I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1804. Is there anyone with the surname Gu?

In the immortal city, cultivators and all kinds of living beings from different clans came and went, making the place extremely bustling.

Along the wide streets stood all kinds of shops, pavilions, and grand halls. Mist and glowing clouds lingered everywhere, and in the deeper regions one could see radiant divine light, with many suspended sacred mountains and floating islands.

At first glance, it was not much different from ordinary ancient cities outside. Ji Yu led the disciples of the Xianyue Sect to the inn where they would stay for the night, and then left with the man called Uncle Lan to visit the ruler of the First Heaven.

Gu Xian’er and the others looked at the ancient, fluttering banner outside the inn and couldn’t help but feel amazed. Even the place where they stayed seemed to carry an ancient, iron-blooded aura from primordial times.

The innkeeper was a wealthy, rotund middle-aged man whose cultivation had reached the half-step Immortal Emperor realm.

If he appeared in the outside world, it would certainly cause a huge sensation, but in the Nine Heavens realm today, it was rather ordinary.

“As expected of the Nine Heavens realm, where countless cultivators and beings yearn to go. This trip was truly worth it…”

The elders and disciples of the Xianyue Sect couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

The innkeeper was also surprised by their tone. It had been a long time since outsiders from beyond the Nine Heavens had appeared, so he was quite curious about their origins and actively chatted with them.

The elders of the Xianyue Sect also wanted to quickly understand the Nine Heavens realm, so they spoke with him in detail.

From him, they learned that residents of the Nine Heavens realm—except for those with special identities—could never return once they left.

Even if they memorized the route back, it was almost impossible to return, because a mysterious, law-like interference would appear in the dark, causing confusion in their memories and ultimately leading them back to where they started.

This was why, despite having so many residents, there had been almost no outsiders entering for countless years. Moreover, even if someone with a special identity managed to return, bringing outsiders back required the approval of the Guardian of the Entrance to the Nine Heavens.

All of this made the Nine Heavens realm increasingly mysterious, while the outside world knew less and less about it. However, this did not mean the Nine Heavens realm was ignorant of external affairs.

During this period, major events across the vast expanse had already spread throughout the Nine Heavens, stirring great discussion.

Whether it was the Fatian Alliance, the Zhengyi Alliance, or the Dark Clan, all had become well-known terms within the Nine Heavens. Even the newly formed Immortal Dao Alliance had already spread here.

However, unlike the tense and anxious atmosphere of the outside world, the residents of the Nine Heavens realm treated it all as entertainment, believing that the flames of war would never reach here.

For a long time, the Nine Heavens realm had stood above the world, untouched by external karma. Even if the dark calamity descended, they could remain independent and unaffected.

In some large casinos within the Nine Heavens realm, one could even see factions placing bets on which external force would collapse first.

Many cultivators and beings often discussed these matters casually, as if they were commenting on the world with great confidence and authority.

The disciples and elders of the Xianyue Sect were all stunned after hearing this from the innkeeper, unable to speak for a long time.

Their feelings were complex—bittersweet and confused.

“It’s like the saying: ‘The girl sings of the sorrow of a fallen kingdom, while across the river she sings on, unaware.’ Maybe that’s what this is…”

Even the elders sighed.

Meanwhile, the situation outside the Nine Heavens had already become so tense that even long-hidden ancient factions had begun to take sides, fearing that a single misstep would lead to annihilation.

The dark land that once sealed the origin of the Black Calamity was now approaching the vast expanse, and it would not be long before it collided with all worlds.

The Lord of the Heaven-Defying Path had reappeared in the world, meaning that endless darkness would once again shroud the land.

Yet the beings of the Nine Heavens lived so leisurely and carefree—did they truly believe disaster would never reach them?

In an instant, the hearts of the Xianyue Sect members grew heavy. Although Ji Yu had explained earlier that the Nine Heavens realm was transcendent and not affected by external conflicts, what they now saw made them feel otherwise.

To them, the residents here seemed like ignorant and complacent people living in peace and oblivion.

Gu Xian’er remained silent, but her sense of urgency deepened.

“This situation cannot be relied upon…”

Lan Xin also couldn’t help but whisper, her eyes full of worry.

“If one has never personally witnessed the power of dark beings, it is indeed difficult to understand that kind of despair,” an elder of the Xianyue Sect sighed.

Before the dark race reappeared in the vast expanse, they too had not taken those ancient records seriously.

They even believed that the past Black Calamity era had been exaggerated by later generations. However, when they personally saw the endless black tide surging from beyond the dam-like defensive line, they truly understood what oppression and despair meant. And that level of cruelty and despair was still far less than one percent of the true Black Calamity era.

“Fairy Xian’er, be careful of that Ji Yu. On the way here, he kept hiding his connection to the Nine Heavens realm and refused to reveal anything. Now that we are here, he has dropped all pretense.”

“There must be something on you that he wants. Although the Nine Heavens realm is transcendent, how different is it really from other worlds? In fact, its inhabitants may even be more arrogant and ignorant.”

The room in the inn resembled a cave dwelling, filled with immortal mist. Jade beds, tables, stools, incense burners, and meditation cushions were all present.

Four people shared one room: Gu Xian’er, Qing Nan, Lan Xin, and the white-robed woman.

After returning to the room and confirming no one was spying on them, Qing Nan spoke softly.

She wore a loose green robe, her hair tied up with a wooden hairpin. Her features were clean and refined, her eyes especially clear and beautiful, giving her a gentle and simple aura.

Along the way, perhaps because Gu Xian’er had saved her, she had grown closer to her and the others, while having little interaction with the rest of the Xianyue Sect.

Upon hearing this, Gu Xian’er smiled slightly.

“Sister Qing Nan, don’t worry, I understand. Ji Yu has always been plotting to obtain the inheritance left to me by Granny Crazy, and he has ill intentions. He already clashed with me in the Xianyue Sect before, so I’ve always been cautious of him.”

For some reason, she felt a natural fondness for Qing Nan, this woman they had rescued along the way, so she did not hide much of this sensitive information.

Sometimes, when Gu Xian’er looked at Qing Nan, she felt a strange familiarity, as if her eyebrows resembled someone she once knew.

Because of this, she would sometimes stare at her in a daze, lost in memories.

This often made Qing Nan confused, even asking if there was something on her face.

Such simple and straightforward questions would always catch Gu Xian’er off guard and leave her embarrassed. When she later realized the reason, her cheeks would turn red, even causing Lan Xin to suspect strange things about her.

Thus, towards the seemingly simple-minded Qing Nan, Gu Xian’er gradually lowered her initial guard and became more familiar with her.

“In the Nine Heavens realm, we are unfamiliar with everything. It’s always better to be cautious.”

“However, don’t worry, Fairy Xian’er. You saved my life, so I owe you a favor. If Ji Yu tries anything against you, I will find a way to protect you,” Qing Nan said seriously, her jade-like eyes full of sincerity.

Gu Xian’er felt slightly moved and shook her head with a smile.

“Sister Qing Nan, there’s no need to worry. No matter how bold Ji Yu is, he probably wouldn’t dare do anything to me here. Now that we’re in the Nine Heavens realm, you should focus on cultivating and avenge your master as soon as possible.” Qing Nan nodded.

Despite her words, Gu Xian’er still felt uneasy.

Ji Yu’s open schemes did not worry her much, but she feared hidden tricks—such as targeting Lan Xin, her senior sister.

“Elder Chen Yi went to the Fatian Alliance and has not returned. Senior Sister Lan Xin harbors deep resentment toward the Fatian Alliance. I previously told Ji Yu that I came from the Fatian Alliance… this may give him an opening,” she thought with a quiet sigh.

Lan Xin had always treated her like a younger sister.

Yet at that moment, she could not guarantee Elder Chen Yi’s safety, nor did she know what the situation in the vast expanse or the Fatian Alliance truly was.

“Senior, have you recovered more of your memories recently?”

Gu Xian’er felt a headache. Even the big red bird had become listless lately, hiding inside her spatial ring, leaving her with no one to talk to.

The only good news was the white-robed woman she had accidentally saved. Her condition seemed to be improving. Her cultivation was recovering rapidly, and in time she would likely return to her peak state.

However, her memories remained fragmented. Her soul had likely suffered severe damage, leaving many things forgotten.

Gu Xian’er often saw her staring blankly into space, as if trying desperately to recall something, only for pain to interrupt her thoughts.

“I have recovered a little, but not much,” the white-robed woman replied softly, her face veiled with gauze, her brows like distant mountains, elegant and faintly colored.

“Have you remembered your origins?” Gu Xian’er asked hopefully.

“No,” she shook her head. “But I have remembered my enemy.”

Hearing this, Gu Xian’er became even more curious.

“Your enemy must be some utterly vicious and ruthless person.”

She had seen the white-robed woman’s true appearance before—so breathtakingly beautiful it felt unreal, as if she should not exist in this world. Anyone who could wound her must be beyond description.

Even Gu Xian’er herself could not bear to imagine harming her.

“What ‘vicious and ruthless’—he is an absolutely great villain.”

At this moment, the white-robed woman’s cold tone finally fluctuated, and Gu Xian’er even sensed a hint of gritted teeth in her voice.

She was stunned.

Just what kind of past had she experienced to make this ethereal, detached woman so angry?

Lan Xin also looked strangely at her. Even Qing Nan, who had been meditating on the jade bed, opened her eyes and looked over.

The white-robed woman seemed to realize her tone had been inappropriate and quickly returned to her calm, indifferent demeanor.

“There are many things I cannot remember clearly. But I do remember very clearly that he inflicted upon me great humiliation and torment…”

This made Gu Xian’er and Lan Xin imagine all sorts of things, feeling something was oddly off, yet unable to pinpoint what exactly.

The next morning, commotion arose outside the inn, waking Gu Xian’er and the others from meditation.

Several disciples and elders of the Xianyue Sect went out to investigate. The once lively street had been cleared of people. At the entrance of the inn stood the innkeeper, looking shocked and at a loss.

Ji Yu had a dark expression as he stood with his protector Uncle Lan beside a somewhat feminine-looking man wearing a seven-star crown.

Ahead of them were several young men and women with divine auras, following an elderly man in a gray-white robe. Though his hair was white, he was full of vitality, as if waiting for something.

“Could that be the Palace Master of the First Heaven’s Ziwei Palace… the Purple Star Great Sage?”

“It must be him. Absolutely. Decades ago I saw him give a sermon at the edge of the Heavenly Sea…”

“How could such a being appear here? Who are those others?”

Many cultivators in the distance were shocked beyond belief.

A ruler of the First Heaven—an existence who had survived five heavenly tribulations—was actually standing in front of a small inn.

How could this not shock them?

Was there some peerless expert residing in this inn?

Moreover, from the situation, the Purple Star Great Sage seemed to be being ignored, as if he were merely an outsider.

“What happened?”

Several elders of the Xianyue Sect came out of the inn, equally shocked.

The most powerful among them felt his body tense instantly when the smiling old man’s gaze swept over him, as if all his secrets had been seen through.

“May I ask—are there any members here with the surname Gu?”

The gray-robed old man asked with a smile, his tone gentle and kind.