I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1788. I want you to help me cultivate—“You were born when I was already old”

Time passed in a blink of an eye. Since Gu Changge returned to the Daochang True Realm, nearly half a month had already gone by.

During this period, he rarely experienced such leisure. There was nothing much for him to do, and he had long stopped interfering in the affairs of the Daochang True Realm.

As for Yin Mei and the others, they had long since adopted the attitude of hands-off managers. They had already found successors and, before Gu Changge’s return, had been in seclusion daily, striving to catch up with his pace.

After he returned, they could not wait to stay close to him every single day. Even Su Qingge had returned from the Qing Mountain Village back to the Divine Kingdom, staying by Gu Changge’s side.

Every day, Gu Changge either took them sightseeing across mountains and rivers, or recounted the humanities, geography, and historical civilizations of the boundless expanse, sharing various interesting experiences.

Eventually, he even began to feel a slight headache, unsure of what else to talk about. Instead, Wang Zijin often smiled faintly and subtly probed him, asking him to honestly confess whether he had provoked any beauties outside the Boundless Expanse.

For example, saintesses of civilizations, goddesses of divine kingdoms, princesses or empresses of immortal dynasties, and so on.

Even Yue Mingkong seemed very interested in this topic, her beautiful eyes flowing with light, the corners of her lips slightly raised, wearing a generous smile, telling him not to worry and to speak freely without fearing their jealousy.

Jiang Chuchu also blinked, looking at him with curiosity. As for Yin Mei and Su Qingge, although they seemed indifferent on the surface, they would still put down what they were doing, their jade-like ears subtly raised, wanting to hear Gu Changge’s answer.

Compared to the great factions and civilizations of the Boundless Expanse, they preferred hearing gossip-like topics.

Gu Changge could annihilate billions of universes without hesitation and erase any time and space, yet he found himself helpless in the face of such questions. He had no real feelings toward Ling Yuling, Mu Yan, and others; if anything, it had all been utilitarian.

But such words, if spoken to Yue Mingkong and the others, would seem somewhat cold and inhuman. After all, they were women too, and back then, Gu Changge’s attitude towards them had not been much different either.

Thus, he only smiled casually and let them guess.

Undoubtedly, such a perfunctory attitude drew a wave of white-eyed glares, and even Yue Mingkong couldn’t help but gently pinch his waist.

If the people of the Heaven-Punishing Alliance saw Gu Changge like this, they would absolutely stare wide-eyed in disbelief. In their eyes, Gu Changge had always been an unfathomable, high and distant existence, as if separated from all beings by an entire world. Even when he appeared gentle, it was hard for others to approach him or feel closeness.

Yet when he was with his wives, he was so natural and relaxed—completely without the authority or airs of the Alliance Master of the Heaven-Punishing Alliance, appearing instead like an indulgent husband.

It was somewhat unbelievable. But was this truly Gu Changge’s real state of mind? Perhaps even he himself could not say.

During his time away from the Daochang True Realm, aside from Yue Mingkong breaking through into the Dao Realm, Jiang Chuchu, Wang Zijin, and others were still at the Immortal Emperor realm, still some distance away from the Dao Realm.

Yin Mei’s talent was inferior to theirs; though she cultivated diligently, she was still only at the quasi-Immortal Emperor level, and whether she could reach the Dao Realm in her lifetime was unknown.

Gu Changge did not interfere much, allowing things to proceed naturally.

After all, even if they reached the Dao Realm, they would not be of much help to him. Whether they were Dao Realm or not was irrelevant.

During this time, Gu Changge made a trip to Tianlu City. He remembered that the Tianlu Mystic Maiden had already broken through into the Immortal realm. Logically speaking, with the blessing of fortune from the Eight Desolations and Ten Domains, and sufficient accumulation, she should have already stepped into the Dao Realm long ago.

Yet in his perception, she had been stuck at the Immortal King realm for many years without any progress.

However, at the moment he sensed her, he immediately understood the reason for her stagnation.

Her physique was special, similar to Su Qingge’s Nine Yin Profound Suppression Body, called the “Nine Profound Mutual Life and Death Love Body.”

The Nine Profound Love Body was said to be derived from the Red Phoenix of mutual longing, symbolizing unwavering devotion. Its greatest characteristic was shared life and death—almost unsolvable.

In other words, if Gu Changge were to take her, it would bind their lives together. Back then, after conquering the Eight Desolations and Ten Domains and capturing the Tianlu Mystic Maiden, she had tried to use her physique to seduce Gu Changge, hoping to bind their lives together and force the upper realm to withdraw its troops.

Unfortunately, Gu Changge saw through her plan at a glance and did not fall for it.

At that time, she had mocked him for being timid, saying he lacked courage. Later, she never brought it up again, and Gu Changge naturally stopped paying attention.

Although she was nominally his woman, she had remained untouched to this day.

And this was precisely the reason her cultivation had stagnated. The cold, silent power of her physique could assimilate the origin of an Immortal King, calm like a galaxy yet vast like the heavens, ready to erupt at any moment.

If the two were to truly combine, that power would invade Gu Changge as well. If she chose self-destruction, and Gu Changge had not yet recovered his later memories at that time, even he might not have been able to withstand it.

After so many years, as her cultivation reached the Immortal King level, it had instead become her bottleneck. Without resolving it, she would likely never advance further.

When Gu Changge appeared in Tianlu City, the Tianlu Mystic Maiden, who was in seclusion in the Tianlu Divine Palace, immediately sensed him.

A trace of surprise appeared on her flawless jade-like face, followed by a faint smile.

After all, Gu Changge had not concealed his aura. He walked forward, and all restrictions were as if they did not exist, unable to stop him. The Tianlu Mystic Maiden had already made a determination to break through the Immortal King realm at all costs, with a resolve of success or death.

Even she did not understand why, in such a flourishing era where fortunes surged and geniuses emerged endlessly, she remained trapped at the Immortal King realm for so long without advancing.

“Seems you’ve returned to the Daochang True Realm, and still have the leisure to visit me,” the Tianlu Mystic Maiden said, sitting cross-legged on a Daoist cushion, her black hair smooth, her face flawless and delicate, her skin like snow-white petals.

She opened her beautiful eyes and looked at Gu Changge with interest.

“If I didn’t come, you might have been stuck at the Immortal King realm for your entire life,” Gu Changge shook his head slightly.

The Tianlu Mystic Maiden was startled, not understanding his meaning.

Gu Changge then smiled and explained the reason for her cultivation stagnation.

After hearing it, she was stunned for a moment. She did not expect this reason. Then her face flushed slightly, and she glared at Gu Changge, saying coquettishly, “It’s all your fault. Back then you hesitated so much—you didn’t even dare to eat when I offered…”

She recalled the past when she had been defeated in the Eight Desolations and Ten Domains and captured by Gu Changge. At that time, she had even teased him for being a gentleman, as firm as a rock, unmoved even in front of beauty.

Memories surfaced, vivid as if they had happened just yesterday, even though so many years had passed. And yet she was still only at the Immortal King realm.

But Gu Changge… no one knew what realm he had reached. Even though he stood right in front of her, he felt as if he did not exist in the same time and space—vast, boundless, unfathomable.

Her gaze suddenly became complicated, even a little envious of Yue Mingkong and the others. Back then, they had been of the younger generation, far from becoming Dao-level existences.

Yet in the blink of an eye, she had been surpassed by everyone, standing still where she was.

If she had stayed by Gu Changge’s side all along… would things have been different?

“Ah…”

Suddenly, the Tianlu Mystic Maiden let out a soft cry, her face flushing even more.

“Now it’s not too late to eat,” Gu Changge smiled faintly.

A few days later, the wind and rain cleared, and the sound of flowing streams gradually subsided.

The Tianlu Mystic Maiden, wearing only a thin garment, forced her still-weak body to sit up on the mist-like bed.

Her entire body glowed, every inch of skin exuding fragrance, becoming as pure as jade. Her figure was slender, her long hair scattered, her appearance enchanting to the extreme. A vast and surging power filled her body, as if a boundless universe was being born and evolving within her.

Without any surprise, she smoothly broke through to the quasi-Immortal Emperor realm. With Gu Changge’s help, even her quasi-Immortal Emperor foundation had been consolidated. Once she refined this accumulated power, she would soon be able to attempt the Immortal Emperor realm.

With her talent, once the bottleneck was removed, becoming a Dao Realm existence would only be a matter of time.

“So you left just like that, not even staying a little longer.”

When she stabilized her cultivation and opened her eyes, Gu Changge was already gone.

She was stunned for a moment, her gaze dimming slightly, before letting out a soft sigh.

“I didn’t expect… you would actually want to keep me.”

Suddenly, Gu Changge’s faintly smiling voice echoed in her ear. He was sitting on a jade stool in the distance, leisurely drinking tea, looking very relaxed.

The Tianlu Mystic Maiden froze again, then her cheeks turned slightly red as she shot him a glare.

“I still need you to help me cultivate.”

Then she straightened her expression, speaking seriously—but by the end, her ears were already completely red.

Spring wind does not understand sorrow; words are difficult to finish, and yet again, still difficult to finish.

A few days later, Gu Changge left.

The Tianlu Mystic Maiden did not intend to go to the Boundless Expanse. For her, Tianlu City was the best place. After all, it was the place her master had entrusted her to guard before his death, and she had always honored that promise.

Gu Changge did not force her. Everyone had their own choices. For example, Su Qingge still resisted cultivation to this day and remained the weakest among them.

He respected everyone’s choices.

Before leaving Tianlu City, he noticed that one of his former followers had passed away several years ago. He could no longer even recall that person’s name, and only learned of it from the surrounding cultivators’ discussions.

That follower had established a powerful clan, and news of having once followed Gu Changge had spread, causing no one in the surrounding factions to dare offend them.

Gu Changge shook his head slightly. In a flash of insight across the river of time, he saw that follower from years ago. He could not help but laugh softly.

So merely following him, or participating in his campaigns into the Eight Desolations and Ten Domains, was enough for one to claim to be his follower.

With a step, Gu Changge disappeared.

The matters of the Daochang True Realm were now concluded. It was time to begin his final plans.

At present, although it was uncertain whether the other two ancestors were also making arrangements, Gu Changge was certain that other beings were already interfering with the situation of the Boundless Expanse—and had been doing so for a very long time.

Their schemes might even trace back to the dawn of creation.

Before leaving the Daochang True Realm, Gu Changge intended to take the entire Divine Kingdom with him and remove the heavenly concealment over the Daochang True Realm, integrating it into the Heaven-Punishing Alliance. However, before he acted, Yue Mingkong sent him news of something.

“The former Empress Xi Yao of the Demon Realm passed away hundreds of years ago. She left a letter, entrusted to a trusted maid, to be delivered to you personally.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changge paused slightly, then recalled a figure in his mind—a noble woman in wide phoenix robes, a red mark between her brows.

Xi Yao, the Empress?

The last time he saw her… was it on the day of his wedding with Yue Mingkong?

His thoughts swept across the Daochang True Realm, and indeed, he could no longer sense her presence.

The next moment, he returned to the Divine Kingdom. Yue Mingkong personally handed him the unopened letter.

Beside her stood a woman with a scholarly aura, gentle and refined—Xi Yao’s former trusted maid, Song Youwei, the daughter of the former Demon Realm Grand Tutor.

“Greetings, Alliance Master…” Song Youwei said respectfully.

When Gu Changge had once descended upon the Demon Realm, she had looked up to him as an unreachable existence. Now, he stood at a height beyond her imagination.

Gu Changge nodded slightly, took the letter, and opened it, scanning its contents.

“I was born too late to meet you, and you were born when I was already old. I regret that we were not born at the same time…”

In that instant, he seemed to see the woman in phoenix robes sitting at her desk, brows slightly furrowed, biting her lip as she pondered.

When chaos once engulfed the Demon Realm, although she was the Empress, seemingly decisive and ruthless, she was in fact simple-minded.

If not for the deterrence of her mother, the Demon Emperor Youyue, she would likely have been overthrown long ago by rebellious great demons.

Even assassins who came right before her eyes went unnoticed…

Countless thoughts flashed through Gu Changge’s mind.

In the end, one thought remained, Did she know… she had always been regarded by him merely as a tool?

Holding admiration and longing, yet receiving no response—what meaning did such waiting have?

Yue Mingkong wisely withdrew, not staying behind. She knew Song Youwei likely had something to convey to Gu Changge—more precisely, to relay Xi Yao’s final words.

“How did she die?” Gu Changge asked as he put the letter away.