I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 337

Chapter 337: Mysterious Gu Qingyi, the last role of Zi Yang Heavenly King

The palace was quiet. The mountains in the distance were undulated like dark eyebrows, shrouded in smoky clouds, creating a stunning vista. In the far-off horizon, colorful rays of light danced into the sky amidst flowing mist, reflecting a magnificent and unusual scene.

As Gu Qingyi spoke, her eyes seemed momentarily lost in thought, as if recalling something. Yet, her presence remained distant, as if separated from Gu Changge by vast distances of mountains and sea. Her features appeared blurred, her robes gently billowing, concealing any clear expression from Gu Changge’s view.

“Aunt Qing is suggesting that I didn’t resemble a human before?” Gu Changge’s response was nonchalant. He strolled to the table, lifted a white jade teacup, took a deep breath, and queried with a slow smile, “No?”

“You weren’t human at all,” Gu Qingyi stated, her gaze penetrating through the layers of space, fixing upon his face. She shook her head slightly, her voice devoid of any discernible emotion.

….

“It seems Aunt Qing has quite the opinion of me,” Gu Changge remarked with a smile. Though he was accustomed to her tone by now, it always struck him as odd to hear her speak like this. Conversing with her, one couldn’t shake the feeling that she could end their life at any moment.

However, given Gu Qingyi’s limited interactions with outsiders and her tendency to seclude herself for cultivation, Gu Changge paid little mind. With such a temperament, could anyone expect her to excel in social situations? Yet, despite this, Gu Qingyi seemed to understand him better than anyone else in the Gu family, including his parents. It was a peculiar intuition that led Gu Changge to invite Gu Qingyi to stay with the family and relieve her of the duty of protecting him.

Of course, his decision was motivated partly by concerns that her protective role might interfere with his plans. But more so, it stemmed from the discomfort he felt knowing she was constantly observing him with her keen insight. Gu Qingyi had been by his side since he was three years old, often hidden from sight but aware of his every move.

Eventually, Gu Changge requested for Gu Qingyi to cease her protective duties. It seemed that her true essence resided beyond the confines of their current space, in some infinite distance where taking the life of a Supreme being was as simple as a passing thought. Gu Changge remained unaware of her true strength.

“But you’re doing fine now,” Gu Qingyi remarked before her figure gradually faded, moving toward the distance. Her skirts fluttered as she walked, her bare feet as white as snow, the blue silk trailing like a path. In the blink of an eye, she vanished without a trace.

Gu Changge watched her departure with a bemused expression, shaking his head but not dwelling on it. He couldn’t fathom Gu Qingyi’s thoughts, though he felt no threat from her. She was someone he could trust.

With a flicker, he left the palace and headed to the dungeon where Zi Yang Heavenly King was imprisoned. The next step was to prepare for the battle against Purple Mansion. He wasn’t concerned about the conflict between his Ancient Immortal family and the immortal sect; Purple Mansion hardly warranted the attention of the Gu family.

Before that, Zi Yang Heavenly King still had some usefulness. Additionally, other forces like Emperor Mountain, Ancient Ye Clan, Endless Fire Nation, and White Tiger Clan were discussing strategies to attack Purple Mansion, just as he anticipated.

Gu Changge believed he wouldn’t need to exert much effort, relying instead on the power of the Ancient Immortal Continent. The strength of clans like the Black Heavenly Eagle, Divine Crocodile, Ancient Snake, and Ancient Immortal Dragon should not be underestimated. He had already instructed these clans to send reinforcements. When the time came, he would orchestrate forces like Emperor Mountain to lead the charge while he sent a large army to suppress the border and breach Purple Mansion’s Mountain Gate, seizing the opportunity for gain.

During this period, he would assess whether Hei Yanyu had trained the army according to his specifications.

Simultaneously, in a boundless space infinitely distant, a radiant woman clad in green emerged seemingly from the void. She stood atop a mountain peak, gazing down upon the swirling clouds and mist below, appearing solitary in the vast expanse.

The sea of clouds stretched endlessly, blending seamlessly with the sky and water below. From afar, the heavens seemed mirrored in the ethereal mist, presenting a breathtaking spectacle. Gu Qingyi let out a faint sigh, her eyes seeming to pierce through the infinite space in a moment of profound complexity.

“Immortal Palace…”

“Shattering eight thousand realms with a single palm, leaving none in the nine heavens…”

“Will history repeat itself?”

…

Deep within the imperial capital of the ancient Xuanwu kingdom, underground in a dark, damp dungeon, a man clad in purple robes, drenched in blood, lay amidst the moss and stench.

“Gu Changge…” The man in purple robes let out a roar, rousing from his unconscious state. The sound was chilling, akin to the desperate howl of a beast on the brink of despair. The excruciating pain of his wounds and broken bones caused Zi Yang Heavenly King to grit his teeth. His face drained of color, beads of cold sweat dotting his forehead.

Without his Primordial Dao Bone, he couldn’t even begin to heal these injuries.

A terrifying force, utterly alien and devouring, gnawed away at his essence and soul. His soul palace crumbled it’s light dimming, threatening to fracture.

“Gu Changge… I’ll never rest until you’re dead!” Zi Yang Heavenly King growled low. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. But as he surveyed his surroundings, his expression darkened, and he forced himself to regain composure.

It felt as though he had endured a lengthy nightmare. He wandered as a solitary ghost between heaven and earth, only to witness the ruins of the once shattered mountain gate, the Purple Mansion consumed by flames and reduced to ashes. He saw Senior Brother Qin Wuya and Junior Sister Dao Xian, terror etched on their bloodied faces, seemingly attempting to convey a message that never reached his ears.

The flames devoured everything, and upon waking, the lingering imagery dripped with blood. Zi Yang Heavenly King sensed that this was the impending future. His teachers, kin, and friends would all fall victim to Gu Changge’s poisonous grasp, with no one spared. This realization fueled his fury and hatred, yet his weakness plagued him.

“You’re awake?” A chuckle from the shadows jolted Zi Yang Heavenly King, his complexion shifting drastically. He turned sharply, his pupils constricting, his expression morphing into one of intense coldness and loathing.

“It’s you!”

“Gu… Changge!” Through gritted teeth, he spat out the three words with venomous hatred and rage.

Emerging from the darkness was a figure, tall and bearing a faint smile upon his handsome face.

“Did Brother Zi Yang sleep well last night? You seem to have had a nightmare,” Gu Changge remarked casually, a smile playing on his lips. His guard, catching the cue, hastily fetched a stone bench and placed it behind him.

Heavenly King Zi Yang’s expression grew even colder at the jibe, his gaze icy as if he wished to reduce Gu Changge to ashes with a single glare. However, Gu Changge showed no inclination to sit and gestured for the guards to depart.

Only then did he take a moment to assess Zi Yang Heavenly King’s current state. “Unfortunately, compared to your Senior Brother Qin Wuya, you still have a long way to go,” he lamented, shaking his head regretfully.

After all, Zi Yang wasn’t a child of luck; at best, he was merely fortunate. Therefore, the rule of manipulating luck points couldn’t be triggered upon him. Gu Changge felt a pang of regret at the missed opportunity.

Zi Yang Heavenly King couldn’t comprehend Gu Changge’s words or the purpose behind his visit. His heart brimmed only with anger and hatred. If looks could kill, Gu Changge would have met his end a thousand times over.

“Gu Changge, there’s no animosity between us. Why have you treated me like this?” Zi Yang Heavenly King shouted angrily.

Gu Changge smiled, shaking his head. “Brother Zi Yang, you can’t say that. You’re the one seeking to harm me. What do you mean there’s no animosity between us?” As he spoke, something materialized in his palm—a crystal-clear object, its blood and bones discernible, wisps of purple aura lingering around it, exuding an air of mystery as if it held the power to shape the heavens and the earth.

“Hongmeng Dao Bone…” Zi Yang Heavenly King’s expression turned even colder, his body trembling with anger. It was something that had accompanied him since birth.

Hongmeng descended from the heavens, filling the air with the resonance of Dao. As it happened, a golden lotus bloomed and took root in the void, spreading auspicious scenery across a radius of 10,000 miles.

With the Hongmeng Dao Bone in hand, Zi Yang had once swept through and suppressed an entire era, rendering himself invincible. Even the ancient prodigies of bygone eras, if awakened, fell before his might. In this current era, were it not for his encounter with Gu Changge, how could he have been reduced to such humiliation? And now, even the Hongmeng Dao Bone had been wrested from him.

The mystical power of the Hongmeng Dao Bone allowed cultivators to harness the evolutionary forces of the world. Gu Changge scrutinized the bone in his hand. Frankly, it paled in comparison to the transcendental bone he’d acquired through the system. The true rarity of the Hongmeng Dao Bone lay in the essence of Hongmeng Dao it contained—the ability to transform chaos and Primordial aura. However, the innate Dao within the bone was incomplete, merely a prototype.

Gu Changge had taken it out to test whether Zi Yang Heavenly King’s Immortal Dao Eye had any connection to the Hongmeng Dao Bone. Yet, aside from Zi Yang Heavenly King’s heightened icy glare, there was no discernible reaction.

“It seems the Hongmeng Dao Bone isn’t relevant here,” Gu Changge concluded. “The connection lies with the Hongmeng Purple Aura.”

With a wave of his sleeve, a seed enveloped in a purple aura materialized in the void. Though still in a dormant state, it exuded a palpable sense of power, evoking tremors in the soul and heart.

At that moment, the Hongmeng Purple Aura held enough power to rival a Supreme Artifact, even without Zi Yang Heavenly King’s prompting. If fully restored, it was estimated to be on par with a true immortal.

“Hongmeng Purple Aura…” Zi Yang Heavenly King ground his teeth, his voice trembling with intense anger and frustration. The Hongmeng Purple Aura was the divine artifact of the Purple Mansion. Initially, integrating this Dao species had been a painstaking process, fraught with numerous failed attempts. Moreover, the Hongmeng Purple Aura species was far from docile—it was inherently violent. Were it not for his possession of the Primordial Dao Bone, getting near it, let alone fusing with it, would have been nearly impossible.

Utilizing the power within the Hongmeng Purple Aura, he gained the ability to peer into the future using the Heavenly Eyes of the Immortal Dao. Both the Hongmeng itself and the Hongmeng Dao Bone had greatly contributed to his current accomplishments, rendering the memories of his previous life tasteless. Despite the difficulty in fully activating it, he could sense its myriad emotional fluctuations. Fear and terror emanated from it now—a stark contrast to its typically violent nature.

Gu Changge’s presence seemed to render the Hongmeng Purple Aura docile and extremely fearful, as though facing a peerless master. This reaction was unprecedented. Even in the presence of the great elder of the Purple Mansion, who had cultivated for eons, the Hongmeng Purple Species never displayed such emotions; it often even held a sense of disdain. Yet, before Gu Changge, it trembled and quivered, behaving more obediently than a kitten.

“What does Gu Changge possess?” Gu Changge remarked, noting Zi Yang Heavenly King’s reaction and the subsequent changes. “It seems your Heavenly Eye is inseparable from the Primordial Purple Species.”

The purple divine pattern at the center of Zi Yang Heavenly King’s brow faintly glowed, emitting strange fluctuations as if it could reveal all.

“Gu Changge, what is your intention?” Zi Yang Heavenly King’s expression shifted drastically as he began to grasp Gu Changge’s motives. His face drained of color, reflecting both fear and despair.

Gu Changge’s disregard for Zi Yang Heavenly King’s terrified expression was evident as he muttered to himself, “If I refine it with a two-phase method, perhaps I can create a secret treasure that aids in future deduction.”

Ignoring Zi Yang Heavenly King’s growing terror, Gu Changge’s words echoed through the air.

Buzz!

With a buzz, under the influence of the Hongmeng Purple Aura, a mysterious power emerged, and fragments of time danced around, casting a brilliant glow. A river materialized, bearing the marks of passing years—mountains crumbled, seas turned to ash, and thunder and lightning scorched the earth.

In the void, a strange tremor resounded as divine runes intertwined, forming a sharp, long knife that descended with a decisive thud.

Zi Yang Heavenly King screamed in agony, his willpower unable to withstand the excruciating pain. In the next instant, he lost consciousness.

Gu Changge waved his sleeves, conjuring a wooden box into existence. With care, he placed the radiant Immortal Eye inside before carrying it away.

He paid no heed to Zi Yang Heavenly King’s fate; for the moment, he couldn’t afford to die. Until the powerhouses from Zi Yang arrived, Zi Yang Heavenly King’s demise couldn’t occur. It was crucial to maintain the illusion—or rather, the hope—of rescuing Zi Yang Heavenly King. Otherwise, the Purple Mansion would not mobilize its forces and engage in such a costly battle against numerous Dao forces.

Outside the dungeon, Gu Xian’er waited patiently. Upon returning to the ancient Xuanwu country, she chose not to accompany the other disciples back to the True Immortal Academy. Instead, she sought to provide Qing Xiaoyi and Qing Feng with an explanation, feeling unsettled until she could confirm Qing Xiaoyi’s whereabouts firsthand.

Though Gu Changge had assured her that Xiaoyi would be safe, Gu Xian’er remained deeply concerned. Until she laid eyes on Xiaoyi herself, she couldn’t find peace of mind.

Observing Gu Changge’s emergence from the dungeon, she felt a twinge of curiosity but refrained from questioning. Instead, she casually remarked, “I thought I heard Zi Yang Heavenly King’s screams just now…”

Gu Changge smiled calmly, responding, “It’s nothing. I simply inquired about Qing Xiaoyi’s whereabouts from him, but Zi Yang Heavenly King refused to cooperate, so I resorted to alternative methods.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Xian’er nodded, her gaze lingering on him as she inquired, “Do you have any leads then?”

Gu Changge replied calmly, “Even though Zi Yang Heavenly King wouldn’t confess, it’s not due to a lack of desire. Rest assured, I’ve uncovered Qing Xiaoyi’s location.”

“After Zi Yang Heavenly King abducted her, he didn’t immediately hand her over to the demonic arts inheritor. It seems he has other plans.”

Hearing this, Gu Xian’er nodded once more, feeling a wave of relief. She had already surmised Zi Yang Heavenly King’s intentions. Given Qing Xiaoyi’s exceedingly rare immortal body, he likely intended to strike a deal with the inheritor of demonic arts, leveraging Xiaoyi’s unique origins.

“Qing Xiaoyi will be safe,” Gu Changge reassured her.