teng’s demise, the young generation of Ancient Immortal clans lacked a leader, presenting an opportune moment for her ambitions to flourish. She was Hei Ming’s sister, Hei Yanyu, a formidable talent within the Black Heavenly Eagle clan, recognized as one of the top-ranking young prodigies in centuries.

Some time ago, Long Teng, in his search for the heavenly daughters of each clan, noticed Hei Yanyu due to her exceptional beauty and expressed his desire to include her in his harem.

However, Hei Yanyu staunchly refused, preferring to keep a low profile and avoid attracting attention. Despite her discreet demeanour, she did not intend to submit to Long Teng’s wishes and spend her life in his service.

Inherently ambitious, Hei Yanyu harboured aspirations of leading the Black Heavenly Eagle clan to reclaim its ancestral glory and assert dominance over the Ancient Immortal clans. She had initially planned to challenge Long Teng and assert her position, but his subsequent capture by Gu Changge caught her off guard.

Aware of Gu Changge’s formidable reputation and strength, Hei Yanyu understood he was a force to be reckoned with. While rumours and slander circulated among the Ancient Immortal tribes, she recognized that Gu Changge’s true power was comparable to that of a Heavenly God. Deliberately investigating the outcome of Long Teng’s battle against Gu Changge, she discovered the weighty term “Young Taboo” was not merely empty rhetoric.

With all the clans uniting to crusade against Gu Changge, Hei Yanyu saw an opportunity for herself. Despite Gu Changge’s considerable might, she believed it was implausible for him to withstand the collective might of the entire Ancient Immortal clan alone.

“Let’s go together. We will conquer Gu Changge,” she declared, rallying several formidable figures from the mountains behind her.

The air crackled with anticipation as influential individuals emerged from the depths of various cliffs to stand alongside Hei Yanyu—a blond girl with wings, an ancient dragon, a man with scaled arms, a giant horned figure, and others, all ready to join the fray.

The aura emanating from these creatures was formidable. The weakest among them possessed a cultivation base in the False God realm—an achievement that Hei Yanyu had conquered throughout the mountains and rivers.

After Hei Yanyu departed, a pale boy emerged behind the cliff’s edge. Adorned with a pair of black wings on his back, it was Hei Ming. His eyes glimmered with an eerie light as he gazed in the direction his sister had left.

Even our ancestors have begun cultivating binding arts. With my sister’s departure from the family, it’s time for me to assert my strength and seize control of all power.

Hei Ming muttered to himself, his ambitious flame burning fervently. Unbeknownst to him, silver-white patterns resembling cobwebs briefly appeared and vanished in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Ye Ling led Yin Mei as they descended into the dry well. The world spun before them, spaces fracturing and overlapping as they traversed through a trance-like state. Eventually, they seemed to pass through a rippling wave and landed on solid ground.

Yin Mei’s eyes widened with surprise. “Where are we? Have we entered another world?”

“Yes, indeed. This is another world, a small realm left to me by my master,” Ye Ling explained, suppressing his excitement. Though he typically referred to it as the Realm of the Reincarnated Heaven Lord, in this cave reserved for him by his master, it was more appropriate to address him as “Master.”

Ye Ling understood the importance of showing reverence to his master, lest he risk expulsion from this place if the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation sensed any disrespect.

Reincarnated Heaven Lord… Could it be.

Yin Mei’s expression mirrored her shock, hinting at a restrained reaction to Ye Ling’s revelation.

In fact, Gu Changge had already revealed these details to Yin Mei, so her lack of surprise was understandable.

“Yes, you guessed correctly,” Ye Ling affirmed, a hint of pride colouring his expression.

His lineage as a descendant of the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation filled him with a sense of brightness. However, he remained cautious about exposing this, knowing others might harbour jealousy.

However, sharing this revelation with Yin Mei allowed him to relish her shocked and reverent gaze.

“The Reincarnated Heaven Lord is a figure closely associated with immortality. It’s astonishing to discover your background, Ye Ling,” Yin Mei admired.

Ye Ling shook his head, dispelling misconceptions. “The rumours circulating outside about me being an inheritor of forbidden demonic arts are false. The true inheritor of such arts is none other than Gu Changge, the heir of the Daoist Heavenly Immortal Palace… He framed me!”

“Gu Changge, that despicable and shameless villain… I’ll expose his true face to the world and reveal who the real villain is,” Ye Ling seethed with hatred and murderous intent as he spoke of Gu Changge. His eyes burned with bitter animosity, surpassing his disdain for Ye Langtian. Though the two had never met or exchanged words, Gu Changge’s machinations had painted Ye Ling as a pariah, subjecting him to scorn and persecution.

“You don’t need to justify yourself, Ye Ling. I’ve always believed in you,” Yin Mei said firmly, interrupting Ye Ling’s tirade against Gu Changge.

“I’m glad to have met you, Yin Mei,” Ye Ling responded, his tone tinged with gratitude and emotion. Sensing the need to focus on their current situation, he promptly resumed leading the way, guiding Yin Mei forward on their journey.

…..

“The trail left by Yin Mei ends here,” Gu Changge remarked as he emerged from the void, arriving at an abandoned ancient temple. His gaze settled on the dry well before him, contemplative.

Ye Ling must have entered through here. It appears to be a spatial passage, similar to my inner world.

Gu Changge mused, his spiritual sense probing the depths of the dry well. Proficient in the power of the void, he detected faint spatial fluctuations, indicating that this place led to another world shrouded in mystery.

“By now, someone should have rushed to the ruins. However, aside from me, no one knows Ye Ling’s whereabouts,” Gu Changge observed, a faint smile playing on his lips as he stepped inside.

It wasn’t his first time reaping the benefits of others’ efforts, and he had grown accustomed to it. With Ye Ling clearing the path of danger ahead, Gu Changge felt relaxed and content.

However, This time, Gu Changge intended to keep Ye Ling from leaving this place alive. He planned to craft a narrative in which Ye Ling purportedly escaped his grasp, relying on a carefully coordinated strategy involving Yin Mei to reinforce the illusion of Ye Ling’s survival.

Gu Changge’s calculated scheme appeared flawless. With Ye Ling seemingly alive and on the run, all factions would search for him relentlessly, unaware of his demise. Gu Changge could easily deflect suspicion, leaving Ye Ling to blame for any ensuing mischief.

As long as his actions went unnoticed at the moment, the blame would naturally fall upon the presumed living Ye Ling. After all, who would suspect Gu Change?

….

Ye Ling and Yin Mei journeyed through a long underground crack, seemingly leading to the depths, emanating a scorching aura. Surrounding them were imprinted formations, lethal to any who ventured forth without the power of reincarnation—even beings of Saint Realm’s stature would likely meet their demise here.

“Ye Ling, be cautious. This is the master’s final test. Pay close attention to the formations ahead,” the voice of the old turtle resonated from the pendant, sending shivers down Ye Ling’s spine and keeping him on high alert.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Light pierced the darkness ahead as hot magma flowed beneath their feet. A one-way bridge spanned the molten river, connecting to the other side.

“Beware of fire-type creatures in the lava,” the old turtle reminded.

Ye Ling nodded, bracing himself against the scorching heat and the crushing gravity. Thanks to the power of reincarnation enveloping him, the searing heat couldn’t harm him in the slightest. This wave of heat, mixed with terrifying gravity, would instantly obliterate an average False God realm cultivator and leave even a true God realm cultivator pale with fear.

The test set by the Reincarnated Heaven Lord seemed tailored for Ye Ling—challenging enough to be significant yet not overly perilous. Gu Changge regarded it as an unnecessary gesture, a mere formality.

As creatures wrapped in flames leaped from the magma ahead, attacking Ye Ling, he fought fiercely. Meanwhile, Yin Mei observed from behind, silently leaving a trail unnoticed by Ye Ling.

In Ye Ling’s estimation, the road ahead held boundless opportunities, making it the most paramount pursuit. Determined, he led Yin Mei through a series of challenges, overcoming each obstacle.

After conquering numerous trails left by the Reincarnated Heaven Lord—destroying formations and vanquishing monsters—they finally reached the depths. There, they discovered a divine spectacle: a cave-dwelling emitting radiant light. Three bronze pillars upheld a bronze-white jade palace suspended in the void. Within, wisps of black and white reincarnation power surged, illuminating the darkness.

Inside the palace, a serene silver lake resembling a galaxy ebbed and flowed, shrouded in silver mist. A small silver tree adorned with silver-black stripes imbued with the profound essence of reincarnation flourished within.

The sight left Ye Ling and Yin Mei awestruck.

“A reincarnation lake left by the Heavenly Emperor, capable of birthing a reincarnation body…”

“The wondrous root of reincarnation, an immortal object rooted in the lake, capable of condensing the essence of reincarnation and sweeping through all existence as a weapon!”

“And the cave, forged by the Heavenly Emperor with the World Stone, containing the remnants of the Heavenly Emperor and several formidable puppets crafted in ancient times,” the old turtle’s voice echoed with excitement in Ye Ling’s ears.

“All our efforts have not been in vain!” the turtle proclaimed.

Ye Ling’s excitement surged as he beheld the wealth of opportunities before him, his body quivering with anticipation.

“All of this is mine! Destiny is on my side, Gu Changge; you wait for me!”

He exclaimed fervently, his voice tinged with excitement and determination.