I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1269

Chapter 1269: Eternal Daoist Monarch who buried the battlefield of the heavens and ruled the nine heavens

Grave keeper?

Those three words reverberated in Qing Feng’s ears, sending shivers down his spine.

As soon as the middle-aged man in white finished speaking, Qing Feng witnessed a colossal ancient battlefield materializing behind him. It stretched higher than the sky, more comprehensive than the sum of infinite universes.

The scene was gruesome, with the sky raining blood, black winds rising from the ground, and a golden giant engaging in a fierce battle against a terrifying adversary in the sky.

As the thick fog rolled in, a massive black hand descended, covered in frightening scales, brutally ending the golden giant’s existence. The explosion of golden blood and the universe’s collapse painted a vivid picture of destruction.

Amid this grand and ancient battlefield, living beings appeared minuscule, while the black mist at the world’s edge hinted at the presence of unimaginable entities observing the carnage.

Countless corpses rained down, hitting the ground like a heavy downpour. The chaotic and fragmented world showcased universes reduced to dilapidated battlefields.

The middle-aged man in white remarked, “You can see these. It seems you can find Nine Heavens because there is a cause and effect here. I seem to see your origin, but I don’t seem to see it. It’s really strange.”

The man’s light smile suggested he observed the shocking scenes reflected in Qing Feng’s pupils.

Bewildered, Qing Feng asked, “What’s this?” The battle triggered a sense of deja vu as if he had experienced it before.

“This was once a war against heaven.”

The middle-aged man in white looked elegant, yet his eyes held the weight of countless ages.

Fighting the heavens?

Qing Feng repeated these four words in a mutter, the shocking scene replaying in his mind.

“That’s right, a battle against the heavens. The individuals buried here are those who perished in that celestial conflict.”

“There are immortal emperors, supreme powers encompassing heaven and earth, and colossal giants who scorn eternity and defy the ages. In short, you can find all kinds of ancient powerhouses’ graves here.”

The middle-aged man in white shook his head with a wry smile.

“Isn’t Nine Heavens the birthplace of immortals in the legend? How could it be a tomb?”

When Qing Feng heard this, he was utterly stunned again, finding it hard to believe. The old city lord’s words had led him to the Nine Heavens in search of a way to rescue the Floating Realm. Now, he was told it was simply a tomb.

“Don’t worry, I’m not finished yet.”

Sensing Qing Feng’s confusion, the middle-aged man in white shook his head and continued, “I understand that people come to the Nine Heavens in pursuit of immortal secrets.”

“And you, coming to the Nine Heavens, probably sought a solution to the world’s salvation. The outside world where you currently reside is likely facing some kind of catastrophe.”

“Your ancestor came to the Nine Heavens for a reason and left a message. You came here following his trail.”

Hearing this, Qing Feng was once again taken aback. While some details didn’t align perfectly, the general idea made sense. Before the Immortal Palace, many ancestors had indeed left records of their journeys to the Nine Heavens. His reason for coming here was the imminent crisis facing the Floating Realm.

The middle-aged man in white didn’t seem surprised by Qing Feng’s reaction. He spoke with a faint smile, “Over countless years, there have been quite a few outsiders like you who have sought Nine Heavens.”

Although Qing Feng might be the only one from his era who had ventured to the Nine Heavens, many others had followed various clues. Nine Heavens wasn’t forbidden for outsiders, and an old turtle at the border facilitated the passage between the Nine Heavens and the outside world.

“In that case, senior, did you mean to say that the Nine Heavens is merely a cemetery? Are you the grave keeper?”

Qing Feng had numerous questions, but finding the ancestors of the Immortal Palace was his top priority.

He respectfully cupped his hands and continued, “Honestly, senior, I am here to seek you out. The homeland of our ancestors is currently facing a catastrophe. Only by locating you do we stand a chance of saving our homeland.”

The middle-aged man in white smiled lightly and responded, “There is no issue with that. Anyone seeking entry into the Nine Heavens must obtain my consent, as I am the grave keeper.”

“But the Nine Heavens is vast and boundless, with each heaven being distinct and separate. They overlap like the levels of a tower. Which specific heaven are you trying to find your ancestor in?”

Qing Feng was utterly astonished, as he had been unaware of these divisions within the Nine Heavens. Although the old white turtle had mentioned that the Nine Heavens consisted of nine different realms, Qing Feng hadn’t given it much thought until now.

In this scenario, how long would it take him to locate his ancestors from the Immortal Palace’s past?

The Floating Realm might already be on the brink of destruction when he found them.

“And how can you be sure that they will attend to these matters even after finding your former ancestors? What if your predecessors are also deceased?”

Having encountered individuals like Qing Feng searching for their ancestors before, the middle-aged man in white shook his head, his attention returning to the chessboard.

He sensed something distinctive about Qing Feng, different from those who had ventured to the Nine Heavens, prompting him to share more.

“Each level of the Nine Heavens has a designated master. If you are unwilling to abandon your quest, you can inquire with them. I observe that you’ve nearly touched the realm of the Immortal King, making you a respectable cultivator. Those individuals should accord you some respect.”

“However, the Heavenly Sect, a Daoist sect led by the Immortal Daoist Monarch, currently presides over the Nine Heavens. If you find this complicated, you may approach him directly, provided you can traverse the Ninth Heavens and reach the highest level.”

With these words spoken, the middle-aged man in white swiftly flicked his sleeves, shrouding Qing Feng in a thick fog and instantly transporting him to a different mountain range. The strength displayed astonished Qing Feng.  It was mysterious and unpredictable. Even with his connection to the level of the Immortal King, he couldn’t detect any anomalies.

Standing on the new mountain range, he gained a panoramic view of the land. Vast continents floated in the air, surrounded by clouds and mist, with immortal light surging—a place for seeking immortality beyond the mundane world.

At the highest point of the Nine Heavens, a majestic palace stood in the vast cloud realm. A figure in Daoist robes, his countenance deep as if immersed in boundless chaotic mist, sat within. His eyes contained myriad heavens and horrifying visions, followed by moments of silence, resembling an endless abyss that could induce tremors.

Below him, several figures knelt, reporting an incident.

“Reporting to Daoist, the master of the Boundary Hall Palace in the Yanyang Realm appears to have failed during the eighth decline, suffering a significant backlash. The Dao fruit shattered, leading to internal turmoil in the Boundary Hall Palace, with several vice hall masters also stirring.”