I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1780. The Truth of the Past — The Body of the Five Aggregates

Ling Yuling sat opposite Gu Changge, dressed in a snow-white long dress with a light green gauze draped over it. Her expression was calm, ethereal, and cool. Holding a teacup, she sipped slowly, showing no sign of distress despite having been trapped in the void for countless years—composed and unbothered.

She had endured endless ages in a dark space, suffered the corrosion of dark matter, and even engaged in battles of wit with immortal spirits that had been tainted by it.

To her, such ordeals were nothing more than minor ripples—hardly worth mentioning.

More importantly, she trusted Gu Changge’s strength. Even without spacetime coordinates, she believed he could easily bring her back.

So from beginning to end, she had never truly worried.

Not to mention, she had just learned from him that he had left a mark on her long ago, so he could save her whenever she encountered danger.

To him, the void she had been exiled to was as obvious as a lighthouse in the dark.

Hearing this, Ling Yuling had been briefly stunned—unsure whether he was telling the truth—but she still felt a faint warmth in her heart.

“The strength of that mysterious white-robed figure is roughly on par with mine. He hasn’t passed the ninth Heavenly Decline Tribulation as rumored. He only managed to gain the upper hand because of the Fourth Killing Formation he prepared beforehand.”

“If I hadn’t underestimated him, that battle wouldn’t have ended so frustratingly. When I saw him use the Fourth Killing Formation, I was quite shocked…” Ling Yuling explained.

She suspected the white-robed figure might be a descendant of the Central Lord. But the Yaoguang Ancestral Court had long since been destroyed and lost to history. There had never been any news of surviving descendants.

Even the current Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, which claimed ties to it, had little actual blood connection.

However, considering recent rumors involving the dynasty, could it be related to that princess who emerged from the ruins of the Yaoguang Ancestral Court?

That princess might very well be the Central Lord’s daughter.

As someone from the same era, Ling Yuling had never heard that the Central Lord had offspring, so she couldn’t confirm the identity of that mysterious woman.

But if she truly were his descendant, why would she be involved with the Zhengyi Alliance—and possibly connected to the dark entities?

“I already have a rough idea of that white-robed figure’s identity. There’s no need for you to speculate further.” Gu Changge suddenly spoke, his eyes calm like a still lake.

Ling Yuling was surprised and looked at him. “Is he really a descendant of the Central Lord?”

She didn’t know how Gu Changge had learned this, but if he said so, it was likely close to the truth.

“You could say he is, and you could also say he isn’t.”

Gu Changge nodded slightly, then shook his head.

Ling Yuling frowned faintly, still confused by his ambiguous answer.

“Whether he is or isn’t doesn’t really matter,” Gu Changge said with a faint smile. “If you feel embarrassed about losing to him, then next time, don’t be so careless.”

Ling Yuling nearly choked on her tea, glaring at him playfully.

Was this really something to joke about?

“She’s here,” Gu Changge suddenly said.

“Who?” Ling Yuling paused, then sensed something and looked outside the courtyard.

A tall, slender woman approached, her neck fair and delicate, her figure shrouded in rosy mist. Her black hair flowed freely, adorned with a jade hairpin. She wore a luxurious robe embroidered with an immortal phoenix, along with jade-threaded boots untouched by dust.

She exuded an overwhelming aura—one that seemed to look down upon heaven and earth.

Her face, however, was obscured by chaotic mist, like a veil. Only her smooth, pale chin was visible, hinting at breathtaking beauty.

“Who is she?” Ling Yuling asked, puzzled.

The woman had entered without announcement, clearly trusted by Gu Changge.

When had such a powerful figure appeared by his side?

“Isn’t she the person you were just thinking about?” Gu Changge smiled faintly and poured a cup of tea.

The newcomer was Ji Hanjing.

“Greetings, Senior Yuling,” Ji Hanjing said with a slight smile, offering no explanation.

Ling Yuling, perceptive as ever, didn’t press further and returned the smile.

“What is so important that I had to come personally? You should know it’s not easy for me to slip away now,” Ji Hanjing said as she sat beside Gu Changge.

Removing her veil and placing it on the jade table, she casually picked up the tea he had poured and took a sip.

“I want to prepare a gift for the Zhengyi Alliance—a congratulatory present for this visit to the Immortal Dao Alliance,” Gu Changge said lightly.

“So you don’t intend to act against the Immortal Dao Alliance?” Ling Yuling asked in slight surprise, though she felt relieved.

As long as Gu Changge didn’t interfere, that was enough. At present, all eyes across the Vast Expanse were watching the Heaven-Defying Alliance, waiting for his stance.

If he attacked now, it would provoke universal outrage.

“You think of me as someone so reckless?” Gu Changge chuckled. “The Immortal Dao Alliance was established to resist the dark entities. How could I ignore the greater picture?”

He paused, his smile fading slightly.

“Not only will I not stop it—I will support it. Any force that tries to hinder its formation will be an enemy of my Heaven-Defying Alliance.”

Ling Yuling didn’t believe his sincerity for a second.

Clearly, allowing the alliance to form brought him more benefits.

Ji Hanjing, however, didn’t care about such matters. She only wanted to know what Gu Changge needed from her.

“What is this ‘gift’?” She asked directly.

“No need to rush. I’ll tell you shortly,” Gu Changge replied calmly.

Ji Hanjing nodded and continued drinking tea.

Ling Yuling, however, lowered her gaze slightly. A trace of unease surfaced in her heart.

Was this something he needed to hide from her?

After all this time, did he still not truly trust her?

“I’ll take my leave and inform the others,” she said with a composed smile, rising to go.

But Gu Changge stopped her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her back down.

“Aren’t you curious whether that white-robed figure is truly the Central Lord’s descendant?”

Ling Yuling smiled faintly. “Didn’t you say it didn’t matter?”

Yet she sat back down.

Because she noticed something—When Gu Changge mentioned the Central Lord, Ji Hanjing’s hand trembled slightly.

Though it quickly steadied, Ling Yuling caught it. She wasn’t foolish.

Connecting this with recent rumors, Ji Hanjing’s identity was practically revealed.

“Since Hanjing is here today, I might as well explain everything,” Gu Changge said.

Originally, Ji Hanjing should have learned the truth when he reconstructed her past—but due to the Master of Fate’s interference, she had been unable to proceed further in that timeline.

So many truths remained hidden.

Gu Changge had intended to keep those truths as leverage—but her recent actions proved her loyalty.

There was no longer a need.

Ji Hanjing sat silently, her expression unreadable beneath the mist. She only wanted to hear the truth.

“The Central Lord once had a great enemy from the Primordial Era—the Master of Fate. After the era ended, he lay hidden until the birth of the Vast Expanse.”

“After the Dark Calamity, when all worlds were weakened, he seized the opportunity to scheme against the Yaoguang Ancestral Court.”

“The Central Lord was already gravely wounded after sealing the Lord Acting on Heaven’s behalf. The Master of Fate tried to devour his Dao Fruit and origin—but failed due to the Calamity Crossing Disc.”

“Trapped instead, he used the technique of the Five Aggregates—splitting off a portion of himself to escape.”

“That fragment became a man named Boyoukao…” Gu Changge spoke calmly.

But Ji Hanjing’s thoughts drifted back to the past—to that glorious ancient court.

Then—She froze. Her entire body stiffened like stone.

“Impossible… impossible…” she muttered.

Ling Yuling, meanwhile, focused on the “Five Aggregates”—Form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness—the fundamental components of existence.

“The fragment of the Master of Fate became a cultivator named Boyoukao. Through careful schemes, he met Ji Hanshuang, the Central Lord’s youngest daughter. They fell in love and married.”

“Then, he faked his death…”

“And that fragment of the Five Aggregates entered Ji Hanshuang’s womb.”