I Really Am A Villain

“Otherwise, why would you care so much about matters of the Ancient Demon Race?”

“It’s not hatred,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile. “There are just some things I want to ask about face-to-face.”

“You’re a mysterious one, aren’t you?” Wu Zhaodi said. “But let’s make this clear in advance, once we reach the capital, you’ll have to make sure I’m safe. With my level of strength, there are countless people there who could crush me.”

“Don’t worry,” Xu Zimo said lightly.

After several days of travel, at last, on the morning of the seventh day, their group arrived at the so-called Dragon God City, what the locals called the Imperial Capital.

“Now, the two of you no longer have a choice,” Vast Cloud said, stepping forward. “Follow me into the city.”

Xu Zimo and Wu Zhaodi were taken down from their tied horses and made to walk into Dragon God City.

The city’s architecture was strange, unlike most great cities, which spread outward in vast, sprawling breadth, Dragon God City was built upward, its fame rooted in its height. The empire’s territory wasn’t especially large, but the city rose straight toward the heavens like a colossal spire that pierced the clouds.

Majestic and towering.

“They say the Dragon God City is eighty million meters tall,” Wu Zhaodi said as she looked up. “From the top of its tower, you can see the entire empire.”

“She’s right,” Vast Cloud said proudly. “Dragon God City is renowned for its height, throughout the entire Godfiend Abyss Heaven, there’s no other like it.”

“What’s the point of building something so tall?” Xu Zimo said. “If war breaks out, wouldn’t it be easy to destroy?”

“Who would dare destroy our Dragon God City?” Vast Cloud shot back.

The Dragon God Imperium was one of the great nations, perhaps not the very strongest in the Godfiend Abyss Heaven, but certainly among the most powerful.

“If I’m in a bad mood,” Xu Zimo said calmly, “I’ll tear it down myself.”

Vast Cloud stared at him as though he’d just heard the funniest thing in the world. The blue-robed guards nearby burst out laughing as well.

To them, Xu Zimo’s words were pure madness.

“You’ve got the biggest mouth of anyone I’ve ever met,” Vast Cloud said. “But ignorance breeds fearlessness, so I won’t hold it against you. You’d best worry about surviving your current situation.”

He waved his hand. “Move out!”

Under the watch of two gate guards, the group marched into the city in formation.

Once inside, Xu Zimo noticed two massive dragon statues standing in the center of the main avenue, one a five-clawed purple dragon, the other black.

“Does your Dragon God Imperium have ties to the Dragon Race?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.

Vast Cloud hesitated but finally answered, “The founding emperor had old ties with the Dragon Race.”

“No wonder you put two dragons here,” Xu Zimo said with a nod.

As they proceeded, a man in armor approached to greet them.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, walking with the powerful gait of a tiger or dragon, exuding an air of strength and command. His armor clattered with every step, its crisp metallic ring announcing his presence before he even arrived.

“General Fang,” Vast Cloud said warmly.

“Safe journey?” the general asked with a hearty laugh.

“With Lord Wei escorting us, who would dare attack?” Vast Cloud replied.

“That Vast Heaven Imperium is getting more and more outrageous,” General Fang said gruffly. “The rule was clear, whichever land the inheritance appears in, it belongs to that nation. Yet they dared come steal it in broad daylight! If you ask me, His Majesty the Dragon God Saint Sovereign is too lenient. Otherwise, we would’ve destroyed them long ago.”

Vast Cloud silently thought to himself, A fool who only knows how to fight.

The general was a man of the battlefield, not of patience or strategy, destined to be just a warrior, nothing more.

“To be a ruler, one must be ruthless,” Vast Cloud said with a smile. “No king ever rose to power without blood on his hands. Don’t worry, General Fang. When the time for war comes, there’ll be use for your sword yet.”

“My bones have been itching for a fight,” General Fang said eagerly. “How about a little sparring, Grand Tutor?”

“Spare me,” Vast Cloud said quickly. “If you want to fight, go find Lord Wei.”

“I’m not sparring with that madman,” Fang said flatly. “Come on, His Majesty is waiting for you at the Hundred Dynasties Altar. I’ll lead the way.”

“Appreciate it, General,” Vast Cloud said politely.

The group then began their ascent through the city.

The Hundred Dynasties Altar was located on the 700th floor, a symbolic height representing “a hundred nations paying homage,” a vision of imperial dominion.

The structure spiraled upward, layer upon layer, like a coiled serpent reaching the heavens.

Though 700 floors sounded high, the group’s cultivation made it trivial, they leapt dozens of floors in a single bound.

Within a minute, they reached the 690^th floor, then climbed the stairs to the 700^th.

Xu Zimo looked up. Before him stood a grand tower hall. At its summit rested a dragon throne, where a man in dragon robes reclined casually. Below him stood rows of officials in formal order, and beside the throne stood Demon Minister Wei.

Before them was a long table laden with fine fruits and delicacies.

“Your Majesty, we’ve located the ones connected to the inheritance,” Vast Cloud said respectfully as he approached.

“Bring them forward,” the man in dragon robes said with a slight nod.

Xu Zimo and Wu Zhaodi were led up to the front.

“Bold!” barked an attendant nearby. “In the presence of His Majesty, how dare you not kneel?”

“This heaven and earth aren’t worthy of my kneeling,” Xu Zimo said calmly. “You think your emperor outranks the heavens themselves?”

The attendant snorted angrily, spirit energy surging around his arm. He formed it into a long staff and swung it down toward Xu Zimo’s legs.

Xu Zimo frowned slightly, this man had quite the temper, striking out over a few words.

He raised his right hand and gave a light wave. Before the staff even touched him, a sharp smack rang out, a slap echoing through the hall.

The attendant was sent flying, the speed so fast he didn’t even have time to react.

Demon Minister Wei’s eyes gleamed with interest, but he made no move to intervene, he seemed rather entertained.

“A dog of a man, daring to bark in my presence?” Xu Zimo said coolly, glancing in his direction.

Then he stepped forward, one slow step at a time, until he sat down on the table directly in front of the throne.

Casually, he picked up a cluster of grapes and began to eat.

“Let’s make this short,” he said evenly. “I didn’t take the inheritance. That tomb was just a trap. And even if I did have it, I wouldn’t give it to you. Understand?”

“To speak so boldly before me,” said the Dragon God Saint Sovereign, smiling faintly, “you’re not without courage. But everything has its limits.”

“Oh? You want me to kick your ass?” Xu Zimo said, his expression calm.

Infernal energy began to surge around him, pure, dense, and overwhelming. It floated and coiled through the air, rising higher and higher until it seemed to pierce the heavens themselves.