I Am the Fated Villain

372: Qing Yi’s true identity, angered one of the three supreme beings in the Real LandJudging by her appearance alone, it was difficult to determine the woman in black’s age.

She stood there with flat, emotionless eyes, seemingly devoid of any emotional fluctuations.

No matter what she looked at in this world, her gaze remained steady, incapable of stirring up any waves.

The atmosphere was calm, almost serene.

To Xiao Wang Yue, the depth of the black-clothed woman’s eyes exuded a sense of dignity and indifference, as if she were overlooking countless sentient beings.

“Who are you, and why are you here?

”Wang Yue asked again, her voice tinged with anxiety.

The woman in black instilled a deep sense of unease in her.

Wang Yue’s hair stood on end, filled with vigilance and trepidation.

Goosebumps prickled her skin, and cold sweat trickled down her back as if she were confronting some unspeakable horror.

Moreover, what did the woman in black mean by mentioning immortal blood?

In her inherited memories, there was no mention of anything regarding the true blood of immortals.

“It doesn’t matter who I am,” the woman in black said, her tone flat.

“You should be grateful to your master.

You are free to roam here, and since that’s the case, I won’t make things difficult for you.

”She didn’t answer Xiao Wang Yue’s question but spoke plainly, her words deliberate and clear.

There was a calmness to her demeanor, as if she were in complete control of everything in the world, unbothered by any external concerns.

Xiao Wang Yue felt a strange urge to worship and submit before this figure, but the notion struck her as absurd and frightening.

She quickly shook her head, trying to dispel the thought from her mind.

The woman in black didn’t linger, turning instead to walk into the palace, leaving Xiao Wang Yue in a state of confusion and unease.

Seeing this scene, Xiao Wang Yue’s anxiety surged.

Despite her extreme unease and fear, she mustered the courage to rush forward and block the woman in black.

“The palace is a sacred place!

No one who has nothing to do with it can enter!

” she shouted, determination fueling her voice.

As she spoke, she unleashed a radiant heavenly light from her hands, summoning the phantom of a moon guardian immortal beast behind her.

It manifested lifelike, as if it had truly reappeared in this world.

The slender figure shimmered with immortal light, standing tall and imposing like a mountain.

Its scarlet eyes, resembling flawless gemstones, radiated a fierce spirit as they charged directly at the woman in black.

Xiao Wang Yue was not skilled in combat; this was her first encounter with another human since her birth.

Until now, she had lived a carefree life, free from worries about food or shelter.

Qing Yi had taken good care of her during their time in the Upper Realm, ensuring her comfort.

Even her somewhat distant master, Gu Changge, had provided for her needs through the clansmen, sending her the necessary resources.

However, now faced with the woman in black, Xiao Wang Yue could only rely on her instinctive memory as she moved to confront her, trying to halt her advance.

“Knowing you’re no match for me, yet you still dare to attack.

This loyalty to protect your master is commendable,” the woman in black remarked without turning her head, her tone calm yet carrying a hint of approval.

“But it’s a pity you waste your true immortal blood.

Any ancient moon guardian beast of the same realm could easily suppress you.

There’s a lot of power within you, yet you don’t know how to harness it.

It seems your master hasn’t taught you much, merely treating you like a pet.

”She continued, “A true moon guardian ancient beast seeks to expand its territory across the vastness, to conquer the skies and the earth.

”Buzz!!!

The moment the woman in black finished speaking, a layer of fuzzy golden ripples appeared around her, silently spreading as if enveloping the entire space-time and universe.

In an instant, the place felt frozen, and the very flow of time seemed to halt.

Xiao Wang Yue was struck with terror as she found herself immobilized in the air.

Even her thoughts felt alien, locked away, rendering her unable to think or move.

She could only watch helplessly as the woman in black walked into the palace.

“Don’t worry, I have no malice toward your master.

I came here just to bring her home,” the woman in black stated plainly before continuing into the hall, leaving Xiao Wang Yue in stunned silence.

The atmosphere was eerily empty inside the palace, with strands of white mist rising and floating about, creating an ethereal ambiance.

In the depths of the main hall, one corner lay in disarray, the curtains billowing like clouds.

There, a slender figure sat cross-legged, blurring into a scene that resembled a delicate painting.

After the woman in black arrived, a complicated expression crossed her face.

“Xiao Jiu…”She approached softly, ready to speak.

Qing Yi, who had kept her eyes closed in meditation, suddenly opened them, sensing the presence nearby.

Her gaze was peaceful and transparent, like a bright moon and flawless jade, radiating an infinitely beautiful aura.

“Third Sister…”Qing Yi said, looking at the woman in black before her.

She nodded slightly, clearly recognizing her.

Unless marked by her, no one could find this hidden place.

At this moment, it was clear that Gu Changge had not come here.

Thus, ruling out that possibility, if someone from outside had located her, it would likely be from her own clan.

All living beings and spirits in the previous era of the real world of mountains and seas knew Qing Yi as the true spirit of that realm.

However, they were unaware of her true identity as a member of a mysterious and peculiar family in the vastness, known as Ji Chan.

The Ji Chan family, named “Ji Chan Bearing the Era,” held immense significance; the slightest tremor of their cicada wings signified an impending change in the era, often leading to the downfall of common people.

Throughout history, time flowed, eras reincarnated wherever Ji Chan passed, and everything was renewed.

The relationship between Ji Chan and the Epoch Tree was akin to that of a phoenix.

Ji Chan sought refuge in the Epoch Tree, and the two coexisted, sharing both fortune and misfortune.

The Epoch Tree nurtured all spirits and common folk, evolving the universe of the heavens.

It was known by various names, such as the World Tree, the Ancestor Tree, and the Origin Tree, across different civilizations.

The Ji Chan race held great significance in the boundless world.

Some civilizations viewed them as a sign of auspiciousness, while others regarded them as a harbinger of disaster, avoiding them like venomous snakes.

Wherever Ji Chan went, the outcome was always extreme: either everything returned to ruin and decay, or it prospered eternally.

There were no in-betweens.

However, the Ji Chan were incredibly rare, with fewer than a hundred individuals scattered throughout the vast expanse of existence.

Being part of this enigmatic race, Qing Yi had never revealed her true identity, not even to Gu Changge.

Yet, this secrecy was likely why Gu Changge never pressed her on the matter.

When he first encountered her, she was still somewhat naive and inexperienced.

As the true spirit of the original mountains and seas’ real world, Qing Yi had led the Heaven-Slayers in their fight against the great reckoning.

Compared to the many powerhouses of the vast expanse, her strength was relatively small, just having crossed the threshold of the Dao Realm.

Naturally, such power wasn’t enough to attract Gu Changge’s attention; at the time, he had shown little interest in her.

Over the years, Qing Yi’s performance was pretty ordinary, without revealing many extraordinary traits.

While this was partly due to her careful concealment, another major reason was the near-destructive trauma she had suffered long ago.

Compared to a true Ji Chan, she was born with inherent weaknesses.

The Ji Chan race, incredibly rare and mysterious, were said to be on par with the Epoch Tree.

Even when they were first conceived and born, their strength far exceeded that of ordinary races.

Qing Yi’s ability to operate independently from the Dao Chang Realm and create a separate place of reincarnation was due to her unique talents as a member of the Ji Chan clan.

The birth of a new Epoch Tree was a testament to her heritage.

Strictly speaking, she wasn’t truly the original spirit of the mountains and seas’ real world.

Her existence predated the real world itself, and the true spirit that later manifested was merely born after the real world had taken form.

There was a fundamental difference between the two.

The gestation and birth of a real world were incredibly arduous.

It involved the collision of countless substances within the chaos, with only a fleeting chance for evolution into a new world.

The world’s level continuously changed through numerous leaps and collisions, allowing the potential to transform into a true realm.

In contrast, the Ji Chan family possessed a talent akin to that of the Epoch Tree, enabling them to create and nurture worlds.

The slightest tremor of a cicada’s wings signified an era’s change, the death of an old world, and the birth of a new one.

This was a force akin to the very laws governing the universe.

The woman in black standing before Qing Yi was clearly also from the Ji Chan clan, as indicated by Qing Yi’s recognition of her.

“I never expected you would entrust the life of the ninth true spirit to such a fragile realm.

The spark of immortal civilization you took away back then was actually used here…”The black-clad woman frowned, scrutinizing the green-clad woman whose aura felt somewhat off.

The woman in black stretched out her hand, gently placing it between Qing Yi’s eyebrows.

Golden ripples spread across the room, enveloping Qing Yi entirely.

Suddenly, countless memory fragments flashed before her eyes, like fleeting images.

“I initially thought you had merely found a place to recover your body and restore your foundation.

But I never imagined you had done so much over these epochs,” the woman in black said, her tone growing more severe with each passing word.

“If our mother learns of this, no amount of pleading from me will save you from the punishment you’ll face.

”Her expression darkened, a mix of uncertainty and frustration clouding her features.

Qing Yi, remaining silent, shook her head slightly.

She knew well that her third sister’s strength far exceeded her own, leaving no room for resistance.

Besides, in her current weakened state, she could barely maintain consciousness, let alone put up a fight.

It would be impossible for ordinary beings in the Dao Realm to delve so easily into her memories.

But the woman in black wasn’t just anyone—she was a member of the same Ji Chan clan.

The two’s roots shared the same origin, enabling the woman in black to investigate Qing Yi’s memories through extraordinary, heaven-defying means.

Yet, even for her, the vast torrent of memory fragments spanning countless epochs wasn’t something she could easily process all at once.

She sifted through them, only focusing on what she deemed important.

“I always knew you were willful and reckless, but I never thought you would be so foolish,” the woman in black muttered, her tone full of displeasure.

She seemed ready to continue scolding Qing Yi, but upon seeing Qing Yi’s current frail state, she stopped herself and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Despite calling her “Xiao Jiu,” the youngest sister, after so many years, there was little joy in this reunion.

The weight of time and circumstances seemed to dampen any warmth she might have felt.

Instead of feeling warmth, the woman in black grew angrier as she recalled everything Qing Yi had done over the years.

However, Qing Yi remained calm, her tone indifferent, unaffected by the black-clad woman’s growing frustration.

“Third sister, if you’ve come here just to lecture me again, then you can forget it.

I’ve already heard enough of those words,” Qing Yi replied calmly.

The woman in black, noticing Qing Yi’s indifferent attitude, felt her inner calm falter as a wave of irritation surfaced.

Despite the outward calm, her words dripped with frustration.

“You defied the clan back then, abandoning our family’s fate, and stole the fire of the immortal civilization.

Since then, you’ve been hiding in the vastness… Do you really think the clan hasn’t been searching for you all these years?

If it weren’t for me and your other sisters covering for you, helping you from the shadows, do you think you’d have been able to remain hidden here safely for so long?

”Her tone, filled with frustration and disappointment, was far harsher than the demeanor she had shown before entering the palace.

It was clear that this confrontation was deeply personal.

Qing Yi fell silent.

She had always suspected that it was her third sister and the others who had secretly shielded her all these years.

Otherwise, with her relatively limited strength, she would have been found and captured long ago, offered as a sacrifice to the clan’s greater purpose.

“Third sister, I’m sorry…” Qing Yi sighed softly, her previously indifferent eyes softening as she acknowledged the truth behind her sister’s words.

When Qing Yi fled from the clan, she was still very young—selfish, rebellious, and unaware of the far-reaching consequences of her actions.

At the time, she didn’t think too deeply.

All she could focus on was the bitter thought that, despite having so many older sisters, her mother and the others had chosen her, the youngest, to be the sacrifice that would quell the looming catastrophe.

It felt unfair and cruel.

In her youthful anger and desperation, she chose to escape, recklessly taking with her the invaluable spark of the immortal civilization.

As she reflected, Qing Yi realized how rash and naive she had been.

With her meager strength back then, there was no way she could have successfully fled from the clan without the covert assistance of her sisters.

Their help must have been why she had managed to remain hidden for so many epochs, living in relative peace and avoiding the wrath that should have followed her betrayal.

Her actions—fleeing, stealing the fire of immortal civilization—were crimes the clan would not forgive lightly.

They were actions that could bring severe punishment, perhaps even death.

Yet, somehow, no one had come after her.

No one had hunted her down or made her pay for the turmoil she had caused within the clan.

This peaceful existence was not something she had earned on her own but had been granted to her through the quiet sacrifices of her sisters.

Qing Yi had always carried guilt toward her clan, and her decision to protect the souls of those in the original mountains and seas was deeply tied to that regret over her selfishness.

She knew that she wasn’t an inherently selfless or loving person, but the weight of what she had done in the past had shaped her actions in the present.

Hearing this, the woman in black was momentarily taken aback, her eyes softening.

She sighed, sensing that Qing Yi had indeed matured over the many years.

“It seems you’ve grown a lot after all,” she said, her tone gentler now.

Despite Qing Yi’s rebellious and selfish nature in her youth, she had been the youngest and most cherished among her sisters.

And as Qing Yi had guessed, her sisters had protected her in secret during her time of hiding, shielding her from the consequences of her actions.

After a moment of hesitation, Qing Yi asked the question that weighed heavily on her heart, the one she had dreaded the most but could no longer avoid.

“After I escaped, what happened to the clan?

”Beneath her calm exterior, Qing Yi’s emotions were roiling.

She couldn’t forget the moment when a monstrous giant hand had emerged from the real place, snapping the mother tree of the Ji Chan family like a fragile twig, cutting off all their luck and vitality.

It was a catastrophe beyond imagining, and she feared what had become of them after she had left.

It was said that the mother tree of the Ji Chan family had absorbed a significant amount of luck and origin from the boundless world, which ultimately led to its offense against one of the three most supreme and mysterious existences in the real land.

When the mother tree was snapped off, the entire civilization to which the Ji Chan family belonged faced near annihilation.

This civilization, positioned close to the real place, had long served as an outpost and a formidable blade in times of crisis, often charging forward to confront threats on behalf of the greater realm.

Yet, despite their valiant efforts, they found themselves facing the most terrifying natural disaster since ancient times, resulting in a catastrophic near-destruction that left them vulnerable and fractured.

Although the Ji Chan family was extraordinary, their position was elevated by the mother tree’s presence, their numbers were few.

Despite their lofty status, they couldn’t compare to the strength of a supreme civilization.

When the mother tree was snapped off, it did not quell the fury of that powerful being.

Instead, the wrath manifested as relentless natural disasters and catastrophes, threatening the entire Ji Chan lineage.

As the primary culprits, the Ji Chan family faced near annihilation, with disaster looming over them constantly.

In response, the high priest of the most powerful civilization nearby employed numerous methods, suffering great losses, to barely establish communication with the real place.

It was determined that only by offering suitable sacrifices to that realm could the overwhelming anger be appeased, and the terrible natural calamities ended.