I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1808. It’s all just making wedding clothes for others; if the fish still won’t show itself, we’ll just drain the water directly

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

The day of the Immortal Dao Alliance’s establishment arrived as scheduled, without much surprise.

On Misty Peak, divine light intertwined and auspicious mist surged. The ancient beings of the Misty Sacred Domain had already opened up a field here in advance, forming an independent realm within—like a small world of its own.

Between heaven and earth, Dao sounds converged as the void trembled with a low rumble.

One after another, flying vessels and jade ships tore through space, descending from all directions. Among palace halls and pavilions, countless figures had gathered to observe the ceremony.

It could be said that all major orthodoxy factions capable of arriving in the vast expanse had sent representatives.

Within the domain field of Misty Peak stood a majestic ancient palace. On the vast and boundless square, immortal mist drifted like clouds, vague and dreamlike. Surrounding it were divine mountains and ancient ridges, with rivers and lakes interwoven, forming a beautiful landscape.

At that moment, between those domain peaks, silhouettes were already everywhere. Representatives from various civilizations and true worlds had arrived, and there were even many beings at the Ancestral Dao level—though their true forms were blurred, existing in the void, as if not part of this space-time at all.

The four major clans of Misty Sacred City were responsible for receiving guests and guiding honored visitors.

“The Vice Alliance Master of the Zhengyi Alliance has already arrived. He is currently at the main seat, and there seem to be two Ancestral Dao-level beings accompanying him.”

“Yet even now, no one from the Heaven-Defying Alliance has shown up. Could it really be as rumored—that they intend to obstruct the establishment of the Immortal Dao Alliance?”

“Under the general trend, the Heaven-Defying Alliance should not go that far.”

“Recently there were movements detected from the Heaven-Defying Alliance side. They should have also sent higher-ups. They are likely on the way—it’s just unknown which senior figure it will be. That Vice Alliance Master Ling Yuling, although exiled into the boundless void, seems to have appeared within the Heaven-Defying Alliance recently… apparently rescued back by their alliance master…”

In many places, many people were paying close attention. All factions and orthodoxy powers wanted to know the final stance of the Heaven-Defying Alliance.

Over the past few days, due to the matter of the Black Lotus Sect, the Misty Sacred Domain had been anything but peaceful. Various major clans had dispatched numerous experts to suppress its branches and shrines, but the results were minimal.

The believers of the Black Lotus Sect were like a spreading plague, rapidly sweeping across all directions—impossible to contain.

In the end, the Misty Sacred Sect could only temporarily issue orders to strictly control entry into major cities within the Misty Sacred Domain, intending to deal with the matter slowly after the Immortal Dao Alliance observation ceremony concluded.

But this decision instead made the spread of the Black Lotus Sect even more terrifying—like dried grass ignited by sparks, it had almost engulfed every corner of the Misty Sacred Domain.

In just a few months, there was virtually no pure land left in the Misty Sacred Domain. The strangeness and horror of the Black Lotus Sect made countless cultivators and living beings tremble in fear.

Just as all sides were discussing how to resist the Dark Race and deal with the calamity of darkness, this Black Lotus Sect suddenly appeared—clearly carrying a sense of retaliation from the Dark Race.

Even many factions attending the Immortal Dao Alliance ceremony were tormented by this sudden Black Lotus Sect.

Dao-level cultivators, whose Dao fruits were singular and whose minds were difficult to shake, were unaffected by its teachings. But for the younger generation and middle-generation cultivators below that level, it was a terrifying disaster.

All major factions were also trying to suppress this sudden Black Lotus calamity. Everywhere, cultivators were investigating its origin.

Only three days remained until the Immortal Dao Alliance conference began.

In a void space, accompanied by a rumbling surge, a black gate appeared and gradually expanded, forming a spatial passage that pierced through time and space.

One ancient warship after another crushed through spatial ripples and descended. The banners of the Heaven-Defying Alliance fluttered, exuding an ancient and desolate aura.

On the warships, pavilions and immortal islands floated, with cultivators and beings moving about like a living paradise.

“Master, have you heard? In recent days, that Black Lotus Sect has become even more rampant. It has appeared everywhere in the vast expanse like bamboo shoots after rain—it’s truly outrageous…”

On one of the ancient warships, within a quiet courtyard pavilion.

Gu Changge wore a simple white robe, his black hair loosely draped, casually sipping tea with an unhurried demeanor.

Before him stood a girl in a red dress—beautiful and breathtaking, her name was Yaoyao. Her jade-like face was filled with indignation as she spoke.

Recently, the most attention-grabbing phenomenon across the vast expanse was undoubtedly the suddenly rising Black Lotus Sect. Its momentum was so fierce it was like wildfire spreading, rapidly eroding all regions.

Yaoyao had encountered the Black Lotus Sect’s sacrificial ritual months ago.

She had even taken away a so-called “Holy Child” of the Black Lotus Sect by chance and was subsequently pursued by them.

Even now, that Holy Child remained within the Heaven-Defying Alliance. At that time, Gu Changge had not paid it much attention, only saying he would send people to investigate. As for what came after, Yaoyao knew nothing.

She had been anxious for a while, worried that the Black Lotus Sect was targeting the Heaven-Defying Alliance. She even tried to investigate the Holy Child’s memories, but found nothing.

In the end, the matter was dropped. But in recent days, all kinds of information about the Black Lotus Sect had begun spreading wildly across different regions.

Even many figures within the Heaven-Defying Alliance were discussing it, wanting to know the origin of this suddenly emerging sect. There was no doubt the Black Lotus Sect was related to the Dark Race, as it openly preached doctrines of universal salvation and assimilation of darkness.

Its followers could ignore the corrosion of dark matter.

Some, due to firm belief, were even granted so-called “holy blood,” gaining power comparable to dark beings.

Yaoyao had personally witnessed its rituals and knew very well that the so-called holy blood came from the Black Lotus Sect’s “Holy Children.”

The blood of these Holy Children contained sacred power. Once consumed, ordinary beings could resist the corruption of dark matter, and cultivators could temporarily transform into dark beings with comparable strength.

As for how these Holy Children were selected, she still did not know—but suspected they might be special vessels of some kind.

“The Black Lotus Sect has indeed been rampant these past days,” Gu Changge said leisurely, still appearing unconcerned. “But it won’t be able to cause much trouble for long.”

“Master, aren’t you worried that the Black Lotus Sect might be tied to the Heaven-Defying Alliance, and that you yourself will be suspected by the world of having connections with the Dark Race?” Yaoyao raised her face, full of concern.

Even she—so close to Gu Changge and deeply familiar with him—had been momentarily stunned upon witnessing the sacrificial ritual, almost mistaking the projection of the Black Lotus Lord for Gu Changge himself.

If others in the Heaven-Defying Alliance saw it, who knew what they would think?

Would her master be regarded as colluding with the Dark Race and become the enemy of the world?

“If they suspect me, they must produce evidence, must they not? Even though you only said that the Black Lotus Lord resembles me. If it is merely resemblance, what is there to worry about?”

“Besides, if I truly were the Black Lotus Lord, why would I not change my appearance, and instead reveal my true face?” Gu Changge smiled faintly.

Yaoyao froze, momentarily speechless.

“Master… am I too foolish?” She sighed softly.

“It’s only natural to be concerned and confused,” Gu Changge smiled.

Standing behind him, Yaoyao still couldn’t help asking, “Master, since you already know the Black Lotus Sect is malicious and trying to frame you, why not simply eliminate it?”

At this time, the emergence of the Black Lotus Sect inevitably led many to overthink. She had already heard that in many regions, chaos was increasing due to it, and many factions were investigating and destroying its shrines.

But its infiltration was everywhere, making people suspect it was another scheme of the Dark Race.

Yet why did the Black Lotus Lord’s vague figure resemble Gu Changge so much? It felt like a deliberate attempt to shift blame onto him.

Of course, very few had ever seen Gu Changge’s true appearance—only a handful at the top of the Heaven-Defying Alliance.

Yaoyao knew because she had followed Gu Changge from the lower world and was extremely familiar with him.

“That is why I’m worried, Master,” she said anxiously. “What if people use this as an excuse to target you?”

“It is not yet the time to act against the Black Lotus Sect,” Gu Changge said, slowly shaking his head.

As for Yaoyao’s worries, he understood clearly.

But there was no need to explain everything to her.

Because the Black Lotus Sect itself was a probe from certain people towards him. Its sudden appearance and open connection to the Dark Race were all within expectations.

When Yaoyao returned earlier to report this matter, Gu Changge chose not to act—he had already foreseen what would happen next.

The Black Lotus Sect had nothing to do with the Dark Race.

With Wuyue now controlling the Celestial Tribe, without her permission the Dark Race could not possibly create something like the Black Lotus Sect.

As for the Sect itself, it was actually derived from a portion of Gu Changge’s own power—so it was no surprise that its projection resembled him. He had no intention of dealing with it for now. Because no matter how large it grew, it ultimately stemmed from his power.

He could take it back or control it at any time—so why bother?

The Black Lotus Sect was merely an inducement thrown out by beings like Ancestral Void, like a piece on a chessboard.

As for its hidden mastermind, they likely believed they could use it to gather believers and accumulate strength for their own evolution. They did not realize it would merely become someone else’s wedding clothes.

Yaoyao only half-understood.

“Almost time. We should reach the Misty Sacred Domain soon,” Gu Changge said, looking into the distance.

According to the progress of Jing Tianyuan heading to the Nightmare Demon Domain, he should already have arrived.

With his understanding of Ancestral Void, since the Black Lotus Sect bait had failed to force him out, the next step would inevitably be another method of probing.

That fellow was extremely cautious.

Now that Jing Tianyuan had been sent to the Nightmare Demon Domain, Wuyue had been given sufficient warning.

If the so-called “Fortune Lord” truly believed Ancestral Void’s deal and attacked the Nightmare Demon Domain, then in this game, they would not even qualify to enter the board before collapsing instantly.

Gu Changge understood Ancestral Void’s intentions very clearly.

Otherwise, he would not have openly revealed his identity to the old Daoist of the Heavenly Decay faction back then.

From that moment on, he had been setting a trap for Ancestral Void.

And Ancestral Void had seen through it—knowing it was a trap—but given his personality, he would also suspect it might be Gu Changge’s feigned misdirection.

A deliberate act of “irrational confidence” to mislead the Heavenly Decay faction into fearing him.

All of this was layered schemes upon schemes—one layer not enough, then another, and another.

There was no truly foolish existence among those ancient beings who had hidden for countless eras.

Ancestral Void and the Fortune Lord had long been in contact and cooperation—something Gu Changge had already noticed when analyzing the Fortune Lord’s past.

On the surface, the Immortal Dao Alliance ceremony gathered the attention of all races and orthodoxy factions across the vast expanse.

But those who truly understood the underlying currents knew it was merely a prelude.

Their real attention was on the Fortune Lord who had descended early, on Ancestral Void who had accumulated countless eras of foundation and had long been dormant, and on Gu Changge himself—the leader of the Heaven-Defying Alliance.

The three greatest forces in the current vast expanse were the Heaven-Defying Alliance, the Zhengyi Alliance, and the resurrected Dark Race.

The Dark Race was ruled by the Celestial Tribe, but even within the Celestial Tribe, Ancestral Void had already infiltrated deeply.

Gu Changge had already sensed this through the faint fragments of his own power scattered across the world. After all, that was part of his former flesh as the “Heaven’s Substitute,” containing his past strength.

And that body had been sealed within the coffin of burial since the end of the Dark Calamity era, yet now fragments of its power were scattered across the world.

This meant internal turmoil had once erupted within the Celestial Tribe, likely a struggle for his power.

“Alliance Master, we are approaching the Misty Sacred Domain…”

“Shall we proceed directly?”

Outside the courtyard, White Bone Ancestral King and others came to report.

Beside him stood his disciple, Mo Tong—gray hair and gray eyes, jade-like skin, cold and pristine like ice sculpture, exuding a chilling aura that kept others at a distance.

Within the Heaven-Defying Alliance, although figures like Zhuofeng Xie and Hun Yuanjun were far weaker than newly-submitted Ancestral Dao beings, their seniority as early followers of Gu Changge earned them great respect.

For this expedition to the Misty Sacred Domain, Gu Changge had assigned White Bone Ancestral King to oversee matters.

White Bone Ancestral King had once been a “madman” wandering the vast expanse, belonging to no civilization or orthodoxy, drifting aimlessly.

But after submitting to Gu Changge and joining the Heaven-Defying Alliance, he felt as though he had been reborn, taking great care in alliance affairs.

Such beings were not rare within the current Heaven-Defying Alliance.Their homes had been destroyed in past calamities, leaving them to drift alone in the river of time, barely surviving in eternal loneliness.

The emergence of the Heaven-Defying Alliance had given them meaning—revenge, or simply existence itself.

“Go directly. No need to care about anything,” Gu Changge’s calm voice replied.

Ling Yuling, Chu Heng, and others were already mobilizing toward the Zhengyi Alliance border as per his earlier orders.

At this Immortal Dao Alliance observation ceremony, his personal appearance could be considered giving them “enough face.”

And it also meant a grand show was about to begin.

If those so-called “big fish” still intended to hide, then Gu Changge would no longer have the patience to play along.

However, that no longer mattered much.

Since he had decided to step onto the stage personally, it meant that if no one else made a move on this chessboard, he would either conclude the game…

—or directly drain the entire pond.