I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1755. Only by eliminating the root could the woman, Qing Nan, be safe

It turned out that Gu Xian’er’s thoughts were completely unnecessary.

She didn’t even have time to explain to the people of Xieyue Sect which old acquaintance she was going to see in the Fatian Alliance.

Rumble!

A vast, pitch-black mass of dark beings swept over from the end of the Gobi Desert like a plague of locusts—endless and overwhelming. Black mist swirled, stretching infinitely.

The already dim sky seemed like a sea overwhelmed by crashing waves.

Within the drifting, hazy black mist, vaguely terrifying figures could be seen—tall and imposing, like mountains.

Deeper within, patches of feather-like structures glimmered like ancient, primeval celestial beasts; a single flap of their wings could tear through the heavens and the cosmos.

The people of Xieyue Sect were shocked; they had never expected the dark beings to arrive so swiftly.

Shortly after the mad old woman had left, they had already tracked the sect’s location and were pursuing them rapidly.

“When we were in Xieyue Sect, that dark being in a commanding form was clearly coming with purpose, trying to find something in the sect…”

“It’s very likely for the heritage of the Jutian Sect.”

“Now that the mad old lady is gone, if the dark beings know the Jutian Sect’s heritage is in my hands, they definitely won’t let me go.”

“I don’t know how the dark beings found out about the Jutian Sect heritage, but they are willing to expend such a price to search for it.”

“We absolutely cannot let the heritage of the Jutian Sect fall into the hands of the dark beings and aid their tyranny…”

At this moment, Gu Xian’er’s thoughts raced, countless considerations flashing through her mind.

There was no time to consider more. The only way now was to flee with the Xieyue Sect members; otherwise, alone, she would hardly be able to escape the pursuit of the dark beings.

“Move!”

A senior elder shouted sharply, opening a spatial passage and leading everyone through it.

Shortly after they escaped, a massive hand, black as ink, descended from high above, shattering the earth and breaking the stars, instantly reducing them to ashes.

A figure dressed in blue stood silently atop this hand, eyes deep and contemplative, as if pondering something.

For the next few days, the Xieyue Sect members were constantly fleeing through this spatial-temporal region.

No matter how far they escaped, the dark beings always arrived, never allowing them a moment’s rest, like a festering wound clinging to bone, relentless and inescapable.

If they split up, the chances of survival would be even lower.

If someone stayed behind to hold off the dark beings, it would be certain death—a one-way ticket to oblivion.

Their only small relief was that the pursuing dark beings were not numerous; it seemed to be only a squad of them.

But the longer this went on, the more likely other dark beings would come, making the situation even worse.

Boom!

A surge of terrifying energy erupted like boulders tearing through the sky, striking the heavens.

Entire star systems trembled, crumbling to dust under the shockwave that tore through the spatial passage.

The universe’s domains had long been stripped of life by the rampage of the dark beings; otherwise, even this residual force would have wiped out countless living worlds.

The Xieyue Sect members fell from the spatial passage, blood rushing in their veins.

Their path ahead was blocked. Among the dark beings, an extraordinarily powerful existence intervened, preventing further escape.

“Is there no way forward?” an elder of Xieyue Sect asked grimly.

“Young master…”

A middle-aged man named Lan Shu looked at Song Yu and asked in a low voice, “Should we intervene? If she falls into the hands of the dark beings, no one will be able to escape.”

Song Yu wiped the blood from his lips, a trace of unwillingness in his expression.

He glanced at Gu Xian’er in the distance and said, “The mysterious white-clad woman guarding her hasn’t acted yet—that’s someone even the mad old woman couldn’t handle.”

Lan Shu shook his head slightly, helpless. “Young master, I suspect that white-clad woman is not truly her guardian. Perhaps her soul is compromised; she only has her personal strength. At this point, we cannot rely on anyone else.”

Song Yu’s expression flickered.

“My strength being exposed isn’t a problem, young master. Rest assured, it won’t affect the bigger plan. The urgent matter now is to return to the Nine Heavens Realm; that is your domain. No matter how special or mysterious Gu Xian’er is, once we reach there, she will be at your disposal.”

Lan Shu nodded.

“This time, by using the Qingyun Boat, we should be able to evade the dark beings temporarily,” he said.

Once they reached the Nine Heavens Realm, Song Yu would have his ways to make Gu Xian’er hand over the Jutian Sect heritage personally.

Lan Shu’s robes flickered with a thread of azure light, spreading like a mist.

In his hand appeared a palm-sized miniature boat made of jade-like material. The boat had few carvings, looking simple, round, and translucent.

With a flick, the miniature boat shot forward and, to the astonishment of the Xieyue Sect members, expanded rapidly, soaring into the wind.

Blue clouds swirled around the boat, mingling with the surrounding space-time as if becoming one.

“Good wind takes me high, sending me on the clouds…”

Lan Shu murmured softly. Without further explanation, he looked at the Xieyue Sect members. “Everyone, let’s go.”

At this moment, he no longer concealed his aura—the presence of a Dao Ancestor was fully displayed.

“Elder Song Lan…”

The Xieyue Sect members were shocked; they had never expected this usually humble and low-profile elder to be a Dao Ancestor-level figure, comparable to the sect founder.

He truly hid his strength deeply.

“The situation is unpredictable. To survive, I had to conceal my strength. Please understand,” Lan Shu explained calmly.

The Xieyue Sect members were too focused on survival to care about explanations.

With the emergence of a Dao Ancestor, morale surged. Previously, his concealment was inconsequential.

Soon, the Qingyun Boat disappeared like a wisp of smoke through the spatial-temporal void.

Many had been injured by the shockwaves earlier; now, they began recovering aboard the boat.

Gu Xian’er was no exception. Though eager to step into the Dao Realm, now was not the right time to break through.

If the tribulation of the Nirvana Dao descended, all could be swept away—there would be no escape or action possible.

“They fled quickly… which suits me fine.”

Shortly after the Xieyue Sect left the region, a faint figure in blue emerged silently from the void.

In her hand was a blurry stone tablet.

The tablet was bluish-gray, with a surface flowing like jade, smooth as a mirror.

Stars of light flickered within it, like fireflies, disappearing in certain directions.

She studied the tablet, following the paths of the light points, connecting them into a line.

“Judging by their direction, they should pass by here…”

“Whose domain is this?”

The blue-clad woman pondered, then pocketed the stone tablet and walked away.

This stone tablet was forged to seize the fortune of the Xieyue Sect.

As long as the sect retained a trace of destiny in the world, all persons or items related would be revealed.

Months later, the Xieyue Sect finally escaped the pursuing dark beings, arriving in a desolate, fractured universe.

This universe had clearly been ravaged by the dark beings; black mist lingered everywhere.

Star regions were barren, dotted with broken armor, weapons, and remnants of ancient warships—almost no human presence.

“Finally the dark beings, but we can’t let our guard down. If they catch up, it will be troublesome.”

“First, we must explore the nearby star regions and determine our location; otherwise, the path ahead is uncertain.”

Lan Shu retracted the Qingyun Boat.

Even this space-time-infused vessel had developed cracks from months of fleeing, its engraved runes partially erased.

Gu Xian’er felt a headache and helplessness. Her plan to go to the Fatian Alliance was ruined.

She could only obediently follow the Xieyue Sect to the Nine Heavens Realm.

It seemed that some force was preventing her from reaching the Fatian Alliance.

Whenever she intended to act, some mishap would occur to block her.

Has meeting Gu Changge at the Fatian Alliance become so difficult?

This universe was barren. The Xieyue Sect explored the surrounding star regions but found no sign of life.

The elders dared not use tracing techniques, fearing the still-nearby dark beings would notice.

After half a month of wandering, they arrived at a place with traces of life.

A grand, imposing dam stretched across the land like a colossal beast, exuding an ancient, primal aura.

Beneath the gray heavens, yellow sand rolled, smoke and dust filled the air. The dam clearly divided two worlds.

On this side were ruined cities, mountains, and flattened landscapes, remnants of former prosperity.

Amid the yellow sand, only a few huts and settlements remained, simple and sparse.

In the distance, black smoke rose into the sky like tides, carrying strange sounds.

The Xieyue Sect members concealed their presence.

An elder probed the memories of some people in the settlements.

“This place is called Gou Xuan Realm. Before the dark beings came, it was ruled by an emperor named Gou Xuan, who established Gou Xuan Palace. All races flourished. Decades ago, the dark being named Xuan attacked. Its power was immense; it killed Emperor Gou Xuan and took over the realm, enslaving its people. Many resisted but were annihilated… Only those who submitted survived, living inside the dam, while those outside were treated as refugees, vulnerable to other dark beings and monsters.”

The elder’s expression was grave.

Many universe-level domains like this exist. The Gou Xuan Realm was lucky—it survived.

When dark beings perform great rituals, they initially annihilate all, but often leave some foundations to harvest in the future.

Thus, although some races survive, they remain destined to be harvested one day—an unavoidable fate.

“Let’s go. We cannot change anything now. Even if we kill the dark being Xuan, others will appear to dominate and enslave this realm.”

“Darkness cannot be eradicated, and anomalies cannot be fully destroyed. Only by eliminating the root can it end.”

The elder saw the reluctance in Lan Xin, Gu Xian’er, and others and shook his head helplessly.

“Only by eliminating the root?” Gu Xian’er murmured softly.

The group intended to leave, avoiding unnecessary trouble.

Suddenly, the ground shook. From the edge of the Gobi Desert, a wave of black energy surged like a volcanic eruption, destroying everything, erupting into massive mushroom clouds.

The sight was horrifying: black clouds rolling, stones flying, earth torn apart, and the entire cosmos trembling.

A terrifying figure resembling a colossal Kun fish appeared atop the energy wave.

Its eyes were huge like stars, blood-red and ferocious. Its mouth bristled with sharp teeth, purple tendrils like a waterfall flowing from its jaws.

Countless beings were crushed by its presence, their spines fracturing, their souls on the verge of collapse, consumed by fear.

“Could this be the dark being called Xuan? Indeed, extraordinarily powerful…”

The Xieyue Sect members were stunned.

“How did it find us? No—it’s not chasing us; it’s pursuing a figure…”

One elder’s eyes glowed with ancient runes, observing the scene amidst the surging black energy.

In the dense black mist, a slim figure was fleeing, skillfully dodging the dark being’s attacks.

This made the previously concealed group hesitate.

Lan Shu and Song Yu remained calm, showing no intention of intervening.

Gu Xian’er frowned; she could not ignore someone facing the pursuit of a dark being.

“Senior, can you do something?” she asked the white-clad woman beside her.

“I haven’t recovered my memories and am not skilled in combat, but I can try,” the white-clad woman hesitated before nodding.

She vanished in an instant.

At the edge of the desert, the fleeing slim figure seemed surprised. The surrounding void blurred, and a white sleeve shot out, wrapping her waist several times.

With a whoosh, the sleeve carried her swiftly out of sight.

“So there’s an ally after all?”

The dark being, Xuan, was furious but cautious and did not pursue further.

“Mission accomplished,” the white-clad woman said lightly, reappearing beside Gu Xian’er.

She held a sleeve, the other end attached to the slim woman.

The slim woman wore a blue robe, her hair partially undone, with delicate features and clear, bright eyes.

She was astonished but quickly regained composure and bowed in gratitude.

The Xieyue Sect members were curious about the blue-robed woman and why she had been targeted by the dark being.

The blue-robed woman explained:

Her name was Qing Nan, and she had been practicing in a mountain Taoist temple since childhood.

Decades ago, when the dark being Xuan appeared, it wreaked havoc, slaughtering countless beings, and the war spread to the Blue Void Temple where she lived.