I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1802. Who exactly are you? The most ancient clan of the vast realm

On the cliffside, clouds drifted about. The white-robed middle-aged man kept staring intently at the chessboard before him, furrowing his brows in deep thought, as if trying to determine where to place the next piece. For this, it seemed as though he had been pondering for countless ages.

Gu Xian’er and the elders and disciples of the Xianyue Sect all stood silently to the side, none of them daring to disturb him.

Although Song Yu had not introduced him, they could all tell that this white-robed middle-aged man possessed unfathomable strength.

Even the Dao Realm elders of the Xianyue Sect, when closing their eyes, could barely sense his existence—he seemed like a void, something not existing within the current time and space.

This alone was enough to demonstrate his terrifying power.

They had only just stepped into the land of the Nine Heavens, and it was still unknown what kind of higher-level existences they would encounter later.

Song Yu stood respectfully at the side, also not speaking. It was clear he greatly respected this white-robed middle-aged man and seemed to know his identity and origin.

Gu Xian’er frowned slightly, watching coldly from the sidelines.

On the journey to the Nine Heavens, she had already learned that Song Yu had close ties with the Nine Heavens realm—in fact, he originally came from there.

His previous concealment in the Xianyue Sect was for the inheritance of the “Heaven-Confining Nine Seals.” Now that the Xianyue Sect had been destroyed, Song Yu would undoubtedly turn his attention to her.

After all, the mad old woman was the last inheritor of the Confining Heaven Sect.

When the mad old woman briefly regained her sanity, she had taken Gu Xian’er away in front of everyone and then disappeared without a trace. The only person connected to that mad woman was Gu Xian’er.

Naturally, Song Yu would try to obtain clues from her.

Along the journey afterward, Song Yu occasionally probed her for information about the mad old woman, even openly mentioning the “Heaven-Confining Nine Seals.”

Although Gu Xian’er repeatedly brushed him off and ignored him, the closer they got to the Nine Heavens, the more Song Yu began to stop concealing his intentions.

The elders and disciples of the Xianyue Sect could also guess his intentions, but they pretended not to see it, treating it as private matters between him and Gu Xian’er that they should not interfere with.

Moreover, once they reached the Nine Heavens, they might need to rely on Song Yu, so they did not dare offend him along the way.

Still, some elders advised Song Yu not to go too far, out of consideration for their former fellowship.

Song Yu responded politely, saying he was merely curious about the origin of the mad old woman and had no other intentions.

To this, Gu Xian’er merely watched coldly and did not comment.

Of course, Song Yu also knew she was connected to the Heaven-Destroying Alliance, so he did not dare harbor other thoughts.

Not to mention the mysterious white-robed woman beside Gu Xian’er, who rarely spoke but whose origins were unknown—even his protector Uncle Lan was wary of her.

Thus, along the journey to the Nine Heavens, Song Yu remained very restrained.

But Gu Xian’er clearly understood that once they entered the Nine Heavens, in Song Yu’s territory, many things would become uncertain.

Who knew whether he would play any tricks?

During this time, Gu Xian’er had also been studying the “Heaven-Confining Nine Seals” taught by the mad old woman. Unfortunately, she could not even grasp the first seal. Because she had not reached the Dao Realm, her understanding remained hazy and incomplete.

That concept was profound and mysterious, like a mist—blurred and unfathomable. It seemed she could only truly comprehend it after reaching the Dao Realm.

Only then did she understand why the mad old woman had said that only after reaching the Dao Realm and surviving the first Heavenly Decline Tribulation could one use the first seal.

Each subsequent seal required surviving another Heavenly Decline Tribulation.

In other words, to fully execute the ninth seal of the Heaven-Confining Nine Seals, one would need to survive nine Heavenly Decline Tribulations and touch the ultimate realm.

This technique was extremely violent—once used, there was no turning back. If used without reaching the required level, not only would it fail, but it would also cause terrifying backlash.

“Although the future after reaching the Nine Heavens is uncertain, this place is not affected by external chaos. It is indeed the best place for me to break through to the Dao Realm.”

Gu Xian’er thought silently, her clear eyes filled with determination.

Since she firmly established her Dao heart last time, she already knew her future path.

Thus, she was confident about breaking through to the Dao Realm, waiting only for the right opportunity.

“After so many years, someone has finally stepped into the Nine Heavens again. But unlike the last one who found his way here himself, this time he was brought by you.”

At this moment, as everyone was lost in thought, the white-robed middle-aged man sitting cross-legged on the cliff finally came back to his senses.

He glanced at Song Yu, seemingly recognizing him, then swept his gaze over the Xianyue Sect members, and finally paused on Gu Xian’er, the white-robed woman, and a woman in green named Qing Nan, showing a hint of surprise.

“Last time I left the Nine Heavens, I was fortunate to receive guidance from you, senior,” Song Yu said respectfully.

The white-robed man shook his head.

“Since you are that fellow’s disciple, I will naturally look after you a bit.”

Song Yu became even more respectful.

To the Nine Heavens, this white-robed man was like a gatekeeper—his strength unfathomable and his existence ancient beyond measure. No one knew his true origin.

In the Nine Heavens, regardless of cultivation level, all had to address him as a senior.

“I have lived for so long, and this is the first time I’ve encountered such a situation—three people I cannot see through appearing at once.”

“Who exactly are you?”

The white-robed middle-aged man’s gaze fell on Gu Xian’er’s stunning face, his tone slightly surprised.

As he looked at the three women, his eyes remained calm and deep, but countless profound phenomena flickered within them—worlds, universes, fate, and time itself transforming into flowing rivers.

Yet as he attempted to probe them, thick fog surged over that river, and it felt as if an invisible hand shattered his perception completely.

Especially when observing Gu Xian’er and Qing Nan, his brows furrowed even deeper in shock.

As for the white-robed veiled woman, after briefly contemplating her, he seemed to think of something and said nothing further.

Gu Xian’er was also encountering such a situation for the first time, equally shocked and confused.

Who exactly was she? Wasn’t she just Gu Xian’er—the proud daughter of the Gu Family in the Daochang True World?

Or had this white-robed man sensed something else?

Was it because Gu Changge was behind her?

Song Yu was also shocked for the first time seeing such an expression on this senior’s face.

Gu Xian’er’s origins being tied to the Heaven-Destroying Alliance was understandable, but why even that plain-looking Qing Nan woman could trigger such attention puzzled him.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Qing Nan.

“What do you mean, senior?” Qing Nan asked, equally confused.

At that moment, a vast power surged within her body, and the mist she had deliberately concealed around herself gradually dissipated.

The white-robed man stared at her deeply, as if trying to see through everything.

“Have you ever been contaminated by darkness?” He asked casually.

Qing Nan froze, then nodded.

“I have fought against the Dark Clan before and was once pursued by them. If not for Miss Xian’er asking a senior to save me, I would have already died in their hands.”

The white-robed man nodded slightly.

“So that is the case. The Dark Clan is quite clever—they used you as bait to fish for bigger prey…”

As he spoke, he reached out his hand.

A sharp, furious scream came from the void behind Qing Nan.

A strand of black, thread-like mist was forcibly pulled out and crushed into ashes.

“This is…”

Everyone, including Song Yu and the Xianyue Sect members, was shaken to the core.

They had not sensed anything along the entire journey.

The Dark Clan truly was cunning—planting this mark on Qing Nan, expecting it to be triggered.

Qing Nan quickly bowed.

“Thank you, senior, for your assistance.”

The white-robed man glanced past her and shook his head.

“Looks like the outside world has become so chaotic that even the Dark Clan is acting recklessly. However, their target is likely not you—but rather her…”

He looked towards Gu Xian’er.

Gu Xian’er was even more confused.

Why would she become a target of the Dark Clan? She had never even interacted with them.

“I’ve been away from the Nine Heavens for too long. I do not wish to interfere in external affairs.”

The man’s tone carried transcendence and detachment.

Gu Xian’er did not respond. Though she felt the man was unfathomably strong, his words were too vague—why not explain directly?

“The last person from the Nine Heavens who came here should be from the same place as you.”

Gu Xian’er immediately understood he referred to the man named Qing Feng, who once came to the Nine Heavens during the invasion of the Immortal Spirit Civilization.

After speaking, the white-robed man smiled slightly.

“After so long, new faces have finally arrived in the Nine Heavens. Welcome.”

With a wave of his sleeve, thick mist surged and swept everyone away to another mountain range.

Standing there, they finally saw the true appearance of the Nine Heavens.

Endless floating continents stretched into infinity, surrounded by rolling sea-like clouds and boundless skies.

Song Yu then explained, “Anyone entering the Nine Heavens must first receive approval from the Guardian Tomb Senior.”

“The Nine Heavens are vast and divided into nine layers, like stacked towers. We are now heading to Ninth Heaven.”

At the very peak of the Nine Heavens…

In a grand palace floating in the void, a figure in Dao robes sat cross-legged.

His eyes contained countless heavens and universes, filled with terrifying phenomena that rose and fell before returning to silence like an abyss. He was the ruler of the Nine Heavens—Eternal Dao Sovereign of the Heaven-Sealing Sect.

“Ji Yu has returned?”

“It seems his scheme failed. But the people he brought back this time are somewhat unusual.”

His gaze pierced through infinite space-time and landed on the group leaving the mountain range.

“This woman… her aura is chaotic, but she is at least someone who has survived seven Heavenly Decline Tribulations.”

“Her origin is complicated…”

“Wait—her aura resembles that of the Western Saint…”

“Could it be her?”

At the same time, in another ancient land of the Ninth Heaven…

Cities stood, kingdoms rose, countless sects and races flourished.

In its deepest region lay an ancient clan said to date back to the origin of the vast realm itself…

Some even said this clan originated from the True Land and had once resisted a catastrophic era-ending calamity that threatened all heavens.

This clan was known as the Ancient Clan. And now—known as the Gu Clan.

Within the Gu Clan, divine islands floated endlessly, immortal mountains towered high, and boundless spiritual energy surged like true dragons through the heavens.

Even an ordinary person entering this place could live tens of thousands of years without cultivating.

Rare treasures, immortal herbs, undying plants, and ancient divine trees were everywhere.

On a mountain cliff, immortal spiritual herbs took root between cracks, purple mist flowed, and radiant light intertwined like a primordial world born from chaos.

“Was the ancestral shrine just shaken…”

“What happened?”

Suddenly, an overwhelming aura descended, as if awakening from the river of time itself and disturbing the eternal heavens.

An old man with white hair, hunched body, and a loose gray robe awakened from a dusty, grass-covered mountain peak. His eyes were ancient and weary, as if he had witnessed the decay of all worlds behind him—watching the universe collapse and all ages turn to dust.