I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Master has the power to support you, that immortal has come to Immortal Lun Sect

Gu Changge’s plan was actually very straightforward. Judging from the current situation, Yaoyao still trusted and relied on her master. As the Dao Fruit of that mysterious peach tree, the energy she possessed far exceeded her imagination. And during this time, what happened to Yaoyao was just as Gu Changge had expected. She truly couldn’t cultivate. This made this young girl, who had always been obedient, feel dejected, and she even began to worry about disappointing her master.

“Master, did I let you down?” In an ancient city in the heavenly domain, Yaoyao looked at Gu Changge with a contemplative expression, guilt and anxiety evident on her small face. So much so that the silver-haired granny next to her started to feel uneasy, barely daring to take a breath. During this period, although she was in contact with Gu Changge, it was discovered that this immortal was not as indifferent as rumors had suggested. However, his lofty stature was hard to conceal.

Yet, when facing Yaoyao, he always displayed a gentle expression. Even the few things he discussed with her were all about matters concerning Yaoyao. It was evident that this Immortal truly valued and loved Yaoyao deeply. He had taught her many cultivation techniques, provided various divine medicines, precious elixirs, and much more. Normally, countless cultivators and beings would be terrified of the sacred mountain and the forbidden area, but in the presence of this immortal, they treaded as if walking on ordinary ground, even extending invitations. From the Lords of the Divine Mountain to the Lords of the Restricted Areas, he requested precious bloodlines specifically for refining, all for Yaoyao’s benefit.

This special treatment left her envious and astonished, realizing that all of this was solely to enhance her body. It was her limited cultivation that had restricted her understanding. She even witnessed the destruction of an ancient sacred mountain by his servants due to their rebellion against this immortal.

That scene could be described as shattering heaven and earth, with its momentum shaking the entire world. The sacred mountain, a towering ancient presence that would occasionally awaken, unleashing dark turmoil, was powerful and terrifying to an indescribable degree. In the face of this immortal, resistance was futile, and annihilation came swiftly.

The more one learned about the power of this immortal, the more terrifying and incomprehensible it seemed. However, the silver-haired granny discovered a troubling issue that filled her with secret worry: Yaoyao’s body seemed to be problematic. Regardless of the techniques Mr. Immortal employed, they proved ineffective. He even went as far as personally slaying an ancient being in the Sacred Realm, extracting its true soul, and refining the Realm Breaking Pill to aid Yaoyao. Yet, she remained unable to cultivate, and despite the expenditure of numerous resources, there was no improvement.

It was a bitter truth that during this time, Mr. Immortal had invested considerable thought and effort, only to find it all in vain. To put it bluntly, even a pig could transform into a divine beast during this period, but Yaoyao showed no signs of progress. This incident left Granny Yinhua uneasy, and she also noticed Mr. Immortal’s worsening mood, causing her to furrow her brows and fall into contemplation.

In this world, kindness often came with a motive. Initially, Mr. Immortal had taken Yaoyao as his apprentice because he recognized her talent and sensed her exceptional nature. However, after many days of effort, the conclusion seemed to be a harsh one: Yaoyao’s inability to cultivate would be a significant blow, especially considering the substantial resources and labor Mr. Immortal had invested. Now, Granny Yinhua feared that Mr. Immortal would become angry and feel deceived by the situation.

Yaoyao was very sensible, and she knew that she had disappointed her Master. So many good things had been invested in her, yet she still couldn’t cultivate. This left her uneasy, her little hands nervously pinching her dress. Throughout this period, she had grown accustomed to her Master’s teachings and care. If he were to abandon her over this matter, though it would sadden her deeply, she wouldn’t blame him. She would only blame herself for being so useless.

Sensing Yaoyao’s unease, Gu Changge seemed to snap out of his thoughts. He looked at her with a troubled expression, as if genuinely unaware, and smiled, “What could Yaoyao have done to disappoint her teacher?” Of course, he was well aware of what Yaoyao and Granny Yinhua were thinking—that Yaoyao couldn’t cultivate. In truth, he had anticipated this outcome and wasn’t surprised at all. However, he still needed to display a solemn, somewhat sorrowful demeanor. Otherwise, his indifference might seem too contrived. He couldn’t afford to appear indifferent to his disciple’s inability to cultivate.

Moreover, Gu Changge saw this as a crucial moment for Yaoyao to fully trust him as her master. So what if she couldn’t cultivate? He was wealthy and powerful enough to support her. “Master, Yaoyao is a failure. You’ve expended so many resources and so much time, and yet I still can’t cultivate. You must be disappointed,” Yaoyao murmured, her voice barely audible, filled with guilt and anxiety. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Gu Changge’s gaze.

From initially feeling elated, thinking she was a peerless genius, to realizing she couldn’t cultivate and was merely a burden, Yaoyao experienced a drastic shift. The cultivator from the Immortal Lun Sect who had taken her brother away seemed right. This sudden transformation left Yaoyao feeling profoundly despondent.

“That’s all?” Gu Changge appeared momentarily taken aback before chuckling and saying, “So that’s what’s been troubling you? Even if you can’t cultivate right now, you’re still my disciple. How could you worry about such things at such a young age? Yaoyao, have you forgotten what your teacher told you before?” Yaoyao was momentarily stunned, her worried expression replaced with one of deep gratitude. This response was entirely unexpected. She had feared being abandoned by Gu Changge because of her inability to cultivate.

“Master…” Yaoyao’s voice quivered as she began, “Master told me before… He said that sometimes, a master is closer than relatives.” She had always held onto this sentence, finding great solace in it.

“Little one, just remember that and don’t overthink,” Gu Changge reassured her, his smile gentle as he reached out to affectionately squeeze Yaoyao’s nose. “Even if you can’t cultivate, your teacher can support you for the rest of your life. Think of it as having a few little followers.”

“Master, you’re so kind to me,” Yaoyao’s voice choked with emotion, her nose tingling with the threat of tears.

“Silly girl, our meeting is fate. Since I’ve taken you as my disciple, it’s my duty as your teacher. You don’t need to blame yourself. Cultivation can be quite troublesome…” Gu Changge’s smile was warm and reassuring. “Since you can’t cultivate, you can save your teacher from worrying about you. Teaching can be quite a hassle.”

“Mmm, Yaoyao understands. You don’t need to worry about me in the future,” Yaoyao nodded, her demeanor obedient and grateful.

Deeply moved, she realized that Gu Changge’s words were meant to comfort her. He didn’t want her to blame herself or fret over her inability to cultivate. “Master is so kind to me!” she thought, her heart swelling with gratitude. In that moment, Gu Changge’s status in Yaoyao’s heart was no different from that of her brother and grandmother.

“Very good, it seems I misjudged Mr. Immortal!” The silver-haired granny sighed with relief, observing the touching scene before her. Gu Changge’s unexpected kindness didn’t surprise her; she understood his character well. Yaoyao’s reverence for him as her teacher was indeed a blessing.

“Yaoyao, why don’t you come with me to the Upper Realm now?” Gu Changge’s smile widened as he mentioned the prospect of returning. “This time in the Lower Realm, I’ve repaid my favor, and I’ll also officially accept you as my disciple. It’s about time we head back.”

Gu Changge’s sudden mention of returning to the Upper Realm was strategic. He intended to confront the reincarnation of the human ancestor, but he couldn’t afford to show any abnormality. He needed to be subtle and allow Yaoyao to take the initiative to inquire about her brother. As her master, he would accompany her for her safety if necessary. It seemed like the logical thing to do.

Granny Yinhua’s expression shifted to one of shock upon hearing Gu Changge’s words. Return to the Upper Realm? If Yaoyao accompanied him, she would gain access to the mysterious and expansive world beyond, perhaps unlocking the secrets hidden within her own body. After all, legends spoke of the Upper Realm as the domain of immortals, and even beings beyond immortality.

Though Granny Yinhua herself didn’t harbor many thoughts about the Upper Realm, she hoped for Yaoyao’s sake that they would go. “Well, this girl probably misses her brother a lot, so she doesn’t want to leave this place like this,” she thought, understanding Yaoyao’s likely feelings.

“Master, are we really leaving this world now?” Yaoyao’s gaze fixed on Gu Changge, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. Her thoughts mirrored what Granny Yinhua had suspected. On one side was her beloved Master, and on the other was her long-lost brother.

A year ago, Yaoyao’s brother was taken to the Immortal Lun Sect for cultivation, and since then, there had been no news. Recently, the Northern Mountain Village where she resided had been attacked by bandits. If it weren’t for the sudden arrival of her master to rescue them, Yaoyao and her grandmother might not have survived, falling prey to the bandits. During that perilous time, Yaoyao had hoped her brother would come to their rescue, but he never did.

Yaoyao believed her brother must have been caught up in his cultivation at the Immortal Lun Sect, unable to escape or return to the village to check on her and their grandmother. Now, with an immensely powerful master by her side and her changed status, she saw an opportunity to visit her brother. If he was facing difficulties at the Immortal Lun Sect, perhaps she could assist him. Yaoyao’s compassionate heart and pragmatic sensibility guided her decision.

“Is there anything else, Yaoyao?” Gu Changge inquired, his expression momentarily surprised before a smile graced his lips. “Tell me, once your affairs are settled, I can take you back to the Upper Realm.”

“Master, I want to go see my brother,” Yaoyao responded.

“Oh? Your brother?” Gu Changge seemed momentarily taken aback, as if trying to recall. Yaoyao understood that her brother held little significance in her master’s eyes, likely deemed as inconsequential as dust, easily forgotten.

“Since he’s your brother, then we can pay him a visit,” Gu Changge eventually recalled with a smile, agreeing to her request.

“Thank you, Master,” Yaoyao’s face lit up with joy.

Observing her happiness, Gu Changge smiled and affectionately ruffled her hair, withholding his thoughts for the time being. He had been waiting for this moment.

“That brother of yours has been practicing in the Sect for over a year, and he didn’t bother to visit you? As a cultivator, he can’t even protect his family…” Gu Changge shook his head slightly, his expression indicating his lack of optimism regarding Yaoyao’s elder brother. It was nearly impossible to directly assert that her brother wasn’t a good person and had abandoned his relatives. If an ordinary person had made such claims about her brother, Yaoyao would have surely defended him. But this was her Master speaking, and his words held undeniable reason. Yaoyao couldn’t help but feel disheartened for a moment. “Brother must have his own hardships,” Gu Changge added, saying no more.

Meanwhile, Yue Mingkong, who was striving to locate the reincarnation of the human ancestor in other domains, had arrived in the Heavenly Domain with her entourage.

“That Immortal also came here? And with a little girl?” Moonlight frowned, puzzled by the news. Initially, she had assumed that the immortal would depart from the Heavenly Star realm and return to the Upper Realm after resolving matters in the Xuan Domain. Yet here he was, in the Heavenly Domain.

Moreover, the recruitment of disciples in the Taixu Sect of the Xuan Domain seemed more like a quest to accept disciples, as if he were searching for someone. After finding no one in the other domains, the immortal had arrived in the Heavenly Domain.

“Could it be that he’s actually here to find the reincarnation of the human ancestor? Or is he associated with the Human Ancestor Hall?” Various thoughts raced through Yue Mingkong’s mind, accompanied by a faint sense of worry and unease. She was reluctant to disclose her Upper Realm origin before the crucial moment. “I need to find a way to ascertain who that Immortal is,” Yue Mingkong resolved, her beautiful immortal face displaying deep contemplation.

During this period, Yue Mingkong’s cultivation had ascended to the late stage of the God King Realm, barely trailing behind the Quasi-Sacred Realm.

“Emperor Chu, there doesn’t appear to be anything remarkable about that little girl. She hails from a place called Northern Mountain Village and was attacked by bandits. She was rescued by a passing Immortal,” Yue Mingkong’s confidant reported, his tone laced with concern.

Yue Mingkong’s brows furrowed even tighter at the news. Matters seemed to be slipping out of her control. “If I can’t locate the reincarnation, then I’ll have to intercept his Nirvana Green Lotus…” She had already narrowed down the area where the Nirvana Green Lotus was set to appear and had settled on a particular peak. Before the human ancestor’s reincarnation reached there, she needed to seize that Nirvana Green Lotus.

“Without the Nirvana Green Lotus body, there will be issues when all the ancestors return to this realm, and he won’t last long,” Yue Mingkong reasoned. “It seems the human ancestor has planned ahead. He anticipated the Nirvana Green Lotus’s birth in this world, which is why he appeared here.”

“If all goes according to plan, Changge should be devising a new scapegoat. Everyone on the list I provided him with is a viable target,” Yue Mingkong contemplated, her thoughts turning to Gu Changge, who was now in the Upper Realm. A softness crept into her eyes as she acknowledged that without him, she wouldn’t have taken such a substantial risk to intervene in this world and stop the human ancestor.

“Changge probably doesn’t know the extent of my efforts for him. If he did, perhaps he’d trust me a bit more,” Yue Mingkong sighed softly before issuing commands. A multitude of powerful beings headed towards the Heavenly Peak she had pinpointed.

Meanwhile, the Immortal Lun Sect, as the most enigmatic and formidable force in the Heavenly Star Realm, had stood the test of time. Even after a million years, it remained unyielding. In the Heavenly Domain, no force rivaled the Immortal Lun Sect’s stature.

Of course, the Immortal Lun Sect’s prominence was also attributed to its patriarch, a supreme being. Regardless of who visited the foot of the Immortal Lun Sacred Mountain, they had to show utmost respect and dare not display any lack of reverence.

Today, the center of the Immortal Lun Sect exuded magnificence and majesty. Inside a splendid palace, Holy Master Xian Lun paced with his hands behind his back, his eyes opening and closing as divine light flickered, indicating his deep concern. Below him stood numerous powerful inner sect elders, along with the sect’s saintess and other notable figures.

“Reporting to the Holy Master, what I witnessed that day is indeed true,” a creature resembling a blue ghost spoke up in the hall, relaying the events. “Ominous auras surged from many altars, and black blood even spurted into the sky. The surrounding mountains echoed with loud noises, akin to dragons writhing in pain. It was said that when the dragon vein was unearthed…”

This creature was the green ghost responsible for constructing the Immortal road in the Flying Immortal Mountains. His expression was fraught with palpable fear as he recounted the day’s events. During this period, Holy Master Xian Lun had been in seclusion, unaware of the situation. It was only today that he summoned all the elders to inquire about the matter.

“All the elders witnessed the scene,” Holy Master Xian Lun remarked, his frown deepening. “It appears that something unforeseen occurred, and an ominous discovery was made. The act of disrupting the sky was already perilous, but for the path to immortality to shatter like this?”

Holy Master Xian Lun’s figure appeared imposing, his cultivation realm exceedingly high and surpassing even the Holy Masters of other sects. He was known for his exceptional talent and had devised the plan to create the road to immortality. Some time ago, an incident had occurred in the Flying Immortal Mountains: the altar collapsed, numerous slaves died overnight, and black blood was unearthed from the ground.

A group of beasts within a radius of ten thousand miles crouched down, emitting panicked sounds, shocking the entire Immortal Lun Sect. As a result, everyone was summoned for a meeting, setting aside the matter of forging the immortal road for the time being.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions. Once we ascertain the truth, we can make a decision. A disciple claimed to have a vision within him, which alerted the patriarch. Is this claim true or false?” Holy Master Xian Lun addressed another matter after the initial discussion.

Green Ghost appeared slightly puzzled but responded respectfully, “Reporting to the Holy Master, this is absolutely true. At that time, all the slaves perished suddenly, leaving only one surviving disciple, sparking suspicions of his uniqueness. Hence, I brought him back to the Holy Land.”

“I never anticipated that he would trigger a vision, with immortal light reflecting in the sky and even summoning the patriarch’s shadow. This astonished all the disciples and elders, prompting the appearance of numerous ancient figures who personally investigated the matter. It seems the curse on the boy’s body has been lifted.”

The disciple in question was Jiang Yang, who possessed the Desolate Holy Body. Initially discarded as a slave in the Flying Immortal Mountains due to his flawed physique, he was unexpectedly valued upon his return to the Immortal Lun Sect, much to Green Ghost’s embarrassment. It seemed Jiang Yang’s luck was beyond measure.

“Could it be a blessing in disguise?” Holy Master Xian Lun furrowed his brow, finding it incredulous that the curse of the Desolate Holy Body could be so easily resolved. Did it truly clash with the ominous aura and nullify it?

“Impossible. The patriarch transcends all life and death. Even in its prime, a desolate holy body could, at best, rival the great sacred. How could it evoke the patriarch’s shadow? This child is undoubtedly extraordinary!” Holy Master Xian Lun exclaimed.

“Perhaps he will be the beacon of hope for achieving immortality in our Immortal Lun Sect!” Holy Master Xian Lun’s expression suddenly brightened with excitement.

The elders and others below displayed various expressions upon hearing his words.

Now, the status of the disciple named Jiang Yang had undergone a remarkable transformation within the Immortal Lun Sect. He was highly esteemed, surpassing even the Saint Son, Saint Daughter, and others. Several ancient beings within the sect believed his status would inevitably ascend, overshadowing even elders who were only in the quasi-sacred realm. Their significance paled in comparison. This sentiment was bolstered by Holy Master Xian Lun’s optimistic outlook on Jiang Yang.

However, the tranquility of the moment was shattered when a disciple rushed into the hall, visibly trembling with shock and excitement. His voice quivered as he delivered his message.

“Reporting to the Holy Master, at the mountain gate… Outside, there’s an immortal!”

A hushed silence fell over the entire hall of the Immortal Lun Sect, so profound that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone’s expressions mirrored astonishment, struggling to comprehend the news. Then, in the next moment, their faces, including that of Holy Master Xian Lun, underwent a drastic change.

“An immortal?”

“Could it be… Could it be the immortal from the Upper Realm who obliterated False God Mountain with a single palm?”