I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1346: Ages ago, Chan Hongyi’s Dao Demon

The tragic clash between the immortal civilization’s assault on the Dao Chang Realm had begun in earnest. The massive, tumultuous army, akin to locusts swarming, transformed into a terrifying deluge, surging towards the Dao Chang Realm in an attempt to breach its defenses. Meanwhile, aboard ancient warships, the Dao Chang Realm’s forces valiantly fought back, showing no fear in the face of adversity.

The thick crimson light stained the universe, creating a scene of immense tragedy. Corpses littered the battlefield, and stars were reduced to ash and oblivion in an instant. Amidst this chaos, the leaders of various factions convened at the headquarters of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, observing the conflict through enchanted relics.

Simultaneously, a series of decrees were issued, commanding reinforcements from across the realm to bolster the defense. It was clear to all that this battle would exact a heavy toll, even claiming the lives of Immortal Kings.

“I fear this conflict will be protracted, and we must remain vigilant. For the Dao Chang Realm, this catastrophe is not merely a trial but an opportunity for rebirth, a transformation into immortality,” remarked Deputy Leader Gu Wuwang, before dispelling the image of the enchanted relic before him.

Prepared for a prolonged engagement, the forces aboard the ancient warships braced themselves. Yet, despite their readiness, the true power behind the enemy’s assault had yet to reveal itself. The Immortal Emperor who led the charge may have been merely a pawn, sent to gauge the Dao Chang Realm’s strength. The identity and capabilities of the true adversary remained shrouded in mystery.

With the arrival of external aid, including the ancient cultivator Yuan Chan, the Dao Chang Realm counted only four Dao Realm existences among its ranks. As the final battle loomed, the outcome remained uncertain, and whether they could withstand the onslaught was a question that hung heavy in the air.

“Master Deputy Leader, do you have any insight into why these civilizations from the rest of the real world have launched such massive invasions? Is there a specific goal driving their actions?” questioned some of the ethnic leaders in the main hall, voicing the doubts that many harbored.

Gu Wuwang found himself unable to provide a definitive answer to their inquiry. Instead, it was the ancient cultivator Yuan Chan who spoke up, clasping his hands together as he offered his perspective. “The expanse of the universe knows no bounds, birthing countless civilizations. Conflict is an eternal and unending refrain. It is weakness that invites invasion.”

His words weighed heavily on those gathered in the hall, resonating with a sense of powerlessness. The realization that their weakness had made them vulnerable to such aggression weighed heavily upon them all.

“Regardless of the reasons, now is the time for all of us to focus on strengthening ourselves,” asserted Gu Wuwang plainly, addressing the assembly. “I’ve recently examined the fate of the Dao Chang Realm, and there are no signs of it faltering in the face of this sudden calamity.”

As the war raged on, there was still no sign of Gu Changge’s appearance, leading Gu Wuwang to speculate that Gu Changge may have indeed ventured into the Boundless Sea. However, he remained skeptical, knowing that Gu Changge likely had other resources at his disposal, especially considering his ties to individuals within the Dao Chang Realm.

The sweeping conflict, reminiscent of divine retribution, threatened to annihilate the world. Its tremors extended beyond the realm’s borders, unsettling universes and worlds alike. Like leaves in the wind, cultivators and creatures of all levels couldn’t help but quake in the face of its impending devastation.

Every day, legions surged forth from various universes, times, and spaces, converging on that front line. Since the second calamity in the Dao Chang Realm, they had been recuperating for countless epochs, and overall conditions were not too dire.

In the shadows, True Spirit Qing Yi employed various methods to aid former mighty heaven-slayers in reincarnation or safeguarding their true souls, facilitating their resurrection and body reconstruction. Across epochs, individuals cultivated in diverse locations and times, quietly convalescing, awaiting their return to glory.

The outbreak of this war prematurely roused them. In ancient locales, auras constantly pierced the heavens, rending the fabric of the universe. Beyond the boundless battlefield, the clash between the foreign realm’s immortal emperor and the one dispatched by the immortal civilization raged tumultuously for an extended period.

Some entities, originally hidden in ancient times and spaces for cultivation, were alarmed and emerged from other eras. Countless years had elapsed since the Forbidden Era, including a dark period deemed untouchable. Even those surpassing the level of an immortal king dared not brave the boundless reasons and traverse to this era, risking backlash, scourge, and disappearance.

This was a chaotic spacetime, where nodes shattered, and exact coordinates were indiscernible.

For cultivators, entering it meant eternal banishment, unable to locate the coordinates of the current world and condemned to perpetual wandering within it.

In this chaotic space, filled with fragmented time, two figures sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation. One, adorned in red with a hint of cinnabar between her brows, possessed a delicate face capable of bringing both blessing and calamity upon the land. Beside her, demonic energy surged intermittently, intertwining with fragments of immortal light and Dao.

The other figure, clad in white with azure silk reminiscent of a daisy, radiated a purity that transformed the void around him into a sacred realm. Within it, a spectral peach tree took root, its blossoms scattering like a gentle rain of transformation.

Separated by a sea of time, they observed each other but could not draw near, ensnared in an eternal cycle. The tumultuous Dao storm posed no threat, dissipating upon reaching their vicinity. Their auras fluctuated between frailty and dread, while a glow emanated from the center of their brows, hinting at something gestating within.

These two figures were none other than Chan Hongyi and Tao Yao. Trapped in these prehistoric fragments, they were lost without the coordinates of the present world, consigned to imprisonment and exile in the ceaseless chaos of time and space.

With the guidance of Xiao Ruoyin, the High Priest of Destiny, they traversed the forbidden era preceding eternity, seeking the truth of that time. Though they eventually attained their goal, Gu Changge exiled them to this tumultuous realm, like prisoners unable to break free from the confines encircling them.

Chan Hongyi, dressed in red, opened her eyes as a sudden upheaval disrupted the tranquil sea of time. Time fragments scattered across the sky, and a tempest of Dao energy surged, brimming with unparalleled terror and destruction. Yet, this storm, capable of annihilating all life, dissipated upon nearing her.

“Is this the Master’s gift, the prototype of the seed of the real world?” Chan Hongyi’s demeanor remained composed as a small seed between her brows shimmered brightly, holding endless mysteries of fortune.

Observing Tao Yao in the distance, who also bore a radiant seed between her brows, Chan Hongyi noted her companion’s unroused state. Tao Yao appeared immersed in a peculiar realm, undergoing profound changes in her life essence.

In this primordial chaos, akin to the era before time, various substances akin to primordial matter and innate laws abounded, greatly aiding in their Dao imprint condensation.

While Chan Hongyi couldn’t fathom how the world seed traversed countless time and space to land upon them, she suspected Gu Changge’s involvement. Learning the truth preceding the forbidden era, she harbored no resentment toward Gu Changge. Nearly lost to a karmic backlash during her journey through time, she was rescued by Gu Changge, prompting a change of heart.

As Tao Yao previously surmised, if Gu Changge sought her demise, he could have accomplished it in the Forbidden Era. Instead, he chose to seal her in the Demon Burying Abyss, later releasing her himself and orchestrating a demon-slaying conference to aid in her recovery.

In the face of potential retaliation, Gu Changge consistently approached her with peace and tolerance, never resorting to aggression.

During her years of exile and confinement in this realm, Chan Hongyi had come to clear realizations about various matters. She had been mistaken, perhaps irreversibly so. Uncertain of Gu Changge’s intentions or motives, she was certain that everything in the Forbidden Era had been orchestrated by him and Qing Yi, the grand master of the Immortal Palace.

Since that era, Gu Changge had become vilified by the world. Even his most trusted disciple had betrayed him, transforming into the dreaded demons of legend. Betrayal seemed to be a recurring theme, with even his closest confidants turning against him, willing to exact any cost for vengeance.

In this world, Chan Hongyi believed that no one truly understood Gu Changge’s heart, comprehended his struggles, or stood by his side. “I wonder,” she mused, “when Master faced my vengeance, what emotions churned within him? His once loyal apprentice now his bitter foe…”

A wry smile tugged at the corner of Chan Hongyi’s mouth as she pondered these thoughts. Yet, despite it all, Gu Changge had still come to her aid when danger loomed. Had she not persisted in uncovering the truth of the past, she would have remained ensnared in a cycle of hatred and pain.

As for why she and Tao Yao found themselves exiled and imprisoned before eternity, Chan Hongyi held a vague understanding of the truth. Because they possessed knowledge of the forbidden era preceding eternity, they were aware of Gu Changge and Qing Yi’s grand scheme. Their presence in the current world would undoubtedly disrupt their plans and interfere with the grand design.

To avert potential mishaps, Gu Changge had no recourse but to exile and imprison them for eternity.

“But even so,” Chan Hongyi murmured, “he still bestowed upon us the seeds of the real world. Master, are you not concerned about this oversight? Or perhaps, despite restraining yourself outwardly, you cannot truly remain indifferent to us.”

With a gentle motion of her jade hand, Chan Hongyi dislodged the world seed from between her brows, allowing it to land softly in her palm. Though not a genuine world seed, this prototype still brimmed with boundless fortune. Within it lay a mysterious substance, born from the chaotic collision of countless elements, evolving into the essence of the real world.

“I will not disrupt your plans, Master. I only seek to atone for all that has transpired,” Chan Hongyi declared, her gaze tranquil as she regarded the world seed. Devoid of hostility, her demeanor resembled a serene sea.

In an instant, her brow illuminated, and a primordial spirit doppelgänger, identical to herself, emerged and consumed the world seed. Eschewing the conventional method of refinement, Chan Hongyi assimilated the world seed directly into her primordial spirit.

Considering Qing Yi as the innate true spirit of the real world of mountains and seas, why couldn’t she harness this to ascend as an acquired true spirit, becoming a prominent figure in the real world? Though this path was arduous and unprecedented, the world seed offered Chan Hongyi insight into her future trajectory.

“Today,” she proclaimed amidst the chaotic expanse of time and space, “I, Chan Hongyi, make a solemn vow to transform into the Devil Dao Realm… When I undergo this transformation, millions of beings, all life forms, shall follow me in becoming demons… As a demon, the heavens, countless particles of dust, and beings of the River’s sands will join me, ushering in an era where the Dao and demon coexist.”

Rumble!!!

In the vast expanse of eternity, Chan Hongyi’s invocation of her Dao Demon’s great wish resonated with terrifying force. Within the darkness, an immense and awe-inspiring power seemed to echo her profound declaration.

Devilish energy surged forth like a boundless river, engulfing her entire being in its cosmic embrace. The once radiant world seed, now merging with her primordial spirit, underwent a swift transformation, turning pitch-black as it assimilated with her essence.

Each syllable of her great wish reverberated with immense magnitude, echoing through every corner of time and space, stirring the chaotic sea of temporal currents to a boiling frenzy. Despite the relentless assault of the Dao storm, Chan Hongyi remained serene, her eyes closed as she allowed the surging devilish energy to envelop her completely.