I Am the Fated Villain
chapter-378

Bai Kun stood disheartened and dumbfounded in the dark and damp dungeon. As his only hand that could move was bound by chains, he couldn’t help clenching his fist tightly despite how weak he looked doing that. He was now sure that Gu Changge already knew a lot about his daughter, or else he wouldn’t have gotten so many things right.

As the mysterious owner of Nephrite Breeze Pavilion, Bai Lian’er had kept a low profile all these years, and had almost never appeared in front of outsiders. However, Gu Changge was absolutely certain that Bai Kun’s daughter was the master behind Nephrite Breeze Pavilion. This could only mean that Gu Changge had found out a lot about her through his investigations. And, knowing his own daughter’s personality, it was impossible she would do as he said. If she knew that Gu Changge still hasn’t killed him by now, she would definitely try her best to save him.

As far as Gu Changge was concerned, he only needed to use himself as bait for Bai Lian’er to come and throw herself into his trap. It was a plan as clear as day to Bai Kun.

“What do you want to know, Gu Changge?” Bai Kun soon calmed down, but couldn’t help asking. “I will definitely tell you what I know.”

“Wonderful! I like people that are wise. If you would cooperate with me sooner, I might just let you go when I am in a good mood. I will let you have a real reunion with your daughter. Not only that, I can get the Demon World off your back. I only have to say the word to make it happen. Of course, like I said, I can do it if I am in a good mood,” Gu Changge smiled. He could tell that Bai Kun’s will had wavered after he said those words.

People with weaknesses might not be afraid of death, but they weren’t hard to deal with as long as someone had caught hold of their weaknesses.

Bai Kun’s face brightened up the moment he heard that. Even though he knew that Gu Changge was just thinking out loud, he couldn’t help but have a glimmer of hope.

Even lowly beings clung to life, let alone a human being. Just like what Gu Changge said, he only needed to say the word for the Demon World to cease their pursuit of Bai Kun. If so, he wouldn’t have to live like a hiding street rat when that time comes.

“Ask away,” Bai Kun said.

Gu Changge wiped the smile off his face upon hearing that. “Why did you let your daughter and apprentice flee to the Demon World? As far as I know, the Demon World isn’t going to be nice to them. In other words, an unwise decision.”

Bai Kun’s face turned pale. He didn’t expect Gu Changge would directly ask about the Demon World so soon. After all, this involved what he promised Solar Demon Overlord back then.

[Why does Gu Changge, an outsider, have to care about something like this?] However, Bai Kun didn’t dare to hide the truth from Gu Changge, and so he explained in a low voice, “I had them send something to the Demon World. It is something I promised my old friend I would do.”

Gu Changge’s heart quivered when he immediately thought of the Solar Demon Overlord.

Naturally, the ‘old friend’ Bai Kun was talking about was Solar Demon Overlord.

“What did you tell them to bring back?” he continued to ask.

Bai Kun hesitated for a while, and when he sensed Gu Changge’s indifferent expression, he couldn’t help but smiled wearily. “I don’t know what it is. It is just a brocade bag. I don’t know what is in it.”

He wasn’t lying. The brocade bag was handed over to him by the Solar Demon Overlord himself, and he was asked to find an appropriate time to hand it over to his son, Jun Bufan. Thus, Bai Kun had never opened it.

Now that he had offended Gu Changge, and couldn’t go anywhere because he was held in prison, he could only entrust this task to his apprentice.

“Are you trying to hand it over to Jun Bufan, the son of the Solar Demon Overlord who fell 6000 years ago?” Gu Changge smiled faintly. As he had no intention of continuing to listen, he shook the dust off his robe, and got up to leave the dungeon. He had already found out what he wanted to know. [It seemed that the Solar Demon Overlord had readied a lot of ways for his son to escape.]

Gu Changge once thought that with the Fortuity of the Demon World, the Six Demon Overlords born were only in the Quasi-Nirvana Realm.

He realised now he had underestimated them.

[They couldn’t possibly plan out all this up until this point and execute it if they were only in the Quasi-Nirvana Realm. Since he returned as well, this could only mean that the Heir of the Demon Overlord is actually a Fortuitous One created using the regressing and inheritance archetype.]

“What?” The blood instantly drained from Bai Kun’s face as he blurted out, “How did you know about this?” Except for the residents of the Demon World, no other force should care to know about Jun Bufan. 6000 years ago, the Solar Demon Overlord had prepared many ways of escape before he disappeared, leaving behind a Dharma Body made out of Principles to tell him about it.

Because of that, Bai Kun had been speculating that Jun Bufan had faked his death.

[But where did Gu Changge learn about this from? Why is he so sure about it?] Bai Kun couldn’t calm his beating heart as he wondered.

The place soon returned to its silence after Gu Changge ignored Bai Kun’s shock and proceeded to leave the dungeon.

Seeing him leave, Bai Kun fell into a daze, unable to give a response. Faintly, he felt that he had been drawn into an invisible vortex of terror. It made him feel overwhelming guilt and remorse.

After leaving the dungeon, Gu Changge didn’t intend to tell Empress Yao Xi the information he had gotten.

He was only somewhat interested in Jun Bufan, the Fortuitous One, before this, but now that he had heard Bai Kun talk about it, he had a feeling that the Demon World was hiding some great secret.

[The chaos in the Demon World 6000 years ago didn’t seem to be an accident.] The realisation had piqued Gu Changge’s interest. [Now I wonder, just what is the secret the Demon World holds?]

[Empress Yao Xi is probably just a pawn being used. It seems that only by completely controlling her will there be a chance to make a move in this game.] Gu Changge looked at the cold tea and lightly shook his head. He was not used to not having Ji Qingxuan by his side.

[I will have to find time to look for a satisfactory maid again.] He had already thought of his next move. He wanted to wait for the matter of the Ancient Divine Tomb to be resolved before going to the Demon World.

Afterwards, he summoned a group of followers, and when they arrived, all of them left Immortal Academy, travelling through the void.

Many Elders noticed this. They were taken aback at first, but they couldn’t help but smile.

“Seems like Gu Changge is going to the Trial after all.”

“It is going to get rowdy.”

At the same time, the Ancient Divine Tomb, which was far away, was in utter chaos.

*Whoosh* Countless divine rainbows broke through the sky and crossed the mountains and rivers to rush to this place. Like suns in the sky, all kinds of dazzling golden Ancient Battle Chariots raced across the sky.

In the distance, there were white nephrite rickshaws that were as cold as the moon, the majestic and thick Ancient Devil Mountain, magnificent pavilions and palaces hanging in the air, hidden among the clouds and mists, all of which have the marks of the various forces of the Upper Realm. There were many standing on them, making the place lively because of the massive crowd there.

The appearance of the Ancient Divine Tomb shocked the numerous forces in the Upper Realm. They had even dispatched the experts in their force to come to have a share of the pie.

Farther away, many big figures, followed by a group of youths, could be seen coming their way. These important figures were such a bright blur, one could only imagine how powerful they were.

The vast and dignified pressure loomed over the sky and the earth, and there was a terrible gap between their strength and power compared to the younger generation.

A grey miasma then started to rise from the mountains and swamps. It was mixed with the roar of some unknown ferocious beasts, which shook the land within a thousand kilometres.

There was a crack in the mountains, which red rays of sunlight seeped through before a terrifying, Qilin-like beast, dripping holy power, rushed out of it. As it opened its mouth, magma seemed to fall from the sky, flooding the land.

The scene was as astonishing as it was terrifying. This was a place where one could easily lose their life if they weren’t careful.

Many young and old were grouped together because of that. Their respective forces also used various means to counter the pressure of this place. Likewise, careful to clash with these beasts lest they lose their lives.

Before this, an expert in the Sacred Realm had rushed into the deep end of the place. As a result, everyone saw that the fierce beast that looked like a Qilin, opened its mouth and burned the expert to ashes, instantly destroying his body and soul.

Despite the name of this Ancient Divine Tomb being the Godly Illusion Tomb, it was more like a ruin than a tomb.

Farther away, they could still see the outlines of some cities that have already been ruined, and some patterns still brilliantly shining.

“I heard that the one who passed away in the Godly Illusion Tomb this time is an Ancestor of the Godly Illusion Clan. His cultivation has already surpassed the Sacred Emperor Realm, and there is a high possibility of him having the Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal.”

“Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal, huh? That is an absolute treasure. We will be able to fight against even Gu Changge if we have it.”

In the mountains, a group of young prodigies from an Immortal force had gathered together, and their group was led by the Elders of the force as they rushed to the tomb.

At this moment, the person who spoke had a deep longing and fiery look in his eyes.

The Godly Illusion Clan’s Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal was something similar to a cultivator’s Dao Fruit.

It contained the supreme Energy of Creation, which could turn people into Immortals immediately and inherit some of the cultivation base of that Godly Illusion Clan Ancestor.

Not even the leaders of a force could sit still, knowing something like it existed.

That was why even though it was a known fact that it was a property of the Godly Illusion Clan, it still attracted countless forces and cultivators. With such a treasure right in front of them, even the Godly Illusion Clan couldn’t prevent the rest of the people from coming to fight over it. After all, the tomb was not in the territory of the Godly Illusion Clan. It just happened to be created for their Ancestor.

Hearing the discussion amongst the disciples, the Elder in charge also said with yearning and longing, “It is said that this place used to be the cultivation ground of the Godly Illusion Clan Ancestor. For some reason, it collapsed and fell apart. But there are quite a few treasures left behind. Even if you don’t get the Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal, the Energy of Creation within you will increase if you find an Engraved Stone of Comprehension or a cultivation technique from this place.”

He was bubbling with enthusiasm as he looked at the mountains and lakes in the distance that were constantly glowing. Naturally, people like them could be seen almost everywhere in the Godly Illusion Tomb.

“Be careful, Junior Ruoyin. The miasma here is very dangerous. Even the tiniest bit can corrode your skin.” Light grey mist covered the sky and the earth, shrouding the secluded ancient trees with thick vines.

A few holy-looking old men dressed in robes were leading a group of young cultivators through the mountains as they quickly headed towards the tomb. The one speaking at the moment was a petite girl with attractive facial features.

There were many young women beside her, all of them gorgeous, followed by a group of male disciples.

“Yes, Senior Song Qin. I will be careful,” replied a slender and beautiful woman with long legs as she nodded. Her pure white dress fluttered gently with the wind, and she had a pure, untainted aura. She was Xiao Ruoyin.

Regardless of which world she was in, she was considered a great beauty. Possibly because of her cultivation, her skin now shone with a crystal radiance, and she was as white and delicate as jade.

Even many young disciples in Skyward Schloss regarded her as a fairy and secretly admired her.

Among the many disciples who rushed to the Godly Illusion Tomb, she was also one of the most dazzling ones. Many Elders have especially taken good care of her. Of course, she herself knew that it wasn’t because of her cultivation. After all, many people knew that it was because of Gu Changge that she was able to enter Skyward Schloss.

As a foreigner, she naturally knew what Skyward Schloss meant in this world. She had no power nor background. If not because of her relationship with Gu Changge, she would not even have the chance to get close to this place, let alone enter it. Furthemore, she definitely wouldn’t have been regarded so highly as well.

Hearing this, an Elder turned around just to remind her, “Song Qin is right. You have to be careful here. With your current cultivation level, you shouldn’t be able to come here. But it is fine for you to come here if you want to learn something new. Nonetheless, remember to listen to us and don’t act at will. I won’t be able to explain to Young Master Changge if something happens to you.”

In all honesty, all of them were helpless against Xiao Ruoyin’s insistence on coming here because of her low cultivation level. She could easily get in trouble at this dangerous place. They couldn’t even begin to imagine the terrible consequences awaiting them if something were to happen to her. But still, she was curious and stubborn. She promised that she would obey their orders and not run around.

After hearing such words, the Elders couldn’t possibly say no to her after that. After all, Xiao Ruoyin was extremely beautiful, and she was sent here by Gu Changge. It was inevitable for people to suspect that she and Gu Changge had a close relationship.

Considering their possible relationship, all the Elders of Skyward Schloss held her in high regard. They even assigned more Elders that they usually would out of fear she would get into an accident.

“Mm, don’t worry, Senior.” She nodded. “I will definitely listen to you and stay still.”

She wasn’t stupid. She knew that the only reason she received such enviable treatment was solely because of Gu Changge. Knowing that, she worked hard during each cultivation session so that she wouldn’t embarrass Gu Changge.

The reason she insisted on going to the Godly Illusion Tomb was because she was curious about the experience, and wanted to take the chance to hone her knowledge.

“Elders, don’t worry. Junior Ruoyin is safe by my side. I will protect her.” Standing beside Xiao Ruoyin was a petite woman who couldn’t help flashing her pearly whites. Her name was Song Qin, and she was a well-known prodigal damsel in Skyward Schloss, whose cultivation level was high.

However, Xiao Ruoyin knew that the reason Song Qin was so kind to her was because she wanted her to say something nice about her in front of Gu Changge.

Today, Xiao Ruoyin finally understood how significant Gu Changge was in the enormous Upper Realm.

[Just how lucky was I to meet such a noble person in the first place?] Though in thought, Xiao Ruoyin’s face suddenly froze in shock when she noticed two figures in the mountains not far away.

It was a monk in tattered robes with a bowl in his hand, not really looking like any ordinary monk. But what caught her attention was a young man was standing next to the monk. Judging from his figure, Xiao Ruoyin had a familiar feeling that the person was an old acquaintance of hers. However, his face seemed different. It was somewhat older and more unfamiliar than she remembered.

Noticing her strange reaction, Song Qin couldn’t help but follow her gaze. “What is the matter, Junior Ruoyin? What are you looking at?”

Confused, she let out a frown when she happened to see the monk and young man as well when she looked over.

[Jiang Chen? Why does that guy remind me of him? They do somewhat resemble. I wonder how Niu Tian, Jiang Chen and the others are doing now.] Xiao Ruoyin shook her head slightly. The young man in shabby clothes was covered in dirt as if he had just wormed out of the ground.

[He looks like Jiang Chen, but he is not him, right? Why would they be here when they don’t have any aptitude to cultivate? They are probably living their own lives in some mortal’s country.] Thinking of this, Xiao Ruoyin withdrew her gaze and went into the depths with everyone from Skyward Schloss. It only took a second for her to let go of this matter and stop paying attention to it.

“Kind Sir Jiang, what are you looking at with such an expression?” Looking at Xiao Ruoyin and the others, the monk not far away seemed to have noticed something as he couldn’t help asking with great interest. “Even though the lady is beautiful, she is obviously not from the same world as you. I advise you to stop thinking about the impossible.”

Jiang Chen’s tightly clenched fists slowly loosened, but he felt a discomfort in his chest as though he was holding his breath.

Hearing the monk’s words, he solemnly shook his head. “Why do you care, Master Pu Du?”

The monk’s name was Pu Du. He and Jiang Chen had gotten closer after their journey together these few days.

Jiang Chen really didn’t expect to see Xiao Ruoyin again here this way. She was more beautiful than before. And her cultivation level was even higher than his, with his Everchanging Demonic Arts.

Still, this made him somewhat relieved. It seemed that Xiao Ruoyin was still safe for the time being, and she was doing well. She had yet to be harmed by Gu Changge.

Jiang Chen was tempted to go up to her and tell her about the true Gu Changge. However, his rationality had held him back, and he only silently watched Xiao Ruoyin leave.

[If I greet her now, it will not only do me harm. I will be putting her in danger as well. Those Elders around her will definitely kill me immediately.] As he thought that to himself, he gradually calmed down.

Monk Pu Du’s smile slowly became an intrigued one when he noticed Jiang Chen’s reaction.

“Do you and the woman know each other? The group of people just now are from Skyward Schloss. You must be someone important if you know her,” he couldn’t help laughing.

Jiang Chen glanced at him and shook his head. “Important or not, it is all the same. Before this, I think we have to help Jiang Luoshen find the real tomb of his Ancestor, or we will both die.”