I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 966: Real or Illusory? The fear of the Bone Ancestor

On a quiet night filled with longing for his parents, Chu Lian ventured alone into the courtyard and then into the depths of the back mountain. Suddenly, a shooting star streaked across the sky, followed by the mysterious light cluster descending upon him and merging into his consciousness.

Initially startled, Chu Lian quickly composed himself, regarding this enigmatic gift from the heavens with solemn reverence. The mysterious light sphere also assured him that by repeating a single action a million times, he could unlock its secrets and gain the power of an entire civilization.

Thus, during this period, Chu Lian tirelessly refined weapons, inching ever closer to the millionth repetition. He eagerly anticipated the moment when he would finally unlock the secrets within the mysterious light sphere and unleash its unfathomable power.

Could unlocking the power of an entire civilization truly enable him to rival the entire Spiritual royal family? While Chu Lian remained uncertain, the secretive history of the Spiritual royal family clouded his understanding. Yet, in his view, the power of an entire civilization should rightfully stand as the apex of all beings, signifying invincibility.

“Success means aiding the world, failure means standing alone. Against the Spiritual royal family, our options are limited. If you wish to safeguard our entire clan, you must possess the strength to challenge them…”

The burly old man, Tian Yezi, shook his head, noting Chu Lian’s silence. Assuming he couldn’t grasp the gravity of the situation, Tian Yezi sighed inwardly. Once the strongest member of the Ghost clan in a bygone era, Tian Yezi had long since retired and possessed limited knowledge of current affairs. Were it not for the friendship between Chu Lian’s parents and himself, adopting Chu Lian would have been inconceivable. Faced with the conspiracy of the entire Spiritual royal family, what good would understanding it do? His only recourse now was to protect the Ghost clan members under his care.

“Master, why do you think the Spiritual royal family erects those massive formations? They’ve been doing so for years. I’ve heard my grandfather and others say that the Spiritual royal family has long been planning a momentous event…”

The delicate young girl by his side masked her expression, reverting to her former innocence, unable to contain her curiosity. Adopted by Tian Yezi, she was younger than Chu Lian, her parents also esteemed master craftsmen of the Ghost clan.

The craftsmanship of the Ghost Clan and Heavenly Clan was truly extraordinary; even their name hinted at their origins. Bestowed with unparalleled talent by the divine, they possessed the ability to craft the most potent magic weapons and establish formidable divine circles. Yet, how had they come to be subjugated by the Spiritual Royal Clan? This was a truth beyond their reach.

“The Spiritual royal family seeks salvation for their kin…” Tian Yezi gently patted the girl’s head in response, offering no further explanation. Resuming his place in the rocking chair, he gazed up at the azure sky above.

Not a single cloud marred the clear weather—a rarity in these lands. Yet, for the inhabitants of this realm, little did they know that their world was naught but a cage. Was it reality, or a mere illusion? Perhaps it was the grand formation erected by the ancestors of the Ghost clan with their own hands.

Amidst the boundless expanse and the perpetual rolling mist aboard the ancient warship, the Bone Ancestor, motionless since boarding, suddenly opened his eyes. Originally a skeletal figure with empty eye sockets, he now emanated a dazzling and intense light, akin to a lit candle.

Meanwhile, the other figures seated cross-legged at the ship’s bow remained shrouded in thick fog.

At the sudden movement of the Bone Ancestor, the others on the ancient warship were startled awake, their gazes filled with fear as they turned to him.

“Do you ever get the feeling you’re being watched from somewhere?” The Bone Ancestor’s tone, unlike his previous crazed laughter, now brimmed with caution as he surveyed the vast expanse veiled in endless fog.

In this expansive realm, numerous unknown creatures of varied and grotesque forms, humanoid and otherwise, seemed bound within its confines, ceaselessly reaching out in an attempt to grasp the ancient warship’s edge and ascend. Yet, each time they were crushed by the ship’s might, their piercing screams echoed before they vanished into oblivion.

Such occurrences were routine, hardly worth the Bone Ancestor’s caution to rouse him from his deep slumber.

Observing the Bone Ancestor’s demeanor, the other Spiritual Realm powerhouses wore uncertain expressions, puzzled by his unease. Why did such a formidable being display signs of discomfort? What looming horror could possibly elicit such a reaction?

“Could it be that a great terror lies ahead, awaiting us?” one pondered aloud. “But we’re so close to the Newborn Realm—shouldn’t we press on?”

The complexion of an ancient cultivator from the Spiritual Realm who had attained Dao Realm status turned ashen as he made a decisive choice. Sensing the possibility of impending danger, he rose and informed his senior brother of his intention to change course, opting to evacuate the area.

Facing such a formidable threat head-on would yield unimaginable consequences. If even a figure as powerful and fearsome as the Bone Ancestor displayed unease, it only served to underscore the gravity of the looming terror ahead.

“Impossible…”

Cloaked in tattered black robes, the Bone Ancestor felt an escalating unease wash over him, sending shivers down his spine. Could it be possible that, at his level, he could encounter entities in this world that truly unnerved him?

“Unless it’s an existence beyond the ancestral realm… Even the weakest should have attained the seventh decline…”

The Bone Ancestor’s complexion contorted in shock. Despite his self-proclaimed title of Ancestor, he was regarded as a “lunatic” by those within the realm of chaos. In truth, he had only reached the level of the sixth decline, still far from attaining ancestral status.

“Curses! Could this be the domain of another lunatic? Did those fools purposefully lead me here?”

Fury ignited within the Bone Ancestor, his eyes flashing with a murderous intent directed at the Spiritual Realm inhabitants.

“The vast expanse trembles… Have we unwittingly trespassed into the domain of an indescribable horror?”

At that moment, a gaunt, monkey-like figure emerged—a being known to many Spiritual Realm powerhouses as the eldest brother. Startled from his slumber, he rushed from his cave dwelling, his normally composed visage betraying shock.

For even he, after countless years navigating the chaos, had never witnessed a scene quite like this. It was a rare occurrence, reserved for encounters with the unspeakable horrors that lurked within the confines of the vastness.

Should one inadvertently cross paths with such beings, not even the Bone Ancestor would be able to evade their grasp.

Rumble!

In that moment, the entire expanse churned like boiling sea water, emitting a terrifying three-colored fog. Black, white, and gray intertwined endlessly, filling the air with an apocalyptic aura.

“Three-colored extinction light? Has the real world been depleted here? Or has it been obliterated by someone?”

“Cease immediately! Do not proceed any further. You must reroute!”

Witnessing the scene, the gaunt figure’s expression morphed drastically. He swiftly commanded the individual in charge of steering the ancient warship to alter its course, steering clear of the area engulfed by the endless fog ahead. His scalp prickled with unease, never anticipating the spread of the three-colored extinction light—a sure sign of impending annihilation.

When calamity loomed and the great reckoning commenced, a three-colored divine light would descend, its unstoppable nature signaling the onset of catastrophic destruction. Even Dao Realm entities quivered with fear in the face of such a reckoning, dreading their own annihilation.

Though the impending calamity was not yet confirmed, the appearance of the three-colored divine light suggested an imminent great reckoning. Would any beings endure beneath the shadow of such cataclysmic judgment?

“It’s too late… a bunch of fools,” the Bone Ancestor sneered, his gaze icy as he wished for their demise.

In response, the vast fog began to recede, halting the galloping ancient warship as an unfathomable force held it in place. The ship’s external formations and barriers showed signs of collapse, compelling them to remain frozen within this domain.

Rumble!

Abruptly, the fog withdrew, and the expanse quaked violently. From the darkness emerged a brilliant ray of golden light, akin to the radiant sun of Eternal Day, forming a celestial pathway extending towards the heavens.

A young man materialized upon this pathway, his gait deliberate as he approached with an air of calmness and a hint of enigma, casting a gaze downward at the onlookers.