I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1409: Miss Luo Xiang has a mysterious origin, I am only following orders

“I didn’t expect the change in the Eternal Divine Orb to be related to his jade pendant…”

Luo Xiang thought to herself, realizing the significance of the pendant Li Yang held. “It seems the saintesses of the previous generation anticipated today and left this jade pendant for Li Yang. If I want to acquire the Eternal Divine Furnace, it appears I’ll have to start from him.”

With that, Luo Xiang’s figure became ethereal, and in just a few steps, she vanished from the scene.

Li Yang and the others could only watch her disappear, too late to pursue her.

“The Saintess has a mysterious origin; she never interacts with her clansmen and prefers to walk alone and independently. I wonder what she meant by her words just now?” an elder remarked, frowning slightly.

Most of them were not well-acquainted with this generation’s saintess, and her enigmatic demeanor left many questions lingering in the air.

Moreover, there were times when they felt restrained in front of Lord Luo Xiang, intimidated by her majesty.

“Miss Xiang must have had her reasons for saying those words,” Li Yang said, shaking his head as he gazed in the direction where Luo Xiang had disappeared. Admiration was evident in his eyes.

Although Li Yang was exceptionally talented and hailed as the hope of the Eternal Protoss for this generation, he had faced repeated setbacks when confronting Lord Luo Xiang. Their past encounters had shown her superiority; she had easily suppressed him with a single hand, leaving no room for him to retaliate.

In blunt terms, the current Li Yang was simply unqualified to compete with Miss Luo Xiang.

“Father once said that if I can win over Miss Xiang, then the position of the patriarch of the Eternal Protoss will be secured in the future. Miss Xiang seems to be very interested in the Eternal Divine Furnace…” Li Yang thought to himself, stroking the simple, round jade pendant, unaware of the elders’ thoughts as he contemplated how to impress the beautiful woman.

Meanwhile, Miss Luo Xiang, who had vanished from the Eternal Protoss residence, appeared in a more open area, surrounded by majestic, ancient mountains. She had no intention of mingling with the elders of the Eternal Protoss, as she believed that the clues regarding the Eternal Divine Furnace lay with another person.

“Unfortunately, that sister of Li Yang was taken away by that surnamed Gu, so I can’t find her yet. If my prediction is correct, the Eternal Divine Furnace is actually on her body,” she mused, her expression thoughtful.

With a graceful movement, she vanished again, reappearing deep in the sky above the area.

At this moment, the center of Miss Luo Xiang’s brows glowed, and a crystal-clear orb the size of a fist emerged. This orb radiated chaotic light, imbued with powerful auras, including the innate five elements and the Yin-Yang Dao. If any elders of the Eternal Protoss were present, they would be astonished to recognize that the aura emanating from this mysterious bead shared the same origin as the Eternal Sword enshrined in the ancestral hall.

The five eternal artifacts comprised the Eternal Divine Sword, the Eternal Divine Furnace, the Eternal Divine Map, the Eternal Divine Seal, and the Eternal Divine Orb. The orb before her was the Eternal Divine Bead, an artifact that even the Eternal Protoss had never seen before. Its sudden appearance in Miss Luo Xiang’s hands would have left the elders of the Eternal Protoss utterly speechless.

“According to the records, the original Divine Treasury of the Eternal Protoss was lost, taking with it the Eternal Divine Map. The Eternal God’s Divine Treasury drifted through vast space and time, eventually falling into this civilization. Countless relics of immortal civilization exist, but the only one most likely to be the original Divine Treasury of the Eternal Protoss is the Blue Heavenly Realm,” she murmured to herself.

“I’ve been waiting for so long; it’s almost time for the Blue Heavenly Realm to appear…” As Luo Xiang whispered, the Eternal Divine Orb slipped from her grasp, rising slowly like an ancient sun, casting a dazzling brilliance around her.

The entire pitch-black star field was illuminated as if it were daylight, bathed in the radiant glow of the Eternal Divine Orb. All galaxies and matter paled in comparison, their light dimming under the orb’s overwhelming brilliance.

Luo Xiang’s eyes scanned the vast expanse reflected by the Eternal Divine Bead, and within them flickered a strange, sharp light as if perceiving something beyond the visible.

“Not in this area…” she murmured.

The void rippled as Luo Xiang gracefully retrieved the Eternal Divine Orb with a wave of her jade hand. In the next moment, she vanished and reappeared at the very edge of the galaxy. The orb ascended once again, shining even brighter than before, its radiance outshining the distant universe, casting everything in an eerie, dreamlike pallor. 𐍂ἁ𝐍𝘖𝐁ËＳ

Luo Xiang focused on a seemingly illusory portion of the universe, her eyes narrowing as she recognized something within the blurred expanse. The reality there seemed to waver between the real and the unreal, and the corner of her mouth lifted into a subtle, knowing smile.

Time passed quickly, and several months had gone by since Elder Zhuowu of the Zhuo Clan held the apprentice acceptance ceremony. Since Zhuowu announced her decision to enter seclusion and retreat from the world, discussions about her had notably diminished.

However, during this period, conversations regarding the Zhuo and Hun clans remained rampant in various circles. In contrast to previous eras, the Zhuo and Hun clans now appeared remarkably unified. Many elders from both clans engaged in numerous secret talks and discussions, signaling a deeper alliance.

Cultivators and beings from across the realm observed that the younger generations of these two races frequently gathered to discuss the Dao, cultivate together, and share knowledge. This clearly indicated that the Zhuo and Hun clans were sending a message to the outside world about their strengthened bond.

The developments had stirred the nerves of other clans, particularly the Wu and Gou clans, who grew increasingly anxious and wary, fearing that the future landscape of power and influence might undergo unimaginable changes.

Once the Zhuo and Hun clans united, it would undoubtedly disrupt the stable situation that had been maintained by the immortal civilization since ancient times. At that point, the Wu and Gou clans would likely find ways to confront these two powers. For the Wu and Gou clans, this was a scenario they were eager to avoid. It could even lead to another war over contentious issues like resources and territory.

The other factions within the immortal civilization were equally apprehensive about such an outcome, as they would inevitably be caught in the crossfire. This was a matter that affected everyone, and no one could expect to emerge unscathed.

Due to these tensions, many groups began to speculate that Gu Changge was the one orchestrating the alliance between the Zhuo and Hun clans behind the scenes. They believed that without his intervention, the dynamics of the immortal civilization would not have shifted so dramatically. Although many feared to confront him directly, they resorted to various means to vent their frustrations, blaming Gu Changge for shattering the peace and tranquility of the immortal civilization.

However, there were also numerous cultivators who believed that Gu Changge was not to blame. After all, the Zhuo and Hun clans shared a common ancestry, and their conflicts in recent years stemmed from a desire to annex one another and reclaim the glory of their forebears.

The annexation had never been successful, resulting in a stalemate that had persisted for countless years. However, regardless of the past, the unification of the Zhuo and Hun clans seemed inevitable; it was merely a matter of time. Gu Changge’s arrival appeared to have provided the Zhuo and Hun clans with a renewed opportunity, prompting them to set aside their longstanding enmity and begin to approach one another.

In contrast to the Zhuo and Hun clans, the Wu and Gou clans did not share such a complex ancestral relationship. Their animosity was simply the result of various grudges accumulated over the years, leading to an openly hostile dynamic.

Amidst all the discussions and speculations circulating in the outside world, many members of the Zhuo clan found themselves equally perplexed, unaware of the reasons behind these shifts in behavior. Many clansmen were merely following orders, drawn closer to the Hun clan without understanding the underlying motivations for their actions. Typically, if there were significant movements within the clan, they would be informed in advance, but this time felt different, leaving them in a state of uncertainty.

Even those clansmen whose cultivation was comparable to that of a Quasi-Immortal Emperor were left in the dark, forced to follow the orders of the clan without question.@@novelbin@@

“Zhuo Fengxie, you are so courageous! You’re attempting to overthrow our Zhuo clan and bring about its demise!”

“If the first ancestors were to awaken, would you still dare to act in such a way? Do you really think you can cover the sky with one hand for the current Zhuo clan?”

At that moment, deep within the Zhuo clan, in the Elder’s Temple, dozens of elders shouted and cursed, their faces twisted in anger. The palace was grand and ancient, a self-contained structure where chaos subtly lingered in the air, its boundaries indistinguishable and capable of accommodating countless individuals.

Previously, the elders were only allowed to enter during significant events, as this was where major decrees and instructions for the Zhuo clan were discussed. Only after thorough deliberation would their decisions be finalized and promulgated to the outside world. In essence, the Elder’s Temple was the true core lifeline of the Zhuo clan.

Today, all the notable elders of the Zhuo Clan had gathered in the Elder’s Temple, totaling more than twenty individuals. This assembly represented the true backbone of the Zhuo Clan, with every elder possessing strength comparable to the Dao Realm. Among them were several heavenly elders whose power was on par with Dao Realm existences, having survived two Heavenly Declines or three Void Dao Realms.

In the past, an elders’ meeting typically attracted a maximum of a dozen attendees. However, the gathering of over twenty elders today underscored the significance the Zhuo Clan placed on this matter.

“This matter, the old man does not agree with. If you proceed down this path, you will lead my Zhuo Clan to ruin,” one elder declared vehemently.

“I cannot stand by and watch the eternal foundation of the Zhuo Clan be destroyed by your hands. Furthermore, just because you have a good personal relationship with Hun Yuan Jun does not justify your intentions to unite with outsiders and seize control of our Zhuo Clan’s power.”

The speaker, an elder of slender build and foreign appearance, projected his real body from a distant universe. He stood firm within the palace, his gaze cold as he reprimanded Zhuo Fengxie for his recent actions.

The group of elders who had previously spoken stood firmly beside Zhuo Shixuan, clearly united against Zhuo Fengxie. Meanwhile, the other elders remained silent, observing the exchange from a distance, their expressions a mix of confusion, intrigue, and surprise.

“Elder Zhuo Shixuan, you speak gravely. I am only looking out for the Zhuo Clan. Soon, the entire immortal civilization will face a terrible catastrophe,” Zhuo Fengxie replied, his voice steady.

“What I am doing now is merely preparing for that impending disaster.”

Dressed in a flowing golden robe, Zhuo Fengxie stood with his hands clasped behind his back. The depths of his eyes seemed to reflect the vastness of the universe, as if they contained the starry sky, mountains, rivers, sun, and moon in an intricate dance. He exuded an aura of extraordinary charisma.

Zhuo Shixuan, the elder before him, was an ancient figure with a deep well of wisdom. Unlike Zhuo Wu, Zhuo You, and others, his cultivation was unfathomable, having undergone four spiritual transformations many years ago. Except for Zhuo Fengxie, Zhuo Shixuan was regarded as one of the strongest existences within the Zhuo Clan today.

Of course, there were still several ancestor-level figures within the Zhuo Clan, who remained in seclusion, diligently cultivating and condensing the original substance of the Dao. However, it was uncertain if those ancestral beings were indeed stronger than Zhuo Fengxie. This uncertainty was why the Zhuo Clan had refrained from opposing Zhuo Fengxie’s orders to draw closer to the Hun Clan during this period.

Previously, Zhuo Shixuan had been immersed in his own cultivation in the depths of time and space, completely cut off from any communication with the Hun Clan, leaving him unaware of the ongoing developments. The figure standing before them was not his true self but a projected Dharma body.

The elders hesitated to disturb the ancestors over such matters; for them, nothing held greater importance than their cultivation. Moreover, locating their ancestors was not a feasible option. Thus, they had opted to contact Zhuo Shixuan to inform him of the situation. Upon learning the full extent of the events, Zhuo Shixuan projected his Dharma body with the intent of stopping Zhuo Fengxie’s actions.

“There will be a catastrophe in the future?” At this moment, upon hearing Zhuo Fengxie’s words, Zhuo Shixuan sneered and retorted, “Why can’t the old man perceive that my Zhuo Clan possesses enduring luck, and the destiny of the immortal civilization is smooth sailing, without any significant upheavals?”

“Your alarmist rhetoric will not hold here. You think the old man is unaware of your desire to monopolize the power of the Zhuo Clan? With Hun Yuan Jun’s recent emergence, you’ve merely aligned yourself with his faction to seize control of the Zhuo Clan…”

“If you continue down this path, you’ll only provide the Wu Clan and the Gou Clan with opportunities to attack my Zhuo Clan. Do you really believe that our current strength is sufficient to withstand an assault from those two clans?”

His words caused the expressions of the other Zhuo Clan elders to shift, as they recognized the validity in his reasoning. This was precisely what they feared; they doubted whether the current strength of the Zhuo Clan could match that of the Wu and Gou Clans. Would they truly be able to rely on the Hun Clan for assistance in such a scenario?

Zhuo Fengxie insisted on pursuing his path, and the ultimate consequence could lead to the destruction of the Zhuo Clan and the ruin of the foundation of the eternal era.

“Elder Zhuo Shixuan, you are worrying too much. The catastrophe I mentioned has nothing to do with the Wu Clan and the Gou Clan. Also, I’m merely following orders…”

Despite this, Zhuo Fengxie’s expression remained impassive. He simply shook his head slightly and spoke these words.

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Shixuan frowned, sensing that something was amiss. “Zhuo Fengxie, what do you mean by that? Are you implying you’re just following orders?”

The elders present, seasoned individuals who had weathered many storms, instantly felt a sense of unease as Zhuo Fengxie’s words sank in.

“Not good…”

Someone’s complexion shifted dramatically as they observed a sudden mist enveloping the entire elder temple. The sky and earth darkened in an instant, and the original palace gate vanished, swallowed by the billowing fog.