I Truly Am The Villian Chapter 2294 - 2293: Doomsday Temple, Dead Man's Bead

Ultimately, someone could no longer restrain themself.

A single voice boomed, "Let's all go and seize it together! Whoever grabs it first, it's theirs."

"The treasure hidden deep within Treasure Cliff must be incredibly valuable. We absolutely cannot stand by and watch it be taken by others."

Such enticements undoubtedly swayed many.

A significant number of people used the ensuing chaos as a cover, attempting to charge towards Treasure Cliff.

"Boom... Boom."

At that very moment, the heavens above Treasure Cliff descended into utter turmoil.

Witnessing this surge of individuals aiming to seize the treasure, Xu Zimei remained unmoved.

He simply extended his right hand, a casual gesture.

His palm seemed to draw ripples from the very void.

Instantly, time and space across the entire Firmament froze solid, rendering everyone immobile, utterly incapable of moving.

Many desperately tried to resist, but their efforts were completely in vain.

Apart from being able to speak, they were powerless to do anything else.

"As expected, human greed knows no bounds."

"It appears the prior warning was insufficient. Since you all are so eager to test my blade, I shall reluctantly oblige."

The Tyrant Shadow clutched in his hand unleashed a sky-piercing Blade Qi.

With a resounding "boom."

Amidst the clanging of blades and swords, the Blade Qi cast an imposing reflection upon everyone present.

"Master, spare our lives! We realize our grave mistake!"

"We were merely pawns, deceived by circumstance! We implore you to show mercy; we pledge our unwavering loyalty to you."

Xu Zimei's expression remained impassive as he listened to their desperate pleas.

The Tyrant Shadow in his grip flashed, and in an instant, all of them met their end.

Following this, the constricting space began to dissipate.

Countless lifeless bodies plummeted from the sky.

Liu Ruyan and several disciples from the Radiant Moon Sect visibly gulped.

It was likely that in their entire lifetimes, they had never collectively ended as many lives as Xu Zimei had in this single, swift action.

Xu Zimei's demeanor was one of complete calm; he showed absolutely no flicker of emotion regarding the fallen.

Perhaps, in his eyes, those annihilated were not truly human, but more akin to mere ants.

Would one feel sorrow over the demise of an ant?

Xu Zimei gestured, and a strange figure stepped forward, presenting a treasure chest before him.

Liu Ruyan's gaze was fixed upon the chest.

Though she hadn't attempted to snatch it, a deep curiosity about its contents stirred within her.

"Do you wish to take a look?" Xu Zimei inquired.

"No... May I not look?" Liu Ruyan asked, a hint of apprehension in her voice.

Truthfully, she now harbored a certain degree of fear towards Xu Zimei.

It was a complex emotion, a blend of fear and burgeoning trust, a truly peculiar sensation.

......

"It's not that you cannot look. This matter is connected to the secrets of Demon City. Feel free to examine it." Xu Zimei stated.

"Perhaps after today, Demon City will cease to exist in this world."

The treasure chest was pried open, yet it did not reveal the earth-shattering spectacle Liu Ruyan had envisioned.

There was no radiant beam of light, nor any boundless glow emanating from within.

Inside the chest lay nothing more than a single string of prayer beads.

These beads were fashioned from skulls, yet strangely, their surfaces exuded an aura of tranquility rather than terror.

As the beads were held in one's palm.

A palpable sense of calm and focus could be perceived.

"This... is..."

"The Dead Man's Bead," Xu Zimei declared.

"The beads themselves hold little significance. The true value lies in the imprint concealed within them."

Liu Ruyan peered closer, her attention drawn to the skulls, and indeed, she discovered some enigmatic script etched within the beads.

However, the meaning of these characters remained indecipherable, seemingly belonging to an epoch long past.

"What is its purpose?" Liu Ruyan inquired, mustering her courage.

"Follow me," Xu Zimei commanded.

Having spoken, he paid her no further mind, turning and heading in a different direction.

Liu Ruyan immediately followed, without a second thought.

For she understood that if Xu Zimei had intended to end her life, he would have done so long ago; why would he dally now?

The other members of the Radiant Moon Sect trailed behind as well.

Observing the path Xu Zimei was taking, Liu Ruyan refrained from asking their destination, instead shifting the topic.

"You've already slain the Black Soul Mage and our Moon-Picking Ancestor, incurring the wrath of both Blood River Valley and Corpse Burial Mound."

"They will undoubtedly seek retribution."

"So what if they seek retribution?" Xu Zimei countered.

"If you were to crush an ant, would you feel any guilt?" Xu Zimei posed the question.

"To you, are Corpse Burial Mound and Blood River Valley no more than ants?" Liu Ruyan couldn't help but question.

"No, they aren't even significant enough to warrant my attention," Xu Zimei replied with composure.

"Could you tell me your name?" Liu Ruyan asked once more.

"A name is merely a designation. Many titles are bestowed upon me; which one do you require?"

"Whether it be the Eternal Ancient or the Demon Lord, it matters little."

As their conversation unfolded, a palpable tremor began to manifest above Demon City.

The sky within the Firmament split, displaying a stark division of half black and half red.

It resembled the heavens torn asunder, with one half crimson and the other ebony, forming an oppressive canopy over Demon City.

"Blood River Valley and Corpse Burial Mound have made their move!" Liu Ruyan exclaimed in alarm.

"While I am not intimately familiar with Demon City, I recognize this; it is the Blood Corpse Array," Liu Ruyan stated.

"Once this formation is unleashed, egress and ingress to Demon City become impossible for anyone."

"This formation must have been specifically prepared with you in mind."

"They have overestimated my desire to depart; I had no intention of leaving," Xu Zimei replied.

He halted his advance.

The reason for his stop was that they had arrived at their intended location.

Xu Zimei surveyed the structure before him, while Liu Ruyan gazed at it, her expression one of utter astonishment.

"The Doomsday Temple," she breathed out.

The temple that lay before them was immense; despite its designation as a 'temple,' it sprawled across more than half a street.

It was situated in the very heart of Demon City, yet notably, neither of the other two dominant powers had raised any objections to its presence.

As one of the three major factions, the Doomsday Temple was undeniably shrouded in the most profound mystery.

Their public appearances were virtually nonexistent, save for the yearly temple festival; they rarely ventured out otherwise.

However, with Xu Zimei now standing before its gates, Liu Ruyan couldn't help but voice her concern, "The Doomsday Temple does not permit outsiders entry."

"And surely, you are not contemplating provoking the Doomsday Temple as well, are you?"

Liu Ruyan's own apprehension was palpable, and Xu Zimei's utter lack of fear filled her with unease.

With a casual wave of his hand, Xu Zimei dismissed her worries.

The peculiar individual who had been trailing them stepped forward and approached the grand entrance to knock.

Within the confines of the Doomsday Temple, there were precisely five hundred and thirty-six chambers; the exact number of inhabitants remained an unknown quantity.

The temple's main gate exuded an aura of extreme solemnity.

The paint adorning its surface was a deep vermillion, and the door handle had been intricately crafted to resemble a bizarre, unknown creature.

Its form was fearsome, presenting a visage unlike anything previously encountered by humankind.

As the peculiar man moved to rap his knuckles against the imposing door.

A resounding, harmonious 'bang bang bang' echoed from the interior.

With a drawn-out, groaning sound, "Creeaak..."

The massive doors of the Doomsday Temple began to swing inward, opening slowly.

A faint cloud of dust stirred, as if the temple had remained sealed for an immeasurable span of time.

Above the temple's entrance, it seemed as though something was also in motion, subtly churning.

A venerable monk, his demeanor serene, was the one who appeared to open the door.