I Really Am A Villain

Everyone collapsed breathlessly on the shore, healing each other’s wounds in utter exhaustion.

“City Lord Qin, the divine blade was already drawn, why didn’t you slay that monster?”

“Since Young Master Xu told us to wait, we’ll wait until he returns,” Qin Haoshi explained calmly.

“You think that guy might’ve run off with the divine blade?”

“Yeah, he’s always been suspicious. What if he tricked us into helping him seize the divine blade, then escaped?”

“Though we haven’t known him long, I don’t think Young Master Xu is that kind of person,” Literature Sovereign said.

“There must be a reason.”

Everyone fell silent.

By now, doubt had already crept into their hearts, but no one voiced it.

“Someone’s coming!” a shout rang out suddenly from the side.

Everyone quickly sat up, looking toward the distant Northern Sea.

A lone figure was flying across the waves, sprinting desperately toward them.

Just a few meters away, the figure finally collapsed, sinking into the water.

“It’s Young Master Xu! Save him!” Literature Sovereign shouted.

Everyone rushed forward, dragging the severely injured Xu Zimo from the sea.

Literature Sovereign continuously channeled spirit energy into Xu Zimo’s body. Xu Zimo coughed several times, spitting out mouthfuls of seawater before slowly waking up.

“What happened?” Xu Zimo asked weakly.

“Where’s the monster?” Qin Haoshi asked quickly.

“I fought it for several rounds,” Xu Zimo said. “It was too strong. I suffered heavy injuries and barely escaped. As for where it is now, I don’t know.”

“But you had the divine blade! How could you still lose?” someone asked.

Xu Zimo slowly stood, sighing. “Let’s return to Flame Stone City first. I’ll explain on the way.”

Everyone nodded.

As they walked, Xu Zimo said, “I only knew that the divine blade could be used to fight the monster. I knew one part, but not the other. The blade has an activation condition. I only discovered that after obtaining it.”

“An activation condition? What condition?” Literature Sovereign asked.

“Willpower, the collective will of all living beings,” Xu Zimo replied. “The more willpower it receives, the stronger its power becomes.”

Everyone went quiet for a long while. Then Qin Haoshi spoke up, “Actually, this isn’t as difficult as it sounds.”

“Oh? City Lord Qin, what do you suggest?” someone asked.

“In this age of chaos, I believe we can gather everyone across the continent,” Qin Haoshi said. “If we unite the people and have them offer their willpower, we can awaken the divine blade. That shouldn’t be too hard.”

“But what if some are too afraid of the monster to come?” another asked.

“Those ruled by fear are useless,” Qin Haoshi said sternly. “They’ll only earn the scorn of all living creatures. We’ll build momentum. Once the majority stand with us, the timid ones will follow. And with the Six Sovereigns, the strongest of this era, who would dare oppose? We have the advantage of heaven, earth, and people alike.”

“Since City Lord Qin has spoken, let’s do it,” Literature Sovereign said. “We’ll each go to the Western Mountains, the Northern Wilderness, the Southern Seas, and the Eastern Tombs to spread the word. Then, all across the land, we’ll unite for the final battle against the monster.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. The Six Sovereigns departed in different directions to spread the call, while Xu Zimo and Qin Haoshi returned to the City Lord’s mansion to await news and the gathering of willpower.

In Flame Stone City, the entire city was on high alert.

Xu Zimo returned to the mansion, and for several days, nothing unusual occurred. But soon, more and more people began arriving from all corners of the world.

The city grew more crowded than ever before, so crowded that Flame Stone City could no longer hold everyone. Even the lands for a thousand miles beyond its walls were packed with people.

The Six Sovereigns eventually returned as well.

Standing atop the city wall, Xu Zimo and the others gazed out across the sea of people, an endless mass stretching beyond the horizon.

“Well?” Qin Haoshi said with satisfaction. “Do you think this is enough? In the coming days, even more will arrive.”

“Then let everyone offer their willpower to the divine blade,” Xu Zimo said.

Literature Sovereign nodded slightly and issued the command, which was quickly passed down layer by layer.

Outside the city walls, millions of living beings sat cross-legged in silence.

Xu Zimo raised Shadow Tyrant into the air.

This kind of willpower wasn’t simple, it required true sincerity. Only a heart filled with genuine devotion could produce it. Pretenders, those without purity of heart, would yield nothing.

But with chaos looming over the world and despair consuming all, every living being truly desired to destroy it, through the divine blade.

Xu Zimo looked up at the sky and saw countless unseen streams of willpower flowing into Shadow Tyrant. Though invisible to the eye, the blade could feel them clearly.

Its body trembled, almost in joy.

As the willpower grew stronger, the blade’s energy reservoir continued to rise.

Just as the crowd’s joy began to build, a thunderous roar shook the heavens.

The monstrous figure of Chaos appeared in the distance.

“It’s coming, it’s the monster!” someone shouted.

“Don’t be afraid! With the divine blade, we’ll surely win!” another cried.

“We will surely win!” The chant spread through the masses, becoming a rallying cry.

“Young Master Xu,” Qin Haoshi and the others turned toward him.

Xu Zimo nodded slightly. “Everyone, if I do not return from this, let the lineage of the Primordial Domain fade quietly. Do not speak of it to the world.”

“Young Master Xu, you are a true hermit and hero. We are unworthy to compare,” Qin Haoshi said solemnly. “We will obey.”

“Wishing you victory and safe return!” the crowd shouted in unison.

Xu Zimo gazed ahead, then stepped into the air from the city wall.

His figure swept across the void, right hand grasping Shadow Tyrant.

The blade’s tip pointed toward Chaos, and an overwhelming aura of blade intent surged across the heavens, filling the sky like a vast sea.

“Are you ready to be buried?” the furious voice of Chaos thundered across the land.

“Kill!” Xu Zimo roared.

He charged forward, slashing with all his might.

A deafening explosion shook the air as boundless blade intent collided with Chaos’s claw.

All eyes below were fixed on the sky, hearts tight, breaths held.

This battle would decide the fate of the entire world and every living being upon it.

None could look away.

Blade energy and beastly power clashed and burst apart in the void.

Their figures crossed, and separated.