I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1388

Chapter 1388: Eternal Divine Bloodline, the Life of Empress Pingtian

Red Cold City was an extremely barren and desolate territory of the Zhuo people, characterized by a striking contrast of ice and fire. Some areas were filled with erupting craters, where magma flowed freely, creating temperatures high enough to melt many rare immortal materials. Every few steps revealed crimson crystals in various strange shapes, resembling condensed flames. The vegetation that managed to grow there was also vibrant red, emanating the essence of fire.

In deeper regions, blue and yellow flames flickered, generating temperatures so intense that the surrounding s.p.a.ce warped and distorted. Even beings at the level of the Immortal Dao dared not venture there easily, as they risked being burned to the bone at every turn.

Conversely, another area displayed an endless glacier of faint blue, with icicles and sharp ice edges hanging year-round, while a fierce cold wind howled. The sky appeared entirely white, and numerous creatures had been frozen into ice sculptures, standing motionless amid the vast snowstorm.

At the junction of the two regions lay a ma.s.sive rift valley that stretched endlessly. The flames, ice, and snow intertwined here, leading the world to call it the h.e.l.l of Ice and Fire. This place served as a natural prison where the Zhuo Clan confined heinous clansmen or sworn enemies.

At that moment, an indifferent figure with white hair descended from the sky, spanning an endless distance and causing the wind, snow, and flames to subside. The Dao trembled beneath her footsteps, as if she were treading on the heavens and the worlds of the endless universe. Her age was indiscernible, and while her features were beautiful, her expression remained utterly indifferent, devoid of any emotion. She was Elder Zhuowu of the Zhuo Clan.

Behind Zhuowu followed a young figure, somewhat resembling her, who walked respectfully with his hands lowered.

“Greetings, Elder Zhuowu,” he said.

As soon as Zhuowu appeared, many Zhuo clansmen responsible for guarding the prison promptly showed up to salute her respectfully.

In the context of the entire immortal civilization, Zhuowu was among the most powerful beings, standing at the pinnacle of strength. Having undergone three spiritual transformations, her power could be likened to that of a third decline in the Dao Realm. Within the Zhuo clan, she was a true powerhouse; apart from a few elders in heaven, no one could rival her.

“Old Ancestor, the murderer who killed Cousin Tianyin is currently being held here,” said the figure behind Zhuowu.

It was Zhuo Ling, a member of the Zhuo clan who had captured Mu Yan. Although she was a direct descendant of Zhuowu, the difference in their bloodlines was significant. If Mu Yan hadn’t been captured this time, Zhuo Ling might not have had any opportunity to meet Zhuo Wu at all.

At that moment, Zhuo Ling’s heart was filled with excitement. To her, the presence of Ancestor Zhuo Wu signified respect and recognition for her. Zhuo Wu, however, remained indifferent, offering only a nod before stepping forward with Zhuo Ling toward the depths of the h.e.l.l of Ice and Fire.

The h.e.l.l of Ice and Fire comprised eighteen floors, each with varying degrees of torture. Only those who committed the most heinous crimes would be imprisoned on the bottom floor. Many prisoners languished on the 18th floor, often unable to survive more than a few days before succ.u.mbing to madness, becoming mere sh.e.l.ls of their former selves. Once confined to the 18th floor, the chances of seeing daylight again were virtually nonexistent. Upon death, their bodies would be cast into the sea of fire, completely incinerated without leaving a trace.

At that moment on the 18th floor, countless wails echoed, resembling the howls of tormented spirits, filled with shrillness and agony. The extreme cold and heat intertwined so violently that even the strongest immortal gold would collapse and disintegrate in an instant, turning to dust. The prisoners imprisoned on the 18th floor were not weak; during their lifetimes, they were at least at the level of the Immortal King.

At that moment, in the depths of the prison made of ice, a figure endured relentless torment within the azure flames that erupted from the walls, swirling like smoke. The flames continuously burned, casting an eerie glow over the scene. Pain was etched across Mu Yan’s blood-stained face, her brows knitted tightly in distress. Yet, compared to the other prisoners who screamed in agony, she maintained a semblance of calm, her lips pursed tightly to stifle any sound of suffering.

Hearing footsteps approaching from outside her cage, Mu Yan mustered the strength to raise her head, her hair falling in disarray around her face, some strands sticking to her cheeks, presenting an utterly disheveled appearance.

“Old Ancestor, that person is here,” Zhuo Ling announced as she led the way, glancing at Mu Yan with an expression that sought recognition for her efforts.

Zhuo Wu stood outside the cage, regarding Mu Yan with an indifferent gaze. A sneer played on her lips, as if relis.h.i.+ng the sight of Mu Yan’s plight.

“This deity has spoken: whether soaring to the heavens, traversing the earth, or descending to the underworld, no one in this world can save you. If you dare to kill this deity’s descendants, you must face the consequences of your actions today.”

Zhuo Wu stood over Mu Yan, her gaze filled with a chilling indifference. ”

You possess good talent and courage, but it’s unfortunate that you took the life of someone you shouldn’t have. Now, let this deity ponder how best to torment you.”

As she stood there, numerous terrifying visions flickered in her eyes—the moon shattering, stars plummeting, and vast universes collapsing and splitting apart. In an instant, thousands of scenes unfolded before her.

Zhuo Wu sought to deduce Mu Yan’s origins, contemplating whether there were peers supporting her from the shadows. She had sensed a lingering worry that some external force dispelled the killing intent that had pursued Mu Yan. It seemed plausible that others of equal standing plotted against her; otherwise, why would they choose Mu Yan as a vessel for the younger generation’s future?

However, Zhuo Wu found herself at a loss. She was not skilled in the divination and deduction techniques of the Immortal Civilization; had she been, she might have easily glimpsed Mu Yan’s fate and unearthed the ident.i.ty of the figure lurking behind her.

Mu Yan endured the excruciating pain and torture, and upon recognizing Zhuo Wu’s presence, she shut her eyes, treating her as if she were air and choosing to ignore her. The elder Zhuo Wu, who stood before her, harbored a different animosity; after all, it was Zhuo Wu’s precious junior whom Mu Yan had so cruelly slain. Yet, it was clear that Zhuo Wu likely did not remember such grievances. To her, Mu Yan had once been an insignificant ant, and now she probably saw her the same way.

“Old Ancestor, I propose that this girl be imprisoned here indefinitely, forced to endure the extreme cold and unbearable pain—the most profound suffering imaginable. An ordinary prisoner would experience a nervous breakdown within a few years, ultimately dissipating and turning to ash…”

As Zhuo Wu contemplated her options, Zhuo Ling, the younger member beside her, respectfully offered this suggestion, a cruel smile dancing on her lips.

At this, Zhuo Wu cast a sidelong glance at the young woman, her expression noncommittal. What kind of torture did the h.e.l.l of Ice and Fire truly offer? Surely, it would be too lenient to allow the murderer who had taken her descendant’s life to perish so easily.

However, Zhuo Wu had another idea. When she observed Mu Yan just moments ago, she noticed that although her cultivation was sealed and her spirit imprisoned, the strength of her physical body was far from negligible. Despite the relentless torture, Mu Yan showed no signs of collapse. In fact, her resilience hinted at the potential for something exceptional—a testament to the saying that real gold can be forged through hundreds of refinements.

“This girl possesses remarkable physical strength. At her age, her talent is quite extraordinary. It appears she could be a valuable seedling, suitable as a vessel,” Zhuo Wu mused, her eyes glinting with interest. The reason she focused on cultivating the younger generation was to find an appropriate container for her future self.

The cultivation methods of the immortal civilization were unique; they often prioritized the spirit over the physical body. Consequently, the longevity of the physical form was significantly shorter compared to cultivators from other civilizations. This urgency fueled her desire to find a suitable vessel, someone capable of housing her spiritual power and allowing her to continue her existence once her physical body’s lifespan was fully expended.

If the physical body was too weak, it would struggle to bear her immense spiritual power, which resembled a boundless sea, leading to a potential collapse. Naturally, the ideal vessel would be a body of someone of the same level. However, competing for such bodies was no easy feat. As a practical alternative, the younger generation—those with exceptional talents and promising futures—as well as the middle-aged generation, became the most suitable containers in the eyes of many.

Contemplating this, a strange light flickered in Zhuo Wu’s eyes as she fixed her gaze on Mu Yan once more. “Open your eyes and look at me,” she commanded.

Mu Yan found herself unable to resist the overwhelming power of Zhuo Wu’s words. Though she desperately wanted to turn away and close her eyes, she had no choice but to comply. Zhuo Wu’s voice seemed infused with a divine authority, compelling Mu Yan to open her eyes. Her slightly dark golden pupils were strikingly beautiful, yet they appeared vacant and apathetic.

“The golden pupils that embody the essence of eternity,” Zhuo Wu mused inwardly, her interest piqued.

I thought I had misjudged before, but seeing this now makes things much more intriguing. This girl actually possesses the eternal divine bloodline and is a member of the Eternal Protoss.

A sneer crept into Zhuo Wu’s heart, though her expression remained impa.s.sive, concealing the tumult of emotions beneath her calm exterior.

The Eternal Protoss was an ancient and enigmatic group within the immortal civilization, with origins that were difficult to trace. Outsiders often referred to them as the Eternal Clan, but the members of this group preferred to identify as the Eternal Protoss. They held a deep belief in the Eternal Beginning G.o.d, with legends suggesting that the entire immortal civilization was created as a result of this deity’s influence. However, such claims were merely rumors, lacking any historical records or cla.s.sical references to substantiate them.

As one of the oldest ethnic groups in the immortal civilization, the Zhuo clan had never subscribed to these narratives and regarded them with disdain. Despite their small numbers, each member of the Eternal Protoss possessed formidable strength. From the moment of their birth, they were endowed with a unique talent known as the meaning of eternity.

This talent was well-known, and the ancestors of the Zhuo clan had once attempted to study and harness its power, but all their efforts ended in failure, resulting in severe backlash. The power a.s.sociated with the meaning of eternity was indeed terrifying; it did not require any special techniques to manifest. When unleashed, it could easily suppress all other powers within the world.

At least in the eyes of the Zhuo clan, this was the reality: to unravel the meaning of eternity, one needed to overwhelm it with a more terrifying pure power. It was nearly impossible for any creature within the same realm to defeat a member of the Eternal Protoss. Fortunately, the world maintained a balance. Despite the strength of their bloodline, the members of the Eternal Protoss faced great difficulty in successfully reproducing, resulting in their limited numbers.

Nevertheless, even with their small population, the Eternal Protoss was a formidable force that could not be underestimated within the immortal civilization.

“Since she is a member of the Eternal Protoss, it stands to reason that this girl holds many secrets,” Zhuo Wu mused.

As the heavenly elder of the Zhuo Clan, she felt no fear of the Eternal Protoss. Even if a contemporary divine Son of the Eternal Protoss dared to harm her younger generation, they would still face the consequences of their actions.

Zhuo Wu had initially planned to extract more secrets from Mu Yan, but she decided against it. Keeping her alive served another purpose. No one had ever used a member of the Eternal Protoss as a container before, and the potent and mysterious meaning of eternity was an enticing prospect for her.

As Mu Yan’s bewildered mind gradually cleared, she instinctively stepped back, her eyes filled with wariness. She wondered what Zhuo Wu had done to her just moments before.

Zhuo Wu’s reaction to Mu Yan’s wariness seemed entirely unremarkable. She continued, her tone flat and authoritative, “Seeing you reach this stage is no small feat. I value talent and have no desire to crush it prematurely.”

“However, the matter of your killing my junior cannot be brushed aside so easily. Therefore, I present you with two choices. One: you can be imprisoned here forever, tortured in the h.e.l.l of Ice and Fire until you turn to ash. The other: you can become my disciple. I will overlook the past grievances, but you must recognize me as your master and pledge not to betray me.”

As Zhuo Wu finished speaking, Mu Yan was taken aback, stunned into silence.

Even Zhuo Ling, who stood nearby, appeared momentarily dazed. She had never antic.i.p.ated that her ancestor would suddenly change her stance, not only considering the possibility of sparing Mu Yan’s life but also offering her a chance at apprentices.h.i.+p.

Mu Yan’s reaction was swift; she quickly grasped the implications of Elder Zhuo Wu’s offer. It was clear to her that the elder had used some means to glimpse certain secrets about her, prompting the sudden change of heart regarding her fate. Zhuo Wu’s interest in taking her as a disciple surely came with ulterior motives, and it was far from the mere pity for talent that she claimed.

Despite her reservations, Mu Yan knew she had little choice. Remaining imprisoned, never to see the light of day again, would be akin to a death sentence. Yet, her heart was heavy with complexity; while she longed for survival, the thought of bowing to her enemy as a master was almost unbearable.

“Have you made your decision?” Zhuo Wu inquired again, her tone light, as if she could predict what Mu Yan would choose.

Mu Yan lowered her head, her slender hands clenched tightly beneath her sleeves, the knuckles turning white. After a moment of internal struggle, she finally spoke, “I’ve made up my mind; I choose the second option.”

She attempted to maintain a calm demeanor, masking the deep-seated hatred and humiliation that churned within her.

“Haha, I like smart people,” Zhuo Wu declared with a laugh that teetered between joy and mockery.

“But remember, if you dare to betray your master, your fate will mirror this rune; it will explode with a bang…”

With a sweeping gesture, she sent a dark purple rune flying straight into Mu Yan’s body. In that instant, Mu Yan felt as though her very life and death were bound to this simple dark purple symbol, a wave of despair cras.h.i.+ng over her heart.

***

Meanwhile, in the Gufeng Ancient City, within an exceptionally grand inn, a young man in a blue robe murmured to himself, “Based on the clues we’ve gathered, it should be around this time in Empress Pingtian’s life, the most twists and turns and the most crucial turning point.”

His eyes flickered with intensity, his face not particularly handsome but ancient-looking, with slanted eyebrows that gave him a distinctly heroic aura. In one hand, he held an ancient book enveloped in chaotic mist, which s.h.i.+mmered brightly.

In his other palm, a strand of slightly coa.r.s.e hair materialized. “This is the hair of the innkeeper. I took it off guard just now,” he explained, a hint of excitement in his gaze. “He has lived in Gufeng Ancient City for years, so he must have seen Empress Pingtian with his own eyes.”

With that, he placed the lock of hair on the ancient book, antic.i.p.ation br.i.m.m.i.n.g within him.