I Really Am A Villain

“Please, I beg you, spare my life!” Wang Yunpeng no longer dared to act proud of his status; instead, he pleaded desperately. “I promise the Fire Python Holy Lands will never again oppose Ancient Eternal God Realm! From this day on, we’ll stay out of each other’s way, your well water won’t mix with our river water!”

“It’s already too late,” Realm Lord Bai said coldly.

“Realm Lord Bai, think carefully,” Wang Yunpeng said quickly. “He might protect you for now, but can he protect you forever? Even if you kill me, it won’t change Ancient Eternal God Realm’s fate, my Fire Python Holy Lands will still swallow it whole. But if you let me live, wouldn’t that be better? I still hold influence in the sect.”

“Why wouldn’t I just destroy your entire Fire Python Holy Lands instead of wasting time with you?” Xu Zimo replied evenly.

Wang Yunpeng froze. The words were perfectly reasonable, he had no answer.

“Spare me, and I’ll agree to any condition you name,” he said weakly.

But the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign had no patience for his begging. A flash of violet light erupted in his hand as he struck to kill.

Facing death, Wang Yunpeng’s eyes filled with venom. He transformed into a massive fire python, his body engulfed in blazing flames, lunging toward the Saint Sovereign. The python’s jaws gaped wide, twin fangs gleaming like daggers.

The Violet Mist Saint Sovereign snorted coldly. Raising both hands, he summoned a burst of violet energy that shattered the creature’s fangs on impact. Still unsatisfied, he clenched his right hand, slamming the python’s head deep into the earth until it bit into mud.

The fire python thrashed wildly, but the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign didn’t rush. Calm and steady, he grabbed the entire serpent, folding its body again and again until it was curled into a tight ball, like a giant sphere of scaled flesh. Then he hurled it into the air and kicked it with one powerful strike.

With a deafening boom, the ball exploded in midair, bursting apart in a rain of blood that scattered across the sky.

Wang Yunpeng was dead. The remaining members of the Fire Python Holy Lands looked on in silent fury, none dared speak. One by one, they withdrew. Here, their sect’s name carried no weight.

The Violet Mist Saint Sovereign turned to Xu Zimo, his gaze asking silently whether to exterminate the Fire Python Holy Lands entirely.

Xu Zimo shook his head slightly. There was no rush. Wiping out such a minor force would be easy; for now, his focus was on the Ancestral Lands.

Xu Zimo happened to know the Radiant Court’s Saintess, Murong Qing. He planned to find her and learn the truth about the situation. He was well aware that the Radiant Court wouldn’t open access to the Ancestral Lands without reason, they must be after something, though what it was remained a mystery to everyone but them.

His main purpose for coming wasn’t merely to participate; he also intended to use the Myriad Streams as a bargaining chip. Xu Zimo was preparing to leave the Inferno Crucible Heaven soon, and before he did, he wanted to settle all unfinished business.

He glanced up at the Radiant Court shining above the heavens.

At that moment, the Fire Ancestor arrived with Xiao Anshan. The elder smiled at Xu Zimo. “We’ll be relying on you in the Ancestral Lands this time.”

“What do you want?” Xu Zimo asked.

“We of the Chaos Fire God Realm should help each other, don’t you think?” the Fire Ancestor chuckled. “Honestly, I have no other request. It’s just that Anshan here, I’ve raised him as my successor. I hope you’ll look after him inside.”

“What exactly is within the Ancestral Lands?” Xu Zimo asked.

“They say it’s a place of evolution. I don’t know much beyond that, the people of the Radiant Court surely understand it best,” the Fire Ancestor said.

“I don’t need anyone’s protection,” Xiao Anshan interjected stubbornly.

“Don’t act willful,” the Fire Ancestor scolded. “You may be one of the strongest among the younger generation of the Chaos Fire God Realm, even undefeated when drawing upon the region’s might. But in the Ancestral Lands, every region will send their most talented prodigies. None will be weak.”

Xiao Anshan lowered his head silently. The Fire Ancestor’s words were absolute; he would not defy them.

“Fine,” Xu Zimo said lazily, waving his hand. “Since you’re from the Chaos Fire God Realm, I’ll look after him, for your sake.”

“I’ve heard you’ve offended the Undying Fire God Realm and the Shangguan Heavenly Clan,” the Fire Ancestor said with concern. “Be careful, especially of Shangguan Wan’er. I met her once, years ago, a truly extraordinary talent.”

“In front of me, and she still dares call herself a prodigy?” Xu Zimo said with a grin. “My favorite pastime is crushing so-called geniuses.”

The Fire Ancestor sighed helplessly. Xu Zimo had the right to speak that way, but still, caution was never wasted.

After chatting a while longer, Xu Zimo rose into the air and flew straight toward the Radiant Court.

At its grand entrance stood two golden-armored warriors. When they saw Xu Zimo approach, they crossed their weapons to block him. “Participants from the Seven Great God Realms are not permitted inside the Radiant Court,” one declared.

“I’m not here to trespass,” Xu Zimo replied. “I’ve come to see your Saintess, Murong Qing.”

“The Saintess is not someone you can meet at will,” said one of the golden warriors. “We cannot allow it.”

“I’m an old acquaintance of hers,” Xu Zimo said calmly. “Report my name, and she’ll come out to see me herself.”

The two warriors frowned and exchanged glances. Normally, such a request could be ignored, but since he claimed to be an acquaintance, they hesitated. Finally, one of them went inside, while the other remained to guard the gate.

As Xu Zimo waited, he smiled and asked, “Have you ever been to the Ancestral Lands?”

The golden-armored guard’s eyes flickered. He was silent for a long moment before replying, “The Ancestral Lands isn’t a place just anyone can enter.”

“That’s a shame,” Xu Zimo said with a smirk. “They’re opening it to outsiders, yet won’t even let their own people go in.”

“You’re trying to sow discord,” the guard said flatly.

“Not really,” Xu Zimo shrugged. “Just speaking the truth.”

As they talked, the other golden warrior returned from inside.

“Well?” Xu Zimo asked.

“The Saintess has invited you in,” the guard said.

Xu Zimo nodded slightly and followed the warrior through the gates, heading into the heart of the Radiant Court.

The moment he stepped inside, it felt as though he had entered a furnace. Heat radiated from all directions, and within moments sweat drenched his body.

As he walked, Xu Zimo noticed the path grew quieter and more secluded, oddly remote for a Saintess’s residence.

“Does your Saintess really live somewhere this out of the way?” Xu Zimo asked with mild amusement.

The golden warrior gave no reply, only continued leading the way forward.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Zimo said suddenly, stopping in his tracks. “Am I not going to see the Saintess after all?”

“Do you wish to see her or not?” the golden warrior asked.