I Truly Am The Villian

The noonday sun drifted through the heavens alongside the winter’s chill, with the occasional lone bird flying across the sky.

Xu Zimei rode atop the Dark Heaven Tiger on the main road, where he encountered too many people along the way.

Some were aboard Holy Vessels, others rode Monster Beasts, and without exception, they were all on their way to congratulate the Baili Family.

"Master, do you know of the River of Fate?" Bai Meng’s voice came from beside him, his presence unseen but his voice heard.

"I have personally witnessed the transformations of the River of Fate," Xu Zimei nodded in response.

"All beings cannot escape the shackles of the River of Fate," Bai Meng spoke slowly, "It is said that only by unlocking the twelve Vein Gates can one transcend oneself and the world, truly escaping the constraints of fate."

"What are you trying to say?" Xu Zimei asked.

Bai Meng fell silent for a moment before finally speaking, "Master, your destiny is also bound within the River of Fate."

Xu Zimei was startled; he seemed to have forgotten something before.

He had once seen the myriad transformations of destinies within the River of Fate, but he never saw anything concerning himself.

"No one can predict their own destiny. You can see the destinies of others, but not your own," Bai Meng replied, "There are also some truly powerful beings who can reach the location of the River of Fate."

Upon hearing Bai Meng’s words, Xu Zimei fell silent for a while before finally speaking, "Doesn’t that mean that before those truly powerful beings, there are no secrets among all living beings?

They are capable of inspecting the destiny of anyone at will."

"No, having the ability to go to the River of Fate and to inspect others’ destinies are two different things," Bai Meng shook his head, "Even if those powerful ones arrive before the River of Fate, if they wish to inspect the destiny of others, they must pay a painful price.

Just to view the fate of a single creature is difficult enough, let alone the destinies of all beings."

Only then did Xu Zimei understand that not everyone could possess a treasure like the Chaos Pearl, capable of freely observing the transformations of all beings’ destinies within the River of Fate.

Even if those legendary powers truly arrived before the River of Fate, they could not, like him, freely manipulate the destinies of every creature.

Or even merely manipulating the fate of a single creature would require them to pay an unimaginable price.

"What are you trying to say?" Xu Zimei frowned as he asked.

"Perhaps someone is willing to pay a great price to go to the River of Fate to inspect the master’s destiny," Bai Meng spoke slowly, "Your revival has long since ceased to be a secret."

Hearing Bai Meng’s words, Xu Zimei’s eyes narrowed slightly as he remembered something.

He had previously sent Xiao Guizi to follow Jiang Mochou, only to have her later taken away by an old man.

The old man also had Xiao Guizi bring a message to him.

"Destiny cannot be changed, and some fates are bound to come one day."

...…

"Who would want to know my destiny?" Xu Zimei asked quietly, his eyes half-closed.

"The masters’ past enemies," Bai Meng quickly replied.

"If they know of my revival, why have they not come to kill me yet?" Xu Zimei asked, puzzled.

"The rules of the Great Dao of this world restrict everything. Until you have received the Demonic Lord’s inheritance, they cannot directly change or interfere with your destiny. They can only change the fates of those around you, thus affecting the trajectory of your destiny," Bai Meng said, "Just like those people waiting for you in the Ancient Demon Cave, they too know of your revival but likewise cannot directly seek you out to interfere with your destiny."

"Why can you come directly to my side?" Xu Zimei inquired.

"I am different. Even if master you had not revived in this life, I would still have emerged. That is my mission," Bai Meng declared.

"It’s a bit troublesome," Xu Zimei frowned slightly.

The feeling of having one’s destiny scrutinized indeed displeased him, and it would hinder him in many ways in the future.

However, luckily he had already thought of a solution.

After a nonstop journey of seven days, Xu Zimei finally arrived outside Hundreds Miles City at dusk.

The sanctification ceremony for the Saintess of the Baili Family was scheduled for tomorrow.

This massive city stood between heaven and earth, its majestic aura like shocking waves, striking at the heart of every person who came here.

Xu Zimei, accompanied by the Dark Heaven Tiger, slowly walked into the city, which was brightly lit and festooned with colorful decorations.

Although it was night, the place was even livelier than during the day.

The inns within the city were all fully booked, and Xu Zimei inquired at several, finding no vacancies.

In truth, someone of his realm no longer needed to sleep.

He found a three-story building that still had space available for guests to dine, but even here, all the rooms were full.

Xu Zimei slowly ascended to the top floor; the first and second floors were already full, with only a few seats remaining on the third.

He found an empty seat and settled down casually, ordering some wine and dishes, listening to the conversations of those around him.

"I heard the Saintess of the Baili Family is called Baili Xiao; I wonder what she looks like."

"She has always been wandering outside until recently when she came back to the family. She seldom goes out, so it’s normal that we haven’t seen her," someone replied.

Upon hearing this, a person beside them sighed, "I also hope one day my parents will tell me that I am not their son, and that my real father is a ruler of the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect.

Why do such good things never happen to me?"

"Make way, I have a yellow pee, I’m coming to wake him up."

Laughter erupted from the surroundings, and someone continued, "Don’t think of Baili Xiao as just a lucky girl.

Being able to stand her ground in the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect in such a short time and even be selected as a Saintess, she definitely has talents that ordinary people can’t compare with."

"I’ve heard that Baili Xiao used to be a disciple of a major sect in the Extreme West Region."

A man dressed in black laughed, having drunk several cups of wine, he spoke up, "Let me tell you, I have been to the Extreme West Region not long ago, I know more than you do."

"Brother Zhang, come on, tell us, what happened?" The curious crowd turned their attention to the man in black, eagerly asking.

"It is said that Baili Xiao offended a sect in the Extreme West Region and almost got executed on the spot.

Only the intervention of the Baili Family Head, Baili Chengfeng—who rushed over urgently and paid a steep price—saved her," he recounted.

"Brother Zhang, you wouldn’t be making this up, would you?" laughed someone nearby. "Who in the Eastern Continent would dare disrespect the Baili Family and make Family Head Chengfeng pay such a high price?"

"The True Martial Holy Sect," the big man said coolly.

As soon as these words were said, the smiles on the faces of the onlookers, who were originally just enjoying the scene, instantly froze.

The existence of a sect with four emperors did indeed weigh on everyone like a mountain, leaving them all breathless.

Although the dominance of the True Martial Holy Sect was limited to the Extreme West Region, its renown was no less shocking to the heart of the Eastern Continent.