I Really Am A Villain

“So it seems Young Master Xu does not intend to hand over the Ancestral Flame,” Murong Qing said evenly.

“To be honest,” Xu Zimo replied with a smile, “the Ancestral Flame isn’t of much use to me. I have many other things on me that are far more valuable to your Fire God Race. But you’re not qualified to negotiate with me.”

“Young Master Xu, you know well,” Murong Qing said coldly, “that our Radiant Court will pay any price to obtain the Ancestral Flame. Even if that means becoming your enemy, we must have it.”

“I’ve already stated my terms,” Xu Zimo said with a light laugh. “If I don’t meet Primordial Flame, I won’t hand over the Ancestral Flame, even if it means standing against the Radiant Court.”

Murong Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly.

All around them, the independent cultivators were growing restless. The collapse of the Thunder Domain was only moments away, danger loomed ever closer.

“Radiant Court bastards!” Tiger Overlord roared. “Give us an answer! Will you open the Ancestral Lands or not? If we die here, your Radiant Court will be the target of every faction across the Inferno Crucible Heaven, all five God Realms included!”

“To let you leave is not because we fear you,” Murong Qing snorted. “It’s simply because you are not our goal this time.”

With that, she pressed her hands together and began to form seals.

Her movements were impossibly fast, within a few breaths, countless intricate runes filled the sky, each glowing with mysterious power.

When those runes combined, they formed a single object, a key.

A key that could open the Ancestral Lands and connect to the outside world.

Vast, primordial energy rippled from it, carrying the aura of creation itself.

The key shimmered in the void, and then the heavens split apart.

The world tore open, revealing a massive, swirling vortex of devouring force.

Meanwhile, the collapse of the Thunder Domain was now less than three kilometers away, death was closing in fast.

“Through this vortex lies the outer world, the Inferno Crucible Heaven,” Murong Qing announced. “Everyone except Young Master Xu may leave.”

After saying that, her gaze returned to Xu Zimo.

“I am quite curious to see how you intend to escape this place of destruction, Young Master Xu.”

“Why would I need to leave?” Xu Zimo replied with a smirk. “The real show hasn’t even begun. Why rush?”

Murong Qing frowned slightly.

By now, countless rogue cultivators were rushing toward the vortex, desperate to flee.

Some had lost everything despite their efforts to find an Ancestral Flame, while others who had aimed only for ancient ruins had come away richly rewarded.

Just as more and more people began escaping, something unexpected happened.

As the Hell Tiger Race approached Murong Qing to leave, Tiger Overlord suddenly struck.

A thunderous tiger’s roar echoed through the sky, and terrifying power erupted from his body.

Tiger Overlord attacked first.

Explosions rocked the heavens.

No one could have anticipated that Tiger Overlord would dare to attack someone from the Radiant Court.

Murong Qing was caught completely off guard, a single punch sent her flying backward.

“Hand over the Ancestral Flames, bitch!” Tiger Overlord roared.

The Ancestral Flames were stored in Murong Qing’s sleeve-world, a pocket dimension she had personally refined, since a simple storage ring could not contain such power.

Some powerful beings went to great lengths to create small, private worlds, not only to store treasures but even to house their families within. Though such worlds were lifeless and could not grow, they served their purpose well.

Tiger Overlord had long been watching her sleeve-world, waiting for his chance.

His power surged, manifesting as a massive tiger phantom that devoured the heavens themselves.

The phantom roared, and Murong Qing’s sleeve-world shattered under the assault.

Countless treasures spilled out, but most noticeable were the five radiant Ancestral Flames.

Murong Qing’s expression changed drastically. “Put down the Ancestral Flames! What are you Hell Tigers trying to do? This concerns the Fire God Race’s fate, the Ancestral Flames cannot be taken!”

“You Radiant Court people have been in our way for far too long,” Tiger Overlord sneered. “The Fire God Race needs change, with you sitting on top, nothing ever changes. It’s time to remove you.”

Tiger Overlord and Murong Qing clashed violently in midair, each trying to seize the Ancestral Flames.

In the struggle, Murong Qing managed to reclaim the Fire, Thunder, and Wood Ancestral Flames.

Tiger Overlord, meanwhile, snatched up the Metal Ancestral Flame.

Though both were Saint Sovereign prodigies of their respective powers, the gap in strength between them was obvious, under Murong Qing’s fierce assault, Tiger Overlord could barely defend himself.

After securing four Ancestral Flames, both turned their eyes toward the final one, the Earth Ancestral Flame.

At the same time, they both launched themselves into the air, reaching for it.

But before either could touch it, a massive hand appeared from nowhere and snatched the Ancestral Flame first.

Both of their faces darkened.

Especially Murong Qing’s, for the one who had taken it was none other than Shangguan Wan’er.

Surrounded by the burning Nine Nether Hellfire, Shangguan Wan’er unleashed a devastating strike, sending both of them flying back.

She had been hiding her true strength all along.

In fact, ever since the earlier battle involving Xu Zimo, she had never fought seriously.

“Shangguan Wan’er, what are you doing?” Murong Qing shouted furiously. “Is the Divine Crow God Realm planning to betray us too?”

“Your Radiant Court doesn’t rule the Fire God Race,” Shangguan Wan’er said coldly. “Just because we defy your will, that makes us traitors?”

“What kind of bandit logic is that?!” Murong Qing snapped.

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” Murong Qing said through clenched teeth. “Are you working with the Hell Tigers?”

“No, no,” Shangguan Wan’er said, shaking her head with a faint smile. “I only care about myself. What happens to the rest of you has nothing to do with me.”

With that, she turned and smiled again. “You two can keep fighting. Settle your business however you like. I’ll be taking my leave.”

She rose into the air, flying straight toward the vortex.

Murong Qing didn’t move to stop her, she only watched coldly.

Then, boom!

As Shangguan Wan’er touched the vortex, a massive force struck her down.

“Who’s there?” she shouted, but no answer came.

The attack had come from a formation, an enormous formation spinning in the void, stirring clouds and wind.

It enveloped the vortex completely, sealing every exit.

From that moment on, no living being could leave the Ancestral Lands.

“So, you were prepared for this all along,” Shangguan Wan’er said, glaring at Murong Qing.

“I only want to know one thing,” Murong Qing said coldly. “Are you and Tiger Overlord working together?”

“No,” Shangguan Wan’er replied evenly. “Let me go.”

“Hand over the Ancestral Flame,” Murong Qing said in an icy voice. “Come with me to the Radiant Court and confess your crimes, I can spare your life once.”

“Wishful thinking,” Shangguan Wan’er snorted.

Then, turning to Tiger Overlord, she said, “Hell Tiger, how about we join forces?”