I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1836. Could This Be the Fate-Defying Alliance’s Probe and Fishing Expedition? The Heaven-Substituting Lord Revives

The void outside the Ancient Treasury Civilization churned endlessly. Vast Cangmang energy bloomed as enormous fissures in the void appeared one after another. Ancient warships emerged from them in succession.

These warships were larger than stars themselves. As they sped forward, the stars trembled, and world after world shook under the aftershocks of their passage.

Jiang Weiyang stood by the railing, gazing into the distance. Divine radiance began to surge around her body. Piece after piece of ancient armor burst forth from the weapon chests carried by several attendants before her and started covering her body. Her black hair flowed freely as her gaze remained calm and steady. An aura akin to that of an empress rose from her and swept outward.

Faintly, the momentum of the Immortal Dynasty’s army was also gathering and erupting in response.

Ji Hanjing stood behind Jiang Weiyang, seated upon a chair forged from Obsidian Dao Gold. Seeing the changes in Jiang Weiyang’s bearing, she nodded inwardly.

Her efforts in teaching her during this period had not been wasted.

“The Ancient Treasury Civilization hides profound secrets. Since he deliberately arranged for Weiyang to come here in search of the Fate Lord, he must already have his plans.”

“Since this is meant to fish someone out, what does it matter if we act as bait once?”

Countless thoughts flashed through Ji Hanjing’s mind. She looked towards the Ancient Treasury Civilization ahead.

One overbearing and powerful divine sense after another had already swept across. The surrounding star fields drifted and trembled like lonely boats tossed amid raging waves, as if they were about to sink.

She let out a cold snort. Within her eyes, blood-colored scenes of moons sinking and stars falling manifested. Those sweeping divine senses instantly suffered a violent backlash. In a dazed moment, they seemed to be dragged into a bizarre blood-red scripture, from which miserable screams rang out.

Having served as the spirit of the Book of Scavenging for so many years, Ji Hanjing had once lost herself and forgotten many things.

Yet her strength at her peak was not to be underestimated.

Although she had not recovered to that level, ordinary Ancestor Dao Realm figures were by no means her match.

Woooooo—Ancient horns sounded from the warships.

The sound echoed across all directions, desolate yet majestic.

The Divine Martial Grand General of the Immortal Dynasty, Zhu Cangning, stood there clad in armor. Great Dao-like aura flowed from his body as he led the army forward, descending upon the outer regions of the Ancient Treasury Civilization.

Behind him, an endless tide of troops stretched beyond sight. Reinforcements continued pouring through the spatial rifts. This was an unimaginably terrifying force.

Besides Zhu Cangning, numerous generals of the Immortal Dynasty led their own armies from various regions. Hidden among them were even Ancestor Dao Realm experts concealing their presence.

“What has happened?”

The immense disturbance swept across countless regions.

Within many nearby universes, powerful presences awakened one after another.

Ancient figures stepped forth from radiant life stars, their auras shaking heaven and earth as they looked toward the scene from afar.

“People from the Immortal Dynasty?”

“Why have they come to our Ancient Treasury Civilization?”

A decayed old man filled with the aura of corruption shouted. He awakened from a barren cliff covered in withered grass and stepped into the heavens.

The only response he received was a voice resounding throughout heaven and earth:

“Tell the Fate Lord to come out.”

Seated within the warship, Ji Hanjing gazed ahead with an expressionless face. Her words contained an indescribable truth.

They echoed throughout the Cangmang, so terrifying that the void trembled like sheets of paper. Countless cultivators and living beings felt their eardrums nearly torn apart.

“What is the meaning of this, Immortal Dynasty? Are you intending to start a war with our Ancient Treasury Civilization?”

However, Ji Hanjing’s words received no answer.

Another figure emerged from a star. His entire body was pitch-black, and a pair of wings hung behind him. His gaze was extremely cold.

Behind him, endless radiance erupted from the star. Pillars of light shot skyward as if they intended to tear apart the cosmos.

At the same time, supreme auras awakened throughout numerous regions of the Ancient Treasury Civilization.

Unlike other territories in the Cangmang, the Ancient Treasury Civilization had always been mysterious and special.

Even Dao Realm existences dared not act recklessly there, for they could easily provoke unimaginable powers.

Even now, despite the Dark Clans wreaking havoc throughout the Cangmang, they had never attacked the Ancient Treasury Civilization.

To many beings, this was because they feared its overwhelming strength and did not wish to provoke it.

Although the Immortal Dynasty enjoyed considerable fame throughout the Cangmang, it was still merely a single faction. While its foundations rivaled those of supreme True Realms, it remained insignificant before an ancient and mysterious civilization like the Ancient Treasury Civilization.

Any one of the Five Royal Clans alone possessed enough power to effortlessly sweep away the Immortal Dynasty.

To the cultivators and inhabitants of the Ancient Treasury Civilization, the Immortal Dynasty’s actions were laughable. Yet many ancient figures who had just awakened frowned deeply.

The Immortal Dynasty itself was not worth fearing.

What mattered was the force backing it—the Fate-Defying Alliance, which had already established a trend of grand unification.

The Immortal Dynasty had arrived looking very much like a vanguard force.

Could this be a probe launched by the Fate-Defying Alliance?

After all, the Dark Clans were currently invading the Nine Heavens Land. And now the Fate-Defying Alliance was targeting the Ancient Treasury Civilization.

Has this all been coordinated beforehand?

At present, aside from the various True Realm civilizations hidden among chaotic streams of spacetime, only two major sanctuaries remained in the Cangmang: The Ancient Treasury Civilization and the Nine Heavens Land.

Yet now both sanctuaries had begun to suffer the ravages of war.

Their peaceful days were over.

“The Immortal Dynasty has no intention of waging war against the Ancient Treasury Civilization.”

“But we request that the Ancient Treasury Civilization hand over the Fate Lord, the mastermind behind the Righteous Alliance.”

“The Fate Lord colluded with the Dark Clans, brought disaster upon our Immortal Dynasty, manipulated the life and death of our Emperor Weiyang, and even captured and imprisoned him…”

Jiang Weiyang’s voice suddenly rang out through the vast void. Her voice was crisp, yet contained unparalleled determination and resolve. She was responding to the figures standing within  the void.

“Ridiculous.”

“And who is this Fate Lord?”

“We have never heard of such a person.”

“If the Immortal Dynasty knows what is good for it, then withdraw at once.”

“For the sake of the hard-won peace in the Cangmang, we shall overlook your offense.”

“Otherwise, do not blame us for being merciless.”

The figures standing in the void were all Dao Realm experts. Although they could sense the concealed Ancestor Dao Realm presence among the Immortal Dynasty’s forces, they showed no concern. Their words were filled with contempt and disdain.

Jiang Weiyang’s expression remained unchanged. Her voice stayed cold and decisive.

“In that case, the Immortal Dynasty shall search for him ourselves and uncover the Fate Lord.”

“Heh.”

“The little princess of the Immortal Dynasty actually dares to behave arrogantly in our Ancient Treasury Civilization?”

“You truly don’t know whether you’re dead or alive.”

The men sneered one after another, utterly disregarding the army before them.

Frost filled Jiang Weiyang’s face. Her jade-like hand clenched tightly. Then she issued a cold command: “Attack.”

This war was unavoidable. Since opening spacetime passages and arriving here, the Immortal Dynasty had already prepared for slaughter.

“Kill!”

As the Immortal Dynasty’s army charged forward, they surged like endless tidal waves, layer upon layer, seemingly numbering in the billions.

Across many universes of the Ancient Treasury Civilization, gateways split open.

Brilliant light illuminated the dark starfields, revealing dead and exhausted worlds beyond. Within those worlds, mysterious auras descended.

Faint white baleful energy drifted like mist. The dried, lifeless lands cracked apart.

Skeletons and corpses emerged one after another.

As the white baleful energy wrapped around them, it transformed into warhorses, armor, black heavenly sabers, spears, and more.

Deeper within, terrifying presences stirred. Rust-covered bronze war chariots burst from underground.

Generals emerged from within them, commanding vast armies as they charged into battle. The scene was astonishing. It struck fear into the hearts of all who witnessed it.

In those dead worlds, an unknown force had descended. It carried a certain law that caused countless beings slain in ancient wars to reappear.

They once again donned armor, as though revived.

Fearless of death.

Unaware of pain.

They clashed head-on against the Immortal Dynasty’s army.

More and more cracks appeared around the Ancient Treasury Civilization. Each connected to a different world. No one knew how long those worlds had remained buried within the void of spacetime.

The moment they appeared, they exuded ancient and decayed auras.

Within one great world, an enormous hand even stretched forth. It directly struck towards the location of the Immortal Dynasty’s commanders and generals.

Ji Hanjing’s face turned icy. She likewise struck out with a palm.

The two attacks collided.

Endless spacetime particles erupted and boiled over.

The resulting shockwaves shook everything violently, like a terrifying storm capable of sweeping across all worlds.

Countless fissures spread through the void, swallowing shattered universes.

The Immortal Dynasty’s Dao Realm experts also joined the battle.

The Ancestor Dao Realm royal elders hidden in the shadows no longer hesitated. This battlefield became incomparably chaotic.

The scale was comparable to the former war between the Fate-Defying Alliance and the Righteous Alliance.

Only the area affected was far smaller. At the same time, the disturbance immediately drew the attention of numerous Ancestor Dao Realm beings throughout the Cangmang.

One could say that this war had begun far too suddenly. Few had expected that the Immortal Dynasty had been secretly gathering troops all this time.

Since the grand unification of the Cangmang under the Fate-Defying Alliance, very few people paid attention to the internal movements of individual member civilizations.

Unless they received orders from the Alliance Leader, who would expect a massive war to suddenly erupt?

Within the various member civilizations of the Fate-Defying Alliance, leaders began paying attention to the Immortal Dynasty’s assault on the Ancient Treasury Civilization.

Some attempted to contact acquaintances within the Immortal Dynasty to learn whether this operation carried the Alliance Leader’s approval. Yet no one received any response.

At present, however, even more people were focused on the Dark Clans.

The seal upon the Land of Dark Origins had been broken. The revival of the Heaven-Substituting Lord could no longer be prevented.

Once the Dark Clans occupied the Nine Heavens Land, would the currently stable Cangmang once again enter a period of upheaval?

For example, would the Dark Clans and the Fate-Defying Alliance tear up their previous agreement and begin slaughtering each other?

This war had erupted abruptly. Once it began, it continued for years without any sign of stopping.

Deep within the Sea of Reincarnation, the Fate Lord remained expressionless.

Beside him, Ancestor Xu and the Calamity Lord exchanged meaningful glances but said nothing.

Within the Fate-Defying Alliance, Gu Changge sat quietly in a courtyard, dressed in white.

Before him was a jade-green pool as smooth as a mirror. It reflected scenes from throughout the entire Cangmang.

There were fierce battles before the Nine Heavens Land. The four chief priests cultivated by Wu Yue joined forces to tear apart the void and bring endless Dark Clan armies into existence.

The first three heavens of the Nine Heavens Land collapsed layer by layer. There was also the battlefield before the Ancient Treasury Civilization.

The Immortal Dynasty’s army surged forward like roaring tides as war erupted.

There was also a dark underground palace devoid of light.

A blood-red pool churned endlessly amid hazy mist.

Within it sat an armored figure.

Through countless methods, he attempted to refine the flesh-like mass floating before him—a mass resembling a beating heart.

Black mist intertwined around him, flooding the underground palace. His breathing was rapid. His eyes were filled with burning desire and longing.

In corners where the Black Lotus Cult still lingered, people continued searching for the truth and investigating its origins.

One of them was a bright and beautiful young girl around sixteen years old. She wore a loose dark-blue cloak. Only her clear eyes were visible, carrying a calm maturity entirely out of place for her age.

Across all regions where opportunities and fortunes had descended, great destiny-bearers rose rapidly.

Within universe after universe, beings known as protagonists emerged.

Carrying heaven’s mandate, they swiftly stirred storms across all directions. Throughout every corner of the Cangmang, countless scenes of mortal life unfolded.

“Wu Yue’s efforts are insufficient to truly wound the foundations of the Nine Heavens Land.”

“Compared to its heritage, her strength is still too weak.”

“But it matters little.”

“As my identity as the Heaven-Substituting Lord revives, there will eventually be people deep within the Nine Heavens Land who can no longer remain patient…”

Gu Changge’s gaze shifted toward the Nightmare Demon Domain.

Before the Heaven-Substituting Hall, endless ranks of Dark Clan members knelt in worship. The World-Burial Coffin continuously released boundless blood-colored substances.

Within it, a terrifying breathing sound, vast as seas and mountains, echoed out. The power of the Land of Dark Origins and the World-Burial Coffin was merging.

The two were connecting.

As Gu Changge’s gaze descended upon it, the hazy, heart-like substance twisted continuously. Then it became increasingly blurred.

Countless amounts of dark matter burst forth like a broken dam, flooding the entire Nightmare Demon Domain.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

At that moment, every universe and True Realm throughout the Cangmang heard the sound of a beating heart. It was as though billions of gods and demons were beating war drums.

The sound stood at the highest reaches of existence.

Its aftershocks pierced through countless layers of the void.

“Reverence to the Lord…”

“Welcome the Lord…”

The ecstatic cries of the Dark Clans resounded throughout the heavens. Regardless of cultivation level, every one of them trembled as they prostrated themselves.

Their souls shook. Their bones rattled uncontrollably.

Hiss—Hiss—Hiss—

Countless streams of chaotic energy filled the region.

At that moment, an overwhelming pressure capable of sweeping across the entire Cangmang began to awaken.

Spacetime twisted instantly. It collapsed continuously. Even the River of Time was evaporating and disappearing.

Then, in the next instant—The eternal darkness that seemed to have existed since the beginning of creation was torn apart.

Within that endless and boundless darkness, a pair of cold, silent eyes appeared. They were unimaginably vast. They covered the heavens themselves. It was as though they hung beyond the entirety of the Cangmang.

Those pupils were too immense and majestic. Within them, sentient beings rose and fell.

Universes were annihilated.

Infinite life and chaotic substances passed by like fleeting illusions. Nothing behind them could be seen clearly. It seemed that no spacetime existed there at all.

Everything was blurred and chaotic to the extreme. Only those indifferent eyes occupied the entire expanse beyond the worlds.

“The Heaven-Substituting Lord has revived…”

Throughout countless True Realm civilizations, supreme beings felt their hearts tremble with fear.

No matter where they were, they felt completely seen through by those eyes. The barriers separating worlds had become transparent and clear.

If the entire Cangmang were compared to a boundless ocean, then the True Realms within it would be islands scattered across that sea.

Now, with the opening of those eyes, countless creatures sleeping in the depths of the ocean were awakened.

This aura was indescribable.

Powerful.

Overbearing.

Absolute.

Inconceivable.

Neither before the birth of heaven and earth, nor after their creation, nor even in the distant future, had such a power ever appeared. As those eyes opened, endless storms of the Great Dao swept forth.

Like the sound of breathing, they blew across countless great worlds and universes. Under such overwhelming power, even True Realms trembled like withered leaves caught in a hurricane, ready to shatter at any moment.

At that moment, the entire Cangmang seemed to fall silent. Then it sank into profound terror and icy dread.