I Truly Am The Villian

Azure Mountain still stands, through many a sunsetting red.

Having been away so long, even venturing to the Eternal Ancient Continent, Xu Zimei found that the True Martial Holy Sect remained unchanged for ten thousand years.

Upon Azure Mountain Peak, the green trees were lush and thriving, seemingly having grown several meters taller than when he had left, with dense branches and flourishing leaves.

He tucked away the Dark Heaven Tiger and made his way along the path up Azure Mountain Peak.

At the peak, the scenery was pleasant, with a gentle breeze blowing softly.

The small river flowed slowly, its water clear to the bottom, and red carp tumbled within it.

"Mo Er," Wenren Yun exclaimed in surprise.

She hurried over.

"Mother," Xu Zimei called out with a smile.

"You child, once you leave, it’s for several years, never thinking to come home more often," Wenren Yun complained.

A cough rang out, and Xu Qingshan emerged from the thatched cottage up ahead.

"A man should travel the four corners of the world; such womanly compassion doesn’t suit you," Xu Qingshan huffed, then continued.

"As if you know any better," Wenren Yun muttered under her breath.

"If anything were to happen to Mo Er, I’d never forgive you."

Xu Zimei shook his head with a headache. These two still loved to bicker so much.

"Come back and have a good rest for a while; your Destiny is also starting to take shape," Xu Qingshan said.

"I’m afraid there’s no time for that; I just came back to take a look.

I’ll probably have to leave again in a while," Xu Zimei said with a smile.

"The closer it gets, the more pressing time becomes."

"Is there anything your father can help you with?" Xu Qingshan asked.

"No need, I’ll check some materials in the Scripture Pavilion later," Xu Zimei replied, shaking his head.

"You’ve grown up; we can’t control you anymore," Wenren Yun said with a sigh from the side.

"Take good care of yourself out there; knowing you’re safe and sound is all I need for peace of mind."

Xu Zimei nodded with a smile.

He spent an afternoon on Azure Mountain Peak, chatting with his parents.

By evening, he finally returned to his own Goose Southern Peak.

Chun Xiang and Xia Qiu had stayed in the courtyard this whole time.

The room had been cleaned spotlessly, although it had been unoccupied for a long time.

With the attendance of the two, Xu Zimei took a warm bath.

In the pavilion of the courtyard, as the autumn wind blew, the tree at the center swayed with the wind’s rustling.

That night, Xu Zimei did not practice his cultivation; instead, he lay on the recliner with the autumn breeze blowing and peacefully slept.

This might have been the most peaceful sleep he’d had in some time.

A night without a word.

As the day gradually brightened, Xu Zimei also woke from his drowsy sleep.

He stretched lazily and only then noticed that Lin Ruhu had been waiting early in the nearby pavilion.

"Brother Zimo," Lin Ruhu said, scratching his head with a somewhat simple and honest smile.

"How have you been lately?" Xu Zimei asked with a smile.

After not seeing him for a long time, Lin Ruhu’s aura had become even more intense.

Having fused with the Heavenly Gang Fierce Tiger Body, his sense of ferocity and evil Qi were incredibly thick, as if with every move, he was a humanoid fierce beast.

His skin had darkened considerably, resembling bronze, and he had grown much taller; his muscles were well-defined.

"Pretty good, I am now able to fully integrate with my Battle Body," Lin Ruhu said.

"When the time comes for you to strive for Destiny, I might be able to offer you some help."

Xu Zimei patted Lin Ruhu’s shoulder, smiling, "Come walk with me around the Sect Gate."

The two left Goose Southern Peak and began to stroll around the True Martial Holy Sect.

Lin Ruhu told Xu Zimei a lot; for him, there were no secrets between them.

Because the two of them were the best of brothers.

Winter was approaching, and the autumn wind was howling fiercely, as if it wanted to showcase its final brilliance.

"By the way, Senior Brother, the Life-and-Death Cave of our sect opened a while ago," Lin Ruhu suddenly said.

"Life-and-Death Cave?" Xu Zimei reminisced for a moment.

It seemed that every time the battle for destiny was about to begin, the True Martial Holy Sect would open the Life-and-Death Cave to let some core disciples enter.

They say that at the end of this Life-and-Death Cave lies Endless Mountain.

And the so-called Endless Mountain is where each generation’s War Generals and ancestors of the True Martial Holy Sect reside.

Being able to meet the ancestors and receive guidance one-on-one, what an honor that would be.

But for Xu Zimei at the moment, it was also something he could take or leave.

"Did anyone go in?" Xu Zimei asked.

"Several True Disciples went crazy for it," Lin Ruhu said with a sarcastic laugh.

"Xiang Qianheng and Sword Twenty-One entered several times, but none were successful."

"That’s quite a pity," Xu Zimei smiled and said.

"Senior Brother, why don’t you give it a try?" Lin Ruhu asked.

"I heard from Grandpa that to get through the Life-and-Death Cave, you must understand the mysteries of life and death, and I don’t quite understand it myself."

Just then, a disciple in a blue robe hurried over from a distance.

"Saint Heir," the disciple greeted Xu Zimei, and then said,

"The Sect Master wants to see you."

"Understood, I will be there shortly," Xu Zimei waved his hand.

Watching the disciple leave, Lin Ruhu laughed and said, "I bet the Sect Master wants to remind you of something.

After all, this era’s destiny is too important for our sect; it has been a long time since the Divine Travel Great Emperor that our True Martial Holy Sect produced another Great Emperor."

Xu Zimei nodded.

He then accompanied Lin Ruhu for a little while longer in the Sect Gate,

before heading to Heaven Origin Peak.

Heaven Origin Peak was located above the Sect Gate, surrounded by chains piercing through the void.

It was like a solitary mountain, covered with flowers, grass, and trees.

Xu Zimei climbed up the mountain, walking on a path made of river pebbles, shaded by the lush trees on both sides,

until he arrived at the riverbank he had visited before.

Sect Master Xiao was still seated at the beginning of the bridge, fishing.

Meng Chenxue, the disciple by his side, held a longsword and stood respectfully to one side.

Upon seeing Xu Zimei’s arrival, Meng Chenxue’s gaze flickered slightly.

After all, the impression he had left on her was too profound.

Her once pride was shattered to worthlessness.

"You’ve arrived," Sect Master Xiao slowly put down his fishing pole and smiled at Xu Zimei.

He still appeared so young, as if time had never left a mark on him.

He wore a blue robe that was somewhat worn but clean.

"Sorry to interrupt the Sect Master’s fishing," Xu Zimei smiled-and said.

"Not at all," Sect Master Xiao shaking his head asked.

"How confident are you about this destiny?"

"There’s no need for the Sect Master to be so concerned about destiny. It’s not very important, even being a Great Emperor is just another realm," Xu Zimei replied.

"You boy, you’ve not been staying in the sect these years, you’ve been to all corners of the world, and now your words have grown bolder," Sect Master Xiao said with a chuckle.

Then he added, "But in this world, countless people have failed to become Great Emperors and have turned to dust; it’s not that easy!"

With that, Sect Master Xiao shook his head and muttered to himself, "I’m being redundant asking you this. Don’t underestimate the heroes of the world. Nobody knows the outcome before the struggle begins."