I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1263:

1624. Sending a coffin as a birthday gift

As the host and primary organizer of the birthday celebration, Chu Gucheng was naturally required to circulate among the attendees and offer toasts. When his path led him toward the seating area of the Yuxian Palace, he found the encounter unavoidable. Although he preferred to avoid direct interaction with Gu Changge for the time being, the circumstances forced him to maintain a composed facade, approaching the group with a practiced smile.

Ling Yuxian, her face flushed as she continued to glare at Gu Changge, was forced to check her temper upon seeing Chu Gucheng’s approach. She quickly smoothed her expression, regaining her composure. Nearby, several Elders from the Yuxian Palace rose to their feet, lifting their cups to return the gesture to Chu Gucheng.

With a pleasant expression, Chu Gucheng raised his own glass and remarked, "Distinguished guests from the Yuxian Palace, you have traveled a great distance to be here. Please forgive any lapses in my hospitality."

He remained uncertain of Ling Yuxian’s exact standing; she was clearly distinct from the standard young disciples, given that she occupied a seat alongside the Elders.

“Kindly extend my warmest regards to your father, Brother Qiu Changdao,” he added, smiling as he gestured toward Ling Yuxian, under the assumption that she was the daughter of the Yuxian Palace’s Master, Ling Qiu Chang.

However, as those words left his mouth, the expressions of the Yuxian Palace Elders shifted subtly.

Ling Yuxian remained unruffled, responding calmly, “I appreciate your sentiment, but Ling Qiu Chang is not my father.”

Chu Gucheng had not anticipated misidentifying her so publicly, and her direct correction caused his smile to falter. A flash of visible awkwardness crossed his features.

His companions, including Chu Xinyue, also appeared slightly unsettled. As the host of the banquet, Chu Gucheng’s mistake was minor, and they felt Ling Yuxian should not have been so blunt in front of the gathered elite. It felt like a deliberate slight against the prestige of Xianchu Haotu. The other guests watched the exchange with growing curiosity, intrigued by the friction.

“Haha, my sincere apologies. I have met with Brother Qiu Changdao on several occasions and noticed a resemblance in your features, which led me to mistake your lineage,” Chu Gucheng explained with a light laugh.

Being a man of significant stature, he was not easily rattled by such a small social blunder and recovered his poise instantly.

Ling Yuxian offered a brief nod of acknowledgment before draining her glass in a single motion. Initially, she held no particular bias toward Chu Gucheng, neither liking nor disliking him. She had traveled to Xianchu Haotu on behalf of her sister, Ling Yuling. However, her recent interactions with Gu Changge had left her feeling agitated, and her bluntness toward the host was somewhat intentional.

“On another note, while this is our first official meeting, Young Master Gu, your reputation has reached my ears many times,” Chu Gucheng said, turning his attention to Gu Changge after finishing his toasts to the Elders. He maintained a friendly smile as he spoke.

At that moment, the focus of the entire hall shifted toward them. In the surrounding void, faint visions of primordial chaos and cosmic destruction seemed to flicker, as if worlds were being born and extinguished in the shadows.

Standing a short distance away, the Holy Maiden of Xiyuan watched the scene. She was a figure of elegant grace, her eyes clear as autumn water and her brow shaped like distant peaks. Though a veil obscured her features, her skin radiated a jade-like luster. Her blue silk robes billowed softly as she turned her gaze toward the pair.

“Is that so? Coincidentally, I have also heard the name of Chu Guo mentioned frequently before today,” Gu Changge replied, remaining seated with a relaxed air. He held his cup casually, dressed in robes as white as fresh snow. His dark hair shone with a faint, ethereal light, making him appear like a transcendent immortal stepped from an ancient scroll, untouched by the dust of the mundane world.

Chu Xinyue watched him with a piercing intensity, her hands clenched tightly within her sleeves as she struggled to suppress her rage. The man responsible for her brother’s miserable end was sitting right before her, and she burned with the desire to tear him apart.

“Haha, compared to the fame of Young Master Gu, my own name is hardly worth mentioning,” Chu Gucheng laughed, a wide sweep of his sleeves punctuating his words. “In the current Xiyuan civilization, is there anyone who does not know of the Fatiang Alliance? Even in the most remote territories, that name carries weight. To claim the title of ‘Fatiang’ requires the strength to endure the immense karmic backlash such a name invites. That alone commands the respect of many Cultivators.”

With a booming laugh, Chu Gucheng chose to expose Gu Changge’s hidden identity before all the guests. He stood tall in his dark golden imperial robes, his presence commanding and his aura radiating the dominance of a ruler who looked down upon the masses.

His voice resonated like a great bronze bell, carrying enough power to vibrate through the hall and beyond, sending shockwaves through the gathered crowd.

The guests, both within the hall and in the outer courts, were paralyzed by the revelation.

“The Fatiang Alliance?”

The silent monk from the Buddhist sect of the Like Buddha Kingdom locked his eyes onto Gu Changge, a golden light flickering within his pupils.

“Could this be the same Fatiang Alliance rumored to be tied to the remnants of the Black Calamity?” An Elder from the Daoist sect of the Ling Shen Cavern stood up abruptly, his gaze turning cold and sharp.

Elders from other prominent groups, such as the Guangming Temple, were visibly shaken, their eyes fixed on the young man in white.

Had anyone else made such a claim, they might have dismissed it as hearsay. But coming from Chu Gucheng, they knew the accusation was backed by certainty.

Guests from distant civilizations were equally stunned. While those from far-off realms might not have known the full extent of the Fatiang Alliance’s power, the Xiyuan civilization was well aware of the rumors. Chu Gucheng had previously warned various factions about the rising threat from the Immortal Spirit civilization, urging a collective response. At the time, most had remained indifferent, preferring to wait and see, while Xianchu Haotu eventually decided against direct intervention.

None could have guessed that the enigmatic leader of the Fatiang Alliance—the force causing such tremors in the region—was the very man standing in their midst. The realization left the audience in a state of profound shock and growing dread.

Even the Elders of the Yuxian Palace were caught off guard.

Ling Yuxian looked at Gu Changge, her mind reeling. While she wasn't intimately familiar with the Alliance's inner workings, she had overheard the Elders debating whether this new power was a harbinger of the Black Calamity’s return.

“It is merely a title,” Gu Changge said with a thin smile. “Chu Guo’s praise is perhaps a bit much. On the contrary, I heard rumors that Xianchu Haotu once considered rebranding as the ‘Heavenly Court.’ I find myself curious as to why that plan was scrapped. Perhaps Chu Guo could enlighten me?”

Gu Changge remained perfectly composed under the collective gaze of the hall. He did not deny the claim, which served as a tacit admission that he was indeed the founder of the Fatiang Alliance.

The last remnants of doubt among the guests vanished, replaced by even deeper alarm.

Chu Gucheng caught the mockery in Gu Changge’s tone, but he simply laughed it off. “I lack the audacity and the sheer capability of Young Master Gu. Had I dared to claim the name ‘Heavenly Court,’ I would likely have been struck down by fate long before the name could even take root.”

The subject touched upon deep taboos that spanned the myriad worlds, preventing any further detailed discussion.

The guests understood the gravity; even attempting to establish a ‘Heavenly Court’ invited astronomical karmic consequences. To form something called the Fatiang Alliance was, in their eyes, an almost unthinkable act of defiance against the heavens.

While a Fatiang Sect existed in the Nine Heavens, that was a unique exception due to that region's status as the ‘Tomb of Heaven.’

“From my perspective, Chu Guo’s courage is anything but small,” Gu Changge noted with a soft smile.

Chu Gucheng dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. “Compared to you, it is nothing. If I possessed your boldness, I would have transformed Xianchu Haotu into the Chu Heavenly Court long ago.”

In truth, during the events of the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain, Chu Gucheng had been unsure if Gu Changge was the mastermind behind the Fatiang Alliance. His previous investigations into the Immortal Spirit Civilization by the Eight Heads True Gods had yielded little. They only knew a mysterious figure had appeared from nowhere and unified the civilization in record time, forcing ancient clans like the Zhuo and Hun to submit or be destroyed. The entire civilization had essentially become his private domain.

Chu Gucheng had tried to use the Mist Clan as a spy, but Gu Changge had anticipated the move. By feigning his departure, Gu Changge lured the rebellious factions into the open before crushing them with ruthless efficiency. That was when Chu Gucheng realized he was dealing with someone far more dangerous than he had initially thought.

At that time, he only knew the mastermind’s surname was Gu. It wasn't until the death of Chu Xiao and subsequent reports from the younger generation—including the Bodhi Nü—that the pieces finally clicked. He deduced that the white-robed youth from Zi Gui City and the founder of the Fatiang Alliance were one and the same. The "coincidences" were simply too numerous to be anything other than a calculated strike by Gu Changge.

Inside the hall, the atmosphere grew heavy as the guests processed the exchange. Many became hyper-vigilant, sensing an underlying tension that threatened to explode.

To an outsider, the two might have appeared to be engaged in a cordial, even friendly conversation. Most had assumed Gu Changge was simply a high-ranking member of the Yuxian Palace. The revelation of his ties to the Fatiang Alliance changed everything. It even cast doubt on his role as the Senior Brother of the Xianyun Dao Hall.

The Yuxian Palace Elders began to worry, glancing toward Ling Yuxian. They feared she had been manipulated and used by Gu Changge to gain access to their Sect.

“Since I arrived without a proper gift to mark this occasion, I hope Chu Guo will not take offense,” Gu Changge remarked, his smile never wavering.

“Your presence is gift enough, Young Master Gu. There is no need for such formalities,” Chu Gucheng replied heartily, maintaining his diplomatic mask.

Just as the words left his lips, a thunderous boom shattered the air. It sounded as if the sky itself had been torn asunder. The ground trembled violently, and in the far-off heavens, it seemed as though stars were being ground to dust in a massive cosmic upheaval.

“What is happening?”

The guests were startled as a wave of oppressive, terrifying energy rolled in from beyond the capital of Xianchu Haotu.

Beams of divine light erupted from the hall as the powerful Cultivators flew into the sky to investigate the disturbance.

Chu Gucheng’s expression soured as he felt the approaching aura. He stepped out of the hall and looked toward the horizon. There, descending through a massive rift in the sky, was a colossal black coffin stained with blood. It was tens of thousands of miles long, dwarfing the stars themselves as it hurtled toward the heart of the imperial palace.

“A blood-stained black coffin?”

The assembly was struck with horror. To have such an object fall from the sky on the day of the ruler’s birthday was the ultimate curse.

“Insolence!”

The generals of Xianchu Haotu roared in fury, taking to the air. Their bodies radiated light as their Dao energy surged, manifesting divine chains of order. They unleashed their artifacts, attempting to intercept and shatter the descending coffin.

This was a flagrant insult to the entire nation. To deliver a coffin during a birthday celebration was a declaration of extreme hostility.

Chu Gucheng’s face was dark with murderous intent. He immediately suspected Gu Changge. The timing was too perfect—Gu Changge mentions having no gift, and a moment later, a coffin appears. He had been suppressing his hatred for his son's killer all day, playing the polite host, but this humiliation was almost more than he could bear.

Many of the guests cast suspicious looks at Gu Changge, assuming he was the architect of this scene.

However, Gu Changge appeared just as surprised as the rest. He stood and walked to the balcony, watching the chaos with apparent interest. “Who would dare such a thing? Delivering a black coffin during Chu Guo’s banquet… is this not a deliberate attempt to shame him?”

Chu Gucheng’s children glared at him with pure hatred. Chu Xinyue’s eyes were cold enough to kill; she was convinced Gu Changge was mocking them while pretending to be an innocent bystander.

“Young Master Gu…” Chu Gucheng’s patience finally snapped. His voice was icy, but before he could finish his sentence, a devastating aura erupted from the coffin.

The generals who had attempted to block its path were instantly overwhelmed. They coughed up blood as their bodies were crushed by an invisible pressure, exploding into mist in mid-air.

A hazy figure materialized atop the coffin, standing with his hands behind his back. He wore a purple-gold crown and robes that shimmered with starlight. His presence was gargantuan, his aura so vast it seemed to touch the heavens. Fragments of time seemed to swirl around his feet as he stood like a sovereign of the ages.

“Chu Gucheng, I wonder, does this birthday gift meet your satisfaction?” the figure laughed, his voice dripping with spiteful joy.

“Is that… him?”

“The Lord of Zixiao Mountain, Zi Wanhe?”

The identification sent shockwaves through the crowd. The Elders of the Xiyuan civilization could hardly believe their eyes.

The Lord of Zixiao Mountain had personally crashed the birthday of Chu Gucheng to deliver a coffin?

However, the more perceptive guests realized this wasn't Zi Wanhe's true physical form, but a Dao-body—a powerful manifestation of his will. His actual body likely remained within the safety of Zixiao Mountain. Nevertheless, for a figure of his status to take such a provocative action was a sign of total war.