I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1769. Increasing Suspicion of Your Identity, Falling into Darkness

Above the vault of heaven, beyond the myriad worlds, that mysterious and unknown dark domain was slowly approaching the vast expanse. The barriers and boundaries of the worlds seemed to have turned transparent at this moment, like two distinct rivers flowing side by side, gradually moving towards an eventual convergence.

There, dense dark matter—like smoke—kept surging forth, spreading in all directions, seeking to inundate the myriad heavens and realms. This scene was unimaginably terrifying. Even ordinary beings could clearly witness it, as if it were an omen of great destruction, or even a countdown to death itself.

No one knew when that mysterious unknown realm would collide and connect with the vast worlds, nor how the dark matter erupting from it would spread and infiltrate. It felt as if a sword of Damocles had been suspended above the heads of all living beings in the world. No matter who it was, they could all feel that terrifying sense of urgency, their backs turning cold as they awaited judgment.

One after another ancient warships traversed the cosmos, rapidly moving away. Standing proudly atop them, Ling Yuling was now in a daze, silently looking up at everything above the heavens, her long hair scattered by the wind and brushing against her cheeks.

The senior member of the Fatian Alliance who had been questioning her earlier wisely closed his mouth upon seeing this. The others who had been discussing and deliberating also fell silent, and the ancient warship descended into a heavy quiet.

Everyone knew that Ling Yuling was a former senior who had once fought against the Black Calamity, and that she had played a role in sealing the source of the Black Calamity in the past—she must have contributed greatly to that effort.

Now, seeing that mysterious land reappear once more in the world, her emotions would surely not remain calm.

However, compared to the fear and urgency of the various races of the myriad worlds, the members of the Fatian Alliance remained relatively calm and composed, without much panic or dread.

Because in many people’s view, with the Alliance Master Gu Changge presiding over the Fatian Alliance, even if the dark source land descended upon the vast worlds and the darkness swept across all realms, the Fatian Alliance would still have a means of self-preservation.

“I will personally go and meet that mysterious white-robed strongman. You do not need to worry too much,” Ling Yuling said, her voice cold and calm, breaking the silence aboard the ancient warship.

She withdrew her gaze from the heavens beyond and no longer paid attention to that dark source land.

“Since Senior Yuling will take action, then we naturally have nothing to worry about,” the Fatian Alliance expert who had asked earlier said respectfully, letting out a breath of relief.

Ling Yuling’s strength was not inferior to those few taboo beings. With her personally going to probe the depths of that mysterious white-robed figure, it would indeed be ideal.

White Bone Ancestral King, Hun Yuanjun, Chu Heng, and the others said nothing further. Although the myriad worlds were now engulfed in panic and boundless fear towards that mysterious unknown dark source land, the primary objective of the Fatian Alliance remained the Zhengyi Alliance.

The arrival of the dark source land only brought them a sense of urgency—they needed to take down the Zhengyi Alliance before anything else happened, to prevent any unforeseen complications.

“Why has that place appeared so early…”

“Is it because the seal has weakened? Or has it been summoned by dark beings? Or is there some other reason?”

Ling Yuling’s figure flickered and vanished from the ancient warship. Her brows were tightly furrowed, and an uneasy premonition arose in her heart.

She had personally participated in that sealing war in the past, and knew that the seal of the dark source land should not have weakened so easily, let alone reappear this early.

Could there have been some unforeseen change? Or had some dark beings discovered its spatial-temporal coordinates and prematurely destroyed the seal?

But regardless of which possibility it was, the early emergence of the dark source land was already an established fact.

The only thing that could be done now was to find a way to prevent it from colliding and merging with the vast worlds—especially to ensure that the one sealed within, the so-called “Heaven-appointed Master,” would not be released.

The Master of the “Heaven’s Mandate”

Once the “Heaven-Appointed Master” awakens and once again reigns over the world, no one knows what kind of terrifying disaster it will bring.

The entire myriad realms and worlds would be enveloped in boundless darkness.

“Alliance Master…”

Ling Yuling furrowed her brows tightly. After a moment of contemplation, a flash of light appeared in her slender, fair hand, and a jade transmission talisman as clear as jade emerged.

She intended to contact Gu Changge to inform him of the urgency and the terrifying consequences of the situation.

At that moment, continuing to deal with the Zhengyi Alliance was clearly not a wise decision—it might even allow the dark beings to benefit as third parties and reap the advantages.

The Fatian Alliance and the Zhengyi Alliance should put aside their grievances, abandon all hostility, and join forces to stop the impending catastrophe.

Soon, runes flickered across the jade talisman, and a phantom image appeared. Gu Changge stood with his back to Ling Yuling, seemingly brewing tea, still as leisurely and unhurried as ever.

Ling Yuling did not waste any words. She went straight to the point and expressed her concerns and thoughts.

“This matter is not something you need to worry about. The Zhengyi Alliance is in collusion with the dark beings; they are in cahoots. If we want to stop this calamity, we must first eliminate the Zhengyi Alliance. Everything is under my control.”

Gu Changge’s voice remained calm and unhurried, as though he did not take the calamity threatening the vast worlds seriously at all.

Ling Yuling looked at his back in the jade projection. Her lips moved slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she held it back.

Since Gu Changge had already said so, what more could she say?

Although she was nominally the vice leader of the Fatian Alliance, all commands and decisions still had to go through Gu Changge’s approval.

If he did not agree to make peace with the Zhengyi Alliance and jointly resist the approaching dark source, then no amount of persuasion from her would change anything.

Gu Changge’s decisions were not something anyone could shake.

“The mysterious white-robed figure that has recently appeared in the Zhengyi Alliance—capture him alive if possible. You alone may not be able to take him down. Pass my instructions to Mu Fuguang, Tong Xian, and the others, and have them assist you,” Gu Changge’s indifferent voice came again from the jade talisman.

Ling Yuling froze slightly.

Gu Changge already knew about this matter? It seemed that although he rarely left his residence, nothing occurring in the vast worlds could escape his notice.

But why was he so certain that she alone could not defeat that mysterious white-robed figure?

And what exactly was that white-robed figure’s origin?

Ling Yuling still had many doubts, but the light on the jade talisman had already dimmed and faded. Gu Changge’s figure disappeared.

The Fatian Alliance and the Zhengyi Alliance did not stop their war because of the reappearance of the dark source land. Instead, the battle became even more brutal.

The situation in the vast expanse grew increasingly tense. All races and all sects were urgently seeking ways to respond.

In the process, many hidden clans that had not spoken or shown themselves for a long time could no longer remain in seclusion.

To prevent this calamity, numerous ancient beings descended into the world, visiting various races in an attempt to persuade the Fatian Alliance and the Zhengyi Alliance to cease their war and instead focus their efforts on stopping the approach of the dark source land.

Even those civilizations and sects that had originally planned to watch from the sidelines or preserve themselves were forced to step in.

Now that the dark beings were already troublesome enough, if they were allowed to guide the dark source land back—and if the sealed “Heaven-Appointed Master” were to awaken—the consequences were simply beyond imagination.

It had to be said that the reemergence of the dark source land had created an overwhelming sense of urgency across all races and civilizations in the vast worlds.

Previously, all clans and sects had been sweeping the snow from their own doorstep, focused only on their own interests and ignoring the bigger picture. But now, they are being forced to “unite.”

Many races and civilizations began searching through the handwritten records left behind by the sages who once resisted the Black Calamity, hoping to find a way to contend against the dark source land and stop its arrival.

If the Heaven-Appointed Master truly broke free of its seal and revived, reigning once again over the myriad worlds, how would they resist? Would they have to replicate the methods of those ancient sages?

Where were the six original civilization treasures from that ancient era now?

At the same time, many sects and factions also began to turn their spears towards the dark beings, believing that it was precisely the reappearance of these beings that had summoned the dark source land back. They had to be completely eradicated before they could help awaken the Heaven-Appointed Master.

Thus, while the Fatian Alliance and the Zhengyi Alliance were still locked in brutal warfare, a series of punitive expeditions also erupted across the universe-occupied territories of the dark beings.

Many dark strongholds were attacked. Armies from various races marched forth, determined to purge and cleanse the darkness.

“Human nature is truly laughable. But at such a critical moment, the sudden appearance of the dark source land has thrown the entire vast expanse into chaos. Wars everywhere, boundless karma… could this also be your doing?”

“I’m truly growing more and more suspicious of your identity.”

Within the Unending Imperial Court, Ji Hanjing wore a faint, mocking smile at the corner of her lips, yet her gaze was profoundly deep.

When true catastrophe approached, all races and factions began to act without restraint, even descending into madness.

Previously, when asked to deal with the dark beings, they would still weigh pros and cons, hesitating and calculating benefits and losses. But now, with the blade already hanging above their heads—threatening the survival of the entire vast expanse—they could no longer remain seated.

This was the truest nature of humanity. However, none of this had anything to do with her. No matter how chaotic the vast expanse became or what kind of upheaval followed, it was irrelevant to her. She only wanted to personally kill her enemies in this life and repay all the suffering and torment she had endured across endless ages.

Returning to the present, Ji Hanjing lowered her gaze, her tone cold and emotionless, carrying an overwhelming authority.

“You are saying that Emperor of the Unending Court, Jiang Yun, once entered the depths of spacetime alone, disappeared for a long period, and after returning… behaved abnormally during that time?”

Within the grand hall, silence reigned. Only one towering man stood there, cold sweat forming on his forehead as he lowered his head respectfully.

He was none other than the War God General of the Unending Imperial Court, Zhu Cangning—the Emperor’s right-hand man, who had once followed him in campaigns across all directions, helping establish the Unending Imperial Court and earning countless merits.

“Yes… yes… Ancestor…”

Zhu Cangning did not even dare to lift his head. His back was soaked in cold sweat as he carefully chose his words, not daring to hide anything. He did not know how this ancestor had learned of this matter. Before being summoned, he never expected to be questioned about something like this.

One must know that Emperor Jiang Yun’s expedition into the depths of spacetime—and his subsequent serious injuries—was known only to a very small number of people within the entire Unending Imperial Court. Even the Unending Princess did not know.

Then who could have leaked it?

The Emperor had clearly ordered them not to speak of it. Who would dare defy his command?

Could it have been the Starbright Imperial Advisor?

“Was it then… that he was contaminated?”

As Zhu Cangning’s thoughts swirled in confusion, Ji Hanjing seemed to speak to herself. Her eyes grew colder and deeper.

Those words made Zhu Cangning first freeze, then tremble inwardly, his face filled with disbelief. He had already vaguely guessed her meaning—he had suspected it before. But he did not dare think further in that direction, because it was too horrifying. If even the slightest rumor spread, it would trigger a massive upheaval across the Unending Imperial Court. He knew Emperor Jiang Yun better than anyone, having followed him in conquering the Three Thousand Immortal Mountains, Eight Hundred Demon Lands, and Thirty-Three Levels of the Refining Hell, subduing countless sects and clans.

Thus, in his view, someone as wise and heroic as Emperor Jiang Yun could never possibly have chosen to marry his daughter, Jiang Weiyang, to the Ninth Prince of the Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom, Ye Wudao. Nor would he have arranged a marriage alliance for the Unending Princess.

All of this either had hidden reasons—or was part of some deeper scheme. But judging from the Emperor’s later actions, it did not seem like he had planned it in advance.

These actions made Zhu Cangning utterly unable to understand, and even the Imperial Chancellor and others could not comprehend the Emperor’s intentions.

“Ancestor… Do you mean that at that time, His Majesty the Emperor had already been infected by dark matter?” Though he was only guessing, Zhu Cangning still asked carefully.

Ji Hanjing seemed to return to her senses. She glanced at him calmly.

“So you are not entirely foolish. You can still guess.”

Hearing the confirmation, Zhu Cangning felt both heaviness and relief. He did not want to believe that the once wise and heroic Emperor had changed so drastically. Knowing that he had been contaminated by dark matter made him feel somewhat better.

But what followed was boundless worry. After all, throughout history, those contaminated by dark matter had never escaped their fate—none had ever cleansed themselves and returned to normal. Even someone like Emperor Jiang Yun—towering above the ages, unmatched through time—was no exception. Once contaminated, he too had begun to change in temperament.

“Ancestor… is there any way to resolve this?” Zhu Cangning asked carefully.