I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1309: Leaders of various Daoist sects and clans

“Lord…”

Standing before the Fatian Temple, the old Crow and the old Daoist showed deep respect and awe on their faces, hesitant to interrupt Gu Changge. The other members of the Fatian Alliance had departed from the spot earlier, heading back to their base in the Xiyuan Civilization following Gu Changge’s orders.

“Do you have something to tell me?” After a prolonged silence, Gu Changge finally parted his eyes and asked in a relaxed manner.

He realized that the old Crow and the old Daoist might have already figured out who he was, explaining their eager actions and swift show of loyalty back at the Yuxian Palace.

“Lord, have… have you truly come back?” The old Crow’s gaze burned with passion, his words quivering a bit.

The old Daoist next to him held his breath tightly, his heart pounding like thunder in his ears. He never thought the old Crow would pose such a straightforward query. Still, it was exactly the truth he yearned to uncover most.

“Does it make any difference what the answer is?”

Gu Changge stayed turned away from them, his tone steady and unchanging.

“No… it makes no difference. We’ve longed for this moment for ages,” the old Crow replied, his voice shaking with thrill.

“Every one of us has awaited your arrival, eager for you to seize back the shadows.”

A vague chuckle escaped Gu Changge as he gradually pivoted to look at them, his eyes devoid of feeling while he answered, “Yet at this time, reclaiming the shadows holds no appeal for me.”

“Whatever path you choose, we stand ready as your devoted servants, prepared to sacrifice all for you,” the old Crow pressed with urgency. “Our existence depends on you, much like the endless realms rely on your dominion.”

“We, the Eight From the Crowd, pledge eternal loyalty until our last breath.”

The old Daoist at his side echoed the sentiment with profound veneration, his demeanor utterly pious. Without a second thought, they both dropped to their knees right there.

Any witnesses to this would have gaped in utter disbelief.

Beings at the Ancestral Dao Realm level towered over the infinite realms, their godly power defying comprehension, capable of sealing the fates of myriad universes and timelines with mere speech. They bowed to no one.

Not even death would force them to submit. The old Crow and old Daoist surpassed most Ancestral Dao Realm entities in strength. But here they were, prostrating before Gu Changge with total submission and zeal.

This spectacle defied all logic.

For the old Crow and old Daoist, the awe and jolt hitting them now eclipsed every past experience. It felt like forgotten legends springing to life, a god manifesting in their presence.

The wonders described only in dusty tomes unfolded live before them.

Be it the Heavenly Crowd or the Heavenly From Crowd, they clung to the same faith. And that faith now lived and breathed right in front of them, engaging in dialogue.

“The Eight From the Crowd? So the ancient Eight Buddhist Sects have transformed into the Eight From the Crowd?”

Gu Changge ignored the kneeling pair, his forehead creasing faintly. From the old Daoist’s statement, he pieced together key details. He refused to accept that the Heavenly Dynasty he once built had crumbled so readily.

Without any safeguards left, the Heavenly Dynasty had commanded the mightiest base across all realms.

Through eons of decay and ordeals, it wouldn’t shatter without a fight.”Lord, since the Heavenly Dynasty shattered, the old Eight Buddhist Sects vanished. Today’s Eight From the Crowd stems from those Eight Buddhist Sects, but they pale beside the originals you commanded…”

“Furthermore, the Celestial Crowd, which claimed most of the Heavenly Dynasty’s legacy, views itself as the true successors. Across these ages, they’ve hunted us, the Eight From the Crowd, relentlessly, aiming to erase us entirely.”

“Even the fabled treasure of that ancient civilization, the Coffin of the World’s End, now belongs to the Celestial Crowd. Armed with it, they grow bolder, sowing disorder without restraint. In recent times, we survivors of the Heavenly Dynasty have lurked in hiding, afraid to show our faces…”

Convinced of Gu Changge’s true self, the pair delved deeper into their account upon his prompt.

Bitter lines etched the old Daoist’s features, as if venting long-held woes, detailing the Eight From the Crowd’s dire straits to Gu Changge. Without their pursuit of the Gate of Eternal Life and the timely warning they got, this reunion—and alliance—wouldn’t have happened.

Typically, members of the Eight From the Crowd lost track of one another. Contact stayed limited to the most esteemed leaders in each group.

Indeed, the current Eight From the Crowd couldn’t match the awe-inspiring Eight Buddhist Sects that once rattled the realms. Plus, every branch burrowed deep underground, shunning exposure. This scattered them so much that even they weren’t sure how many survived or what power lingered from their peak.

“Reduced to this sorry mess, why would I need you anymore?”

Once the old Daoist finished, Gu Changge’s gaze grew profound; he spun back toward the Fatian Temple’s statue, appearing deep in contemplation. He’d assumed the old Crow and old Daoist sought him out to serve some purpose.

Yet it turned out the Eight From the Crowd had devolved into cornered vermin, scrambling to dodge pursuers.

They dreaded discovery by ancient foes and pursuit from the Celestial Crowd alike.

The Fatian Alliance’s founding aimed far beyond sheltering such remnants.

“Lord, please guide us and set things right.”

Bitter looks crossed the old Crow and old Daoist’s faces. They grasped how the Eight From the Crowd had plummeted from the Eight Buddhist Sects’ splendor in the Heavenly Dynasty. But fate had sealed that decline. After the Heavenly Dynasty’s fall, the factions—especially the Eight Buddhist Sects—lacked direction and unity.

With the Heavenly Dynasty’s Lord present, his sheer force kept all in check. The whole empire bent to his will without rebellion. But that very dominance meant his absence triggered a total breakdown and splintering.

The Eight Buddhist Sects suffered this fate, as did the Celestial Crowd. For only the Heavenly Dynasty’s Lord could harness such authority.

“What foundations do the Shaoyin Crowd and Celestial Decline Crowd still hold?”

Gu Changge paused briefly, offering little comment. Truth be told, the Heavenly Dynasty’s endgame wouldn’t sway him regardless.

Besides, its dissolution had been something he foresaw and orchestrated long ago.

More accurately, the Heavenly Dynasty was fated to dissolve. That the Eight From the Crowd and Celestial Crowd endured at all marked a surprising windfall.

He sought no further miracles. The Eight From the Crowd’s roots meant nothing to the Fatian Alliance.

“Lord, the Celestial Decline Crowd lurks mainly in the Celestial Decline Realm. That realm lacks form and sight, free of wants or hues. It’s a vast, empty void where no life stirs or appears.”

“Beneath the Celestial Decline Realm, they govern endless folk, empires, and sacred halls. Their base may not rival top true realms, but it dwarfs what immortal paths can challenge,” the old Daoist answered with deference.

The old Crow added humbly, “The Celestial Decline Crowd dwells in the Celestial Decline Realm, linked by billions of spaces through glowing earth. Lacking the Eternal Sun’s guidance, even mighty cultivators wander astray and confused.”

Regardless, both the Celestial Decline Crowd and Shaoyin Crowd sprang from the fearsome Eight Buddhist Sects that once dominated. Though diminished, they outstrip common immortal powers.

Gu Changge gave a small nod.

Should the other six groups mirror the Celestial Decline and Shaoyin Crowds’ strength, their alliance would pack real punch. But after endless ages, who knew if the Eight From the Crowd harbored new agendas.

The old Crow and old Daoist couldn’t speak for the whole Eight From the Crowd.

Gu Changge had no intention of discarding this substantial force.

For now, the Xiyuan Civilization alone couldn’t match the Eight From the Crowd’s might.

That said, Xiyuan Civilization hid plenty of untapped powers. Certain deep-cover figures hadn’t emerged yet.

Right now, Xi Nü, founder of the Xiyuan Holy Hall, along with heavyweights from the Guangming Temple and Tathagata Buddha Kingdom, watched from the shadows, holding back.

Gu Changge had meant to lure them with Ling Yuling as decoy. But he’d misjudged their endurance; they’d stayed patient so far.

Ling Yuling knew the Six Heavens Abyss’s location, giving her ongoing value to Gu Changge, so he held off striking.

This round, Ling Yuling’s push with the Xiyuan Alliance suited Gu Changge’s aims perfectly. He planned to exploit it, flushing out foes and clearing Xiyuan Civilization’s threats at once.

As Gu Changge stayed quiet, anxiety gripped the old Crow and old Daoist anew. They feared the Eight From the Crowd’s decline would sour him, leaving them discarded.

In that instant, not just them but elder powers behind hesitated to even exhale. To their minds, the Fatian Alliance’s rise signaled the Lord’s bid to revive the Heavenly Dynasty’s majesty. As its holdouts, proving worthless meant brutal rejection.

The Heavenly Dynasty Lord’s ruthless streak lingered in the Eight Buddhist Sects’ bronze artifacts and jade annals.

“Share how you reached the Xiyuan Civilization, but spare me tales from the other Eight Buddhist Sects about me,” Gu Changge’s voice cut through their musings, flat and emotionless.

“Should you block my path, remnants of the Heavenly Dynasty or not, I’ll erase you without a second thought.”

Their faces paled sharply, heads bowing low in terror.

Only authentic Eight Buddhist Sects survivors grasped the Heavenly Dynasty Lord’s dread power. Past realms’ denizens merely yielded to his dominance.

Meanwhile, beyond the Xiyuan Civilization, amid the endless cosmic void. A rift tore open silently in a domain thick with shadowy essence.

A colossal skull pushed through the fissure. Shriveled and vaguely human yet alien, it bore scant hair, its hollow sockets pitch-black voids.

Perched atop this huge skull sat a slim, hazy form in a broad hat shadowing its features. Just cold, detached eyes peered out.

“Ah Li, it’s been ages since we escaped that cursed trap. This fresh breath of vitality feels so distant.”

The giant skull eyed the Xiyuan Civilization, issuing a bone-rattling cackle that grated like a demon’s incantation, stirring chills and dread across the void.

“Indeed, such vibrant life force hasn’t touched us in ages…” The slim figure on the skull replied coolly.

“Hehehe, the priests scoured endless epochs for primordial civilization relics. Finally, they surface for all to see…”

“Gather sufficient artifacts, shatter the bindings, and herald the Black Calamity Lord’s resurgence. Darkness shall reign over the world once more.”

The giant skull’s jaws gaped in a ghastly grin, as if mirth seized it.

“Hush. That’s none of our affair.”

“Our mission here ties to nothing of the sort.”

The hat-wearing figure extended a hand, slapping the skull beneath. A resounding boom rang out, black vapor bursting everywhere.

The monstrous, twisted skull cloaked itself in luminous fog, reshaping into a pristine, graceful fox-like entity.

“Onward. This form suits better,” the slim figure noted, patting the mount again, voice icy and aloof.

The beast below, used to such treatment, flashed into radiant light, ripping space apart and vanishing instantly.

Months flew by swiftly, leading to the Mountain of All Wonders in the Xiyuan Civilization.

Thunderous skies hosted colossal vessels brimming with holy radiance, soaring overhead. Crowds and silhouettes converged as folks from across the cosmos gathered, alighting on the peak.

Gazing skyward revealed luminous arks, lucky beasts, and celestial fowl. Swords in flight, soaring pagodas, jade vessels— the scene teemed with fervor.

Heads of Daoist sects and families, plus key disciples from their lines, assembled to seal the Xiyuan Alliance pact.

Following extensive tweaks and talks, Ling Yuling of the Yuxian Palace convened with timeless powers to forge the fresh Xiyuan Alliance accord.

The Mountain of All Wonders served as the pact’s signing ground. Nearly every sect and clan in Xiyuan Civilization, big or small, rushed there after the summons. They aimed to etch their names on the document and claim its safeguard.

Within Xiyuan Civilization, the Mountain of All Wonders stood as a hallowed, singular site. Legends called it the Land of All Wonders in antiquity.

Rumors held a Daoist Lord once cultivated here, unlocking the world’s infinite marvels. Heeding the Great Dao’s summons, this Lord birthed a Door of All Wonders, spilling cosmic enigmas and myriad mystic techniques. Countless cultivators drew gains, ascending or stepping through the Door to loftier planes.

Thus, the Mountain of All Wonders turned into a pilgrimage spot for throngs of cultivators. Even Dao-tier beings paused to trace old echoes and chase flashes of insight.

The grand, soaring range evoked a slumbering dragon, its jagged summits piercing the firmament. Prismatic fogs roiled, sacred glows danced, and Dao laws tumbled like cascades down the slopes.

From afar, the zone shimmered in vivid rainbow hues, blessing beasts, avians, and mere mortals with peaceful, blessed vibes.

At the range’s heart, primal chaos churned. Timeless holy woods thrust heavenward, some enduring through infinite cycles. The mightiest among them pulsed with colossal life, leaves vast enough to eclipse stars. Breezes set them clashing like cataclysmic roars, chaotic essence spraying as if birthing a sublime cosmos.

Before these holy woods, cultivators appe