I Really Am A Villain

Xu Zimo smiled and asked, “Aren’t you afraid I might be a spy from the Heavenly Court?”

“If you were, I’d still accept it,” Dragon Lord replied with a laugh. “I may be useless at most things, but these eyes of mine, they’ve never misjudged a person.”

Xu Zimo chuckled. “So how did you discover the Heavenly Court’s involvement?”

“It’s not exactly a secret,” Long said. “Back then, the Water Beasts alone didn’t have the strength to destroy the Departure Fire God Realm. But when the beasts descended, most of our domain’s top experts had already vanished, gone as if they’d evaporated overnight. When the Water Beasts attacked, we were completely unprepared.”

“I didn’t understand it at first either. When the beasts broke through the city walls, I hid. Maybe I was lucky, or maybe fate wasn’t done with me yet. Either way, I survived.

“After escaping the domain, I accidentally saw people from the Heavenly Court. They were meeting with a group of Blue Men. That’s when I realized the truth. Before the Water Beasts invaded, the Heavenly Court had already slaughtered most of the powerful warriors of Departure Fire God Realm.”

“Do you know why the Heavenly Court wanted to destroy the Departure Fire God Realm?” Xu Zimo asked.

Long shook his head. “That’s the strange part. As far as I know, the Departure Fire God Realm never had any real conflict with the Heavenly Court. That’s what puzzles me. Still, I’ve never dared to investigate too openly.”

“Then do you know how to find the Blue Men?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I do,” Dragon Lord replied, “but why should I tell you? What’s in it for me?”

Information like that wasn’t easy to come by, and he wasn’t about to give it away for nothing.

“You want to rebuild the Departure Fire God Realm, don’t you?” Xu Zimo said calmly. “As long as those Water Beasts exist, you’ll never succeed. But if I eliminate the Blue Men, cut off the source, then the Water Beast threat will vanish. When that happens, the entire Departure Fire God Realm will be yours to rebuild as you please.”

“That’s true enough,” Dragon Lord admitted. “But even without the Water Beasts, restoring the Departure Fire God Realm won’t be easy. It’s vast, and rebuilding it will take time.”

He paused, then said, “I have only one condition.”

“What is it?” Xu Zimo asked.

“If one day the Heavenly Court tries to destroy the Departure Fire God Realm again, I’ll need your help,” Dragon Lord said solemnly.

The Heavenly Court remained the greatest threat. If they decided to act, not even the combined strength of the Departure Fire God Realm could resist, unless the Radiant Court itself intervened. Such was the Heavenly Court’s power: they didn’t even dwell in the Departure Fire God Realm, yet their influence covered all Nine Heavens.

“You’re confident I could stand against the Heavenly Court?” Xu Zimo asked, amused.

“Not confident,” Dragon Lord replied, “but I’ll keep building my strength. When the time comes, you won’t be alone.”

Xu Zimo smiled faintly. “I rarely make deals. But if it means making life harder for the Heavenly Court, I’ll agree.”

“Good. Then it’s settled,” Dragon Lord said, nodding firmly.

Xu Zimo smiled. “A promise, then, as heavy as gold.”

“Based on my years of investigation,” Dragon Lord continued, “the Blue Men have two strongholds. One is in the Ancient Phoenix City to the west of the Departure Fire God Realm. The other is hidden much deeper, in a particle world beneath the Inferno Abyss. That particle world didn’t exist before. It was created by the Blue Men themselves. It’s their true lair.”

“These details are valuable,” Xu Zimo said. “Thank you.”

The information would save him a lot of wasted time. Of course, he didn’t trust Dragon Lord completely, they’d only just met, but a lead was still a lead.

As the two talked, Dragon Lord suddenly looked up and said, “Just in time. There’s someone I want to introduce to you.”

Xu Zimo followed his gaze. A figure in golden robes was walking toward them from the sixteenth level, it was the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign.

The Saint Sovereign smiled when he saw Xu Zimo. Xu Zimo returned the smile.

“Allow me to introduce you,” said Dragon Lord. “This is the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign. And this is Young Master Xu.”

“I know who he is,” the Saint Sovereign said with a grin. “Young Master, I’ve been waiting for you for quite some time. I didn’t expect you to appear in Ocean Sage City. A pleasant surprise.”

Hearing this, Dragon Lord froze in disbelief. “You two… you know each other?”

“This is the man I serve,” the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign said openly.

Dragon Lord’s eyes widened. “So that’s how it is. I’ve been blind!”

To be followed by a Saint Sovereign, that meant Xu Zimo’s identity was far from ordinary. Dragon Lord realized he had gravely underestimated the man.

“I only learned of your whereabouts after arriving in Ocean Sage City,” Xu Zimo said lightly.

“I’ve been searching for you ever since I entered the Inferno Crucible Heaven,” the Saint Sovereign replied. “But my influence here is limited. Gathering information across the heaven hasn’t been easy.”

Ocean Sage City was strong, but it was still just one city, tracking down someone across the entire Inferno Crucible Heaven was no simple task.

“Since we all know each other,” Dragon Lord said with a smile, “why not come to my residence? It’s quieter there. We can talk in peace.”

Xu Zimo had no objection.

Accompanied by Dragon Lord, the group made their way toward the City Lord’s mansion.

“How should we handle those monsters?” Dragon Lord asked on the way.

“Can we force any useful information out of them?” Xu Zimo asked.

Dragon Lord shook his head. “No. If we could, this matter would’ve been solved long ago.”

“Then kill them all,” Xu Zimo said simply. “They’re of no further use.”

As they walked, Shangguan Xian glanced at him with new curiosity. “The more I learn about you, the stranger you seem. Even Saint Sovereigns serve under you. Could you be some Infinite Dao’s hidden heir?”

“My background doesn’t matter,” Xu Zimo said with a wave.

“No wonder you’re always so fearless,” Shangguan Xian said with a teasing smile. “When you heard the name ‘Violet Mist Saint Sovereign,’ you already knew who he was, didn’t you?”

The group arrived at the City Lord’s mansion.

Despite his status, Dragon Lord’s residence was surprisingly simple, plain and unadorned, with no sign of extravagance.

Inside the main hall, Dragon Lord personally brewed fresh tea and poured it for his guests.

Given the strength of Xu Zimo and the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign, the gesture was one of deep respect.

“Tell me,” Dragon Lord asked curiously, “did you two come from the Godfiend Abyss Heaven, or descend from the Absolute God Heaven?”

From their earlier conversation, he already knew, they weren’t natives of the Inferno Crucible Heaven.

“The Godfiend Abyss Heaven,” the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign replied with a smile. “And I must thank you, City Lord, for your hospitality these past days.”