I Am the Fated Villain
chapter-573

Kun Mountain was shrouded in a thick blanket of fog. Mist swirled around in every direction, infused with the lingering energies of the recent battles fought by the supreme experts, which could not dissipate even after countless years. It was impossible for even the most powerful divine sense to breach such dense chaotic energies.

The Ji Family members trailed after Gu Changge as they ventured deeper into Kun Mountain. Over the past few days, they didn’t have to do much of the fighting as it was Gu Changge who deftly handled the obstacles that arose along their path. Though Jiang Chen occasionally lent a hand in steering them clear of danger, it was ultimately thanks to Gu Changge’s guidance that they could make their way to their destination unscathed.

Even Ji Chuyue, who harboured a deep fear of Gu Changge, found solace in his presence now. With Gu Changge on their side, they felt safe and the daunting task of rescuing their Prime Ancestor seemed much more manageable. The once tense and cautious group now moved with more ease and confidence.

“Perhaps we’ll really be able to save our Prime Ancestor…” Hope filled Ji Chuyue’s heart as she gazed at Gu Changge.

As they made their way to the destination, Ji Chuyue deliberately avoided making eye contact with Jiang Chen. She believed that after their encounter in the dungeon, Jiang Chen must have given up on her and come to the realisation that seeking revenge against Gu Changge was futile. With this in mind, she saw no point in them to speak with each other again. Her only wish was for Jiang Chen to survive this and let go of his hatred toward Gu Changge, so that he could live a peaceful life of his own.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!* All of a sudden, a thick grey fog appeared out of nowhere. The chilling and eerie gusts of wind that accompanied it penetrated the souls of those present. In just the blink of an eye, the world around them was enveloped in darkness, with the thick fog obscuring all traces of light.

“What’s this?” The expressions of those from the Ji Family turned pale with shock. Even the leading Ancestors, who were usually composed and collected, felt a sense of unease creeping over them. The ominous grey fog was unlike any they had ever encountered before, and seemed to possess an powerful and deadly aura that could engulf them entirely.

In an instant, everyone became extremely alert and vigilant. Some couldn’t even speak without a quivering voice. After all, they had never encountered such a situation in their many years of cultivation.

Even the True Daoists were visibly disturbed, their faces turning pale and their bodies trembling uncontrollably. They couldn’t shake off the overwhelming feeling that this dense fog had engulfed countless lives over countless eras, and the gravity of this realisation weighed heavily on them. Though they had once considered the rumours of Kun Mountain’s danger to be exaggerated, this eerie scene changed their minds, sending shivers down their spines.

“Everyone, stay close together and don’t act alone. This must be one of the great dangers of Kun Mountain,” the Head of the Ji Family instructed while solemnly holding up an enigmatic ancient bronze mirror.

The smooth surface of the mirror was shining with a bright light that sought to dispel the ominous grey fog. Unfortunately, a sharp hiss cut through the air as the mirror began to corrode and fracture at an alarming pace. Within moments, it exploded and shattered into shimmering powder that scattered across the sky.

The atmosphere in the Ji Family shifted as they laid their eyes on the treasure. It was an extremely mysterious artifact that the Head of the family had discovered in an ancient ruin many years ago. In some respects, it was actually even more powerful than a Dao Artifact.

The fact that the grey fog easily tarnished the mirror and caused it to shatter with tremendous force showed just how terrifying the fog was. The members of the Ji Family gathered together, not daring to underestimate the potential danger that the grey fog posed. Despite this, there were still many unfortunate souls who were swiftly consumed by the fog, unable to utter even a single cry before vanishing.

“What the hell is that?” The faces of Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue contorted in fear too. Initially, they had considered themselves fortunate and thought that their journey to Kun Mountain was not as frightening as the tales had made it out to be. The appearance of the ominous gray fog truly shattered their illusions and gave them a rude awakening.

“Where is Young Master Changge?” Several members of the Ji Family were quick to notice the issue at hand. As soon as the dense fog descended, the front was shrouded in it, causing many to lose sight of Gu Changge. His absence only added to their growing unease, as Gu Changge’s presence had been a source of comfort for them.

Now that even Gu Changge appeared to have been consumed by the thick fog, the remaining members of the Ji Family started panicking. The fog was simply too overwhelming and peculiar, leaving them with a bad feeling that they would be consumed and killed within it too.

“Young Master Changge should be fine. This grey fog shouldn’t last long and will dissipate soon.” Ji Hao, the Head of the Ji Family, furrowed his brow with concern, yet tried his best to calm everyone down.

“Young Master Gu’s remarkable strength surpasses our imagination. If even he is unable to do anything about the fog, then there is little we can do but patiently wait for it to dissipate. Perhaps we’ll be able to see him soon,” an Ancestor of the Ji Family spoke in a deep voice.

A small bronze cauldron hovered above his head, bobbing up and down, while Divine Chains made from Principles dangled down from it, attempting to repel the grey fog. Unfortunately, the same hissing sounds were heard before it also quickly disintegrated, unable to withstand the fog. The sight only intensified the fear in everyone’s heart, causing them to spiral into even greater panic.

<This phenomenon does not seem to be natural in Kun Mountain, but rather it seems to have manifested out of nowhere. I believe that it was intentionally created by someone. It’s even possible that it’s caused by Gu Changge, who have disappeared…>

Jiang Chen felt equally uneasy about the situation as he trailed behind Ji Chuyue and the others, but he didn’t expect to hear this explanation from the Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation.

“This grey fog is intentionally created by someone? What is Gu Changge thinking?” Jiang Chen’s back was drenched in cold sweat. He felt a shiver down his spine and felt his scalp crawl as he wondered about Gu Changge’s intention in creating this fog. [Is he trying to conceal something or kill someone amidst the ensuing chaos?]

“Damn it! Gu Changge must have sensed that An Xi and the others are nearby!”

Jiang Chen’s face paled as his mind raced with a sudden realisation. He started scanning his surroundings fearfully, but the thick grey fog made it impossible to see anything clearly, even True Daoists didn’t dare to act recklessly.

Besides, even if he knew that An Xi and the others were in danger, what could he possibly do?

Meanwhile on a snow field not too far away from Jiang Chen and the others, An Xi, the Young War Immortal, Niu Tian and other cultivators from the An Clan and War Immortal Mansion marched on, occasionally looking up to gauge the remaining distance.

“I stumbled upon quite a number of precious rocks and even managed to gather a few rare magical herbs rumoured to be stained by the blood of the Immortal King. This has truly been a fruitful expedition.” An Wangshan, An Xi’s Grand Uncle, smiled while stroking his beard as he conversed with another True Daoist from the War Immortal Mansion.

Their relationship was flourishing as they joined forces and ventured into Kun Mountain together, offering each other invaluable support and gaining numerous opportunities along the way. The positive experience put them in a good mood.

“We’re nowhere near the heart of Kun Mountain yet, which should be a treasure trove. Our luck would be truly exceptional if we could come across even a single droplet of the Immortal King’s blood.” The True Daoist from the War Immortal Mansion nodded with a smile, unable to hide his enthusiasm when he spoke of his coveted prize.

“Hmm? What’s with the sudden fog?” An Xi and the Young War Immortal who had been silently following behind the two True Daoists suddenly sensed something was amiss. A thick grey fog was creeping in from all directions, covering the sky and giving the impression that it could engulf the entire universe.

Everyone was immediately on high alert now.

An Wangshan and the True Daoist from the War Immortal Mansion frowned, feeling uneasy about this sudden turn of events.

“What is this?” For some reason, An Xi had a bad feeling in her heart as a chill ran down her spine.

The snow field was now shrouded in a dark, ominous fog that seemed to swallow everything in its path. The ground shook as if an earthquake was about to strike, and the sound of distant footsteps echoed through the air. Despite the distance, the footsteps felt unnervingly close, causing everyone’s hearts to race with fear. It was as if an invisible hand was squeezing their hearts, making it hard to breathe.

“It’s him! Gu Changge! Why did he come here all of a sudden?” As the figure of Gu Changge emerged before them, An Xi, the Young War Immortal, and Niu Tian were taken aback. He stood there in silence, clad in pristine white that blended seamlessly with the world around him. It was as if he was some supreme being, revered by countless deities from ancient times.

Behind him, a menacing grey mist billowed forth, threatening to consume everything in its path. This sight nearly caused everyone’s heart to stop and their blood to freeze. The countenances of An Wangshan and the True Daoist from the War Immortal Mansion immediately turned serious. They didn’t expect Gu Changge to be the cause of all this.

“He must have come to silence me.”

The bad premonition in the heart of the Young War Immortal came true. His heart raced and a cold shiver ran down his spine. He knew Gu Changge wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily. While he was in Dark Kun City, he was relatively safe due to the presence of many but the situation was entirely different in Kun Mountain. Killing him here would be as easy as crushing an ant to Gu Changge.

“You were the one who orchestrated my assassination. It seems like you are eager to get rid of me today!” the Young War Immortal said while staring at Gu Changge intently with an ugly look on his face.

Gu Changge strode toward them calmly and shook his head slightly. “I’ve been waiting for you here for a long time.”

“Gu Changge, what exactly are you trying to do?” The True Daoist from the War Immortal Mansion was filled with fear as he was aware that none of them here was a match for Gu Changge. They were astonished by his audacity to wait for them here. It was clear that his intention was hostile!

“An Yan, what is all this about?” An Wangshan gazed at the figure standing behind Gu Changge. He had never anticipated that An Yan would side with Gu Changge.

“You wretch! How could you collude with an outsider to harm your own family? Are you not afraid of the consequences that await you once Father finds out about this?” The look on An Xi’s face was also extremely unpleasant.

“Even at this point, both of you still fail to understand the situation huh? You’re all going to die here today. Who will find out about this?” An Yan looked at them coldly and kept the conversation short.

Despite the fear that engulfed him, the Young War Immortal summoned his courage and bellowed, “Gu Changge is here to silence us as we know the secret he seeks to conceal. He has come with the sole purpose of intercepting us. We must take him down, or all of us will die here!”

He already knew Gu Changge’s intentions, and the eerie fog of unknown origin only added to his advantage. Not only did it obscure his activities, but it also concealed his whereabouts, allowing him to dispose of their corpses without a trace.

The disappearance of the members from the An Clan and the War Immortal Mansion would then be perceived as a mere accident, and no one would link it to Gu Changge.

Gu Changge remained composed and collected, coming here with the sole purpose to silence his targets.

“Kill him!!” Many experts unleashed their might simultaneously, supreme treasures like heavenly blades, divine swords, ancient lamps, and green cauldrons appeared, radiating a resplendent glow that illuminated the sky. The sheer power of these treasures was nothing short of astonishing.

*Buzz!!* With a flick of his fingers, Gu Changge sent shockwaves through the space in front of him and the sky itself. A radiant, pale golden sword energy surged forth from his hand with a deafening rumble that sounded as if the world was collapsing.

In an instant, the group of attackers charging toward him were obliterated, their bodies blown apart by the unstoppable force of the Sword Qi. They were reduced into a blood mist, both their physical bodies and souls destroyed. It was a horrifying display of power, leaving everyone quaking in fear and unable to summon their will to fight.

Gu Changge’s cultivation had reached unfathomable heights. He could effortlessly kill them as if he were crushing mere ants.

“Kill him! Fight him with all your might!” An Wangshan’s eyes blazed with fury as he let out a fierce roar as he appeared to be burning. Like a thunderous force that could shake the very foundations of the world, a divine furnace materialised and rushed out from the top of his head. Like an ancient mythical beast, it charged towards Gu Changge with a murderous intent.

As a True Daoist, his aura was as terrifying as a volcano eruption. The sheer intensity of his energy could have shattered stars millions of kilometres away if not for the unique nature of their surroundings.

In a swift motion, the True Daoist from the War Immortal Mansion transformed into a dazzling golden light and flew toward Gu Changge from another direction. His speed was beyond words, and with a supreme fist technique, he charged at Gu Changge like a god of war descending upon the mortal realm.

Amidst the menacing fist shadows, the Six Paths of Reincarnation faintly emerged before transforming into six ancient pillars that tried to suppress Gu Changge.

In the face of a joint assault from two True Daoists, Gu Changge remained calm as he stepped forward. As his opponent’s fists descended upon him, he lifted his hand and reached forward. What seemed like an entire universe was materialising before him, its supreme aura radiating from his very being, accompanied by a thunderous and awe-inspiring force. The stars themselves seemed to orbit around him, crushing and eradicating the six ancient pillars.

*Chi!* With lightning speed, Gu Changge unleashed an unparalleled Sword Qi in another direction, imbued with the ultimate principle of world destruction. A jet-black beam of light ripped through the air, materialising into a fearsome dragon of destruction that soared into the sky in a flash.

*Pu!* The sword-like beam swiftly passed by, appearing as if it had traversed the vast expanse of the sky and the land over countless eras, and finally coming here to annihilate the world.

“What’s this?” The True Daoist from the War Immortal Mansion was struck with terror, his very soul frozen and unable to move. Despite his arsenal of magic weapons and defensive techniques, none could withstand the devastating attack that pierced through them all. Even in death, his eyes remained open. The sword-like beam that was less than an inch long left a gruesome hole between his brows. In the next moment, thousands of sword glows erupted from within his body.

*Boom!* In an instant, his whole body was riddled with piercing sword wounds, causing him to disintegrate. There was no trace of him being left behind, as both his body and soul were completely obliterated. Even in his final moments, he couldn’t even take out his Dao Artifact and his soul was forever buried.

“The Deathbringer Sword Technique Manual that Gu Xianer has acquired is not bad.” Gu Changge nodded slightly in approval, not paying any attention to the terrified gazes from those around him. He had just tested the power of the Deathbringer Sword Technique and he was not disappointed since he was able to easily slay a True Daoist under one second.

“The Ancestor is dead…” The War Immortal and the others were filled with intense fear. None of them expected their Ancestor to be killed by Gu Changge the moment they met. The vast gap between their strength left them feeling utterly hopeless and defeated.

Gu Changge approached them calmly, putting his hand in front of him with his palm facing down. An overwhelming pressure suppressed those who attempted to charge at him, causing them to fall to their knees and cough up blood.

Blood gushed out from every orifice in their bodies, leaving behind ghastly trails of blood before their spines were either twisted unnaturally or their bodies exploded.

*Dong!!* Suddenly, a massive blue cauldron appeared in the sky, releasing black and yellow aura. Its imperial might was so immense that a single strand of it could crush an entire continent. This was none other than An Wangshan’s Dao Artifact.

When he made a move against Gu Changge earlier, he had already taken out the treasure he had nurtured for countless years. As he witnessed the demise of the Ancestor from the War Immortal Mansion, a sense of dread and fear washed over him.

With just a single palm strike, Gu Changge’s overwhelming aura pressed down upon the area. The blue cauldron vibrated violently before being sent flying by a terrifying force. The impact of the crash left fractures all over its surface. The shockwave of the strike devastated the surroundings, reducing mountains to ashes and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

An Wangshan spat out a mouthful of blood as all his techniques were countered. He fell from the air, injuring his Source. The Dao Artifact was intricately linked to his soul and Gu Changge nearly destroyed it, naturally causing him to sustain severe damage.

“Mercy, Young Master Changge…!” As Gu Changge approached him, An Wangshan’s desperation overtook his sense of pride and he fell to his knees, pleading for mercy. It was during their confrontation that he fully grasped the futility of his situation, realising that he had no chance of resisting Gu Changge’s power.

In the present Upper Realm, the only formidable force that could match Gu Changge’s strength was probably the Remnant Immortals!

The Young War Immortal, An Xi and Niu Tian had collapsed onto the ground in defeat, their pale countenances filled with despair.

“Please spare me, Young Master Changge! I am willing to do anything for you, as long as you spare my life!” An Xi pleaded on her knees, her face etched with fear. She deeply regretted her decision to save Niu Tian back then and make an enemy of Gu Changge.

*Pu!!* Gu Changge’s expression never changed the entire time. With a graceful wave of his sleeves, he unleashed a terrifying aura, causing a thick mist to envelop the area. An Wangshan and An Xi immediately vanished before they could even scream, leaving nothing but dust in their wake.

As the Young War Immortal bore witness to the gruesome slaughter of his group, fear consumed him entirely. His hair was in disarray, and his appearance was pitiable. He looked nothing like the young prodigy he once was as he screamed, desperate to survive. “Gu Changge, even if you kill us, your secret will come to light sooner or later unless you could eliminate every soul in the Upper Realm! I have already informed my Master that in the event of my demise, he must release the photographic stone I entrusted to him to the public. This will expose what I have personally witnessed back then.”