I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 968: My Daoist Friend will not die poor, a restless factor

The ancient battleship of the Spiritual Realm, cloaked in black light, resembled a menacing giant beast straddling the expanse. Yet, in this moment, it appeared frozen in place, unable to advance.

The endless mist churned and gradually settled, as if ensnared in a particular void. This vessel was the ancient warship, gathering the power of all epochs of the Spiritual Realm, sacrificed together. Within its depths lay a universe and a world.

Moreover, it had been forged from various rare materials, sufficient to withstand attacks and vanquish ancient cultivators of the Dao Realm, traversing boundless expanses. In the realm beyond, it stood as the most formidable weapon of war, invincible and terrifying to behold.

Gu Changge alighted upon this ancient warship and strolled towards the assembly with unhurried steps, exhibiting a mild curiosity about the vessel, casting a few additional glances.

For the formidable figures from the Spiritual Realm, they felt akin to fish on a chopping board, frozen in place, not daring to make a move. All they could do was await the young man at the forefront to address them.

Wan Yanxiu’s brow glistened with cold sweat, his heart fraught with restlessness and terror, apprehensive that Gu Changge might view them as mere prey. In such a scenario, resistance was futile; they could only await their demise.

The Bone Ancestor refrained from speaking too much, feeling a chill down his spine.

“You needn’t fear me so,” Gu Changge remarked, as if he could discern their every thought, offering a light smile. “It’s been quite some time since I encountered other beings in the real world, and it just so happens that I’ve come across you.”

Yet, despite his reassurances, the fear in Wan Yanxiu’s, Bone Ancestor’s, and others’ hearts remained unabated. From their perspective, Gu Changge’s words implied he had slumbered here for countless years, awakening only recently. The once-thriving real world had been devoured and reduced to a desolate, silent forbidden domain by his hand.

Naturally, they refrained from uttering a word. A formidable presence like Gu Changge was a forbidden domain unto itself. He roamed the boundless expanse, and wherever he wandered, there lay a forbidden zone.

Journeying across the vast sea, encountering unknown and forbidden territories was the greatest concern.

Clearly, their luck had taken a turn for the worse as they found themselves abruptly standing before Gu Changge.

“Are you the most powerful individual from the Spiritual Realm?” Gu Changge’s gaze settled on Wan Yanxiu once more, after surveying the ancient warship.

In truth, he had little desire to intervene extensively in this calamity that befell the Dao Chang Realm. However, traversing the confusion, he found himself lacking in manpower.

While the Bone Ancestor was suitable, one person alone was insufficient.

The foremost individual from the Spiritual Realm before him had already attained the true Dao realm. Alongside them stood several ancient cultivators of the Daoist realm. Though they had not ascended to the true Dao realm, they were all at the levels of first and second decline, constituting a formidable force.

These individuals regarded him as the master of the forbidden zone, a fact which Gu Changge did not dispute. In any case, he intended to stride forth as a demon lord, unconcerned with his origins.

Faced with Gu Changge’s inquiries, Wan Yanxiu didn’t dare conceal anything; he knew he couldn’t. So, he answered honestly.

It seemed Gu Changge had no intention of consuming them as sustenance. Yet, Wan Yanxiu couldn’t shake off his vigilance, suspecting that their cultivation levels were deemed “too weak” to catch Gu Changge’s attention. At least, a powerhouse like the Bone Ancestor likely met the criteria for being devoured.

The Bone Ancestor’s thoughts mirrored Wan Yanxiu’s. He believed these resurrected masters of the forbidden zone fed on the surrounding real world, a notion supported and verified in the boundless sea. For these realms, such feeding constituted dark turmoil, breeding darkness and destruction.

Gu Changge’s task now likely involved locating the nearest real world to devour, replenishing the blood lost during countless epochs of slumber. Just as myriad thoughts raced through the Bone Ancestor’s mind, Gu Changge posed another question, asking directly about their destination this time.

The Bone Ancestor’s heart quivered, realizing his suspicions were correct. All he could do was hope Gu Changge would find a suitable real world; otherwise, he might become the target—an unsettling prospect, indeed.

Being able to ascend to the sixth decline, the Bone Ancestor was no ordinary individual; with a sharp intellect, he could discern many possibilities in an instant.

Wan Yanxiu, being forthright, disclosed that they had discovered the coordinates of a newly formed real world. It wasn’t far, and with the ancient warship’s speed, they would reach it within a few years at most.

“A newborn realm…” Gu Changge appeared unaware, nodding in surprise at the revelation, though a hint of regret lingered.

The Bone Ancestor immediately grasped his meaning. After all, a newborn realm was fragile, likely lacking in Dao realm cultivators and far inferior to the Spiritual Realm in terms of background. Rather than targeting the fledgling realm, it would be more beneficial to set sights on the Spiritual Realm, potentially paving the way to the ancient real world.

He respectfully addressed Gu Changge, “My lord, these individuals from the Spiritual Realm have traversed the boundless sea for many years, exploring numerous regions. They likely possess coordinates to some ancient real worlds and may even know the locations of powerful realms…”

The Bone Ancestor hoped Gu Changge would direct his attention elsewhere, fearing they might miss their chance. As he spoke, a faint blue flame danced in his empty eye sockets, and he glanced at Wan Yanxiu, who understood his intent.

At this juncture, the best course was to divert trouble to the east, prompting Gu Changge to consider other real worlds and allowing them to slip away. After all, a deceased troublemaker was of no consequence.

Wan Yanxiu spoke respectfully, “My lord, we indeed possess numerous coordinates to ancient real worlds, not far from here. There’s even a formidable realm known as Xudan Realm, boasting vast territory and control over many real worlds. Our Spiritual Realm was once a realm under its dominion…”

Xudan Realm resided in the boundless sea, ranking among the most powerful real worlds, with an extensive and profound foundation.

Simultaneously, it served as the central domain for many ancient real worlds. Each era demanded significant turnover of resources and fortune from these realms.

“Xudan Realm?” Gu Changge’s interest piqued upon hearing this. He had been planning to locate the remaining real worlds, and this revelation would save him considerable effort. Furthermore, Xudan Realm boasted considerable power.

This implied that within Xudan Realm, the strongest individuals had reached at least the ancestral Dao realm, surpassing the seventh decline.

Observing Gu Changge’s intrigued expression, the Bone Ancestor and Wan Yanxiu breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Rest assured, my lord, we’ll uncover all you wish to know,” they assured respectfully, then escorted Gu Changge into the splendid hall beyond.

Wan Yanxiu personally instructed the people of the Spiritual Realm to bring forth an array of rare wines and delicacies.

Deep within the ancient warship lay a world of its own. Though not as grand as the real world, it surpassed many ancient realms in vastness and resource abundance.

Wan Yanxiu and the other ancient cultivators were revered as the ancestors of the Spiritual Realm, their seniority dating back eons. Ordinary clan members rarely glimpsed their faces, let alone interacted with them. Typically, they remained in seclusion to conserve their vital energies.

Today marked the first occasion they commanded the clan to prepare such lavish offerings.

When the Bone Ancestor boarded the ship, Wan Yanxiu refrained from such ostentation. Partly, it was due to the Bone Ancestor’s skeletal visage, which evoked eerie terror. As soon as he set foot on the ship, he consumed one of their clan members.

Wan Yanxiu couldn’t control Bone Ancestor’s inclinations, thus he dared not issue orders without authorization.

However, the Gu Changge before him was different; he still bore the visage of a human, exuding an aura of immortality. In such circumstances, observing proper etiquette for esteemed guests was imperative.

The hall, though splendid, differed in decor from that of the Dao Chang Realm. Gu Changge paid little heed to such details, taking his seat at the head of the table with natural ease.

Only Wan Yanxiu and the Bone Ancestor were entitled to sit beside him. Even the other Spiritual Realm clan members, despite their status as ancient cultivators, could only stand nearby, serving dishes and drinks.

The clan members tasked with delivering the delicacies were so stunned by the scene that their legs trembled, barely able to stand. Ancestors who were seldom seen emerged and congregated, relegated to serving dishes on the sidelines. Even the most enigmatic Great Patriarch appeared, exhibiting utmost respect.

Who was the young man in white seated at the head?

Such a formidable assembly instilled trembling in their hearts, rendering them unable to lift their gazes. The beautiful dancers of the Spiritual Realm, ordered to perform, found their legs weak and faces pale, their movements awkward and strained as they suppressed their nervousness and fear of error.

This spectacle rendered the Spiritual Realm powerhouses powerless, unable to reprimand these clansmen, as they, too, grappled with anxiety and restlessness.

In their view, Gu Changge’s presence was a destabilizing factor, capable of wreaking havoc upon the Spiritual Realm at any moment.

“This wine tastes exquisite…” Gu Changge commented casually, lightly swirling the wine glass.

The pair of glasses were crafted from some rare fairy material, filled with crystal-clear wine of exceptional smoothness. One could even discern stars twinkling within the liquid, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

Wan Yanxiu’s face lit up upon hearing the praise, and he explained with a smile, “This wine is known as Star Wine. If it pleases you, my lord, I can have our clan members bring more jars.”

“It’s brewed by a genius in our family, who gathers various sources of starlight scattered throughout the vastness. It holds great benefits for Daoist cultivators.”

“In addition to Star Wine, she also crafts other rare wines, each with its own unique flavor.”

Even for him, these wines were exceedingly rare, difficult to indulge in with just a few sips due to their complex and time-consuming brewing process.