I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 967: I will really crush you to death, wandering Lord of the Forbidden Land

Though they dubbed themselves “hunters,” traversing the boundless sea in search of a suitable real world and making sacrifices, they were not fools. Deliberately avoiding the terrifying forbidden zones chronicled in ancient records and texts, as well as ancient real worlds with longstanding existence, was a matter of survival—not a display of cowardice, but an acknowledgment of the strong preying upon the weak, the simplest rule of existence in this vast expanse.

For everyone to survive, adherence to such guidelines was paramount. The Bone Ancestor, far mightier than they, could freely board the ship and consume their kin at will, leaving them no room for resistance or dissent.

Upon confirming the boundless coordinates of the “Mountain and Sea Realm” and recognizing its status as a fledgling real world with a significantly inferior background, they converged upon it eagerly, akin to sharks drawn to blood.

Clearly, the young man before them was beyond their capacity to challenge.

“How should we address you? We stumbled upon this place inadvertently, with no intention to cause disturbance.”

“If Fellow Daoist holds me accountable, I am prepared to make amends and earnestly request your forgiveness.”

The Bone Ancestor found himself in a state of perplexity, unable to discern the true nature of the young man before him despite his formidable cultivation. He could only allow the young man to remain and regard them with a hint of puzzlement.

Suppressing his unease, he spoke humbly, maintaining a demeanor of utmost deference. Since the onset of this encounter, an overwhelming sense of dread had enveloped him, as if he were being scrutinized by an indescribably terrifying entity, rendering him quivering and immobile.

For him, this sensation evoked a distant memory, akin to a return to his pre-cultivation days. Confronted by destructive cultivators, he felt as insignificant as an ant, capable of being extinguished with but a flick of their wrist.

He had believed he had left behind such feelings along with his past, yet here he was, experiencing them once more.

At that moment, the sensation intensified, growing more palpable with each passing moment. Under the young man’s gaze, Bone Ancestor’s unease and fear became increasingly pronounced.

“The depths of his cultivation are inscrutable, likely far surpassing my own. I cannot ascertain how many levels he has attained.”

“It’s highly probable he stands at the seventh decline, a true ancestral realm existence, or perhaps even beyond.”

Various conjectures raced through Bone Ancestor’s mind, simmering with resentment. All he wished for now was to obliterate every last individual from the Spiritual Realm.

He cursed their recklessness; all he had desired was to hitch a ride to locate the coordinates of a nearby real world. Yet, while he dozed off, this group of individuals had inadvertently led him to such a perilous domain.

In the vast expanse, the presence of an ancestral Dao Realm entity held immense significance. Such beings were capable of safeguarding some of the mightiest real worlds, their reign enduring for eons.

In essence, encountering such a being was an exceedingly rare occurrence in the boundless expanse, akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

While many renowned forbidden sites were fixed in location, some particularly formidable and enigmatic ones roamed the boundless sea, their whereabouts unpredictable.

Bone Ancestor vividly recalled a time before several calamities when a supremely potent Realm had existed.

In his quest to harness the power of the real world and merge it with the sole remaining real world, he inadvertently stumbled upon a drifting, mysterious forbidden place. In the blink of an eye, the most formidable realm was devoured whole, leaving not even a trace behind. Even the mightiest, on the cusp of transcending to the eighth decline, perished before they could flee.

The boundless sea teemed with peril, its dangers no mere fiction. Even Bone Ancestor dared not venture into certain uncharted territories. Now, in Bone Ancestor’s eyes, the young man before him posed a threat akin to those masters of forbidden realms. The recent appearance of the three-color world-extinction fog served as compelling evidence.

While this place might have been the site of a potent real world, it was now under the young man’s dominion, transformed into a forbidden zone.

“A member of the Bone race who has surpassed the sixth decline, attaining true Dao realm status—almost in line with Gu Wuwang’s conjecture. Apart from the hunter, there’s also a lunatic in the mix.”

Gu Changge’s gaze took in the vast, ancient warship, his eyes betraying a hint of peculiarity.

Upon departing from the Dao Chang Realm, Gu Changge had sensed the movement of this ancient warship and had followed its trail. Yet, aside from this vessel, he also detected the civilization aura of other real worlds in another direction.

While his focus remained on the Dao Chang Realm’s occupants before him, Gu Changge was aware of another group’s presence. However, their distance rendered their arrival to the Dao Chang Realm a distant prospect.

Thus, Gu Changge hastened to this locale first, aiming to recruit suitable subordinates to facilitate his upcoming endeavors.

Though numerous beings populated the ancient battleship, Gu Changge’s focus remained fixed on the Bone Ancestor. Among the assembly of ancient cultivators, this individual boasted the deepest cultivation base, reaching unfathomable depths.

By the vastness’s standards, he was a genuine Dao realm existence, having attained the sixth decline—a rarity indeed. In ancient real worlds, such a figure would be a true master, capable of dictating their rise and fall.

Yet, marked by his tumultuous fate, this figure had long forsaken his past and homeland, morphing into a feared “lunatic” of the boundless sea. In the realm of confusion, such individuals often embodied danger and instilled fear.

The Gu family ancestor in the Dao Chang Realm had sensed this chaotic and frenzied aura early on, instilling profound fear. Recognizing the futility of confrontation, he entertained thoughts of relocating their clan.

However, Gu Changge perceived this figure as the ideal instrument for his designs.

“Where do you hail from?” Gu Changge’s query rippled through the mist beneath his feet. With each step, the churning mist subsided, allowing him to advance steadily toward the ancient warship.

Though his words differed, on a certain level, Gu Changge understood the other’s intent through the fluctuations of divine thought. He harbored no intention of divulging his Dao Chang Realm identity just yet. Instead, he adopted the guise of the original demon lord, a taboo figure.

“Bone Ancestor greets Daoist brother. Presently, I am a wanderer of the boundless sea, without a place to call home, hailing from a different real world than their own.”

Observing Gu Changge’s lack of reproach for their inadvertent intrusion, Bone Ancestor exhaled a sigh of relief. Yet, he extended his hands in a gesture of explanation, expressing his intention to distance himself from the Spiritual Realm.

Though the Spiritual Realm powerhouses quaked with fear, none dared impede Gu Changge’s approach. The slender, robust man, in particular, brimmed with unease.

Jie Ao, as formidable as the Bone Ancestor, displayed utmost respect and deference in the presence of this enigmatic figure, refraining from any hint of disrespect. Such behavior spoke volumes about the situation.

Despite his appearance resembling that of a banished immortal—aloof, refined, with the aura of the great Dao emanating around him, and an ethereal countenance—how could one discern his true origin? In the vast expanse, countless civilizations thrived, concealing myriad secrets. It would be folly to judge solely based on outward appearance.

“I am Wan Yanxiu of the Spiritual Realm, and I pay my respects to the lord,” he began, his tone respectful. “We did not intrude upon this forbidden area intentionally. Unaware that it belonged to my lord, we merely sought passage through. We dare not show any disrespect to my lord.”

With a sigh, Wan Yanxiu adopted a demeanor akin to Bone Ancestor’s, promptly lowering his attitude. Though the Spiritual Realm was an ancient real world, it had only recently achieved that status. From Wan Yanxiu’s perspective, the Bone Ancestor was an entity beyond comprehension, and this young-looking figure before him could only be stronger.

The other Spiritual Realm powerhouses aboard the ancient battleship mirrored Wan Yanxiu’s expression, mingling respect with fear. The Dao Realm ancient cultivator steering the ship regretted venturing into this area, now likened to a perilous forbidden land stretching across the vastness. If they encountered the volatile Lord of the Forbidden Area, escape would be futile; they’d all meet their end here.

“Spiritual Realm?” Gu Changge arched an eyebrow in surprise, his smile faint. “I’ve never heard of such a real world.”

“It’s understandable if you haven’t, my lord,” Wan Yanxiu responded hastily, not daring to conceal anything. “The Spiritual Realm is neither renowned nor powerful. Currently, it faces exhaustion and decline. We traversed the boundless sea in search of a glimmer of hope for our realm.”

Wan Yanxiu’s explanation stemmed from concern that Gu Changge might grow suspicious, hence his transparency. He hoped to avoid any misunderstanding with the enigmatic figure before them.

Simultaneously, Wan Yanxiu chose to be forthright about his realm, aiming to prevent any misconceptions on Gu Changge’s part.

These forbidden areas within the vast expanse were in no way akin to the self-sustaining forbidden areas within real worlds. The masters of these domains often slumbered for countless epochs, yet their awakening heralded unimaginable catastrophe for the surrounding realms. To these masters, the “hunters” and “lunatics” were mere sustenance, akin to food awaiting consumption whenever hunger struck.

Despite Gu Changge’s detached demeanor and refined appearance, there lingered uncertainty about the duration of his slumber and the nature of his true form.

“Already exhausting?” Gu Changge’s smile persisted as his gaze settled on Wan Yanxiu.

As Gu Changge approached the ancient warship, the Spiritual Realm experts involuntarily recoiled, their faces betraying fear.

“Yes, my lord, I do not conceal it. The Spiritual Realm is indeed exhausted, and our fortunes are waning. We have mobilized all our powerhouses and ventured forth…” Wan Yanxiu’s complexion paled, his response swift and candid.

He interpreted Gu Changge’s query as a probe to ascertain the worthiness of devouring the Spiritual Realm behind them. Indeed, a recently awakened forbidden land lord would promptly seek out nearby real worlds to consume, endeavoring to restore their vitality.

Wan Yanxiu’s heart brimmed with sorrow; such was the law of the jungle.

Confronting such a formidable presence, any misstep could result in unimaginable destruction for both him and the realm he represented.

The implications of Wan Yanxiu’s words weren’t lost on the Bone Ancestor. Initially, he hadn’t considered this angle, but now, cold sweat dotted his forehead, his heart pounding.

“Is this guy bluntly informing you that their Spiritual Realm is on the brink of exhaustion, fearing being overlooked?” Bone Ancestor mused to himself, contemplating the dire implications. “But if it isn’t presented this way, it might be perceived as prey.”

His unease intensified as he sensed Gu Changge’s gaze once more, a sensation of fear and suffocation enveloping him, like an invisible hand tightening around his throat.

“Is he abandoning the Spiritual Realm and eyeing me as a meal?” Panic gripped Bone Ancestor’s heart, his thoughts swirling with dread. He entertained fleeting thoughts of fleeing, consumed by terror.

“Do you believe you can evade me if I decide to kill you?” Gu Changge’s voice sliced through Bone Ancestor’s turmoil, his tone casual yet menacing. “You’d be wise to dispel such notions in my presence, lest I crush you without a second thought. It’s no small feat to nearly reach the seventh stage.”

Gu Changge’s seemingly clairvoyant insight sent Bone Ancestor’s true essence quivering. Never had he imagined encountering such a terrifying entity, one capable of unraveling his deepest secrets with a mere glance.

“Yes… yes, my lord…” Bone Ancestor’s voice quivered with submission. He abandoned the title of fellow Daoist, his tone trembling.

At Wan Yanxiu’s realization of Bone Ancestor’s near-seventh-stage status, his fear and trepidation swelled. He had presumed the Bone Ancestor to be at the fifth stage, but nearing the seventh stage elevated him to an invincible stature in the vast expanse. Even the ancient and eternal powerhouses Wan Yanxiu knew paled in comparison. Yet, could even such a being be effortlessly crushed by the youth before them?