I Am the Fated Villain
chapter-461

“What? Peacefully move to the Upper Realm? How could you say something like that…”

Lin Wu’s body shook as he stared blankly at Lu Luo, with a dumbfounded expression. Just now, he thought that Lu Luo was probably just mentioning this because of the resentment she held towards Sky Deer City. That she was not being serious. However, looking at her eyes, a wave of horror rushed into him, shaking his heart. He could not believe his ears. If he were to surrender to the Upper Realm and persuade his Family to become subordinates of the Upper Realm… Wouldn’t he become a sinner forever?

The sin and humiliation of betraying the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains would forever be etched into him and those that follow him. It was a sin so deep that it could never be washed away.

[Is she being controlled by Gu Changge? Has her sanity been reduced to this state? She’s no longer the same as before, like what happened to the Sky Deer Goddess…

“Lu Luo… You… Everything that you said, are you serious?” Lin Wu paled as he stared at the person in front of him, who was both familiar and unfamiliar. He had asked with a trace of forlornness.

His heart twitched and ached as he remembered the first time he had met her. At that time, she was the jewel of the Lu Family. She was a person of great status and was loved by all. Countless admired her, and her name was unparalleled in the world. But now, she was just a miserable prisoner in the dungeon of a rival force. She was even contemplating betraying the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains. [When has she ever been in such a miserable situation?]

Lu Luo knew that Lin Wu would wrongly blame himself. Especially when she saw the strange yet heart-wrenching look on his face, but her heart was extraordinarily calm.

She nodded gently and turned to let her gaze fall on the young man outside the dungeon, and said calmly, “Lin Wu, I’m sure you’ve already seen a glimpse of his strength. He is around the same age as you, yet he is at least in the Sacred King Realm. Whereas you are still only in the Sacred Noble Realm, the difference between you cannot be put into words.”

“With the Immortal Gu Family backing him, the oldest and most ancient Family of the Upper Realm, having bloodline ties that might even have reached people in the Immortal Realm, his future prospects can be considered to be limitless. If you continue to go after him…”

When she said that she had already thought of how Lin Wu would react. When she spoke, her expression was very calm. It was as if she was stating a fact.

“Lu Luo, you… You need not say more.”

However, when Lin Wu heard this, he froze at first, somewhat dumbfounded but then quickly interrupted her with a wave of his hand. His face welled up with pain and regret, not being able to let Lu Luo continue. He really didn’t expect that he would get such an answer after leaving Sky Deer City and travelling such a long way, almost putting his life on the line to rescue her from this hostile environment.

[How could you say such things to me like this? You’re urging me to follow my greatest nemesis? Have you forgotten about my brother, Lin Qingyang? He suffered at his hands!]

Naturally, there was reluctance in Lu Luo’s heart to speak out, but she thought of the consequences if she didn’t do so.

She sighed inwardly and steeled herself, continuing, “You must know that I’m saying this for your own good. I don’t want you to die here because of me.”

“I know. You don’t have to say it anymore.” The corners of Lin Wu’s mouth were filled with bitterness. His expression had a hint of confusion.

As if a thousand lights and shadows flashed within the mysterious Martial Arts Space within his mind, he slowed down time and pondered over Lu Luo’s intentions.

[The reason she had said those words was just to make me resent her so that I could be at peace with standing on the side of righteousness. She did this so that I would not feel guilty even if I end up not being able to save her from death. In the end, you’re prepared to sacrifice yourself for my sake, huh? Foolish girl. How could I not understand what you are thinking?]

“Gu Changge, I would like to speak with you.” Thinking of this, Lin Wu took a deep breath. Having calmed down, he spoke to Gu Changge, who had not left the dungeon.

The conversation between Lin Wu and Luo Luo within the dungeon had reached Gu Changge’s ears. He hadn’t expected Lu Luo to say this to Lin Wu. However, it could only be said that Lu Luo knew Lin Wu better than he did. Thus, she knew how to persuade him. From this point of view, the more guilt Lin Wu had in his heart towards Luo Luo, the easier it would be to control him.

“What would you like to speak to me about? Hmm, is it about that? Well, guess you have thought it through. Do you intend to surrender to us?” Gu Changge walked over and opened the cell door with a faint smile on his face.

Lin Wu was staring at him, his face unable to hide his hatred, but at the moment he was forcefully suppressing it. At this time, if he were to clash with Gu Changge, then he would be letting Lu Luo’s good intentions go to waste.

“I would like for only the two of us to hear what I’m about to say.” Lin Wu glanced at Lu Luo beside him, who had her brows furrowed and her head lowered, before looking at Gu Changge and speaking.

He did not want to put pressure on Lu Luo. If even her, a woman, was ready to carry such burdens, why shouldn’t he?

“Sure.” Gu Changge smiled, and with a roll of his sleeves, the scenery before them changed.

With a wave of spatial fluctuation, Lin Wu appeared in a magnificent and ancient palace in the next moment. The place was filled with spiritual energy, with the divine light from treasures and various godly weapons hanging on the walls. It appeared glorious and noble. On both sides of the palace, there was also a group of beautiful maids in attendance, all peerless beauties.

Once Gu Changge appeared and waved his hand, they all respectfully retreated.

“Speak, what is it that you wanted to discuss? There are no outsiders here.”

Gu Changge poured himself a glass of wine, his mannerisms were casual and natural, as he smiled and gestured for Lin Wu to speak. Lin Wu looked around and saw that there was indeed no one else there.

He said with a solemn expression, “I want to know. What is it that you want Lu Luo to do for you?”

Lin Wu knew that Lu Luo must have been forced by Gu Changge. Otherwise, she would not have made such a choice. He knew Lu Luo’s character well, and knew that when she said those words, she must have hated it so much to the point that she would rather die and end this torment and pain. But here, she wasn’t even the one in control of her own life and death. She was completely under Gu Changge’s control.

“Nothing much, I’ve just laid out clearly to her the cons and benefits of things so that she will understand what she should do.” Gu Changge shook his head slightly and brought the white jade wine cup to his lips, taking a casual sip.

“What do you propose she should do? Is it for her to betray the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains?” As soon as Lin Wu heard this, he couldn’t help his anger from surging. His teeth were clenched. He simply wanted to pulverise Gu Changge and shred him into a million pieces.

“Is that how you are supposed to talk to me?” Gu Changge frowned at his words and glanced at him indifferently.

The next moment, a terrifying pressure swept down, causing Lin Wu’s expression to shift drastically as a chill fiercely enveloped his entire body. His legs went limp immediately afterward, unable to withstand the pressure, and he fell directly to his knees with a thud, incomparably humiliated. Even his flesh was about to explode to pieces, producing cracked blood marks.

“In that case, you can kneel and talk to me.”

Gu Changge shook his head slightly, and deep within his eyes, his cold indifference did not make the slightest ripple.

“You…” Lin Wu was in complete rage, his eyes were glowing red. He had never been so humiliated in all his life. Even in his most mediocre days, he had never been treated like this before. Even so, the terrifying pressure seemed to weigh down a hundred thousand mountains on his shoulders, making it impossible for him to even lift his head. His once terrifying Talent, his powerful bloodline and even the mysterious Martial Arts Space could not hold any significant effect in the face of absolute strength. This insurmountable and terrifying gap caused Lin Wu to feel despair and powerlessness once again.

“Gu Changge, as long as you can spare Lu Luo, anything is fine. Anything she can do, I can do as well.”

However, when one was under another’s domain, one had to bow down. Lin Wu eventually quickly suppressed his anger, took a deep breath and calmed down. He opened his mouth and directly stated his intentions, not wanting to leave Lu Luo to endure this alone.

“Is that so? You’re the one who said it. Fine. I’ll tell you. She is planning to have her family surrender to my Immortal Gu Family. Naturally, she will enjoy the benefits of being under us. It’s just, she has not pledged her allegiance yet. Do you mean that you are going to deliver this pledge of allegiance for her?” Gu Changge raised his eyebrows slightly, before asking with a natural expression.

[A pledge of allegiance?] Hearing these words, Lin Wu’s heart shook, but he still gritted his teeth and asked, “What is this pledge of allegiance?”

“It’s quite simple actually, all you need to do is find the Array Core in Sky Deer City and open the barrier.” Gu Changge smiled faintly and said, as if he was not talking about attacking the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, but just something trivial.

The barrier outside Sky Deer City has basically been the core protection of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains for countless years. It was said that there were nine sub-arrays forming this grand array, which produced this barrier. There were eight sub-arrays that formed a hexagram and the last sub-array at the centre of the hexagram. Naturally, each of these sub-arrays had their own Array Core. It did not really matter which one, as long was one of the nine was opened, a small gap would open up in the grand array, which would all the Upper Realm forces to invade and start a massacre.

For countless years, cultivators from the Upper Realm have tried to destroy the Array Core, but it was all, to no avail.

“The Array Core…”

Lin Wu’s heart shook violently, and his face could not hide his pallor. He had actually guessed Gu Changge’s intentions long ago, and that it would have to do with breaching Sky Deer City. All along, he just couldn’t believe that his target would actually be the Array Core. It could even be said that the Array Cores were the foundation for the survival of the city. If even one was opened, then it would only be a matter of time before Sky Deer City would be breached.

Once Sky Deer City was breached, the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains behind it would be like ordinary people who had removed their armour and thrown away their swords. They would be powerless to resist. Faced with a terrifying army from the Upper Realm, how could the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains resist?

He feared that destruction would be the only option left.

“What? Can’t do it?” Gu Changge asked indifferently, looking at Lin Wu’s gradually whitening face.

“With my status, even if I agree to it, it’s impossible for me to get access to an Array Core…” Lin Wu forced himself to calm down, his heart suddenly wavering a little. Even if he could do it, it would be like opening the door for the army of the Upper Realm to drive straight in. Such a betrayal would be even more shameful and outrageous than bringing his people to surrender to the Upper Realm.

“The Array Cores are directly supervised by the Sky Deer Goddess. Since you have been in contact with her for a long time, how is it possible that you cannot not find out where even one of the Array Core is located? Don’t take me for a fool. The Sky Deer Goddess should also have an heir or disciple or something. Perhaps, you have even seen this person with your own eyes. Now, you still dare to say you can’t reach it? How could I possibly believe you?”

Gu Changge merely smiled.

An inexplicable aura emerged from the depths of his eyes, causing Lin Wu’s face to grow paler and paler, barely able to withstand the aura.

If it wasn’t for Gu Changge who had been exercising restraint, with Lin Wu’s current strength… Just a wisp of Gu Changge’s breath could cause Lin Wu to explode, destroying his body and soul.

“Fine. I’ll do it.” Lin Wu gritted his teeth, cold sweat dripping down his forehead, causing the clothes on his back to become wet. He hadn’t forgotten the difference in strength between himself and Gu Changge. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t even be able to make a move. Gu Changge could kill him a million times over before he could land his hit.

“In that case, I’ll be waiting for the good news.”

Gu Changge gave a small smile and retracted his mighty pressure. At the same time, he reached out and waved his hand across empty air, and a burst of golden light emerged. This light soon formed ancient forbidden characters, which landed on Lin Wu’s forehead.