I Really Am A Villain

Xu Zimo’s thoughts gradually became clear.

It seemed as though his past life and this life were beginning to intersect.

The title of Infernal Lord was not something just anyone could claim.

Naturally, there had been countless failures along the way.

And Xu Zimo himself had once been one of those failures.

In the Primordial Heartlands, in his previous life, he had died at Chu Yang’s hands.

It was only through the reincarnation of the Primordial Chaos Bead that he had been given a chance to start over.

He raised his head and looked at the Lord of Death.

The latter smiled and said, “Welcome back, Infernal Lord.”

“I don’t remember anything from before,” Xu Zimo shook his head.

“That was never really you to begin with, only a simulated version of you. It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember. In any case, those past dreams are already over,” the Lord of Death replied.

“You want to pass through here on your way to Jade Court?”

“Yes,” Xu Zimo nodded.

He sat cross-legged as well, taking a seat opposite the Lord of Death.

“Jade Court hasn’t been very peaceful lately,” the Lord of Death said.

“Jade Court has formed a grudge with the Warbloods. It’s said that the War God has invited several fellow Daoists to launch a campaign against Jade Court. I advise you not to go there for the time being.”

“Who is the War God?” Xu Zimo asked.

“One of the races supported by the Azure Mystic Heaven, the Warbloods. A group of berserk warriors,” the Lord of Death replied.

“In fact, this probe against Jade Court likely also involves the Beast Race.”

“What does the Beast Race want?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Who knows? The Beast Race rules the Azure Mystic Heaven. As long as the Nine Heavens don’t invade each other, we don’t bother interfering,” the Lord of Death shook his head.

“Which domain does Jade Court belong to?” Xu Zimo asked again.

“Jade Court is a neutral force. Although it lies between the Azure Mystic Heaven and the Mirage Tides Heaven, it doesn’t belong to any power,” the Lord of Death replied.

“And Jade Court is not as simple as it appears. For many years, we’ve maintained a state of balance with them.”

“That balance is about to be broken,” Xu Zimo narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Jade Court is a place I must go. As for the Beast Race’s affairs, I won’t get involved.”

“When you’re in the middle of a storm, how can you avoid being affected?” the Lord of Death asked in return.

“That depends on whether the Beast Race provokes me,” Xu Zimo smiled.

“If they do, I won’t be polite.”

Xu Zimo thought of the Beast Compendium he carried.

Back then, it was said to be a supreme treasure of the Beast Race, deeply tied to their fate.

Once the Sixteen Beast Races bound themselves to the Beast Compendium, their destinies would be in Xu Zimo’s hands.

Unfortunately, along his journey, Xu Zimo had rarely encountered the Sixteen Beast Races.

So far, only the Roaring Beast Race and the Primordial Dragon Race had been bound.

If he gained something this time, Xu Zimo wouldn’t mind binding all sixteen Beast Races.

“You’re certain you’re leaving?” the Lord of Death asked.

“Yes. I want to pass through the Mirage Tides Heaven,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“To be honest, you and I could be considered old acquaintances,” the Lord of Death said.

“Is this how you treat an old acquaintance? It was quite hard just to meet you,” Xu Zimo replied.

“This was only a test. After all, back then you were a god of slaughter who even destroyed the Chaos Burial Heaven,” the Lord of Death said with a smile.

“I bear you no ill will, but there are simply too many people in this world who do. I wanted to see how much strength you still have.”

“And now you’ve seen it?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Not enough, but you still have time to grow,” the Lord of Death nodded.

“You’re going to Jade Court, and there’s not much I can help you with. I’ll give you a strand of my divine soul. If you encounter danger, I can help you hold it off for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.”

Hearing this, Xu Zimo was momentarily taken aback.

The Lord of Death was someone worth befriending.

When things truly mattered, he genuinely helped.

One had to know that a divided divine soul was no ordinary thing, especially for someone of his level.

His soul and body were already fused as one in a perfect primordial state.

Forcibly splitting them apart not only required immense power, but also had a significant impact on one’s cultivation.

The two of them had only just met again. Even with some past ties, those belonged to a distant time.

As time passed, relationships inevitably faded.

Seeming to read Xu Zimo’s thoughts, the Lord of Death smiled and said, “Don’t get too moved. I’m just repaying a favor.”

“My own situation is somewhat special. I’m deeply dependent on death energy. After you destroyed the Chaos Burial Heaven, I took over that place. Renamed it to Mirage Tides Heaven You could say everything there benefited me. I was able to sever the Three Selves and grow to my current level. You… played a crucial role in that.”

Hearing this, Xu Zimo shook his head and laughed.

So it turned out he had made someone else a wedding dress.

But it didn’t really matter. That death energy was useless to him anyway.

“Then let’s go. Staying in your Mirage Tides Heaven makes me uncomfortable,” Xu Zimo shrugged.

“Don’t rush. Drink this first,” the Lord of Death said.

He placed his right hand on the map in front of him.

Something seemed to be drawn out from within the map.

It formed into a strand of black mist.

Within the mist, sparkling points of light flickered.

The Lord of Death took a luminous night-glass cup, poured the black mist into it, and handed it to Xu Zimo.

“What is this?” Xu Zimo asked.

“You’ve only opened one of your Three Blossoms so far, haven’t you?” the Lord of Death said.

“This is a Terrestrial Dragon God-Fruit. It can help you open another flower and achieve the Terrestrial Blossom.”

Among the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Worldly Blossoms, Xu Zimo had previously opened the Worldly Blossom.

Hearing this, Xu Zimo was somewhat cautious, but he sensed no malice from the other party.

Moreover, helping him open the Terrestrial Blossom was an act of goodwill in itself.

Xu Zimo drank it down in one gulp.

As the Terrestrial Dragon God-Fruit entered his body, a tremendous power surged forth, accompanied by waves of dragon roars that echoed endlessly within him.

It shook his entire body, making him tremble.

“Sit cross-legged, calm your mind, embrace stillness, and unite soul and body,” the Lord of Death shouted softly.

At that moment, Xu Zimo felt his thoughts become incomparably clear.

It was as if the fog blocking his great path was instantly blown away.

Those obscure and difficult Dao mysteries suddenly became crystal clear.

Above his head, the Worldly Blossom bloomed even more brilliantly, while the second flower, the Terrestrial Blossom, gradually took shape and began to bloom.

Dao rhythms spread around him, surging and boiling without end.

“Infernal Lord, let this world see your power,” the Lord of Death stood up and said expectantly.

“I hope that one day, you truly succeed. When that happens, I’ll be the first to raise the banner and fight for you.”

There were many things he hadn’t told Xu Zimo yet.

Because the time was not right.

The world was dark, but those whose hearts burned with blazing crimson flames were not limited to the Infernal Lord alone.

We cultivators seek freedom and unrestrained spirit.

Xu Zimo didn’t know how long he remained immersed in that state.

When he opened his eyes and comprehended all the Dao meanings, he found that the sky around him had grown dark.

“You’re awake,” the Lord of Death said, standing nearby.

“This Terrestrial Dragon God-Fruit is truly miraculous,” Xu Zimo said in surprise as he felt his own condition.

“In truth, the Terrestrial Dragon God-Fruit was only a catalyst. The key is that your accumulation was already sufficient,” the Lord of Death explained.