I Reincarnated as a Side Character, So I Became the Villain (ATG)

Ren Zu smiled calmly, as if Duke Ming's words were a gentle breeze without any weight. His lips curved into a lazy arc, and he responded in a tone devoid of any hurry:

"Escape? Who said I want to escape? Hmph… you talk as if the palm of your hand were the heavens themselves. To me, it's nothing more than a speck of dust in my path. It won't be a problem."

Ren Zu's relaxed gaze, paired with that almost bored smile, made the atmosphere in the valley grow even stranger. The Little Demon Empress's body trembled slightly behind him; even she, who was well-acquainted with Ren Zu's arrogance, felt her heart shake at the absurd calm he displayed before the most feared man in the entire Illusory Demon Realm.

"You… you're courting death!" Duke Huai took a step forward, rage burning in his eyes. He turned to his father and spoke with a voice laden with hatred: "Father, it's not worth dirtying your hands with this insolent brat. Let me crush this fool with my own hands! I'll show him the difference between a worm and a dragon!"

He unleashed a wave of profound energy that made the ground tremble. Dust rose around him, and the pressure of his power shattered nearby trees like dry twigs. His killing intent was so dense it seemed to condense the very air.

Duke Ming, however, didn't respond immediately. His long, narrow eyes fixed on Ren Zu with even greater interest, like a predator observing a rare animal. A cold smile appeared on his lips, and then he said in a low tone:

"Teach this boy the price of arrogance. But don't kill him yet. I want to see how long that smile stays on his face."

"Yes, Father!" Duke Huai roared, the energy in his body surging like a hurricane. He raised his right hand, and a massive palm of condensed profound energy appeared above Ren Zu, carrying the force of a collapsing mountain.

The entire valley seemed to crumble under that suffocating pressure.

Yet, Ren Zu merely raised his eyes, and the lazy smile on his face didn't falter for a moment.

"Well… since you insist on entertaining me, I'll play with you too."

Ren Zu slowly raised his fist, each movement simple, almost relaxed, but the entire world reacted as if it were about to collapse.

In the next instant, the sky roared. Black clouds gathered over the valley, and crimson lightning bolts descended in furious torrents, illuminating everything with an apocalyptic light.

*Crack! Crack!*

Lightning danced across the valley.

"Profound Art of the Thunder King… Nine Stars — First Stage: Fist of the Thunder King of World-Collapsing Star!"

He struck with force toward the condensed palm of profound energy descending upon him.

A deafening thunderclap exploded in the air as the blow was delivered. The condensed energy manifested as a colossal projection of a fist made of red lightning, so massive it seemed to crush the very horizon. Lightning bolts slithered around like frenzied dragons, roaring with primal fury.

The pressure unleashed was so absurd that space itself distorted, shattering into black fissures that spread like webs of cracked glass.

Compared to that force, Duke Huai's crushing attack was mere sand before a raging ocean. The profound energy palm descending like a mountain was instantly swallowed and destroyed, torn to pieces like paper in a storm.

"Impossible!!!" Duke Huai shouted, his eyes wide with disbelief.

But before he could react, a shadow appeared before his eyes. Ren Zu had simply vanished from where he stood, his speed tearing through the laws of space. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Duke Huai, his fist extending in a perfect punch…

The punch struck his stomach with a force so close to the speed of light that the impact violently distorted the space at that point.

The sound of breaking bones mingled with the roar of thunder.

"GUHHAAAGHHHH!"

Duke Huai spat a torrent of blood, his body crumpling as if made of soft clay. The point of impact deformed as his organs were obliterated. In a last-second attempt, he tried to mobilize his profound energy to mitigate the attack, only to discover his cultivation had been sealed! His eyes widened further. His body was hurled like a lifeless projectile, soaring through the air with a trail of blood and residual lightning. He crashed into the mountain range, and the impact caused the entire ridge to collapse as if made of sand. When the dust settled, the once-proud Duke Huai was kneeling amid the rubble, his face pale, his eyes bulging with pain and disbelief.

Each breath seemed to tear his lungs; his stomach was so distorted from the blow that even the surrounding space still trembled, unable to return to normal. A steady stream of blood dripped from his mouth, staining the ground a vivid red.

"Impossible… I… I'm a Duke… how… how could I…"

Meanwhile, Ren Zu reappeared in front of the Little Demon Empress, who was stunned by how easily he had defeated Duke Huai. Even at her peak, she would have struggled to face him, as although her power surpassed Duke Huai's, she could never let her guard down. Ren Zu had done it so effortlessly? Was he truly stronger than her by a significant margin?

"Hahahaha," seeing his son defeated, Duke Ming laughed recklessly once more as he slowly stepped forward. "I see, this Duke is impressed! This Duke never thought he'd encounter such a talented youth. If I'm not mistaken, you're already a Monarch, aren't you? Someone at the early or mid-level capable of fighting above your level against my foolish son. A hundred years ago, it's true that this Duke might have lost to a monster like you…"

"But now, this Duke is no longer at the ninth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm as I was a hundred years ago. I am at the tenth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm! The pinnacle realm in this world. At this level, the palms of this Duke can already touch the laws of this world. Even this space under my palm could, in an instant… be shattered!"

"So what? As I said before… it's not enough to reach the apex," Ren Zu said calmly. With a subtle motion of his hand, he positioned himself protectively in front of Caiyi, extending an arm behind him in a silent but clear gesture: don't move.

The Little Demon Empress, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms, glared at him with hatred and helplessness. Her heart burned with fury against the two men who had appeared, but the fear of losing Ren Zu, who had gotten into this mess because of her, burned even stronger. A whirlwind of conflicting emotions tore her apart inside—concern, anger, hatred, helplessness—until the last emotion surged with brutal intensity: a hatred so profound it seemed to want to destroy the entire world. Naturally, all that hatred was directed at Duke Ming standing before her.

After hearing Ren Zu's words, Duke Ming's eyebrows relaxed slightly, and the corner of his mouth lifted a bit. His expressionless face turned into a carefree, gentle smile. "Boy, honestly, this Duke would hate to kill you. You possess an extraordinary technique, you're clever, and your potential is even more astonishing. Under this Duke's gaze, you haven't even panicked, which means your mental strength is also remarkable. You dare to harm my son—your courage and audacity are even more exceptional… At your age, with this kind of ability, even this Duke can't help but be impressed. If you die like this, it would be a waste."

"So?" Ren Zu narrowed his eyes. "Is Duke Ming prepared to give me a chance to live?"

"Let this Duke plant a soul mark on your body, and from now on, be loyal to this Duke. Not only will you live, but when this Duke rules the world, you can enjoy wealth and honor for the rest of your life…" Duke Ming said softly. "This Duke has never hesitated or softened when it comes to killing someone; you are the first. This is the highest grace this Duke is offering you! Don't disappoint this Duke."

"Grace? Heh…" Ren Zu scoffed deeply. "Your so-called 'grace' isn't worth a penny to me! Even if I die, I won't let someone like you, who can't even compare to a beast, taint my soul!"

"Very well," Duke Ming nodded slowly in his heart. "Since you've chosen stupidity, then… die!!"

The space warped as Duke Ming slowly raised his hand. An overwhelming pressure engulfed the entire valley, the ground creaked, the air fragmented into black fissures, and then… a gigantic palm of golden fire appeared above the sky. It was so vast it obscured the horizon, each finger like a flaming mountain, each strand of fire a golden river of destruction. The heat it released made the entire Zhou Great Mountain range tremble as if it were wax melting before a volcano.

If that palm descended fully, not only the Zhou Great Mountain but the entire surrounding region would be reduced to ashes in a single instant.

"Shattered Heaven Golden Sun Palm!" Duke Ming said casually, as if he had already decreed the end of Ren Zu and the Little Demon Empress.

Under this utterly terrifying power, even a normal Monarch, let alone an ordinary person, would be easily crushed to pieces. The Little Demon Empress's heart stopped for a moment. The aura of that technique overwhelmed her like an endless ocean. With her cultivation sealed, if not for Ren Zu shielding her by standing in front, she would have turned to ashes…

But before the world was consumed by fire, Ren Zu had already moved.

With a step as swift as thunder, he grabbed her by the waist, lifting her into his arms as if it were natural, and retreated in an arc that defied the imminent destruction.

"Hold on to me…"

In the next instant, Ren Zu's body erupted in crimson lightning. He gritted his teeth, circulating all his profound energy without reservation, activating the second form of his profound lightning art.

His eyes shone like collapsing stars.

"Sealing the Nebula, Locking the Stars!" he murmured softly.

A thunderous roar reverberated through the valley.

From Ren Zu's body expanded a spherical barrier of blood-red lightning, like a divine cocoon made of pure stellar power.

The lightning currents intertwined like flaming dragons, forming stars that spun endlessly. Within it, time seemed to slow, and even the sound of external destruction became muffled, as if they were isolated in an untouchable bubble.

Caiyi looked around, her breathing shaky, her eyes reflecting the wall of thunder surrounding them. She could feel he was pouring everything into this attack—did that mean even he wasn't a match for Duke Ming!? Her heart pounded faster with dread…

The impact came.

The palm that seemed like a golden sun collided with the blood-red barrier.

*BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!*

The barrier trembled violently, each layer of thunder roaring against the golden fire trying to tear it apart. Red lightning and golden flames exploded in waves of energy that shattered entire mountains, vaporizing rivers and forests. The valley that had existed until that moment simply ceased to be, replaced by a massive crater filled with dust and flying debris.

Inside the barrier, Ren Zu gritted his teeth fiercely, his muscles tensing, veins bulging on his skin, and blood beginning to trickle from the corners of his eyes and mouth. Yet, his arms remained firm around Caiyi, protecting her as if nothing else mattered. He quickly glanced at her in his arms, their eyes meeting as he held her delicate body even tighter.

"Caiyi… Don't worry… Everything will be fine. I'll use the rest of my strength to get us out. Hold on tight…"

He took a deep breath and immediately activated his [Ancestral Spatial Symbol] to teleport. He pressed Caiyi against his chest, vanishing from the collapsing crater.

*BOOOOOMMMMMM!!!*

The golden palm exploded against the spot where they had been, completely annihilating the region. Entire mountains turned to dust, rivers to vapor, and everything within miles was wiped out. In the center of that apocalyptic destruction, a single golden shadow remained suspended. It was Duke Ming, his hair whipped by chaotic energy, coldly staring at the colossal crater he had created. His expression was calm, but his eyes held a trace of even denser killing intent than before. With a gesture of his hand, his son appeared, held by the collar of his robes.

Still injured and unable to use his profound energy, Duke Huai quickly asked, "Royal Father, what happened? How did they disappear? Could they have…"

"Heh!" Duke Ming retracted his other hand unhurriedly. There wasn't a trace of panic or a disturbed expression on his face, not even one of surprise; it seemed this was also within his expectations. "Due to that boy's profound art, I couldn't quite see what happened. But if I had to guess, it was merely the activation of the 'Crimson Blood Bracelet' triggering a dimensional escape. Such a thing exists in the Little Demon Emperor's memory, and it was just as this Duke expected—that the Little Demon Empress equipped it…"

"It's merely a futile effort before their death. How could they escape the palms of this Duke?" Duke Ming said as he slightly turned his body, narrowing his eyes and smiling. His gaze locked directly northwest. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly in a gentle, breezy smile… but the light in his pupils was colder and more piercing than the most venomous snake. "…It seems they've entered the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley."

Low-level profound practitioners used spatial rings as storage devices, but once reaching the Monarch level, one could open a personal dimensional pocket. Important items could be stored in this pocket to prevent them from being easily lost or stolen, as with items in a spatial ring.

Stealing something from someone's dimensional pocket was far harder than killing them… If someone did kill that person, their dimensional pocket would also collapse, and the items within would be shredded by spatial energies or fall into dimensional rifts. Either way, those items would never reappear.

But most importantly, as someone who had reached the highest level of the Sovereign Profound Realm, he could "touch" the world's space and sense the teleportation's location through it. That's why he didn't immediately pursue them to stop their escape.

Duke Huai was still gasping in pain, his face pale, but his eyes gleamed with a spark of dark hope upon hearing his father's words.

"Then… they've entered the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley…" he murmured, his breathing heavy, but soon a twisted smile appeared on his bloodied lips. "Royal Father, doesn't this… ruin our plans? We wanted to kill Caiyi to seize this opportunity. Now that they've escaped… won't this complicate things for us?"

Duke Ming raised a hand behind his back, his narrow eyes glinting like cold blades. He replied calmly, without even glancing at his son:

"Hmph. No. Even if they've escaped this Duke and entered a place not easily accessible, they won't be able to leave for many years. The Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley isn't a place people can freely traverse; it's an independent world. The Little Demon Empress and that boy… heh… will be trapped there for a while, and by then, all our plans will already be complete. When they finally emerge, if they're still alive, the throne will already have a new owner."

Duke Huai's eyes shone with sick excitement, but suddenly his expression twisted in agony. He clutched his stomach, his trembling fingers shaking violently.

"Arghh!!" he groaned, hatred bubbling in his eyes. "Damn… that brat…! It was his attack… since then, my cultivation… it's sealed!! I can't mobilize any profound energy!"

Duke Ming's pupils narrowed for a moment, but soon a peculiar glint of interest appeared in his gaze.

"Sealed? That boy actually applied a sealing technique with his attack. Hmph… very interesting…" The corner of Duke Ming's mouth curled into a cold, almost satisfied smile. "This boy is even more troublesome than I imagined. Not only does he carry an unusual bloodline and absurd techniques, but he also possesses means that even this Duke cannot immediately identify. Heheheh…"

He laughed softly, but the coldness emanating from his eyes was so suffocating that even Duke Huai shuddered, despite the hatred burning in his chest.

"Royal Father… I swear… the next time we meet that wretch, I'll tear his skin off piece by piece!!"

Duke Ming didn't respond immediately. Instead, he slightly tilted his face, staring toward the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley…

A chilling glint flashed through his eyes.

"Perhaps, this Duke is cultivating a truly worthy enemy."

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