I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 258

Chapter 258: This Gu will accept your origin as if he were going to seek justice

“Prince Ying is so ruthless! I’ve never wronged him, yet he’s bent on ending my life like this!” Qilin’s expression was inscrutable, and he couldn’t resist shouting again, hoping his voice would carry far.

But the other two formidable beings of the sacred realm met his outcry with icy stares, swiftly suppressing his voice within their surroundings.

“Prince Ying? You’re mistaken. He’s not the puppeteer pulling our strings,” remarked a shadowy figure with a cold smile, refusing to confess.

“And what do you hope to achieve with these denials at such a juncture?” Qilin’s gaze turned frigid.

Then, they witnessed a radiant glow emerge from between Qilin’s brows, intricate hues intertwining like the manifestation of an ancient deity.

Buzz!

His aura underwent a rapid transformation, as though an indomitable presence beyond reach was materializing behind him. It was the form of an unrivaled demon emperor, faint yet imposing, accompanied by the distant echo of footsteps from ages past. The sparkle in its eyes pierced through the fabric of sky and earth, rending the very universe.

Witnessing this spectacle, Qilin’s remaining followers cheered, newfound hope coursing through them.

“The Young Master still holds power!”

“We’ve got a fighting chance!”

“Let’s take them on!”

With resolve, they unleashed yet another divine weapon, prepared to sacrifice themselves to create an opening for Qilin. The Heavenly Demon Umbrella loomed overhead, the magnificent war whip spanning several miles, the Heaven-shattering Seal akin to a colossal mountain, the blood-coloured giant sword tearing through the heavens – all radiant and fierce, ignited with the intent to self-destruct.

“Is this the Qilin Demon Emperor’s last resort?” A chill in the dark shadow’s eyes deepened as though he had anticipated it all along. “Grateful to the master for bestowing me with this.”

The massive black palm imprint swept boundlessly, bearing down on the numerous divine soldiers before it, unfazed by their impending self-destruction. This group of followers possessed power only at the level of true gods and heavenly deities. Against the Great Sacred Realm entities, they were as insignificant as ants.

As the other two Great Sacred Realm beings retook action, Dao flowers blossomed between their brows, emitting black light that faintly coalesced into a floating treasure bottle, seemingly traversing the realms of existence. However, this Dao bottle was not natural; it was constructed of runes.

With the three Great Sacred Realm beings acting in unison, the phantom of the Dao bottle materialized, its presence ominous as if it engulfed the entire world. Within it hung stars and wisps of Dao intertwined like a black hole, consuming everything.

“This…this is…”

“The Great Dao bottle…” The unicorn’s complexion changed as he recognized the void in the sky.

Following this, the phantom of the demon emperor surged forward behind him, taking the initiative to engage and clash with the Dao treasure bottle in the sky. Soon, an unparalleled and terrifying energy erupted in the vicinity. Divine light flooded the heavens, causing the peaks to quake as if they might shatter. Such formidable power, fueled by the combined efforts of the three Great Sacred Realm beings, could even annihilate a quasi-supreme existence. However, since the phantom lacked substance and external reinforcement, despite its absolute might, it began to waver and dissipate rapidly.

“Boom…”

Qilin coughed up blood, his complexion suddenly ashen. Then, a realization struck him, and he reached a decision. He invoked a secret technique, aware that survival in this battle was uncertain. With his bloodline as the catalyst, he imprinted a message through a clandestine method, ensuring that any influential member of the Qilin clan who arrived would detect it without fail.

“Murderer, Prince Ying!”

The aura of a divine weapon stirred to life between his brows—a small golden cauldron floating within his vast consciousness. The primordial god contained within it suddenly exuded overwhelming dread.

But at that very moment, strange fluctuations rippled through the heavens and earth as though someone were traversing time and space. The reverberation of footsteps echoed throughout the cosmos. Soon after, crystalline petals bloomed within the ethereal realm. Softly, the dark fairy flower took root in the void, penetrating numerous beings below, seemingly drawing nourishment from them to flourish.

Puff!

Qilin felt a sharp, tingling pain between his brows like a peerless, immortal sword had pierced through. His expression abruptly shifted, and in his line of sight, a blurry figure materialized before him. The opponent’s fingers converged like swords, reminiscent of ancient immortal blades descending from the vast expanse of the universe, poised to strike him down instantly.

“How…how is this possible…”

“How could it be you… Gu…”

Qilin’s voice quivered, his soul nearly freezing in disbelief. His expression morphed from horror to doubt, fear, and ultimately desperation. He never fathomed that Prince Ying was merely a scapegoat and the true orchestrator behind everything was Gu Changge. This revelation shook him to his core, instilling fear for the first time. Even in the face of death, he had always maintained composure. Yet now, fear gripped his soul.

Gu Changge regarded him calmly, unruffled by the unfolding chaos. Then, he gave a subtle nod.

“Brother Qilin has chosen wisely.”

“This Gu will acknowledge your lineage.”

In the next moment, a menacing black light descended like a cascade of endless starlight, engulfing Qilin’s figure instantly.

“Greetings, master!”

“Greetings, master!”

As Gu Changge emerged, the three great sages who had concluded the battle respectfully greeted him from behind. Once mere puppets under Ye Ling’s command, they had now been reinvigorated by Gu Changge and transformed into his demonic servants.

Gu Changge inclined his head slightly, remaining silent. Qilin possessed unique talents for divining fortune and avoiding calamity, yet his abilities hadn’t matured enough to foresee his demise. Otherwise, Gu Changge would have needed to have dispatched him more effortlessly.

“Let’s move on.”

Afterwards, as Gu Changge sensed the Great Dao treasure bottle completing its task, he reopened his eyes, a hint of darkness shimmering within them. Pursuing fortune and avoiding misfortune held little significance for him; he sought the ability to foresee the future. Having delved into the powers of time and reincarnation, he understood the profound implications of predicting events yet lacked the strength to achieve it. Gu Changge estimated that such abilities would become accessible once he ascended to the level of the great sacred realm.

With that in mind, he set out to locate the second target on his list, currently situated within the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield: Yan Ying, a young king from the Endless Fire Kingdom, sealed until now. Yan Ying boasted a talent for fire consumption, and Gu Changge was keen to discern the distinctions between this natural gift and his forbidden demon technique.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye, and the vast Heavenly Extinction battlefield remained serene, devoid of any significant disturbances. In recent days, several other locations within the battlefield had been discovered, attracting numerous young beings from distant realms who rushed in to explore its depths. Even Yue Mingkong, from afar, hastened to join the fray. However, she ended up in a different sector of the Heavenly Extinction battlefield, far from where Gu Changge was.

During this time, the entire Southern Heaven region grew increasingly bustling. Meanwhile, in the outer realm, within a pavilion, a group of individuals with terrified expressions and trembling souls huddled on the ground, backs drenched in cold sweat, too afraid to lift their heads.

“The young master’s soul lamp has been extinguished.”

“We’re all doomed!”

Before them stood an older man with a stern visage, though his expression was now clouded with anger, fear, and unease, bordering on panic. He was the Qilin’s protector. However, he had chosen not to accompany him into the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield, as the True Immortal Academy mandated that points be earned based on merit. Thus, he opted to wait outside. Yet instead of receiving news of the Qilin’s exploits, he learned of his demise, a shock that left him frozen in disbelief for half a day.

Why had the Qilin, equipped with myriad life-saving measures, met his end in the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield? This question reverberated through his mind like a thunderbolt, leaving him bewildered and shaken.

“Something grave has occurred!”

“No matter the cause, we can hardly be held accountable, nor can you all.”

“At this juncture, I pray that the young lord encountered perils within the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield, rather than falling victim to assassination…”

The older man with a stern countenance turned iron-blue, exuding a menacing aura poised to upend everything. Soon, he cast aside the rules of the True Immortal Academy and forcibly breached the confines of the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield.

The news of Qilin’s demise spread like wildfire, sending shockwaves rippling through the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield and the Southern Heaven. Countless cultivators were left stunned and chilled to their core. Qilin, a renowned ancient prodigy once thought to rival even Gu Changge and others, had met his end on the battlefield. The magnitude of this event was simply staggering.

In an instant, many speculations arose, leaving many who had already entered the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield gripped by unease and terror.

“The murderer, Prince Ying!”

Led by the Qilin’s protector, they made their way to the site of the fierce battle. Here, the protector detected the faint traces of a secret technique left behind by Qilin—an ability discernible only to members of the Qilin clan. At that moment, the older man’s face contorted with fury, his eyes glowing crimson.

“Heavenly Emperor Mountain, daring to strike down my young master, this vengeance shall know no bounds!”

His enraged proclamation reverberated, igniting tumultuous fluctuations in all directions, leaving even his few accompanying elders speechless.

If not the handiwork of Prince Ying, why would Qilin leave behind such a message?

Though they had yet to fully grasp the intricacies of the Qilin clan’s secret arts, it was evident that the guardian would only make such a statement with evidence. After all, he couldn’t be foolish enough to provoke the Heavenly Emperor Mountain. Despite the Qilin clan’s strength, they were ultimately weaker at several levels than the formidable Heavenly Emperor Mountain.

Subsequently, many powerful individuals set out to detect any lingering auras. However, they discovered that the opposing party had meticulously eradicated all traces, rendering their efforts futile.

Yet, they hadn’t even anticipated Qilin’s cryptic message.

Soon, the revelation sent shockwaves throughout the Heavenly Extinction battlefield, leaving everyone stunned, appalled, uneasy, and fearful.

Prince Ying!

He was the prime suspect and the foremost inheritor of the Demonic arts today. The signs pointed towards him as the likely culprit behind Qilin’s demise. However, some recalled Prince Ying’s recent humiliation at the hands of the Human Ancestor Hall’s heir. Could his display of weakness be merely a ruse to lower their guard, enabling him to strike covertly?

Within days, another major event unfolded, striking the battlefield with a force akin to Qilin’s fall. Yan Ying, an ancient young king of the Endless Fire Kingdom, also perished in the Heavenly Extinction battlefield. His death mirrored Qilin’s, yet no evidence remained to identify the perpetrator.

These two events rocked the battlefield like earthquakes, leaving it in disarray. The ensuing chaos left countless individuals horrified and fearful.

Many young beings who had ventured into the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield felt a pervasive unease, unsure if they would be the following targets.

“How dare he strike so openly? Does he truly believe he can act with impunity?”

“Is he not afraid of being exposed at all?”

At a mountain range, Ye Langtian, Ye Liuli, Wang Wushuang, Chi Ling, and the others remained silent, their hearts quivering with fear. The recent news had deeply unsettled them. They had long suspected Ying Shuang as the prime candidate for the inheritor of demonic arts. Now, with such significant events unfolding in the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield, the connection seemed undeniable.

What would Ying Shuang’s response be this time? Would he continue to feign innocence, or would he discard his mask and declare open warfare? The uncertainty left them trembling and on edge. Though the fallen individuals were two ancient prodigies, nobody felt assured that they wouldn’t be the next victims.

“Furthermore, aside from Ying Shuang, there’s another inheritor of demonic arts…”

Ye Langtian’s unease deepened.

…

“You accuse me, but have you seen me strike? I’ve been with my sister nearly every moment these days. Where’s your evidence that I killed Qilin?”

Meanwhile, on a deserted plain, a group from the Heavenly Emperor Mountain, attempting to eliminate beings from the Heavenly Extinction for True Immortal Academy quotas, was halted by the Qilin’s protector and numerous members of the Qilin clan, who advanced aggressively.

Ying Shuang stood before the elderly protector, his expression calm, betraying no hint of nervousness. He couldn’t fathom why he was being blamed for Qilin’s death, primarily when he had heard about the recent incidents in the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield. Nevertheless, he knew he couldn’t afford to show any vulnerability at this critical juncture. Otherwise, the blame would firmly land on his shoulders. So he argued his case, relying on the testimony of Ying Yu and others who could confirm that he hadn’t left their side.

At that moment, where would Ying Shuang find the time and opportunity to kill Qilin? Not to mention whether he possessed the strength and the timing needed to align. This marked the first time he found himself framed, fueling an anger that simmered helplessly within him.

“Heh, I knew you wouldn’t confess,” the old man Qing sneered, his frustration mounting. In his view, Ying Shuang’s calm and fearless demeanor suggested a lack of concern, as if he believed they couldn’t produce evidence and thus remained unperturbed.

“If you’re intent on framing me, you better have evidence,” Ying Shuang retorted, his brow furrowing as he struggled to maintain composure. Yet, even those behind him, including Ying Yu, shifted uncomfortably, recalling Gu Changge’s recent warning. Ying Shuang’s attempt to implicate the entire Emperor Mountain also implicated them. Consequently, Ying Yu and the others chose silence, harboring suspicions towards Ying Shuang. The events at the Ancient Immortal Gu family demonstrated Ying Shuang’s resourcefulness; he could quickly dispatch others to do his bidding. Even if he hadn’t acted directly, he still had alternative means. It was this awareness that rendered him seemingly fearless and composed.

“Don’t think the might of Emperor Mountain shields you. Your father may be Emperor Ying, but that doesn’t grant you impunity. As the inheritor of demonic arts, you’re destined to become an enemy of the world!” The older man, Qing’s tone turned icy, and his confrontation with Ying Shuang pushed them to the brink of conflict without physical altercation.

Ying Shuang’s expression shifted subtly as he sensed a discordant note. Were even the members of Emperor Mountain behind him harboring suspicions? How could that be? He hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Today, I will subdue you and bring you back to my Qilin family for judgment, to serve justice for my young master,” the old man Qing declared, his eyes glinting with determination as he launched an attack on Ying Shuang. The power of the great sacred realm surged forth, intent on suppressing him.

Ying Shuang’s expression contorted as he felt the oppressive force bearing down on him. In his mind’s eye, his divine soul weapon, previously dormant, suddenly blazed to life, unleashing a force that surpassed the bounds of the sacred realm, akin to a supreme entity awakening and seeking to shatter all obstacles.

The shocking scene left the older man, Qing, bewildered and incredulous.

…

He sensed Ying Shuang’s luck deteriorating rapidly, akin to an avalanche of misfortune.

Meanwhile, Gu Changge, who had been absent for a while, made a dramatic reappearance at the entrance of the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield, drawing the attention of many onlookers. The enigmatic smile on his lips added to the intrigue surrounding his return.

“While I was away, it seems something significant occurred,” Gu Changge murmured almost to himself.

Hearing his words, a proud woman gathered her courage, her face flushed with nervousness as she approached him. She stammered and trembled, “Young Master Changge, something truly important has happened during your absence…”

She recounted the events that had transpired in Gu Changge’s absence, feeling that he, as someone who had battled against the inheritor of demonic arts and dealt a severe blow, was the only one who could bring comfort and reassurance.

Gu Changge listened with a slight smile, his expression gradually turning solemn before he let out a sigh. “Brother Qilin… Yan Ying, I’ve heard of both of them. I had considered them rivals, anticipating a chance to compete with them in the future. I didn’t expect to receive such grim news. Thank you for informing me,” he said before stepping and disappearing from the scene.

“Young Master Changge is truly as gentle and humble as rumored, despite his undeniable strength,” the beautiful girl remarked, her eyes filled with admiration.

Many young onlookers envied and admired her courage to approach Gu Changge, lacking the bravery to do so themselves. Soon after, news of Gu Changge’s return to the Heavenly Extinction Battlefield spread, relieving many of the younger generation who felt like they had found an invincible protector.

Gu Changge gathered his followers before proceeding to the area where Ying Shuang was. In the eyes of many, it appeared as though he sought justice for the fallen ancient prodigies.