Villain : After Slacking Off, The Protagonist Collapse - Chapter 30

Chapter 30 : A Young Emperor

“Master, I have already stepped into the Soul Passage realm!” said Du Guyun. “If I can obtain the inheritance from that senior’s cave this time, I will have the opportunity to enter the True King realm. Two months later, at the inner sect competition, it will be my time to make a name for myself in the Primordial Holy Land. In this competition, I must emerge as the champion and suppress all others in the inner sect.”

In the inn, Du Guyun, weary from travel, ate and drank while chatting with Canglao. His stern face showed more smiles and ease, clearly having gained a lot during this period, boosting his confidence.

“If the location of that jade token is real, the inheritance of a Saint realm could make me advance by leaps and bounds. It’s uncertain whether I can reach the True King realm in a few months, but even without it, I can definitely reach above the seventh layer of the Soul Passage realm.”

“Coupled with the secret techniques in your hand, few in the inner sect of the Primordial Holy Land can match you. But don’t take it lightly; there are always stronger people out there. In an immortal force like the Primordial Holy Land, countless geniuses are hidden. You might have gotten lucky, but others might have as well,” Canglao responded.

Since leaving the Heaven-Piercing Sect, Du Guyun had been quite fortunate.

Although he had encountered dangers, he managed to overcome them each time and always gained something. He still had his arrogant nature, but after the events at the Heaven-Piercing Sect, he became more restrained and less impulsive, giving Canglao renewed hope. If Du Guyun maintained this attitude, he might become a strong figure in the future, fulfilling Canglao’s wishes.

“I understand, Master,” Du Guyun said softly. “I’m not the naive young boy I used to be.”

Hearing this, Canglao couldn’t be bothered to respond and casually praised him. Du Guyun’s arrogant and self-important nature was deep-rooted.

Changing it wouldn’t happen overnight. Only by experiencing major setbacks and failures could he truly change. Advice from others is often ineffective; life experiences are the true teachers.

Meanwhile, in the inn, conversations about the Primordial Holy Son were buzzing around. “This Primordial Holy Son is truly a supreme figure among the young generation. He easily suppressed the Soaring Snake God Son and the geniuses of the Golden-winged Dapeng clan,” someone commented.

“The rumors say that these two had no chance to resist in front of the Primordial Holy Son. Especially the Soaring Snake God Son, who is the heir of that ancient clan. His strength and talent stand out among the young generation, yet he was no match for the Primordial Holy Young Masyer,” another added.

“The Primordial Holy Son is that powerful? No wonder he is hailed as the hope of the Primordial Holy Land for tens of thousands of years,” a third person remarked.

“But I heard that the Soaring Snake God Son was about to step into the Life and Death realm, at the peak of the True King realm. How could he die so effortlessly at the hands of the Primordial Holy Son, who only recently reached the True King realm?” another questioned.

“That Jin Taiyuan is no ordinary genius either, a top genius of the ancient royal clan, comparable in strength to the Life and Death realm. Their combined strength is unimaginable. How exactly did the Primordial Holy Son manage to kill them both?”

As the events in Spirit Snake City gradually spread, discussions about Jiang Chen erupted throughout the Nine Heavens.

Upon hearing these discussions, Du Guyun, who had been enjoying his meal, suddenly lost his appetite.

“These people are really playing with people’s minds,” sighed Canglao.

Du Guyun now least wanted to hear news about Ye Qingcheng and Jiang Chen, considering them both his enemies. Ye Qingcheng had almost killed him, so he was seen as a sworn enemy. As for Jiang Chen, although Du Guyun hadn’t met him, he aspired for the position of the Primordial Holy Son, naturally setting Jiang Chen as a hypothetical enemy.

Additionally, the relationship between Ye Qingcheng and Jiang Chen made Du Guyun feel that Jiang Chen pressured Ye Qingcheng to act against him. This led to Du Guyun’s intense resentment towards Jiang Chen.

“Master, what level of existence is Jiang Chen now?” asked Du Guyun. “How long will it take for me to catch up with him?”

Here we go, thought Canglao helplessly. “Soaring Snake God Son and Jin Taiyuan are strong as top geniuses. For Jiang Chen to easily slay them, his strength must start at the fifth layer of the Life and Death realm at least.”

“It’s unclear what Jiang Chen’s realm is. If he’s only in the True King realm, his combat power is unimaginable. At the same level, you’re no match for him.” Canglao didn’t want to demoralize Du Guyun but felt it necessary to make him face reality, to prevent him from becoming arrogant and underestimating others.

“What if he’s in the Life and Death realm?” Du Guyun persisted.

“If he’s in the Life and Death realm, that would mean his cultivation speed is unimaginable, and the hope of catching up to him is slim. But that doesn’t mean there’s no chance,” Canglao replied, with a complex expression. Such a rapid ascent from the True King to the Life and Death realm in mere months was unheard of, even to the well-experienced Canglao.

“I believe I will surpass him!” Du Guyun declared, not out of stubbornness but genuine belief.

While the Master and Desciple talk someone spoke revealing something shocking!

“Today, the Primordial Holy Son has reached the ninth layer of the Life and Death realm!” someone in the inn said. “The two ancient royal clans suspected something fishy about their heirs’ death, so they sent two geniuses from the Life and Death realm to challenge the Primordial Holy Sonz”

“But just like before, they were easily killed. This battle revealed his true realm, already at the ninth layer of the Life and Death realm, just a step away from the Saint realm.”

“Terrifying! I remember at the age of twenty, I was only at the Physical Body realm,” another remarked.

“You’re better off; I wasn’t even at the third layer of the Physical Body realm at twenty. Three years for a small advance,” someone else added.

“Comparing oneself to others can be infuriating!”

Du Guyun fell silent for a moment before asking, “Master, what level of genius does being at the ninth layer of the Life and Death realm at the age of twenty make someone?”

Canglao was silent, unsure how to respond. Was it appropriate to call Jiang Chen a genius, a freak of nature? He had never heard of anyone reaching the ninth layer of the Life and Death realm at twenty.

“Master, I want to hear the truth,” Du Guyun sensed Canglao’s hesitation, realizing his master was reluctant to tell the truth, probably to avoid discouraging him.

“Young Emperor,” Canglao finally said slowly. The unspoken part of that statement was that even a Young Emperor might not compare to him. Even just the term “Young Emperor” was enough to make Du Guyun question his life, as he took deep breaths, trying to forget about it.