I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1753. The Former Turmoil of Dai Tian, Replacing Him

The palace hall was deep and vast, shrouded in a strange mist of unknown origin. The candle flames in the center flickered unpredictably.

Upon hearing this, Qiluo remained composed, saying, “A calamity approaching? What does that mean? If you think just saying that will scare me, then perhaps you’re overestimating your words.”

She understood the implication of the words spoken by the elders of the Tiancui Sect.

“Qiluo, don’t pretend to be ignorant. This time, the Tianzong has mobilized its forces, launching the Black Tide to sweep across Cangmang—it is all for the revival of that one, isn’t it?”

“I’ve heard that the Grand Sacrificial Master has heard that one’s voice, which means that one’s return is imminent. And back then, you meddled in the plot concerning the Coffin that Buried the World, didn’t you forget?”

A strange voice echoed from deep within the hall, laughing.

Qiluo’s expression shifted slightly, her gaze suddenly cold.

This was a secret of the Tianzong, known only to the upper echelons. Yet the Tiancui Sect already knew. Apparently, besides her, the Tiancui Sect had connections with other high-ranking members of the Tianzong.

“Back then, everyone coveted that power. Naturally, I was no exception. But did the Tiancui Sect think it could benefit without consequence? The Turmoil of the Tianzong back then was far from an internal matter only, and over the years, the Grand Sacrificial Master has been investigating it.”

“If the reckoning comes, the Tiancui Sect cannot escape either.”

Qiluo’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke lightly.

The Turmoil of the Tianzong occurred many epochs ago, an internal upheaval within the sect.

Due to the interference of external forces, numerous problems arose within the Tianzong, compounded by the Grand Sacrificial Master’s seclusion. Some even attempted to manipulate time and space to steal the coffin that contained the remains of the Dai Tian Lord.

That coffin contained the body of the Dai Tian Lord himself. Countless people coveted the power within, including many of the Tianzong’s own sacrificial priests. Even a single drop of blood from that body held immense power and mysterious utility.

If one could obtain and fully refine the body, could they not replace him and become the new Dai Tian Lord?

Such thoughts were heretical, yet the temptation of such immense gain could shake even the steadiest resolve. This was a shortcut to ascend to the pinnacle—who could resist?

In his prime, the Dai Tian Lord was terrifyingly powerful. Many rumors even suggested his true body no longer resided in Cangmang but confronted unknown existences in distant dimensions. The body left behind was only a fragment of his power.

Even so, that fragment could easily sweep over all of Cangmang, suppressing everyone under its might, instilling despair. Who would not covet such power?

As the Dai Tian Lord was sealed for countless years, his ferocity gradually waned. The covetous desires of others only grew stronger, eventually erupting under a certain opportunity—this was the origin of the Turmoil of the Tianzong.

This secret became notorious within the Tianzong, causing such chaos that external forces intervened to seize the Coffin that Buried the World. Qiluo remembered that the remaining heretics of previous generations had infiltrated the Nightmare Demon Realm, exacerbating the chaos.

Within the Dai Tian sect, sacrificial priests who long coveted the body of the Dai Tian Lord had secretly plotted, seizing the opportunity to strike and storm the Dai Tian Palace. A world-shaking battle swept across the Nightmare Demon Realm.

Due to multiple forces intervening, the Coffin briefly restrained the terrifying aura emanating from the Dai Tian Lord’s body, allowing those intruders to forcibly enter. Inside, the coffin’s vast space contained yet another sarcophagus—the true container of the Dai Tian Lord’s body.

Those who broke in found not the intact body, but a mass of blood and flesh already ruptured, enveloped in dense chaotic mist, floating and drifting. That mass contained unparalleled supreme energy; even a wisp of its aura nearly crushed those who approached.

Had this appeared outside, they would have been annihilated by the aura itself. Under such conditions, it was impossible to steal the entire mass. The intruders could only take fragments of the blood and flesh.

Qiluo was present among those intruders, and she herself obtained a fragment of the flesh, using her formidable power and subtle techniques to hide her aura and causal traces. Even when the Grand Sacrificial Master appeared later, she was not discovered.

This was the greatest upheaval in Tianzong history. When the Grand Sacrificial Master appeared, he was furious, first suppressing the turmoil, then personally tracing back through cause and effect, punishing several sacrificial priests directly.

All other intervening forces suffered retribution and destruction; none survived. Even the remaining heretics could not escape. Yet five fragments of flesh and some blood were never recovered. To this day, the Grand Sacrificial Master still investigates.

Qiluo did not know how the Tiancui Sect discovered that she possessed a fragment of the Dai Tian Lord’s blood. Years ago, they had approached her to strike a deal, guarding the secret if she surrendered half of the blood. Reluctantly, she agreed—this became a mutual leverage.

“I, the Tiancui Sect, have been hunted by the Tianzong for so many years. What is there to fear? The barefoot need not fear the shod—surely Qiluo understands this, does she not?”

“We are different. You are a sacrificial priest of the Tianzong; we are merely remnants unrecognized by the Dai Tian orthodoxy.”

The eerie laughter from the hall was unrestrained, as though utterly unconcerned. The other elders’ gazes were casual, indifferent.

Qiluo shook her head slightly. “It seems you have some backing, to act so boldly, not even fearing the Grand Sacrificial Master.”

“Heh, naturally. We have already learned a tremendous secret. Once it succeeds, what can the Grand Sacrificial Master do? Even her strength cannot rival the revived Dai Tian Lord.”

Within the dim green light, the ghost-faced elder sneered.

Qiluo frowned slightly, realizing she had underestimated the ambition of the Tiancui Sect. Ever since they exploited her years ago, she knew these were madmen, not to be judged by ordinary logic.

Could they intend to control the revived Dai Tian Lord? Or to create a new one? How many fragments of blood and flesh had fallen into the Tiancui Sect’s hands back then?

Qiluo was certain that among those who seized the Coffin, besides the Tiancui Sect, there were other Eight Subsects—but which ones remained unknown, as all remained hidden to this day. Otherwise, how could the Grand Sacrificial Master still be investigating?

“As a former ally, I advise you, Qiluo: the former glory has ended. Soon you will witness the birth of an even more brilliant and mighty existence…”

“If you wish to join the Tiancui Sect, our doors are always open.”

The deep, eerie laughter echoed through the hall, like millions of voices chanting from the nine hells beneath the earth, chilling to the bone.

Qiluo’s expression remained unchanged, but her hands, hidden under the wide red robes, clenched slightly.

“I’ll consider it,” she said lightly, flicked her robes, and strode away.

As she left, the flickering candles extinguished one by one. The hall plunged into absolute darkness and silence.

In the shadows, the elders of the Tiancui Sect murmured in unison, as if to themselves or in discussion:

“Who would have thought the Dai Tian Lord had already revived, under a new identity, establishing the Fatians Alliance?”

“This is not consistent with his usual conduct.”

“It seems he was severely injured. Even if revived, he is far from his prime. Otherwise, why create such a misleading situation—hiding his identity while establishing the Fatians Alliance, yet having the Tianzong collect sacrificial material to restore his power secretly?”

“If he had even one ten-thousandth of his peak power, why scheme like this? It shows his lack of confidence, his insecurity, hahaha…”

“Does he still rely on the Grand Sacrificial Master? Even she struggles to survive. Once he acts, he will resolve the Tianzong’s troubles first.”

“Who would have thought that the once terrifying Dai Tian Lord, who shook all of Cangmang, would see this day? This is our chance.”

“To replace him, to take his place.”

The low, eerie laughter echoed through the hall. Outside, Qiluo could no longer hear it.

At the entrance of the Tiancui Realm, Wuxu escorted her safely. She walked away without a glance back, without lingering thoughts.

Before coming, she had never imagined that the Tiancui Sect’s ambition was so great—they intended to overthrow the Tianzong and replace the Dai Tian Lord.

And these madmen seemed to have backing and confidence.

Why? What did they know? Were they colluding with the other Eight Subsects?

At the ruined temple in the desolate mountains, Liuyun, waiting for Qiluo, had never seen her in such deep contemplation.

What had occurred in the Tiancui Realm to leave Qiluo so serious?

Over more than ten years, for cultivators, it was but a blink of an eye; for mortals, it could be a lifetime.

Shattered rivers and mountains, flattened peaks, a ravaged land, collapsed city towers, miles of barren earth—no signs of life.

This was what Gu Xian’er, Lan Xin, and the others had witnessed in these years.

After escaping the Slanted Moon Sect, they had been carried away by the mad old woman in her sleeve. When they regained consciousness, they were in a desolate, broken land, powerless, unsure where they were, but certain it had been ravaged by dark beings.

All had lost their cultivation, becoming mortals. Even walking was exhausting.

The mad old woman, though exhausted and unconscious, had saved them at great cost. Gu Xian’er and Lan Xin took care of her, yet she had not yet awakened.

Perhaps the loss of cultivation was related to her; only when she awoke would they know.

All survivors of the Slanted Moon Sect, including elders and disciples, remained here, united for survival.

Gu Xian’er remained wary of Song Yu and his companion, Lan Shu, an ancestral-level cultivator. Though they seemed powerless, they might still possess other means.

After years of wandering the desolate land, encountering almost no living beings, and some areas filled with lingering dark mist, this was the aftermath of the dark beings’ rampage—a true extinction of life.

For ordinary cultivators and beings, this was a hopeless era; no one would protect them except to be devoured as sacrificial material.

Looking at the barren land, Gu Xian’er felt exhausted. Against the dark calamity, she could do nothing; even breaking through the Dao realm would change nothing. One person’s strength was ultimately too small.

A wave of confusion overcame her. Had she followed Gu Changge’s arrangements in the Dao Chang realm, would things have been different?

“Xian’er, your Dao heart is disturbed…”

Lan Xin’s voice brought her back. Her eyes still flickered with confusion, questioning her choices.

The great red bird fluttered, eyeing her, and said softly, “Ignore her. Though she has lost cultivation, her Dao heart remains, merely stagnant. She must break through it herself.”

“Dao heart?”

The others of the Slanted Moon Sect fell silent, watching her lost gaze.

“She has encountered a bottleneck. No one can help her now,” said the woman in white.

Half a year later, Gu Xian’er’s confused eyes regained vitality.

“Was I really wrong?”

“No, I was not. This is the path I must take. I refuse to live in the comfort zone left by him. If I hesitate at every obstacle, what meaning do my choices hold?”

“If I followed his path, I would only drift further from him and earn his disdain.”

“My purpose in cultivation was to avenge Gu Changge, to earn his respect. That has always been my heart’s true desire.”

“I aspire to stand proudly before him, to make him bow, and truly see me.”

“I will no longer rely on him, nor live in his shadow as his toy.”

At that moment, her spirit cleared, doubts vanished. A mental shackle snapped with a crisp sound.

“Truly a promising disciple…”

At that moment, the long-unconscious mad old woman opened her eyes. Her once cloudy gaze was now clear and serene, like moonlight, gentle and calm.