I Really Am A Villain

So when Xu Zimo heard the Night Sovereign’s words, he was intrigued, but not surprised.

“What do you need my help with?” he asked.

“Fight alongside my Fire God Race,” the Night Sovereign said. “Once we enter the Ancestral Lands, we’ll likely lose control over what happens inside. So before that, we plan to form some alliances.”

“Why ask me? There are countless people in the Six God Realms. You could find someone else,” Xu Zimo replied with a faint smile.

“I don’t trust them,” the Night Sovereign said bluntly.

“And you trust me? This is the first time we’ve even met,” Xu Zimo said.

“The Light Lord Sage Monarch told me,” the Night Sovereign replied, “that while you’re dangerous, perhaps even more dangerous than the rest, you’re someone who can be trusted in certain matters. For example, anything involving the Heavenly Court. You’ll never compromise with their Sage Monarchs, and they’ll never accept compromise from you.”

“I don’t mind helping your Radiant Court,” Xu Zimo said, “but what do I get in return?”

“We’ve already set a grand plan in motion,” the Night Sovereign replied. “Inviting you is simply to add another layer of assurance. You know the saying, ‘adding flowers to embroidery.’”

“Whether it’s adding flowers to embroidery or sending charcoal in the snow,” Xu Zimo said with a wave of his hand, “if you want me to act, there has to be payment.”

“What do you want?” the Night Sovereign asked after thinking for a moment.

“What can your Radiant Court offer?” Xu Zimo countered.

“I can give you a share of the inheritance from the Ancestral Lands,” the Night Sovereign said.

“I have no interest in your Fire God Race’s inheritance,” Xu Zimo shook his head.

In truth, he already possessed the inheritance of the Fire God Zhu Rong. When it came to flame, there was hardly a power in existence that surpassed it.

“Then what do you want?” the Night Sovereign pressed.

“I’ve heard your Radiant Court possesses a Sunflower,” Xu Zimo replied.

The moment he said it, the Night Sovereign’s expression hardened. His gaze turned sharp and dangerous.

That was a secret known only to the highest members of the Radiant Court.

“Some things aren’t truly secret,” Xu Zimo said with a smirk. “The Sunflower was seized from the Redfolk. Knowing that isn’t so difficult.”

The Sunflower had originally been left behind by the Water God Gongtu in a particle world. Later, that particle world was taken over by the Redfolk, and the Sunflower fell into their hands.

Eventually, the Radiant Court conquered them and claimed the Sunflower for themselves, using it to further their grand design.

When Xu Zimo wiped out the Redfolk back then, he had wanted to see if Gongtu had left behind anything valuable. Unfortunately, after so many years of Redfolk occupation, anything worth taking had long been plundered.

The Sunflower was indeed precious, but to Xu Zimo, it wasn’t of much use. He was simply testing the Night Sovereign’s reaction, and, unexpectedly, it was quite intense.

“It seems our deal won’t work,” the Night Sovereign said coldly.

“That’s fine by me,” Xu Zimo shrugged.

He turned to leave, but the Night Sovereign stopped him.

“Master Xu,” the Night Sovereign said, “even if we can’t work together, I hope you won’t interfere with our plans.”

“Then tell your people not to provoke me,” Xu Zimo replied.

“That may be… difficult,” the Night Sovereign admitted awkwardly. “With so many involved, it’s hard to control them all. I heard you’ve already had conflicts with the Shangguan Heavenly Clan and the Undying Fire God Realm. Could you, for my sake, avoid fighting them until this is over?”

“For your sake?” Xu Zimo turned back and laughed coldly. “Who do you think you are to ask that of me? To be blunt,” he continued, “the life or death of your Fire God Race has nothing to do with me. Aside from that old ancestor of yours, Primordial Flame, there’s not a soul in your entire Radiant Court I bother to take seriously.”

Xu Zimo’s tone grew colder.

“The Radiant Court once left a decent impression on me, which is why I’ve been polite. But don’t mistake my patience for respect. You think that just because you’re used to playing overlord in the Inferno Crucible Heaven, you can order me around?”

The Night Sovereign stayed silent.

He had long been accustomed to authority; it had been a long time since anyone dared speak to him like that.

He simply watched as Xu Zimo’s figure faded into the distance.

Someone patted him on the shoulder.

The Night Sovereign turned to see the Light Lord Sage Monarch standing beside him.

“How did the talk go?” the Light Lord Sage Monarch asked with a smile.

“You didn’t tell me he was that arrogant,” the Night Sovereign said flatly.

“Well,” the Light Lord Sage Monarch replied, “in his eyes, even our ancestor is just an equal. As for the rest of us, he’s never cared.”

“If you hadn’t warned me, I would’ve fought him,” the Night Sovereign said.

“Now’s not the time for that,” the Light Lord Sage Monarch replied seriously. “The Fire God Race’s greater cause takes priority. Those people have already entered. Once the time comes, we can easily control who gets into the Ancestral Lands and who doesn’t.”

“So the talk failed, what now?” the Night Sovereign asked.

“If it failed, it failed,” the Light Lord Sage Monarch said with a shrug. “We’re already prepared. I asked you to recruit him only because I didn’t want him becoming a wild card. Just warn the others to be cautious around him.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so lenient with him,” the Night Sovereign said. “Who is he, really?”

“As for his background,” the Light Lord Sage Monarch said with a mysterious smile, “I can’t tell you now. The ancestor told me himself, one day, you’ll understand.”

After leaving the Radiant Court, Xu Zimo seemed to have gained little useful information.

But based on his deductions, he already understood most of what was happening.

The Radiant Court’s reason for opening the Ancestral Lands, and their current actions, were becoming clear.

The Fire God Race’s predicament was something many had tried to change, though changing fate was never easy.

Xu Zimo returned to the Chaos Fire God Realm.

At that moment, an enormous projection appeared in the void, an image from within the Radiant Court itself, showing countless cultivators attempting to break inside.

These images displayed disciples from various sects, and many people gathered to watch.

When Xu Zimo arrived, Realm Lord Bai hurried over to greet him.

“How did it go?” Bai asked.

“More or less settled,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head. “What about those trying to break into the Radiant Court?”

“So far, only one person has succeeded and earned a place,” Bai replied.

“Who?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.

“Li Guan of the Solar Imperium,” Bai said, pointing at a figure on the projection.

The Solar Imperium was an empire within the Inferno Crucible Heaven.

In truth, empires there weren’t usually that strong, most power resided in sects and clans within the Six God Realms.

But the Solar Imperium was an exception, a true imperial force that stood above all others.

Even within the Inferno Crucible Heaven, their reputation was immense.

Their most famous feat was once waging war against the ruler of the Vermilion Flame Region, the Vermilion Flame God Realm, and managing to fight to a stalemate.

That alone spoke volumes about their strength.