I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1313: Things can’t go so smoothly, can they?

Signing the covenant.

The Xiyuan Covenant's details filled the Covenant Gold Book entirely. Every character gleamed with intense radiance, featuring bold strokes, sharp hooks, and firm lines that pierced through the cosmos, manifesting deep within the starry expanse and lining up neatly, as though reshaping the cosmic rules themselves.

As the Covenant Gold Book spread open, its glow lit up every bit of emptiness and nook, reaching even the shadowy corners of the Xiyuan civilization, now bursting with splendor. This represented an unfathomable mighty force, like the Heavenly Lord inscribing upon an timeless parchment to forge the celestial principles, unleashing enormous surges that spanned eras and voids, echoing from past to present and touching all regions of the world.

In that instant, Zhongmiao Mountain appeared wrapped in a heavenly tune, where archaic visions emerged, vibrant mists blended, sacred woods rustled, and brilliant rays shone. Wave after wave of Great Dao runes flickered, encircling the timeless and everlasting foliage.

Every cultivator and creature lifted their eyes skyward, eager to glimpse the Covenant Gold Book's words. Yet for common folk, the script blazed too fiercely for direct viewing.

One look triggered sharp agony in their vision, bringing forth tears. Solely those at the Dao Realm managed to vaguely discern certain runes and letters inside. The ancient entities involved in crafting the Covenant Gold Book likewise tilted their heads upward, peering into the cosmic void.

This encompassed numerous Dao Realm experts from the Fentian Alliance, all gazing in stunned wonder.

Various sect leaders and chiefs stared fixedly too, scrutinizing every rule and detail in the Covenant Gold Book, overlooking nothing.

“It looks like a time of relative calm will at last arrive. The Xiyuan Covenant's terms match what we desired.”

At last, somebody completed scanning the Covenant Gold Book's text and breathed a heavy sigh, a grin forming on their features.

Prior to this, plenty had harbored concerns. Though rumors of the Xiyuan Covenant's elements had reached them, unease lingered, with fears of biased terms against them or plots by Yu Xian Palace elders and the Fentian Alliance to betray the rest.

Yet once the Covenant Gold Book materialized, the burden on their minds eased away.

“Wonderful, this is precisely right—diverse races and Dao sects coexisting harmoniously, following guidelines, avoiding disturbances. A massive calamity may strike the Xiyuan civilization ahead, so it's wise to prevent infighting beforehand.”

“Unity alone offers greater odds of enduring the impending crisis.”

Heads of numerous minor clans displayed joyful looks, sensing relief wash over them.

Unlike enduring Dao sects backed by Dao Realm powerhouses, these lesser clans possessed merely a handful of Dao Realm figures and stood no chance against a colossus like the Fentian Alliance.

Earlier, they might have turned to other enduring Dao sects for shelter, yet with the current turmoil, even those sects couldn't assure their own security. Self-reliance became their only option.

The Xiyuan Covenant's emergence had somewhat addressed their pressing issues and worries.

Right then, leaders of many small clans yearned to seal the Xiyuan Covenant straightaway, vowing upon their lineage and swearing allegiance to the Heavenly Dao.

“The terms seem thoughtfully crafted, even accounting for everyday folk and clans.”

Shang Chongming, deputy head of Jie Kong Ridge, wrapped up reading the Covenant Gold Book's text and offered a knowing smile.

“Elders fret over the realm, covering all aspects, leaving none behind.”

“Yes, such thoroughness commands our respect.”

Nearby ancient figures, catching these words, all bared faces of praise and reverence toward Ling Yuling. In their shoes, they wouldn't spare a thought for minor clans and groups.

To the whole Xiyuan civilization, such everyday clans and powers resembled the infinite grains in the Ganges—endless and trivial.

Peak existences like them paid no heed to such trivia.

“The road ahead holds unknowns; I'm merely striving my utmost,” Ling Yuling replied with a soft smile.

The Xiyuan Covenant's terms stemmed wholly from justice, with no provision straying from it. In particular spots, she deliberately drew from Fentian Alliance doctrines, aiming to leave no room for Gu Changge's critique.

Thus, should Gu Changge reject signing the Xiyuan Covenant,

“Precisely, it has to be thus. The times ahead are unclear, so I urge all sides to uphold their roles and steer clear of improper acts.”

“Failing that, we hold the authority to purge any disruptive elements.”

The Shouyang Tianzong sect master gave a faint nod. Nearby sect heads had long been aware of most Xiyuan Covenant details, so surprise eluded them.

The Xiyuan Covenant's text arose from collective talks and drafting, with all involved in its shaping. They aimed to safeguard gains for their own Dao lineages without overly shifting the balance.

Still, certain terms and edicts got rejected later by Ling Yuling, Yu Xian Palace's forebear, deeming them unfit.

The Xiyuan Covenant needed to uphold equity and righteousness, prioritizing the Xiyuan civilization's collective good, free of selfish gains.

“Does Young Master Gu wish to suggest any alterations?”

Ling Yuling turned her eyes to Gu Changge once more, a trace of question in her expression. Since unveiling the Covenant Gold Book, he had kept his sight on it, offering no view, his face steady and inscrutable.

“The covenant's terms are naturally acceptable.”

Gu Changge gave a mild smile, pulling his eyes from the Covenant Gold Book.

Ling Yuling felt a slight jolt, evidently taken aback by his reply, as the ancient figures around displayed gleeful looks.

To them, Gu Changge's consent to the Xiyuan Covenant meant the issue was mostly resolved.

Hence, his stance proved vital.

Other sect heads and chiefs looked astonished too. Plenty had braced for clashes, maybe even fierce clashes, arriving with vital assets in tow.

Yet the Fentian Alliance's head, Gu Changge, appeared utterly nonchalant.

Any sharp observer could see the Covenant Gold Book's terms leaned against the Fentian Alliance's present power, crafted specifically to halt its growth.

For instance, it mandated all powers honor borders and avoid casual conquests, averting needless violence.

This plainly targeted reining in the Fentian Alliance's advance.

The Xiyuan civilization's myriad enduring Dao lineages had thrived and persisted over endless ages, beyond eras of territorial wars and border pushes.

These days, they savored their domains and clashed little among themselves.

The prior major clash came when Xiyuan Holy Hall summoned the Xiyuan Order, rallying Dao sect powers to crush the Xian Chu Haotu.

Beforehand, the Demon Court versus Xian Chu Haotu fight struck many as unforeseen; none foresaw its turn.

In this era, the Fentian Alliance's abrupt surge stunned all. Within mere centuries, it seized feats that enduring Dao lineages needed epochs to match, swallowing sects and pressing onward.

Evidently, its next move involved further domain grabs and intrusions on other Dao sect grounds.

Nearby, the Xiyuan Holy Maiden Qiong Qiong Jizi lingered solitary, her stare icy as she observed the events, a brief flicker of astonishment crossing her gaze.

“I wonder what scheme he's plotting; it can't proceed this flawlessly.”

The Shouyang Tianzong sect master's eyes darkened, wisps of Dao aura leaking from them, fixing a hostile glare on Gu Changge nearby.

He believed sealing the Xiyuan Covenant wouldn't prove this simple. Long harboring grudge against the Fentian Alliance, back in Yu Xian Palace days, he had stirred others against Gu Changge.

The old lord of Xian Chu Haotu, Chu Gucheng, once aided him. But during Chu Gucheng's birthday rite, the sect master journeyed afar and skipped it.

Returning to Xiyuan civilization, word of Xian Chu Haotu's doom had spread. He then acted personally, probing the Fentian Alliance, uncovering zilch yet growing surer of its ties to Black Calamity survivors.

Gu Changge, Fentian Alliance chief, likely embodied a Heavens’ disaster survivor.

Nearby sect heads and chiefs creased brows at the Shouyang Tianzong sect master's remark. They too sensed the smoothness rang false. When had the brutal forces toppling Xian Chu Haotu grown so yielding?

“With Young Master Gu finding no issues in the covenant's terms, shall we proceed to sign?”

Ling Yuling recovered, lifting her elegant palm, and abruptly, a radiant heavenly gleam from the cosmic Covenant Gold Book streamed down to Zhongmiao Mountain, resembling a grand veil draping into the chamber's core.

Gu Changge's demeanor surprised her as well. She had pondered countless scenarios, yet never pictured his such poise and detachment.

Moreover, the Fentian Alliance folk in the chamber mirrored that ease and composure.

Even Ling Yuling, foreseeing myriad paths, found herself puzzled. Had her vigilance overreached, wrongly assessing Gu Changge and the Fentian Alliance?

“You intend to conspire and lay a snare to slay the alliance head—your intent is vile!”

“Elder sister, Senior Brother Gu isn't as you imagine…”

Ling Yuxian, picking up on her sibling Ling Yuling's mindset, shook her head helplessly, her feelings tangled.

Lately, Ling Yuling's tactics versus the Fentian Alliance had been clear to her, and she yearned to halt them but lacked the means.

Despite her pleas to her sister, Ling Yuling dismissed them, believing Ling Yuxian swayed by Gu Changge's charm and trapped in sentiment.

The Xiyuan Covenant marked her sister's daring wager, staking that the Fentian Alliance would bare weaknesses.

Refusal to sign would let Ling Yuling rally Xiyuan civilization's powers against the Fentian Alliance, courting shared ruin, even Yu Xian Palace's wipeout.

This end Ling Yuling had foreseen and embraced any cost for.

Alternatively, the Fentian Alliance might sign, dwell peacefully with rivals, and honor bounds.

This outcome Ling Yuling craved most, though she deemed it near unattainable—slim odds. Yet to Ling Yuxian, it seemed probable, knowing Gu Changge's real aim: treading a rugged, fruitless trail.

For Gu Changge, Xiyuan civilization served as mere backdrop on his way, or a required stopover.

“Signing the covenant poses no issue, of course.”

“Miss Yuling has shown such care for all life, so detailed and prudent. It's a shame you haven't joined our Fentian Alliance.”

Gu Changge shook his head gently with a grin, stepping toward the descending sky veil. A casual hand motion summoned a quill forged from laws and order.

“To earn Young Master Gu's regard humbles Yuling deeply. Should opportunity arise later, I'll weigh it.”

Ling Yuling curved her lips in a subtle smile, poise intact and serene, though her eyes locked on his brush-holding hand. She sensed his words held no jest—he truly meant to ink the Xiyuan Covenant, harboring no hidden agendas.

Maybe throughout, her wariness and doubts had overblown, fostering undue biases against Gu Changge. Still, enigmas clung to him. The Jing clan's current forebear, Jing Tianyuan, had transformed utterly.

Quite possibly, the once-darkened immortal had seized his form.

That dark-tainted immortal now served Gu Changge as lord. His core nature surely hid depths. Yet Gu Changge freed her from that shadowy realm and mended the dark origin woes.

Logically, Gu Changge merited her thanks and boon to Yu Xian Palace. Strangely, gratitude eluded her.

Should the Xiyuan Covenant bind, it could affirm Gu Changge's lack of malice toward Xiyuan civilization.

Thus, its Dao lineages might enjoy respite.

“Matters rarely split neatly into light and shadow. Judging solely by virtue or vice blinds us. I've fixated too much on this.”

With such reflections, Ling Yuling sighed inwardly, her sentiments intricate and laced with quiet remorse.

“Then I'll await Miss Yuling's choice someday.”

Gu Changge chuckled softly at that, his free hand smoothing his cuff as he lifted his arm to etch the covenant on the glowing veil before him. Upon the immense overhead drape, countless Dao sect names already stood etched, birthing Great Dao auras. Rune after rune of the Great Dao shimmered and wove, releasing a fearsome, crushing presence.

Each instant summoned visions of stellar oceans crumbling, universes shattering, and primal chaos birthing, wielding infinite, colossal might.

Inscribing one's name bound one to endless karma and heaven-earth's vast force. Violating it invited unthinkable doom. Even ancestral Dao realm beings couldn't withstand the fallout.

Within the chamber, envoys from sects like Guangming Temple, Tathagata's Buddha Kingdom, Ling Shen Cavern, and Yu Xian Palace fixed eyes on Gu Changge's moves.

The Xiyuan Holy Maiden's lovely gaze stayed glued to Gu Changge, probing each nuance in his face.

Yu Xian Palace's Elder Qian Yun gripped her slim hand beneath her robe till bones paled. Perspiration beaded her brow, matting stray locks.

But then, nearly all attention riveted on Gu Changge inscribing the veil with his quill. None spared her a glance.

That instant, shock and awe gripped many. None had foreseen the Xiyuan Covenant's sealing unfolding so seamlessly, free of hitches.

“How can it proceed this effortlessly…”

“This defies expectation.”

The Shouyang Tianzong sect master knit brows, eyes flickering doubt and incredulity, his startlement plain.

Beyond the chamber, myriad beings and cultivators watched avidly, as if beholding a historic milestone.

Then, endless stares from Zhongmiao Mountain converged on the chamber's spectacle.

“Maybe we truly erred in gauging the Fentian Alliance's leader…”

“Likely his vast tolerance and vision drew such loyal might.”

Plenty of clan heads muttered thus, eyes brimming respect. En route here, they readied for war, yet who foresaw the Fentian Alliance chief's such composure and openness?

Despite the Xiyuan Covenant's rules disadvantaging the Fentian Alliance, he endorsed it readily.

Such daring and breadth won universal esteem.

As for the Fentian Alliance's members, they showe