I Am the Fated Villain

Significant changes had occurred in the world. At this moment, the mighty cultivators and even regular folks had observed the abnormality. The global environment underwent daily transformations. Some previously barren mountains appeared alive overnight, teeming with newfound vigor and covered in lush greenery. Dry old trees burst forth with fresh green buds, and rivers once dried up, flowed again, each universe presenting distinct visions.

There’s something major on the horizon.

Numerous familiar creatures exchanged whispers, uncertain about the unfolding events. Yet, everyone grasped that it signaled an impending significant occurrence. Even in remote mountain villages, the yellow cattle, accustomed to plowing the fields year-round, began to vocalize before soaring away atop clouds and fog, eventually disappearing.

Various ordinary people seemed akin to characters in ancient myths, gradually manifesting in reality. This phenomenon marked the merging of the mythic past with the resurgence of strength from ancient times. Among the old immortal forces, the occurrences were even more astonishing. A figure emerged in the long-neglected ancestral hall, claiming to be their ancestor.

More figures stirred and sat up from the mausoleums, their slumber duration a mystery. Many were coated in mud. As they slowly rose from their coffins, the descendants guarding the tombs were startled.

The world was in upheaval, with periodic spreading of unimaginable rumors. People acknowledged that if a calamity emerged beyond the boundless sea, they might be powerless to resist. It became apparent that they never truly comprehended the world, lacking even a thorough understanding of their family’s ethical history.

Some immortal forces discovered that their founding patriarch was a young Daoist boy serving an influential figure tasked to preserve the immortal legacy. He then feigned his demise and retreated to protect the significant individual.

Countless years elapsed, and their still-alive founders shared revelations in dreams using secret techniques. This allowed them to prepare for the imminent arrival of the great man. Such occurrences stirred a sensation in all directions, challenging creatures’ understanding of their ethnic groups.

The laws of heaven and earth had stabilized in the present vast world. The laws of the immortal domain and upper realm had seamlessly merged, expanding the limit of combat power for both realms. Though yet to be in a genuinely prosperous era, it approached the period preceding the Forbidden Era. If no catastrophe struck a hundred years later, this would be the prime era for cultivators.

Becoming a Daoist, achieving immortality, and aspiring to the position of Immortal King were within reach. Many elders in recovery also noted this phenomenon. The world did not significantly suppress their strength, and any impact was negligible compared to their initial expectations.

The greatness of this world surpassed their predictions. Since the Forbidden Era, many had resorted to forbidden techniques to conceal skyward secrets and mask aura fluctuations, falling into a prolonged slumber. Some individuals traced their origins back to the incomparably prosperous era preceding the Forbidden Era. Upon awakening, they comprehended the contemporary world and historical events for the first time.

Some awoke from their long slumber due to mysterious induction, unaware of the changes in the world. Among them were genuinely ancient individuals who had traversed the path of reincarnation, retaining most original memories after the initial calamity. They grasped the many secrets of this world, where both the immortal domain and upper realm were integral parts of the tangible world of mountains and seas.

In this contemporary era, few truly grasp the significance of calamity’s existence. Many remain oblivious to their past experiences, unaware that the current state of the mountain and sea real world is a consequence of the first and second calamities.

To them, the Forbidden Era is but a distant and untouchable ancient history. Little do they know, preceding the Forbidden Era were numerous older epochs and civilizations, each once resplendent and prosperous to the utmost.

These are aspects lost on the later generations. Some revived elders couldn’t help but succumb to nostalgia and emotion upon discovering many aspects of the world. Such sentiments circulated among various immortal forces, prompting sudden realizations among many cultivators.

To these beings, the so-called ‘ancient’ might be merely a fleeting moment, a vanished light. True antiquity spans tens of millions of epochs, and the long river of time struggles to bear such weight.

These ancient existences comprehend the truths between heaven and earth, the reasons for catastrophes, and the shattering of ancient history and the burial of past eras. However, creatures that survived since the Forbidden Era, upon learning about the world’s present state, are still struck with terror.

Surprisingly, he still governs the current world, and in that initial battle, the heavens shattered, and all universes collapsed.

They murmured and were shocked. Some who fell into a deep slumber after the catastrophe couldn’t even fathom how they were resurrected, seemingly buried in that calamity.

Many seemingly perished, but after countless years, they awoke in an unfamiliar place, disoriented and unaware of their surroundings. The battle was too tragic. Everyone vividly recalls the abrupt collapse of the Immortal Palace overnight.

“Such irony— the one who once destroyed the universe now controls all immortal forces, establishing the divine kingdom and heavenly court on his own. A colossal devil, yet adorned with virtues,” whispered survivors from the Immortal Palace, their eyes filled with unwillingness and hatred. Accepting such a reality proved exceedingly difficult.

Time, the mightiest force in the world, struggled to erase the deep-seated hatred within their hearts. Similar scenes unfolded in the Immortal Domain, Upper Realm, and even the Foreign land, with the fortunes of various places expanding, stretching, and surging.

Gu Changge observed it all in silence. Everything occurring in the heavens was under his vigilant gaze, anticipated by him. The impending oppression from beyond the boundless sea triggered the revival of the heavens’ will, startling the deeply hidden elders.

This is an instinct of the tangible world of mountains and seas. Faced with an unavoidable catastrophe, it awakened the most potent individuals it once nurtured. In the eyes of ordinary beings, the distinction between the world and the universe blurred, and they were oblivious to possessing a form of consciousness.

Following the cycle of heaven, life and death were integral. The real world and living beings maintained a symbiotic relationship. Gu Changge utilized this “fishing” approach to astonish the old individuals.

“The world has become lively,” he remarked, a faint smile on his lips. “But the real excitement comes next.”

Gu Changge gaze upward at the terminus of the tangible world of mountains and seas. From his vantage point, it became apparent that the world’s end was increasingly barren as if a barrier were gradually disintegrating into some vague, incomplete substance.

This substance resembled foam, enveloping the end of the natural world of mountains and seas, creating a barrier to shield against the fluctuations of the boundless ocean. However, this barrier teetered on the brink of collapse.

This served as the harbinger before the group of “hunters”  arrived in the boundless sea. A warning to all living beings in the tangible world of mountains and seas.

Gu Changge observed an ancient, weathered warship surging through the vast waves and black fog, crushing and exploding a section of the ancient world. Crafted from a scarce immortal gold, the ship showed no signs of decay despite years of traversing the boundless sea. Figures on board exuded an air of god-like arrogance, dominating the universe and swallowing the sky.

While this disaster paled compared to the previous calamities, the present tangible world of mountains and seas was incomparable to the pre-calamity era. Gu Changge chose not to intervene yet. The hundred years had just begun, and opportunities for the tangible world of mountains and seas still existed.

“At this juncture, it’s time to deploy the remaining chess pieces,” Gu Changge murmured softly, his eyes deepening.

In the Immortal Domain, within the depths of the Endless Sea Clan, discussions concluded as immortal kings, intending to relocate their clans, gathered in a magnificent ancient palace. The palace, seemingly forged from bronze, bore countless innate divine inscriptions, each containing profound and elusive meanings.

Only Ao Ling and a middle-aged man, weathered yet composed, stood alongside the Immortal King in this palace. The middle-aged man exuded a commanding presence, adorned in a golden dragon robe with a purple gold crown and a dragon horn between his forehead. His arms were clad in pale golden dragon scales.

All the Sea Clan’s immortal kings, visibly excited and respectful, felt the formidable coercion emanating from this middle-aged man. Over the past few days, he had arrived at an ancient temple with Ao Ling. Once the Dragon Palace of the Dragon Clan materialized in the depths of the Sea Clan. The formation pattern laid within easily withstood the existential threats of an Immortal King.

Given the name Ancestor Ao Ling used for this middle-aged man, certainty surrounded his identity—the third prince of the dragon clan, Ao Teng. He was the son of the ancestor dragon and elder brother to Ao Ling, possessing unfathomable cultivation.

He had been in slumber within this palace for an extended period. Recently, the depths of the Sea Clan had become aglow with rays of light and billions of miles of auspicious energy, alarming everyone. Many immortal kings, including Ao Ling, hurriedly converged to witness this spectacle.

“The winds of change have blown, time has elapsed, and unexpectedly, I’ve awakened again, after billions of years,” the middle-aged man softly spoke with a complex expression. Despite his recent recovery, he had swiftly adapted to this era. From his sister Ao Ling, he gleaned much about the happenings. He stood in contemplation for a prolonged duration, taking considerable time to fully recover.

In the initial battle against heaven, his origin suffered an injury, and he was rescued by his father, the ancestor dragon, sent to the depths of the Dragon Palace for cultivation. As for subsequent events, he remained oblivious.

“I don’t understand why my father sealed me away, and why it took so long for me to wake up,” Ao Teng whispered, perplexed by his father’s actions.

“My father left a letter, mentioning that my brothers would awaken in this world.”

Ao Ling also shared her thoughts. Though joyous at the reunion, her heart weighed heavily. A palpable, invisible net seemed to entwine them all. The more they probed, the more ensnared they became, making it arduous to break free.

Observing recent changes in the Immortal Domain and the Upper Realm, Ao Ling felt a chill down her spine. Why did so many awaken at this particular time? Was it a preordained arrangement, or did an unseen, ominous force manipulate events?

Terrified, Ao Ling dared not delve deeper.

Since my father said so, it must be his intention. I’ve awakened in this world, so I need not contemplate migrating from my homeland. Despite the dangers beyond the boundless sea, it’s not as daunting as you might think.

Ao Teng swiftly refocused after Recalling his past battles with his father against the liquidators. In his view, the imminent threat to the tangible world of mountains and seas from foreign adversaries took precedence.

The Dragon Clan had resided here for generations, and unless absolutely necessary, why would they abandon their homeland?

“The current situation in the World of Mountains and Seas is unique. Much transpired after the Battle against Heavens. At that time, that lord brought an era to an end with his own hands, burying that time into darkness,” Ao Ling explained, her face reflecting the complexity of the matter. She had yet to delve into the details with Ao Teng, as the battle against heaven was distant, unfamiliar even to the immortal kings present.