I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 378

Chapter 378: It’s just a chess piece, Xiao Ruoyin, and Jiang Chen meet again

In the dark and damp dungeon, Bai Kun stood with a sorrowful expression on his face. His only movable hand was bound by a chain, and though he clenched it tightly, he still felt utterly powerless. He now understood that Gu Changge knew a great deal about his daughter; otherwise, why would he reveal so many facts?

As the enigmatic owner of Spring Breeze Pavilion, Bai Lian’er had kept a low profile for years, almost never appearing before outsiders. Yet, Gu Changge was certain that she was the master behind Spring Breeze Pavilion. This certainty meant that Gu Changge had already gathered extensive information.

Bai Kun was well aware of his daughter’s character. It was impossible for her to follow Gu Changge’s orders. If she knew he hadn’t been killed by Gu Changge, she would undoubtedly try to rescue him.

Gu Changge, on the other hand, only needed to use him as bait, casting a net for his daughter Bai Lian’er to fall into, bringing herself right to his doorstep. Bai Kun had no doubts about Gu Changge’s intentions.

“Gu Changge, what do you want to know?” Bai Kun soon gathered his emotions and asked, “If I know something, I will definitely tell you.”

“Very good, I like smart people. If you cooperate with me obediently, maybe one day I’ll be in a good mood and let you go, so you and your daughter can truly reunite. You wouldn’t even have to worry about being hunted down by the demon world,” Gu Changge replied. “For me, if I am in a good mood, it’s just a word.”

Seeing Bai Kun’s demeanor, Gu Changge knew his heart had been shaken, and he couldn’t help but smile. A person with a weakness wasn’t afraid of death, but once that weakness was grasped, they would naturally be easy to manipulate.

Hearing this, Bai Kun’s expression shifted slightly. Although he knew Gu Changge was probably just speaking casually, a glimmer of hope still arose in his heart. Ants clung to life, and so did people.

Moreover, as Gu Changge had said, he really only needed one sentence to make the demon world give up its pursuit of him. This way, Bai Kun wouldn’t need to run around and hide like a mouse living in the dark in the future.

“What do you want to ask?” Bai Kun inquired.

Gu Changge smiled and asked, “Why did you let your daughter and apprentice flee to the demon world? As far as I know, the demon world is not friendly to them now, and this is not a wise decision.”

Bai Kun’s complexion changed slightly; he hadn’t expected Gu Changge to ask about the demon world so directly. This question touched on his promise to the Xuan Yang Demon Emperor. Why was Gu Changge, an outsider, concerned about this?

However, Bai Kun didn’t dare hide anything from Gu Changge and said in a low voice, “I asked them to send something to the demon world. This is what I promised my old friend.”

Hearing this, Gu Changge’s heart moved slightly, and he instantly thought of the Demon Emperor Xuan Yang. The old friend Bai Kun mentioned was naturally the Demon Emperor Xuan Yang.

“What was it for?” he continued.

Bai Kun hesitated, noting that Gu Changge’s expression remained indifferent. He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “I don’t know what it is; it’s just a bag, and I don’t know what it contains.”

He wasn’t lying. The original package had been handed to him by the Xuan Yang Demon Emperor himself, with instructions to find a suitable time in the future to give it to his son, Jun Bufan. Bai Kun had never opened it. Now, having offended Gu Changge and being imprisoned, he could only entrust this task to his apprentice.

“Do you intend to hand that over to the son of the Xuan Yang Demon Emperor, Jun Bufan, who died 6,000 years ago?” Gu Changge asked with a light smile. He had no plans to continue listening. Brushing the dust from his robes, he got up to leave the dungeon. He had obtained the information he wanted.

From this, it was clear that the Xuan Yang Demon Emperor had indeed set up numerous contingencies for his descendants. Gu Changge had once thought that, given the luck of the demon world, the six great demon emperors born would only reach the quasi-emperor realm. But now, it seemed he had underestimated the strength of these great demon emperors.

If it were only the quasi-emperor realm, how could it have endured to this era? Therefore, the son of the demon emperor was actually a son of luck, combining both the rebirth stream and the inheritance stream.

“What…?” Bai Kun’s face changed drastically, and he blurted out, “How did you know about this?”

Except for those from the demon world, how could anyone else be concerned about Jun Bufan? Six thousand years ago, the Xuan Yang Demon Emperor set up many contingencies and then disappeared, leaving a Dharma body to inform Bai Kun of this matter. Thus, Bai Kun had long suspected that Jun Bufan’s death was merely a ruse.

But how did Gu Changge know about this, and why was he so certain? His heart was in turmoil, unable to calm down.

Gu Changge ignored Bai Kun’s trembling and left the dungeon, which soon returned to dead silence. Bai Kun was stunned, still not fully comprehending what had just happened. He felt as if he had been drawn into an invisible vortex of terror, making him deeply guilty and annoyed.

After leaving the dungeon, Gu Changge had no intention of informing Queen Xi Yao of the news.

Earlier, Gu Changge was only interested in Jun Bufan, the son of luck. But now, after listening to Bai Kun, he sensed that the demon world harbored a great secret. The chaos in the demon world 6,000 years ago did not seem to be an accident. This secret intrigued him.

“Empress Xi Yao… maybe she’s just a pawn being used…” he mused. “It seems that only by completely controlling her will there be a chance to make a move in this chess game.”

Looking at his cold tea, Gu Changge shook his head slightly. With Ji Qingxuan not around, he felt uncomfortable and realized he needed to find a satisfactory maid soon. He already had a plan in mind and intended to go to the demon world after resolving the matter of the tomb of the supreme gods.

He then summoned a group of followers, and his figure broke through the void as he left the True Immortal Academy. Many elders noticed this and were momentarily stunned, then they couldn’t help but smile.

“It seems Gu Changge still intends to participate in this trial…”

“I’m afraid it’s going to be lively.”

At the same time, in the tomb of the Supreme God, countless distances away, there was a scene of chaos.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Divine lights broke through the sky, crossing mountains and rivers in an instant to rush to this place. Various golden ancient chariots rumbled across the sky, resembling suns hanging in the air, looking extremely dazzling. In the distance, white jade chariots, cold as the moon and majestic and heavy like the Primordial Demon Mountain, added to the splendor.

Magnificent pavilions and palaces were suspended in the air, hidden in the clouds. These were all signs of the great Dao Lineages. Numerous geniuses and cultivators stood on these platforms, creating an extremely lively scene that could be called a sea of people.

The birth of the Supreme God’s tomb had shocked many Dao traditions and aristocratic families in the upper realm, prompting them to dispatch their clans’ powerhouses to this location, intending to claim a share of the treasures. From farther away, many more powerhouses could be seen arriving, accompanied by young followers. These powerhouses were radiant and ethereal, exuding divine power and immense strength.

The vast and majestic pressure they emitted shrouded the heavens and the earth, starkly contrasting with the younger generation’s power. Between the mountains and swamps, a gray miasma rose, adding to the eerie and foreboding atmosphere.

It was mixed with the roars of unknown beasts, shaking all directions and causing the land within a thousand miles to tremble. Cracks in some mountains glowed with a red hue, and terrifying beasts like fire unicorns rushed out, exuding sacred might. They spewed magma-like flames from their mouths, submerging the ground for miles.

The scene was both amazing and terrifying. Carelessness could easily result in death. Consequently, many geniuses and cultivators grouped together, with their respective Dao traditions employing various means to withstand the pressure of this place. They also had to remain vigilant against the beasts that occasionally emerged, to avoid losing their lives.

Earlier, a powerhouse in the Sacred Realm had rushed toward the depths. However, everyone witnessed a fire unicorn-like beast incinerate him to ashes in an instant, completely obliterating his body and spirit.

Although it was called a tomb, it resembled a ruin more closely. In the distance, the outlines of long-ruined cities could be seen, with remnants of array formations still shining brightly.

“I heard that the ancestor of the Supreme God Clan is in the tomb this time. His cultivation base has already surpassed the Supreme Realm and may have entered the emperor realm,” one young genius said.

“The divine position is the supreme treasure. If we acquire it, even Gu Changge can’t stop us,” another added.

Between the mountains, a group of young geniuses from an immortal sect gathered, led by the elders of the sect, making their way to the tomb.

At that moment, the speaker’s eyes burned with desire and determination. The head of the Supreme God Clan was akin to the cultivator’s Dao fruit, containing supreme good fortune that could even sanctify individuals on the spot, inheriting some of the original ancestor’s cultivation base. Even leaders of great sects would be tempted by such a treasure, unable to remain indifferent.

Thus, despite knowing that it belonged to the ancestor of the Supreme God Clan, countless cultivators still flocked to the tomb, driven by the allure of such a treasure. Even the Supreme God Clan couldn’t prevent others from competing for it, as the tomb wasn’t within their clan’s territory.

“It’s said that this place used to be the training ground of the Supreme God Race’s ancestor. I don’t know why it fell apart, but many opportunities remain. The Supreme Treasure… is also the Supreme Creation,” the elder leading the disciples said with yearning, gazing at the distant mountains, swamps, and lakes emitting rays of light.

Cultivators and geniuses filled the tomb of the Supreme God, their presence almost ubiquitous. “Junior Sister Ruoyin, be careful. The miasma here is very dangerous. If you’re affected by it, it may corrode your skin,” cautioned one disciple to another.

Amidst the ancient trees, quiet and solemn, vines hung like clouds, while a light gray mist enveloped the sky and the earth.

Several old men with immortal appearances, clear faces, and Taoist robes led a group of young cultivators as they hurried toward the tomb of the gods. The one speaking at this moment was a girl with a petite figure and attractive facial features. Beside her were many young women, all beautiful and captivating, followed by a group of male disciples.

“I understand, Senior Sister Song Qin. I’ll be careful,” nodded a slim, beautiful woman with slender legs when she heard the words. Her pure white dress fluttered gently in the wind, emitting an aloof fragrance as if she were unaffected by the world’s distractions. It was Xiao Ruoyin.

Whether in the previous world or this one, she remained extremely beautiful. Perhaps due to her cultivation, her skin now shimmered with a lustrous luster, snow-white and delicate like creamy jade. Even in the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace, many young disciples considered her a fairy, secretly admiring her.

Among the disciples who came to the Supreme God’s Tomb, she stood out as one of the most dazzling. Many elders took good care of her, not solely because of her cultivation, as Xiao Ruoyin was well aware. Many knew it was because of her connection to Gu Changge that she became a disciple in the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace.

As a newcomer, Xiao Ruoyin understood the significance of the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace in this world. She lacked power and background; without her connection to Gu Changge, she wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to approach the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace. How could she hold such value now?

“Song Qin is right. You must be careful here. With your current cultivation level, you shouldn’t have come,” one of the elders cautioned her. “But since you’re eager to gain knowledge, it’s not wrong to have a look. Just remember to heed our advice and not act recklessly. If something were to happen to you, I wouldn’t be able to explain it to Young Master Changge…”

Hearing this, another elder also turned to her and issued a careful warning. To be honest, they were at a loss as Xiao Ruoyin insisted on coming here. Her cultivation wasn’t high, and the dangers in this place were plentiful. It was easy for her to encounter peril. The consequences of something happening to her were unimaginable.

However, driven by curiosity, Xiao Ruoyin persisted in coming and promised to obey their orders and not wander off indiscriminately. The elders found it difficult to refuse. After all, Xiao Ruoyin was exceptionally beautiful, and given her arrival at their behest by Gu Changge, it was natural for people to suspect a close relationship between her and Gu Changge.

Given her relationship with Gu Changge, all the elders of the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace attached great importance to Xiao Ruoyin. They couldn’t afford to let her have any accidents and even dispatched additional elders to accompany her.

“Well, Elder, don’t worry. Ruoyin will definitely listen to your words and won’t wander off,” Xiao Ruoyin assured, nodding in agreement. She wasn’t naive; she understood that she received such enviable treatment solely because of her connection to Gu Changge. Consequently, she worked diligently in her cultivation, striving not to embarrass Gu Changge.

This time, she rushed to the tomb of the Supreme God out of sheer curiosity and a desire to broaden her knowledge. “Elders, don’t worry. With Junior Sister Ruoyin by my side, she’s safe, and I’m here to protect her,” declared a petite woman standing beside Xiao Ruoyin.

At that moment, Song Qin couldn’t help but smile, revealing delicate white teeth. Despite being a somewhat obscure figure in the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace, she possessed a strong cultivation base. Xiao Ruoyin knew that Song Qin’s kindness toward her stemmed from a desire to impress Gu Changge.

Today, Xiao Ruoyin finally grasped the significance of the three words “Gu Changge” in the vast upper realm. She felt fortunate to have encountered such a noble individual.

Suddenly, Xiao Ruoyin’s expression froze, a hint of surprise crossing her features as she noticed two figures in the nearby mountains. One was a cultivator in tattered monk’s robes, holding a bowl that seemed out of place.

Standing beside the monk was a young man, whose figure struck Xiao Ruoyin as familiar, resembling an old friend of hers. However, his face looked different, with a touch of weariness and unfamiliarity.

“What’s the matter, Junior Sister Ruoyin? What are you looking at?” Song Qin asked, noticing Xiao Ruoyin’s abnormality and following her gaze. She spotted the monk and the young man and frowned in confusion.

“Jiang Chen… how can he resemble him so much? I wonder how Niu Tian, Jiang Chen, and the others are faring now…” Xiao Ruoyin shook her head slightly. The young man was dressed in shabby clothes, his expression downtrodden, as if he had just emerged from the ground.

Although the figure resembled Jiang Chen’s, it wasn’t him. Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, and the others lacked cultivation talent, so it was impossible for them to appear here. They were likely living ordinary lives in a mortal kingdom.

With that thought in mind, Xiao Ruoyin withdrew her gaze and continued deeper into the tomb with the group from the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace. She quickly dismissed the matter and didn’t dwell on it.

“Donor Jiang, what are you looking at? Why the expression…” the monk, Pu Du, inquired with interest, noticing Jiang Chen’s gaze lingering on Xiao Ruoyin and the others.

“Although the lady is beautiful, she clearly belongs to a different world than yours. I advise you to focus less on distractions,” Pu Du advised.

Jiang Chen slowly loosened his clenched fist, but his heart felt heavy, uncomfortable. “Why does Master Pu Du meddle in others’ affairs?” he retorted softly.

Pu Du, as the monk was called, had become more familiar to Jiang Chen over the past few days. Jiang Chen hadn’t expected to encounter Xiao Ruoyin again, especially not like this. She seemed even more beautiful than before.

Xiao Ruoyin’s powerful cultivation base, even slightly stronger than Jiang Chen’s, brought him a sense of relief. It appeared that she was safe for the time being, unharmed by Gu Changge’s schemes.

Jiang Chen had momentarily considered approaching her to reveal Gu Changge’s true nature, but rationality prevailed, and he silently watched her depart.

“If I were to meet her now, it would not only endanger myself but also her. The elders accompanying her would undoubtedly eliminate me swiftly,” Jiang Chen reasoned inwardly, his emotions settling.

Monk Pu Du noticed Jiang Chen’s demeanor shift and offered an intriguing smile. “Donor Jiang and the lady from before seem acquainted. You must be aware that they belong to the Heavenly Dao Immortal Palace.”

“Donor Jiang, I suspect the lady you know has an extraordinary background,” Pu Du remarked with amusement.

Jiang Chen glanced at him, shaking his head. “Why complicate matters? Our priority should be assisting Jiang Luoshen in finding her ancestor’s true tomb. Otherwise, we’ll both be in jeopardy,” he stated firmly.