I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1266:

Chu Gucheng’s countenance darkened imperceptibly, yet he suppressed his rising fury, choosing not to erupt in front of his guests.

“Saintess Xiyuan, you must be careful with your claims. If your intent is merely to slander me, there is no reason to distort the truth so blatantly,” he declared with a frigid tone.

Saintess Xiyuan remained unruffled, her calm expression untouched by Chu Gucheng’s warning. Her radiant eyes flickered as she shifted her attention toward Gu Changge.

Witnessing this exchange, the gathered guests traded glances, their minds racing with various speculations.

“What is this? Is the Lord of Chu attempting to redirect the blame onto me?”

Observing the collective gaze of the room fall upon him, Gu Changge, who had been sitting quietly, looked up with a faint smirk. He set down his wine cup and inquired with an air of mild curiosity.

Chu Gucheng had been harboring a tempest of rage throughout the day. While he had previously maintained a facade of civility, he no longer saw the point in masking his resentment.

He spoke coldly, “The Prying Heaven Alliance emerged from the Immortal Spirit Civilization and, in a mere few years, conquered the neighboring True Realms. Its missionaries have wandered far and wide, spreading its tenets and harvesting faith. How do their methods differ from the remnants of the Black Calamity that once laid waste to the Cangmang?”

“Oh? It appears the Lord of Chu is well-acquainted with the principles of the Prying Heaven Alliance. In that case, pray tell, what atrocities has the Alliance committed since its inception?” Gu Changge countered with a soft, nonchalant laugh.

“The emergence of the Prying Heaven Alliance has plunged the once serene and stable Immortal Spirit Civilization back into anarchy. Countless sects, lineages, and sentient beings have been annihilated. Are you truly ignorant of this, Master Gu? Or do I need to refresh your memory?” Chu Gucheng’s robes quivered as he spoke with biting coldness.

“I previously dispatched my forces to the Immortal Spirit Civilization in an effort to quell the uprising and restore order. However, upon reaching that territory, they were met with such unrelenting slaughter and carnage that they were forced to halt. This illustrates the sheer brutality of the conflict within the Immortal Spirit Civilization. Innumerable star systems and universes have been decimated and buried. Truly, even the flowers shed tears, and the birds, unsettled by such partings, stir the heart.”

He pressed on before Gu Changge could offer a rebuttal.

As he recounted the devastation, Chu Gucheng’s face twisted with a mixture of grief and fury, as if he were personally mourning the lost civilizations and races of the Immortal Spirit Civilization.

A somber atmosphere filled the hall. The ministers and generals of the Immortal Chu Kingdom appeared deeply moved, as though they had personally witnessed the tragedies unfolding in the Immortal Spirit Civilization.

“Our Lord is truly compassionate and noble, always concerned for the welfare of the world. The current splendor of the Immortal Chu Kingdom is a testament to His Majesty’s tireless rule. The Immortal Spirit Civilization has long enjoyed the protection of our Kingdom, offering vast quantities of resources and fortune crystals every era as a sign of their gratitude.”

“How could we stand by and watch them endure such a catastrophe?”

Many ministers voiced their support, their expressions etched with sorrow and righteous anger.

The guests watched the spectacle with keen interest. Many exchanged meaningful looks, their thoughts complicated. They were not naive enough to blindly accept Chu Gucheng’s narrative.

The complexities surrounding the Immortal Spirit Civilization and the Prying Heaven Alliance were not things that could be simplified by a few emotional words.

In the past, few powers had bothered to investigate the Prying Heaven Alliance. This was partly because the Alliance was based in the Immortal Spirit Civilization, a great distance from the Xiyuan Civilization, and few were willing to undertake such a perilous journey.

Furthermore, the Immortal Chu Kingdom had circulated reports claiming that the Immortal Spirit Civilization had been overrun by the remnants of the Black Calamity.

The terror associated with the Black Calamity was universal; who would dare approach such a place lightly? However, it was also possible that this was merely a ruse by the Immortal Chu Kingdom to deceive the public and use other factions to achieve its own ends.

After all, the Immortal Spirit Civilization had originally been a vassal of the Immortal Chu Kingdom before Gu Changge seized it and established the Prying Heaven Alliance. This was the root of their enmity.

As for Chu Gucheng’s claims—did they actually prove a link between the Prying Heaven Alliance and the Black Calamity?

It was common knowledge that the rise of any great power was paved with the bones of the fallen; the Immortal Chu Kingdom was no different. In all realms, the law of the jungle remained the ultimate truth.

Suddenly, the sharp sound of rhythmic clapping echoed, causing the guests to freeze.

Ling Yuxian and Saintess Xiyuan both turned their attention toward Gu Changge.

Gu Changge rose with a thin smile, clapping his hands in mock praise. “I never suspected the Lord of Chu to be such a guardian of peace and love. I have clearly misjudged you. If that is the case, why does the Lord of Chu not end the war with the Demon Court? Can you not see the endless misery and sin accumulating at your borders? Such a massive burden of Karma—does the Lord of Chu simply choose to ignore it?”

These words caused the expressions of Chu Gucheng’s heirs to sour. Princess Chu Xinyue, in particular, squeezed her delicate hand, fighting to keep her rage in check.

Naturally, Chu Gucheng could not afford to lose his temper now. His face remained a mask of indifference, devoid of any visible emotion.

“The Demon Court initiated this by launching a full-scale invasion of my Immortal Chu Kingdom. How can these two situations be compared? Are we expected to sit idly by while the Demon Court marches upon us?”

“Master Gu, do you imply that the Immortal Chu Kingdom is at fault here? Should we simply wait to be slaughtered?”

At that moment, a minister stepped forward, his face flushed with indignation as he spoke with a stern, commanding presence.

Observing this, many guests from various sects exchanged subtle looks. They were clearly unbothered by the tension and seemed to relish the prospect of a clash between Gu Changge and Chu Gucheng.

Daoist organizations like the Guangming Temple and Ling Shen Cave had attended the feast to show courtesy to Chu Gucheng, but that did not make them his allies.

In truth, many were secretly hoping that Chu Gucheng would force Gu Changge to reveal his true strength.

However, Chu Gucheng was no fool. His Kingdom was already facing internal and external strife. At most, he would vent his frustrations; he was unlikely to truly break ties with Gu Changge here.

Consequently, he did not acknowledge the minister’s outburst. His face remained as calm as still water.

Gu Changge chuckled softly and remarked, “A provocation, indeed. Yet, from what I have gathered, the Demon Court’s fury did not stem from their Ninth Prince, Emperor Wen, but from the fact that he was slain by someone under the protection of the Immortal Chu Kingdom, was it not?”

“Lord of Chu, you have shielded the one who killed the Ninth Prince, gaining a reputation for loyalty in the process. But how many lives have been extinguished because of that choice? The ravaged borderlands, the shattered stars, the agony of millions… How does your righteousness compare to the actions of the Prying Heaven Alliance?”

“You weep for the fall of the Immortal Spirit Civilization, yet who weeps for the soldiers and warriors who have bled and died on the front lines for your decisions?”

Gu Changge's words were undeniably piercing, each one striking a sensitive nerve. The minister who had spoken so boldly earlier turned pale, his mouth hanging open as he found himself unable to formulate a response.

The faces of the other generals and officials shifted uncomfortably. Gu Changge’s words had clearly struck a chord, reminding them of the heavy losses the Kingdom had sustained.

Even the prestigious Heavenly God General had perished in the conflict against the Demon Court.

Originally, the friction between the Immortal Chu Kingdom and the Demon Court should never have reached such a fever pitch.

It had all begun with the demise of Emperor Wen, followed by Chu Xiaozhu being hunted and killed by the Seventh Prince, Emperor Kun.

If Chu Gucheng had not stubbornly protected the killer of Emperor Wen at the start...

“Master Gu, you are indeed skilled at manipulating the hearts of men. It is no wonder the Prying Heaven Alliance has gathered such a following in so little time,” Chu Gucheng noted the wavering resolve of his subordinates, his eyes darkening. He remained stoic and said flatly, “But mere rhetoric cannot prove that the Prying Heaven Alliance is free of ties to the Black Calamity. That is impossible.”

He realized that with Saintess Xiyuan openly supporting Gu Changge, continuing this line of argument would only work against him.

“Winning hearts? No, I am merely stating the obvious,” Gu Changge smiled, his gaze carrying a cryptic meaning.

Ultimately, the birthday celebration concluded on a sour note. Chu Gucheng, citing pressing state matters and his own lack of hospitality, departed early, leaving his princes and princesses to oversee the remaining guests.

Many guests lingered after the King’s departure, curious to see how the Immortal Chu Kingdom would navigate the fallout.

The Prying Heaven Alliance did not seem as monstrous as the rumors suggested, nor did it appear to be an agent of the Black Calamity.

It was becoming clear that the previous rumors might have been a calculated smear campaign by the Immortal Chu Kingdom to manipulate public opinion.

With this realization, the guests lowered their guard, and their apprehension toward Gu Changge began to fade.

The elders from Ling Shen Cave, sensing the shift in the room, composed themselves. They took the initiative to bring forward several youths who had previously clashed with Gu Changge in Ziguicheng to offer their formal apologies.

With Ling Shen Cave setting the example, other influential figures and clan leaders stepped forward to pay their respects to Gu Changge.

At this stage, regardless of their political leanings, Gu Changge’s terrifying power was something they could not afford to ignore.

Even the Buddhist representatives, who usually maintained close ties with the Immortal Chu Kingdom, were no exception.

The emaciated True Monk of the Lulai Buddhist Kingdom personally approached him, inviting Gu Changge to visit his realm to discuss the intricacies of faith.

The Lulai Buddhist Kingdom was deeply intrigued by the Prying Heaven Alliance's success in gathering followers and desired to study their methods.

After all, Buddhist practitioners typically followed the paths of Bodhisattvas like Prajna or Earth Store, converting the collective willpower of sentient beings into their own Cultivation.

The Withered True Monk had established countless Buddhist domains, and his mastery within them had earned him the title of “True Buddha of the Three Thousand Great Thousand Buddhist Realms.”

His influence was vast, with followers as numerous as the sands of a desert.

Over eons, these followers had provided him with an unfathomable amount of faith and spiritual energy.

The True Monk had utilized this power to survive multiple Heavenly Man Tribulations, reaching a level of power that rivaled the Grand Dao itself.

For now, Gu Changge had no plans to visit the Lulai Buddhist Kingdom. However, recognizing that they might be useful in the future, he did not reject the invitation outright.

Princess Chu Xinyue watched as the True Monk and others flocked to Gu Changge, her heart sinking. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists.

Despite her inner turmoil, she had to maintain a poised and elegant smile for the sake of the remaining guests.

“Xinyue, you should retire for now. Father is likely burdened with worry at this moment. It would be wise for you to go and comfort him,” the First Prince, Chu Wushang, noted his sister's barely contained anger. He feared she might do something reckless that would give Gu Changge an excuse to act, so he urged her to leave.

“Elder Brother…”

Chu Xinyue looked at Chu Wushang with a hint of pity. While her brother was diligent and stable, his innate talent was unfortunately mediocre.

Despite their father’s help—using rare elixirs and seizing every possible opportunity for him—he had only managed to survive four Heavenly Decline Tribulations. Reaching the Grand Dao was an impossible dream for him.

“Do not worry. No one would dare cause trouble in the capital. Furthermore, our Grandmaster and the other Elders are still here,” Chu Wushang reassured her, sensing her doubt regarding his ability to manage the situation.

Chu Xinyue nodded slightly and exited the hall.

Ouyang Ji, the young master of the Xiaoyao Heavenly Palace, followed her immediately with a retinue of servants. He had been clinging to her side throughout the event.

Though he viewed himself as a devoted suitor, to everyone else, he looked like a common sycophant.

Chu Xinyue had initially been annoyed by his presence, but she had grown used to it. She no longer bothered with pleasantries and often treated him like a servant.

Ouyang Ji’s submissive nature both repulsed and amused her.

It was almost pathetic that the future lord of the Xiaoyao Heavenly Palace—a man of the Xudan Civilization who had survived several Heavenly Decline Tribulations—was so willing to be at her beck and call.

It was laughable, yet Ouyang Ji was ultimately a coward. Since being wounded by Gu Changge once, he hadn’t dared to even think about retaliation.

“The fact that Saintess Xiyuan is siding with Gu Changge is a massive shock…”

“She even dared to disrespect Elder Jin. It seems she is committed to opposing us and the Immortal Chu Kingdom.”

“Father was right to be cautious. We must make preparations immediately.”

After leaving the banquet, Chu Xinyue headed toward the inner palace to consult with Chu Gucheng.

Recalling the events of the evening, her eyes flashed with a cold, malicious light.

“Xinyue, are you intending to move against Saintess Xiyuan?”

Ouyang Ji, trailing behind her, noticed her grim expression and asked with concern, “Are you planning something for her?”