I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 352
Chapter 352: The seeds of ambition left for Ji Qingxuan, the end of the ancient vermillion bird kingdom
After confirming the whereabouts of Jiang Chen and Niu Tian, Gu Changge set their affairs aside for the time being. He didn’t worry too much, as this was only a minor incident in his eyes.
The two of them were still mortals, and even if their luck was extraordinary, it would take a long time for them to grow to a point where they could catch his attention. For now, he decided to let them develop, hoping they might surprise him the next time they met.
Gu Changge then turned his focus to another matter. He planned to combine the Zi Yang Heavenly King’s Immortal Dao Heavenly Eye and the Hongmeng Purple Aura. He attempted to refine it himself during this period, but something was always missing.
Adding the Hongmeng Dao Bone into the mix would not necessarily make a significant difference. Therefore, Gu Changge dispatched his subordinates to deliver these materials to the Divine Weapon Kingdom, intending to find someone to refine them for him. Although the Ancient Immortal Gu family had a profound background, they were not particularly skilled in refining.
The Divine Weapon Kingdom was a special place in the upper realm. Naturally nurtured, its terrain was unique, and since ancient times, over 3,000 kinds of innate formations had been outlined between heaven and earth. This made it especially suitable for cultivators refining weapons. Many famous divine weapons in the Upper Realm originated from the Divine Weapon Kingdom.
Even when some enlightened individuals planned to refine a weapon, they would delve deep into the realm of the Divine Weapon Kingdom and enter the world of millions of fires. There, one could find divine fire, holy fire, emperor flame, and almost every type imaginable. There was even a trace of immortal flame that had once appeared.
As for Gu Changge, even without spending much money, many old antiques were willing to refine the materials for him in hopes of gaining his favor. Therefore, he wasn’t very worried.
The Divine Weapon Kingdom was vast and boundless, with numerous sects, most of which specialized in refining forms. Gu Changge sent the materials—Immortal Heavenly Eyes, Hongmeng Purple Aura, and Hongmeng Dao Bone—there.
Next, even if the Purple Mansion managed to rescue Zi Yang Heavenly King, they would find he was no different from a disabled person. After all that, he would be nothing more than an empty shell.
“If I refine this secret treasure, I may be able to see many future fragments this time, and I wouldn’t have to rely on information from Mingkong then,” Gu Changge thought. “Although she’s somewhat easily deceived, after a long time, she might really notice something…”
Gu Changge had long-term plans.
Although Yue Mingkong was a regressor, many events in her timeline deviated from the current trajectory. The demise of the ancestors, the emergence of the absolute heavenly extinction, the birth of the demon world, the establishment of the True Immortal Academy, and the riot in the Demon Burial Abyss—this series of events had been very different from what Yue Mingkong had experienced.
At this point, even if Gu Changge asked her about other things, she probably wouldn’t be able to provide anything useful, so she would have to think carefully about it. After all, the greater the variable, the less advantage Yue Mingkong had as a regressor.
Moreover, in Gu Changge’s view, her identity as a regressor was more like a sudden fusion to obtain a memory of the future. That memory of the future belonged to the normal world trajectory. In this way, it was understandable why there were so many variables.
Afterward, Gu Changge summoned a group of his subordinates and gave them some orders. He then planned to wait for the Purple Mansion to send cultivators to rescue Zi Yang, Heavenly King, so he was not in a hurry. Now, the life and death of Zi Yang Heavenly King were completely under his control, and even if an emperor realm powerhouse appeared, Gu Changge wouldn’t need to worry.
If the Purple Mansion was smarter, it would understand that an open attack would not have any effect. It would be better to learn from Chu Hao and sneak around to find out where Zi Yang Heavenly King was imprisoned. That way, they would have a better chance of saving him.
Chu Hao’s actions these days made Gu Changge feel that he was almost on the verge of despair. Observing the child of luck, who was against him, gradually descend into despair a step by step was quite interesting. Moreover, Gu Changge had already guessed what Chu Hao was planning next, which provided an opportunity to attack Chu Hao’s luck point.
“Qingge, have you heard about your sister recently?” Gu Changge asked suddenly, glancing at Ji Qingxuan, who was making tea for him, with a strange look in his eyes.
This concerned the hidden world of the Ji family, and it was possible to plant a seed of ambition in Ji Qingxuan’s heart.
“Huh? No. Why did you suddenly ask about this matter?” Ji Qingxuan was momentarily stunned upon hearing his words, and her heart tightened. Then, she asked with a puzzled expression.
She felt that with Gu Changge’s cleverness, he might have known long ago that she was not her sister, Su Qingge, but he never revealed it. Up until now, Ji Qingxuan has only been able to continue pretending.
But now, Gu Changge’s sudden question puzzled her. Could it be that the young master was going to expose everything? Thinking of this, Ji Qingxuan became nervous for no reason, and she couldn’t help but stop making tea.
Even if Gu Changge didn’t pursue the matter of her and her sister Su Qingge deceiving him together, confessing such a thing would mean she could only return to the Supreme Dao Cave and continue being a puppet of the Ji family. Eventually, she would be used as a marriage tool, married off to another family, leading a miserable life. How could that compare to the freedom and status she had now?
Though she was only Gu Changge’s maid, no one dared to disrespect her. Many people even gave her gifts secretly, hoping she would speak favorably of them to Gu Changge. She always informed Gu Changge about these occurrences, and he merely smiled, showing no concern.
Ji Qingxuan truly enjoyed and was very satisfied with her current life. She couldn’t imagine the constraints and pressures she would face from her family if she left Gu Changge. In her first 20 years, she had been cautious, walking on thin ice, striving to be valued by her family by cultivating hard and surpassing the geniuses within it. But in the end, she still could not escape the fate of being a tool for marriage.
Even though Wang Xiao was dead, there would always be another Wang Xiao. This was her fate.
“It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered the life story you told me, and I was a little curious. After so long, haven’t you thought about going back to the family to take a look?” Gu Changge asked, a faint smile playing on the corner of his mouth as he reached out and took Ji Qingxuan into his arms.
Hearing this, Ji Qingxuan breathed a sigh of relief. Deer-like jubilation and happiness suddenly appeared on her flawless, unparalleled, crystal-clear, and snow-white face.
“Thank you so much for your concern. I didn’t expect you to remember these things,” she said, a little moved.
Gu Changge smiled. “Could it be that in your eyes, your Young Master is someone who easily forgets things?”
Ji Qingxuan hurriedly shook her head. “No, no, in my eyes, Young Master is the best person in the world.”
“Oh, really?” Gu Changge smiled, lowering his head and bringing his nose close to her snow-white, delicate neck. He inhaled the fragrant scent like an orchid in an empty valley. “Don’t you miss your mother?”
Hearing this, Ji Qingxuan’s beautiful eyes revealed a sense of reminiscence, and her voice grew a little somber.
“It has been almost twenty years since my mother was forcibly taken away by someone from the upper realm,” Ji Qingxuan began. “It’s impossible to say that I don’t want to see her. But Qingge also knows that I’m just an illegitimate daughter from the lower world, not welcomed by the family, and I can’t see my mother. The Ji family values blood and reputation. My mother ran away from her marriage, which caused the Ji family to lose face in front of many forces. If it wasn’t for my uncle’s intercession at the time, my mother would have been beaten to death when she was brought back.”
“How could they let me, a source of shame, step into the Ji family to meet my mother?”
“This is what your sister told you?” Gu Changge asked casually.
“Yes, when I went to see her, she told me. My sister has had a hard time all these years. If she could have been like me and met the Young Master earlier…” Ji Qingxuan’s voice trailed off as she seemed touched by something on her mind, her eyes turning slightly gloomy.
“Meet me sooner?” Gu Changge smiled, noticing her words’ flaws but choosing not to address them directly.
“Yeah,” Ji Qingxuan replied sadly, not realizing her slip-up.
“Then have you ever thought about overthrowing the hidden Ji family one day in the future, or… completely controlling the Ji family?” Gu Changge asked with a casual smile.
“What?” Ji Qingxuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. She wondered if she had heard him correctly. Overthrowing the hidden Ji family? Complete control of the Ji family? She knew that with Gu Changge’s character if he said such a thing, he must have a way to achieve it.
Her heart began to race uncontrollably, and she forced herself to remain calm. “Young Master, do you mean…” she asked, her voice trembling.
“That’s exactly what I mean,” Gu Changge said with a smile. “After all, you look just like your sister. If you follow my instructions, no one will be able to tell the difference.”
“Control the Ji family,” Ji Qingxuan repeated, feeling her ambitions growing wildly. She wanted to agree immediately but was also worried that this might be a test from Gu Changge. Thus, she fell silent.
Seeing this, Gu Changge wasn’t in a hurry. He knew that Ji Qingxuan would eventually agree to everything he proposed.
Her talent was acceptable, but she was not welcomed in the family. No matter how hard she worked, she could not gain the slightest attention from them. She harbored only hatred for the Ji family without a hint of gratitude. As for her identity, it was quite suitable; he just had to pass the immortal binding technique to her, and she would know what to do.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye, and the vast immortal armies approached the ancient Vermillion Bird Country. Black clouds rolled, and ancient warships floated in the air, resembling suspended continents.
Following Gu Changge’s instructions, Hei Yanyu dispatched an army of one million troops to firmly guard a distance of one million miles from the ancient Vermillion Bird Country. The terrifying, murderous aura swept in all directions, covering millions of miles.
At this time, even loose cultivators dared not approach recklessly. Their souls trembled, sensing that a storm would descend upon them.
Boom!
The sky trembled as thousands of feet of golden light appeared in the void, filling the doorway.
At the same time, the Purple Mansion’s army appeared in the distant sky. Their numbers were terrifying, and a surging murderous aura emanated from them as if they were poised to attack at any moment.
The ancient Vermillion Bird Kingdom, already on the verge of disintegration, now resembled a small boat in a stormy sea, ready to be shattered at any moment.
All the cultivators watched in horror, their scalps tingling as they sensed a terrifying battle would erupt above the Ancient Vermillion Bird Country. The two armies confronted each other, their momentum overwhelming, and the boundless murderous aura swept through the sky, making it seem like it might collapse at any moment.
…
On the other side, just as the ancient Vermillion Bird Country teetered on the brink of collapse, deep within the majestic and endless mountains, two figures made their way toward a distant land, leaving the territory of the ancient Vermillion Bird Kingdom behind.
Despite the distance, the terrifying formation in the distant sky still emitted vast fluctuations, causing people to palpitate, tremble, and feel the urge to kneel on the ground.
Jiang Chen’s expression turned pale as he gazed upon the ancient warship they had departed from. On it remained Gu Changge, whom he hated the most. While on the ancient warship, it was difficult for Jiang Chen to fully grasp the terrifying power of Gu Changge. But now, as he observed everything clearly, bursts of heart palpitations washed over him.
Millions of troops, riding on flying clouds and driving fog, rumbled alongside ancient warships, their ancient and majestic forms exuding endless divine light that obscured the sky and cast shadows that seemed to stretch forever.
This scene, straight out of mythology, unfolded right before Jiang Chen’s eyes. And he realized that the one million-strong army was not comprised of mere mortals.
It was the powerful creatures that had chased and attacked a million years ago. Every breath they took could make mountains collapse, and rivers run dry. The terrifying army of millions under Gu Changge’s control was a sight.
“Senior Black Robe, is such a battle rare in this world?” Jiang Chen quickly regained his composure and asked the older man in the black robe beside him.
At this moment, he didn’t believe that Gu Changge would continue to send people to hunt him down, and he was also relieved that the older man in the black robe was by his side. Jiang Chen had learned the older man’s name from their conversations. He knew that the black-robed older man had no affiliation with any place or sect. During this time, he had been searching for a suitable successor.
Given the uniqueness of the Demonic Art of Ten Thousand Transformations, it was imperative to find someone with low status yet high talent for cultivation, preferably someone not associated with any family or sect. In this regard, Jiang Chen, ironically, emerged as the most suitable candidate.
When he noticed Jiang Chen, the black-robed older man, searching for a suitable descendant in a nearby sect,
“Such a battle?” Jiang Chen inquired.
A sneer appeared on the gloomy face of the black-robed older man. “Do you think immortal wars are so easy to come by? They might not happen once in thousands of years. If it weren’t for the anger of Purple Mansion this time, it wouldn’t have ended like this.”
“I see,” Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s too terrifying, like the end of the world.”
The black-robed older man then led him to search the nearby mountain range. Despite finding the aura of a few companions, they did not locate Niu Tian’s aura, which worried Jiang Chen. It seemed likely that Niu Tian and the others had fallen victim to the creatures sent by Gu Changge, with none of them surviving.
“I hope Niu Tian is safe,” Jiang Chen muttered. “If something has happened to him, I will never let that surnamed Gu off the hook.”
With cold determination in his eyes, Jiang Chen and the black-robed older man left the area. The two armies in the sky would soon engage in battle, and the surrounding area would likely be destroyed. Nearby sects had already evacuated long ago.
In the past few days, through conversations with the Immortal Boat Spirit, Jiang Chen sensed that the black-robed older man might not be righteous. However, after experiencing Gu Changge’s attempt to kill them, Jiang Chen learned the truth about trusting appearances. Though he believed in the black-robed older man, he knew he had no right to demand the truth.
“Next, let’s find a force to infiltrate first. With your current cultivation base, seeking revenge is simply impossible,” the black-robed old man stated as he led Jiang Chen through the void.
“It’s not that I want to discourage you,” the black-robed old man continued. “The Gu you mentioned is likely the young master of the Ancient Immortal Gu family. It’s quite surprising that such a vicious person hides behind a dazzling facade admired by millions.”
“Black-robed senior, with my current abilities, how long do you think it would take me to seek revenge?” Jiang Chen asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.
From the black-robed older man’s previous remarks, Jiang Chen had already grasped the formidable power of the Demonic Art of Ten Thousand Transformations. But he wondered, with more time, could he still hope for revenge?
“With your current abilities?” the black-robed old man sneered in response. “I advise you not to entertain such thoughts. Even if you were given another 10,000 years, it would be futile. You and he are not even in the same league.”
“Such a big gap between us?” Jiang Chen’s frown deepened. “But didn’t you say that the Demonic Art of Ten Thousand Transformations is incredibly powerful?”
Seeing Jiang Chen’s skepticism, the black-robed older man openly mocked him. “Do you comprehend the might of the ancient immortal families? They wield the most formidable strength in the upper realm. With the young master of the Gu family’s prowess, he’ll likely ascend to lead the Ancient Immortal Gu family in a few more years. By then, no one in the upper realm will dare defy him. Do you understand?”
“This is the enemy you will face,” the black-robed old man concluded.
Upon hearing this, the Immortal Boat Spirit within Jiang Chen’s mind fell silent, acknowledging the truth in the older man’s words. With Jiang Chen’s current capabilities, seeking revenge seemed utterly impossible.
“No one in the upper world dared to go against his words,” the black-robed old man’s words echoed in Jiang Chen’s mind, filling him with a profound sense of despair and powerlessness. Why had he offended such a powerful figure when he first arrived?
“However, senior, have you ever heard the saying, ‘Don’t bully the poor’?” Jiang Chen countered, his voice tinged with persistence. Despite the daunting odds, he remained steadfast.
Jiang Chen understood the black-robed older man’s character. Though his words were harsh, they served to illustrate the vast gulf between Jiang Chen and Gu Changge. It was for his own benefit, ugly as it may seem.
Yet Jiang Chen firmly believed in the adage that where there’s a will, there’s a way. He refused to succumb to despair. With the Immortal Boat of Good Fortune in his possession, how could he settle for defeat?
“Haha, then I hope you can give this old man a surprise,” the black-robed old man’s smile retained its mocking tone.
“Jiang Chen, don’t be discouraged by this old guy’s words,” the spirit of the Immortal Boat of Good Fortune interjected. “As long as the two of us re-cast the Immortal Boat and harness its power, that surnamed Gu won’t stand a chance against you!”
“I’m not discouraged,” Jiang Chen asserted firmly. Despite the daunting challenge ahead, his expression remained remarkably calm, his eyes brimming with unwavering confidence, displaying the vigor of youth.
The Immortal Boat was his greatest secret, a source of unparalleled strength and assurance.
Soon, he followed the black-robed older man away from the area, the ancient Vermillion Bird Country fading into the distance behind them.
“Wait for me, Ruoyin,” Jiang Chen vowed silently. “I will definitely come to save you!”
….
“It’s over,” the Vermillion Bird King lamented, slumping on the ground in the palace, his voice quivering with fear. “The army of Purple Mansion has descended from the sky, and they’re preparing to battle Gu Changge here. Hao’er, what do you suggest? Must we watch the ancient kingdom of Vermillion Bird be destroyed?”
Chu Hao’s expression mirrored his father’s distress as he replied, “I understand, Royal Father! I’ll seek out Wan’er immediately and implore her to help me intercede with Gu Changge. It seems to be our only hope.”
Despite Tang Wan’s anger towards him and her refusal to see him, Chu Hao recognized that this was the only course of action. If he didn’t act swiftly, the clash between the Purple Mansion army and Gu Changge would destroy the entire Vermillion Bird ancient country.
In his relentless search for the whereabouts of Zi Yang Heavenly King, Chu Hao scoured every corner of the dungeons but to no avail. Gu Changge had concealed his location too deeply, frustrating Chu Hao’s efforts.
Chu Hao entertained suspicions that Zi Yang Heavenly King might be aboard an ancient warship soaring high in the sky, completely thwarting his previous strategy of preemptive strike.
“I have failed you,” the Vermillion Bird King’s complexion drained of color as despair washed over him. He couldn’t bear the thought of witnessing the destruction of the ancient Vermillion Bird kingdom at his own hands. His greatest regret was allowing Chu Hao to remain in the kingdom, which had inadvertently led to their current predicament.
“You don’t need to do this, Father. I will find Wan’er,” Chu Hao reassured, determination flashing in his eyes.
“Uncle, please protect my father,” Chu Hao requested before promptly setting off towards Tang Wan’s residence.
Bai Yang’s gaze was filled with complexity as he nodded solemnly. With limited options available, his only action was to escort Chu Hao and the Vermillion Bird King away from the impending chaos.
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AstaHunt
After reading a bit of MTL, I just wanna say Jiang Chuchu is the most retarded person in the story of WN.