I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 433

Chapter 433: This long-lost and familiar atmosphere, the red-clothed witch Chan Hong Yi

The demonic energy surged within the Demon Burying Abyss, growing stronger as they descended deeper. Countless skeletons adorned the walls, remnants of creatures from various races. The atmosphere was thick with fear, penetrating deep into their souls, chilling their very bones.

This was no place for the ordinary; the Demon Burying Abyss had remained untouched for years, its depths cloaked in perpetual darkness. Despite the lack of light, Gu Changge’s keen eyes easily discerned their surroundings: steep walls adorned with strange, creeping plants and the occasional youthful soul-destroying lotus blooming in the void.

Having descended from the mouth of the Abyss, they now approached its murky bottom. The monsters here wielded terrifying strength, challenging even the cultivators accompanying Jinchan. Many struggled against the onslaught, sustaining severe injuries.

Yet, Buddha Mountain’s Dharma wielded its subtle power adeptly, swiftly dispelling the demonic energies with minimal effort, sparing them further turmoil.

“The true peril lies in the depths of the abyss,” Gu Changge remarked calmly. “Otherwise, Young Master Changge, you could wait here while I proceed alone.”

Just then, a tremendous and ominous disturbance surged ahead, resembling a celestial cataclysm descending from great heights, threatening to obliterate everything within its radius. Jin Buddha’s expression turned serious as he glanced back at Gu Changge.

Despite Gu Changge’s earlier assurances, Jin Buddha harbored lingering suspicion and maintained a vigilant stance towards him. Trust didn’t come easily to someone like Jin Buddha, especially not towards Gu Changge. The safest course, in his mind, was to venture forth alone, guarding against any possible covetous intent Gu Changge might harbor towards the sacred meditation robe.

“Is that so? Considering the danger, I can’t leave,” Gu Changge replied with a smile. “If something were to happen to you, Jinchan Buddha, wouldn’t Buddha Mountain hold me accountable?”

Gu Changge’s demeanor remained composed, fully aware of Jin Buddha’s tactics.

“In that case, I’ll thank Young Master Changge in advance,” Jin Buddha replied evenly, though a tinge of disappointment lingered in his heart. His outward expression remained unchanged; he had anticipated Gu Changge’s decision. At this juncture, how could Gu Changge possibly leave?

Leading the group onward, Jin Buddha guided them through an area where the demonic energy surged more intensely, eventually reaching the bottom of the Demon Burying Abyss. Unlike the chaotic energies elsewhere, this place exuded an eerie tranquility. No monsters were in sight; it was eerily silent, devoid of any signs of life. It felt as though they had crossed an invisible threshold into the deepest recesses of hell.

“There’s something unsettling about this place…” remarked a cultivator from the Hanging Buddhist Temple, his brow furrowed as he surveyed the desolate bottom of the abyss.

Despite the apparent stillness, evidence of past struggles littered the area. It was clear that others had ventured here before, only to meet their demise. The dense demonic fog shrouded everything, capable of clouding one’s senses and plunging them into darkness.

“It’s where the meditation robe is,” Jin Buddha remarked, sensing a faint glow from the Buddha bones in his arms—a relic left by the robe’s previous owner upon his passing. Despite this, Jin Buddha maintained a composed demeanor.

“This place seems quite unique. Why don’t we split up to investigate and see if we can uncover any clues?” he suggested. “I’m curious to hear Brother Gu’s thoughts.”

Gu Changge felt a profound connection to the natural energies emanating from the depths of the Demon Burying Abyss. He smiled casually in response, “Since Jin Buddha suggests it, it’s only natural to explore separately. However, if anyone encounters danger, it may be difficult to provide immediate assistance.”

“That’s unavoidable. Everyone, exercise caution and ensure your safety. I suspect that the seal of the Demon Burying Abyss may be compromised, possibly linked to this place. If we don’t find any leads soon, let’s reconvene here,” Jin Buddha added with a hint of disappointment.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll investigate this way first,” Gu Changge replied with a smile. He nodded and proceeded towards an area where the demonic energy swirled more intensely.

Observing Gu Changge’s departure, Jin Buddha gave him a deep, contemplative look. Once Gu Changge disappeared from sight, Jin Buddha turned in the direction indicated by the resonance of the Buddha’s bones.

Concerned that Gu Changge might double back and spy on him, Jin Buddha remained cautious, patiently waiting for any sign of deception. “Looks like he really went the other way,” Jin Buddha muttered to himself with relief after a considerable wait. Satisfied that Gu Changge hadn’t followed, he cautiously made his way towards the location sensed by the Buddha’s bones, maintaining his heightened vigilance.

“Are you still waiting for me to fall into your trap?” Gu Changge’s voice suddenly echoed across the quiet abyss, mocking and faintly amused. Having parted ways with Jin Buddha and the others, Gu Changge now stood atop a low mountain, his expression filled with subtle disdain.

He had anticipated every move Jin Buddha could conceive of.

Just as Jin Buddha had no intention of being followed, Gu Changge also preferred not to be shadowed, especially since there was a trace of his true blood still here. Earlier, he had retrieved the blood and had no urgency to acquire the meditation robe that Jin Buddha sought.

Even if Jin Buddha found it later, Gu Changge was confident he could retrieve it through his own means. The energy contained within the drop of his true blood in the Demon Burying Abyss was immeasurable and beyond speculation. Despite his current strength, integrating it was a daunting task—even with the aid of the profound Dao treasure bottle, it would be challenging. However, simply removing it made everything simpler; integration would be a matter of time.

Gu Changge continued through the area, advancing towards the darker regions ahead. There, terrifying fluctuations emanated—the power of a supreme being. As long as his blood still surged, its unparalleled might caused even the most formidable monsters in the shadows to tremble, unwilling to draw near. Even at a distance, their bodies quaked as if on the verge of explosion.

During this process, numerous great demons, even those on the verge of the Quasi-Supreme Realm, trembled and dared not approach, remaining prostrate in their places. Gu Changge, now only half a step away from the Quasi-Emperor Realm, towered over these quasi-supremes like an insurmountable giant. To them, he exuded a presence akin to a true dragon, capable of shattering them with a mere flicker of his aura.

The terrain ahead had turned a dark purple hue, resembling myriad bloodstains infused with demonic energy, enveloped in an eerie silence. It bore scars from past cataclysms, where stars had once fallen, leaving behind terrifying craters.

Delving deeper into this unsettling place, Gu Changge sought traces of Chan Hongyi but sensed she must be in Jin Buddha’s direction, whereas he stood where his drop of true blood had fallen. Pressing forward, he entered what seemed like unclaimed territory. Ancient inscriptions adorned the surroundings, some intact, others fragmented and scattered.

Glancing over them indifferently, Gu Changge quickly lost interest. The depths of the Demon Burying Abyss revealed no caverns; instead, the territory stretched endlessly before him.

The residual power of Gu Changge’s true blood had warped the natural laws here, creating an environment that defied Dao principles. Above him, countless stars swirled chaotically, their celestial secrets unfolding in a terrifying spectacle—an independent world fused within this place.

Finally reaching the depths, Gu Changge confronted a sea of crimson fire or blood, boundless and teeming with divine energy. The air shimmered with a blood-colored brilliance, thick with potent laws intertwined and condensed within. From a higher vantage, bubbles emerged and ascended into the sky, each seemingly containing an ancient world within.

Even Gu Changge felt his body on the verge of bursting under the sea’s overwhelming atmosphere, a testament to its terrifying might. Even the countenance of an enlightened individual would change, wary of approaching and trembling before such power. Yet, as Gu Changge’s own aura emanated forth, the sensation of being torn apart dissipated—they shared a common origin.

At that moment, several indistinct figures emerged nearby, exuding equally formidable auras. Their visages, however, were far from human—they appeared grotesque, as if various creatures had been spliced together, sporting human heads on animal bodies and vice versa. They regarded Gu Changge with a mixture of surprise, awe, and submission, feelings stemming from the depths of their being. Bred in the sea of blood, these creatures were formidable giants that ruled over their domain within the depths of the Demon Burying Abyss, seldom encountering challengers. To them, other monsters were mere prey.

“Familiar and long-lost aura…” Gu Changge noted their presence but remained undistracted. He closed his eyes briefly, standing at the edge of the blood sea, his voice tinged with admiration.

The sea of blood roiled before him, emitting a monstrous crimson light as if celebrating and welcoming their true masters.

“Hoo……” Gu Changge suddenly opened his mouth, unleashing a deafening roar towards the boundless sea of blood. The terrifying momentum swept across the world, shaking heavens and universe alike, with even the fabric of space threatening to collapse.

All creatures near the sea of blood trembled uncontrollably, dropping to their knees in reverence, too terrified to move.

Buzz!!

Between his brows, the Heavenly Spirit shone brilliantly, dazzling and clear as crystal. The terrifying power of energy and blood pierced the sky, intertwined with five-colored rays of light and chaotic energy.

This was the first time Gu Changge had displayed such power openly, capable of cracking the heavens themselves. Even the stars seemed fragile like dust before him, liable to crumble to ashes with a single breath. It was unparalleled might.

In the next moment, a calamity unfolded. Gu Changge’s roar stirred the sea of blood before him into a frenzy, surging towards him uncontrollably. He absorbed the boundless energy of blood, crimson brilliance akin to a galaxy pouring into his mouth. It appeared as if a bottomless black hole had manifested, or perhaps a dying sun, drawing in all light from the world.

The once vast sea of blood now churned violently, creating a tempestuous scene. Gu Changge’s form expanded into a colossal Dharma body, towering tens of thousands of feet tall against the sky. The sea of blood resembled billowing smoke as he opened his mouth and devoured it all.

Nearby creatures watched in horror and disbelief, frozen in place by the overwhelming spectacle, gripped by sheer terror.

They never imagined that the day would come when a human would devour the origin of the sea of blood that nurtured them, the very source of all demonic energy. The young man’s aura instilled more fear in them than even the origin of the sea of blood itself.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared not far from Gu Changge. Its body was stained with blood, the remnants of which adorned a tattered black battle suit shimmering with dark light. Visible cracks marred its surface, revealing blue skin underneath. In its hand, it gripped a battered spear and a cracked black-gold shield, exuding a terrifying aura reaching the first layer of the quasi-emperor realm.

Other nearby creatures quivered in fear at its approach, recognizing it as the undisputed overlord of this domain, surpassing all others in strength.

Approaching Gu Changge, the figure set down its spear and shield. Radiant light gleamed from its eye sockets as it bowed its head reverently, a gesture of submission and willingness to follow.

Gu Changge, with eyes closed in concentration, continued to absorb the sea of blood around him, unfazed by its surrender. Observing this, the other creatures silently withdrew from the area, unwilling to provoke the formidable being before them, whose scars and tattered battle attire attested to its prowess. Normally, encountering such a creature meant becoming its prey—a testament to its terrifying strength.

As Gu Changge consumed the sea of blood, reclaiming his former true blood, the entire Demon Burying Abyss underwent seismic changes. A monstrous hostility emanated from a distant part of the abyss, sweeping out with indescribable ferocity and an unmatched demonic aura. It surged outwards, shrouding the starry skies for millions of miles, plunging everything into darkness as if light itself had been extinguished. The very essence of heaven and earth seemed to retreat, with countless celestial bodies trembling as if on the brink of collapse.

This unprecedented scene sent shockwaves through numerous sects and factions in the upper realms. Even ancient beings skilled in divination wore expressions of concern, their attention drawn towards the Demon Burying Abyss.

“Bleeding and bloody, this is the hatred and killing that will last forever… The sky in the upper world is about to change…”

In both the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and the Secret Sky Family, renowned for their divinatory prowess, the elder generations wore expressions of extreme solemnity and dignity. Tortoiseshell divination tools cracked in their hands, a testament to the unprecedented magnitude of the situation. One individual even emitted a stifled grunt, spitting blood as they were thrown backward, their face filled with horror from the intense backlash.

“The catastrophe… This time, the Demon Burying Abyss may witness the birth of an unimaginable, peerless monster. This is truly beyond comprehension… Has the seal, worn down over countless years, finally reached its breaking point?”

“But we still had half a year, didn’t we? How could this happen…”

Numerous factions furrowed their brows, their energies stretched thin due to conflicts in the Eight Desolation and Ten Territories. Yet, amidst their calculations and plans, an unforeseen event unfolded within the Demon Burying Abyss. If they still had half a year, they could strategize and prepare, but the current developments hinted at unforeseen and alarming changes.

“No, I must send a powerhouse to investigate and address the situation in the Demon Burying Abyss.”

In response to the escalating crisis, factions swiftly devised countermeasures and dispatched their strongest members to probe the depths of the abyss. Meanwhile, unrest spread through the upper realms following the catastrophe of Absolute Heavenly Extinction, now compounded by the turmoil in the Demon Burying Abyss, leaving people uneasy and fearful.

“What is happening…”

“Could it be that the location of the meditation robe has weakened the seal’s power…”

Simultaneously, Jin Chan, deep within the abyss, felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. The recent surge of malevolent energy had nearly overwhelmed him, sending shivers through his soul as if freezing him from within. The pervasive aura of hatred seemed fused with the very environment, hinting at the monstrous entity sealed in its depths.

Despite his apprehension, Jin Chan, resilient and composed, quickly regained his composure. His gaze fixed on a nearby mountain peak, not towering but adorned with shimmering scriptures. Ancient runes intertwined and glowed, their presence marked across its surface. Faint divine light enveloped the peak, with ethereal figures of Buddhas and ancient monks appearing, seated in meditation and chanting sutras.

On top of the mountain, a moon-white meditation robe floated, radiating a holy Buddha’s light that shimmered protectively over its surroundings. When demonic energy approached, it sizzled like it had been touched by searing sunlight, emitting a burning sound and dissolving into blue smoke, on the brink of dispersing.

“Buddha, this is the seal barrier line. We must not approach any further…”

The monks surrounding Jin Chan spoke with utmost solemnity, their faces etched with reverence as they observed beyond the mountain peak. There, darkness prevailed, an abyssal void devoid of light yet pulsating with a palpable aura that sent shivers down their spines. It was akin to facing a real dragon as an ant, an overwhelming pressure that could obliterate them with a mere misstep.

Amidst the presence of the meditation robe, terrifying formations also dotted the area, their golden light flickering. However, tainted by demonic energy, these formations began to crack inch by inch, clearly unable to endure for much longer.

Fear gripped them all.

“I understand, but the robe must be taken away,” Jin Chan’s expression was resolute as he advanced towards the mountain peak.

Pulling out a Buddha’s bone aglow with radiant light, he prepared to place it upon the meditation robe to sustain the weakening seal. His movements were urgent, knowing time was of the essence.

Suddenly, Jin Chan’s demeanor shifted drastically. A chilling sensation enveloped him, freezing him in place as if targeted by an unfathomably terrifying entity. His entire body tingled with icy coldness, every hair standing on end.

Refusing to turn around, Jin Chan sensed the monks behind him gasping in terror, their expressions stricken with horror.

“What is that…”

Within Jin Chan’s heart, the Buddha’s essence pulsed with light, intertwining with the brilliance of the Buddha’s bone, as if engaging in a battle against the ominous aura that pervaded the area.

With great effort, he finally dared to glance over his shoulder, where he beheld a figure standing nearby, gazing at him with apparent confusion and intrigue.

She was a figure of exquisite beauty, surpassing any description in the mortal world, yet her presence exuded a blank and powerless aura.

Her beauty was sublime, reaching an unparalleled extreme that even gazing upon her felt sacrilegious—a sin in itself. Clad in crimson attire, tall and slender, with cascading black hair, her delicate melon-seed face bore flawless features. Her eyes, black and white like flawless gems, shimmered with a captivating luster.

However, her expression was bewildering. Standing there, her gaze seemed distant and unfocused, as if lost in the void, peering beyond Jin Chan as though observing something faraway.

“This is the original form…”

“The red-clothed female demon sealed within the Demon Burying Abyss.”

Memories surged in Jin Chan’s mind, unsettling his previously composed demeanor. He averted his gaze with effort, fully aware of the terrifying nature of this entity.

The woman in red remained within her confinement, illuminated by bursts of golden light that also elicited billows of blue smoke—a clear sign of her distress. Despite this, her expression remained unchanged, fixed in a perpetual state of confusion as she continued to gaze into the distance.

Her presence carried a unique allure, akin to a celestial flower ascending to the heavens or a minuscule seed drifting into the underworld. Yet, the aura emanating from her was so ominous that it sent shivers down Jin Chan’s spine, weakening his resolve until his knees nearly buckled beneath him.

“This is the red-clad demoness from the ancient scriptures…”

“So, it’s really her.”

The cultivators from Buddha Mountain were gripped with fear as they observed the woman in red, relieved that she remained confined within her seal, yet still wary of her terrifying presence. Just her stationary form instilled a freezing dread in their spirits.

They dared not gaze directly at her, instead silently reciting Buddhist scriptures to maintain composure and ward off any distraction from her captivating beauty.

“She cannot break free…”

Jin Chan regained his composure swiftly, reassured that the red-clad demoness was restrained within her seal. He proceeded towards the mountain peak, intent on removing the meditation robe.

But as he approached, millions of divine lights suddenly erupted from the intricate formation patterns surrounding them. Like beams of radiant energy, they surged towards the sealed red demoness, causing her body to emit hissing smoke akin to water hitting a scorching pan—a sound that sent chills down one’s spine.

The red-clad female devil appeared unaffected by the pain, almost as if she had grown accustomed to it, her gaze fixed on the space behind Jin Chan as if she could sense someone important there, someone unforgettable.

“Master… Master…”

She murmured these ancient words with a bewildered expression, yet Jin Chan and the others couldn’t comprehend their meaning. The language felt ancient and obscure, unfamiliar to their era.

Despite her yearning to break free, when she reached towards the radiant light before her, a dreadful green smoke erupted from her body. It seemed like she was being engulfed by flames, causing her to recoil in agony.

The faces of the Buddha Mountain cultivators turned pale as they witnessed the horrific sight. They watched in horror as the red devil’s hand disintegrated rapidly upon touching the light, flesh and bone melting away in excruciating pain.

This unbearable suffering caused them to tremble uncontrollably, contemplating the unimaginable power of the ancient formation that sealed the red-clad demoness. It was clear the formation was designed specifically to keep her confined, sparing no mercy even for the slightest touch.