I Truly Am The Villian Chapter 3 - 3 Annihilation Jue

The establishment of the True Martial Holy Sect by the three Great Emperors laid an unshakeable foundation, propelling the sect into a glorious epoch.

However, the natural order of the world dictates that all things ascend and descend; after reaching its zenith, a decline is an unavoidable consequence!

In the ten thousand years that followed, the True Martial Holy Sect never again witnessed the rise of another Great Emperor.

Though it remained a colossal power, the sect could not escape the gradual fading from its former splendor.

It wasn't until three millennia ago that the appearance of a young maiden shattered this era of stagnation.

This girl resided in a modest village beneath the True Martial Holy Sect's dominion, nestled among vast mountains and rivers.

She lived an unremarkable existence for fifteen years until, one fateful day, she observed two cultivators in the Empty Vein Realm engaged in combat high above her humble village.

A nascent realization of a new world's gateway was thus sown within her impressionable heart.

Drawn by its formidable reputation, the girl sought admission to the True Martial Holy Sect but was ultimately rejected during the aptitude assessment due to her ordinary innate talents.

Nevertheless, she refused to yield, prostrating herself upon the bluestone steps outside the sect's gates, where she remained for an entire seven days.

Enduring the relentless wind and rain, the searing sun, without sustenance or a single drop of water.

At that time, she was merely a common person, yet she persevered through this ordeal.

Her entire being was lost in a daze, yet she never lost consciousness, her unyielding spirit profoundly touching all who witnessed it.

Ultimately, an Outer Sect Elder from within the True Martial Holy Sect, moved by compassion, accepted her as an unofficial disciple.

She was like a frog in a well, yearning to escape its confines, unwilling to be restricted to a small corner.

And akin to an ant traversing the expanse between heaven and earth, it relentlessly crawled onward, onward.

Until one momentous day, this crawling ant rose to its feet, and it was then that people recognized, without understanding when it occurred, that the ant had grown to heights that touched the very sky.

During the girl's era, an abundance of exceptionally brilliant talents emerged.

Yet, in the end, no one anticipated that a girl possessing only average aptitude would rise to dominate that very era.

"Empress Hongtian!"

This became the revered appellation of that young maiden.

Among the countless Great Emperors throughout history, Empress Hongtian indisputably stood as one of the most brilliant.

Her luminescence not only illuminated her own time but also cast its influence upon the eras of several subsequent Great Emperors.

Empress Hongtian guided the True Martial Holy Sect into another resplendent golden age.

......

Reflecting upon the annals of the True Martial Holy Sect, Xu Zimei's gaze held a deep contemplation, harboring the aspiration that, one day, his own name might be etched within this grand, star-studded tapestry.

......

He proceeded towards the Scripture Pavilion, situated at the very heart of the True Martial Holy Sect, the repository of all cultivation techniques and Vein Skills amassed since the sect's inception.

Contrary to initial assumptions, the ambiance surrounding the Scripture Pavilion was remarkably serene.

Towering ancient trees reached towards the heavens, spiritual herbs carpeted the ground, competing blossoms vied for radiance, vibrantly colored butterflies danced in the air, and rare medicinal chickens roamed, diligently tending to the soil for the herbs and flowers, providing natural fertilization and pest control.

The Scripture Pavilion comprised eighteen levels, and standing at its entrance, one was enveloped by an aura of profound antiquity; it stood silently, as if narrating its millennia-old history to any receptive soul.

The pavilion's facade presented a harmonious blend of aquamarine and pale yellow hues, accented by jade-like pillars and azure rooftiles adorning vermilion eaves.

Intricate carvings of diverse and mythical beasts adorned the eaves on either side.

These depicted eagles with outstretched wings, birds in soaring flight, cheetahs in mid-roar, and lions with fiercely glaring eyes.

No sentinels stood guard at the Scripture Pavilion's entrance, yet Xu Zimei could perceive a palpable aura that sent shivers down his spine.

This area was fortified with sophisticated formations; should any unauthorized entry be detected, the activation of these formations would ensure that even practitioners of the Saint Vein Realm might struggle to escape.

......

Xu Zimei inserted the token bestowed by his father into the designated slot at the entrance, where an Elder tasked with overseeing the Scripture Pavilion would authenticate it and bestow the appropriate access privileges.

The luminous barrier at the entrance dissolved, and Xu Zimei stepped directly into the Scripture Pavilion.

The first floor was designed with exceptional simplicity, featuring tens of thousands of meticulously arranged bookshelves.

Each bookshelf, displaying Vein Skills and Cultivation Techniques, was encased within a subtle light barrier.

At the head of each bookshelf, a small plaque bore the name, intended purpose, and rank of the corresponding texts.

Xu Zimei wasted no time, proceeding directly to the uppermost level of the Scripture Pavilion, the eighteenth floor.

The illumination on the eighteenth floor was somewhat subdued, and there were only four statues present.

Each of these four statues appeared to inhabit its own distinct space.

Xu Zimei stood before the statues, his gaze sweeping from left to right.

The first statue showed a man with hair flowing to his shoulders, exuding a majestic presence; his eyes, as deep as the ocean, commanded an involuntary reverence.

This was a figure who stood with his feet planted on mountains and rivers, his shoulders supporting the very heavens.

The second statue was also of a man, emitting an intense aura, as if he had forsaken all else in the pursuit of some ultimate conclusion.

Proud and resolute, he bore three peculiar long blades upon his back.

Those blades made it evident that he was a devoted swordsman who had dedicated his entire existence to mastering the pinnacle of the blade's path.

"Live by the blade, die by the blade."

The third statue presented only a rear view, evoking a profoundly elusive sensation, as though it were simultaneously within reach and as distant as the farthest heavens.

He traversed the realms between reality and the void, all in pursuit of the ultimate, profound essence of speed.

The fourth statue depicted a woman, her long hair cascading down her back, a delicate veil obscuring her breathtaking beauty.

Her demeanor was uniquely adaptable and ever-changing; at first glance, she seemed as innocent and lively as a girl next door with a ponytail on a relaxed afternoon, evoking the feeling of first love.

Upon a second examination, she appeared as a captivating and alluring celestial maiden.

On the third viewing, she transformed into a merciless female War God, no less heroic than any man, possessing unwavering convictions and an unparalleled, awe-inspiring aura.

And in the fourth aspect, she was like an Empress who commanded absolute dominion, as if all beings were mere ants beneath her gaze, their burgeoning civilizations insignificant and unworthy of mention in the face of annihilation.

.........

Xu Zimei observed the statues of the four most eminent Emperors in the history of the True Martial Holy Sect, feeling a solemn reverence well within him.

In truth, he harbored no intention of practicing the techniques of others, for in his previous existence, he had already forged his own singular Martial Path to the Heavens.

However, to safeguard his secret and prevent its exposure, Xu Zimei opted for the technique belonging to the Great Emperor of the Three Blades.

He held considerable admiration for the Great Emperor's extreme dedication to the blade's path and deemed it a suitable transition.

Xu Zimei placed his hand upon the statue, then closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and endeavored to comprehend its essence.

A vast expanse of white fog enveloped everything, and Xu Zimei could distinctly sense a cascade of memories integrating into his own consciousness.

This was precisely the cultivation technique of the Great Emperor of the Three Blades: the "Annihilation Jue."

All originated from annihilation, and all concluded in annihilation!

Born from annihilation, culminating in annihilation!

Having acquired the technique he desired, Xu Zimei prepared to depart.

Before leaving, he subconsciously cast a glance towards a corner of the Scripture Pavilion, then shook his head with a soft chuckle and withdrew, fully content.