I Am the Fated Villain

374: Such an embarrassing task, such a short-lived phenomenon?

Gu Changge contemplated the numerous plans ahead, no longer fixated on the Dao Chang Realm. His primary objective at this stage was to unravel the entire confusion, as this would provide him with greater possibilities and increased chances of success. He had previously noticed that the heavenly will had once struck down creatures in the boundless world, leading many to forget the origins of the heaven-slaying vaguely. This observation made Gu Changge wonder if the other two from the original world were scheming something.

Despite his grand ambitions, it was unlikely that these two individuals would engage with each other calmly, leaving him with no effective way to intervene. Reflecting on the years that had passed, he recognized that the true original ancestor would only value beings of equal standing. The three of them, as the original true ancestors, were fundamentally unique and conceptually singular. Their existence served to check and balance one another.

Like in the boundless world, the original world was incredibly mysterious and vast. Of the three supreme true ancestors, only one would appear in the same era, tasked with overseeing the law of heaven. Naturally, Gu Changge would not underestimate him; every step he took needed to be executed with utmost caution, leaving no room for mistakes. As an equal existence, he understood just how inconceivable, ineffable, and immeasurable the characters rooted in this realm truly were. This represented the limits of what concepts could convey, surpassing all imagination and thought within the world.

“My lord, our ancient warship is nearing the border of the civilization you seek. Do you wish to continue pursuing it?”

“I suspect the other party has noticed us and is employing some means to contact the civilization behind them, hoping to elicit a response.”

While Gu Changge was deep in thought, a voice broke through from outside the hall, snapping him back to reality. He nodded and allowed the individual to enter.

Dressed in a floor-length gown, Ling Huang walked in graceful lotus steps, emanating a faint fragrance as she reported directly. The Spiritual royal family had been tracking the ancient warship that sailed through the boundless sea using the branding coordinates provided by Gu Changge. Meanwhile, the army of the Lingxu royal family had assembled and was prepared for a significant battle, merely waiting for Gu Changge’s command to begin capturing the unknown civilization on that side.

Wanyanxiu and the others were anxious, apprehensive, and eager, uncertain about the level of civilization they were about to confront. Gu Changge had never revealed the true nature of the immortal civilization to them, nor had he investigated its strength. This time, after confirming its boundless coordinates, the Spiritual royal family moved to follow up and launch an attack, primarily because they did not perceive the civilization in question as a threat significant enough to warrant his concern.

“Is it approaching so quickly?” Gu Changge inquired. While he had been focused on the affairs of the Dao Chang Realm during this time, he had not paid attention to the immortal civilization.

Ling Huang nodded and replied, “The ancestors have sensed that the space and time of the universe around them are somewhat abnormal, with a peculiar force that seems to permeate every crevice and infiltrate every space. The creatures of this civilization may possess a unique form of existence, unlike ordinary beings that rely on their physical bodies to survive.”

As a Dao realm existence, if they could not even recognize such a distinction, they might as well not exist. In the boundless world, countless civilizations had emerged, some of which were remarkably peculiar, differing significantly from primarily flesh-based creatures. Ling Huang understood this well, so it was not surprising. However, more understanding was essential to deal with this relatively unusual civilization effectively. A hasty attack could lead to severe consequences.

Therefore, the ancestors recommended thoroughly investigating the situation before taking action, as they did not want to incur unnecessary sacrifices. However, they were hesitant to bring this up to Gu Changge, so they entrusted Ling Huang to convey their thoughts.

“My lord, should we ascertain the true nature of this civilization before discussing how to proceed with the attack?” Ling Huang inquired tentatively.

“Otherwise, I’m concerned that we may waste too much time and energy.”

“I understand. This matter certainly shouldn’t be rushed, but I’ve already made my plans; just follow my orders,” Gu Changge replied casually.

The way of existence of the immortal civilization was indeed somewhat unique. By combining certain strengths of the immortal civilization and deriving the peculiarities of its own existence from that foundation, they presented a distinct challenge.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The creatures of the immortal civilization, who focused primarily on cultivating spiritual power, had long abandoned their physical bodies, viewing them as nothing more than useless shells. The spirit was the ultimate secret to them, requiring constant cultivation and refinement. As a result, they transferred their spiritual power into various substances, both living and non-living. These could be as ephemeral as a cloud, a flame, a streamer, or as small as a grain of dust, a flower, or a blade of grass. If their spiritual power persisted, they would continue to exist indefinitely, becoming truly immortal and never facing extinction.

This method of existence bore similarities to the primordial spirit techniques found in the immortal civilization. In many ways, it could even be seen as an alternative method of “seizing the body.” However, as with many aspects of the world, particularly in the interpretation of Daoism, different paths often led to the same destination, and certain parallels were inevitable.

Still, viewing the creatures of the immortal civilization through the lens of primordial spirit techniques could lead to severe misjudgments and potential losses. But of course, with sufficient strength, whether dealing with a soul or a primordial spirit, either could be annihilated in a single thought, rendering such distinctions irrelevant.

After Ling Huang left to carry out Gu Changge’s orders, she summoned numerous beings from the realm of immortality, many of whom were immortal kings, and they gathered respectfully outside the hall, awaiting further instructions.

Then someone was dispatched to inform Chu Lian that his trial mission was approaching, and he was asked to prepare alongside the other younger generations. As the “Heavenly Guest” specifically recruited by Gu Changge from Juxian Village, Chu Lian was expected to undertake certain tasks for him. Moreover, Chu Lian had always been cautious, concerned that the Spiritual royal family’s army recruitment might impact him in the future.

To mitigate any potential risks, he had arrived at the front lines early. He mingled with a group of young individuals of good standing and backgrounds, which could provide him with protection from the frontline powerhouses in critical situations.

Curious about the nature of the mission Mr. Gu had planned and why Ling Huang had sent someone to inform him specifically, Chu Lian suddenly overheard a conversation among several companions nearby. He couldn’t help but perk up his ears to listen intently.

“Have you heard the news? It seems that something significant is about to happen this time… The clan elders even specifically summoned me,” a young woman with an attractive appearance said, her curiosity evident as she spoke.

“I heard that, too. This matter is very important, and my family has warned me to be cautious,” another added.

“My grandfather suddenly told me that the Spiritual royal family has entrusted us with a critical task, one that only younger generations like us—who aren’t highly cultivated and tend to go unnoticed—can handle.” R̃ΑΝȫ𐌱Ę𝒮

“If I complete it, I’ll receive great benefits. Even my grandfather and the others will be generously rewarded. For this reason, my grandfather gave me several precious divine weapons,” she continued.

The voices of these young men and women were deliberately kept low, just within Chu Lian’s hearing range.

“A task that can only be undertaken by the younger generation?” Chu Lian felt a surge of excitement. He had come to the front lines to save his life and seek opportunities for steady growth in strength. He was unwilling to risk his life on chaotic tasks, especially those the Spiritual royal family ordered. The prospect of taking on a task that sounded dangerous and lacked any guarantee of survival was something he would fervently avoid.

However, Chu Lian also received a mission from “Mr. Gu” that matched his young companions’ discussion. To make matters worse, it was Ling Huang, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, who personally sought him out to deliver the news. His expression darkened immediately.

“It turns out that I’m being sent to follow several beings with immortal cultivation bases, accompanying them deep into that civilization to investigate its true nature…” he thought to himself. “This sort of task is incredibly perilous; one misstep could result in being shattered to pieces, with both body and spirit destroyed.”

“One side is not weaker than the civilization of the Spiritual royal family. How am I supposed to navigate this with my current strength?” He felt a wave of dread wash over him.

“They’re assigning me such a dangerous task, one that could easily lead to my demise. I should have known that Mr. Gu wouldn’t grant me so many resources without expecting something in return—he must have been waiting for this opportunity…”

Chu Lian’s face shifted through various emotions, alternating between cloudiness and brightness, ultimately settling into a very gloomy expression.

“The young master is aware of the many dangers on this journey, so he specially prepared a few protective items for you. Of course, you can ask Brother Chu Lian for anything you need now. The young master said he would do his best to accommodate your requests,” Ling Huang said with a smile, gesturing for the maid behind her to present several treasures that shimmered with heavenly light and were enveloped in mist.

As Chu Lian looked at Ling Huang, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, his nostalgic thoughts quickly dissipated. He understood that he had no room to refuse now. After signing the so-called contract with Gu Changge, he was obliged to follow the stipulated requirements. The salaries and cultivation resources were not easily obtained.

Moreover, this task did not force him to compromise his own morals. After presenting the treasures, Ling Huang took her leave. Chu Lian felt a mix of unwillingness and anger swirling within him, yet he had no outlet for his frustration.

Boom!

He slammed his fist onto the stone table in front of him, causing it to shatter into pieces with a cracking sound, the fragments turning to dust that filled the air.

“You’re sending me to my death! We have no grievances…”

Chu Lian couldn’t help but shout, cursing softly to vent his frustration. Even though he didn’t want to, he now had to bite the bullet and accept the situation.

“What a pitiful mindset,” he thought bitterly.

“These treasures are quite impressive and can easily withstand the attacks of beings at the Immortal King level. That Mr. Gu likely just wants to temper you; he doesn’t intend for you to die.”

“Moreover, I’ll be by your side to guide you. Although this mission is indeed troublesome and dangerous, it’s not enough to kill you. Why act so useless and unstable?”

Watching this unfold, the artifact spirit of the Ball of Ambitions couldn’t help but think to itself.

The artifact spirit could understand Chu Lian’s mood. After all, with the aid of the Ball of Ambitions, Chu Lian only needed a peaceful environment to steadily improve his cultivation and strength without taking any risks. However, being suddenly thrust into a life-threatening situation, with the possibility of death looming over him, was a reality he found hard to accept.

Chu Lian’s current cultivation and strength were entirely dependent on the Ball of Ambitions. Yet, he overlooked the fact that the Ball could only provide support; he had to rely on himself in critical moments.

“True strong individuals grow through various life-and-death crises…” the spirit mused.

“After the strange halo of luck gradually faded, this host’s performance has been worse than that of previous hosts.”

The spirit of the Ball of Ambitions possessed an independent consciousness and emotions. In fact, its wisdom far surpassed that of an ordinary Dao realm cultivator. It had observed Chu Lian’s performance during this period and noted his struggles.

Initially, the spirit had high hopes for Chu Lian, believing that being close to a nobleman would grant him great fortune and that his future achievements would extend beyond the confines of this Spiritual civilization, potentially leading to fame in the boundless world. However, looking at him now, those expectations seemed overly ambitious.

“Compared to true anomalies, there are indeed many shortcomings here. This host has missed out on essential trials and tribulations, and his fate has been far too smooth,” it reflected.

“Could it be that the strange phenomena surrounding him were merely fleeting illusions?”

As the spirit contemplated this possibility, it could not calm down. It had viewed Chu Lian as its last hope, uncertain whether the Ball of Ambitions could be repaired in the future. Yet, at the very least, Chu Lian needed to grow into a strong individual in his own right. But given the current situation, he appeared to be afraid of even the slightest crisis and unwilling to confront it.

If Chu Lian remained at such a level, the fate of the Ball of Ambitions would be inextricably linked to his own, leaving him doomed and without a future. At that moment, Chu Lian was unaware that the spirit of the Ball of Ambitions had significantly shifted its attitude toward him.

After venting his frustration, he gradually calmed down, realizing that refusal was not an option; he could only bite the bullet and accept his circumstances. The priority now was to figure out how to survive this task. Completing it held little importance to him compared to preserving his own life.

The boundless world, with its infinite possibilities, had birthed countless civilizations and lives, filled with numerous adventures and crises. Outside the space-time territory where the immortal civilization resided, there existed a natural protective barrier.

In the past, the area floated like a thick fog, deep and vast, shrouding the southeast, northwest, above, below, and all ten directions. Upon closer inspection, one would see this magnificent substance resembling a nebula, with cosmic debris floating in every cloud, imbued with dead energy capable of corroding all life.

Now, the ancient battleship of the immortal civilization, which had escaped from the Dao Chang Realm, was rapidly approaching this space-time territory. Unlike the complex process of searching for “prey” in the boundless world, which required much time and exploration, returning to one’s own civilization was considerably faster and more straightforward.

After determining the boundless coordinates, a special method could be employed to open the quickest space-time channel for a rapid return.

Within this ancient warship, Zhuoyou, still gripped by fear, along with several other clansmen of comparable strength to the Dao Realm, were intently observing the crystal wall in front of them. They had already relayed the news of their great defeat back to their group in the immortal civilization.

Now, they only needed to pass through this barrier filled with death, after which they could approach the territory of the immortal civilization smoothly, where some individuals would come to greet them.

“It seems that the unfathomable and terrifying figure did not pursue us; we are truly safe…” said a clansman beside Zhuoyou, his eyes still reflecting shock and fear as he spoke with a lingering sense of dread.