I Truly Am The Villian Chapter 2282 - 2281: Nine Refinements to Godhood, Crushing All Opposition

It was an exceedingly perilous endeavor to attempt deception before a domain master, as even a minor misstep could lead to utter annihilation.

This particular encounter, coupled with the Ninth Refinement True Monarch's inherent wariness, lent it a unique significance.

Hence, his prolonged patience until this very moment.

While the precise intentions of the Lord of the Dead Spirits remained obscure, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch possessed a general understanding.

It was undeniable that the Lord of the Dead Spirits harbored nefarious schemes.

The very existence of this Netherworld Realm was intrinsically tied to a grand conspiracy.

With the Lord of the Dead Spirits now ensnared, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch saw an opportune moment to pursue its secrets without impediment.

After all, given his formidable power, within the entire Netherworld Realm, no one else could contend with him, the Lord of the Dead Spirits excluded.

"Boom..."

Before his eyes, a swirling mass of black mist erupted violently.

The Ninth Refinement True Monarch's brow furrowed slightly. He extended a fist, imbued with the potent force of time, and unleashed it.

The resulting explosion shattered the black mist, dispersing it into nothingness.

However, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch himself was propelled backward by the force of the blast.

This unexpected turn of events caused his frown to deepen, his expression shifting with concern.

"Who dares to launch a surprise attack upon me?"

From the dissipating black mist, Xu Zimei's figure gradually materialized.

In truth, he had no prior knowledge of the Ninth Refinement True Monarch, nor did he possess any interest in the affairs concerning the foster son of the Lord of the Dead Spirits.

Nevertheless, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch's presence in this location during this period could only signify ill intentions.

Upon observing Xu Zimei, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch found him somewhat unfamiliar, a rarity given his extensive tenure in the Netherworld Realm.

He never once entertained the possibility of this being a contingency plan devised by the Lord of the Dead Spirits. His immediate assumption was that another party had arrived before him.

"Who exactly are you?" the Ninth Refinement True Monarch inquired, his frown intensifying.

"And who might you be?" Xu Zimei retorted, his tone dismissive.

"I am Ming Leng. It is surprising that you do not recognize me. My father is the Lord of the Dead Spirits," the Ninth Refinement True Monarch declared, employing a testing tactic.

"Are you here to pilfer the supreme treasure of my Netherworld Realm?"

"Since when did the Lord of the Dead Spirits acquire a son? However, it matters little," Xu Zimei stated nonchalantly, dismissing the claim with a wave of his hand.

"The Lord of the Dead Spirits has just been ensnared by the realm's rules, and you conveniently appear here at this precise moment!"

Xu Zimei saw no need to prolong this exchange.

Recognizing that his opponent presented a problem, he chose to conclude the conversation swiftly.

Powerful energy surged and coalesced around him.

He simply extended a single finger, directing it towards the Ninth Refinement True Monarch.

This seemingly simple gesture contained an immeasurable force, causing the Ninth Refinement True Monarch's frown to grow even deeper.

The instant such a potent offensive was launched, an overwhelming sense of pressure descended.

Furthermore, he could not recall any individual possessing such immense power residing within the Netherworld Realm.

"Truly well concealed!"

With a mere wave of his right hand, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch summoned several Fish of Ages.

Through the intricate cycle of reincarnation, he had mastered the most formidable power: the essence of time.

Time, silent and swift, flows ceaselessly.

Time can bestow longevity upon mortals, and it can also consign them to eternal oblivion.

Such is the profound nature of time's power.

At this juncture, the summoned Fish of Ages swam within the Ninth Refinement True Monarch's grasp. He made another motion with his hand.

As the Fish of Ages moved their tails, countless rivers of time materialized and surged forward.

These temporal streams flowed languidly, and as Xu Zimei's pointed finger descended, it was immediately engulfed by the ceaseless flow of time.

Xu Zimei perceived a chilling aura of time emanating from the void. It felt as though this temporal force sought to erode him, to actively devour his very life essence.

"You are overestimating your own abilities."

Xu Zimei uttered this with a cold snort.

While the power of time was indeed formidable, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch was simply not on his level.

He intensified the power emanating from his right hand.

That terrifying force surged like the relentless momentum of an oceanic tide.

It instantly overwhelmed the rivers of time, advancing to crush the Ninth Refinement True Monarch.

In that very instant, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch's expression contorted in shock.

His body moved with extreme speed, attempting to evade the devastating strike.

However, Xu Zimei's finger moved with even greater celerity.

It directly struck the Ninth Refinement True Monarch, sending him hurtling away.

With a resounding "boom," the powerful detonation echoed, causing the entire expanse of black mist to disintegrate.

Xu Zimei's brow furrowed slightly.

He observed the Ninth Refinement True Monarch manage to rise once more, though blood poured from his mouth as if he were performing a sacrificial rite.

Despite sustaining grievous injuries, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch remained alive.

Given the Ninth Refinement True Monarch's strength, a single finger strike from Xu Zimei should have been sufficient to obliterate him completely.

Xu Zimei harbored no doubts about the accuracy of his own attack.

Therefore, an unusual element must be at play concerning the Ninth Refinement True Monarch.

A mocking smile played on his lips.

Xu Zimei spoke, "Quite interesting, but an ant remains an ant. How many moves can you withstand from me?"

Meanwhile, within the Ninth Refinement True Monarch, his heart churned like turbulent waves.

It was important to realize that despite his strength not being among the absolute peak, he was still recognized as a formidable warrior.

Even when facing typical Dao Comprehenders, he could hold his own and make an impact.

Yet, in confronting Xu Zimei, he found himself barely able to resist.

This realization filled him with a profound sense of dread.

"Could this individual be one of those who stand at the very apex of this world?"

The Ninth Refinement True Monarch pondered, though he could not be entirely certain.

He lacked detailed knowledge of Xu Zimei, as his responsibilities had always kept him focused on the affairs of the Netherworld Realm.

Therefore, not recognizing Xu Zimei was quite understandable.

However, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch understood clearly that with Xu Zimei's presence today, his objectives were very likely beyond reach.

And this was not even the most pressing concern.

The most critical matter was that, today, he might very well meet his demise here.

As his thoughts raced, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch found no viable solution and could only place his hopes on a single, desperate gambit.

Perhaps, just perhaps, there might still be a sliver of a chance for survival.

With this thought, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch let out a soft cry.

The profound power surrounding him began to resonate with great intensity.

His physical form grew indistinct, appearing as though it was on the verge of dissolving.

This was a divine transformation he had comprehended through his numerous cycles of reincarnation.

He had, in fact, reincarnated nine times.

This was the reason he bore the title of the Ninth Refinement True Monarch.

Now, through these nine reincarnations, he had managed to gather nine seeds of reincarnation within his being.

As long as even a single seed remained intact, he possessed an opportunity to live.

He now commenced his disassembly, intending to scatter the nine seeds across different locations.

Through the unpredictable nature of fate, perhaps he might yet survive.

Witnessing the Ninth Refinement True Monarch's reluctance to fight and his attempt to flee, Xu Zimei let out a cold sneer.

"You shall remain here!"

He gestured broadly, instantly sealing off the surrounding void.

With the void rendered impassable, and his disassembly process only halfway complete, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch discovered his escape was utterly blocked.

"Damn it," the Ninth Refinement True Monarch's expression turned grim.

Fixing his gaze upon Xu Zimei, he declared, "If you refuse to spare me, I will risk everything to take you down with me!"

"Nine Refinements to Godhood!"

He bellowed the incantation.

The accumulated might of his nine lifetimes surged forth in a torrent.

Both this immense power and those nine seeds of reincarnation had been meticulously prepared for his tenth potential incarnation.

He was well aware that the act of reincarnation defied the natural order of the world.

Nine reincarnations were already stretching the very limits of existence.

Yet, he was unwilling to accept his fate and did not wish to perish in such a manner, so he had made extensive preparations.

But now, having encountered Xu Zimei, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch could no longer afford to concern himself with extraneous matters.

As the 'Nine Refinements to Godhood' technique reached its apex, with all his power converging, the Ninth Refinement True Monarch appeared akin to a genuine Divine Spirit.

He was enveloped by nine formidable forces capable of shattering the heavens and destroying the earth, causing the very fabric of reality to tremble.

His physical form and emanating aura underwent a continuous and significant strengthening.