I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1282:

While the Zhenxian Army campaigned and tempered themselves within the deep folds of time and space, they frequently clashed with primordial behemoths from the ancestral realm, accumulating vast combat experience.

In deploying the Zhenxian Army this time, Chu Gucheng did not truly believe they could defeat Gu Changge. His primary objective was to use the confrontation as a stage, allowing the gathered dignitaries and guests to witness Gu Changge’s true power and perceive the sheer scale of the threat he posed.

He intended to use this fear to forge a grand alliance, uniting everyone to resist Gu Changge’s influence.

“If Saintess Xiyuan insists that I am a remnant of the Black Calamity, why does she not step forward and identify me directly or present undeniable proof to settle the matter?”

“Vague accusations without substance are hardly convincing to anyone.”

“Is this the strategy the Heavenly Chu Territory has chosen to deal with me and the Yuxian Palace? Or perhaps, is it the Heavenly Chu Territory itself that is clandestinely conspiring with the forces of the Black Calamity?”

Standing amidst the debris of the shattered palace, Gu Changge’s posture was regal, his garments pristine. He offered a thin, nonchalant smile in response to Zhenxian Marquis Chu Yuan’s declarations, appearing entirely unbothered.

In the firmament above, numerous figures descended, observing the confrontation from a distance with looks of bewilderment and doubt. Even now, many remained skeptical of the startling news.

Not long ago, Saintess Xiyuan had publicly cleared the Heaven Severing Alliance of any ties to the Black Calamity, yet today she had completely reversed her position.

This inconsistency began to erode the confidence of the onlookers. Despite her exalted status, her shifting narrative made her words seem less reliable than before.

“Even someone of Saintess Xiyuan’s standing cannot hurl such grave accusations recklessly. If she makes such claims, she must provide concrete evidence.”

“When the Yuxian Palace was battling the very heart of the Black Calamity countless eons ago, she hadn’t even been born. What right does she have to challenge our Sect’s integrity?”

At that moment, Ling Yuxian spoke up with icy conviction. Her robes billowed in the gale, her beautiful, jade-like features hardened by a cold glare.

Ling Yuxian was known for her bluntness; she had no patience for deception. Having nearly faced humiliation earlier, her internal fury was now a raging inferno.

Regardless of Saintess Xiyuan’s prestige, Ling Yuxian viewed her merely as a junior.

After all, Ling Yuxian’s mentor, Xiyu, belonged to the same era as the Saintess’s predecessors and had been their equal and ally.

“The Little Ancestor is correct. Where is Saintess Xiyuan? Let her show herself. We respect her position, but evidence is mandatory. If it can be proven that Young Master Gu is linked to the Black Calamity, we will not only sever ties with him but join the effort to suppress him immediately.”

The declaration by Ling Yuxian rallied the injured Elders of the Yuxian Palace, who voiced their agreement with righteous heat.

With the Ancestor of the Yuxian Palace nearing rebirth to reclaim dominance over the realms, they found the Heavenly Chu Territory’s arrogance intolerable. Such blatant disrespect toward their Sect would not be overlooked.

The commotion had already drawn the gaze of the entire imperial capital. Cultivators from all corners were flocking toward the site, stunned by the unfolding chaos.

With the Demon Court and Zixia Mountain launching an invasion, people wondered if the Heavenly Chu Territory truly intended to provoke the Yuxian Palace as well.

The public was desperate to understand the Saintess’s sudden change of heart. Did she truly possess proof that the Heaven Severing Alliance was tied to the Black Calamity?

“Evidence? The Heaven Severing Alliance hasn’t just invaded the Immortal Spirit Civilization; they have seized numerous territories and choked those lands in a black fog, turning them into realms of perpetual gloom.”

“Now, their leader has infiltrated the Xiyuan Civilization, working in the shadows with the Demon Court to destabilize the Heavenly Chu Territory. They intend to plunge our entire civilization into the same darkness.”

“These actions are plain for all to see. Do I really need to elaborate? How dare you question the Saintess’s word?”

Recognizing he was no match for Gu Changge in a direct duel, Chu Yuan chose to escalate the rhetoric. His voice was resolute, and as he finished speaking, the Zhenxian Army behind him snapped into a lethal formation.

A terrifying, murderous intent surged into the heavens, feeling as though it originated from the depths of the Nine Hells. The sheer pressure chilled the hearts of the spectators, reminding them of the countless lives claimed by this army.

Gu Changge let out a soft laugh. “The Heavenly Chu Territory seems remarkably eager to dispose of me. Isn’t this a bit rushed? I have met Saintess Xiyuan before; by my estimation, she is not someone so devoid of gratitude or reason.”

“It makes me wonder if she is acting under duress—if her words and actions are no longer her own.”

His voice carried across the capital, reaching the ears of every cultivator. To the common masses, this theory held weight. However, they doubted the Heavenly Chu Territory would ever dare to coerce someone as powerful as the Saintess.

The visiting guests looked on with flickering eyes, weighing the possibilities. Soon, it would be clear who was lying and who was merely putting on a brave face.

Deep within the palace, Chu Gucheng frowned. He knew the timing was far from ideal. However, he feared that any further delay would ruin his schemes. After the mysterious disappearance of the agents sent to kill the Champion Marquis’s confidant, he suspected Gu Changge’s involvement. To prevent further interference, he decided to strike now.

Secretly, Chu Gucheng signaled the 'Saintess Xiyuan' standing at his side.

He was uncertain of the exact history between the real Saintess and Gu Changge, suspecting the latter might be spinning lies. Regardless, he needed her to step forward now to unify the factions against their common enemy.

The false Saintess immediately grasped his intent. Her form blurred as she ascended, gliding out of the palace and appearing before the ruins in a single, graceful stride.

Although the 'Great Creation Dan' had perfectly replicated her form, the memories it provided were fragmented and hazy to avoid detection. Consequently, Chu Xinyue did not fully understand her predecessor's bond with Gu Changge, but the lingering fragments in her mind suggested he was telling the truth.

The real Saintess indeed possessed many memories of him, including intimate encounters that remained blurred in the duplicate's mind.

A figure as luminous as the moon descended before the Yuxian Palace’s ruins. Clad in white, she looked like a celestial blossom, untouched by the grime of the world. Through her veil, her eyes—burning with a hidden hatred for the death of her brother—locked onto Gu Changge.

Suppressing her rage, she spoke with a flat, detached tone:

“The Heaven Severing Alliance is a plague born of the Black Calamity, steeped in sin. For their own greed, they have brought ruin to worlds and ended countless lives. They are an affront to the Dao and are cursed by the heavens.”

The appearance of the Saintess and her harsh condemnation silenced the crowd.

“What proof do you have for these claims, Saintess? This matter is too grave to be decided by your word alone.”

Ling Yuxian stood her ground, staring back at the Saintess without a hint of intimidation.

“Is the truth something for you to dictate? If my words today are false, may my Dao heart shatter, and may I suffer the ultimate judgment of the Heavenly Laws for all eternity.”

The Saintess cast a frigid look at Ling Yuxian, her expression unwavering.

Ling Yuxian was taken aback by the severity of the oath. She turned to Gu Changge, only to find him still wearing that same faint, amused smile.

Even with the Saintess herself making such a vow, he remained entirely unperturbed.

“Could what she says actually be true?” Ling Yuxian wondered, her mind racing.

“Do you place your faith in me, or in her?”

Gu Changge asked with a chuckle, seemingly reading her internal conflict.

Ling Yuxian looked into his eyes and answered without a second thought, “I believe in you, of course.”

Gu Changge erupted into a booming laugh. A terrifying, oppressive aura exploded from his body, creating a sensation like a boundless, chaotic black hole warping the space around him.

“The Heavenly Chu Territory is blinded by greed,” he laughed. “You twist the laws of the world and invert right and wrong. It is you who have long since allied with the Black Calamity. Today, I shall strip away your masks for the whole world to see.”

“The various factions of the Xiyuan Civilization share a single fate. I call upon all Dao friends to recognize the truth and join me in purging this evil.”

Chu Yuan’s rage reached a breaking point at these words. With a thunderous roar, his hair radiated a golden, divine light. He expanded into a massive, god-like entity, his armor shimmering with the glow of immortality.

He struck. His massive Dharma body bridged the gap between heaven and earth, extending toward the stars. His eyes contained the rotation of celestial bodies, and he radiated the light of time and space, looking like a sovereign of the Great Dao peering down at the mortal realm.

He unleashed the full power of a Dao Realm expert who had survived six Heavenly Calamities, a force so potent it compelled the weak to kneel in worship.

Chu Yuan’s blow seemed to sever the flow of time itself, turning the very fabric of years into a weapon. The world groaned under the strain, and the sky teetered on the edge of collapse.

Behind him, the Zhenxian Army channeled their collective killing intent into a singular, cosmic strike, aimed at obliterating everything in its path.

Inside the palace, everyone watched with bated breath. Even though Law Saint and Elder Jin were Ancestral Dao Realm masters, they lacked the confidence to face Gu Changge alone. They couldn't tell if his persona was a facade, and even the enigmatic Dongxing Ying of the Yin Xu Sect felt a deep-seated dread toward him.

“The power of the Heaven Severing Alliance’s leader is evident to all. He is not an opponent one can face alone. Even here, on our own soil, I doubt we could capture him single-handedly.”

“With Saintess Xiyuan present to lead us, perhaps we should combine our strengths to seize him and remove this blight from our civilization.”

Seeing Chu Yuan engage, Chu Gucheng turned to his guests and bowed slightly. As he spoke, his eyes flashed with the golden light of the Great Dao. His simple robes transformed, glowing with the threads of universal laws as he prepared to enter the fray.

“Lord Chu is correct. The Marquis may not be enough. We must seize this moment to strike together,” an ancient cultivator from the Vast Wilderness added, his face grim.

Chu Gucheng’s words resonated with the various leaders. They could see that Gu Changge’s Cultivation was far beyond their individual reach.

Only a unified front offered a chance at victory.

“The remnants of the Black Calamity are a scourge upon the heavens. Since he had the audacity to show himself here, we must ensure he regrets it,” another expert from the Xu Dan True Realm agreed, his killing intent rising.

This wasn’t just about the safety of the civilization; it was about political alignment. The Heavenly Chu Territory was becoming the dominant power, and siding with them now was a calculated move.

The representatives from Ling God Cave, Guangming Temple, and the Tathagata Buddha Kingdom remained silent, choosing to observe for now.

“Excellent. Let us move as one to suppress this demon,” Chu Gucheng declared with a bold smile, raising his hand.

As he stepped forward, fragments of ancient armor flew from the palace depths, encasing his body and face in a protective shell. He radiated a blinding golden light, looking like a central deity of the cosmos, exuding limitless divine power.

He didn't care about the guests who remained on the sidelines; his goal of inciting the conflict was already successful.

As Chu Gucheng exited the palace, a host of powerful figures followed him, including Dao Realm guests and masters like Law Saint and Elder Jin. They crossed thousands of miles in heartbeats, surrounding Gu Changge at the ruins.

Each one exuded a vast, ocean-like energy that made the entire capital tremble. The sheer pressure of three Ancestral Dao Realm beings—including Chu Gucheng, whose power was bolstered by his kingdom's destiny—was enough to make the heavens shake.

“The Heavenly Chu Territory truly believes they can silence the world,” Ling Yuxian spat, her teeth clenched in anger.

Standing beside Gu Changge, she was shielded from the direct pressure, yet she understood the terrifying reality of the force arrayed against them.

“Young Master Gu was right. The Lord of the territory is finally making his move.”

“And that princess posing as the Saintess is incredibly daring. Not only is she framing the Heaven Severing Alliance, but she’s also trying to sell the Saintess into a marriage with this territory.”

In the residence of the former Grand Tutor, Han Feng, Chu Bai, and their companions watched the sky with anxious expressions.

They never imagined that a single night would lead to such a world-shaking confrontation.

Chu Gucheng had personally taken the field, leading a coalition of Dao Realm experts against Gu Changge.

The former Grand Tutor, a white-haired but sharp-minded man, watched with a trembling voice. Though his Cultivation was not his main focus, his mastery of the Confucian Dao gave him strength comparable to a Dao Realm expert.

“This is madness… pure chaos…” he whispered in disbelief.

Han Feng and the others had already briefed him on the previous night's events. Initially skeptical, the Tutor had been forced to accept the truth: Chu Gucheng had conspired to imprison the real Saintess and replace her with his own daughter.

The scene unfolding in the sky seemed to confirm every word.

Han Feng and his group stayed focused on their mission. They knew they were too weak to interfere in a battle of such high-level Cultivation. Their task was to find the truth behind the murder of the Champion Marquis’s wife. However, they discovered her body was not at the Tutor's residence but had been moved to the royal tomb.

Because Chu Gucheng had posthumously honored her as a high-ranking noble, she had been granted a burial in the sacred grounds of the royalty. They still hadn't found the jade pendants they were searching for.