I Really Am A Villain

Xu Zimo ordered calmly, “I want to see how fast these people can move, how long it will take for the other four domains to be destroyed.”

“You mean the other four domains’ Ancestral Flames will also be seized, just like we took the Water Domain’s Ancestral Flame, and then everything will be annihilated?” Xiao Anshan asked in shock.

They had come to the Ancestral Lands to search for ancient grounds and inheritances. How had things turned into destroying the entire Ancestral Lands? Wouldn’t the Radiant Court go insane?

“They won’t go mad,” Xu Zimo said with a small smile. “They’re probably laughing in secret.”

“What do you mean?” Xiao Anshan still didn’t understand.

“I told those Fire Keepers before, you think I was lying to them?” Xu Zimo asked. “The Radiant Court wants us to take the Ancestral Flames and destroy the Ancestral Lands.”

“Why?” Xiao Anshan was completely puzzled.

“What do you think the purpose of the Ancestral Lands is?” Xu Zimo asked.

Xiao Anshan thought for a long time before replying, “Even though no one ever said it out loud, we all know deep down, the Ancestral Lands represents the true lineage of the Fire God Race. Whoever possesses it is recognized as the rightful ruler of the Fire God Race. Among the Six Great God Realms, the Radiant Court is considered more noble than the other five.”

“You’re wrong,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head. “That’s just a shallow understanding. The Ancestral Lands exists to preserve these Ancestral Flames, to give them a place of belonging. But now, the Radiant Court wants to gather all the Ancestral Flames and begin a new era. To do that, they must erase the old order. Every part of it, the Ancestral Flames, the guardians, even the Ancestral Lands itself, will be buried by them.”

“A new era?” Xiao Anshan frowned. “What kind of era?”

“You’ll find out eventually,” Xu Zimo replied with a faint, knowing smile. “But don’t worry. This era will only benefit your Fire God Race, not harm it. You should be grateful, you’ll live in an age where you’ll have the chance to grow even stronger.”

Since Xu Zimo clearly didn’t want to explain further, Xiao Anshan didn’t press the issue.

He remembered that Xu Zimo had once mentioned something similar to the Fire Keepers, but he hadn’t taken it seriously back then. He’d thought Xu Zimo was bluffing, how could someone actually destroy the Ancestral Lands?

Now, though, it all made sense. The Radiant Court had opened the Ancestral Lands to all of the Inferno Crucible Heaven without reason, letting anyone participate. Clearly, this was part of their plan. There was no way the Radiant Court had suddenly grown generous. Xiao Anshan didn’t believe that for a second.

“Go investigate the situation in the other four domains,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “See how far their destruction has come. Perhaps, in the end, everyone will gather together.”

He laughed lightly. “That’s when your Fire God Race’s grand performance begins. As for me, a human, I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show.”

Xiao Anshan and Shangguan Xian didn’t fully understand, but they nodded and did as they were told. Both of them stepped into the sky and flew off toward the other fire domains.

Xu Zimo stayed behind with Realm Lord Bai.

“While we still have time, you can practice the divine arts left behind by the Four Symbols Fire Progenitor,” Xu Zimo said.

“Alright,” Realm Lord Bai replied quickly.

She took out the training scrolls and began to study them carefully. Her talent was remarkable, otherwise, she could never have become the leader of the Ancient Eternal God Realm.

Xu Zimo, meanwhile, began talking with Iron Gate.

Iron Gate had been passed down from the oldest age of the Fire God Race, since the time of the Four Symbols Fire Progenitor. It knew many secrets, more than most beings alive.

Xu Zimo asked it many questions, and Iron Gate answered freely. After all, it was following Xu Zimo now, and it needed to prove its worth.

The Fire God Race, as a race, had a history and origin no weaker than that of the human race. In the age when the ancient gods walked the world, one of those divine beings had been of the Fire God Race. Over countless ages, the Fire God Race had come to rule the Inferno Crucible Heaven, and even among the Nine Heavens, they held a place of great power.

Xu Zimo took out the Heaven-Refining Cauldron.

This cauldron had been left behind by the Heaven-Refining Fire Progenitor. According to Iron Gate, it could seal the heavens and earth, while the Lock of Heaven could bind them, this cauldron could refine them. They were like key and lock, counterparts to one another. The cauldron was the perfect counter to the Lock; without it, that monstrous Fire Venom Beast could never have entered so easily.

Staring at the cauldron, Xu Zimo poured his Zhurong Flame into it.

In an instant, the cauldron came alive, radiating an overwhelming power. Its flames seemed capable of melting anything under heaven, no fire could compare.

Iron Gate let out a low laugh. “Funny, isn’t it?”

“What’s funny?” Xu Zimo asked.

“That a human like you wields the strongest fire in existence, while we, the Fire God Race, fall short even in our own element,” Iron Gate replied. “I’m curious, how did you obtain this flame?”

“Nothing mysterious about it,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile. “It came from… an ancient god.”

“You mean, the legendary Fire God, Zhurong?” Iron Gate asked in shock.

“Seems you know quite a bit,” Xu Zimo replied.

“I’ve heard stories of Zhurong, or rather, every Fire God Race member has,” Iron Gate said with a nod. “But these days, few in the Fire God Race still care about that legend. Some even doubt whether Zhurong ever existed. But I know that there was a god named Zhurong in this world.”

“How are you so sure?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I once followed the Four Symbols Fire Progenitor to an ancient site left by the gods. Inside were statues of the Nine Ancient Gods. Among them was the Fire God,” Iron Gate explained. “The truth is, Zhurong’s identity has always been a mystery. Some say he was of the Fire God Race, others say he was human. There are all kinds of claims.”

Xu Zimo nodded slightly. When he’d rescued Red-Blade Bull Demon, he too hadn’t known much about the Fire God Zhurong. The being had always been shrouded in mystery.

He turned his gaze toward Realm Lord Bai, who was still cultivating.

Her entire body glowed fiery red, a coiling dragon of flame spiraling around her. Her expression shifted between calm and strain, her aura fluctuating wildly between strength and weakness.

Then, suddenly, something went wrong, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Failed?” Xu Zimo asked.

Realm Lord Bai nodded slightly, frowning. “I followed the scroll’s instructions exactly. Why did it fail? It doesn’t make sense.”

“The divine art of the Four Symbols Fire Progenitor was created for the Fire God Race,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “Our human bodies are structured differently. It’s natural for it not to work perfectly. You don’t need to follow the method so rigidly, just cultivate in whatever way feels most natural to you.”

“I’ll try again,” Realm Lord Bai said, suddenly enlightened.

After all, practicing a Fire God Race technique in a human body was bound to bring difficulties. Xu Zimo’s words finally helped her understand.