Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate

"Mo Hao! Keep him busy—I can't take him down in a single attack!" the mysterious woman called out as she shot toward the immortal tool's location.

At the same time, the Burning World Raging Flames flickered, losing some of their intensity. The fire still raged, but the pressure on Ben Man weakened just enough for him to push back.

"AAAGH— You filthy bitc—!" Mo Hao's face twisted in rage as he gathered every ounce of strength left in his body. With a furious roar, he swung his fist straight into Ben Man's chest.

BOOM!

The force of the hit sent shockwaves through the battlefield.

Ben Man bellowed in fury, his muscles bulging as he unleashed a surge of power—both to fight off the flames and counter Mo Hao's strike.

The impact was brutal.

Mo Hao was flung backward like a broken kite, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed into the ground.

Ben Man didn't get off easy either. The attack blasted him tens of thousands of meters back, his massive body seared by fire, smoke curling off his charred flesh. The smell of burning demon filled the air.

High above, Jiang Chen hovered over the enormous crater below. His eyes locked onto the immortal tool, his thoughts surging outward through his divine sense.

"I know you have a spirit!"

The power of the Void Tribulation Soulring wrapped around the weapon, his energy reaching out—not just with words, but with intent.

"If we don't fight together, the demons win," his mind-voice carried urgency. "Stand with me—let's finish this!"

By using the Void Tribulation Soulring directly, Jiang Chen made his intentions clear. Instead of forcing his way in, he relied on the reputation and presence built over the years by Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning—two legendary figures, both just a half-step away from the Fourth Step on the Cultivation Path, and former rulers of powerful factions.

The effect was immediate.

The immortal tool responded with a surge of goodwill, its energy shifting in recognition.

Meanwhile, deep inside the giant sinkhole, those trapped within didn't resist—they didn't need to. They could feel it. The mysterious woman had come to save them. Relief washed over them, overwhelming and undeniable.

"Good! Let's join forces and wipe out these demons!" the mysterious woman declared, raising her hand.

A powerful force rippled through the air. The protective barrier around the sinkhole suddenly shrank, its energy pulling inward. A silver longsword shot out like a streak of light, flying straight into her grip.

The moment Jiang Chen took hold of it—disguised as the mysterious woman—he felt it.

Pure. Majestic. Overflowing with life.

This wasn't just a weapon.

The energy within was not primarily meant for battle. Its true strength lay elsewhere—healing, restoration, renewal.

Yet despite its peaceful nature, it had still managed to hold its ground against Ben Man, even if only briefly. That alone spoke volumes about its power.

"This really is an immortal tool infused with the Dao of Life," Nangong Wan's voice echoed in Jiang Chen's mind. "Right now, its rank is probably lower-tier Nirvana Peering, but at its full power, it should be upper-tier Nirvana Cleansing."

Jiang Chen didn't waste time thinking about that. "We'll deal with that later," he said, tightening his grip on the silver longsword. His gaze locked onto Ben Man as he lunged forward, still in disguise as the mysterious woman. "First, we take down that damn Vajra Demon!"

Meanwhile, Ben Man was closing in fast on Mo Hao, fully intent on finishing him off.

Mo Hao, already drained from his last attack, barely had the strength to move. His body felt like lead. His limbs refused to respond.

Is this it? Is this where I die? The thought sent a cold wave of despair through him as Ben Man's massive form loomed closer and closer.

Then—

A flash of silver. A surge of power.

Out of nowhere, the mysterious woman appeared right behind Ben Man, the silver longsword in her hand humming with a terrifying Sword Dao aura.

Forbidden Demon Suppressing Sword Array!

In an instant, countless sword rays exploded outward, forming a dazzling cage of light around Ben Man. The sheer force of the attack tore into him, stopping him dead in his tracks.

"NO!" Ben Man howled, struggling against the relentless assault. "The Demon Lord will NEVER let you off!"

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

The sound of blades ripping through flesh filled the air.

Ben Man's body was shredded over and over, his agonized screams echoing as he was torn apart—until there was nothing left but silence.

"Phew… that was way too close! I almost died back there!" Mo Hao muttered, still shaken. His pupils shrank to pinpoints as he struggled to steady himself.

Before he could catch his breath, the mysterious woman raised her longsword once more.

"Purge All Evils!"

A tidal wave of sword Qi exploded from her blade, twisting and roaring through the air like a swarm of raging dragons, hurtling straight toward the ten-thousand-strong demon army.

The demons barely had time to react.

At best, their strongest fighters were only at the Dao Palace realm—nowhere near strong enough to face her.

The sword Qi tore through their ranks like a storm of death, slicing through flesh, shattering bones, wiping them out before they could even scream.

In the blink of an eye—

The entire demon army was gone.

Not a single one left standing.

Jiang Chen, still disguised as the mysterious woman, casually flicked his hand.

Collect!

The fallen corpses vanished in an instant, sucked into the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring. Not even a single drop of blood was left behind.

And then—

[Ding! You've successfully altered the plot, preventing Protagonist Mo Hao from acting arrogantly. Mo Hao's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 4000 points!]

[Ding! You've gained 8000 Villain Value points!]

As the system notifications rang in his mind, a wicked thrill surged through Jiang Chen's heart.

He then glanced at Mo Hao, who stood frozen, staring at the now-empty battlefield. His hands trembled—just slightly, but enough to show what he was feeling inside.

Another failure.

By now, he had lost count of how many times he had failed.

And just moments ago… he had nearly died.

Why is it so damn hard to act like the chosen one?! Mo Hao clenched his fists, his body shaking with frustration and something deeper—sorrow.

Just then, the mysterious woman—the one Mo Hao knew as Jiang Chen's Master—stepped toward him. "Young one, are you alright?" she asked, her words soft but steady, carrying Nangong Wan's familiar cadence.

Mo Hao flinched slightly before forcing himself to answer. "I—I'm fine." But his eyes betrayed him, lingering for a moment on the radiant silver immortal sword in her hand.

He swallowed his pride, pushed down the shame and burning anger in his chest, and forced himself to stay composed.

"So, senior… what happens next?"

The mysterious woman, still following Jiang Chen's behind-the-scenes script, kept her expression unreadable.

"That mirror unleashed between fifty to sixty thousand demonic beings," she said firmly.

"We've only wiped out less than half of them."

Her gaze sharpened. "And after taking out two massive groups back to back, the demons are bound to notice. More battles are coming—and they'll be much fiercer than before."

She paused before continuing, her words turning gentler.

"Mo Hao, I'll have Jiang Chen escort you back to the Immortal Martial Cave Heaven to recover."

The moment he heard that, a flicker of annoyance flashed through Mo Hao's eyes.

"Have Jiang Chen send me back?" His jaw tightened.

Then, in a clipped, defiant manner, he snapped, "No. Forget it. I'm staying here in the Immortal Martial Continent. I'm not going to that Cave Heaven."

Walking away from that jinx, Jiang Chen, had been Mo Hao's own decision—one that not even Jiang Chen had been able to stop.

Turning around and asking for his help now? Never. That would be like spitting on his own pride.

Besides, what was the point of going to the Immortal Martial Cave Heaven? There was no place for grand moments there, no way to prove himself.

That wasn't where he belonged.

"Are you really planning to stay?" Jiang Chen's Master asked, her words laced with feigned concern.

"There are still thirty to forty thousand demon soldiers left from the army that was sent here. And at least three Transcendence realm demons are on their way. You should focus on recovering your strength."

She paused, then continued, completely assured of herself.

"As for the demon army, leave them to me."

Her confidence was effortless. Flawless acting.

But Mo Hao refused to back down.

"No." He shook his head, his jaw tight, frustration crackling through every word. "I haven't even killed a single demon yet!"

His fists clenched. "I want to fight the demon elites. I want to prove myself—to show everyone they were wrong about me!"

Then, almost without realizing it, the words tumbled out.

"Whatever happens next—don't interfere. Don't say a single word. Please, I beg you!"

His voice cracked at the end, the weight of desperation pressing down on him.

He couldn't fail again.

He wouldn't fail again.

And then—

[Ding! You have successfully caused protagonist Mo Hao's mental resilience to waver, subtly altering his character. Mo Hao's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 5000 points!]

[Ding! You have earned 10,000 Villain Value points!]

The system alerts rang through Jiang Chen's Sea of Consciousness, making him pause for a brief moment. Then, a quiet, satisfied feeling settled in his chest.

Mo Hao's endless failures were finally getting to him. His so-called unshakable will was starting to crack.

The mighty protagonist, who was supposed to shine effortlessly, was now desperate, unraveling—even pleading.