I Really Am A Villain

Yuwen Ankang’s eyes bulged with fury. Realizing there was no way to dodge, he grit his teeth and drew the greatsword at his waist. The sword was pitch-black, with the hilt carved into the likeness of a black crow. As he swung it, endless flocks of black crows burst forth, spreading across the sky until the heavens themselves seemed to turn dark. The cloud of black crows surged to devour everything.

But when Xu Zimo’s blade light descended, no matter how many black crows there were, or how fierce the sword aura, they were all swallowed by that single strike. Even Yuwen Ankang himself, when he opened his eyes, felt the heavens and earth receding from him. The world spun violently; his consciousness dissolved. All that remained before him was that eternal, undying blade light consuming everything in sight.

With a thunderous boom, all was ended.

Yuwen Ankang didn’t even have time to scream. He was devoured by the blade’s power, turning to dust without even bones left behind.

Xu Zimo’s voice was calm as his gaze swept across the crowd. “Among all present, anyone stronger than him may continue to jump around if they wish,” he said coolly. “Here, my words are the rules. Whether you accept them or not, swallow it.”

The moment his words fell, everyone looked toward the spot where Yuwen Ankang had died, where a single streak of eternal blade intent still remained, slicing through the void. A chill crept up the spines of many; even those with complaints dared not speak.

Who among them could truly claim to be stronger than Yuwen Ankang? Most were roughly the same level, and he had been slain with one strike. One strike that endured eternally. Such power, even among Saint Sovereigns, was formidable beyond measure.

Xu Zimo ignored the crowd and sat down once more in meditation. The “audience,” as he called them, had not yet fully arrived; he wouldn’t allow anyone to tear down his stage prematurely. Xiao Anshan and the others sat cross-legged around him, quietly guarding the area.

As time passed, more and more cultivators gathered. The first to arrive from the Six Great God Realms were the people of the Vermilion Flame God Realm. Hearing Xu Zimo’s declared rule, the surrounding rogue cultivators had expected a massive clash. After all, they were all God Realm elites, why should they fear him?

To their surprise, however, the Vermilion Flame God Realm’s party chose to back down. Without saying a word, they quietly waited at the side.

Xu Zimo opened his eyes and asked Xiao Anshan and Shangguan Xian, “These past few days, have you heard any word of the Radiant Court?”

Xiao Anshan frowned. “Strangely, while every other God Realm has been busy fighting for Ancestral Flames, the Radiant Court has vanished altogether. Not a trace of them anywhere.”

“Go ask around among the rogues,” Xu Zimo said. “See who’s heard anything about them. Tell everyone that whoever brings news of the Radiant Court will be allowed to enter the Thunder Region’s Ancestral Flame first.”

Shangguan Xian asked, “You think the Radiant Court is plotting something?”

“I don’t think, I’m certain of it,” Xu Zimo replied with a faint smile.

Xiao Anshan and Shangguan Xian went to question the crowd. The moment word spread that such news could earn early entry to the Thunder Ancestral Flame, cultivators began to whisper and scheme. Soon, Xiao Anshan returned with reports that only deepened the mystery. Some said they’d seen the Radiant Court in the Metal Region; others claimed sightings in the Wood Region. In fact, people across all five regions had reported encountering them.

It seemed the Radiant Court had deliberately circled through all five regions, not to seize Ancestral Flames, but for some unknown purpose. Whatever it was, it could not be good.

Xu Zimo fell silent in thought.

Before long, after the Vermilion Flame God Realm, the Divine Crow God Realm arrived, led by none other than the Shangguan Heavenly Clan. And at their head was Shangguan Wan’er.

Their arrival stirred an immediate uproar.

“The Chaos Fire God Realm’s arrogance has gone too far, it’s about time someone taught them a lesson.”

“Perfect timing for the Shangguan Heavenly Clan. I heard the Chaos Fire God Realm injured Shangguan Xian, the younger daughter of the Shangguan Lord, Shangguan Xiongba.”

“You’re behind on your gossip. Look over there, that woman beside Xu Zimo is Shangguan Xian herself, Xiongba’s second daughter.”

Whispers spread through the crowd as the Shangguan Heavenly Clan approached. Leading them was a woman in a flowing white robe, Shangguan Wan’er. Her eyes were tranquil, as calm as still water.

Shangguan Xian’s expression trembled slightly, her fists tightening unconsciously.

Xu Zimo lightly patted her shoulder. “Relax,” he said casually. “Learn from her, stay calm.”

“I’ll fight her sooner or later,” Shangguan Xian said through clenched teeth.

“Honestly,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head, “you may have stepped into the Saint Sovereign realm, but you’re still not her match.”

“You can’t know that without fighting,” Shangguan Xian shot back.

Xu Zimo smiled faintly. “If you don’t believe me, go ahead and challenge her. But let’s make one thing clear, if you get yourself killed, I won’t save you.”

He had rescued her once out of personal regard, but he was no one’s babysitter. His words were final; it was up to her how to take them.

Shangguan Xian fell silent, forcing herself to calm down. Deep down, she trusted Xu Zimo’s judgment, he had never been wrong before.

The Shangguan Heavenly Clan had arrived with three members: Shangguan Wan’er, and two men named Shangguan Tiger and Shangguan Dragon. Within the family, the “Tiger” and “Dragon” siblings ranked just below Wan’er in strength and prestige.

When they learned of Xu Zimo’s self-imposed “rules,” both Shangguan Dragon and Shangguan Tiger looked to Wan’er. They followed her commands implicitly, not out of obligation but genuine conviction.

Without a word, Shangguan Wan’er stepped forward to examine the sealed Thunder Fire ground.

“This area is off limits,” Xiao Anshan said, stepping up to block her path.

Wan’er glanced at him once, then struck.

Her palm shot out without hesitation. Xiao Anshan’s expression darkened; though he had heard her name before, it was only now, standing before her, that he truly understood the suffocating pressure she exuded. Among their generation, only Xu Zimo had ever made him feel this way.

He reacted instantly, igniting his Chaos Fire Body. Dense flames of primordial chaos wrapped around him.

With a thunderous crash, their palms collided. Sparks scattered like stars bursting apart.

Shangguan Wan’er stood firm, unmoving, while Xiao Anshan, despite his Primordial-Flame God-King Physique, was forced several steps back.

“Excellent!” someone in the crowd shouted.

Many among the onlookers were secretly delighted. The Chaos Fire God Realm had been far too domineering, drawing the ire of everyone present. Now, with someone strong enough to suppress them, the people’s hearts naturally sided with her.