I Really Am A Villain

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Unknowingly, the night faded and the sky began to brighten again.

Xu Zimo stretched lazily, the book in his hands now open to its final page.

“Finished,” he exhaled deeply, lifting the cup of hot tea beside him and taking a slow sip. The fatigue from reading all night seemed to melt away.

“Thanks,” Xu Zimo said as he stood up. “I have to head to the Victory Tower. I’ll come back when I can.”

“I’m always here,” the old man replied with a nod. “Come anytime, young master.”

Xu Zimo nodded back and left the Hall of Hidden Light.

Once his figure had completely disappeared, the unkempt old man who had been guarding the library’s entrance shuffled in.

He looked at the Demon Sage and asked, “You know him?”

“I do,” the Demon Sage replied with a nod.

“Come on, you’re kidding,” the scruffy old man said in disbelief. “That kid’s barely grown.”

“You’ll understand in time,” the Demon Sage said simply. He didn’t want to elaborate further. His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon beyond the window. “I thought these old bones of mine would be buried here in the Ancient Demon Realm,” he murmured. “Didn’t expect I’d have another chance to walk the world again.”

“Where are you going?” the shabby old man asked, clearly confused.

“To climb once more to the peak of the Nine Heavens,” the Demon Sage said with a smile.

The other old man froze, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open in shock.

Was the old ancestor losing his mind from reading too many books? He thought silently to himself.

“You don’t understand,” the Demon Sage said with a hearty laugh. “Sometimes, it’s a blessing to be confused.”

And with that, he turned and left.

The Victory Tower, its name signifying the triumphant return of those who survived.

Many of the Ancient Demon Race’s Grand Emperors had left behind inheritances of their own.

But none of them would simply hand it over to their descendants for free. There had to be trials, tests of worth.

These trials weren’t always fatal, but if one wasn’t careful, death could come easily.

The Victory Tower had been built for this reason, so that those undergoing trials might return safely and receive their inheritance.

When Xu Zimo arrived, dozens of young men and women were already gathered there.

They came from various demon clans, chatting in small groups of five, twos, and threes.

Among them, Wang Lin, who had been waiting anxiously, spotted Xu Zimo immediately and hurried over with a smile.

“Brother Xu, you finally came! I was getting worried,” he said.

“Worried about what? That I wouldn’t show up?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Not exactly,” Wang Lin replied quickly. “It’s just that the Ancient Demon Road is about to begin, and I didn’t want you to miss it.”

“That won’t happen,” Xu Zimo said with a small shake of his head.

Standing together, the five of them listened as Wang Lin explained the basics of the Ancient Demon Road.

True to its name, the Ancient Demon Road was a single vast road, an endless avenue stretching into the unknown.

It wasn’t a grand territory or a boundless world, just one immense road.

Along this road dwelled countless Ancient Demons.

Of course, these weren’t living Ancient Demons, but manifestations of the Malevolent Demon’s residual power, creatures born of his lingering might.

Killing one meant there would be one fewer, but for a thousand years, countless had entered the Ancient Demon Road, slaughtering countless Ancient Demons, yet none had ever found the true inheritance.

Some had even died of exhaustion within it, never reaching the road’s end.

“Could it be some kind of illusion?” Xu Zimo speculated after listening.

“I doubt it,” Wang Lin replied. “Many have suspected that before, but no one’s ever found any flaws. It seems to be entirely real.”

As they talked, a group approached from the side.

“Wang Lin,” said the leader, a tall young man with an air of arrogance.

He wore a black robe with a crimson horned symbol embroidered on his chest.

Xu Zimo, recalling what he’d read the night before, recognized it immediately, this was the mark of the Fire Demons.

They lived in the northwestern mountains of the Ancient Demon Realm, near a chain of active volcanoes.

When Wang Lin saw him, his expression turned cold. “Hong Ze. What do you want?”

“I heard you gathered your team,” Hong Ze said with a mocking grin. “Thought I’d come see which rejects you scraped together.”

“Watch your mouth,” Wang Lin said sharply, eyes narrowing.

“Watch my mouth?” Hong Ze laughed loudly. He then turned his attention to Xu Zimo. “So you’re the one who ignored my words and joined their group anyway?”

“Why should I listen to your words?” Xu Zimo smiled.

“Bold,” Hong Ze sneered, taking a step closer. “But remember this, kid, the Ancient Demon Road is full of dangers. Life and death aren’t guaranteed. Try to protect yourself.”

“Hong Ze, don’t threaten us,” Wang Lin snapped, stepping forward protectively. “You know the price of Ancient Demons fighting among themselves.”

“The price?” Hong Ze laughed again. “The dead don’t speak.”

With that, he turned and walked away, his followers trailing behind him.

Wang Lin and the others were left frowning, their faces tight with frustration.

“Brother Xu…” Wang Lin began, but Xu Zimo interrupted him.

“The one thing I fear least,” Xu Zimo said evenly, “is a threat.”

He shook his head. “Tell me, who exactly is this Hong Ze?”

“His father is the Lord of Sun Mountain, one of the Seventy-Two Million Mountains,” Wang Lin explained. “Sun Mountain ranks in the top three. Their power is immense. Even the Ancient Demon Race’s patriarch shows them respect. So over time, he’s become arrogant. No one dares provoke him.”

“Interesting,” Xu Zimo said.

“Don’t worry about revenge, Brother Xu,” Wang Lin said quickly. “My father is also a Mountain Lord, though our mountain isn’t as strong as Sun Mountain, protecting you is no problem.”

As they were talking, a sudden commotion spread through the hall.

“The Demonic Sound Emperor has arrived! Everyone, be quiet!” someone whispered urgently.

At once, the once-bustling Victory Tower fell silent.

The Demonic Sound Emperor was an elder known for his mastery of music and resonance, his hearing was said to be extraordinary.

Anyone who spoke while he was present risked being reprimanded, or worse, denied entry into the Ancient Demon Road.

Given his seniority and power, no one dared to disobey.

Xu Zimo looked up as an old man in a crimson robe strode in, his presence radiating authority.

What drew everyone’s attention, however, were his ears, large as screens, shaped like the cross-sections of a great tree, with ringed patterns swirling like age lines.

“The Ancient Demon Road is about to open,” the elder said without preamble. “You all know the rules, but I’ll repeat them once more. The Ancient Demon Road will remain open for seven days. After that, no matter your situation, you’ll be forcibly brought back out. As for where you’ll be sent within the Ancient Demon Road, that depends entirely on luck.”

“Understood, Elder,” someone answered respectfully.

“The inheritance must be claimed through your own skill and fate,” the Demonic Sound Emperor continued. “No killing among yourselves.”