I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1806. Black Lotus Cult Disaster: The Day of the Dao Realm, He Will Meet Her

The Immortal Dao Alliance was about to be established, but for the Misty Illusory Sacred Domain, three months of preparation time was in fact far from sufficient.

However, time was pressing and circumstances were special. Although many civilizations and orthodox sects had already learned of the news and were rushing over with their clans, there were still distant factions scattered across vast and remote spacetime regions that could not arrive in time.

At present, the Misty Illusory Sacred Domain was extremely lively. Across various star regions and universes, lanterns and decorations were hung everywhere, and grand proclamations were being spread.

All cultivators and living beings were discussing this matter.

Every day, one could see divine rainbows piercing through the universe, ancient warships rumbling as they crushed through spacetime tunnels, traveling from all directions.

Two months ago, many nearby orthodox civilizations had already dispatched experts to attend the observation ceremony, and they were now temporarily staying within Misty Sacred City.

Misty Sacred City was the core region of the Misty Illusory Sacred Domain. Almost everyone believed that once the Immortal Dao Alliance was established, the Misty Illusory Sacred Domain would become a new sacred land.

And Misty Sacred City would rival the headquarters of the Heaven-Defying Alliance and the central region of the Orthodox Unity Alliance.

Therefore, during this period, many clans and factions within the Misty Illusory Sacred Domain were also trying to migrate toward Misty Sacred City.

Strands of spacetime tunnels were being opened across various universes. Ancient warships arrived one after another, traversing through them, creating an astonishing and magnificent momentum.

Within the towers, palaces, immortal mountains, and divine peaks of Misty Sacred City, one could already see many figures from visiting civilizations and clans attending the ceremony.

Crowds surged like tides, shoulder-to-shoulder, with figures everywhere. The major ancient families of Misty Sacred City had already dispatched numerous experts to receive guests. City gates were wide open, making the place extraordinarily bustling.

The deputy alliance master of the Orthodox Unity Alliance had already arrived in Misty Sacred City several days ago, leading a group of high-level members.

Heads of various major families accompanied him as he traveled around, appearing leisurely on the surface.

However, at that moment, the ancient Xiao family of Misty Sacred City was in a state of desolation and silence. Even the current family head had received news and had to excuse himself to return to the Xiao family.

“It seems that things in Misty Sacred City are not peaceful during this period.”

The master of the Eternal Destruction Mansion, named Zhao Tianqi, was the deputy alliance master of the Orthodox Unity Alliance. He had led a group of high-level members to Misty Sacred City to attend the observation ceremony.

On a crystal-clear cloud vessel radiating immortal light, he stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the scenery of Misty Sacred City with a faint smile, as if implying something.

Behind him, the high-level members of the Orthodox Unity Alliance all looked thoughtful.

The representatives of the various families in Misty Sacred City, although accompanying them, all showed worried expressions and were not as calm as they appeared.

“Is it related to the Heaven-Defying Alliance? Or is it a conspiracy by dark creatures targeting the Immortal Dao Alliance?”

Behind Zhao Tianqi, Zhao Xiuyan frowned slightly, also lost in thought.

She wore a flawless white robe and looked to be around twenty years old. Her appearance was beautiful and stunning, with long black hair falling down, partially covering her face.

However, her expression was extremely cold, as if she did not place any living beings in the world in her eyes.

She carried a deep sense of demonic aura.

The young disciples of the various families in Misty Sacred City did not dare to meet her gaze, feeling a deep sense of unease.

During this period, not just Misty Sacred City, but the entire Misty Illusory Sacred Domain had experienced strange incidents.

Not only the younger generation, even many powerful ancient figures were not spared from corruption…

Many people suspected this might be a precursor to the arrival of dark creatures.

In the ancient Xiao family. Many elders and disciples gathered in the meeting hall, looking at a young man lying unconscious on the ground. Black qi lingered between his brows, his eyes tightly closed, his face handsome, and all were filled with worry.

“What exactly happened? Why has Fan’er suddenly become like this?” A middle-aged man in a golden robe with a heroic appearance asked with a tightly furrowed brow.

His face bore some resemblance to the unconscious young man on the ground—he was his father, and also the current family head of the Xiao family.

The ancient Xiao family was a hidden aristocratic clan. Its foundation and strength ranked within the top five in the entire Misty Illusory Sacred Domain, with three ancestral Dao realm ancestors overseeing it.

The unconscious young man was Xiao Fan, the son of the family head. He was also the leading figure of the younger generation in the Xiao family, already close to stepping into the Dao realm.

Hearing this question, several young men and women who had returned with Xiao Fan also said with confusion and. “We don’t know either. We don’t know why Senior Brother Xiao Fan suddenly became like this.”

“These past few days, we were carrying out sect missions across the Misty Illusory Sacred Domain to receive visiting sects for the Immortal Dao Alliance ceremony.”

“Senior Brother Xiao Fan was fine at first, but for some reason, a few days ago his body suddenly started having problems. He began muttering words like ‘Black Lotus descends, salvation of all beings’…”

“Until yesterday, Senior Brother Xiao Fan suddenly knelt toward a certain direction outside the courtyard, worshipping in madness, shouting ‘Black Lotus Lord’. Black qi erupted from his body. We had no choice but to knock him unconscious and seal him.”

“We suspect Senior Brother Xiao Fan may have come into contact with those strange cultists.”

They were all from the same sect as Xiao Fan—the Misty Sacred Sect.

The Misty Sacred Sect was the true ruling force of the entire Misty Illusory Sacred Domain. Even major families would send their descendants there for cultivation.

“Black Lotus descent again?”

“How many cases has this been already? Even the young master has been infected?”

“What exactly is this Black Lotus? It appeared silently without any sign at all.”

The elders in the hall changed their expressions, showing fear, anger, and unease.

“Black Lotus Cult?”

The family head of the Xiao family frowned deeply, clenching his fists as a terrifying aura surged from him, with horrifying visions faintly manifesting in his eyes.

In truth, during this period, many places in Misty Sacred City had already seen cultivators and beings corrupted by the Black Lotus Cult.

At first, no one paid attention, thinking they were merely insignificant cultists. But when the teachings of the Black Lotus began spreading like shadows and eventually reached even the major families, it was already too late.

Members of many clans had already fallen under its influence, falling into an inexplicable dreamlike state.

They appeared half-asleep, half-awake, repeatedly chanting “Black Lotus descends, salvation of all beings.”

At the same time, a dark origin-like power surged within them, greatly increasing their strength.

In the process, they even became unrecognizable, seeing only the Black Lotus Cult and the mysterious so-called “Black Lotus Lord.”

All attempts to investigate their souls were futile; no root cause could be found. This disaster, like a plague, once infected, was almost impossible to remove.

Although not as terrifying or invasive as true dark matter, over time it could inevitably engulf the entire Misty Sacred City.

Especially now, with the Immortal Dao Alliance observation ceremony imminent.

The Misty Illusory Sacred Domain had opened its gates to the entire vast world, and countless factions, civilizations, and realms were pouring in.

The situation was already uncontrollable. It was like dropping a drop of ink into a dam at the brink of collapse—the polluted water would surge across all directions, contaminating the entire world.

Many guests had already noticed this and were becoming fearful.

Investigations revealed that in other regions of the Misty Illusory Sacred Domain, Black Lotus-related temples had already appeared half a month earlier.

At that time, the Black Lotus Cult had been dormant, only incubating like spores, waiting for the moment to erupt.

This was undoubtedly a deliberate conspiracy, not only targeting Misty Sacred City but the entire vast world.

“This matter is absolutely inseparable from the dark race. They must have been waiting for this moment….”

The Xiao family head said grimly, looking at his unconscious son, his heart filled with pain.

Those infected could only be temporarily sealed; otherwise, letting them move freely would cause even greater disaster.

No one knew how these people had been brainwashed. He believed his son was a genius with a firm Dao heart, impossible to be corrupted.

Yet even Xiao Fan had fallen. For ordinary beings, resistance was nearly impossible.

“Family head, we have already reported this to the sect master’s side. For now, the Immortal Dao Alliance ceremony cannot be postponed or canceled. Otherwise, it would fall into the enemy’s scheme.”

“We can only see if the sect master’s side has a solution, such as finding the Black Lotus Cult’s source and destroying it. Otherwise, the consequences are unimaginable.”

The elders said gravely.

“Alas…”

“The sect master’s side is likely already overwhelmed. The Misty Illusory Sacred Domain has always been isolated from worldly affairs, who could have expected such trouble as soon as it entered the world?”

“The sect master has only recently taken her position. Although her strength is sufficient, her ability in handling affairs may be lacking. This is a major test for our domain.”

The family head sighed deeply.

The vast Misty Sacred City, surrounded by countless galaxies, was shrouded in immortal mist and radiant dao energy, ancient and mysterious. Even the outer city alone was magnificent beyond measure.

In the inner city, it was even more like a world of its own, filled with countless immortal mountains and divine islands.

Palaces and residences existed within void spaces, where spacetime currents intertwined and chaotic energy overflowed like the dwelling of ancient gods.

All who came and went were at least at the Immortal Dao level. Guards patrolling were powerful, clad in shining armor and divine weapons.

Zhao Xiuyan had separated from the Orthodox Unity Alliance group and was walking alone in the inner city, her brows tightly furrowed as she observed the surroundings.

Yet her mind was elsewhere, within her sea of consciousness.

An ancient, heavy book continuously flipped, producing sounds like roaring waves.

Lines of text emerged:

[Cultivation]: Late Immortal Emperor Realm

[Fate Talent]: Innate Demonic Heart, Calamity Body

[Recent Trajectory]: While investigating the secrets of the Black Lotus Cult, she accidentally entered a sacrificial ritual and was pursued by cult members, nearly captured. At a critical moment, she was rescued by a gray-haired girl and an old man.

[Heavenly Fate Energy]: 38,000 points

“Gray-haired girl?”

“Who is she?”

Zhao Xiuyan pondered, then decisively spent 10,000 fate energy to deduce the appearance and identity of the gray-haired girl.

A blurred mirror-like image appeared before her eyes.

As the energy was consumed, the image gradually became clear—a pale-skinned girl with gray hair and gray eyes, as if carved from ice.

“It’s her?”

She was slightly shocked and recognized the girl.

Wasn’t she the one she had once seen from afar at the border between the Heaven-Defying Alliance and the Orthodox Unity Alliance?

At that time, she had intended to seize the girl’s dense fate energy, but due to the ceasefire between the two alliances and fear of stronger experts, she did not act.

“This girl from the Heaven-Defying Alliance actually came to Misty Sacred City? And in the future, will she save me?” Zhao Xiuyan frowned deeply.

The existence of the Golden Book of Primordial Chaos, bestowed by Gu Changge, had never been wrong. Therefore, she did not doubt her future trajectory.

She then tried to deduce the old man’s identity, but found her current fate energy insufficient to peer into someone so powerful.

“I originally wanted to investigate the origin of the Black Lotus Cult, but I didn’t expect to encounter the Heaven-Defying Alliance as well.”

“If that’s the case… does it mean that she is also investigating the Black Lotus Cult, and that is how she ends up saving me?”

“Then it seems the Black Lotus Cult has nothing to do with the Heaven-Defying Alliance.”

From the current situation, the Orthodox Unity Alliance seemed somewhat pleased with the emergence of the Black Lotus Cult, even showing a hint of schadenfreude.

Some high-level members deliberately suggested in front of major families that this might be caused by the Heaven-Defying Alliance, clearly trying to divert blame.

Could it be that the Orthodox Unity Alliance had already anticipated this?

“Zhao Tianqi probably already knew about this…”

Zhao Xiuyan’s eyes were cold.

Although Zhao Tianqi was her biological father, she felt no emotional attachment to him.

Without Gu Changge awakening her from a reincarnation illusion back then, she would still be trapped in endless suffering. Everything she has now was earned step by step through her own strength. Her only goal now is to break through to the Dao realm. He promised that when she reached the Dao realm, he would meet her.

Now, following the trajectory of the Golden Book, she had arrived in the Misty Illusory Sacred Domain, where her breakthrough opportunity lies.

Meanwhile, deep within Misty Sacred City. Misty Peak rises into the clouds, surrounded by towering ancient mountains, each resembling coiled dragons or soaring phoenixes, ancient and unshakable.

Mist swirls around the cliffs, occasionally releasing chaotic energy as if connected to other spacetime dimensions.

A graceful woman in elegant plain robes with a dark blue cloak stood upon the peak. She wore a veil, her figure indistinct, revealing only her snow-white neck like jade.

“I have already reached this step. The establishment of the Immortal Dao Alliance cannot be postponed or canceled. Although I anticipated it would not go smoothly, now that we are here, we cannot retreat.”

She spoke softly, her expression firm.

An old woman beside her, leaning on a gray-white branch cane, sighed, “Sect Master, you must consider carefully. Although the Black Lotus Cult is spreading rapidly, we can still hold on until the day of the Immortal Dao Alliance. There is no need for you to take such risks.”

“This Black Lotus Cult has appeared so suddenly and so strangely that no one knows where its origin lies. If you personally take action, I fear…”

She paused, worriedly continuing, “I am truly concerned…”