I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 973: Qing Feng, returning from Nine Heavens, ancient cultivator Yuan Chan

Over the past few decades, the development of the Dao Chang Realm could only be described as groundbreaking, with enlightened individuals emerging almost annually. Moreover, numerous survivors of the immortal calamity had surfaced. Former veteran Immortal Kings had made significant strides in their cultivation, advancing considerably. Even Gu Wuwang’s own strength had undergone considerable improvement. Though he had aimed for gradual accumulation over time, the extent of his progress still surprised him.

However, it was unrealistic to expect the Dao Chang Realm to become so powerful in just a few decades. Gu Wuwang harbored no such extravagant hopes. Rather, in recent years, numerous formidable figures from ancient times had reemerged.

Among them were ancestors of the Ancient Immortal Clan, prominent figures from the former Immortal Palace, and ancient cultivators whose prowess surpassed that of Immortal Kings. Additionally, remnants of ancient cultivators from the age of innate mythology had also resurfaced, entering this world one after another.

One such individual was a former prince of the Phoenix clan, acquainted with Ao Teng and others. After recuperating, he led the Phoenix clan to join the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. The alliance had integrated ancient realms, both large and small, now standing as a true unifying force within the Dao Chang Realm, surpassing all others in power and influence.

Despite impending disaster, given time, the Dao Chang Realm was poised to develop into a realm comparable to the ancient real world.

“This aura from another civilization is stronger and more ominous than anticipated,” Gu Wuwang remarked, wasting no time in convening the other ancient cultivators of the Dao Chang Realm to discuss countermeasures.

As for Gu Changge’s whereabouts, Gu Wuwang remained clueless.

“Although Wang Wushang’s growth rate is remarkable, it still falls short in the face of this catastrophe. I wonder what Gu Changge has planned…”

Gu Wuwang shook his head, his keen perception as an ancient Dao cultivator enabling him to discern abnormalities in Wang Wushang. However, he refrained from delving into matters concerning the fate of the Dao Chang Realm.

As a Daoist of the Heaven-Slaying League, Wang Wushang basked in the nourishment of luck, viewed by all ancient cultivators as a beacon of hope. Countless resources were poured into his cultivation endeavors, further bolstered by a significant boon from Gu Changge.

In just a few decades, Wang Wushang had ascended to a level comparable to that of the Quasi-Immortal Emperor. Such rapid growth was utterly unbelievable, requiring the term “variable” to adequately describe it.

Several young talents had risen to prominence in the Dao Chang Realm, each blessed with their own fortunes and opportunities, boasting terrifying rates of development. Yet, in the presence of Wang Wushang, they paled in comparison.

Over the years, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had recruited numerous young individuals endowed with great fortune and opportunities from across the realm, investing substantial resources in their growth. However, time remained an insurmountable obstacle. The time left for their maturation was sorely insufficient.

If they were granted a thousand years, ten thousand years, or even longer, perhaps they could reach a point where they could stand on their own.

….

“When I departed from the Immortal Domain, all worlds languished, heavens shattered, and the fortunes of all races dwindled, painting a scene of dusk and despair…”

“But upon my return to these familiar grounds, the sight that greeted me was vastly different. It teemed with vitality and prosperity. Judging by the fervor and abundance of this fortune, it won’t be long before it matures into an ancient real world.”

“Qing Feng, you truly are a remarkable apprentice of Master, presenting me with such a pleasant surprise.”

“Despite enduring two calamities, such good fortune persists, indicating that the fate of this realm is far from over.”

“Once it ascends to the status of an ancient real world, its influence will undergo seismic changes. Even in the eyes of Nine Heavens, it will emerge as a formidable force to reckon with.”

Meanwhile, several figures traversed the boundless sea outside the Dao Chang realm. Under the feet of one of them shimmered a golden light, weaving into formidable runes and forming a path for the others to follow through the vast fog.

Before them, real worlds were ensconced within layers of nebulae like eggs, nurturing astonishing fortunes. Various phenomena unfolded within them, expanding and contracting, intermittently releasing mysterious substances such as immortal light, chaotic mist, and primordial divine radiance.

The speaker was an elderly man with a human face, yet adorned with a sharp beak and yellow hair. Clad in Daoist robes, he bore a semblance to an enlightened ape. His golden eyes, both weathered and profound, gleamed brightly at intervals.

Among his companions stood a young man, robust, tall, and heroic—a depiction of Qing Feng, who had departed from the immortal domain years ago in search of Nine Heavens.

Having been absent from the Immortal Territory for many years, Qing Feng felt a mix of timidity and excitement upon his return.

“Master’s words ring true indeed. Despite the trials facing the Immortal Domain and the looming threat of destruction, there remains a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, disciples wouldn’t have traversed millions of miles to seek Nine Heavens for a solution.”

Qing Feng maintained a respectful demeanor in the presence of the old man clad in Daoist robes.

The old man, known as the ancient cultivator Yuan Chan, held the title of the lord of the third heaven among the nine heavens—an ancient being of incomprehensible strength. Long ago, he transcended the confines of the immortal way, entering the Dao realm, and survived countless celestial catastrophes.

Yuan Chan served as Qing Feng’s greatest pillar of support, enabling his safe departure from Nine Heavens and return to the Immortal Domain. Without Yuan Chan’s aid, Qing Feng might have struggled to even leave Nine Heavens, let alone return to the Immortal Domain.

Around Nine Heavens, formidable Dao storms raged, accompanied by numerous space-time torrents and time fragments capable of shattering cultivators both physically and mentally. Even the quasi-immortal emperor dared not venture into such perilous territories.

Years prior, after bidding farewell to the tomb keeper, Qing Feng journeyed to Nine Heavens in search of the former ancestors of the Immortal Palace, hoping they could intervene to resolve the crisis in the Immortal Domain. However, Nine Heavens spanned vast expanses, with each layer seemingly comprising endless continents.

Countless ancient planets and immortal forces populated the realm, yet despite Qing Feng’s inquiries, he found no trace of the ancestors of the Immortal Palace.

Later, leveraging his relationship with the tomb keeper, Qing Feng ventured to the central area of the first layer of heaven. Utilizing a teleportation array, he arrived at the second layer of heaven.

However, despite the second heaven’s territory being slightly smaller than that of the first, it remained vast. Moreover, myriad different time-and-space realms, along with numerous Daoist sects, dotted the depths of time and space, making it exceedingly challenging for him to locate any trace of the ancestors of the Immortal Palace or glean even the slightest news.

Arriving in the Nine Heavens, Qing Feng came to a stark realization of the enormity of his task. He had believed the impending catastrophe facing the Immortal Domain was dire and urgent, necessitating his swift return. However, such calamities were commonplace in the Nine Heavens.

Many cultivators dwelling there, particularly the older generation, had weathered the destruction of their homelands and were largely indifferent to such concerns. Despite Qing Feng’s pleas for assistance, offering to pay any price, his appeals fell on deaf ears. The powerhouses of the Nine Heavens were dismissive, their reactions akin to ripples in a pond swiftly dissipating.

Qing Feng found himself on the brink of despair. His departure from the Immortal Domain had revealed the vastness of the world. To the Nine Heavens’ inhabitants, events like the birth and destruction of worlds were as routine as the rising of the sun and the setting of the moon—mundane occurrences that failed to capture their interest.

The ebb and flow of ages, the cycle of birth and death, were but trifles in the grand scheme of things. Furthermore, Qing Feng’s own strength rendered him inadequate for undertaking a journey across vast distances to rescue a collapsing world.

Fortunately, in the third heaven, Qing Feng encountered the ancient cultivator Yuan Chan. Claiming connections to Qing Feng’s world and having traversed it himself, Yuan Chan offered a glimmer of hope.

Upon learning of the impending catastrophe facing Qing Feng’s world, the ancient cultivator Yuan Chan willingly agreed to accompany him on a rescue mission. Renowned in the Third Heaven, even its ruler treated him with deference. Naturally, Qing Feng was pleasantly surprised by this turn of events. Recognizing Qing Feng’s talent, Yuan Chan accepted him as a registered disciple, bestowing upon him numerous mystical treasures and divine powers to aid his cultivation journey.

Though Qing Feng’s attainment of the Immortal King’s Dao Fruit was not yet stable, it was advised for him to remain in the Nine Heavens for a period of cultivation. However, Qing Feng couldn’t shake off thoughts of his clansmen still trapped in the City of No Return, haunted by the specter of persecution by the demon lord and his junior sister, Cen Shuang, who harbored a deep-seated animosity towards the demon lord.

Thus, Qing Feng harbored a fervent desire for Yuan Chan to swiftly return to the Immortal Realm with him to resolve these looming catastrophes. In the years since his departure, Qing Feng remained unaware of his junior sister and the others’ well-being. Were they oppressed by the demon lord, consumed by fear and anxiety?

Contemplating these unsettling possibilities, Qing Feng’s heart constricted with unease, dreading the potential horrors he might encounter upon his return to the Immortal Domain.

“Master, judging by the aura and scale of this real world, it appears to be more than just a newborn realm. The burgeoning fortune and vigor exceed what one would typically expect.”

“Furthermore, I sense the presence of a powerful entity outside this realm, having once erected barriers to fend off the boundless sea’s influence. This realm likely harbors many secrets.”

At this juncture, a woman with a coquettish demeanor interjected among those standing with Qing Feng. Clad in a pale pink dress with hair resembling billowing clouds and a golden feather adorning her brow, she bore a non-human appearance. However, her aura exuded vastness and depth, akin to a boundless universe, with half a step already ventured into the Dao realm.

Qing Feng held deep respect for this woman, known as Fen Ruo, the esteemed apprentice of the ancient cultivator Yuan Chan. Having cultivated for many years, she wielded the divine power of several epochs.