I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1531: The possibility of a further relationship, the first person among the peers of Yu Xian Palace

“Greetings, Holy Maiden,” Chu Gucheng said, though resentment and anger simmered beneath the surface due to the obstacles he faced during his previous visits. However, he made sure to hide these feelings, greeting her with a smile and a respectful bow.

“Xi Yuan doesn’t need to be too polite,” Elder Jin added with a slight smile. Though he was technically her senior, he understood that, given her current strength, he might not be her equal in a confrontation, so he felt no envy.

Holy Maiden Xi Yuan nodded slightly, leading the way as she escorted the two men back to the Xi Yuan Temple. As they walked, she began to inquire about Jin Lao’s visit.

Elder Jin sighed, expressing his concerns about the black mist that had suddenly reappeared. He feared that history might repeat itself, which prompted him to take advantage of Chu Gucheng’s birthday celebrations to discuss potential solutions with her. After all, with her master absent from the Xi Yuan Temple, it would fall to Holy Maiden Xi Yuan to suppress any resurgence of chaos within the civilization.

Moved by Elder Jin’s concern, Holy Maiden Xi Yuan shook her head gently, explaining that she had already utilized the mirror of reincarnation to deduce the future fate of the Xi Yuan civilization and assured him that the black mist would not affect it.

Understanding the power and mystery of the mirror of reincarnation, Elder Jin couldn’t help but sigh again. Among the renowned treasures of civilization in the boundless world, the mirror of reincarnation was indeed considered one of the foremost artifacts.

After all, the mirror of reincarnation belonged to the treasures of the first generation of civilization, making it incomparable to the imitations produced by later generations. As Elder Jin mentioned the mirror, a wave of emotion washed over him. The Dao that sealed the source of the black disaster was of an extreme level, leaving almost no trace behind; it had likely vanished from the world long ago.

Countless cultivators in this realm had probably forgotten the dark era when they were engulfed in shadow and fear. For the beings living in the boundless world today, the time of the black disaster felt like a distant memory, almost an ancient myth.

In the early days of the Boundless Realm, there had been a primitive and chaotic era, often referred to as the Age of the Ancestors, marked by the emergence of various innate races and gods. This period gave way to many subsequent eras, including those of mythology, world creation, and ancient history. However, this summary barely scratched the surface. Even the most diligent scholars studying the ancient history of the boundless world found it challenging to pinpoint how many distinct eras had transpired.

In the far-off past, there were eras with peculiar titles such as “Burying Immortals” and “Exterminating Daoism.” Each era spanned countless years and stretched across expansive rivers of time, leaving historians uncertain of how many eras they truly encompassed.

The era of the Black Disaster was what Jin Lao and others referred to as the era of darkness that troubled the world; some even called it the era of black mist. This nomenclature arose because the root of all disasters was confined within a wisp of black mist. That wisp was born from the master of the source of the Black Disaster, and it was his existence that unleashed calamities upon the heavens.

Holy Maiden Xi Yuan felt little sympathy for Elder Jin’s sentiments. Instead, she apologized for Chu Gucheng’s previous attempts to visit her without success, explaining that she had been in a critical phase of retreat, making it inconvenient for her to receive guests. However, due to Elder Jin’s special status and his close relationship with her master, she had reluctantly emerged from her seclusion to meet with him.

Chu Gucheng smiled noncommittally at Holy Maiden Xi Yuan’s explanation, though a sneer flickered in his heart; he did not believe her words at all. Nonetheless, he chose not to press the matter further. With Elder Jin by his side, he intended to broach the subject of the Mirror of Reincarnation, curious to see how Holy Maiden Xi Yuan would position herself on this issue.

If they could secure the help of the mirror, the catastrophe threatening Xian Chu would be easily averted. Holy Maiden Xi Yuan, however, had already guessed the true purpose of Chu Gucheng’s visit. She was at a critical moment in her cultivation, and the possibility loomed that her relationship with the archenemy surnamed Gu, as indicated by the simulated fate, might become more complicated.

Thus, she would never lend out the Mirror of Reincarnation. After all, the demise of Xian Chu was already predestined. Involving herself would inevitably mean that all the effort she had invested in the mirror of reincarnation would be rendered useless, lost to the void.

At this time, in Yu Xian Palace, a majestic ancient palace resonated with a sense of grandeur. Tall, vague figures stood in silence, their presence commanding attention. Surrounding them, the sun, moon, and stars rotated, with the rumbling of colliding worlds echoing throughout the space. Fragments of the Dao intertwined, while immortal mist and chaotic vapors flowed like liquid, creating an atmosphere that felt inherently mystical.

Many elders had received urgent orders and were hurrying back with their disciples from various regions, all converging upon this sacred place. Within the palace, the current lord of Yu Xian Palace, Ling Qiuchang, presided over the gathering. He had an elegant visage, a medium build, and deep, wise eyes that suggested an age beyond what he appeared to be; he looked to be in his forties. Clad in a jade-white Daoist robe adorned with cloud patterns and embroidered mountains and rivers, there was a faint aura of the mysteries of heaven and earth flowing around him.

The figures around him were the elders and their disciples who had come from various dojos within Yu Xian Palace, summoned by Ling Qiuchang’s orders. Although Yu Xian Palace boasted thirty-six ashrams, not every ashram had an elder who had reached at least the Dao realm. In the palace’s most glorious and prosperous times, such a grand assembly would have been commonplace.

The strength of the gathered elders varied; the weakest among them had attained the Dao realm and possessed longevity. Inside the hall, the atmosphere was spacious and vast, yet an unusual quietness pervaded. No one spoke, and the heavy ambiance hinted at the gravity of the situation they faced.

Ling Qiuchang glanced outside the hall repeatedly, his expression bearing a mix of dignity and melancholy. “Which other elders have not arrived?” he asked the disciples gathered around him.

“Reporting to Palace Master, a total of twenty-four elders have arrived; the rest are still on their way,” replied a disciple respectfully.

Ling Qiuchang shook his head slightly, pacing around the hall in silence. The sight left the other elders perplexed, their expressions reflecting their confusion. They were unaware of what had caused the palace master’s unusual demeanor and why he hadn’t shared the reason with them. He seemed a bit anxious, but the cause of his distress remained a mystery.

Though Ling Qiuchang did not explain, the elders respected his silence and refrained from asking further. Meanwhile, many young disciples exchanged glances, quietly observing a stunning figure standing at the far side of the hall. Their eyes revealed their astonishment.

She was a breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed in a soft armor battle skirt, her crimson cloak flowing elegantly behind her. Her eyebrows were exquisitely shaped, her eyes bright and captivating, and her skin was as white as porcelain, radiating an ethereal glow. A jet-black headband held back her hair, revealing a clean, slender neck.

Her waist was elegantly defined, and her long legs were straight and graceful, exuding a heroic presence. She was the foremost member of the younger generation in Yu Xian Palace, a formidable figure who loomed like a mountain over her peers.