I Really Am A Villain

“The Heavenly Immortal Bamboo is the root of the Bamboofolk. It grants sentience to all bamboo. If it were lost, the Bamboofolk would likely be reduced to mere food.”

Hearing this, Xu Zimo immediately understood.

The Iron-Eating Beasts were ruthless.

Every bamboo here possessed independent consciousness.

They did not want to be eaten, so they united to resist.

If the bamboo had no intelligence, their fate would be to become food, passively eaten, without even the ability to resist.

No wonder the Iron-Eating Beasts were so unwilling to give up.

They wanted to cut off the Bamboofolk at its root and directly raise them as livestock.

This made Xu Zimo somewhat irritated.

Something as important as the Heavenly Immortal Bamboo, and Panda Sixteen had been willing to trade it so lightly, merely to help him enter Divine Mountain.

That would be an enormous loss for the Iron-Eating Beasts.

“Daoist, are you listening to me?” the red-haired man asked.

Xu Zimo nodded and replied, “They can help me enter Divine Mountain.”

Hearing this, the red-haired man seemed to relax slightly.

“Entering Divine Mountain isn’t that difficult. I still know people within the Eighteen Blade Purgatory. If you want to go in, I can help make introductions.”

Xu Zimo chuckled. “Well the thing is… I’m going there to destroy the Eighteen Blade Purgatory.”

As soon as he said this, the red-haired man froze.

“Are you serious?”

“What do you think?” Xu Zimo asked in return.

“Go ahead then. Destroy them. I’ve disliked the Eighteen Blade Purgatory for a long time anyway. Those bastards are arrogant day in and day out. They deserve to be wiped out!” the red-haired man shouted.

Xu Zimo smiled faintly.

“Aren’t there people you know there?”

“People I know? We only met once by chance. That doesn’t count for anything,” the red-haired man replied quickly.

“If you attack the Eighteen Blade Purgatory, I can not only help you enter Divine Mountain. I can also support you.”

“How?” Xu Zimo asked with interest.

“The Bamboofolk follows my orders. When the time comes, with one command, tens of billions of bamboo will strike together and wipe out everyone below the Grand Emperor realm in the Eighteen Blade Purgatory,” the red-haired man said confidently.

“If you’re that strong, why not fight the Iron-Eating Beasts directly?” Xu Zimo asked.

“That’s different. The Iron-Eating Beasts are our natural enemies,” the red-haired man said.

“We’d probably be eaten before our attacks even landed. Those beasts are animals. Their teeth are sharp. One bite, crunch, and you’re gone.”

“Since you’re willing to help me for the sake of the Heavenly Immortal Bamboo, what if I use the Heavenly Immortal Bamboo to trade with the Iron-Eating Beasts and have them help me attack the Eighteen Blade Purgatory?” Xu Zimo asked calmly.

The red-haired man was instantly speechless.

“We’re both human. You wouldn’t do that, right?” he said uncertainly.

“I’m curious. You’re human. How did you get involved with the Bamboofolk?” Xu Zimo asked.

“The Heavenly Immortal Bamboo saved my life. I owe it my life, so naturally I must protect it,” the red-haired man said firmly.

Xu Zimo shook his head.

“Where is the Heavenly Immortal Bamboo?”

The red-haired man fell silent.

“You think I can’t find it if you don’t tell me?” Xu Zimo asked.

“But before that, I’ll go ask the Iron-Eating Beasts what conditions they’re offering, then I’ll decide.”

Xu Zimo smiled and turned to leave.

This place was sealed. He was not worried about the Heavenly Immortal Bamboo running away.

After Xu Zimo left, the bamboo spirits erupted into angry chatter.

“If he dares take the Heavenly Immortal Bamboo, we’ll stop him even if it costs us our lives.”

“That’s right. Our Bamboofolk may be weak, but we’re not to be bullied by anyone.”

“Kill, then kill. I’m tired of staying here anyway. Death would be a release.”

They were all prepared to die.

The red-haired man sighed softly.

At that moment, a bamboo leaf drifted down from the void beside him and landed before him.

“You’re telling me not to worry,” the red-haired man said softly, staring at the leaf.

“But I… sigh. Fine. If he tries to take you by force, I’ll fight to the death. At least I’ll die before you do.”

…

When Xu Zimo exited the iron gate, Panda Sixteen hurried forward and asked excitedly, “Well? Well? Did you find the Heavenly Immortal Bamboo?”

Xu Zimo shot him an annoyed look and did not answer.

Instead, his gaze shifted to the old man standing beside Ji Zhan and Ouyang Xiu.

“God-Eye Dao Lord. One of the few Three Blossoms stage cultivators in the True Martial Sacred Ground.”

Xu Zimo had asked the True Martial Sacred Ground for help earlier and had not expected them to arrive so quickly.

“This time, I’ve troubled you, Daoist,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.

“It’s nothing. I also wanted to see the Eighteen Blade Purgatory for myself,” God-Eye Dao Lord replied with a smile.

“They’ve bullied their way onto our True Martial Sacred Ground. Before we strike against the heavens, we should do as much as we can.”

Xu Zimo nodded, then turned his attention back to Panda Sixteen.

“Can you make decisions for the Iron-Eating Beasts?”

“What do you mean?” Panda Sixteen froze.

“I can give you the Heavenly Immortal Bamboo, but I’m about to attack the Eighteen Blade Purgatory. I need your Iron-Eating Beasts to attack them with me,” Xu Zimo said directly.

Hearing this, Panda Sixteen was shocked.

“This… I need to report this to our leader.”

“Then go. I’ll give you an hour,” Xu Zimo said.

Panda Sixteen nodded repeatedly and hurried off.

An hour later, Panda Sixteen returned, accompanied by an even larger Iron-Eating Beast.

“This is the ancestor of our Iron-Eating Beasts,” Panda Sixteen introduced.

“I am Panda Overlord,” the massive Iron-Eating Beast said.

“And your answer?” Xu Zimo asked.

Panda Overlord replied hesitantly, “We would like to help you, but the Eighteen Blade Purgatory are backed by the Divine Court. We don’t dare offend the Divine Court.”

“So that’s a refusal,” Xu Zimo said calmly.

“Could we change the condition?” Panda Overlord asked hurriedly.

“Anything our Iron-Eating Beast has or values, we can trade.”

“Whatever. Forget it. I’ll cooperate with the Bamboofolk instead,” Xu Zimo replied.

He did not want to waste time with them.

As Xu Zimo turned and headed back toward the iron gate, Panda Overlord’s expression shifted repeatedly.

“I advise you not to have any crooked ideas,” God-Eye Dao Lord said calmly from the side.

“The Divine Court could wipe out your Iron-Eating Beast race. But our True Martial Sacred Ground could do the same.”

Panda Overlord turned around, only now truly noticing God-Eye Dao Lord.

He realized he could not see through this old man at all.

His heart tightened.

“S-senior is joking! Our Iron-Eating Beast race is very honest,” Panda Overlord said with a smile.

“Let’s hope so,” God-Eye Dao Lord replied flatly. “Otherwise, before wiping out the Eighteen Blade Purgatory, I wouldn’t mind having a plate of panda meat as an appetizer.”