I Really Am A Villain

“Go on,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “Show me what else you’ve got. People say your talent is extraordinary, but from the looks of it, that’s only because you had the Nine Nether Hell King helping you.”

“You think you know everything, don’t you?” Shangguan Wan’er sneered. “But you’re just another lost soul wandering in the fog.”

“You’re not qualified to lecture me,” Xu Zimo replied, shaking his head. The blade in his hand, Shadow Tyrant, was already radiating boundless blade intent.

Across from him, Shangguan Wan’er’s black sword aura surged across the sky and earth. Her technique, Night Descends On Three Worlds, still had one final move, but without the Hell King’s cooperation, she couldn’t unleash it.

The aura of death around her sword began to spread. She wasn’t relying solely on the Hell King; even without him, she believed she could defeat Xu Zimo.

Just as the two were about to clash, laughter drifted from the distant horizon.

“How lively this is,” a voice called. “You all seem to have plenty of time on your hands.”

Everyone turned their heads toward the sound.

A blazing golden sun exploded in the sky. Out of the light stepped three figures, walking through the air.

It was the three envoys of the Radiant Court, led by Murong Qing, the temple’s saintess, one of the most prominent among her generation.

“Lord Xu, we meet again,” Murong Qing said with a soft smile.

She was dressed in a flowing golden robe that perfectly concealed her graceful figure. Her long hair, now turned completely golden, shimmered with light, giving her an exotic beauty.

“The Radiant Court certainly has good timing,” Xu Zimo said.

“Well, we saw everyone gathered here, it would’ve been rude not to join the fun,” Murong Qing replied.

As she approached Xu Zimo, she leaned close, her voice low enough that only the two of them could hear. “Lord Xu, you should know this is a major affair for the Radiant Court. Surely you wouldn’t want to disrupt our plans?”

“I’m not your accomplice,” Xu Zimo said lightly. “I don’t even know what your plan is. How could I possibly disrupt it?”

“You can guess,” Murong Qing said with a knowing smile. “Even if just for my sake, stand aside for now. Whatever grudge you have with her, settle it later. The Radiant Court stands firmly on your side.”

“I don’t care whose side you’re on,” Xu Zimo replied. “But I must admit, it’s rather entertaining watching you all play your little games.”

After all, the main players usually appeared last. He was curious to see what scheme the Radiant Court was plotting, though he already had some idea.

“Didn’t they say that once everyone was here, the Seal could be opened?” someone called out. “Since we’re all gathered, shouldn’t we compete for the Ancestral Flame now?”

“Not everyone’s here yet,” another person answered.

“Who’s missing?”

“Of the Six Great God Realms, four are here. The Hell Fire God Realm and the Undying Fire God Realm still haven’t arrived.”

“There’s no need to wait for the Undying Fire God Realm,” Xu Zimo said casually. “They’re already corpses.”

A chill rippled through the crowd.

The first Fire Domain had been annihilated, by him.

“The Hell Tiger Race is coming!” someone shouted.

Everyone looked to the sky. A massive tiger leapt across the void, soaring toward them. On its back stood three tiger-like youths.

Their eyes gleamed fiercely; short whiskers bristled from their cheeks, and the character王 (“King”) was marked on each of their foreheads.

It was unmistakable, they were from the Hell Tiger Race.

“Sorry to keep everyone waiting,” one of them said with a grin.

Though the three were not particularly famous, the leader among them was the clan’s young master, Tiger Overlord. The other two, Tiger One and Tiger Two, were virtually unknown before this.

No one could understand why the Hell Fire God Realm had sent such obscure representatives to the Ancestral Lands.

…

With the Hell Tiger Race’s arrival, nearly everyone destined for the Ancestral Lands had gathered.

All eyes turned to Xu Zimo.

But he only chuckled. “Don’t look at me. Since the Radiant Court is here, let them take charge.”

“Everyone, listen to me,” Murong Qing said, stepping forward. “Before we attack the Ancestral Lands, let’s call out the Fire Keepers. If they’re willing to yield peacefully, they need not be harmed.”

Many nodded in agreement.

To the Fire God Races, the Fire Keepers held a special significance. Were it not for the Radiant Court’s control over the Ancestral Lands, forcing them apart, no one would dare harm the Keepers so recklessly.

“Fire Keepers, where are you?” someone shouted.

At once, the sky shimmered, and a cloud of crimson flame drifted into view. A portal opened in the void, and an old man with snow-white hair stepped through.

“Everyone,” the old man sighed, “the Fire Keepers have guarded the Ancestral Flame for countless years. If nothing else, we have earned some measure of merit for it.”

“As long as you open the Ancestral Lands,” Murong Qing replied, “we promise no Fire Keeper will be harmed.”

“Is that the Radiant Court’s official stance?” the old man asked, ignoring the others and fixing his gaze on her.

Murong Qing hesitated briefly, then nodded.

She knew perfectly well that the Radiant Court’s “stance” was very different from that of the Fire God Races.

“You Radiant Court people are clever schemers,” the old man said bitterly.

“Make your choice,” Murong Qing said calmly.

“The Fire Keeper lineage has never bred cowards,” the old man said, shaking his head. “If we die, we die with honor, better that than living in shame.”

“In that case,” Murong Qing sighed, “there’s nothing left to discuss. The Ancestral Flame within the Ancestral Lands is free for anyone to claim, life and death are their own affair.”

With that, she stepped back, clearly unwilling to interfere further. The Radiant Court’s true objective had never been the Ancestral Flame anyway.

Her declaration unleashed the chaos. The independent cultivators who had been holding back for so long finally roared and surged forward, charging toward the Ancestral Lands.

Powerful auras shook the heavens.

Though the Ancestral Lands’s defenses were formidable, difficult for any one person to breach, the combined might of so many was overwhelming.

Explosions echoed through the sky, shaking the world.

Within moments, the defensive barrier shattered under their assault.

From within, countless Fire Keepers poured out to fight.