I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1670. Leaders of various Daoist sects and clans

“Lord…”

In front of the Fatian Temple, the old Crow and the old Daoist stood with faces full of respect and awe, not daring to disturb Gu Changge. The rest of the members of the Fatian Alliance had already left the area, returning to the Fatian Alliance’s headquarters in the Xiyuan Civilization, as per Gu Changge’s instructions.

“Is there something you wish to say to me?” Gu Changge remained silent for a long time, before slowly opening his eyes and casually asking.

He knew that the old Crow and the old Daoist may have already guessed his identity, which was why they had acted so proactively and displayed their loyalty so quickly when they were at the Yuxian Palace.

“Lord, have… have you really returned?” The old Crow’s eyes were full of fervor, his voice trembling slightly.

The old Daoist beside him also held his breath, and could hear his own heartbeat, loud as a drum. He hadn’t expected the old Crow to ask such a direct question. However, it was indeed the answer that he was desperately eager to know.

“Does the answer to this question matter?”

Gu Changge didn’t turn around, still facing away from them, his voice calm and without much fluctuation.

“No… it doesn’t matter. We’ve been waiting for this day, waiting for so long,” the old Crow said, his voice filled with excitement and tremors.

“All of us have been waiting for you, waiting for you to reclaim the darkness.”

Gu Changge let out a laugh that seemed ambiguous, then slowly turned to face him, his gaze emotionless as he replied, “Oh, but right now, I have no interest in reclaiming the darkness.”

“No matter what you wish to do, we will always be your most loyal and fervent followers, willing to offer everything for you,” the old Crow said urgently. “We cannot exist without you, just as the vast worlds cannot exist without your rule.”

“We, the Eight From the Crowd, will forever follow you to the death.”

The old Daoist beside him also spoke with utmost reverence and awe, his attitude extremely devout. Without hesitation, both of them knelt down on the spot.

If there had been any onlookers present, they would have been speechless in astonishment at the sight before them.

A figure at the level of the Ancestral Dao Realm stood at the pinnacle of the boundless worlds, their divine might incomprehensible, able to determine the life and death of countless universes and timelines with a single word. They were beyond reproach.

Even if one were to be killed, they would never kneel before another. Both the old Crow and the old Daoist were far stronger than typical Ancestral Dao Realm beings. Yet now, they were kneeling before Gu Changge, with utmost reverence and devotion.

This scene was utterly inconceivable.

For the old Crow and the old Daoist, the shock and impact they felt at this moment were greater than anything they had ever experienced. It was as though ancient myths were being reborn, and a deity had descended before them.

The miracles they had only read about in ancient texts were now right before their eyes.

Whether it was the Heavenly Crowd or the Heavenly From Crowd, they all shared a common belief. And now, that belief stood right in front of them, speaking and conversing with them.

How could they not feel excited and invigorated? Had their mindset not been as solid as immortal gold, they might have found it hard to speak at all.

“The Eight From the Crowd? So the former Eight Buddhist Sects have evolved into the Eight From the Crowd?”

Gu Changge did not pay attention to the two who had knelt, his brow furrowing slightly. He gleaned some information from the old Daoist’s words. He did not believe that the Heavenly Dynasty he had once established would have so easily decayed and collapsed.

Even without leaving behind any backup plans, the Heavenly Dynasty had once possessed the most terrifying and formidable foundation in the vast worlds.

Even after countless years of erosion and trials, it would not easily crumble.”Lord, ever since the disintegration of the Heavenly Dynasty, the ancient Eight Buddhist Sects no longer exist. The Eight From the Crowd that remains now has actually evolved from the Eight Buddhist Sects, and they cannot be compared to the original Eight Buddhist Sects you once led…”

“Moreover, the Celestial Crowd, which inherited the vast majority of the Heavenly Dynasty’s foundations, has always considered themselves the rightful heirs of the Heavenly Dynasty. Over the course of these eras, they have sought to wipe us, the Eight From the Crowd, out completely, to eradicate us at all costs.”

“Even the once-legendary civilization’s treasure, the Coffin of the World’s End, has fallen into the hands of the Celestial Crowd. With such a treasure in their possession, they have become even more reckless, acting without fear, causing chaos everywhere. These years, we, the remnants of the Heavenly Dynasty, have been forced to hide, not daring to appear before the world…”

The two of them, who had no doubts about Gu Changge’s identity, explained even further upon hearing this.

The old Daoist’s face was filled with bitterness, as if he were unloading his grievances, informing Gu Changge about the current plight of the Eight From the Crowd. If it weren’t for their quest to find the Gate of Eternal Life, and the message they received in advance, they would never have been able to meet here, let alone join forces.

Generally, the Eight From the Crowd members didn’t even know where each other was. Only the most respected and venerable figures within each faction could contact the others.

Currently, the Eight From the Crowd indeed could not be compared to the once-mighty Eight Buddhist Sects that had shaken the vast worlds. Moreover, each faction had hidden itself deeply and would not easily reveal itself to the world. This had led to the situation where even they themselves did not know how many members of the Eight From the Crowd remained, or how much of their original strength still existed.

“To have fallen to such a pitiful state, what use do I still have for you?”

After hearing the old Daoist’s explanation, Gu Changge’s eyes deepened, and he turned around again, staring at the statue in the Fatian Temple, seemingly lost in thought. He had initially thought that the old Crow and the old Daoist had come to find him in the hopes of being of use to him.

But now, it seemed that the Eight From the Crowd had become nothing more than rats hiding in the gutter, desperately evading their enemies.

Not only did they have to worry about being found by their old enemies, but they also had to fear being hunted by the Celestial Crowd.

The original intention of establishing the Fatian Alliance was never to provide shelter for these people.

“Please, Lord, be the master for us.”

The old Crow and the old Daoist both had bitter expressions. They knew that the Eight From the Crowd had fallen far from their former glory as the Eight Buddhist Sects of the Heavenly Dynasty. But this was an unavoidable outcome. Ever since the Heavenly Dynasty fell apart, the leaderless factions, especially the Eight Buddhist Sects, had lost their ability to control and command.

When the Lord of the Heavenly Dynasty was still around, his personal might was enough to suppress everyone. The entire Heavenly Dynasty was unified under his rule, and no one dared to defy him. However, this directly led to the situation where, once the Lord of the Heavenly Dynasty disappeared, the power he had suppressed with his might also collapsed, leading to division.

The Eight Buddhist Sects were like this, and the Celestial Crowd naturally followed the same path. Because, apart from the Lord of the Heavenly Dynasty, no one else could control or wield that kind of power.

“How much of the foundation remains behind the Shaoyin Crowd and the Celestial Decline Crowd now?”

Gu Changge fell silent for a moment, not saying much. In fact, no matter what the final situation of the Heavenly Dynasty turned out to be, it would not affect him in any way.

Moreover, the disintegration of the Heavenly Dynasty had long been anticipated and planned for by him.

To be more precise, the Heavenly Dynasty was always destined to collapse. At this point, the fact that the Eight From the Crowd and the so-called Celestial Crowd still existed was already an unexpected bonus.

Naturally, he would not demand more. As for the origins of the Eight From the Crowd, this mattered little to the Fatian Alliance.

“Lord, the Celestial Decline Crowd is mostly hidden in the Celestial Decline Realm. The Celestial Decline Realm is formless and invisible, without desire or color. It is an empty, boundless sky, where living beings cannot be found or seen.”

“And under the Celestial Decline Realm, there are countless people, ruling many nations and divine courts. As for their foundation, while they cannot compare to the strongest true realms, they are certainly not something the immortal paths can easily contend with,” the old Daoist said respectfully.

The old Crow also spoke respectfully, “The Celestial Decline Crowd now resides in the Celestial Decline Realm, where the surrounding billions of spaces are all linked by radiant soil. Without the guidance of the Eternal Sun’s energy, even beings with immense cultivation can become lost and disoriented.”

No matter what, both the Celestial Decline Crowd and the Shaoyin Crowd evolved from the once-dominant Eight Buddhist Sects that terrorized the world. Even though they have fallen, they are still far beyond ordinary immortal forces.

Gu Changge slightly nodded.

If the remaining six factions share similar foundations with the Celestial Decline and Shaoyin Crowds, then their combined power would still be quite formidable. However, countless years have passed, and it is uncertain whether the Eight From the Crowd have developed any other ideas by now.

The old Crow and the old Daoist before him could not represent the entire Eight From the Crowd.

Gu Changge certainly wouldn’t let go of this considerable power.

At the very least, the current Xiyuan Civilization would find it difficult to contend with the combined strength of the Eight From the Crowd.

Of course, Xiyuan Civilization still had many underlying forces that had not yet surfaced. Some figures, hidden very deep, had not yet revealed themselves.

At the moment, the founder of the Xiyuan Holy Hall, Xi Nü, and the powerful existences behind forces like the Guangming Temple and the Tathagata Buddha Kingdom were all still observing and hiding, not planning to reveal themselves.

Gu Changge had originally planned to use Ling Yuling as bait to draw them out. However, he had somewhat underestimated the patience of those “big fish,” who had still managed to restrain themselves up to this point.

Ling Yuling, possessing knowledge about the whereabouts of the Six Heavens Abyss, still had other uses for Gu Changge, which was why he had not planned to take action against her yet.

This time, Ling Yuling’s gamble with the Xiyuan Alliance actually aligned with Gu Changge’s own intentions. He also intended to use this opportunity to draw out his enemies, solving many of the troubles caused by Xiyuan Civilization in one fell swoop.

Seeing Gu Changge remain silent, the old Crow and the old Daoist became anxious again. They had been worried that the current state of the Eight From the Crowd would disappoint Gu Changge, leading to their abandonment.

At that moment, not only the two of them but even the more ancient existences behind them dared not breathe loudly in the face of this situation. In their view, the appearance of the Fatian Alliance clearly indicated that this Lord intended to restore the former glory of the Heavenly Dynasty. And as the remnants of the Heavenly Dynasty, if they were found to be useless, they too would likely be ruthlessly cast aside.

The cold-hearted nature of the Lord of the Heavenly Dynasty had once been etched into the bronze relics and jade heavenly scrolls of the Eight Buddhist Sects.

“You may tell me how you came to the Xiyuan Civilization, but I do not wish to hear anything from the other Eight Buddhist Sects regarding me,” Gu Changge’s voice interrupted their thoughts, calm and devoid of emotion.

“If you stand in my way, even if you are remnants of the Heavenly Dynasty, I will have no hesitation in eliminating you.”

The two men’s expressions changed drastically, and they hurriedly bowed their heads, trembling with fear.

Only true members of the Eight Buddhist Sects could truly understand the terror and might of the Lord of the Heavenly Dynasty. The myriad beings of the past worlds were merely subdued by his overwhelming power.

Meanwhile, outside the Xiyuan Civilization, in the vast, boundless reaches of the universe. In a land filled with a dense dark aura, a crack silently appeared.

Suddenly, a massive head emerged from the crack. It was withered, resembling a human head, but not quite human. It had little hair, and its eye sockets were deeply sunken, completely devoid of light.

Seated on top of this enormous head was a faint, slender figure, wearing a wide-brimmed hat that obscured its face. Only a pair of eyes could be seen, exuding a cold, indifferent aura.

“Ah Li, we haven’t left that damned place in so long. This is truly a long-lost scent of life.”

The giant head gazed toward the Xiyuan Civilization, letting out a spine-chilling laugh that caused the teeth to ache. It sounded like a chant from some kind of monstrous entity, sending a wave of unease and coldness through the air.

“Yes, it’s been a long time since we’ve sensed such fresh life energy…” The slender figure sitting atop the massive head responded indifferently.

“Hehehe, the priests have searched through countless eras for the treasures of the primordial civilizations. At last, they are about to reveal themselves to the world…”

“As long as enough treasures are gathered, we can break the seals that hold them and welcome the return of the great Lord of the Black Calamity. The world will once again be ruled by darkness.”

The giant head’s mouth split open with a terrifying crack, as if it were laughing.

“Quiet. This has nothing to do with us.”

“What we’re doing this time has no connection to that.”

The slender figure, wearing the conical hat, reached out and patted the head below. A loud bang echoed as black mist exploded in all directions.

The hideous, grotesque head was instantly enveloped by a mist of ethereal light, and it transformed into a snow-white, elegant being resembling a true fox.

“Let’s go. This looks much more pleasing to the eye,” said the slender figure, once again patting the creature beneath it. Its tone remained cold and indifferent.

The creature beneath it, seemingly accustomed to this, immediately turned into a streak of divine light, tearing through the fabric of space and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Time passed quickly, and several months later, in a place known as the Mountain of All Wonders in the Xiyuan Civilization.

The sky rumbled as immense divine light-filled ships flew across the heavens. Figures and shadows moved as people from all parts of the vast universe arrived, descending upon the mountain.

Looking up, one could see flying ships of light and various auspicious beasts and immortal birds. Flying swords, towers, jade boats—everything was bustling with activity.

Leaders of various Daoist sects and clans, along with core members from their respective groups, gathered here to sign the Xiyuan Alliance treaty.

After months of revisions and discussions, the founder of the Yuxian Palace, Ling Yuling, finally met with numerous ancient existences to discuss and draft the new Xiyuan Alliance agreement.

The Mountain of All Wonders was chosen as the site for the signing of the treaty. Almost all the Daoist sects and clans within Xiyuan Civilization, large and small, hastened to this place upon receiving the news. They wanted to leave their mark on the treaty and gain its protection.

The Mountain of All Wonders was a unique and sacred location within the Xiyuan Civilization. In ancient times, it had been known as the Land of All Wonders.

It was said that a Daoist Lord once meditated here, gaining enlightenment into the myriad wonders of the world. Answered by the call of the Great Dao, this Lord created a Door of All Wonders, from which the secrets of the universe and countless mysterious arts poured forth. Many cultivators and beings benefited from this place, achieving ascension or entering the Door of All Wonders to reach higher realms.

Since then, the Mountain of All Wonders had become a holy land for many cultivators and beings. Even Dao-level existences would stop here to catch glimpses of ancient traces in time and seek moments of enlightenment.

The majestic and towering mountain range resembled a massive, coiled dragon, stretching down with steep peaks that reached into the sky. Colorful mists billowed, divine light shimmered, and the laws of various Dao orders cascaded down the mountain like waterfalls.

From a distance, the area seemed to bathe in a radiant seven-colored light, and all the creatures—beasts, birds, and even regular cultivators—were infused with an aura of auspiciousness and serenity.

Deep within the mountain, chaos energy swirled around. Ancient divine trees towered into the sky, some having lived for countless eras. Older, more powerful trees even displayed immense vitality, with each leaf being extraordinarily large, covering the sky and stars. When the wind blew, the sound of their collision was like the thunderous rumbling of a world-shattering sound, and the chaotic energy splashed outward, as though they were nurturing a transcendent universe.

Before these divine trees, cultivators appeared minuscule, like ants. Without the guidance of Dao-level existences, they likely wouldn’t even have the qualification to step foot here.

The choice of the Mountain of All Wonders as the location for the signing of the Xiyuan Alliance treaty surprised many, though it was also within reason.

The rules of the heavens in this place differed from those in other regions, influenced by various materials. The power of some of the divine trees here even rivaled that of Dao-level existences.

In this place, no matter who made a move, they would be oppressed, or even expelled by the divine trees.

The elders and disciples of the Yuxian Palace had long since arrived and were now waiting in the Mountain of All Wonders for the arrival of others.

Located at the heart of the Xiyuan Civilization, many clans and Daoist sects needed some time to arrive. Since the signing of the treaty involved all factions, they had no choice but to wait longer.

Some factions and Daoist sects that were closer to this place had already arrived. They were now gathering in small groups, discussing the terms of the Xiyuan Alliance.