I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1264:

The previously composed Saintess of Xiyuan was visibly shaken. Her astonishment did not stem from Gu Changge being the power behind the Patian Alliance—a suspicion she already harbored—but from the unexpected arrival of the Master of Zixiao Mountain to openly provoke Xianchu Haotu.

She instinctively glanced toward Gu Changge, sensing his hand in this development. At that precise moment, Gu Changge met her eyes and offered a subtle, knowing smile.

“It is certainly his doing. He foresaw this entire event, which explains his lack of surprise. But when did the Master of Zixiao Mountain become one of his pieces?” The Saintess of Xiyuan averted her eyes, her heart racing with newfound apprehension.

The situation had spiraled beyond her wildest predictions. What was meant to be a standard celebration now felt like the opening act of a massive upheaval. Gu Changge’s presence signaled that he had already orchestrated the downfall of Xianchu Haotu.

The heavens groaned as a blood-spattered black coffin, spanning tens of thousands of miles, appeared in the sky. Forged from an unknown material and radiating a dark luster, its surface was etched with intricate array patterns. It plummeted toward the capital of Xianchu Haotu with devastating momentum.

“Zixiao Mountain, I still hold the grudge from those past years. I refrained from seeking vengeance, yet you dare to insult me so? Today, I shall crush your dharma body right here!” Chu Gucheng bellowed, his fury eclipsing any concern for the day’s festivities. He surged forward, vanishing from the palace grounds.

He was pushed to the brink of rage. Before an audience of esteemed guests, the Master of Zixiao Mountain had delivered a coffin; to remain passive would be to invite eternal ridicule. His previous efforts would be rendered meaningless, and his reputation would crumble.

“Hahaha! Chu Gucheng, do you truly believe you can harm me? This is merely a dharma body I can discard at a whim. You should show gratitude that I traveled from Zixiao Mountain to offer birthday wishes. Your anger is quite unseemly.”

“As the host, shouldn’t you be inviting me in for a celebratory drink?” The mocking laughter of the Master of Zixiao Mountain erupted from the coffin, vibrating through the stars. He brazenly admitted this form was disposable, showing total disregard for the consequences.

“Zixiao Mountain has gone too far; they show no respect for Xianchu Haotu.”

“Even before our leader established this nation, the Master of Zixiao Mountain was his adversary. Our leader chose mercy and did not retaliate.”

“And yet, on this auspicious birthday, he arrives to cause such a scene and humiliate us.” The officials pouring out of the hall wore masks of indignation. Several elder statesmen trembled with such rage that they could hardly speak.

While powers like the Like Buddha Country, the Guangming Temple, and the Ling Shen Cavern had been focused on Gu Changge—wary of his role in the Patian Alliance—the arrogant arrival of Zixiao Mountain forced them to reevaluate the situation. It was evident that a massive conflict between Xianchu Haotu and Zixiao Mountain was imminent.

For years, Xianchu Haotu’s rising dominance had made neighboring immortal Dao traditions uneasy. Now, the friction had reached a breaking point.

“Purple Wanhe of Zixiao Mountain wouldn't come here just to drop off a coffin. There must be trouble at the borders already.”

“I have dispatched several Star Lords to the frontier to defend against a potential invasion from Zixiao Mountain’s armies.” The Dharma Saint appeared in the hall, his voice heavy with concern.

Elder Jin of the Xudan Civilization added in a low tone, “I suspected this banquet would be troubled. It seems Zixiao Mountain intends to collaborate with the Demon Court to dismantle Xianchu Haotu.”

“An invisible hand is clearly guiding these events.” As he spoke, he cast a suspicious look toward Gu Changge. Though he lacked proof, he felt certain Gu Changge was the architect of this chaos. Furthermore, Gu Changge’s lack of fear regarding his exposed identity suggested he was prepared for any confrontation.

High in the firmament, a violent struggle commenced. An incensed Chu Gucheng attacked without restraint, his form wreathed in Ancestral Dao energy. The light of the Great Dao shimmered around him as he wielded the essence of heaven and earth to strike at Purple Wanhe.

The resulting explosions were cataclysmic, threatening to erase the Master of Zixiao Mountain from existence. The battlefield transformed into a chaotic swirl of distorted space-time, hiding the combatants from the eyes of lesser Daoist practitioners. Only the descent of endless lightning and the spill of chaotic energy remained visible.

Simultaneously, the power of fate and the collective will of the people of Xianchu Haotu manifested as a True Dragon of Destiny, merging with Chu Gucheng to bolster his strength. Thunderous booms echoed as Purple Wanhe laughed, his ten-thousand-mile-long dharma body swinging the black coffin like a club to parry Chu Gucheng’s strikes.

Rules of the universe boiled over as blood-red lightning tore through the sky. In a flash, countless Daoist techniques were exchanged. The citizens of Xianchu Haotu watched in a mixture of terror and fury. Their nation’s greatest celebration had been desecrated by this blood-stained gift, fueling a deep hatred for the figure in the sky.

The heavens continued to shake under the pressure of the shockwaves, which rolled over the capital like a crushing tide. The guests watched the duel intently. Chu Gucheng’s power was undeniable, especially when augmented by his nation's fate, making him nearly invincible on his own soil.

Yet, Purple Wanhe’s mere dharma body was holding its own, refusing to yield despite the disparity in power.

“That coffin… it is no ordinary object…” A reclusive master from the Xudan Civilization observed, his eyes locked onto the weapon Purple Wanhe wielded.

The blood-stained coffin seemed to house a second, smaller vessel. As it was swung, a terrifying black mist seeped out, consuming the light of the sun and eroding the laws of the world, chilling the onlookers to their core.

“It resembles a legendary artifact, though it cannot be the original,” Elder Jin remarked, his vision piercing through the gloom to inspect the coffin.

“Is Elder Jin speaking of the Coffin of the World’s Burial that was lost to time?” the Dharma Saint asked in shock.

Elder Xingying of the Yinru Cave added, “It does bear the likeness of the Coffin of the World’s Burial. However, it is likely a replica of a replica, forged to mimic its essence.”

The guests were stunned. The legends of the Coffin of the World’s Burial were well-known, yet the artifact had been lost for ages. If a mere imitation could possess such frightening power, the strength of the true artifact was beyond comprehension.

Even Chu Gucheng, locked in combat, heard the guests’ whispers. His greed for ancient treasures flared. Like the Reincarnation Mirror of the First Civilization, the true Coffin of the World’s Burial was a peerless treasure. If he possessed such a thing to anchor his Sect’s foundation, he would be unstoppable.

Purple Wanhe’s dharma body was technically inferior, only sustained by the black coffin’s eerie properties. The black mist within was a chaotic force that distorted rules and devoured Daoist techniques. While Chu Gucheng was not in danger of losing, every second the fight continued was a stain on his prestige.

With a thunderous roar, Chu Gucheng unleashed his full power. A radiance spanning billions of miles erupted as he channeled the national fortune into a massive True Dragon that lunged at his foe. In response, Purple Wanhe manifested mysterious symbols and a blurred treasure bottle that acted like a black hole, attempting to swallow the dragon whole.

Purple Wanhe’s techniques were truly heaven-defying. He fought Chu Gucheng to a standstill for a long time, but eventually, the energy of his dharma body began to flicker and fade.

Unfazed, Purple Wanhe’s laughter rang out across the galaxies. “Hahaha! Chu Gucheng, destroy this body if you wish! It matters not. Xianchu Haotu has defied the heavens, and today is the start of your downfall. Your end is near!”

As his form began to dissolve, Purple Wanhe struck the black coffin with his remaining strength. With a sound like the world splitting apart, the lid flew open, as if unlocking a forbidden abyss.

A thick, liquid-like black mist surged out, blanketing the sky and plunging the world into darkness. The mist behaved like a living entity, expanding for tens of thousands of miles in a suffocating wave.

“What is that?” The spectators were speechless as the coffin fell to the earth in the distance. That spot became a fountain of darkness, spewing mist that shattered the clouds and brought stars crashing down.

The spreading darkness consumed everything—mountains, forests, and lakes—turning vibrant lands into desolate wastes. Cities vanished within the fog, and those unable to flee were instantly devoured, their screams silenced as their remains turned to ash.

A wave of horror washed over the crowd. The aura of death and destruction emanating from the mist felt capable of reducing the entire world to cinders.

“The black mist from the prophecy… has it arrived?” Elder Jin watched in terror, remembering the malice he had sensed back in the Xudan Civilization. It felt as though a terrifying entity had finally opened its eyes to watch the world.

“Could Zixiao Mountain be allied with the remnants of the Black Calamity? This mist is eerie, though it lacks the full potency of the true dark substance…” The Saintess of Xiyuan watched the rising darkness with a deep frown.

The contents of the coffin remained a mystery, though a glimpse suggested another smaller coffin hidden within. The generals of Xianchu Haotu attempted to intercept the mist, but its corrosive nature made approach impossible for ordinary cultivators.

“Purple Wanhe! I will have your head for this insult!” Chu Gucheng screamed, his face pale with rage. He immediately ordered his subordinates to seal the coffin and contain the mist.

His birthday was a catastrophe. Even though he had defeated the dharma body, he had been made a fool. He knew that by tomorrow, the story of the Master of Zixiao Mountain delivering a coffin to his doorstep would be the talk of the realm.

“Purple Wanhe’s gift was indeed impressive,” Gu Changge mused with a faint smirk.

He had expected a grand gesture from Purple Wanhe, but the use of a replica Coffin of the World’s Burial and its connection to dark matter was an interesting touch. Had it been pure dark matter, the entire Xiyuan civilization would already be doomed.

Gu Changge wondered when Purple Wanhe had made contact with the remnants of the Black Calamity. Such an artifact and its accompanying mist were not things one could simply find.

The other major powers now looked toward the Saintess of Xiyuan. If Zixiao Mountain was indeed colluding with the Black Calamity, a crusade was necessary. The Saintess, however, remained lost in thought, unsure of her next move.