I Am the Fated Villain

In the grand palace of the Spiritual Royal Family, Gu Changge, amidst his concentration on condensing immortal substance and good fortune substance, abruptly opened his eyes.

“Hongyi…” His gaze held a hint of contemplation, as if sensing something significant.

Before departing from the Dao Chang Realm, he deliberately sought out a secluded and unrestrained location to refine the World Seed. Dividing it into several parts, he transformed them into streams of light, directing them towards Yue Mingkong, Jiang Chu Chu, and others.

The World Seed, comprised of immortal and good fortune substances, encapsulated the ultimate essence of Dao. While it could potentially propel them to celestial heights in one fell swoop, imbuing them with remarkable spiritual energy, its primary purpose was to lay a sturdy foundation, serving as a steadfast cornerstone for their future entry into the Dao realm.

Moreover, Gu Changge discreetly marked each seed of the real world, ensuring he could monitor the safety and well-being of Yue Mingkong and the others, thus preempting any potential dangers.

Though not renowned for his altruism, Gu Changge never skimped on care for those dear to him. While he may not have interrogated them about their cultivation endeavors, he remained vigilant, ever-watchful over their progress.

For instance, Gu Changge found Yue Mingkong’s self-devised Great Dream Returning to the Immortal Technique particularly intriguing. To him, it held an air of mystery, delving into the profound interplay between reality and dream. Her cultivation and Dao comprehension within her dreams were entirely contingent upon her mastery over the ethereal realm of “dreams,” a domain subject to fleeting existence, lasting eons or vanishing in the blink of an eye.

With the aid of creation matter and immortal substance, once fully awakened, her strength could potentially skyrocket to a formidable level.

Throughout the years, Gu Changge had diligently probed into the truth behind Yue Mingkong’s rebirth, entertaining the notion that she might be a reflection of someone else’s body. Yet, each conjecture he entertained was systematically refuted.

The most plausible explanation emerged: Yue Mingkong inadvertently intersected with the trajectory of an alternate worldline, granting her access to memories from a divergent future. These future recollections resembled a dream within a dream, signaling an eventual awakening.

From this awakening sprang the opportunity for Yue Mingkong to craft her own Great Dream Return to Immortal Technique. Despite her innate brilliance, her radiance dimmed in the shadow of Gu Changge’s presence, a sacrifice she willingly made to remain by his side.

Gu Changge conceded that Yue Mingkong held a significant place in his heart, surpassing all others. Yet, thoughts of Yue Mingkong inevitably led to considerations of Gu Xian’er, Jiang Chuchu, and the others.

Jiang Chuchu, always docile and compliant, exhibited heightened deference in Gu Changge’s presence. Later, she willingly renounced her status as saintess of the Human Ancestor Hall, forsaking her deeply held beliefs and betraying her former allegiance. Gu Changge, not one to turn a blind eye, could not remain indifferent to her sacrifices.

Jiang Chuchu’s talent equaled her astonishing nature; she had already tapped into the power of luck, embracing her faith without Gu Changge’s concern for her cultivation. Even without the prototype of the world seed, Jiang Chuchu possessed a strong likelihood of ascending to the Dao realm in due time.

As for Gu Xian’er, she originally presided over the real world of mountains and seas, inheriting the fortune of an entire realm and reincarnating three times. By amalgamating the Dao fruits from her previous lives, she was destined to reach greater heights in her current incarnation. Additionally, Gu Changge had paved another path for Gu Xian’er, awaiting her emergence to assume control over everything.

During his time in the upper realm, Gu Changge amassed numerous followers and subordinates. Among them were Alpha, born from absorbing the true blood aura within the Demon Burying Abyss, background figures from the destruction of Hell and Buddha, numerous dark puppets crafted during the establishment of the Dark Heavenly Court, and the ancient heavenly lord of reincarnation’s puppets refined later on. Gu Changge had meticulously arranged for their upbringing, and over the years, their strength had reached formidable levels.

“The fluctuations in Hong Yi’s imprint signal unexpected changes in her life level. It appears she’s planning to surprise me,” Gu Changge mused, sensing the imprint’s fluctuation. However, he remained unperturbed. Having journeyed through time and witnessed the so-called “truth” firsthand, it was inconceivable for Chan Hongyi to harbor resentment towards him again. On the contrary, she might feel remorseful and seek to make amends.

Gu Changge didn’t anticipate the form Chan Hongyi’s restitution would take. Aware of her initially impure motives and subsequent missteps, he found some of the present outcomes beyond his expectations. For now, his primary concern was ensuring Chan Hongyi’s commitment to safeguarding the grand design without error.

Buzz!!!

As he rolled up his sleeves, a golden vial materialized, adorned with intricate traces of the Great Dao. Its weight, akin to Chaos Immortal Gold, caused the palace to tremble violently.

Before Gu Changge, clusters of magnificent, ethereal galaxies of matter assumed fluidic forms, oscillating between mist and liquid states, undergoing myriad transformations, eventually coalescing into chaos and manifesting as the Three Thousand Daos.

From the many worlds governed by the Spiritual Royal Family, Gu Changge extracted inextricable threads of luck, condensing these substances into the golden vial.

Though scarce in quantity, even a small amount proved invaluable to him. The vastness of luck inherent in an ancient real world rendered the extraction of even a trace of immortal substance and good fortune substance a Herculean task. Extracting such from a nascent real world was even more improbable, barring significant accumulation over time.

“Such a diminutive vessel may yet spare me from certain troubles,” Gu Changge remarked as he stowed away the golden vial, intending to contemplate its utility when time permitted. He resumed the condensation of these substances.

From Gu Changge’s perspective, immortal matter and creation matter symbolized the evolution and essence of matter on the Dao path, serving as both its genesis and culmination. They represented the source of all existence, the genesis of chaos, the inception of grandeur, and the “origin” preceding lawlessness.

For other Dao Realm entities, comprehending the significance of these substances proved insurmountable. They could only fumble through the protracted cultivation process, attempting to glean an aura, a prototype, or a semblance of truth from them.

Even if Gu Changge were to instruct others on the condensation of immortal matter and creation matter, they would remain incapable of achieving it in their lifetime. Only beings detached from existence, possessing profound wisdom and a true comprehension of detachment at the life level, could fathom the existence of these substances, let alone attempt to condense and utilize them.

This truth, though complex, could be likened to explaining the nature of matter and elements to a bug. No matter how elaborate the explanation, expecting a bug to grasp it would be futile.

While Gu Changge acknowledged his current strength might equate to that of a bug, his life level stood apart. He could harness and manipulate these substances to enhance his life realm and strength, as well as aid other Dao Realm entities in their cultivation and advancement.

“Condensing immortal matter and creation matter on my own is tediously slow. Finding a vessel capable of condensing these substances would be ideal,” Gu Changge mused. However, the likelihood of such a container existing in the vast expanse of the world was infinitesimal. Only those with ties to the original world, inadvertently stumbling upon clues and refining them, stood a chance. Yet, such occurrences were exceedingly rare.

Furrowing his brow in contemplation, Gu Changge pondered the possibility of creating such a treasure by returning to his prime as the Demon Lord, leveraging suitable materials, fueling it with the Dao, and harnessing the power of numerous civilizations. However, lacking the requisite materials even with his current strength rendered this endeavor unfeasible.

As for relying on the Dao Chang Realm and the Spiritual Realm, such hopes were even more unrealistic.

The materials required for such a treasure had to be sourced from potent real worlds, and even then, acquiring enough might necessitate venturing into the real land. Gu Changge harbored no expectations of the Spiritual Realm possessing such a treasure. After all, condensing immortal matter or good fortune substance from luck could potentially spawn numerous formidable beings. It was inconceivable that the Spiritual Realm would allow itself to be decimated by him.

“For now, the matter of condensing immortal matter and creation matter can be set aside. Ling Huang can gather the Spiritual Royal Family’s luck accumulated over the years for me,” Gu Changge decided, rising from his seat and departing the grand hall.

Awaiting him outside was the Bone Ancestor, transformed into a black-robed old man, who stood with utmost respect.

“Greetings, my lord,” he greeted respectfully, assuming the demeanor of an old servant.

Accompanying him was a delicate woman clad in a green skirt, exuding a natural charm and possessing the strength of an immortal king.

“Liu Mei pays respects to my lord,” she greeted, serving as Ling Huang’s confidante, stationed outside the palace to convey Gu Changge’s orders.

“Where is Ling Huang now?” Gu Changge inquired, nodding at her as he glanced around.

Wan Yanxiu and the other ancestors were tasked with recruiting armies from the Great World under the Spiritual Royal Family’s jurisdiction. Ling Huang, assigned to assist Gu Changge, aimed to ingratiate herself with him. However, she had withdrawn from his side during the condensation of immortal matter and creation matter, choosing to attend to other matters.

“Your Majesty has left the palace to attend to other matters,” Liu Mei reported respectfully, withholding nothing in Gu Changge’s presence.

Even the ancestors of the Spiritual Royal Family harbored profound fear of Gu Changge. Despite possessing the power of an immortal king, they were no more than ants before him.

“Is there something urgent?” Gu Changge inquired, arching an eyebrow slightly. He wondered if Ling Huang had alternative plans during the crucial army recruitment period for the Spiritual Royal Family.

Aware of the rifts and conflicts between Ling Huang and the Spiritual Royal Family’s ancestors, Gu Changge wasn’t particularly concerned as long as it didn’t interfere with his own affairs.

“Yes, before Your Majesty departed, she instructed the servants to assist Your Lordship directly should you have any orders,” Liu Mei replied nervously, sensing Gu Changge’s slight displeasure.

“Understood,” Gu Changge responded after a moment of consideration, opting not to press the matter further. He wasn’t in a rush to gather the Spiritual Royal Family’s luck, but he recognized Ling Huang’s importance as a Dao realm figure overseeing the entire clan. Moreover, her knowledge of events across various realms was extensive, making her indispensable.

Although Ling Huang’s status afforded her vast influence, there were still matters that intrigued her, likely requiring her personal attention. Gu Changge mulled over his thoughts and speculated about Ling Huang’s activities, aware that her existence transcended the constraints of causal fate, obscuring past, future, and all dimensions within an enigmatic fog.

Gu Changge couldn’t ascertain everything he desired to know; he merely sought to discern subtle signs.

“The celestial secrets are in disarray, with variables disrupting the Spiritual Royal Family’s fate… It appears unexpected variables have indeed emerged, much to my surprise,” Gu Changge mused, retracting his thoughts. He cast a gentle gaze at the slightly uneasy Liu Mei.

“You must know Ling Huang’s current whereabouts. Guide me to her,” he instructed softly. Gu Changge preferred direct engagement rather than continued espionage, avoiding the risk of alerting Ling Huang.

Recognizing the Spiritual Realm’s value as a formidable ally, Gu Changge aimed to minimize unnecessary complications. He didn’t want to cause undue trouble, now that he wielded influence over the Spiritual Realm.

Liu Mei, feeling flustered by the request, suggested, “Your Lordship, if you wish to see Her Majesty, you could simply summon her. There’s no need to search for her in person.”

Gu Changge dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand. “It’s fine. Just lead the way.”

The Bone Ancestor, observing the exchange, sensed an air of secrecy surrounding Ling Huang. He speculated that there might be hidden secrets concerning her. Ling Huang likely didn’t anticipate Gu Changge’s early departure from the hall and swift completion of his cultivation.