I Am the Fated Villain
chapter-563

A cold, murderous aura engulfed the courtyard. Like the reminiscence of bitter winter, its bone-chilling coldness left everyone trembling with fear. Without any instruction from the Young War Immortal, the people in the courtyard instinctively reached for their weapons, their faces contorted with alarm.

*Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!!* Numerous figures rushed out from every direction in the once serene courtyard, brandishing their weapons and cautiously scanning the surroundings. They were all skilled fighters of varying strengths from the War Immortal Manor and the An Clan. Most were only in the Sacred and Enlightened King Realms, but the strongest had attained the Sacred Lord Realm.

*Boom!!* A dark light suddenly flooded the courtyard like a thick fog, transforming the once vibrant space into a bleak and eerie one. Several figures dressed in gray appeared outside the courtyard, their cold faces devoid of any human emotion.

The black longsword they wielded was crafted from an unknown material, but they looked sharp and exuded a menacing aura that filled the air with a crimson glow. Swathed in a black fabrics that obscured their faces, save for their piercing eyes, they exuded a terrifying aura that betrayed their true strength—a group of Sacred Lord Realm Masters, with even a Sacred King Realm Master among their ranks!

The appearance of those dangerous figures immediately caused alarm among the fighters from both War Immortal Manor and the An Clan. They kept their eyes beyond the walls of the courtyard and bellowed, “Protect Young Master and Young Mistress!”

They simply couldn’t fathom the reasoning behind an assassination attempt in broad daylight in Dark Kun City, where many supreme experts from the various Forces were present. Such a huge commotion would undoubtedly draw the attention of these forces. These assassins were truly brazen, as their actions were akin to committing a heinous crime in public, without any regard for the potential consequences of being caught.

An Xi clenched her hands with a somber expression on her face as she asked, “Who are these assassins here to kill? Who among us is their target?”

The banquet was delightful, until it was abruptly disrupted by these assassins and thus ruining her mood. She would like to know could have possibly offended someone enough to warrant such an extreme response. It was rare for any organization, even assassin guilds like Pagoda and Nether, to have the capacity to coordinate such a large-scale attack!

Jiang Chen and Niu Tian’s countenances were equally somber. If the assassins were here to kill them, the person who hired them had really thought too highly of them. In reality, they were no match for any one of these assassins.

“They’re after me, I’m their target!” the Young War Immortal said solemnly. He could sense the hostility of his pursuers aimed at him and that made him feel uneasy. He struggled to recall when he might have offended someone who could send a group of skilled assassins to hunt him down.

“You? Did you offend someone?” An Xi asked, puzzled.

The Young War Immortal shook his head then replied gloomily, “I don’t know who I’ve offended. Someone must have also gotten a hold of my guardian, I’m unable to reach him.”

Although he had a suspicion in mind, he was reluctant to believe that the other party could be so ruthless.

“Kill them!!” A group of assassins immediately charged toward the Young War Immortal and their companions. They surrounded them and unleashed a barrage of attacks, utilizing various arts and techniques to overwhelm them.

A collection of artifacts appeared, including divine lamps, ancient cauldrons, and furnaces, radiating incredible power in every direction. In an instant, the experts from both the An Clan and the War Immortal Manor either coughed up blood or exploded on the spot. The assassins were too powerful for anyone present to challenge them without meeting a swift demise.

“Protect the Young Mistress!” An expert from the An Clan shouted fiercely, trying to make his voice heard by all in an attempt to alert the others. One of the assassins fixed his gaze on him then vanished into thin air. When he reappeared, his longsword sliced through the air like a streak of black lightning and pierced the man’s forehead, killing him instantly!

Upon witnessing the gruesome scene, An Xi, Jiang Chen and Niu Tian were filled with terror and quickly took measures to ensure their own safety. Chaos erupted within the courtyard as a fierce battle ensued. Many were fatally wounded or beheaded. The air was thick with the scent of blood, making it difficult to stomach.

The courtyard was shrouded in a black fog, effectively cutting it off from the outside world. Breaking this barrier would be challenging without the help of a Quasi-Nirvana Realm Master. Those from the An Clan and the War Immortal Manor grew increasingly desperate as their Ancestors or Elders were not present to assist them.

They had returned to the sect after the Divine Rock Conference ended. An Xi’s Grand Uncle, An Wangshan, had also returned home instead of staying in Dark Kun City. He was worried about the Ji Family’s upcoming invasion of Kun Mountain and wanted to steer clear of any potential danger that might befall Dark Kun City.

“Are we going to die here today?” The Young War Immortal was filled with a deep sense of bitterness. With a mighty roar, immense divine power erupted from the golden crosses in his pupils. His body radiated a brilliant blue light as he unleashed a series of secret techniques that shook the world. He charged forward like a furnace that would burn eternally. His fists crushed everything in his path with unmatched force like the divine mountains.

The assassins who had set their sights on him were unable to withstand his onslaught. Some collapsed under the sheer power of his blows before they could even get close to him.

“The might of the Young War Immortal is truly remarkable. It’s a pity that you still have to die today,” the Sacred King Realm assassin turned his attention to the Young War Immortal and spoke coldly as he advanced toward him. With a swift swing of his sword, the space was torn asunder. Several experts from the An Clan and War Immortal Manor exploded and were reduced to dust. Such was the might of a Sacred King Realm expert. Only those of equal cultivation level could hope to withstand it.

“Who the hell sent you to kill me?” the Young War Immortal demanded with fury in his voice.

The assassin in gray merely replied indifferently, “You don’t know who you have offended?”

“Who have I offended?” The Young War Immortal’s eyes were a little bloodshot as he searched his memory. He then recalled the contemptuous look on Gu Changge’s face back at the Divine Rock Conference. With just that, he could almost conclude that the person who had sent assassins after him was someone related to Gu Changge.

“You can think about it when you’re on your way to hell,” the assassin in gray said nonchalantly before unleashing his power again, causing his remaining enemies to explode and turn into fine dust. The Young War Immortal, at the pinnacle of his power in the Sacred Lord Realm, was virtually unbeatable among his peers. Even so, he was no match for an assassin in the Sacred King Realm.

The assassin’s sword cut into his fists mercilessly, leaving behind deep and bloody wounds. The Young War Immortal let out a fierce roar that echoed through the air. Blood suddenly seeped out of the golden crosses in his pupils, accompanied by the sound of shackles breaking.

The Young War Immortal was engulfed in flames, yet he didn’t seem to feel any pain. He transformed into a peerless War Immortal, capable of vanquishing any adversary in his path. With a peerless physique, a golden whip materialized in his grip, reminiscent of the legendary weapon from ancient lore. He fought the Sacred King Realm assassin fearlessly before him, showing no regard for his own mortality.

An Xi, Jiang Chen and the others assisted from the sidelines, invoking their divine talismans in an effort to support the Young War Immortal. If the Young War Immortal were to perish, their own chances of survival would be greatly diminished.

*Buzz!!* The air around them distorted as a giant golden cauldron suddenly appeared behind An Xi, intertwined with World Principles and shining with Immortal light. The ground quaked as the cauldron hurtled toward the assassin.

The energy fluctuations in the area became extremely terrifying, and even the Sacred King Realm assassin’s countenance contorted with alarm. “Damn it!”

The once magnificent buildings and pavilions now lay in ruins, their grandeur reduced to rubble. The force of their destruction created a great commotion.

Jiang Chen’s forehead glowed, and the image of a Bronze Celestial Boat manifested, dispelling the black mist that enveloped this place. The terrifying commotion reverberated throughout Dark Kun City, stunning all who heard it. A powerful divine sense immediately swept through the area.

“Who is causing trouble here?” A True Daoist snorted coldly, his giant palm reaching toward this place.

“Shit…!” The faces of the assassins in gray changed drastically, but they remained resolute and chose to self-destruct without hesitation.

In an instant, a powerful shockwave surged through the area, resembling the force of multiple planets colliding. The Young War Immortal, Jiang Chen and others were sent flying before crashing to the ground, gravely wounded and covered in blood.

……

“Oh, you failed?” Gu Changge sipped on his tea leisurely and shook his head, looking a little surprised by the news.

“Young Master, I humbly request your punishment for my grave mistake. I have underestimated the Young War Immortal’s capability. Although I had sent someone to hinder the True Daoist in their party, the Young War Immortal unleashed a peculiar technique and killed our Sacred King Realm assassin, ultimately causing our assassination attempt to fail. If I had sent more people, perhaps we could have succeeded. Furthermore, someone destroyed the array and that alarmed the other True Daoists in Dark Kun City.” Yin Mei stood before him, her lovely face filled with anxiety. She made her report apologetically and kneeled on the ground.

Gu Changge listened to her report, then pondered deeply for a moment before gesturing for her to rise. “No matter. I cannot fault you for this unexpected turn of events. I did not expect the Young War Immortal to have such ability and also believed that this mission was foolproof.”

He had no intention of placing blame on Yin Mei for the unsuccessful assassination. The Young War Immortal had been spending a lot of time with Jiang Chen and Niu Tian, so it was no surprise that the aura of the Fortuitous One had rubbed off on him. Thus, it was understandable that he would suddenly perform a miracle during such a critical moment. Now that the assassination had failed, Gu Changge needed to find a way to deal with the aftermath, as it had caused quite a commotion in the city.

Although the Young War Immortal and others might suspect him, Gu Changge was not worried that they would be able to produce evidence against him. However, he was aware that his next attempt to assassinate the Young War Immortal would be significantly more challenging.

“Well then I shall continue sending more people, Young Master. I refuse to believe we can’t get rid of the Young War Immortal.” Yin Mei nodded, frustrated at her inability to carry out Gu Changge’s order. Although Gu Changge didn’t blame her, she couldn’t help but feel responsible for her own incompetence.

Gu Changge shook his head. “There is no need at this moment. The Young War Immortal will undoubtedly be on high alert following this incident.”

“Yes, Young Master,” Yin Mei humbly replied.

[Do I have to do this myself?] Gu Changge contemplated for a moment. He didn’t consider to involve Ah Da, who was a Quasi-Nirvana Realm expert. After all, the Young War Immortal was first attacked by the Successor of Demonic Arts then by assassins. All Forces were extremely vigilant about the safety of their own Successors nowadays. Besides, Gu Changge couldn’t guarantee that Ah Da would be able to carry out the task without leaving any evidence behind.

If he were to tackle the problem on his own, he might succeed but this would come with a significant amount of risk since he was being closely watched by many in Dark Kun City. For now, Gu Changge didn’t want to cause various the Forces of the Upper Realm to join forces against him, so he must wait patiently for the right opportunity to present itself.

“Being in the limelight truly makes it difficult to do certain things openly.” Gu Changge shook his head and set his teacup aside.

If it became apparent that Gu Changge intended to eliminate the Young War Immortal, it could lead to significant unrest throughout the Upper Realm. Many Forces would not tolerate such an action. If Gu Changge were to act without cause, it could set a dangerous precedent for him to attack other Successors of various Forces. This could potentially serve as a justification for the other Forces to launch an attack against him or even the Gu Family. Despite his impressive abilities, Gu Changge still lacked the power to fully dominate the entire Upper Realm.

“Fortune had smiled upon him this time. I wonder if he will venture into Kun Mountain. Should he do so, I shall make sure to personally take care of him.” Gu Changge smiled, unperturbed by the matter.

What could a mere Young War Immortal possibly do? Even if he were to reveal Su Qingge’s true identity to the War Immortal Manor, it would likely have little impact without any concrete evidence. Unless the Young War Immortal was able to capture Su Qingge, his words held little weight.

“What inconvenience could the Young War Immortal possibly bring upon you? As soon as you leave Dark Kun City, eliminating the Young War Immortal will be as easy as crushing an ant.” Yin Mei nodded before gracefully picking up the teapot and filling Gu Changge’s cup to the brim.

An enigmatic smile spread across Gu Changge’s face as he reached out and pulled Yin Mei into his arms. “You’ve reminded me of something important. This incident has presented me with an ideal opportunity. Yin Mei, go issue an order announcing my intention to host a banquet in the Starcatcher Pavillion in two day’s time and invite many young prodigies in Dark Kun City to discuss the invasion into Kun Mountain and the rescue of Ji Shengchu… no, the rescue of a Human Ancestor. I would love to see who has the audacity to refuse my invitation.”