I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 275

Chapter 275: I’m going to stand up for a showdown. I’m a million times better than you.

“Young Master Changge is going to duel Jin Chan?” Several older men in front of the mountain gate exchanged glances, visibly taken aback, unsure what to say. It seemed logical that Gu Changge was among the top ten contenders, and the same could be said for Jin Chan standing before him. Shouldn’t the two of them be extremely cautious? After all, even a slight disadvantage could easily impact one’s position within the True Immortal Academy, rendering it unstable.

“Young Master Changge, is this true?” For the first time, Jin Chan’s face betrayed an expression other than calm, his gaze fixed on Gu Changge with utmost seriousness. He hadn’t anticipated Gu Changge to be so bold. And they were still at the entrance of the True Immortal Academy. Jin Chan wondered if he had offended Gu Changge somehow. No, this was their first encounter.

“This Gu Changge is exceedingly arrogant. He doesn’t regard the other geniuses with any respect, hence his audacity,” Ying Shuang muttered under his breath, his fists clenched tightly among the crowd. He couldn’t help but think that Gu Changge was the true inheritor of demonic arts. Perhaps his intention in challenging Jin Chan was merely to gauge his strength or publicly showcase his formidable power. In the future, at the True Immortal Academy, Gu Changge might wield dominance akin to that of the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace, ruling with a single hand.

“It’s merely a test, so Brother Jin Chan, there’s no need to fret too much,” Gu Changge maintained a light smile, “But if Brother Jin Chan declines, I won’t press further.”

“There are few young individuals nowadays who pique my interest in combat,” he continued. Though his words were simple, they weighed heavily on everyone present, as if an invisible mountain loomed over them, stifling their breath. Random and forceful! And it was a kind of indifference that didn’t take his opponent seriously! They understood that Gu Changge wasn’t being conceited; he truly had the confidence to speak, thus leaving people unable to refute him. But this wasn’t an endorsement. It was already a great honor to be considered worthy of Gu Changge’s interest in combat!

“In that case, then I appreciate it!” Upon hearing this, Jin Chan also realized that this battle was unavoidable and sighed inwardly. He hadn’t come to the True Immortal Academy to engage in competition, but Gu Changge’s presence exerted significant pressure on him. Soon, this news spread like wildfire.

One after another, vibrant divine lights emanated from all corners of the True Immortal Academy, with figures flickering and appearing all over the mountain, all converging to witness the battle. It was no exaggeration to say that this was a clash at the pinnacle of the current younger generation—the battle between two True Immortal Academy candidates!

Buzz!! In the depths of the sky, a chaotic fog spread, golden rays of Dao stretching across the expanse while figures of elders converged. They, too, were eagerly anticipating this battle, filled with curiosity.

Many had speculated on Gu Changge’s intentions; by taking the initiative to challenge, was it not for asserting authority? With the current lack of precise hierarchy within the True Immortal Academy, his action served as a clear statement of his strength, guiding others to recognize their place and who should be respected.

Of course, this was mere conjecture.

On the summit of a mountain, a woman adorned with fiery red phoenix wings on her back, clad in a dress of the same fiery hue, her arms enveloped in flames, observed from a distance. With a beautiful face exuding natural dignity, she resembled an unmatched phoenix sculpted from red fairy crystals. She was an ancient prodigy from Huangling Mountain, among the top ten candidates from the Heavenly Phoenix clan!

Rumors abounded about her connections to the Immortal Phoenix, some even suggesting she was its reincarnation.

“Gu Changge…” She softly murmured these words.

Then, with a flutter of her Phoenix Wings, her form blurred, and she departed from the scene.

“Gu Changge initiated a confrontation with Buddhists?” In the cave, the man in purple robes furrowed his brow. “I should seize this opportunity to ascertain the truth. Whether the rumors hold merit or not, I must witness them firsthand.” With this resolve, he departed, his figure soaring into the sky with a powerful purple aura, heading towards the mountain gate.

“Even Emperor Zi Yang rushed over?” This sight drew the attention of many, causing quite a stir. Emperor Zi Yang was the foremost candidate disciple who had journeyed from the Purple Mansion to the True Immortal Academy. Simultaneously, he was an ancient prodigy who had remained veiled in obscurity until now. The Purple Mansion was also the most enigmatic immortal sect in the upper realm, boasting an ancient lineage.

For a time, similar scenes unfolded across the immortal islands and mountains within the True Immortal Academy. Before the mountain gate, the atmosphere was even more electric.

Figures flickered, each exuding a formidable aura. In the outside world, they were regarded as invincible young elites! Among them were inner and quasi-candidate disciples, with many candidate disciples yet to arrive at the True Immortal Academy. For instance, the two descendants of the Human Ancestor Hall were still absent, and the enigmatic six-crown king had never appeared. Moreover, several other major candidate disciples remained elusive and hard to locate.

“I wonder who will emerge victorious in this battle. Jin Chan seems incredibly mysterious. Prior to this, I hadn’t heard any rumors about him, yet he must be remarkable to be selected as a candidate by the True Immortal Academy.”

“This battle won’t be straightforward.”

“Perhaps not, but relying solely on strength, I believe Young Master Changge has the advantage. After all, he’s the only one who has contended against the inheritor of demonic arts.”

“There are whispers now that Young Master Changge might be the reincarnation of the Human Ancestor.”

“Ah! That explains a lot…”

Such conversations abounded, with each revelation prompting gasps of shock and disbelief.

“Young Master Changge!”

“Pardon me!” Just as conversations buzzed around, Jin Chan, seated atop the golden nine-headed lion, took action, his voice steady.

A golden radiance filled the air, intertwined with the Buddhist chant, emanating an aura of sanctity and brilliance. With his move, Jin Chan unleashed an unfathomably mysterious and profound Buddha Dharma, a divine halo materializing in his mind like an immortal Buddha.

Moreover, he didn’t approach it lightly; the strength he displayed was already within the sacred realm. An immensely towering golden Buddha manifested, its brilliance dazzling and commanding.

The sheer force of its aura caused many young prodigies present to pale, feeling as though their bodies were being torn asunder.

“So formidable!”

“The sacred realm’s power… Is this the dominance of this generation of Buddhists? It surpasses us by far!

They trembled in horror! Such power, if displayed earlier, would have undoubtedly shaken all factions.

Boom!

The colossal golden Buddha’s form descended upon Gu Changge, seemingly intent on subduing him.

“Brother Jin Chan, do you underestimate Gu? If this is all, it’s truly disappointing,” Gu Changge retorted, still smiling as though unfazed.

Buzz!!

He simply raised his palm slightly—his other hand remained motionless. With a gentle press forward, a roar echoed through the void as if it were on the brink of eruption.

The palm took on a tangible form in the next instant, causing the void to collapse in a single sweep. Like the hand of the heavens, its aura circulated with celestial brilliance, entwined with vibrant divine light and immortal mist.

The illusory image of the towering Buddha, a thousand miles in height, with a majestic presence, ruptured instantaneously under this palm and vanished completely.

“What!? Shattered with a single palm…”

“It’s utterly futile, it’s too overwhelming, isn’t it?”

This scene sent shivers down the spines of everyone present, instilling a sense of dread.

“It defies conventional wisdom.”

Even the Heavenly Phoenix lady and the Zi Yang Heavenly King furrowed their brows slightly. Upon covert comparison, they realized that neither Gu Changge nor Jin Chan had unleashed their full strength.

Soon after, Jin Chan struck again, releasing a golden bowl beneath his robe. The Buddha’s radiance was dazzling, casting its glow in every direction, imbued with the essence of Dao, seeming to purify everything.

This ancient Buddhist artifact was brimming with the power of the sacred realm, unleashing terrifying streams of divine light like a galaxy.

Gu Changge’s response was even simpler. With just a flick of his fingers, a wisp of sword energy burst forth. Yet, it produced a terrifying sword resonance, and in a trance-like state, everyone seemed to witness a peerless, immortal sword piercing through the universe, its light dazzling as it descended!

Unable to resist, everyone involuntarily closed their eyes.

In the next moment, a single click reverberated, accompanied by hundreds of millions of rays of light blossoming, causing the golden bowl to crack.

Soon after, the cracks began to spread as if on the verge of collapse. If Jin Chan hadn’t realized the dire situation and hastily retrieved it, he likely would have lost an ancient Buddhist artifact that day.

“Young Master Changge is formidable, and Jin Chan is no match for him at present.”

“I concede defeat willingly,” Jin Chan’s expression shifted slightly, but he sighed and chose to surrender rather than continue his assault.

“Brother Jin Chan, you’re truly uninteresting.”

“But since you’ve spoken, Gu won’t make another move,” Gu Changge remarked, appearing somewhat surprised by Jin Chan’s decision, though his smile remained unchanged.

Gu Changge had anticipated Jin Chan’s choice to concede. In such moments, there was no need for hatred or grudges; who would resort to life-and-death struggles?

His intention was merely to test Jin Chan’s strength to gauge the feasibility of his subsequent plans. Naturally, he also wanted to demonstrate that despite being candidates, there existed a significant disparity between them.

Gu Changge didn’t relish the notion of being compared to others. Previously, it was out of fear of drawing undue attention and suspicion. However, with the emergence of ancient prodigies and other contenders for the title of demonic arts inheritor, his cultivation prowess alone would no longer arouse as much scrutiny as before.

Even as he continued to vie with the younger generation, he sought to impress upon them the considerable gap between himself and his peers. It was akin to a showdown, asserting his superiority by over a hundred million points.

Although Gu Changge might not have coveted the various resources of the True Immortal Academy, it didn’t mean he was indifferent to them. The stronger his power, the more resources naturally flowed his way.

Jin Chan shook his head upon hearing this, offering no retort. His expression remained remarkably calm, devoid of any hint of reluctance or anger following his defeat.

He still possessed numerous tactics, but he also recognized that defeating Gu Changge would remain a formidable challenge even after employing all those strategies. Gu Changge was simply too formidable, his strength penetrating the marrow of one’s bones!

It seemed like sheer misfortune to awaken in this era, only to find himself pitted against Gu Changge. If he were to encounter the other candidate disciples, Gu Changge would likely express the same sentiment. His objective was clear: to stand out and instill fear. Fortunately, the True Immortal Academy would soon be under his dominion.

“It’s not surprising that he’s so strong and self-assured,” Mo Lao, who had remained silent for some time, finally spoke to Ying Shuang beside him with a solemn expression.

For the first time, Mo Lao felt the weight of the situation. He had anticipated locating this lifetime’s inheritor of demonic arts would be relatively straightforward. However, the appearance of someone like Gu Changge complicated matters. His strength was truly extraordinary.

Ying Shuang’s expression mirrored his unease. Gu Changge’s prowess filled him with despair. He suspected even the former Prince Ying would need help to contend with Gu Changge. Clenching his fists tightly, he felt a surge of frustration. However, he found solace in lurking in the shadows while Gu Changge basked in the spotlight, unaware of his presence at the True Immortal Academy. He vowed to exact revenge for this perceived slight.

“This situation requires careful consideration,” Mo Lao continued his expression grave. “But before that, I must find a way to warn Gu Xian’er about the danger posed by Gu Changge. Despite her previous indifference towards me, I’m not one to abandon her.”

Zi Yang Heavenly King furrowed his brow, his countenance heavy, as he whispered to himself. He, too, was uncertain about the outcome if he were to engage Gu Changge with all his might.

The first encounter left him uncertain of his limits; he lacked confidence. Gu Changge was indeed far more terrifying than the rumors had suggested.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Phoenix lady observed Gu Changge intently, as if etching his image into her memory, before swiftly disappearing.

“Poor Jin Chan,” Yue Mingkong murmured, understanding Gu Changge’s intentions.

“It’s not exactly bad luck; he’s fortunate to have walked away alive from that confrontation,” Gu Changge’s smile held a hint of intrigue.

Yue Mingkong glanced at him, sensing that he was once again scheming something. Could it be related to the Demon Burying Abyss?

Soon, news of the battle at the gates of the True Immortal Academy spread like wildfire. It caused a significant stir within the academy and sent shockwaves throughout the upper realm.

Naturally, the younger generation became the focal point for the major sects. And the clash between Gu Changge and Jin Chan garnered even more attention.

The outcome of this battle was captured by the Memory Stone and disseminated across various ancient cities.

In a flash, Gu Changge’s momentum again soared to new heights.

Previously, many had doubted whether he had enough time to cultivate, considering him no match for the ancient freaks. However, the recent battle had left many in awe, making it difficult for them to remain composed. Even the ancient freaks were deemed far superior in comparison.

Numerous individuals from the older generation realized that they were no longer on par with Gu Changge. Before they knew it, he had ascended to a level that stirred jealousy among them.

In the blink of an eye, several days had elapsed since the battle

“Qing Xiao Yi has truly ventured to the True Immortal Academy.”

“The purported immortal physique.”

“If my memory serves me right, the vial is now in her brother’s possession.”

Yue Mingkong whispered near a magnificent Gu Changge palace, her eyes reflecting various emotions.

Qing Xiao Yi, a figure of great legend, had left a lasting impression on her in her previous life. Her meteoric rise had sent shockwaves through all the Dao forces in the upper realm, and she was regarded as one of the True Immortal Academy’s two most illustrious disciples.

There was also mention of a peculiar stone that had long been sealed within the True Immortal Academy.