I Really Am A Villain

Hearing Murong Qing’s answer, Xu Zimo wasn’t surprised.

An existence like Primordial Flame had long since transcended into the level of an Infinite Dao Realm being, perhaps even one who had gathered the Three Flowers at his crown.

Worldly matters no longer stirred such a being.

It was entirely possible that even if the Radiant Court were to fall, Primordial Flame might not appear.

Xu Zimo waved his hand, and a wisp of flowing, crystalline water appeared in his palm.

“Take this to your ancestor,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile. “He’ll meet me for sure.”

Murong Qing’s brows furrowed in mild confusion.

She carefully sensed the energy flowing within that stream of water, and was astonished by the overwhelming sense of familiarity and intimacy it evoked.

An uncontrollable urge to absorb the power surged within her.

“What is this?” she asked in surprise.

She had never experienced such a sensation before. The power felt both familiar and alien, like something buried deep within her bloodline that had suddenly awakened.

“How can this be?” Murong Qing murmured, unable to comprehend it.

“You’ll understand one day,” Xu Zimo replied calmly. “But right now, the matter is too great for me to explain.”

Murong Qing hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

“I can bring this to the Ancestor,” she said. “But whether he’ll agree to meet you or not, I can’t promise.”

“I believe your ancestor will recognize its worth,” Xu Zimo said with a small smile.

“As for your Radiant Court’s purpose in opening the Ancestral Lands,” he continued, “since you can’t tell me, I won’t press the issue. I’m more curious, what’s inside the Ancestral Lands?”

“That place is where our Fire God Race first originated,” Murong Qing replied with a faint smile. “What do you think might be there, Master Xu?”

“If there’s nothing interesting, I won’t bother entering,” Xu Zimo said, waving his hand dismissively. “Don’t play riddles with me.”

“I can only tell you this,” Murong Qing said. “Within the Ancestral Lands exists the Flame of Life. And the Heavenly Court values that flame immensely, they might even attempt to seize it.”

“With your ancestor still alive, the Heavenly Court wouldn’t dare to start a war,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head.

The Nine Heavens were in a delicate balance.

Though every heaven appeared to rule independently, unseen connections bound them all.

No one wanted the Heavenly Court to grow too powerful, lest they be crushed one by one.

If the Radiant Court were attacked, not only would they retaliate, but other forces across the Nine Heavens would likely join in.

The result would be total chaos, a war that would engulf all realms.

That was the last thing the Heavenly Court wanted.

Once the Nine Heavens descended into disorder, it would be like a quagmire, dragging everyone in.

And in such a state, the ones who would profit most would be the Ancient Demon Race.

The Heavenly Court would no longer have the chance to target Xu Zimo, allowing the Infernal Lord himself to maneuver freely.

From every perspective, the Heavenly Court would avoid open conflict, unless they had grown strong enough to crush the entire Nine Heavens at once.

Murong Qing didn’t argue with his reasoning.

She merely smiled and said, “Perhaps not openly, but what about secretly?”

Xu Zimo nodded slightly. “That’s true enough.”

There were always hidden ways to achieve things. But that was the Radiant Court’s problem, not his.

He stood up. “Alright, I should be going. Remember to deliver that item to your ancestor.”

“I will,” Murong Qing said with a nod. “Be careful of the others.”

After bidding her farewell, Xu Zimo didn’t immediately leave the Radiant Court.

Instead, he decided to take a walk around the place.

The Radiant Court intrigued him.

Its flames weren’t overwhelmingly intense, instead, they carried a sense of inclusion, as though they could embrace all things.

It felt as if any type of power could be absorbed and harmonized by this fire.

Xu Zimo walked to the end of a long corridor, where a mural stretched across the wall.

Such murals were common within the Radiant Court, most of them depicted the secret histories of the Inferno Crucible Heaven.

The one before him now told the story of the Fire of Inheritance.

It was said that long ago, the Inferno Crucible Heaven hadn’t belonged entirely to the Fire God Race.

Some lands still lay beyond the reach of flame, hidden paradises untouched by fire.

Different races once thrived there.

Among these places was a land known as Primal Frost Island.

It was a realm of eternal winter, where cold reigned supreme.

Those who lived there endured the endless torment of snow and frost, until one day, the Fire God Race’s wars spread to their shores.

At that time, there was a warlord among the Fire God Race, a mad conqueror.

He built a vast empire and sought to bring the entire Inferno Crucible Heaven under his dominion through conquest.

In that war, Primal Frost Island fell.

But the madman’s empire, too, fractured and collapsed in the end.

What remained of the island became known as the last paradise of the Inferno Crucible Heaven.

After Primal Frost Island’s fall, the Fire God Race became the undisputed rulers of the entire heaven.

Standing before the mural, Xu Zimo could sense that the image itself seemed to burn.

He extended a hand, conjuring a single droplet of water, nothing special, just an ordinary drop.

When he placed it into the flames, it didn’t evaporate as one might expect.

Instead, the water and fire merged perfectly, blending into a single, harmonious glow.

“How does this flame look to you, young master?” came a sudden voice beside him.

Xu Zimo turned, and saw a figure standing silently at his side, though he hadn’t sensed his arrival.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” the figure said. “I am the Night Sovereign.”

Xu Zimo studied him. The man was shrouded completely in a long, grayish-brown robe, his presence indistinct and spectral, like a shadow, or perhaps a cloud of mist.

“Rather than call it a flame,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile, “I’d say it’s more of a consciousness.”

“The consciousness of fire itself, self-aware, all-embracing. As the saying goes, ‘The sea is vast because it can contain all rivers.’”

“Then tell me,” the Night Sovereign said, “do you think this flame could replace the Fire God Race?”

Xu Zimo paused, his expression unreadable.

“What do you think?” he asked in return.

The Night Sovereign was silent for a long time.

“We have always pursued a great goal,” he finally said.

“I know,” Xu Zimo replied with a nod. “I may not know every detail, but I can guess what your people are trying to accomplish by opening the Ancestral Lands.”

“Do you know who I hate most?” the Night Sovereign asked suddenly.

“The Heavenly Court?” Xu Zimo replied casually. “Or those pretenders who claim to be of the Fire God Race?”

“No,” the Night Sovereign said coldly. “Traitors. Outsiders can be hated, yes, but betrayal from one’s own kind is unforgivable. If the Fire God Race is ever to rise again,” he continued, “the first ones who must die are not our enemies, but the traitors among us.”

“Who betrayed you?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.

“You’ll find out when we reach the Ancestral Lands,” the Night Sovereign replied.

“I’ve heard much about you from the Light Lord Sage Monarch,” he added. “There are some matters I’d like your help with.”

“Don’t,” Xu Zimo interrupted, waving his hand. “I’m just a businessman. I don’t meddle in Fire God Race affairs.”

To put it bluntly, even if the Fire God Race were annihilated tomorrow, it had nothing to do with him.

Unless they could offer the proper price, he certainly wouldn’t hand over the Myriad Streams.