I Truly Am The Villian Chapter 2269 - 2268: Two Slain, Lifespans Depleted

At the apex of that stepped aurora.

Laser barriers, erupting like divine halberds, repelled all assaults, keeping anyone at bay from Xu Zimei.

However, the confrontation was far from concluded.

Witnessing their attacks rendered futile, Flame General and Qingfeng were plunged into horror.

Exchanging startled glances, a profound astonishment settled upon them.

These were, after all, the culmination of their powers.

Whether it was the immense, searing sky assault or the frigid blade concealed within the inferno.

Neither managed to inflict even a scratch upon the protective field surrounding Xu Zimei.

A retreat began to form in their minds.

Yet, before their intentions could crystallize into action.

Xu Zimei's formidable aura had already unfurled.

Without intending to slay them outright, Xu Zimei directed his power through sheer momentum alone.

Beneath the radiance of his aurora-like aura.

Flame General and Qingfeng felt an immense pressure, as if a colossal mountain bore down upon their backs.

This celestial mountain's weight surpassed any conceivable limit, far exceeding ten thousand pounds.

With a resounding 'boom'.

The defensive Qi that swirled around them surged, attempting a defiant stand against the encroaching mountain.

But alas, their efforts were a pale imitation, a flicker of light challenging the brilliance of the sun and moon.

Their resistance proved utterly inconsequential.

'Rum-blum, rum-blum.'

Their forms, much like kites with severed strings, were sent plummeting from the sky.

Below them, the Blade Mountain and Fiery Sea, now guided by Xu Zimei's imposing aura, unleashed their fury, the fiery sea drawing in boundless volcanic energy.

They were engulfed in a spectacular, fiery embrace.

Previously, this very Fiery Sea had been instrumental in ending the lives of countless individuals.

Now, ensnared and roasted within its incandescent depths.

The pain inflicted was so profound it threatened to shatter their very souls, an unimaginable torment that gnawed at their Divine Souls.

Swiftly, a deluge of Heavenly Mysterious Cold Blades rained down from the heavens.

Piercing them directly, fixing them within the fiery void.

Truth be told, Xu Zimei had initially hesitated to extinguish their lives, opting for dialogue instead.

Yet, they had failed to grasp the offered reprieve.

Resurrecting the volcano and hiding blades within the flames, they had shown no mercy.

Consequently, Xu Zimei harbored no further inclination for gentleness.

As Flame General and Qingfeng were impaled within the void, their eyes widened in disbelief.

For this was the very gateway to the Netherworld Realm.

Practically their own territory, yet an outsider dared to mete out such a swift demise.

Upon their deaths, two wisps of grey mist ascended from their forms.

Drifting inwards, towards the realm of the departed.

Xu Zimei understood that these mists represented the residual essence of Flame General and Qingfeng.

The Netherworld Realm is a place distinct from the other Nine Domains.

This is the dominion of the deceased.

Not only are the souls that arrive here spirits, but even the very custodians of this realm have met their end.

Flame General and Qingfeng were, in essence, Divine Souls reanimated by the Lord of the Dead Spirits.

So long as their essence persisted, resurrection was within their grasp.

However, they were not fully intact beings.

Their existence was confined to the death-attributed world of the Netherworld Realm.

Should they venture into other domains, their essence would inevitably dissipate over time.

Their very being would vanish.

Thus, this spectral characteristic serves as both the boon and the curse of the Netherworld Realm.

It is a rarity to encounter inhabitants of the Netherworld Realm venturing beyond its borders.

Witnessing the demise of Flame General and Qingfeng, the assembled onlookers erupted in a cheer.

'Now that they have fallen, the path to the Netherworld Realm is open for us.'

'Who precisely was that formidable lord? His name is unknown to us.'

With the formidable Blade Mountain Fiery Sea no longer an impediment, Xu Zimei, bypassing the throng, journeyed directly into the Netherworld Realm.

Thus, as they watched his retreating figure, a murmur of discussion swept through the crowd.

'Unknown, perhaps our limited perceptions prevent us from comprehending the world of such a great being.'

'It underscores the importance of discretion. You were just disparaging that lord; had he taken offense, a catastrophe of immense proportions could have ensued.'

...

With the Blade Mountain Fiery Sea's barrier dissolved, the gathered populace streamed into the Netherworld Realm without impedance.

Yet, their optimism proved tragically misplaced.

Upon crossing the threshold into the Netherworld Realm, each individual felt their lifespan rapidly diminishing.

And this decline was not gradual; it was a visible, precipitous drop.

This startling revelation sent waves of panic through the assembly.

While they were cultivators, and stronger ones possessed longevity, their lifespans were not infinite.

Now, collective dread descended.

The prospect of aiding others became secondary; prolonging their stay meant certain demise, even without external attack.

'I cannot endure this any longer, my life is draining away, I must depart.'

Some of the less robust cultivators, unable to withstand the onslaught, sought immediate escape.

This contingent faltered instantly.

But by the time they attempted to retreat, it was already far too late.

The passage by which they had entered had vanished, the gateway dissolving into the ethereal void.

Terror gripped the faces of everyone present.

Casting their gazes about, they discerned that the Netherworld Realm comprised an archipelago of countless, interconnected islands.

Before their eyes, innumerable landmasses floated adrift upon a sea of black mist, appearing utterly boundless.

Enveloping the islands on all sides was an abyss of black mist.

This churning vapor possessed a voracious appetite, consuming all in its path.

These newfound entrants found themselves situated upon the outermost island.

Tentatively, they reached out to test the ominously swirling black mist.

The instant their skin made contact with the mist, they were utterly consumed, their life signs instantly extinguished.

This dire outcome served only to deepen the expressions of fear etched onto their faces.

This place is truly a dead end and a blind alley!

"What should we do, what should we do?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Let's explore the island; there might be a turning point."

Some suppressed their fear, determined to explore.

...$ ...$ After Xu Zimei entered the Netherworld Realm alone.

The deaths of Flame General and Qingfeng were quickly sensed by the realm's powerful beings.

Xu Zimei's arrival also drew attention.

Upon entering, powerful beings guarded the entrance.

But they did not trouble Xu Zimei; the patriarch's orders were known to them.

They knew it would be suicide to stop Xu Zimei with their strength.

The Lord of the Dead Spirits had sent them to welcome Xu Zimei.

Encountering Xu Zimei, four elders appeared in the sky.

Bowing, they proclaimed, "The Four Elders of Annihilation have come to greet the lord, inviting you to our Netherworld Realm."

"I thought you came to settle scores," Xu Zimei chuckled.

"The Domain Master wishes to meet you, please follow us," an elder stated.

But Xu Zimei waved his hand.

He said, "There's no rush; I can meet your Domain Master anytime.

I wish to explore your Netherworld Realm first."

After all, Xu Zimei planned to establish the Eighteen Levels of Hell, utilizing extreme good and evil forces as his foundation.

He had established the Hell institution long ago.

However, the Path of Cause and Effect and returning to heaven were crucial matters.

Thus, upon arriving in the Netherworld Realm, Xu Zimei desired to observe.

The workings of the Netherworld Realm.

He might just gain some inspiration.