I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1271:

1632. The tainted blood essence; a scheme against the Saintess of Xiyuan.

“If the current trajectory holds, Chu Gucheng will likely pay a personal visit to the Champion Marquis Mansion soon to deliver his sympathies.”

“The Champion Marquis, Chu Heng, remains trapped on the front lines, locked in combat with the forces of Purple Cloud Mountain and the Demon Court. He is unable to return and investigate the circumstances of his wife’s passing. Foreseeing this, Chu Gucheng suspected Chu Heng would dispatch a loyal subordinate in his stead. Consequently, he has already deployed his dark guards to ambush them on the road…”

The Eternal Spirit, maintaining its disguise as Old Fu, gave a respectful report to Gu Changge, detailing the events Old Fu had witnessed firsthand.

Nodding with a thin smile, Gu Changge remarked, “Chu Gucheng possesses a sharper mind and a more ruthless streak than I anticipated. However, this development suits my purposes perfectly.”

“Find a path to leak these details to Chu Bai. Having served under Champion Marquis Chu Heng, his animosity toward Chu Gucheng is profound. He will understand exactly how to exploit this moment.”

His instructions were directed toward the Spirit of the Scavenger Book.

The Sun-shooting Bow currently held by Chu Bai had been forged by Gu Changge using chaotic materials pulled from the River of Fate. During its creation, he had the Spirit of the Scavenger Book embed a fragment of her Dao Body within the weapon, masquerading as its innate companion spirit.

One could argue that the entire escalating war between the Immortal Chu Haotu and the Demon Court was ignited by that very Sun-shooting Bow.

“I shall see it done.”

The Spirit of the Scavenger Book gave a nod. Her misty, indistinct form drifted through the air like a pillar of smoke, lacking a solid shape.

Over this period, she had been a witness to Gu Changge’s terrifying efficiency. Without ever drawing a blade, he had pushed the vast Immortal Chu Haotu to the brink of total collapse.

She realized that if the kingdom she once ruled had encountered an adversary like Gu Changge, it would have surely met the same fate as the Immortal Chu Haotu.

Such a foe was chillingly formidable, inspiring a deep, bone-deep sense of dread.

“Do not worry, I intend to uphold our agreement. Once this affair concludes, I will fulfill my promise to you,” Gu Changge said with a light smile, sensing the Spirit’s underlying anxiety.

Though he never pried into her history, Gu Changge was well aware of her desire to be purged from the Scavenger Book, reclaim her autonomy, and exact vengeance on those who had imprisoned her.

While Gu Changge possessed the power to liberate her and reconstruct her physical form now, he chose to wait. Her current existence as a spirit was far more advantageous for his immediate needs.

Once her utility reached its end, he would indeed grant her freedom. Gu Changge was not the type to discard his word once it was given.

“I place my trust in you, naturally.”

The Spirit of the Scavenger Book nodded in response. She knew she had no alternative but to rely on him. Even though Gu Changge’s predictions were coming to pass, dismantling the foundation of the Immortal Chu Haotu remained a monumental task.

Despite the relentless pressure from Purple Cloud Mountain and the Demon Court, the actual damage to the Immortal Chu Haotu had been limited. Thus far, only a single Heavenly God General had fallen. Other deities sent to the front were wounded and retreated, while those at the Dao-level were notoriously difficult to pin down, capable of vanishing into the folds of space and time upon defeat.

In such a massive conflict, Dao-level entities were the true arbiters of fate. To put it bluntly, lower-tier Cultivation practitioners were merely fodder. Even those at the level of Immortal Kings or quasi-Immortal Emperors were little more than high-grade distractions.

Victory rested in the hands of Immortal Emperors or those of higher Dao-level status. Even with the Soul-devouring Ancient Formation provided by Gu Changge, the Demon Court required the sacrifice of countless demonic lives to activate its true potency.

These sacrificed beings served only to exhaust the enemy’s resources and could not fundamentally shift the tide of the war.

While the Demon Court had initially caught the Immortal Chu Haotu off guard with the formation, that was only because few Dao-level experts were involved at the start. If enough Dao-level masters were present, they could shatter such an array through sheer, overwhelming force.

It had to be acknowledged that the heritage of the Immortal Chu Haotu was deep. Their tally of Dao-level experts surpassed most other Immortal Dao lineages. This was why, even after Purple Cloud Mountain joined the fray, the Immortal Chu Haotu had not suffered a catastrophic blow.

Furthermore, other major powers within the Xiyuan civilization were still observing from the shadows. Neither the Demon Court nor Purple Cloud Mountain dared to commit their full strength, needing to preserve forces to protect their own Sect gates and ancestral lands.

Currently, the Immortal Chu Haotu was even attempting to rally other factions to suppress Purple Cloud Mountain, under the pretext that they were conspiring with the remnants of the Black Calamity.

Gu Changge found one detail particularly intriguing: how had Zi Wanhe managed to obtain a replica of the Burial World Coffin?

Sealed within that dark casket was corrupted blood essence, saturated with dark matter. To the untrained eye, it was invisible, but Gu Changge recognized it instantly.

The dark haze currently suffocating the Immortal Chu Haotu was being generated by this blood essence, though it wasn't pure dark matter.

The disparity between the two was as vast as the difference between the replica and the authentic Burial World Coffin.

This led Gu Changge to wonder if, throughout the long ages, certain Dao forces had been trying to mimic him, hoping to reconstruct dark origin matter and revive the Tian Organization.

Alternatively, it could be the handiwork of the Black Calamity remnants themselves.

Zi Wanhe, the leader of Purple Cloud Mountain, had clearly entered into a clandestine pact with those remnants.

Though the remnants of the Black Calamity originated from the Tian Organization, they held no real connection to Gu Changge now. He had never intended for such a group to persist.

In his design, the Tian Organization was a relic of a bygone era, meant to be swallowed by the river of time and forgotten.

Yet, these survivors of the Black Calamity remained active across various territories, infiltrating Sects, nations, and civilizations.

This persistence was a minor surprise to Gu Changge.

As the former master of the Tian Organization, he had assumed the group would be annihilated by various civilizations following his downfall. He hadn't left them as a contingency plan; in fact, the organization was created specifically to be destroyed.

From its inception, the Tian Organization was destined for oblivion.

Gu Changge decided that once the matter of the Immortal Chu Haotu was resolved, he would investigate these lingering remnants. They might still possess some utility.

...

“This Easy Fetal Creation Grand Pill is now in your hands. You are a clever girl; you know what must be done.”

“The Saintess of Xiyuan once permitted you to stay at the Xiyuan Holy Hall because of my influence. If you approach her now, she is unlikely to suspect anything.”

Deep within the inner chambers of the Immortal Chu Haotu’s palace, Chu Gucheng and his daughter, Chu Xinyue, were whispering in secret.

Chu Gucheng produced a silk pouch containing the Easy Fetal Creation Grand Pill. The pill, roughly the size of a fist, radiated an ethereal glow. It looked as though it could facilitate the evolution of any living soul within the heavens.

“Do not worry, Father. I understand my role. I have already discussed the complexities of this pill with Senior Xing Ying. I will ensure there are no errors.”

Chu Xinyue nodded firmly, accepting the pill and stowing it away as if it were a priceless relic.

With a satisfied look, Chu Gucheng added, “This mission must remain strictly confidential. Not a soul can know. In just three days, the fortunes of the Immortal Chu Haotu will be reversed.”

“From that moment on, the Chu family shall reign over the entire Xiyuan Civilization.”

“I understand perfectly, Father.”

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Chu Xinyue gave a solemn nod.

She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Father, regarding the tragedy at the Champion Marquis Mansion... was that truly my Big Brother...?”

She had been stunned by the news, unable to guess who would commit such a bold crime. However, after reflecting on the morning’s events at the palace, she couldn't help but draw dark conclusions.

Chu Gucheng’s smile vanished. He rubbed his brow and replied, “It is best if you do not ask about that. Trust your brother. Wu Shang is disciplined and mature; he would never act in a way that would harm our ultimate goals.”

Chu Xinyue took the hint immediately. “I see, Father. I have always believed in Big Brother. I am sure he had his reasons for whatever he did.”

Chu Gucheng smiled warmly. “Then I shall take my leave.”

Chu Xinyue departed quickly, though her internal state was far from settled. She struggled to reconcile the image of her steady brother, Chu Wushang, with the violence of the previous night.

Memories of her youth surfaced. Back then, her brother and the wife of the Champion Marquis, Qinglan, were inseparable childhood friends. Everyone had expected them to marry.

But life had taken a different turn. It appeared that after all these years, her brother had never truly moved on.

Outside the palace, Ouyang Ji, the Young Master of the Carefree Heavenly Palace, was waiting for her. Seeing her troubled expression, he stepped forward and asked, “Xinyue, is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing, just some heavy thoughts,” she replied, offering him a brief look before shaking off her distraction.

Ouyang Ji, accustomed to her cool demeanor, smiled. “As long as you are alright. After we spoke last night, I contacted my father in the Xudan Civilization regarding the crisis here.”

“He was outraged by the situation and has already dispatched several powerful Elders to reinforce the Immortal Chu Haotu. Even an Ancestor from the Ancestor Dao realm is on the way.”

An Ancestor of the Ancestor Dao realm represented the ultimate foundation of a lineage, rarely leaving their seclusion. In both the Supreme Realm and the Cangmang Realm, such figures held power far beyond standard Dao-level practitioners.

Sending such a figure proved how much the Carefree Heavenly Palace valued this alliance.

Chu Xinyue’s face lit up with a genuine smile of gratitude. “Thank you, Ji Lang. With your Sect’s help, we will surely survive this. Once the dust settles, Father will certainly formalize our union, and no one will be able to object.”

Ouyang Ji beamed. “Xinyue, there is no need for such thanks between us.”

While the Carefree Heavenly Palace wasn't the absolute peak of the Xudan True Realm, its history was formidable. At its zenith, it could challenge the greatest Immortal lineages.

Any other woman might have been touched by Ouyang Ji’s devotion, but Chu Xinyue was different.

While she acted moved, she secretly viewed him as weak. He was too easily manipulated by his emotions and lacked the steel required for greatness.

Had he shown more competence, she might have actually considered the marriage. As it stood, she intended to discard him the moment he was no longer useful.

“I am going to see the Saintess of Xiyuan to ask about the Heavenly Extermination Alliance. Would you like to join me, Ji Lang?” she asked smoothly.

“The Saintess of Xiyuan?”

Ouyang Ji hesitated, then shook his head. “You should go alone. I’ve heard she has been quite irritable lately, turning away all visitors. I’d rather not go just to be insulted.”

Chu Xinyue nodded, unsurprised. The Saintess was notorious for being difficult, even for her father. However, based on their childhood connection at the Xiyuan Holy Hall, Chu Xinyue felt confident she would be received.

After leaving Ouyang Ji, she headed toward the Saintess’s pavilion. Along the way, she secretly consumed the Easy Fetal Creation Grand Pill. A misty sensation immediately began to wrap around her soul.

She could feel a strange energy vibrating with every breath. With a mere thought, she could perceive the auras, appearances, and movements of everyone in her vicinity.

“So this is the formless illusion Senior Xing Ying mentioned...”

She was stunned. The ability to transform into anyone at will was beyond her wildest dreams. It wasn't just a physical change; it altered her aura, fate, and destiny. She could effectively steal someone’s life.

The pill had one flaw: it could mimic the aura of a cultivation level but not the actual power. In a real fight, she would be exposed.

But she wasn't worried. She was becoming the Saintess of Xiyuan—who would dare to strike her?

In another part of the estate, a jade talisman in Gu Changge’s hand began to glow. Ouyang Ji’s respectful voice filtered through.

“Young Master Gu, Chu Gucheng and Chu Xinyue are moving against the Saintess. I am unsure of their specific method, but Chu Xinyue seemed entirely certain of success.”

“If they capture the Saintess, the balance of power in Xiyuan could shift unpredictably.”

“Chu Xinyue is currently on her way to the Saintess’s residence...”

“A plot against the Saintess of Xiyuan?”

Gu Changge toyed with the talisman, lost in thought.

The Saintess possessed the Reincarnation Mirror and was a master of divination. It seemed unlikely she wouldn't see this coming. However, even the most skilled planners have blind spots, and the Saintess was no exception.

“I am curious to see what Chu Gucheng has planned,” he murmured.

Gu Changge stood up and began walking toward the Saintess’s pavilion. He had no plans to leave the Immortal Chu Haotu yet, and besides, the security lockdown ordered by Chu Gucheng made it difficult for any guest to depart.

Meanwhile, at the borders of the Immortal Chu Haotu and the Demon Court, a massive, suffocating demonic aura began to surge across the stars, engulfing the entire universe.