I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 3: Posturing? I Can Do That Too!

"Young Lord Gu, I hope you won't take this disciple's behavior to heart. This Ye Chen lacks any sense of proper etiquette."

The Taixuan Holy Lord spoke with a face clouded by gloom. While offering his apologies to Gu Changge, he couldn't resist casting a subtle, meaningful wink toward the Sect Elders.

The gathered guests observed the spectacle with intense interest; never before had the Taixuan Holy Land endured such a public loss of prestige!

"Holy Lord, allow me to handle Ye Chen and offer our sincere apologies to Young Lord Gu!"

Seeking to gain Gu Changge’s favor, Chu Xuan, the newly appointed Holy Son of the Taixuan Holy Land, took the initiative. He lunged forward before his sentence even finished, magical runes shimmering across his palms as he unleashed a testing strike against Ye Chen.

The hall echoed with a thunderous blast. The runes within Chu Xuan’s grip coalesced into a terrifying surge of lightning that took the form of a snarling dragon.

As the Holy Son of the Taixuan Holy Land, his prowess naturally eclipsed that of his contemporaries. In contrast, Ye Chen was merely an obscure Inner Sect Disciple. The gap between them was as vast as a canyon; under normal circumstances, Ye Chen shouldn't have been able to withstand a single blow from Chu Xuan.

Runes erupted and spectral light flared, nearly blinding the spectators as they watched the clash.

However, the more powerful figures present, including those from the Taixuan Holy Land, were indifferent to the fight's progress. To them, Ye Chen’s crushing defeat was a certainty.

They were relieved they didn't have to intervene personally; otherwise, they would have nowhere to hide their shame. After all, the audience for this Coronation Ceremony included representatives from various other Holy Lands and influential Clans.

The Taixuan Holy Lord had no desire to deepen the humiliation.

"Fine, then let us fight!"

Far from being intimidated, Ye Chen met the challenge with visible fervor. His aura erupted as he countered his opponent’s strike with a palm of his own.

"Ye Chen truly doesn't realize how high the Heavens are! Isn't he just overestimating his own worth and seeking his own end?"

The Inner Sect Disciples watching from the sidelines sneered with contempt.

"Holy Son Chu Xuan has already reached the half-step Transcendent Realm, while Ye Chen is stuck in the Spirit Palace Realm. That isn't even considering the Holy Son’s [Hell Thunder Divine Physique]…"

"The conclusion is already written in stone…"

One by one, the disciples reached the same verdict—Ye Chen was simply throwing his life away.

In the following instant, fire flared and thunder roared. The meeting of intense heat and brilliant light produced a deafening explosion.

When the dust settled, Chu Xuan’s frame was shaking, a numb sensation spreading through his limbs. Conversely, Ye Chen remained rooted to the spot with a look of supreme confidence, appearing like a youthful God of Fire.

"What?!"

"He possesses that much strength…"

The eyes of several female disciples sparkled as they gazed at Ye Chen’s striking figure. His power far surpassed their expectations, leaving many onlookers in a state of shock.

From that single exchange, it was clear that the two were evenly matched.

"Ye Chen is only at the Spirit Palace Realm, yet he can withstand a strike from the Holy Son, who is a half-step into the Transcendent Realm?"

Both the Elders and the disciples were left speechless by the result.

Even the Taixuan Holy Lord, who had been watching with a dark expression, was visibly shaken.

After all, Chu Xuan possessed the [Hell Thunder Divine Physique] and was capable of fighting those in higher Realms. He had few equals among his generation. How could he fail to defeat someone like Ye Chen—who was nearly an entire Realm lower—in one move?

Was it possible that Ye Chen’s potential eclipsed Chu Xuan’s? Why had his extraordinary talent remained hidden until this moment?

Of course, if there was anyone in the room who wasn't surprised by this development, it was Gu Changge!

After all, Ye Chen was a Favored Son of Heaven.

Defying expectations and delivering face-slapping reversals was standard behavior for people like him.

Gu Changge took a slow, deliberate sip of his tea.

Without any hint of urgency, he finally spoke.

"You seem to place a great deal of confidence in Ye Chen’s abilities?"

Su Qingge turned her head the moment the words reached her. Her composed figure couldn't help but shudder slightly, releasing a faint, elegant scent of orchids into the air.

Though she remained silent, her small movements betrayed her internal state.

Gu Changge fixed her with a profound stare and smiled. "This performance of calm… isn't it just to convince me you have no connection to Ye Chen? Are you worried I might take action against him?"

"You are quite a cunning woman."

With just a few words, he had exposed her little deception.

Su Qingge realized this man was far more difficult to handle than she had anticipated. This realization made her feel more anxious than his previous indifference ever had.

Nevertheless, she kept her lips pressed together, refusing to say a word.

Gu Changge glanced down at his cup and remarked in a flat tone, "It’s empty…"

Su Qingge looked at him, then silently lifted the teapot to provide a refill.

"Interesting…"

Gu Changge spoke with a cryptic grin. It was unclear if he was talking to himself or addressing Su Qingge directly.

The hand Su Qingge used to hold the teacup trembled.

To Gu Changge, identifying such a worn-out cliché was effortless. The source of Ye Chen’s sudden agitation today was simple: he had discovered that the Taixuan Holy Lord had sent his own daughter to Gu Changge’s chambers the previous night.

What Ye Chen didn't realize was that the original Gu Changge was a man of cold temperament, entirely devoted to his Cultivation, and hadn't even laid a finger on Su Qingge.

From everything that had transpired, Gu Changge quickly identified Su Qingge as one of the so-called Heroines.

And from a narrative standpoint, Ye Chen—a man who rose from obscurity, traveled across countless dynasties, and eventually joined the Taixuan Holy Land—was clearly the Protagonist. In fact, the story had likely reached its midpoint.

Su Qingge possessed immense talent, a stunning appearance, and the status of the Taixuan Holy Land’s Holy Maiden. Beyond that, she was highly intelligent.

She understood that if Ye Chen clashed with Gu Changge, it would be like an egg hitting a mountain. Consequently, she didn't beg for mercy on Ye Chen’s behalf; doing so would only make Gu Changge loathe him more.

Her best strategy was to maintain an air of total indifference, showing Gu Changge that she had no ties to Ye Chen whatsoever.

If such a woman wasn't a Heroine, then who was?

Unfortunately for her, Gu Changge had already decoded her intentions.

He viewed the world as if from an omnipotent perspective. Furthermore, now that he knew he was the villain, he had no intention of letting Su Qingge slip through his fingers.

A melon picked by force might not be sweet, but it could certainly still stop one's thirst.

"I certainly underestimated you!"

The Taixuan Holy Son, Chu Xuan, spoke with an icy tone. His stance made it clear he intended to keep fighting. It would be a massive embarrassment if he couldn't take down Ye Chen while everyone—especially Gu Changge—was watching.

However, Gu Changge had already moved to stand near them, waving a hand to halt the proceedings.

"How boring."

The moment those words were uttered, Ye Chen stood frozen in a daze.

"Since this situation involves me, I won't trouble Holy Son Chu Xuan further," Gu Changge added, his eyes settling on Ye Chen’s face.

"Your lack of fear… is it born of pure ignorance?"

Gu Changge whispered, his gaze dropping.

In the next breath, a massive, overwhelming pressure descended upon the hall, as if the heavens themselves had collapsed. A violent storm of energy erupted as runes flashed and spirit energy surged wildly.

A primal fear gripped everyone present, reaching deep into their souls. Even the Elders were visibly startled.

"So this is the true strength of Young Lord Gu…"

The Taixuan Holy Lord’s expression turned grave.

As the primary target of this overwhelming force, Ye Chen’s face turned ghostly pale. His legs gave way, and he was forced to his knees instantly. Even with his arms braced against the floor, he could barely stop his head from slamming into the ground.

He was being completely crushed.

Regardless of how hard he tried to contact the Master residing within his ring, there was no response.

Exerting every ounce of his strength, Ye Chen managed to lift his head to glare at the white-clad man who looked down on him as if he were an insignificant insect. Ye Chen was in disbelief; he couldn't accept being defeated so easily.

Gu Changge maintained a cold, superior facade while mocking him internally. The outcome of the previous fight was obvious. Had he let it continue, Ye Chen would have eventually bested Chu Xuan and humiliated everyone.

Following that, Ye Chen would likely have challenged him to a future duel with some high-stakes bet. With that powerful "Grandpa" hidden in his ring, wouldn't that be an easy path to victory for him?

It was a classic setup.

Too bad! Gu Changge was a Transmigrator, and he had come equipped with a cheat of his own!