I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 884: See you again; you and those behind you will all be sacrificed

Even now, he remained both stunned and angered, yearning to identify the culprit who framed him. The individuals from the Southern Immortal Realm shared King Luo’s sentiments.They were unwilling to bear unwarranted blame during this critical time. It was evident that someone deliberately aimed to trap them, pitting the Central Immortal Realm against them.

“All immortal kings from the Central Immortal Domain pay their respect, my lord,” they declared as the golden Dao-building expert halted outside the Moon King Palace.

Once all the immortal kings had assembled, they respectfully refrained from airborne movement and descended to the ground. expressing their sentiments.

This development left the guests in the Immortal Bamboo Forest in silent contemplation. Every gaze turned toward Gu Changge, but no one dared to speak or respond.

The Immortal King Ku Yin, Old Immortal King Gu Xuan, and others abandoned their conversations and directed their attention outside the mansion. Despite the tense atmosphere, Gu Changge remained seated at the banquet. He took a sip of his drink without uttering a word.

The peaceful silence persisted, making the arriving immortal kings sense the oppressive and solemn ambience. Moon King had already informed Old Immortal King Gu Xuan, Immortal King Ao Di, and others about the Southern Immortal Realm’s situation through a protective barrier.

While the immortal kings from the Central Immortal Domain claimed to be entangled in a fog on their journey, trapping them and preventing escape, the truth remained uncertain.

Furthermore, Gu Changge had yet to speak, leaving everyone in suspense about his emotions and thoughts, discouraging them from saying more.

“Let’s continue with the festivities. Keep the drinks flowing.”

Gu Changge finally spoke and cast a nonchalant glance at the gathered crowd before casually remarking. With a casual wave of his sleeve, it seemed the entire world vanished. In an instant, the immortal kings outside the Moon Palace felt the repercussions of the universe, only to find themselves transported inside the Moon Palace.

As they laid eyes on Gu Changge seated before them for the first time, a moment of astonishment passed, quickly replaced by expressions of deep respect. Their glimpses into the true immortal’s mind had only revealed a vague outline, leaving Gu Changge’s true face shrouded in mystery. Now, faced with his youthful appearance, they were taken aback.

What.

Wang Ziji, among the group of immortal kings, stood separated from the crowd, utterly stunned. Her expression conveyed disbelief, frozen in place like a clay sculpture. The reality before her seemed too incredible to grasp, and her emotions were a whirlwind of doubt. Questions raced through her mind.

How could this be?

Why was he here?

Could he be the figure that struck fear and panic into the Immortal Realm?

Wang Ziji struggled to accept the truth, finding the situation surreal. In the upper realm, she sensed that Gu Changge harbored many secrets beneath his seemingly easy going exterior. However, she never fathomed his true identity. Witnessing it firsthand left her utterly disconnected from reality.

While at the True Immortal Academy, she had been intensely curious about Gu Changge’s secrets, making numerous attempts to uncover them. Despite his calm demeanor, Gu Changge appeared particularly intrigued by Jiang Chuchu, another Human Ancestor Hall holy maiden.

To Wang Ziji, Gu Changge remained an enigmatic figure, shrouded in mystery like a fog. Despite her initial positive impressions, her encounters in the Eight Desolations and Ten Regions drastically altered her perception.

Gu Changge proved dangerous and ruthless, concealing a cold and heartless nature beneath his outwardly easygoing and humble demeanor.

In the face of countless beings from the Eight Desolations and Ten Regions, he dispatched them without a hint of emotion, treating the world as if its inhabitants were mere pawns.

However, it was Gu Changge’s distinctive character that lingered in Wang Ziji’s memory to the extent that, even before being led away from the upper realm by the immortal king of the Wang family, she contemplated whether to disclose the truth to Gu Changge. Unfortunately, time rushed by, and her family members remained unaware even in this current life. This became a source of regret for Wang Ziji.

The gap between the Immortal Realm and the Upper Realm, the Heavenly Passage, was vast—comparable to the distance between this end of the starry sky and the opposite shore. Even if an Immortal King desired to journey to the Upper Realm, it proved exceedingly challenging, with the laws of the world and the will of heaven and earth working against such endeavors.

Under normal circumstances, Wang Ziji might never have had the chance to reencounter Gu Changge in her lifetime. However, fate had other plans, bringing them together at this unique time and place, especially with his unexpected appearance.

Wang Ziji snapped back to reality, her expression a mix of complexity. She entertained the idea of stepping forward to acknowledge him, yet words eluded her, and she remained rooted in place. Her character wouldn’t have wavered in the past, but circumstances had evolved.

Gu Changge was still present, but was he the same as he once was? How many years had passed since their last meeting? Did time in the Immortal Realm flow similarly to that in the Upper Realm, spanning hundreds of years or more?

In this contemplative moment, Wang Ziji recalled the personal jade pendant she had requested from Gu Changge—a token representing a favor he owed her. Gu Changge had agreed to fulfill one of her requests within reasonable bounds. The cherished jade pendant remained carefully kept by her.

Standing quietly, she observed King Luo, the two immortal kings from the Wang family, and the others from the Central Immortal Realm paying their respects. Fear gripped her, yet she endeavored to explain the preceding events as she anxiously awaited Gu Changge’s response.

Several Immortal Kings swore solemn oaths in the name of the Dao-building expert of Heaven, fervently asserting their innocence. King Luo, stripped of his former immortal king prestige, took extra care in explaining the circumstances, anxious to be understood by Gu Changge.

Despite being the most potent force in the current Immortal Realm, each immortal king possessed the power to obliterate ancient worlds and universes, their dominance beyond imagination. Yet, they were Immortal Kings, exhibiting fear and trepidation towards a young man.

Gu Changge, seated and sipping wine leisurely, paid no attention to the Immortal Kings from the Central Immortal Realm.

“If you claim innocence, how am I to trust your words?” he asked casually, his demeanor unruffled.

A single declaration, a pledge to the heavens—do you wish to put all of this behind you?

He understood that, with their stature, these Immortal Kings would never dare to do such an act. After all, they carried the lineage of their respective ethnic groups and the destiny of the entire Central Immortal Realm. They might consider such a reckless move if they were willing to face destruction and drag their mortal people and domain into oblivion.

Despite knowing this, Gu Changge deliberately posed the question to instill fear and extract information about the responsible force.

“My lord, it truly was not our doing. We found ourselves caught by an unforeseen fog,” spoke a venerable immortal king from the Central Immortal Realm, the fear evident in his voice.

Upon reaching the Southern Immortal Realm, we realized that the events were in no way intended to disrespect or offend you.

The remaining immortal kings from the Central Immortal Realm trembled, their minds clouded by uncertainty about Gu Changge’s intentions. Since attaining the status of Immortal King, they had never experienced such unease within a single day. It felt as if their fate had been sealed, awaiting the impending moment of judgment.

The immortal kings who had arrived earlier, including Immortal King Ao Di, Old Immortal King Gu Xuan, and Immortal King Xue Xiao, maintained a cautious silence, deliberately keeping a distance from their counterparts in the Central Immortal Realm to avoid any potential repercussions. This heightened King Luo’s and his companions’ anxiety, fearing unforeseen accidents.

“How can I trust all of you?” Gu Changge inquired calmly, fixing his gaze upon King Luo.

The intensity of his stare felt like a beam of immortal light, unsettling King Luo, causing him to step back with a pale complexion. Cold sweat broke out, and he sensed that Gu Changge’s words were directed specifically at him.

At this moment, King Luo harbored an intense hatred for the individuals who framed and plotted against him, wishing to dismember them to alleviate his fury.

“My lord, I am determined to uncover the culprit and prove my innocence,” King Luo declared through gritted teeth, feeling the vibrations under Gu Changge’s scrutiny.

Gu Changge smiled faintly, posing a challenging question, “What if you can’t find them? What if I decide to end your life?”

The question left King Luo sweating, as the sudden appearance of a mysterious force, possibly controlled by multiple immortal kings, presented a daunting challenge.

Without giving King Luo a chance to respond, Gu Changge continued, “I wonder if you were the puppet master behind the one who claimed to be King Luo.”

The words sent shockwaves through the immortal kings of the Central Immortal Realm, conveying a genuine and terrifying intent to kill. Sensing the gravity of the situation, King Luo promptly pledged, “Rest assured, my lord. I will unearth the culprit.”

In the eyes of the world, King Luo, an immortal king of great stature, now appeared as an ordinary cultivator, stripped of any distinction.

The gathering of Immortal Kings felt a shared sympathy, their hearts quivering with unease.

One of the immortal kings couldn’t help but speculate, “Could this be related to the former Immortal Palace?” They considered the broken flag and immortal arrow, suspecting a connection between the mysterious force and the Immortal Palace. It might have inherited the Immortal Palace’s legacy even if it wasn’t a direct descendant. However, the impact of such a connection seemed limited, as the Immortal Palace had been destroyed in its prime.

This suggestion prompted many present to ponder its validity. The Immortal Palace, once the dominant force in the Immortal Domain, left its mark across countless epochs.

Despite the vast passage of time, the legacy of immortal forces lingered. Although generations of immortal kings had searched for Immortal Palace ruins and caves, the clues were scarce.

King Luo’s expression shifted as he considered the possibility that the force was a remnant of the Immortal Palace. The notion struck a chord, given his past actions of destroying a palace complex left by the Immortal Palace and openly disparaging its fallenglory.

Gu Changge, sensing the need to move on, set down his wine glass and calmly addressed the assembly.

“In fewer than a hundred years, the creatures of the boundless sea will cross over.”

This revelation shocked all the immortal kings present, recalling the vision that had manifested at the world’s end. At their level, they understood the gravity of the situation regarding the boundless sea.

The creatures capable of crossing the boundless sea were undoubtedly far superior, potentially ascending to the status of emperors.

“Only a hundred years?” exclaimed the old Immortal King Gu Xuan, his shock evident.

Despite his proficiency in deduction, the intricacies of matters related to the boundless sea eluded him, leaving him uneasy and perceiving it as an ominous sign.

According to ancient texts, these creatures were referred to as hunters or predators, akin to tribes in a wild period. They focused on the dark forest’s law, scouring the expansive, dark sea with the natural world as their target.

Another veteran immortal king elaborated on the hunters’ nature, emphasizing the vulnerability of the natural world without the protection of the true spirit. Exposed to the boundless sea, the natural world’s aura acted like a lighthouse, attracting the attention of these hunters.

An inquisitive Immortal King, who had not previously pondered the consequences, now voiced his concerns about the impending arrival of the hunters.

The collective expressions of the immortal kings revealed their understanding and the gravity of the situation.

“At that time, the entire Mountain and Sea Real World will be reduced to a sacrifice,” the veteran immortal king added with a heavy heart.

Gu Changge, maintaining a slight smile, addressed their apprehensions. “If they come, they will sacrifice this world, guide the mortal world behind them to come, and then conquer this world. All creatures, everything—from ancient times to the present—and the entire universe will be sacrificed.”

He continued solemnly, “You and the people behind you will be no exception.”