I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1826. Reorganizing the Vast Expanse — An Unprecedented Trend Toward Grand Unification

“Among the five leaders who once resisted the Black Calamity, one of them has a very unusual origin. Even to this day, I have been unable to uncover any information about her…”

The forest was quiet.

Wu Yue spoke calmly, her eyes concealed within the mist as she looked at Nan Zun before her.

“You mean the Western Saint?”

“But if you’ve come to ask me, then you’ve asked the wrong person. I don’t know much about her either. I can only tell you that she is extremely mysterious. Do you suspect that she comes from the Palace of Defying Fate?”

Nan Zun smiled gently. She withdrew all her thoughts. Ever since she had been imprisoned here, she had no longer learned anything about the outside world. Wu Yue High Priest rarely came to see her, much less ask her for information. Only occasionally, when Nan Qing came to visit her, would Wu Yue appear and open a passage for the two to meet.

For all these years, things had remained exactly the same, without any accidents. But now that Wu Yue High Priest had come personally to inquire about the Palace of Defying Fate, it likely meant that the external situation was already entirely under the control of the Heavenly Multitude.

Only then would the Heavenly Multitude have the leisure to investigate those hidden forces and territories lurking within the Vast Expanse. However, the Palace of Defying Fate had always been shrouded in mystery. Even cultivators who knew its name were exceedingly rare.

What could she possibly know?

“Even if the Western Saint does not come from the Palace of Defying Fate, she must have countless connections to it. Otherwise, after so many years, it would be impossible for us to find no clues whatsoever regarding her,” Wu Yue said calmly.

Nan Zun smiled.

“If the Western Saint truly has ties to the Palace of Defying Fate, how could you possibly uncover anything?”

Wu Yue replied, “It seems that you do indeed know something about the Palace of Defying Fate.”

Nan Zun did not deny it.

“Considering how respectfully you’ve treated me all these years, High Priest, I can tell you one thing. The Palace of Defying Fate is indeed deeply connected to the Land of the Nine Heavens.”

“Perhaps if the Heavenly Multitude invades the Land of the Nine Heavens and finds the Sect Master of the Heaven-Covering Sect, you may learn of the Palace of Defying Fate’s existence.”

“Although, at present, I have no idea who is actually leading the Heaven-Covering Sect.”

Wu Yue’s gaze shifted slightly. She had heard of the Heaven-Covering Sect before.

However, for the outside world, the Land of the Nine Heavens was exceptionally special. Investigating it was extremely difficult. Even the Dark Clans found it hard to infiltrate or locate a path leading there. But now, Nan Qing’s presence in the Land of the Nine Heavens provided the Heavenly Multitude with a perfect opportunity.

“I happen to have some news for you as well,” Wu Yue said.

Nan Zun looked at her in surprise. “What news?”

“Nan Qing has already entered the Land of the Nine Heavens. If nothing unexpected happens, she should retrieve the Mirror of Reincarnation and scout the way for the armies of the Heavenly Multitude.”

Nan Zun’s expression changed drastically. Her previous calmness and composure vanished instantly.

She stared at Wu Yue and asked, “You sent Qing’er to the Land of the Nine Heavens?”

“No.”

“She encountered certain people by chance and entered it through a fortunate coincidence. If you do not wish for Nan Qing to suffer any accidents, then it would be best for you to tell me everything you know.”

“I like Nan Qing very much. I don’t wish for anything to happen to her.”

Wu Yue’s voice remained calm.

Nan Zun’s chest rose and fell violently.

After a long silence, she finally calmed down.

“The Land of the Nine Heavens is extremely dangerous. You’d better not act recklessly. It is one of the most dangerous places in the Vast Expanse, and one of the deepest waters as well.”

“Without the Lord Acting on Heaven’s Behalf personally leading the Heavenly Multitude, sending more Dark Creatures there would be pointless.”

“Because the Palace of Defying Fate stands behind it?” Wu Yue asked.

Nan Zun nodded.

“Then tell me everything you know. I will judge for myself,” Wu Yue replied.

Time flowed on.

From the collapse and destruction of the Orthodox Alliance to the Heaven-Defying Alliance’s consolidation of its territories, construction of defensive barriers against the Dark Clans, and resistance to the Dark Sacrifice, several decades had already passed.

During this period, the Dark Clans never stopped their sacrifices.

As always, they continued harvesting universe after universe.

“The Orthodox Alliance has been destroyed. Even Ancestor Xu cannot be found anymore…”

“Could it be that I truly fell into his scheme?”

“Will my Black Lotus Sacred Realm also end in failure?”

“Could the Heaven-Defying Alliance’s leader really be…?”

Deep within a gloomy underground palace, Wu Xiang’s face was ugly. Fear and dread filled his expression. He stared fixedly at the scene before him.

The final black lotus hanging above the Ethereal Sacred Domain shattered under the combined assault of numerous powerful experts. Countless streams of faith power broke apart. He could even sense a gaze tracing the threads of faith toward him, attempting to locate his position.

Wu Xiang acted decisively. He immediately severed all sources of faith power and completely concealed his aura.

On this day, the long-silent Ethereal Sacred Domain finally underwent a dramatic transformation.

The gigantic black cocoon cracked apart. The boundless black mist seemed illuminated by warm sunlight, rapidly dispersing and fading away.

Through the combined efforts of all the guests and experts present, the Black Lotus Sect’s conspiracy had finally been foiled.

The enormous black lotuses that blotted out the heavens vanished without a trace. Only those cultivators and living beings whose minds had been corrupted by the Black Lotus Sect’s teachings remained unconscious.

To truly awaken them would require at least several hundred years. The major clans of the Ethereal Sacred Domain had paid a devastating price to resolve this calamity. Even the Ethereal Sacred Sect was no exception.

Including Ethereal Ancestor himself. By the end, he was utterly exhausted and sat cross-legged atop Ethereal Peak to recover. The other guests and distinguished visitors were much the same.

As for the Ethereal Sacred Domain itself, it had become a wasteland.

Countless universes lay shattered. It could practically be considered ruined. For hundreds or even thousands of years, it would no longer be suitable for cultivation or habitation, forcing its inhabitants to relocate elsewhere.

Standing atop Ethereal Peak and watching the black mist dissipate, the guests and experts finally revealed long-lost smiles.

The burden weighing on their hearts had finally been lifted. Several decades meant little to them—merely the blink of an eye. What truly concerned them was the state of the outside world.

The Orthodox Alliance had collaborated with the Dark Clans. Gu Changge, leader of the Heaven-Defying Alliance, had been trapped here all this time. Surely the situation outside could not have been favorable.

Thus, many remained worried. The upper echelons of the Heaven-Defying Alliance, however, felt somewhat more at ease. After all, Gu Changge had personally intervened near the end, sharing much of their burden.

Facing those terrifying black lotuses and the nearly immortal Ancestor Dao Realm protectors no longer seemed overwhelming.

Luo Zhu and the Eternal Primordial God had also contributed greatly. Their strength was no weaker than Ethereal Ancestor’s. Although they did not understand Gu Changge’s true intentions, seeing that he had no plans to attack anyone present—and instead appeared to be dismantling the giant black lotus himself—they wisely chose to assist.

As the massive black mist surrounding the Ethereal Sacred Domain dispersed, countless civilizations and True Worlds throughout the Vast Expanse noticed the change.

Ancient figures immediately emerged to investigate. Soon, everyone learned of the enormous changes that had taken place throughout the Vast Expanse during these years.

They were all stunned and shaken. No one had expected that while the Heaven-Defying Alliance seemed to be facing disaster, it would instead be the Orthodox Alliance that collapsed first.

As for the Dark Clans launching a grand sacrifice, that came as no surprise. After all, under such circumstances, how could the Dark Clans possibly remain idle?

Luo Zhu and the Eternal Primordial God were especially shocked.

Luo Zhu in particular vaguely understood what had happened within the Heavenly Multitude. After all, he had once been one of the Eight Department Lords.

Gu Changge had remained in the Ethereal Sacred Domain and seemingly done nothing. Yet the external situation had unfolded exactly according to his plans.

Clearly, he had long anticipated the upheaval within the Heavenly Multitude. The destruction of the Orthodox Alliance meant that the person behind it had either been defeated or forced to flee.

In any case, he had lost in his game against Gu Changge.

Luo Zhu dared not speculate further.

“Now that the Orthodox Alliance has been destroyed and the Immortal Dao Alliance exists only in name, we can only rely upon Alliance Leader Gu from now on.”

“Our original intention in establishing the Immortal Dao Alliance was to restrain the Dark Clans. But now that the Dark Sacrifice has already begun, it is too late for remedies.”

The Ethereal Ancestor had never possessed great ambition. The reason he supported the Immortal Dao Alliance was merely because of the Western Saint’s request.

Now that the Orthodox Alliance was gone and the Immortal Dao Alliance had declined beyond recovery, it could no longer compare to the Heaven-Defying Alliance.

Rather than maintain such a hollow organization and create unnecessary suspicions among the various civilizations, it was better to openly submit to the Heaven-Defying Alliance.

During their years trapped in the Ethereal Sacred Domain, everyone had witnessed firsthand the overwhelming power of the Heaven-Defying Alliance. No one dared harbor thoughts of resistance.

Gu Changge himself had not even acted. The two mysterious figures at his side had casually suppressed Ancestor Dao Realm protectors with a single palm strike.

Their strength rivaled Ethereal Ancestor himself.

If anyone hoped to resist the Dark Clans now, it could only be through the Heaven-Defying Alliance. Otherwise, the strength of any individual civilization was far from sufficient.

With Ethereal Ancestor voluntarily submitting, the guests present—representing civilizations and True Worlds across the Vast Expanse—followed suit.

One after another, they declared their willingness to submit to the Heaven-Defying Alliance and unite against the Black Calamity.

Zhao Tianqi, the former vice leader of the Orthodox Alliance, and its remaining high-ranking members also pledged loyalty without hesitation.

Years earlier, Zhao Xiuyan had already revealed that Gu Changge was her master.

Zhao Tianqi had been overjoyed and astonished.

Naturally, he had no objections to joining the Heaven-Defying Alliance.

As for eliminating the remnants of the Black Lotus Sect, Gu Changge did not involve himself.

He left the matter to Ethereal Ancestor and the others. Although he had remained in the Ethereal Sacred Domain, every event unfolding throughout the Vast Expanse had remained within his sight and expectations. Everything was progressing according to his plan.

The Black Lotus Sect still had value to him, so he made no effort to follow karmic traces and trouble Wu Xiang.

Among the former Eight Departments, only a few remained. Wu Xiang had once been one of the Eight Department Lords.

Compared to Yan Zu, who perished in the Nightmare Demon Domain, Wu Xiang had been far luckier.

Ancestor Xu had known of Wu Xiang’s greed and used him to negotiate with Fate Lord, convincing Fate Lord to accept the deal before joining forces to attack the Heavenly Multitude in the Nightmare Demon Domain.

Had Gu Changge not instructed Jing Tianyuan to send a strand of his Origin Aura, Wu Yue would have suffered a major loss this time.

Ancestor Xu was extremely cautious and cunning. Even when appearing in the Nightmare Demon Domain, he had only used a virtual body. His true body remained hidden somewhere within the endless rivers of time and space.

Fate Lord, however, earned a degree of Gu Changge’s appreciation. His decisiveness was remarkable. He had severed his own main body immediately, without the slightest hesitation.

Still, in Gu Changge’s eyes, Fate Lord was merely a tiny insect. No matter how many methods he possessed to survive, he could never stir up any real waves.

“Alliance Leader, my father…”

Jiang Weiyang remained deeply concerned about the whereabouts and condition of Emperor Weiyang. Especially after learning from Zhao Tianqi that Emperor Weiyang had been one of Fate Lord’s most valued subordinates within the Orthodox Alliance.

Now that the Orthodox Alliance had fallen, both Fate Lord and Emperor Weiyang had vanished without a trace.

Gu Changge looked at her.

“When he handed you that brocade pouch, he already understood his own fate.”

“No matter how many times you ask, that fate will not change.”

“And what that outcome is—you already know in your heart.”

Jiang Weiyang had asked about her father’s fate many times over the years.

After all, when she publicly opened that pouch before countless guests in the Ethereal Sacred Domain, it was equivalent to Emperor Weiyang betraying Fate Lord.

Fate Lord certainly knew about it.

How would he treat a traitor?

Especially one whom he had personally cultivated and intended as a future pawn.

“My father… will die, won’t he?”

Jiang Weiyang’s expression was sorrowful.

Gu Changge remained silent.

This had been Emperor Weiyang’s own choice. He could certainly locate Fate Lord and rescue him. But doing so would disrupt later stages of his plans.

To Gu Changge, Jiang Weiyang was merely an insignificant figure.

Had she not been involved in certain schemes concerning the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, he might never have met her at all.

He would never alter his plans because of her pleas.

“You can go to the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty and seek your ancestors. She can help you.”

Jiang Weiyang froze. “My ancestor…”

Soon she understood.After offering a respectful salute, she hurried away.

Yaoyao followed closely behind.

After the affairs of the Ethereal Sacred Domain concluded, Gu Changge returned to the Heaven-Defying Alliance with its many high-ranking members.

Ling Yuling reported all the changes and developments that had taken place over the years.

Gu Changge paid little attention and simply told her to continue handling matters as she saw fit.

Luo Zhu and the Eternal Primordial Ancestor likewise remained within the Heaven-Defying Alliance and accepted its command.

No one questioned their origins.

Zhao Xiuyan also stayed within the Heaven-Defying Alliance for some time. Ever since meeting Gu Changge again, she had regarded that reunion as the driving force behind her cultivation.

Now that she knew his true identity, she felt even more keenly the immense gulf between them in both status and strength. As a result, she became increasingly diligent and never dared slack off.

During her time there, she became friends with Mo Tong, the girl whom Gu Changge had once taken from the gladiatorial arena in the Immortal Spirit Civilization.

Though Mo Tong cultivated the Path of Slaughter and appeared as cold and expressionless as an ice sculpture, the two gradually formed a close friendship and often sparred together.

Initially, Zhao Xiuyan had viewed Mo Tong as a target. She believed Mo Tong’s immense fortune and destiny could provide countless Destiny Points for her Primordial Golden Book.

However, after learning that Mo Tong had also received Gu Changge’s guidance and teachings, she abandoned such thoughts. Instead, she treated her as a fellow disciple.

As for Yaoyao, Zhao Xiuyan respectfully addressed her as Senior Sister.

Though Yaoyao was slightly unhappy that Gu Changge had accepted so many disciples and no longer favored only her, she had matured considerably with age. She no longer threw childish tantrums.

When Zhao Xiuyan greeted her, she merely nodded in acknowledgment.

Under Ling Yuling’s reorganization, the Heaven-Defying Alliance became even more powerful than before. The countless territories and civilizations formerly belonging to the Orthodox Alliance were steadily annexed.

Combined with the voluntary submission of the Immortal Dao Alliance, the Heaven-Defying Alliance achieved an unprecedented momentum toward unifying the Vast Expanse in only a few short decades.

Countless large and small civilizations also submitted under pressure from the Dark Clans.

Previously, the Orthodox Alliance had balanced the Heaven-Defying Alliance, allowing many forces to survive between the two sides. Furthermore, the Dark Clans had not yet launched such large-scale sacrifices. Many civilizations had hoped to remain neutral and observe.

But circumstances had changed. They no longer had a choice. For ordinary races and factions lacking Dao Realm experts, even traversing the Vast Expanse was difficult.

Relocating to join the Heaven-Defying Alliance was even harder. Moreover, the Heaven-Defying Alliance no longer accepted every civilization that sought refuge.

The entry requirements, once lenient, had become extremely strict. Under the current circumstances, any force lacking protection would inevitably be devoured by the Dark Clans.

Although the Vast Expanse contained endless space, infinite time streams, and countless universes where one might hide, the Dark Clans would eventually find them.

Some powerful individuals attempted to imitate the Heaven-Defying Alliance and establish so-called safe zones.

But without the absolute power necessary to deter the Dark Clans, such safe zones were nothing more than sheep pens.

The Divine Dao Civilization was the perfect example.

After suffering attacks from the Dark Clans, it quickly collapsed. Only a few Ancestor Gods survived, abandoning their divine kingdoms and fleeing into the chaotic depths of spacetime, disappearing without a trace.