The Dao of Reincarnation (59-72) (Patreon)

Chapter 59: Sword Dao Genius (Part 9)

This was outright demanding Imperial Sword Manor with a single sentence? Offering the entire manor as a bride price—how brazen could they get?

Su Chen finally understood why Shen Ping'an had fled the moment his feelings were exposed. The boy probably couldn't bear to face him.

"Ping'an still harbors genuine affection for that woman."

Beauty traps held no sway over an "old monster" who had lived through several lifetimes. But Shen Ping'an had always been the sharpest sword in his hand—untouched by the poison called love. Even the coldest heart, upon first encountering that toxin, could find no antidote.

The next day, Su Chen summoned Shen Ping'an to his side.

"Ping'an, do you truly want that princess of the Black Nether Dynasty?"

Shen Ping'an kept his head lowered. "Big Brother, I like her."

Su Chen nodded to show he understood.

"Since you like her, of course your big brother will help you."

Shen Ping'an's face brightened for a moment before worry clouded it again. "Big Brother, I can't take your position as manor lord, and I definitely can't offer Imperial Sword Manor as the bride price."

Su Chen: "…"

"You really have some wild ideas, kid."

Shen Ping'an looked embarrassed and waited attentively for Su Chen's plan.

Su Chen spoke calmly. "Acquiring a lofty princess is very simple. Just destroy the Black Nether Dynasty. Once it falls and she loses her status and identity, what choice will she have left?"

Shen Ping'an felt a chill at how ruthless his brother sounded.

Su Chen paid it no mind. He knew the true nature of princesses from dynasties like this all too well. If treated as a plaything, fine—but if she married Shen Ping'an properly, the boy would eventually be toyed with to death.

That very day, Su Chen set out for the Great Jing Dynasty, longtime enemy of the Black Nether Dynasty. Both dynasties belonged to opposing major powers and had been locked in enmity for over two thousand years, each dreaming day and night of swallowing the other.

When the Jing Emperor learned that the manor lord of Imperial Sword Manor had come to pay his respects, he was overjoyed.

"I wonder what important business brings Manor Lord Shen to our Great Jing Dynasty?"

The Jing Emperor probed carefully.

Su Chen spoke plainly. "I wish to discuss grand plans together with Your Majesty."

The Jing Emperor's expression turned solemn at once. He immediately dismissed his attendants.

"I know Your Majesty's Great Jing Dynasty and the Black Nether Dynasty have nursed hatred for ages. Imperial Sword Manor is willing to lend a helping hand."

The Jing Emperor was delighted, though confusion quickly followed. How could such a heaven-sent opportunity fall into his lap?

Everyone knew Imperial Sword Manor stood under the protection of Heavenly Sword Sacred Land. Even setting that aside, under this legendary manor lord's leadership, Imperial Sword Manor ranked among the absolute top forces below Sovereign level.

The number of Profound Connection realm experts within its walls had long surpassed double digits. And the manor lord's own strength was unfathomable—becoming a Sovereign in the future was practically assured.

Su Chen gave a soft sigh and recounted the matter of Shen Ping'an—mixing truth and half-truths.

The Jing Emperor flew into a rage and slammed the table. "Preposterous! The Black Nether Dynasty has gone too far! Our Great Jing Dynasty still has many unmarried princesses, each one a peerless beauty. If your brother fancies any of them—even as a concubine—it would be their honor!"

See—that was the proper attitude.

Su Chen politely declined on Shen Ping'an's behalf. He knew his brother's character well. With Imperial Sword Manor's current standing, Shen Ping'an could obtain any woman he desired if beauty and figure were all that mattered.

The Jing Emperor expressed regret, then changed the subject. "I feel an instant kinship with Manor Lord Shen. Why don't the two of us swear brotherhood here and now, supporting each other from this day forward?"

Su Chen considered it briefly. There seemed to be no downside. The two men swore an oath of brotherhood.

With that, Imperial Sword Manor and the Great Jing Dynasty formally forged an alliance.

Less than a month later, the Great Jing Dynasty launched a full-scale invasion of the Black Nether Dynasty, catching them completely off guard.

After returning to Imperial Sword Manor, Su Chen found Shen Ping'an waiting for him, clearly conflicted.

"Ping'an, you must understand—for the sake of Imperial Sword Manor, you cannot afford to be soft-hearted! Rest assured. Your big brother will deliver your beloved to you safe and sound."

Su Chen smiled faintly, his tone full of concern.

Shen Ping'an couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. But this was his own elder brother—someone who had always looked out for him.

Shen Ping'an chose to trust.

Su Chen summoned the Imperial Sword Guards. Over the past thirty to forty years, he had taught them the Blood-Burning Secret Art from the Spirit Communion Art. Every guard selected was a genius in their own right. By burning their lifespan to cultivate, their cultivation had soared. The weakest were at the high stage of Spirit Soul, while a significant number had already stepped into Profound Connection.

"It's time this 'sword' tasted blood."

Su Chen's gaze remained cold and indifferent. If this "sword" did not taste blood soon, it would grow dull with age. He had thought he would need to create an opportunity. He never expected the Black Nether Dynasty to deliver one right to his doorstep. Destroying the Black Nether Dynasty would open vast new territories—ripe with fresh "sword embryos."

Su Chen mobilized millions from the armies of the three allied kingdoms, leading the Imperial Sword Guards like a razor-sharp blade thrust straight into the heart of the Black Nether Dynasty.

Within the Black Nether Dynasty's capital.

The Black Nether Emperor's expression was ashen. The war had dragged on for twenty years. In those two decades, the Black Nether Dynasty had suffered catastrophic losses.

"Your Majesty… bad news. Marshal Wang was defeated at the decisive battle on the Black Nether River. His whereabouts are unknown."

The moment the Black Nether Emperor heard those words, rage surged through him. His qi grew chaotic, and he spat a mouthful of blood.

"Impossible! Wang Fang is the undefeated war god of our Black Nether Dynasty—how could he lose so easily?"

The ministers fell deathly silent. Had the matter not been so grave, they would never have dared report Marshal Wang's defeat to the emperor.

The Black Nether Emperor's face twisted with ferocity. Since they had pushed him this far… Then do not blame him for unleashing a Sovereign War!

Over those twenty years, Su Chen reaped enormous gains. The name of the Imperial Sword Guards struck terror into the Black Nether Dynasty. Even their legendary war god, the undefeated myth, had fallen at his hands. His own cultivation had advanced from the sixth layer of Profound Connection to the seventh. Many promising geniuses had been absorbed into the ranks of the Sword Guards.

Su Chen sat upon the throne, his eyes blazing with mad ambition. Thin threads of golden qi flowed across his body. The radiant illusory true dragon coiled tighter around him, gradually taking on solid form. After defeating Wang Fang, he had made no further moves. He was waiting for the perfect moment.

"The Sovereign War is about to begin!"

"Sovereign" was the title bestowed upon Void Refining realm powerhouses. The Black Nether Dynasty possessed only one ancestor who had reached that realm. Once a Sovereign War was declared, that ancestor would have no choice but to leave the imperial capital. The capital itself was the nexus of the dynasty's national fortune.

The Imperial Apex Shock-the-World Technique could refine and devour national fortune, turning an entire dynasty's destiny into personal power. Was he really going to go through all this trouble just to wipe out the Black Nether Dynasty in one breath?

Su Chen was no fool—not even for his own brother. What he truly wanted was an excuse. No matter how clumsy that excuse might be. Even the Great Jing Dynasty could not fathom what Su Chen was truly after.

Dragon veins—the entire national fortune of a dynasty!

Su Chen intended to use this surge of imperial destiny to cultivate the seventh layer of the Imperial Apex Shock-the-World Technique. And thereby… become a Sovereign!

Chapter 60: Sword Dao Genius (Part 10)

Just as Su Chen had anticipated, under the relentless pressure from the Great Jing Dynasty, the ancestor of the Black Nether Dynasty finally emerged and challenged the ancestor of the Great Jing Dynasty to a duel.

Two Void Refining realm powerhouses clashed in the heavens. No one paid any attention to the movements below.

Imperial Sword Manor remained eerily still. Thirteen Sword Guards had vanished. And so had Su Chen.

Leading the thirteen Sword Guards, Su Chen launched a lightning raid on the Black Nether Dynasty's capital. Even the Black Nether Emperor never imagined Su Chen would be so audacious.

With a single swing of Dustreturn, Su Chen beheaded eighteen Profound Connection experts. All thirteen Sword Guards perished in the assault. Now, Su Chen and Hu Mao—one man and one tiger—stood alone against the legendary Black Nether Emperor.

Though the Black Nether Emperor had not reached Void Refining, by drawing on the dynasty's national fortune, he could barely wield the power of Profound Connection ninth layer.

"Shen Chen of Imperial Sword Manor!"

The Black Nether Emperor's expression darkened. He had heard of Shen Chen's reputation—a rising sword dao genius whose future achievements would be extraordinary. No… an instinctive dread gripped him. If he underestimated the man before him, he might actually die!

"Manor Lord Shen, has my Black Nether Dynasty offended you in some way?"

The Black Nether Emperor spoke in a low, grave voice.

Su Chen thought for a moment, then answered softly, almost wistfully, "This all stems from Your Majesty's own daughter. She demanded the foundation of Imperial Sword Manor… and my life. Unfortunately, neither my foundation nor my life is available to give."

The Black Nether Emperor froze for a heartbeat before his face twisted into utter darkness. Clearly, he understood exactly what had happened.

"This is a misunderstanding!"

Su Chen struck without another word. Misunderstanding or not, it no longer mattered.

Dustreturn was linked to Su Chen's bloodline. Sword qi raged in every direction, and with Hu Mao assisting from the side, the Black Nether Emperor was quickly forced into a desperate defense.

"First Form: Cease Conflict."

Seizing the opening, Su Chen delivered a ferocious slash that cleaved the Black Nether Emperor in half at the waist. A being of this level was extremely difficult to kill outright. The palace had been breached. Masses of Profound Connection experts were rushing back to reinforce.

Su Chen dared not delay. He seized the still-living upper half of the Black Nether Emperor.

"Hu Mao, hold him hostage at the entrance to the grand hall! Do not move a single step until I return!"

Hu Mao's heart pounded wildly. He had actually ascended to the point where he could openly hold an entire human dynasty's emperor hostage.

Su Chen wasted no more words. He sat upon the throne of the realm. The national fortune of the Black Nether Dynasty manifested around him. He immediately circulated the Imperial Apex Shock-the-World Technique, devouring the dynasty's destiny like a starving wolf tearing into fresh meat.

Across the Black Nether Dynasty, disasters erupted everywhere. Seas dried into cracked wasteland stretching for thousands of li. Blazing suns scorched the land while snow fell and ice sealed three feet deep. Countless spirit herbs and treasures suddenly lost their spiritual qi and shattered into nothingness.

Far away, locked in combat with the Great Jing ancestor, the Black Nether ancestor suddenly let out a furious roar.

"Thief! You dare steal the national fortune of my Black Nether Dynasty?"

The furious shout jolted Su Chen awake. He did not dare linger another second. With Hu Mao in tow, he fled the imperial capital at once. Twenty to thirty Profound Connection experts surrounded him, but with the Black Nether Emperor held hostage, they could only watch helplessly as Su Chen rode away on Hu Mao.

Su Chen fled without pause, racing back toward Imperial Sword Manor at breakneck speed. He abandoned even the Sword Guards and the million-strong army.

"If I become a Sovereign, your deaths will not have been in vain!"

Sensing the theft of the national fortune, the Black Nether ancestor—already gravely wounded—forced his way back to the capital. When he saw the half-dead Black Nether Emperor, rage consumed him.

National fortune was the root of any dynasty. Once shaken, everything crumbled. Now, less than a quarter remained—clear signs of a dying era.

"Even if my Black Nether Dynasty perishes, I will slaughter that thief!"

The Black Nether ancestor burned with hatred. An aging Void Refining powerhouse unleashed indiscriminate slaughter.

A million soldiers turned to ash. Hundreds of Sword Guards fell. The heavily injured, qi-depleted Black Nether ancestor was finally cornered by the Great Jing ancestor at the Black Nether River basin and killed on the spot. Thus, an entire dynasty met its end.

In the aftermath, the Jing Emperor gazed at a beautiful woman before him.

"What a Shen Chen of Imperial Sword Manor. What a fine 'brother'!"

The Jing Emperor laughed in fury. He had never imagined Su Chen could endure so patiently. His true goal had been the Black Nether Dynasty's national fortune all along. He had been used as nothing more than a hired blade—and in the end received only a quarter of the fortune.

With a single sword stroke, the Jing Emperor severed the woman's head. He ordered servants to place it in a brocade box and deliver it to Imperial Sword Manor.

…

Inside Imperial Sword Manor.

Su Chen returned in a rush and immediately entered seclusion. He had snatched chestnuts from the fire. Such a vast quantity of national fortune had to be digested as quickly as possible.

Shen Ping'an was still waiting for his beloved. Instead of his beloved, what arrived was a brocade box containing her severed head.

Shen Ping'an was overwhelmed with grief.

"Little Ping'an, are you really going to turn against your big brother for the sake of one woman?"

Hu Mao blocked Shen Ping'an's path. He found human emotions truly baffling.

Shen Ping'an was exhausted. He wanted to leave Imperial Sword Manor. In his eyes, his big brother was no longer the same person. For the sake of power, for the sake of cultivation… Even he had become a pawn to be calculated against.

The hundred Sword Guards had been treated as disposable pieces—discarded without hesitation. Such cold-blooded ruthlessness.

Hu Mao let Shen Ping'an leave. This was his master's younger brother—he could not simply devour him.

Su Chen remained in closed-door cultivation. It was not until fifty years later that he finally emerged. Every gesture he made seemed capable of dimming the heavens and earth.

An aura of absolute sovereignty rolled outward like tidal waves, like the rising sun itself. Everyone believed that from the seemingly declining Imperial Sword Manor had emerged a Void Refining realm powerhouse.

When Su Chen emerged, he found only Hu Mao waiting for him. Imperial Sword Manor was now reduced to a handful of people. The strongest among them was merely at the Spirit Soul realm.

"Master, you've finally come out!"

Hu Mao's eyes brimmed with tears.

Fifty years! Su Chen had been in seclusion for a full fifty years!

Su Chen asked calmly, "What happened in Imperial Sword Manor during these years?"

For the manor to decline to this extent—even if one developed it blindly with their toes—it should never have fallen so low. Hu Mao recounted everything that had occurred in exhaustive detail.

After Su Chen entered seclusion, the Great Jing Emperor had beheaded the Black Nether princess and sent her head to Imperial Sword Manor in a box.

The act shattered Shen Ping'an's loyalty. He abandoned everything and left Imperial Sword Manor. With the manor lord in seclusion and the second-in-command gone, the manor was leaderless.

The three vassal dynasties—Azure Phoenix, Eternal Joy, and Cloud Abyss—saw that Imperial Sword Manor had lost its foundation and that both manor lords were missing. They promptly executed the manor's envoys and defected elsewhere. In just fifty short years, Imperial Sword Manor withered away. Its territories were lost, its resources plundered.

Hu Mao gnashed his teeth in fury. "If I hadn't been worried about someone disturbing your seclusion, Master, I would have devoured every last one of those traitors long ago."

Having understood what had happened over the decades, Su Chen felt no overwhelming anger. He gathered the few remaining loyal members of Imperial Sword Manor, carefully selected eighteen of them to form a new Sword Guard unit, and bestowed upon them the Blood-Burning Secret Art.

Then Su Chen went to see the mother of this life. The once gentle and beautiful woman now had snow-white hair. When she saw Su Chen arrive, a faint smile appeared on her aged face.

"Chen'er… you've come…"

Su Chen fell silent.

Xue Rou had crippled her own cultivation and become a mortal.

Chapter 61: Sword Dao Genius (Part 11)

Ten days later.

Su Chen buried the mother of this life. The passing of kin, the departure of old friends. For him, these had long become the ordinary rhythm of lifetime after lifetime. It was difficult to stir the same heartache he had felt in his first three lives. Petals fall, flowing water drifts east—how many grand ambitions dissolve into idle conversation?

Even so, Su Chen rebuilt Imperial Sword Manor from the ashes. He reformed the Sword Guards. To avoid squandering the advantages he had gained in this life and to accumulate even more Reverse Fate Points, he needed to leave a deeper mark on this world.

In less than ten years, news of Imperial Sword Manor's resurgence spread across the surrounding hundred kingdoms. The three royal families that had betrayed the manor were exterminated in bloodbaths. From then on, no royal bloodlines remained; all territories were placed under direct administration by Imperial Sword Manor envoys.

But Su Chen did not stop there. After seizing the three kingdoms, he turned to relentless militarism. He launched large-scale invasions against neighboring dynasties, harvesting their resources to cultivate more Sword Guards.

Heavenly Sword Sacred Land.

Su Chen once again met Cao Tianming. A hundred years had passed without contact, and the Sword Son's strength had grown far more terrifying than Su Chen had imagined.

When Cao Tianming learned that Su Chen had successfully broken through to Void Refining, his regard for him deepened.

"Sixty years without a word from you—even Imperial Sword Manor declined to nothing. I truly thought you had died. Shen Chen, you really know how to deliver a surprise."

A Void Refining realm cultivator ranked as an elder even within a sacred land.

Su Chen smiled. "The Sword Son flatters me. My breakthrough was mere luck—nothing compared to someone like you. I suspect you have already taken that next step?"

Cao Tianming nodded. "Not long ago, I traveled to the Central Continent and encountered a fortunate opportunity."

Su Chen felt genuine envy. As expected of a divine physique prodigy. He prided himself on cultivating quickly, breaking through to Void Refining after only a little over a hundred years of practice. Yet Cao Tianming had already stepped into the Nirvana realm. His path toward sainthood lay wide open.

Cao Tianming asked directly, "You've come to see me. What do you want this time?"

Su Chen was not surprised that his intentions had been seen through. He had always been the sort who never visited without purpose.

"I wish to request an Imperial Edict from the Sword Son."

Cao Tianming raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "You intend to establish a dynasty?"

Founding a dynasty required approval from a sacred land.

Su Chen nodded. The Imperial Apex Shock-the-World Technique required national fortune to cultivate.

"I will raise the matter with the Lord."

Cao Tianming agreed.

"But do not neglect your own sword dao just because you are building a dynasty."

His tone was serious, almost admonishing.

With Cao Tianming's backing, the Imperial Edict arrived in Su Chen's hands soon after. With the edict in hand, he now possessed legitimate authority to found a dynasty. Establishing a dynasty was nothing new to Su Chen.

"Let it be called the Imperial Sword Dynasty. In this way, I will not have failed the ancestors of Imperial Sword Manor."

With the name decided, a mighty new dynasty rose into existence in this world. Su Chen naturally became the Imperial Sovereign, ruler of all under heaven. When word spread that Imperial Sword Manor had established the Imperial Sword Dynasty, reactions from surrounding major powers varied.

Some offered congratulations, some sneered in disdain, and others felt genuine fear.

The Jing Emperor's expression was extremely dark. Back then, Su Chen had played him for a fool, costing him the majority of the captured national fortune. Even after conquering the remnants of the Black Nether Dynasty, the mess had taken fifty years to stabilize. Rebellions flared constantly across the territory, draining vast amounts of manpower and resources from the Great Jing Dynasty. He itched with hatred toward this sworn brother.

"Wanting to establish a dynasty… heh, as if it could be so easy?"

The pie of the world was only so large. The appearance of a new neighboring dynasty would inevitably affect the Great Jing Dynasty.

Very soon, he devised a countermeasure.

…

Imperial Sword Dynasty

Su Chen stared expressionlessly at the memorial on the table.

"The Scaled Crocodile Clan, Spirit Shark Clan, and Ice Turtle Clan demand that the Imperial Sword Dynasty offer tribute sacrifices every year? Otherwise, they will dispatch their armies to sweep across our lands and bring the dynasty to ruin?"

Su Chen gave a cold laugh. "Do they truly think I am some soft persimmon to be squeezed? One clan demanding ten million martial cultivators and a thousand geniuses per year—they aren't afraid of choking on their own greed?"

He was ruthless, but that did not mean he lacked humanity. Behind those three clans stood a mighty figure of the demon race. Behind him stood Heavenly Sword Sacred Land. With the Blood-Burning Secret Art, the time cost of nurturing Sword Guards had been drastically reduced. Though their lifespans were pitifully short. For Su Chen, as long as the supply of such swords remained endless, that was enough.

Su Chen refused the tribute, choosing war over submission. The three clans flew into a rage.

"This newborn dynasty's ruler truly knows no manners!"

"Do they really believe that hiding behind Heavenly Sword Sacred Land makes them invincible?"

"Then let us fight! Wash ten thousand li in blood, hang this so-called emperor's head from the walls of his capital, and show every dynasty what happens to those who defy our three clans!"

The three clans united in their decision to launch a joint assault on the Imperial Sword Dynasty. This was the first great tribulation since the dynasty's founding. The Imperial Sword Dynasty had been built on the sword. Countless sword cultivators willingly threw themselves into the flames.

The war lasted thirty-three years. Innumerable lives were lost. Sword Guards were replaced again and again. In the end, the three clans could no longer hold the line and were forced to sue for peace.

Su Chen was not satisfied. Alone with a single sword, he charged straight into the Scaled Crocodile Clan's territory. He slew nine Profound Connection realm demon kings and gravely wounded a Void Refining realm demon emperor. Pursued by the clan's ancestor, he escaped unscathed.

That single battle shook the world. The terror of the Imperial Sword Body left everyone stunned. The name Shen Chen resounded across a hundred kingdoms.

Su Chen returned to the imperial capital. The war had severely depleted the dynasty's strength, forcing a long period of recovery and rebuilding.

During this time, Su Chen began selecting exceptionally talented women from across the land to take as consorts and produce heirs. He had seen far too many once-in-a-century demonesses and celestial maidens. He also attempted to cultivate successors with the Imperial Sword Body. Unfortunately, the success rate remained near zero. Over a hundred years of effort, not a single person succeeded.

In the third century, Su Chen encountered a familiar face. Shen Lianxin—his father in this life. Yet the man now appeared ancient and frail, with little time left.

Su Chen regarded him calmly.

"Mother passed away long ago. She crippled her own cultivation and gave up on living."

Shen Lianxin's lips trembled. After a long silence, he said, "Take me to see her."

Su Chen led him to the former site of Imperial Sword Manor. The place was now overgrown with grass and filled with birdsong.

Shen Lianxin knelt and did not rise.

When Su Chen descended the mountain, a sudden light rain began to fall from a clear sky. It grew heavier, carrying a refreshing chill.

Whatever Shen Lianxin had endured or experienced over the past two hundred years, Su Chen had no interest in knowing. Just as he had watched Shen Lianxin depart without stopping him.

"In this life, I seem rather heartless. I wonder how future generations will judge me."

Su Chen narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

In the three hundred and sixtieth year, through Su Chen's relentless efforts, a genius child was finally born with a martial physique. Heavenly Yang Shattering Sword Body.

Su Chen named him Shen Nianjian.

Shen Nianjian did not disappoint. He carried much of Su Chen's own bearing from years past. At a young age, he reached the Profound Connection realm and, in a single battle, slew three demon race geniuses. Yet this feat also drew the wariness of other powers. He was ambushed and besieged by experts from several races working together.

Chapter 62: Sword Dao Genius (Final)

Imperial Sword Dynasty

Su Chen was in seclusion when the token at his waist suddenly flared with crimson light.

"Not good—Nianjian is in danger!"

He summoned Dustreturn. The space before him shattered like cracked glass. A vast, overwhelming aura swept across ten thousand li above the imperial palace. By the time Su Chen arrived, his expression had turned extremely grim.

Shen Nianjian was not dead. But his cultivation had been crippled.

"Grandfather…"

Shen Nianjian's voice was feeble. The Heavenly Yang Shattering Sword Body had vanished entirely. He was no different from a mortal now.

Su Chen carried Shen Nianjian back to the Imperial Sword Dynasty. In a towering rage, he launched a thorough investigation, determined to uncover who had dared to ruin his grandson's cultivation!

The crippling of Shen Nianjian dealt a devastating blow to the dynasty. When the search yielded no results, Su Chen turned his suspicions toward the Great Jing Dynasty. Back then, he had used them as a tool and left them with heavy losses. The Jing Emperor had nursed that grudge for centuries.

Great Jing Dynasty

The Jing Emperor cursed furiously.

"Shen Chen, you madman!"

Out of nowhere, the accusation came that he had sent people to cripple the crown prince of the Imperial Sword Dynasty. Ever since Su Chen had emerged from the Scaled Crocodile Clan, the Jing Emperor had done everything possible to avoid provoking that star of calamity. Why would he stir trouble now?

Desperate to clear his name, the Jing Emperor arranged a meeting with Shen Chen. Three hundred years had passed since the two sworn brothers last met.

"Sworn brother, this matter truly was not my doing!"

The Jing Emperor tried to explain.

Su Chen responded with a cold laugh. "Sworn brother? You still dare call me that? Was it not you who incited the Scaled Crocodile Clan, Spirit Shark Clan, and Ice Turtle Clan, causing the deaths of over a hundred billion subjects of my Imperial Sword Dynasty?"

The Jing Emperor's heart sank. He had never expected Su Chen to uncover that old scheme.

"From today onward, you and I are no longer brothers. Our bond is severed—gratitude and obligation alike!"

Su Chen swept his hand outward.

A wave of absolute terror surged through the Jing Emperor. He turned to flee, only to be cleaved in half by a single sword stroke. His blood sprayed across the sky. Every guard in the palace was cut down by the Sword Guards.

Taking advantage of the ensuing chaos in the Great Jing Dynasty, Su Chen sent troops pouring across the border. Not many days later, a figure riding an immortal crane appeared above the imperial palace of the Imperial Sword Dynasty. The power standing behind the Great Jing Dynasty had finally intervened.

"Shen Chen, your actions have gone too far!"

Su Chen answered with a single sword strike.

"When I act, what right do you have to point fingers?"

Su Chen's conduct had grown far too overbearing. Yet with Cao Tianming's support, most powers could only turn a blind eye.

In the end, Su Chen claimed half of the Great Jing Dynasty's national fortune before withdrawing his forces.

With Shen Nianjian unable to cultivate, Su Chen had no choice but to seek new heirs. But for the next four hundred years, no new innate martial physique appeared in the Imperial Sword Dynasty.

In a quiet rural field, a frail, hunched old farmer pushed open the wooden door of his thatched cottage. He saw his grandson being held in the arms of a middle-aged man.

"Brother Pian'an, long time no see."

Shen Ping'an looked at the face that remained so similar to the one in his memory. The only difference was the added majesty, the unfathomable depth.

"I never thought you would still find me like this."

Shen Ping'an gave a bitter smile.

Su Chen smiled gently and spoke to the small child in his arms. "Great-Grandfather will take you to enjoy endless glory and riches—would you like that?"

Shen Ping'an's expression darkened instantly. "Brother, he's still just a child. He's too young!"

The smile vanished from Su Chen's face.

"Innate Imperial Sword Body—you understand what that means."

Shen Ping'an stepped in front of Su Chen.

"No matter what, I will not let you take this child."

Su Chen's expression remained blank. With a single palm strike, he suppressed Shen Ping'an to the ground, rendering him completely immobile.

This matter was not up for discussion.

Shen Ping'an coughed twice. Fragments of his internal organs mixed with blood foam. He remembered the first time he met Su Chen. He still recalled the words the young man had spoken from afar.

"From now on, if anyone dares to bully you, your big brother will use the sword in his hand to kill them for you."

But now, the only one who had ever truly bullied him…

"was you."

Shen Ping'an burned what little lifespan remained, struggling desperately against Su Chen's suppression.

It was futile.

Su Chen carried the child away and gave him the name Shen Daoyuan. He had already granted Shen Ping'an centuries of peace.

Ten years later, another sword dao genius emerged in the world. Shen Daoyuan entered Heavenly Sword Sacred Land.

That same year, a cataclysmic event shook the realms. The living beings of the Western Regions launched a full-scale war against the Southern Barbarian Lands. To hasten the arrival of a great era, the West sought to shatter the South and plunder its fortune. After all, one always pinches the softest persimmon.

"In the Western Regions, an ancient existence seeks to break through to the Great Saint realm, but the qi and fortune there are insufficient to support such an ascension."

This war was both a gamble and a contest. Yet what Su Chen never anticipated was that, in the midst of this conflict, Cao Tianming would fall—slain by an ancient freak from the Western Regions.

Su Chen witnessed the battle with his own eyes: two near-saint beings clashed, tearing heaven and earth apart.

Cao Tianming burned his entire sword dao to the last spark, yet he was still defeated. When reinforcements from Heavenly Sword Sacred Land arrived, they were blocked by mighty powers of the West.

"So even a divine physique like his can die."

A long-buried sorrow welled up in Su Chen's heart after so many years of iron resolve. The world was never short of geniuses. Timing and fate were crueler than talent.

In that war, Su Chen survived by sheer luck, but he was gravely wounded. The Western Regions gained no true advantage either; the would-be Great Saint's breakthrough was forcibly interrupted.

Su Chen reached one thousand years of age. His cultivation stood at the sixth layer of Void Refining. After the war with the West, the already declining Southern Barbarian Lands sank even deeper into ruin.

It felt as though the age of dharma-ending had truly arrived: saints no longer appeared, and even prodigies had been severed from the lineage. No one rose to carry the banner. An era without saints, where Nirvana realm cultivators had become exceedingly rare.

Inexplicably, Su Chen had become one of the few remaining overlords. The Imperial Sword Dynasty grew into one of the handful of truly dominant powers.

The grief in Su Chen's heart vanished in an instant. A dharma-ending age was perfect. His first act was to annex the Great Jing Dynasty. Over the next two hundred years, he swallowed three more dynasties in succession. His cultivation soared to the ninth layer of Void Refining.

Su Chen entered seclusion to attempt the breakthrough to the Nirvana realm. Only three hundred years of lifespan remained. He was staking everything on this throw. The gamble failed to produce any movement.

White-haired and aged, Su Chen's eyes burned with unwillingness! He discovered that the laws of the Southern Barbarian Lands had become incomplete. Restoring them would take another two or three hundred years. He could not break through to Nirvana.

"I hate this!"

Damn it—after finally touching the threshold of Nirvana, after seeing the path to becoming a Venerable open before him, the heavens had slammed the door shut?

Su Chen met Shen Daoyuan once more. A sudden, dark thought surged in his mind. If he slaughtered every last member of the Shen bloodline, would that perhaps allow him to force the breakthrough to Nirvana?

...

Shen Daoyuan stood before him, sword in hand, facing Su Chen.

"Great-Grandfather, allow me to send you on your final journey."

Su Chen laughed. "You want to avenge your grandfather?"

Shen Daoyuan struck. His sword dao was purer than Su Chen's ever had been—Su Chen saw the shadow of Cao Tianming in every stroke.

They battled for three days and three nights.

Aged, qi and blood in decline, and having failed his breakthrough, Su Chen was defeated. Before Shen Daoyuan's eyes, he threw himself into the melting furnace.

"This is the reincarnation. Daoyuan, I will forge a sword for you. I only hope your sword dao will never become like mine."

One thousand five hundred years. Su Chen perished.

Chapter 63: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 1)

Su Chen returned once more to the Reverse Fate Space. A flood of emotions surged through his heart. In the final moments of his last life, he had fallen short of breaking through to the next realm and ultimately chose to fulfill Shen Daoyuan's path instead.

This life, thanks to Shen Tianyi's influence, he had endured tremendous suffering early on, yet he succeeded in cultivating the Acquired Imperial Sword Body—a body that granted him the qualifications to contend with the true geniuses of the sacred lands.

[Sixth Life Summary: You were born into the Imperial Sword Manor. Your talent was exceptional, and you miraculously cultivated the Imperial Sword Body, an achievement with odds less than one in hundreds of millions. From that moment, you embarked on a path of clashing with every heaven-defying prodigy.]

[Your swordsmanship stood peerless among your generation. You carved through obstacles with unstoppable momentum until you finally encountered the true depths of the sacred lands' heritage. The sword dao you once took such pride in was shattered in a single casual strike, leaving you to question everything you believed.]

[Disappointed in you, your grandfather was eventually defeated by your hand. You smoothly inherited the Imperial Sword Manor and turned your full attention to raising your cultivation and amassing greater power. You began scheming to seize the fortune of an imperial dynasty. After many twists and turns, you successfully established your own dynasty.]

[Because of your existence, countless wars erupted across the land, claiming the lives of hundreds of billions. People cursed you as a tyrant. You paid them no mind and easily suppressed all dissent with your Sword Guards.]

[In the great war between the Southwest Domains, your performance was dazzling. Your fame spread beyond the Southern Barbarian Lands until even the Western Regions knew your name. After the war ended, the Southern Barbarian Lands lay in ruins. You became one of the few supreme powerhouses in the world, serving as a hound for the sacred lands. You suppressed the Southern Barbarian Lands' rising stars and plundered resources on a massive scale to fuel your final breakthrough.]

[You failed. You died.]

[Your life had been brilliant beyond measure, leaving behind an enduring legend in the Southern Barbarian Lands that countless cultivators yearned to emulate.]

[Evaluation: Five Stars (Blue)]

[Reverse Fate Points: 5000]

Su Chen's eyes widened.

Five thousand Reverse Fate Points left him dizzy with possibility. This was an enormous fortune.

[Talent: 0 (+)][Comprehension: 0 (+)][Family Background: 0 (+)][Dao Heart: 150]

With five thousand Reverse Fate Points in hand, he refused to settle for anything less than an exhilarating life.

Talent: 2000 Comprehension: 2000 Family Background: 1000

Su Chen felt a surge of boldness and satisfaction. He flipped to the next page.

…

When he opened his eyes again, Su Chen carefully sorted through the fresh memories flooding his mind. He discovered that in this life, he had been born in the Northern Desert—the strongest domain outside the Central Domain. And this time, he was the most favored descendant of an elder in a declining sacred clan of the Northern Desert. His great-grandfather was a Nirvana Realm Venerable.

Su Chen calmly straightened his robes, expression impassive.

The clan he belonged to was called the Gu Clan.

Long ago, an ancestor had achieved sainthood, but after that saint perished, no second saint ever appeared within the clan. All that remained was a single saint-grade artifact, which suppressed lesser threats and preserved the last vestiges of the clan's former glory.

In this life, his name was Gu Chen. He was one of the five greatest prodigies of the Gu Clan. Bearing the Heavenly Origin Body, he had already broken through to the Spirit Soul Realm at the tender age of eighteen.

Just as Su Chen prepared to step outside, a woman rushed into his residence and dropped to her knees before him.

"Lin Yue'er pays respects to Lord Gu Chen."

Her features were delicate and exquisite, her beauty radiant and captivating. When she bowed, she appeared fragile and pitiful, easily stirring a man's instinct to protect. Even with the three thousand beauties Su Chen had once possessed in a previous life, very few could compare to this level of allure.

"Do you have some urgent matter to report?" he asked.

No matter how peerless her appearance, after several lifetimes, Su Chen's state of mind remained steady. He merely sighed inwardly at how pleasant it was to start from such a high position.

Lin Yue'er replied respectfully, "My lord, Lin Zhan has already left the Azure Profound Martial Mansion. Should we dispatch people to ambush and kill him?"

Su Chen paused, the name sounding faintly familiar. After a moment of reflection, the details—including Lin Yue'er's own background—surfaced in his mind.

Lin Yue'er was the daughter of an elder from a minor family in the Azure Profound Dynasty. Lin Zhan was the son of that family's patriarch. The two had grown up together as childhood sweethearts.

On one of his journeys through the Azure Profound Dynasty, Gu Chen had encountered Lin Yue'er, noticed her decent talent, and taken her as a maidservant. Of course, her stunning beauty had also played a part in his decision.

For Lin Yue'er, this was an unexpected stroke of fortune, like a pie falling from the sky. She immediately cast Lin Zhan aside and threw herself into Gu Chen's embrace.

The entire Lin family approved of the match. Only Lin Zhan objected. But Lin Zhan's opinion mattered little. After providing the Lin family with a generous amount of cultivation resources, Gu Chen took Lin Yue'er away. Lin Zhan could do nothing but rage helplessly from afar.

Ever since Lin Yue'er left the Lin family, Lin Zhan seemed to have awakened some kind of cheat. He actually managed to enter the Azure Profound Dynasty's most prestigious martial mansion and loudly proclaimed that he would one day take revenge on Gu Chen.

Lin Yue'er saw that Lin Zhan refused to let the matter rest. Afraid that Gu Chen would misunderstand her, she repeatedly sent people to assassinate him, but every attempt failed. This only deepened Lin Zhan's hatred for Gu Chen, convincing him that Gu Chen was the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes. Even Gu Chen grew fed up and began looking for an opportunity to eliminate this fool once and for all.

Su Chen's expression turned strange. This situation screamed "Child of Destiny" far too loudly. How had he ended up transmigrating into yet another villain role?

"Fuck!"

Su Chen couldn't help but curse aloud.

Lin Yue'er's delicate body trembled. She lifted her beautiful eyes, cheeks flushing as she spoke in a soft, coquettish voice, "My lord, does Yue'er need to attend to you in bed tonight?"

Su Chen: "…"

This entire Lin family really didn't have a single normal person among them.

"No need for that today. You may withdraw. I already know about Lin Zhan."

Lin Yue'er felt a flicker of disappointment in her heart. How could a mere peasant like Lin Zhan ever compare to Lord Gu Chen? He truly didn't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth. Once Lord Gu Chen took action, there would be no possibility of reversal. She had long since lost all patience with Lin Zhan. He couldn't possibly expect her to give up a chance at a better life, could he?

Besides, she had already given him more than enough benefits, yet he not only failed to appreciate them but even slandered Lord Gu Chen's reputation.

After Lin Yue'er left the residence, Su Chen rubbed his temples. He felt a headache coming on. Lin Zhan was nothing like Fang Bubai. Fang Bubai had merely been a war of words; turning enmity into friendship had been simple.

But Lin Zhan was different. The man's mind was clearly defective, his personality stubborn to the extreme. Even Su Chen couldn't think of any way to make him give up his quest for revenge. For this kind of heaven-blessed, prideful Child of Destiny, once someone stole his childhood sweetheart, only one of them could live.

Su Chen naturally had no intention of dying. He had invested a full five thousand Reverse Fate Points into this life. Since the hatred could not be resolved, he had no choice but to act first.

"Then kill him."

Su Chen's gaze turned icy cold.

With six lifetimes of experience—his previous life had already stepped half a foot into the Nirvana Realm—his combat instincts and battle wisdom far surpassed that of any green youth.

Killing Lin Zhan and seizing whatever opportunities and fortunes clung to him… There might even be a real chance of achieving sainthood in this life!

With that thought, Su Chen no longer hesitated. He rose and headed straight to meet this life's grandfather.

The Third Elder of the Gu Clan—Gu Yixian.

Chapter 64: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 2)

The Third Elder of the Gu Clan held absolute authority over the clan's punishments and penalties—his power so immense that most people avoided crossing his path. Yet in front of Su Chen, he was simply a doting grandfather. A plate of Su Chen's favorite pastries sat neatly arranged before him.

"You've come, Chen'er," Gu Yixian said warmly.

He was extremely pleased with this grandson, whose temperament resembled his own the most. Ever since Su Chen's parents perished while exploring a secret realm, there was nothing Gu Yixian wouldn't do for him—even if Su Chen asked for the stars in the sky, he would find a way to pluck them down.

Su Chen casually picked up a piece of pastry and praised, "Grandfather's Seven-Colored Immortal Bean Cake is still the best."

Gu Yixian's smile deepened, his eyes overflowing with affection. Su Chen devoured several pieces in quick bites. A warm current immediately flowed through his abdomen. Every ingredient in these pastries was a rare and precious treasure. They truly were delicious.

But Su Chen hadn't come just to eat. He looked at Gu Yixian and said directly, "Grandfather, I need you to take action once. There's someone I want dealt with."

He had no intention of letting Lin Zhan slowly level up until he became a towering final boss standing in his way. He would summon Gu Yixian himself—this Nirvana Realm Venerable—to handle it. Of course, having a Nirvana Realm expert personally act against a junior who hadn't even reached the peak of the Spirit Soul Realm would invite ridicule. But the request came from Su Chen.

Gu Yixian's expression turned serious. "Chen'er, who have you offended?"

Su Chen recounted the entire matter involving Lin Zhan, then continued, "Grandfather, I want whatever great fortune is on him. For a minor clan's son to grow so rapidly in just two years—it can't be ordinary. He might possess some enormous opportunity, or perhaps an ancient monster stands behind him. Either way, I need your help to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Gu Yixian's eyes flickered as he listened. After a moment, he nodded. "Very well. Grandfather will give you a talisman. Crush it, and I will arrive on the battlefield at once. Nothing will go awry."

He handed Su Chen an orange-yellow talisman imbued with his own aura.

With Gu Yixian's backing, Su Chen finally felt some real confidence in eliminating Lin Zhan. He then borrowed an elite squad from the Gu Clan, setting up an inescapable net to ensure Lin Zhan's death was certain.

The opportunity arrived soon enough. Lin Zhan had appeared in the Spirit Fox Clan's territory.

A cold glint flashed through Su Chen's eyes. This was his first time taking direct action against a Child of Destiny. Failure was not an option.

…

Inside the Spirit Fox Clan.

Lin Zhan gazed tenderly at the fox clan girl who was carefully bandaging his wounds. He had forced his way into the Verdant Waves Sea Region. If not for this girl's rescue, he would already be dead.

"Lin Yue'er, Gu Chen—I, Lin Zhan, swear that we will never share the same sky!"

Hatred burned in his heart.

After being hunted by the Gu Clan's forces, he had left the Azure Profound Martial Mansion to avoid implicating them, plunging straight into the perilous Verdant Waves Sea Region. While fighting for a fortuitous opportunity, he clashed with enemies, barely seizing the treasure but suffering grievous injuries in the process.

The green light glowing in the fox girl's palms gradually faded. She wiped the sweat from her brow and gently reminded him, "Brother Lin Zhan, your injuries are almost healed. Just rest quietly for a while longer."

Lin Zhan nodded. "Thank you for saving my life, Miss Hu Wan. I will repay this kindness a hundredfold in the future."

While recuperating among the Spirit Fox Clan, Lin Zhan helped Hu Wan defeat a group of spoiled young masters who came to harass the clan. He also aided the Spirit Fox Clan in repelling the prodigies of a rival major clan, preserving their standing among the thirteen clans of Verdant Waves Island. His bond with Hu Wan deepened day by day. Until one day, a major figure arrived at the fox clan.

Lin Zhan saw a face he could never forget. His teeth clenched so hard his gums bled.

"Gu Chen… and Lin Yue'er!"

A large contingent of Gu Clan guards had surrounded the entire Spirit Fox Clan. The commotion alarmed the clan leader.

"Fox Clan Leader, hand over Lin Zhan, and not only will I pardon your clan for sheltering a fugitive wanted by my Gu Clan—I will also present you with a Void Breaking Pill to help you break through to the Void Refining Realm."

Su Chen was confident that the reward he offered was more than generous.

"Impossible. Lin Zhan is the benefactor of my Spirit Fox Clan. If you want his life, Lord Gu Chen, you will have to step over the corpses of my entire clan first."

The Fox Clan Leader spoke with righteous indignation.

The elders of the Spirit Fox Clan echoed him one after another. "Lin Zhan is our benefactor. Betraying him would make us no different from beasts!"

Su Chen thought to himself: Aren't you all already beasts?

Still, the Spirit Fox Clan now held a stable position as one of the thirteen major clans of the Verdant Waves Sea Region, which made the situation somewhat troublesome for him. His expression gradually turned cold.

"Fox Clan Leader, are you truly determined to make an enemy of my Gu Clan?"

Massacring the Spirit Fox Clan would inevitably offend the Verdant Waves Palace. Upon returning to the clan, he would face punishment, and it might even implicate Gu Yixian.

But Su Chen could no longer afford to wait. Who knew when a Child of Destiny might catch him off guard and end him the moment he stepped outside?

"As long as he lives, I will have no peace."

With that resolve burning in his heart, Su Chen decided he would eliminate Lin Zhan at any cost—even if it meant annihilating the entire Spirit Fox Clan.

The Fox Clan Leader raised his hand and said coldly, "Escort Young Master Gu out."

Su Chen spoke softly. "Using the lives of an entire clan to protect someone who isn't even one of your own kind—what a pointless sacrifice."

"Kill!"

At Su Chen's command, the Gu Clan guards surged forward and launched their assault on the Spirit Fox Clan.

"Protect the benefactor and get him out of here!"

Figures poured out from within the Spirit Fox Clan, clashing fiercely with the Gu Clan elders.

"Gu Chen, I want you dead!"

Lin Zhan watched swathes of Spirit Fox Clan members fall under blades and swords. His eyes immediately turned bloodshot as he charged toward Su Chen in a frenzy.

Su Chen had already noticed him. An ordinary-looking young man, yet he carried an unyielding, tenacious aura.

"Kill him. No matter the cost!"

Su Chen had no interest in a one-on-one duel. He simply ordered the guards beside him to cut Lin Zhan down and eliminate the threat once and for all.

Just as the guards closed in for the kill, the Fox Clan Leader suddenly erupted. He defeated his opponent in an instant and threw himself in front of Lin Zhan, blocking the fatal strikes.

"Benefactor, go now! Take Wan'er and leave the Spirit Fox Clan!"

Su Chen cursed inwardly: "Damn it, he's really hard to kill."

Without hesitation, he crushed the talisman in his hand.

The sky and earth suddenly darkened.

A massive Eight Trigrams Diagram of Qiankun appeared above the Spirit Fox Clan, blotting out the sun and moon. An imposing old man materialized, his colossal figure like a pillar holding up the heavens.

"Third Elder of the Gu Clan—Venerable Yixian!"

The entire Verdant Waves Sea Region dimmed. A Nirvana Realm Venerable had descended.

Gu Yixian wasted no words. His cold gaze locked onto Lin Zhan. This was the boy Chen'er had said must die. Killing intent surged from him as he struck directly at Lin Zhan. A Nirvana Realm Venerable personally acting to slay a mere Spirit Soul Realm junior.

Just as Gu Yixian was about to obliterate everything in his path, a giant hand reached out from the clouds and halted his attack. Nine black serpents coiled and danced behind an old man. Nirvana Realm phenomena swirled around him. With a flick of his sleeve, he laughed boldly. "Gu Yixian, this little fellow is under the protection of my Verdant Waves Palace! If you want to kill him, this mere spiritual incarnation of yours isn't qualified. Send your true body."

Su Chen watched the Verdant Waves Palace Lord appear and couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the sheer power of a Child of Destiny's halo. But then… A deep, resonant voice thundered across thousands of miles.

"Since when does the Verdant Waves Palace dare interfere in the affairs of my Gu Clan?"

Chapter 65: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 3)

In the distance, a pair of enormous hands tore the void apart. From the profound darkness emerged two figures.

One was an old man with snow-white hair, a sword strapped across his back. He radiated authority without needing to speak. The other appeared as a middle-aged man, hands folded within his sleeves, eyes narrowed to slits that glinted with a bone-chilling sharpness.

The moment they appeared, the smile on Venerable Verdant Waves's face froze.

"Third Elder of the Gu Clan, Gu Yixian. Fifth Elder, Gu Hou!"

Two Nirvana Realm Venerables had arrived together.

Su Chen's expression lit up with joy. He hadn't expected his grandfather in this life to be so decisive—he had even summoned another Nirvana Realm expert.

Gu Hou, the Fifth Elder of the Gu Clan, was Gu Yixian's trusted confidant, personally promoted by him over the years.

"Verdant Waves Palace, you truly have some nerve daring to interfere in my Gu Clan's affairs! The person my Gu Clan wants dead is not someone your Verdant Waves Palace can protect!"

Gu Yixian let out a cold snort. White frost instantly spread across the sea's surface, racing outward in layers.

Gu Hou narrowed his eyes and fixed them on Venerable Verdant Waves like a venomous snake poised to strike. His Nirvana phenomena fully unfurled. The moment Gu Yixian gave the order, he would join the assault without hesitation.

Under the combined gaze of two Nirvana Realm Venerables, Venerable Verdant Waves felt his heart sink, yet he refused to yield even half a step.

"I said it once: I am protecting young friend Lin Zhan. You cannot destroy the Spirit Fox Clan, and you cannot kill him—unless you step over my corpse first!"

At that instant, the void shattered like glass. An overwhelming, world-overturning power surged outward, sweeping across the entire Verdant Waves Sea Region.

To clear every obstacle from his grandson's path, Gu Yixian was prepared to annihilate every living being in the Verdant Waves Sea.

Su Chen couldn't comprehend what kind of charisma Lin Zhan possessed that made one powerhouse after another willingly sacrifice themselves for him. But none of that would shake Su Chen's determination to kill him.

Lin Zhan's bloodshot eyes locked onto Su Chen. He watched protector after protector fall before him. When the woman who had saved his life collapsed in a pool of blood, he finally lost all reason. He roared in fury, "Gu Chen, Lin Yue'er! As long as I, Lin Zhan, live, I will repay you a thousandfold—no, ten thousandfold!"

Su Chen's killing intent flared openly. "Lin Zhan, all of this is your own doing. I gave you chance after chance. If you hadn't insisted on becoming my enemy, none of them would have died!"

Those near-murderous words struck Lin Zhan like a dagger to the heart. He coughed up a mouthful of blood in rage.

The Fox Clan Leader let out a furious roar. Burning everything he had, he charged straight at Su Chen. Countless attacks intercepted him, tearing his flesh to ribbons. Even reduced to a mangled remnant, he still pressed forward, determined to reach Su Chen. But that final, dying strike was blocked by a massive hand.

It was Gu Hou who had intervened.

Gu Yixian held Venerable Verdant Waves in place, freeing Gu Hou to act.

"Uncle Gu, no more words—kill him now!"

Su Chen urged Gu Hou, terrified that further delay would bring another twist.

Gu Hou nodded. With a casual lift of his hand, the entire Spirit Fox Mountain suddenly seemed insignificant before him. One Spirit Fox Clan expert after another was crushed in an instant. Even some Gu Clan guards who hadn't retreated in time were caught in the aftermath. It seemed the whole mountain would be obliterated beneath that single palm.

Lin Zhan was shaken unconscious on the spot. The scene was an absolute victory. But just as Lin Zhan and the entire Spirit Fox Mountain were about to vanish—A burst of seven-colored radiance erupted from Lin Zhan's chest.

A cube-shaped object appeared, then shattered in midair. It transformed into a pillar of heavenly light that pierced both sky and earth, enveloping Lin Zhan's body and carrying him straight out of the domain into the void beyond.

Gu Hou reached out to intercept, but the moment his palm touched the beam, it aged rapidly and began to decay. Alarmed, he immediately drew a blade and severed his own rotting arm. He could only watch helplessly as Lin Zhan's body vanished into the distant starfield, hurtling toward an unknown destination.

Seeing Lin Zhan escape like that, Su Chen nearly broke down.

"This is bullshit! Even cheats don't work this way—it's just too unfair!"

He had summoned the clan's highest combat power. Victory had been within reach. Even Lin Zhan himself had probably given up hope. Yet at the last moment, an invincible trump card erupted from within him and whisked him away.

Who could Su Chen possibly appeal to for justice? His heart bled.

Gu Hou's expression was also grim. He spoke in a low, heavy voice. "A saint-grade artifact… That boy actually had a saint-grade artifact inside him capable of autonomous revival. But an artifact that revives on its own has its aura exposed. A mere Spirit Soul Realm cultivator carrying such a treasure is like a child wandering the night market with a bag of gold. Nephew, don't worry. Once he leaves the Northern Desert and enters the outer starfield, it won't be long—perhaps only a few months—before major clans out there hunt him down and seize the artifact."

Su Chen gave a bitter smile. If it were really that easy to kill him, Lin Zhan wouldn't have escaped in the first place. The growth rate of a Child of Destiny was truly enough to drive anyone to despair.

After a long silence, Gu Yixian returned holding three severed heads. When he learned that Lin Zhan had ultimately escaped, a rare flicker of unease passed through his heart.

Two Nirvana Realm Venerables had acted together, with half the Gu Clan's forces mobilized in full strength. Such a terrifying display of power had somehow allowed a mere Spirit Soul Realm junior to slip away.

"Verdant Waves Palace dared to stand against my Gu Clan and shelter our wanted fugitive. Then let us wipe out Verdant Waves Palace first. The world will remember that though the Gu Clan has declined, we are still not a force that any stray cat or dog can provoke!"

Gu Yixian's gaze turned glacial. In his view, if not for Verdant Waves Palace's interference, how could a trivial Spirit Soul Realm cultivator have possibly escaped?

Under his command, both Verdant Waves Palace and its thirteen affiliated races were completely annihilated within a single month.

After leaving a detachment of Gu Clan warriors to occupy the Verdant Waves Sea Region, Gu Yixian led the rest of the clan back home.

Having failed to kill Lin Zhan, Su Chen felt deeply frustrated. That frustration soon turned into frenzied cultivation. He refused to face Lin Zhan again, only to be treated as cannon fodder. Their enmity could only end in one of their deaths—coexistence was impossible.

Deep in his heart, Su Chen had a premonition: Lin Zhan would not perish in the outer starfield. One day, he would return to the Northern Desert.

Not long after, new information reached Su Chen. His grandfather, Gu Yixian, had been impeached by the Council of Elders. He had mobilized more than half the clan's guards on a personal whim, an action that made even the clan leader wary.

If Su Chen had succeeded in killing Lin Zhan, the gains would have more than offset the cost. But he had failed, and Lin Zhan had escaped. No one cared whether the boy possessed a fully awakened saint-grade artifact. All they saw was that the Gu Clan had gone to enormous lengths—only for a Spirit Soul Realm junior to slip through their fingers. It was an utter disgrace.

"I'm afraid the Myriad Demon Sanctuary has already begun applying pressure from within the clan as well."

After all, the Verdant Waves Sea Region nominally fell under the Myriad Demon Sanctuary's domain.

Su Chen straightened his robes and flew straight toward the Elders' Hall.

Chapter 66: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 4)

The Gu Clan's Council of Elders consisted of twelve seats of real authority, each held by a Nirvana Realm Venerable. It was thanks to these twelve that the Gu Clan had managed to preserve even a shadow of its former saintly glory.

Gu Yixian sat with his eyes closed. Apart from Gu Hou, the other ten elders—along with the current clan leader, Gu Cang—all fixed their gazes on him. Some looked furious, others calm, and a few wore barely concealed glee.

For centuries, Gu Yixian had wielded the clan's penal authority with flawless caution, never once exposing a single flaw. Yet now he had committed such an egregious act.

"Gu Yixian, do you acknowledge your crime? You have brought a tremendous enemy upon our Gu Clan!"

Gu Yixian didn't so much as twitch an eyelid. He ignored their words completely, which only fueled the anger of several elders seated above.

At that moment, a voice rang clearly from outside the hall.

"Gu Yixian's grandson, Gu Chen, requests an audience."

The elders immediately began murmuring among themselves.

"Gu Chen? The Third Elder's grandson, that somewhat renowned genius within the clan. What is he doing here?"

"Hmph, this entire disaster started because of Gu Chen. If not for him, why would our Gu Clan have offended a genius bearing a saint-grade artifact?"

"Let him enter."

Su Chen pushed open the heavy doors and stepped into the Elders' Hall under Gu Hou's guidance. As he surveyed the assembled Venerables, a thought crossed his mind.

'As expected—even a starved camel is still larger than a horse.'

Though the Gu Clan had declined, it still boasted twelve Nirvana Realm powerhouses and possessed a saint-grade artifact to deter lesser threats.

"Gu Chen, do you acknowledge your crime? This calamity arose because of you. It has led to heavy casualties among our clan members, offended numerous powers, and sown endless future troubles."

Su Chen lowered his head. "This clansman, Gu Chen, knows his fault. The entire matter originated from me alone and has nothing to do with Grandfather."

From the high seat, someone let out a soft chuckle. "How filial."

Su Chen remained silent for a moment before raising his head. "However, I discovered an item on Lin Zhan's person. I am willing to turn it over to the clan."

Gu Yixian opened his eyes. The gazes of everyone on the platform shifted toward Su Chen.

After a brief pause, the tall figure at the very center spoke indifferently. "What is it?"

Su Chen produced an ancient-looking jade slip. A large hand reached out and drew it into the air. The ten elders gathered around the clan leader, all curious about the contents.

"A method to forge the Sword Body? This is actually a technique for cultivating an acquired martial physique?"

One elder's voice carried unmistakable shock. Martial physiques were divided into innate and acquired. Innate physiques were born with the body, while acquired ones could be cultivated after birth.

Innate physiques were already rare; acquired ones were even rarer. Any method capable of transforming an ordinary mortal into a possessor of a special physique was ranked among the absolute pinnacle of secret arts. Not even the Gu Clan in its heyday had possessed such a thing—let alone now in its decline.

"How is this possible?"

Another elder found it hard to believe. How could a technique of this caliber ever fall into the hands of a junior?

Gu Cang spoke gravely. "How can we verify whether this method is genuine? And where exactly did you obtain it?"

Su Chen's expression remained calm as he answered slowly. "This was one of the secrets Lin Zhan carried on his person—one of the reasons for his rapid growth. Whether the clan leader believes it or not can be confirmed with a single investigation."

Gu Cang glanced at the other elders. When they all nodded in agreement, he continued. "If this proves to be authentic, then you will be a great contributor to our Gu Clan, and this matter will be considered settled."

They all understood the implications. If the clan could master a method to turn ordinary people into geniuses with special physiques, the Gu Clan's strength would skyrocket. It might even allow them to truly restore the saintly glory of their ancestors.

Gu Yixian glanced at Su Chen. The two of them walked out of the Elders' Hall together.

After a long silence, Gu Yixian finally spoke slowly. "Chen'er… is the technique you presented genuine?"

Su Chen nodded. It was real, without any issues. In his previous life, he had personally cultivated it and even perfected the method. The only problem was that, aside from himself in that life, no one else had ever succeeded in cultivating the Imperial Sword Body. The success rate was absurdly low.

As for Lin Zhan, he perfectly matched every hallmark of someone who had suddenly acquired a special physique and skyrocketed to fame. Su Chen wasn't worried that the Gu Clan would bother investigating all the way to the Southern Barbarian Lands.

Just as he had expected, one month later, the technique was verified as authentic. Gu Yixian retained his authority over punishments, and everything appeared to return to normal.

Su Chen continued living the life of a privileged young master in the clan.

Time passed quickly. A full year slipped by.

When Su Chen opened his eyes, Lin Yue'er's voice came from outside the cave dwelling.

"My lord, the Gu Clan's youth competition among the younger generation begins in one week."

Su Chen recalled that the clan held a grand competition for the younger generation at regular intervals. All the rising prodigies participated. Their rankings were determined by strength, and the higher one placed on the Gu Clan's sequence list, the richer the resources they received.

Su Chen currently sat at fourth place—not too high, not too low.

"This time, I must claim first place on the sequence."

Determination hardened in his heart. The pressure on him was immense. He had let Lin Zhan escape into the outer starfield. Within the Northern Desert, the Gu Clan still held some standing, but beyond this world, among the myriad races of the stars, they barely qualified to sit at the edge of the table. Perhaps only a Saint could move freely and unchallenged in the outer starfield.

To avoid being reduced to mere experience fodder the next time he faced Lin Zhan, Su Chen had no choice but to cultivate with relentless madness. When they met again, he would find a way to end him for good.

Soon, the day of the Gu Clan's youth competition arrived.

Su Chen finally met the other four great geniuses of the clan—three men and one woman, each bearing a special physique. While he observed them, they naturally observed him in return. To them, the so-called geniuses scattered throughout the rest of the clan were insignificant. Only five of them were true rivals.

Along the way, Su Chen expended no real effort. Suppressing the others wasn't even a warm-up; he crushed them with ease. Before long, he faced one of the remaining four.

Gu Ziang.

Bearer of the Thunder Tribulation Physique—a muscular man wreathed in crackling lightning, his hair standing on end.

"Gu Chen, you should just forfeit now!"

Gu Ziang was brimming with arrogance. He was older than Su Chen, higher in cultivation, and possessed far deeper foundations.

Su Chen looked at him oddly. "Sorry, you stole my line."

Gu Ziang attacked.

The moment he struck, dense thunder rumbled across the sky. He manifested a Thunder Roc in his mind's eye. With wings spread wide, it dove toward Su Chen in a ferocious charge.

"Gu Chen, give yourself a few more years, and you might qualify to fight me—but not today!"

Su Chen was speechless.

Yin-Yang particles surged outward as he fully unleashed the Heavenly Origin Body. He simply clenched his fist and threw a single punch at the incoming Thunder Roc.

The roc shattered instantly under the force of the punch. The residual power continued forward without pause and slammed into Gu Ziang, blasting him straight out of the sky and into the ground. The specially reinforced battle platform cracked open with a deep crater.

Su Chen landed lightly beside him.

Gu Ziang struggled to speak through bloodied lips. "What… kind of martial technique was that?"

Su Chen replied calmly, "Normal punch."

Gu Ziang let out a hoarse laugh. "Great name!"

Then he passed out cold.

Su Chen fell into thoughtful silence. It really was just a normal punch…

Chapter 67: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 5)

Su Chen's single punch defeat of Gu Ziang sent shockwaves through the Gu Clan. Gu Ziang ranked third on the sequence, yet he had been felled in one blow!

The elders who witnessed the scene exchanged stunned glances.

"What was that just now?"

"It really did seem… like an ordinary punch."

"No, there was something else hidden in that strike."

"Fist intent? Impossible. Even fist intent couldn't so easily overpower Gu Ziang. His Thunder Tribulation Physique makes his body as tough as an ordinary Profound Connection Realm cultivator."

"It was the power of heaven and earth—that's the mark of Profound Connection Realm! Gu Chen must have broken through to Profound Connection!"

"Profound Connection at the age of twenty… he can already stand shoulder to shoulder with the true disciples of sacred lands. Haha, as expected of the Third Elder's grandson. Our Gu Clan hasn't produced such a genius in ages. Given time, the Council of Elders might gain a thirteenth member!"

For once, a genuine smile cracked Gu Yixian's normally stern face.

"This brat… he even hid it from me!"

Profound Connection Realm!

In a single year, Su Chen had advanced from the seventh layer of Spirit Soul straight into Profound Connection. At twenty years old, he was undoubtedly a true young king. His future held real promise of reaching the Nirvana Realm, and perhaps even a slim chance of touching the threshold of sainthood. Even the true disciples of sacred lands were no more than this. The revelation of Su Chen's cultivation dealt a heavy blow to the other prodigies of the Gu Clan.

"Gu Chen, I challenge you!"

Gu Yuan, who held first place on the sequence, stepped forward before him. His cultivation stood at half-step Profound Connection.

Su Chen replied calmly, "You should already know you stand no chance of winning against me."

This world was not without monsters capable of crossing an entire major realm to fight. But Gu Yuan was not one of them.

"The path of martial dao demands courage to press forward without retreat. As long as the universe remains undecided, how can one back down?"

Gu Yuan's voice rang out clearly, his battle intent blazing. He attacked without hesitation. A pure heart for the martial path.

In that moment, Su Chen seemed to see his past self reflected in him. Once upon a time, he too had possessed such untainted devotion to the Dao.

"Very well."

Su Chen moved. His two fingers came together like a sword. Instantly, every sword on the field hummed in resonance. Radiant sword light erupted, dazzling and blinding.

"What terrifying sword technique! Truly worthy of a young king who broke through to Profound Connection at twenty!"

The elders of the Gu Clan showered him with praise.

Even for a great clan like theirs, producing a Nirvana Realm expert was no easy feat. A young king might appear only once every few centuries. Though Nirvana Realm cultivators enjoyed three thousand years of lifespan, even that had an end. The clan needed new blood to carry the torch and ensure its eternal survival.

Su Chen had become fresh Nirvana blood for the Gu Clan. The talent he displayed was worthy of their full attention and investment.

Gu Yuan was defeated. He looked at Su Chen with bitter resignation. From this day forward, the title of the greatest genius among the younger generation of the Gu Clan no longer belonged to him—it belonged to the youth standing before him.

After that battle, Su Chen was officially designated as a core seed of the clan. He entered the ancestral land to cultivate in seclusion and rarely appeared in public.

Fifteen years later.

While deep in cultivation, Su Chen received a piece of news. An ancient ruin had appeared in the outer starfield. Several major domains had dispatched forces to explore it, including the Heavenly Profound Domain.

The Northern Desert, where Su Chen resided, had also sent numerous powers to join the excitement. As one of the top forces beneath the sacred lands, the Gu Clan naturally refused to miss out.

Su Chen accompanied several clan elders and set out toward the outer starfield. A premonition stirred in his heart: perhaps this time, in the vast expanse of the stars, he would finally encounter Lin Zhan once more.

…

The ancient ruin lay within a vast starfield in the outer void. A mere corner of an ancient empire's iceberg had emerged, yet even that fragment stretched endlessly, colossal beyond imagination. Countless stars and planets in the surrounding space were already crowded with forces large and small.

Accompanying the Gu Clan, Su Chen finally broadened his horizons. This was his first time stepping beyond the Heavenly Profound Domain and venturing into the outer realm. The outer void teemed with innumerable lifeforms of every conceivable shape and form—bizarre, diverse, and endlessly varied.

Yet only the truly colossal powers qualified to set foot here. Every single one boasted at least one Nirvana Realm Venerable, and the sacred lands had even dispatched some ancient monsters. Those old freaks wielded saint-grade artifacts, erecting shimmering light screens across the starfield. Their display screamed unbridled dominance.

Su Chen searched the area thoroughly but found no trace of Lin Zhan. He wasn't surprised. The outer void held countless beings. Searching for one person amid such vastness was like fishing for a needle in the ocean. Failure was only to be expected.

Still, if he couldn't find Lin Zhan, Lin Zhan would sooner or later find him. The two of them were destined for a decisive battle.

Once the spatial turbulence around the ancient empire's ruin stabilized, a decree appeared in the sky.

Within the ruin, only cultivators below the Void Refining Realm were permitted entry. No weapons of sovereign grade or higher could be used inside! Su Chen was puzzled at first, but after the Gu Clan elders explained, he understood.

The ruin's internal space was fragile. If every major power flooded in unrestricted, a single careless clash could ignite a saint-level war, shattering the domain entirely. The ruin would once again vanish into the void, drifting to some unknown corner. In the end, all the forces would return empty-handed.

Su Chen muttered under his breath, "These ancient clans really do know their stuff. No wonder no Void Refining Realm experts from our clan came along."

They had anticipated this long ago.

Aside from Su Chen, the Gu Clan had brought several other Profound Connection ninth-layer geniuses—figures who had been prodigies centuries earlier. Though some might not match his current talent, their foundations were solid, and several surpassed even Gu Yuan in strength.

Together, they entered the ancient empire's ruin to explore.

Inside, faint traces remained of what had once been a mighty and ancient nation—undoubtedly a holy dynasty that once dominated this corner of the starfield. Regrettably, some catastrophe had befallen it, causing the entire empire to vanish into the river of time.

They had been inside for only a few days when Su Chen's group encountered a squad hunting down prodigies from the Heavenly Profound Domain. The leader was a blue-skinned being with no hair, his body covered in fine scales. Apart from the coloration and scales, he looked almost identical to a human.

"People from the Heavenly Profound Domain? Do you know the Gu Clan of the Northern Region?"

The blue-skinned extraterrestrial prodigy licked the blood from the tip of his blade. His deep azure eyes gleamed like the abyssal darkness of the ocean depths as he regarded the Gu Clan geniuses—as though they were nothing more than prey.

One of the Profound Connection ninth-layer geniuses from the Gu Clan frowned. "The Gu Clan? We are precisely the people of the Northern Desert's Gu Clan. You're looking for us?"

The blue-skinned being's expression lit up with delight.

"Hahaha! So you really are the Gu Clan from the Heavenly Profound Northern Desert! This couldn't be easier. You are the enemies of my Venerable. He has posted a massive bounty on your heads! I will take your skulls and claim the Venerable's reward!"

Chapter 68: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 6)

Venerable?

Su Chen frowned. A faint sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

"The 'Venerable' he mentioned… it couldn't be Lin Zhan, could it?"

One of the Gu Clan prodigies, Gu Lan, sneered at the blue-skinned creature's arrogance. "Just you? What a joke. Your hide would make a decent footrest once it's peeled off."

Without another word, he attacked, determined to crush this insolent extraterrestrial being.

In the outer starfield, countless domains coexisted, and myriad races flourished. The Heavenly Profound Domain had produced several Great Emperors in its history and ranked among the stronger ones. Its natives naturally carried a quiet pride when walking among the stars. For an unknown blue-skinned race to treat them as prey was intolerable—they would make him pay dearly.

Gu Lan struck first. The other Gu Clan prodigies watched calmly from the sidelines. None of them believed this blue-skinned creature could match him. After all, Gu Lan had reached the seventh layer of Profound Connection, placing him among the stronger cultivators, even among the tens of thousands of prodigies who had entered the ancient ruin.

The blue-skinned being was likewise provoked. The scales around his mouth flared. His entire body shimmered and changed color—then he vanished from his spot.

Gu Lan's attack passed straight through empty air and obliterated a distant mountain peak instead.

"Disappeared?"

Su Chen stared at the spot where the creature had stood. He recalled the parting words Gu Yixian had given him before departure.

"Chen'er, the outer void teems with countless lifeforms. Every extraterrestrial race possesses unique innate divine abilities. Never underestimate even the weakest among them, or you will pay a terrible price."

Seeing this unfamiliar technique now, Su Chen finally understood why Gu Yixian had taken the time to warn him specifically. Such an eerie method was truly unprecedented.

Gu Lan scanned the empty space and laughed mockingly. "With that kind of trick, you dare stand against my Gu Clan? Come out if you have the guts! A rat who won't even show his face—I thought you had more backbone!"

From somewhere in the sky came a cold chuckle. "Rest assured. I said I would take your head, so I will take your head."

Gu Lan's eyes lit up. He blasted toward the source of the voice—yet his attack once again struck nothing. No one was there. He tried several more times, each strike passing harmlessly through empty air. Frustration began to creep in.

The leader of this expedition, Gu Tiangang, spoke coldly. "Gu Lan, finish it quickly. Don't waste time here."

Gu Lan gritted his teeth. Without hesitation, he bit open a finger, let a drop of blood fall onto a jade pendant at his waist, and placed it on the ground. Ripples spread outward from beneath his feet. A powerful aura of destruction radiated in all directions.

At that exact moment, a dagger plunged straight into his chest. The blade extended into a long sword and pierced clean through him.

In the same instant, Su Chen acted. The sword at his waist flew free. Sword light split into countless shadows. A single slash hurtled toward the blue-skinned creature. Seeing the attack coming, the creature was forced to abandon the dagger and attempt his vanishing trick again.

But Su Chen gave him no second chance. From top to bottom, his figure transformed into a perfect full moon. One sword descended. The blue-skinned being was cleaved in half at the waist.

The Gu Clan prodigies were stunned. That was one of the clan's supreme techniques—the Eclipse Moon Sword Art.

Su Chen stepped forward and stood beside the dying creature. He spoke indifferently. "Who are you? Where is Lin Zhan?"

The blue-skinned being clung to life long enough to rasp, "I have already reported your location to the Venerable… you won't escape…"

Su Chen's expression remained blank. He raised his sword and severed the creature's head in one clean stroke.

Gu Lan looked at Su Chen with gratitude. "Thank you."

He had come within a hair's breadth of death.

The other prodigies hurried over. Gu Tiangang fixed Su Chen with a displeased stare. "Gu Chen, this was Gu Lan's battlefield. Why did you interfere?"

Su Chen glanced at him. "So I should have just stood there and watched him die?"

Gu Tiangang replied coldly, "The blood of Saints flows in our Gu Clan's veins. How noble we are. How could we stoop to ambushing from the shadows or ganging up on a single opponent?"

Su Chen silently concluded that this man was an arrogant idiot.

"So you plan to use Gu Lan as bait?"

Su Chen ripped away Gu Tiangang's pretense in a single sentence, causing the other man's face to flush crimson with fury.

"Enough! The crisis hasn't been resolved yet!"

Another prodigy from the Gu Clan stepped forward and cut through the tense atmosphere before it could escalate further.

In the following days, Su Chen encountered numerous opportunities, large and small, within the ancient empire's ruins. His cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. Yet he never forgot his true priority: gathering intelligence on Lin Zhan.

Finally, his persistence paid off. From the mouth of one extraterrestrial being, Su Chen learned the news he had been waiting for.

Lin Zhan had taken a renowned quasi-saint from the outer void as his master. Moreover, he had founded an organization called the War God Hall, which had already attracted a flood of extraterrestrial geniuses. It had grown into one of the more prominent young forces in the outer realm.

This time, Lin Zhan had arrived at the ancient ruin together with members of the War God Hall.

"At least this 'Venerable' isn't a true Venerable," Su Chen thought with relief.

No matter how heaven-defying a Child of Destiny might be, jumping from the Spirit Soul Realm to the Nirvana Realm in merely a dozen or twenty years was impossible. The gap between those realms was simply too vast.

While continuing to collect opportunities, Su Chen kept probing for more information about Lin Zhan. Then, one day, Seven-colored radiance spilled across the sky. Endless dao rhythms converged into an ocean, and at its center bloomed a single flower.

"It's a saint herb! A legendary saint herb has appeared!"

Countless prodigies went mad with greed. The Gu Clan members were no exception.

"With a saint herb, we might give birth to a new saint within the clan and restore the Gu Clan's former glory!"

Gu Tiangang laughed wildly, trembling with excitement. "This saint herb must belong to our Gu Clan—no matter what!"

Su Chen lifted his gaze to the heavens. Innumerable prodigies were already surging toward the saint herb's location like a swarm of moths hurtling toward flame, dense as a field of stars. Even in his own mind, a terrifying impulse arose—the desire to seize the saint herb for himself.

A saint herb! Even sacred lands drooled over such a treasure. Back then, the ancestor of the Profound Origin Sacred Land had charged into the Burial Soul Forbidden Zone for the sake of one, willing to sacrifice the entire sacred land to obtain it. Now such a prize had appeared right before their eyes, unguarded. There were no saints here. No Nirvana Realm powerhouses. Not even a single Void Refining Realm cultivator.

Yet amid the swarming crowd, Su Chen caught sight of a familiar figure.

Lin Zhan!

"Damn it—the saint herb can wait. First, I have to kill the Child of Destiny!"

Determination hardened in Su Chen's heart. Here, prodigies no weaker than him numbered in the thousands. Some were true monsters—sacred sons and maidens of sacred lands among them. If he joined the scramble for the herb, he would most likely end up as mere background noise, or worse, pave the way for Lin Zhan's success. Better to fix his eyes on Lin Zhan alone.

As long as Lin Zhan failed to obtain the saint herb, it didn't matter who eventually claimed it. Su Chen would still come out ahead. He hadn't forgotten: the one who accepted Lin Zhan as a disciple was a quasi-saint. If Lin Zhan acquired the saint herb and allowed that quasi-saint to break through into true sainthood, it would spell the end of the entire Gu Clan—and strip Su Chen of every last card he had left to turn the tables.

Chapter 69: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 7)

The clash of countless prodigies unleashed terrifying waves of destruction that left the heart trembling. One genius after another—figures who had rarely appeared in centuries—were blasted into bloody mist. Their cultivation and fortunes dissolved into the saint herb's dao rhythms, making the flower appear even more bewitchingly radiant.

The brutality of the battle was beyond anything Su Chen had witnessed before. Even he felt a lingering chill in his bones. Compared to this slaughter, the war between the Southwest Domains' geniuses seemed like child's play. A lifetime of effort amounted to nothing more than dust. One general's triumph left ten thousand generations withered.

Su Chen watched as Gu Tiangang, who had charged into the fray for the saint herb, was obliterated by a single casual punch from a passing powerhouse. Other Gu Clan prodigies no weaker than Gu Tiangang were surrounded and slain by coalitions of prodigies from various domains, dying without even a corpse left behind.

In this grand war, the geniuses of the Gu Clan were no different from roadside weeds.

"The glory of a saint clan truly is the cheapest thing in existence," Gu Lan murmured bitterly behind Su Chen. He had chosen not to follow Gu Tiangang but stayed close to Su Chen instead.

Seeing Gu Lan's dao heart on the verge of collapse, Su Chen had no time to offer comfort. His attention was locked on Lin Zhan, who was already drawing near the saint herb's location.

Su Chen stepped into the void. When an extraterrestrial prodigy noticed someone else trying to enter the battlefield and attacked him, Su Chen swept his sword and forced the attacker back. But that single exchange drew even more hostility.

Just as Su Chen prepared to cut them all down regardless of cost in order to block Lin Zhan's path, Gu Lan stepped in front of him. His face was ashen.

"I owe you a life," Gu Lan said. "These people—I'll hold them off. Consider the debt settled."

Su Chen wasted no words. "Take care of yourself."

He immediately withdrew from the main chaos and pressed toward Lin Zhan. Not long after, a scorching heat erupted behind him, followed by earth-shaking explosions. In this meat grinder of a battlefield, such sounds had already become commonplace.

Without hesitation, Su Chen slashed a sword toward Lin Zhan.

"With this saint herb, Master will surely live a new life. He might even truly achieve sainthood!"

Longing burned in Lin Zhan's heart. Using the Blue Spirit Clan's supreme treasure to conceal his presence, he only needed to seize the saint herb. Once his master ascended to sainthood, they could sweep into the Heavenly Profound Domain without restraint, slaughter the Gu Clan, and avenge the past!

The hatred from those days haunted him every waking and sleeping moment—he had never dared forget it for even an instant. Yet a single sword beam shattered his fantasy, reducing everything to bubbles.

Lin Zhan blocked the sudden strike, only to see the figure he had thought about day and night appear before him. A sword barred his path. His eyes instantly turned bloodshot. Teeth grinding, he snarled, "Gu Chen! It's you!"

Su Chen met that devouring gaze calmly. "Lin Zhan, you won't get the saint herb."

"Then I'll kill you first, and take it afterward!"

Seeing his mortal enemy, rage overwhelmed Lin Zhan's reason. Killing Su Chen had become far more important than claiming the saint herb!

"War God Art!"

With a furious shout, Lin Zhan no longer hid his strength. A powerful aura erupted from his body. Gripping a silver war halberd, he charged like a reincarnated war god. Though only at the sixth layer of Profound Connection, his combat power surged straight toward the peak of the realm.

Su Chen swung his sword. Sword shadows multiplied. He released his full aura without restraint.

Profound Connection ninth layer!

"Eclipse Moon Sword Art"

A full moon rose behind Su Chen. Sword Dao trembled through the air, drawing the attention of countless prodigies.

"Who is that? His sword dao has reached such terrifying heights?"

"So strong… not quite at the level of a divine physique genius, but definitely top-tier beneath them."

"Is that the War God Hall's master? Damn it—he actually sneaked in here. He wants to steal the saint herb while we're distracted?"

"Lin Zhan of the War God Hall—you've finally shown yourself. Today is the day you die!"

In an instant, prodigies who bore grudges against Lin Zhan joined the fray and began surrounding him!

Su Chen exchanged dozens of blows with Lin Zhan. Even with the clear realm advantage, he had to admit: a Child of Destiny was truly freakish.

Fortunately, Lin Zhan had made enough enemies to relieve some of the pressure on Su Chen.

"Gu Chen, today I will definitely kill you!"

Lin Zhan fought like a rabid dog, ignoring everyone else and focusing solely on Su Chen. Lin Zhan wanted Su Chen dead. Su Chen wanted Lin Zhan dead even more. He refused to believe that with so many geniuses attacking, they still couldn't kill one Lin Zhan.

"This War God Art is ridiculously tough!"

Su Chen cursed inwardly. Trading blows with Lin Zhan felt like fighting a monster whose health bar thinned but never emptied. Every time Lin Zhan seemed on the verge of collapse—bloodied, exhausted, barely able to stand—he would explode with another burst of power at the critical moment.

If not for Su Chen's accumulated caution across multiple lifetimes, he would have died countless times already. The helpers who had joined out of hatred for Lin Zhan had already been replaced wave after wave.

Just as Lin Zhan was finally reaching his limit, geniuses from the War God Hall broke through the encirclement.

"Venerable, we'll hold off the enemies! You must leave now!"

Prodigies from various races fearlessly stepped in front of Lin Zhan, ready to die.

Lin Zhan dragged his broken body forward. He watched the geniuses he had painstakingly gathered fall one after another in his defense. Hot blood-tears streamed from his eyes as he roared in anguish, "Gu Chen—I swear I will make you die!"

Su Chen, equally grievously wounded, showed no mercy toward the incoming waves of War God Hall members. One genius after another fell beneath his blade as he pressed relentlessly toward Lin Zhan. He knew he had to end Lin Zhan here. Otherwise, who could predict what monstrous heights the other would reach next time they met?

When the prodigies realized they couldn't match Su Chen, many chose to self-destruct without hesitation, buying Lin Zhan even a few more seconds to escape.

"Lin Zhan, you coward! Back then, you abandoned the Spirit Fox Clan and fled alone. Now you're going to abandon the War God Hall you built with your own hands? Abandon these subordinates who are dying for you, and run away by yourself?"

Su Chen deliberately taunted him, trying to provoke Lin Zhan into turning back and throwing his life away.

Lin Zhan clenched his fists so hard his knuckles cracked. A woman had thrown herself around him, holding him tightly.

The remaining War God Hall members roared in unison, "Take the Venerable and go! Don't let our brothers die for nothing!"

The woman began chanting an incantation. A pitch-black spatial rift tore open in front of them. Just as she prepared to drag Lin Zhan inside, Su Chen panicked. He gathered every last scrap of remaining vital energy and poured it into his sword.

"One Sword—Cease Conflict."

The world around him seemed to slow dozens of times over. In that final, desperate instant, Su Chen's sword dao advanced another step. This strike carried bone-chilling killing intent, determined to leave Lin Zhan here forever.

Right as the sword was about to claim Lin Zhan's life, the woman used her frail body to shield him. With her last ounce of strength, she shoved Lin Zhan fully into the rift.

"Brother Lin… you have to live…"

The spatial tear sealed shut. Faintly, Lin Zhan's heartbroken, furious roar still echoed from the other side.

Watching Lin Zhan escape for the second time, Su Chen's rage boiled over. He swung once, severing the woman's head, then turned and left the battlefield without looking back. Even with all the mental fortitude he had built over lifetimes, in this moment, only one word remained in his mind.

"Fuck!"

Chapter 70: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 8)

Su Chen emerged from the ancient empire's ruin alone. Every other young genius of the Gu Clan had perished in the frenzied battle for the saint herb. Fortunately, the journey had yielded him immense gains. News of the saint herb's appearance in the ruin spread rapidly across the domains.

Su Chen soon learned that the herb had ultimately fallen into the hands of a true disciple from the Primordial Origin Sacred Land in the Central Continent. As long as Lin Zhan had not obtained it, Su Chen cared little who finally claimed the prize.

Upon returning to the clan, the heavy losses among their prodigies left the elders heartsick and bleeding inside. Only Gu Yixian breathed a long sigh of relief. "Thank the heavens Chen'er is safe."

Everyone else could die. His grandson could not.

Back in the clan, Su Chen threw himself into cultivation with even greater ferocity. He understood clearly: allowing Lin Zhan to escape this time meant that one day in the future, Lin Zhan would inevitably march against the Gu Clan. That day would mark the clan's final war of annihilation.

Twenty years passed swiftly. Su Chen successfully broke through to the Void Refining Realm. The Heavenly Origin Body proved far superior to the Acquired Imperial Sword Body. Cultivation progressed almost without bottlenecks.

Within the clan, aside from the few supreme techniques and martial skills reserved exclusively for the clan leader, Su Chen had studied every single cultivation method and combat art the Gu Clan possessed.

"Killing Lin Zhan with my own strength alone will never be enough."

The mysterious War God Art, the legendary saint-grade artifact—these were Lin Zhan's greatest trump cards.

Su Chen set his sights on the clan's guardian saint artifact. To wield it, he first needed to raise his standing within the Gu Clan. He began reshaping his image.

From time to time, he lectured the younger generation, sharing his cultivation insights without reservation. Even the other elders frequently attended his talks and occasionally gained sudden enlightenment. Outside the clan, Su Chen started forging connections with geniuses from every corner.

A century slipped by. Su Chen successfully became the Young Clan Leader of the Gu Clan. Barring any unforeseen disasters, he would be the next clan leader. He never ceased searching for traces of Lin Zhan, yet the outer starfield was impossibly vast. A hundred years was barely enough to scratch the surface.

Several waves of the clan's scouts had already perished in the attempt. On this day, a major figure arrived in the Azure Profound Dynasty. Su Chen descended directly upon the dynasty.

Under the resources Lin Zhan had once left behind, combined with the protection of the Azure Profound Martial Mansion, the Lin family had risen dramatically in power. They had even produced a Spirit Soul Realm cultivator.

Su Chen sensed several powerful auras sweep over him. Then a black-robed elder appeared before him.

"Greetings, Young Clan Leader."

Su Chen nodded. He had long ago ordered surveillance on both the Lin family and the Azure Profound Dynasty. The moment Lin Zhan showed himself, an inescapable net would close around him. Yet a full century had passed without the slightest sign of Lin Zhan.

Su Chen estimated that Lin Zhan's current cultivation was no weaker than his own—perhaps even stronger. Patience had finally run dry.

At the Lin family estate, every member of the clan knelt trembling on the ground, staring up at the terrifying young man who had descended without warning.

"My lord… what is the meaning of this?"

Lin Zhan's father, Lin Yunpeng, asked in confusion. He could not fathom how they had offended such a fearsome figure.

Su Chen gave a cold, mirthless smile. "Blame only your excellent son. I once gave your Lin family a path to survival. Unfortunately, your son refused to take it."

Lin Yunpeng tried to protest, but the Gu Clan powerhouses suppressed him instantly. Everyone with deep ties to Lin Zhan was dragged away and imprisoned in the clan's dungeon.

As for the remaining Lin family members, Su Chen showed no mercy. He ordered them executed on the spot. Next, he paid a visit to the Azure Profound Martial Mansion. There, he rounded up Lin Zhan's closest friends from those days, along with one of his former confidantes, and had them all transported to the Gu Clan's prison. Even a prince of the Azure Profound Dynasty who had once been acquainted with Lin Zhan was not spared—he too was locked away in the dungeon.

Yet still, Lin Zhan did not appear.

This turn of events left Su Chen feeling deeply troubled. The once hot-tempered and impulsive Lin Zhan had apparently learned the art of patience. He now lurked in the shadows like a venomous serpent, quietly biding his time and cultivating in silence.

Hatred had tempered him, shaving away his sharp edges and forging something far more dangerous. An enemy blessed with immense destiny and capable of such restraint was undoubtedly one of the most difficult kinds to face.

Five hundred years passed in the blink of an eye, and Lin Zhan still had not appeared.

Su Chen's cultivation had reached the ninth layer of Void Refining Realm—only one step away from Nirvana. What surprised him most was that this very year, his grandfather Gu Yixian had also broken through once more, advancing to the seventh layer of the Nirvana Realm. He now stood second only to the clan leader in power.

The old clan leader's lifespan was nearing its end. He had sealed himself in the ancestral land to await his final moments. Gu Yixian assumed the role of acting clan leader.

…

In the outer starfield.

After escaping the ancient empire's ruin all those years ago, Lin Zhan had endured countless trials, both great and small. One after another, members of the War God Hall had died shielding him. His former confidante had perished protecting him as well.

The failure to seize the saint herb had left his master in his twilight years, weakened and vulnerable. When powerful enemies besieged him, the old quasi-saint had died right before Lin Zhan's eyes. These repeated losses had forced Lin Zhan to grow.

He learned to become steady, cold-blooded, and utterly ruthless in seizing every opportunity that would make him stronger. He rebuilt the War God Hall from the ashes. Its name soon echoed across the outer void. Even true disciples from the sequence lists of sacred lands had fallen to his halberd. He attracted countless followers. The War God Hall now brimmed with powerful experts.

Deep in the starfield, Lin Zhan was locked in combat with a formidable extraterrestrial powerhouse. They exchanged only a handful of blows before Lin Zhan's single halberd strike reduced his opponent to a bloody mist.

After the kill, not a trace of excitement crossed Lin Zhan's face. His eyes remained calm and indifferent, as though such victories had become routine.

At that moment, a being with long antennae approached and dropped to one knee in reverence.

"Venerable, the War God Hall's hundred-thousand-strong army has finished mustering. We await only your command to march together back to the Heavenly Profound Domain."

A faint smile finally touched Lin Zhan's icy features. He had waited far too long for this day. To exact vengeance upon the Gu Clan, he had endured more than anyone could imagine.

He had learned of his father's capture. He knew his friends and loved ones in the Heavenly Profound Domain had been imprisoned by the Gu Clan. Yet he had remained unmoved, repeatedly reminding himself that any return would walk straight into a meticulously prepared trap.

He had even accounted for the possibility that the Gu Clan would activate their guardian saint artifact. His opponent was the same man who, back when Lin Zhan had been a mere Spirit Soul Realm cultivator, had summoned two Nirvana Realm Venerables to hunt him down without hesitation.

Cautious. Ruthless. Resourceful beyond measure.

Lin Zhan had to admit—even compared to the sacred sons of sacred lands, in some ways, Su Chen was the more troublesome foe.

"Father… Grandfather… Qing'er… I will annihilate the entire Gu Clan. I will offer Gu Chen's head in sacrifice to your spirits!"

The War God Hall's hundred-thousand-strong army set out for the Heavenly Profound Domain.

Chapter 71: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Part 9)

In the Northern Heavenly Profound Domain, Su Chen opened his eyes. A vast, surging aura rolled out from within his body. A trace of joy flickered through his black-and-white pupils.

"Nirvana Realm… I've finally broken through!"

After seven lifetimes, he had at last become a Venerable. The moment Su Chen achieved the breakthrough, the entire Council of Elders trembled. He assumed the position of clan leader, seizing absolute authority over one of the great clans. Vast mountains and rivers spanning tens of thousands of li now lay entirely under his command.

What delighted him most was that, over the past few centuries, the Gu Clan had made real progress in deciphering the sword body forging method. They had at least managed to cultivate three individuals with the acquired sword body.

Though these versions were far weaker than the one he had achieved in his previous life—plagued by countless flaws—they still vastly outstripped ordinary mortal physiques. Cultivation progressed faster, and the upper limit was significantly higher. They were perfect as war soldiers.

Unfortunately, Su Chen no longer had the luxury of time. He gazed at the intelligence report sent by a friend from a sacred land and murmured, "This day… has finally arrived."

The report clearly stated that Lin Zhan had led the War God Hall's grand army toward the Northern Heavenly Profound Domain. It also expressed regret: the sender could not intervene directly. Some existence within the sacred land forbade any involvement in this matter. He could only risk sending this warning.

Su Chen understood. Lin Zhan's growth had undoubtedly far exceeded his expectations. The man now possessed the power to destroy an entire clan. That was why he dared return to the Northern Heavenly Profound Domain to settle old scores. Behind him stood a force that even sacred lands had to treat with caution.

Upon receiving news of the approaching enemy, Su Chen refused to sit and wait for death. This was the fated confrontation. He began preparations with every means at his disposal. He dispatched the clan's most promising seeds to the outer starfield, preserving the last embers of the Gu Clan. Even he had no certainty of victory in the coming war.

As time passed, deafening booms echoed across the sky above Gu Clan territory. One warship after another emerged from the void. Powerful beings stood upon their decks, gazing toward the Gu Clan with bloodthirsty grins.

"So this is the enemy the Venerable spoke of? Finally—we get to feast!"

An ancient horn sounded.

Su Chen raised his head and looked toward the center of the fleet. Atop the head of a colossal dragon stood a youth clad in golden battle armor, gripping a golden war halberd.

The youth's expression was cold. He lowered his gaze, locking eyes with Su Chen.

"Activate the formation!"

At Su Chen's sharp command, dense runes appeared in the sky above the Gu Clan like falling rain, enveloping the entire domain. The clan's supreme saint formation.

Lin Zhan glanced at the terrifying array and gave a cold sneer. He had seen far too many such formations.

"Sacrifice the saint weapon."

At his order, ancient runes surfaced on the foreheads of countless War God Hall members. Immense power gathered in the sky above the Gu Clan. An ancient giant bell materialized. With each toll of the bell, heaven and earth spun violently.

"A saint weapon—it's actually a saint weapon!"

The elders of the Gu Clan stared at the colossal bell in shock. The might of the saint weapon shattered vast swathes of Gu Clan territory. Even with the saint formation's protection, countless weaker clan members disintegrated into bloody mist on the spot.

Likewise, after offering the saint weapon, innumerable War God Hall members were drained dry of vital energy and died where they stood.

Su Chen smiled. Looking at the man who was both familiar and utterly changed, he spoke calmly.

"Lin Zhan, you've changed."

Facing the mortal enemy he had once dreamed of killing every night, Lin Zhan now appeared remarkably composed. The two regarded each other like old acquaintances, quietly watching their forces clash without the slightest ripple in their expressions.

Lin Zhan met Su Chen's subtle mockery with icy indifference.

"People… always change. Are you afraid of me now?"

Su Chen shook his head. With a casual wave of his hand, several figures appeared before him. They were aged, yet unmistakably familiar. Among them, one elderly man—wrinkled and frail—saw Lin Zhan and immediately burst into tears.

Lin Zhan's body trembled violently. Though their faces had grown old and weathered, he recognized them instantly. His father… the mentor who had cared for him in every way at the Azure Profound Martial Mansion… the senior sister with whom he had once ridden boldly through the streets and shared a fleeting romance…

Now they all stood alive before him. For countless days and nights, he had dreamed of these very people appearing to demand why he had not saved them, why he had abandoned them. Yet here they were—alive. Joy and rage surged through him in equal measure…

Su Chen watched the complex emotions flash across Lin Zhan's face and gave a soft laugh.

"Unfortunately, time spares no one. In the end, only these few survived. Lin Zhan, do you know how much effort it took me to keep them alive all these years?"

Lin Yunpeng shouted in shame and fury, "Zhan'er, don't worry about us! Slaughter the Gu Clan! Avenge your dead kin!"

The others echoed him fiercely. "Lin Zhan, ignore us! Kill Gu Chen—even death would be worth it!"

Lin Zhan's body shook violently. He roared, "Gu Chen, you despicable bastard! Release them! If you let them go, I'll leave your Gu Clan with one last spark of survival!"

Su Chen scoffed. What did he care about floods after he himself was dead?

"Zhan'er, you must live well…"

Before Lin Zhan's eyes, Su Chen lifted the seals on them. In unison, the captives gathered every last drop of vital energy and chose self-destruction.

Su Chen made no move to stop them.

"Gu Chen—I'm going to kill you!"

Facing Lin Zhan's bloodshot, murderous gaze, Su Chen merely smiled.

Lin Zhan raised his golden war halberd to strike Su Chen down. Then a familiar figure appeared in front of him, glaring at Lin Zhan with pure venom.

Lin Yue'er stood between them.

"Lin Zhan, you killed everyone. All five hundred and thirty members of the Lin family died because of you!"

Lin Zhan's heart bled. He stared at her, growling like a wounded beast.

"Lin Yue'er… get out of the way!"

Lin Yue'er sneered contemptuously. Like a moth to flame, she threw herself at Lin Zhan and died by his hand.

Watching the person he had once dreamed of killing night after night perish before him brought Lin Zhan no joy at all. Blood-tears streamed from his eyes as he charged alone into the depths of the Gu Clan's ancestral land.

Within the ancestral land, ancient figures awakened one after another. Dragging broken, decayed bodies, they said nothing and simply threw themselves at Lin Zhan in silent fury. One by one, they fell to his halberd. Yet some managed to land grievous wounds on him.

When every last hidden reserve of the ancestral land had been exhausted, Su Chen bowed slightly toward the empty air ahead. He looked at Lin Zhan. Beneath his feet, a dense web of blood seals spread outward in every direction like a spider's net.

"Swear to defend the glory of the saint clan to the death!"

With frenzied roars shaking heaven and earth, Gu Clan warriors detonated themselves without hesitation. Countless streams of energy surged along the blood seals and poured into Su Chen.

At the center of the formation, a blood-red longsword took shape. Ancient mountain-and-river runes covered its blade, recording the entire history of the Gu Clan. The clan's inherited saint artifact—the Ancient Saint Sword!

Su Chen grasped the hilt. The power of the ancient saint revived within him. In this moment, Su Chen felt a strength unlike anything he had ever known.

Chapter 72: Rebirth as the Great Villain (Finale)

"This… is what it means to be a 'Saint'?"

Su Chen reveled in the overwhelming, terrifying power coursing through him. Now he understood why beings who reached the Saint realm were revered so absolutely in this world.

The invasion of the forbidden zone by the Profound Origin Sacred Land and the great war across the Southwest Domains had both involved Saints, but battles of that caliber had been far beyond his right to even witness.

Today, by drawing upon the majority of the Gu Clan's accumulated strength to fully awaken the Ancient Saint Sword, a fragment of the ancient saint's lingering power had revived within him. For the first time, he truly tasted a portion of a Saint's dreadfulness. This power could effortlessly crush any being beneath the Saint realm.

Su Chen wasted no words. The borrowed might of the ancient saint would not last long. He had to kill Lin Zhan before it faded. He raised the Ancient Saint Sword. A single beam of sword light tore across the sky as though it intended to cleave the firmament in two. The horrifying ripple made even distant powerhouses recoil in alarm.

"In the past, the Ancient Saint dominated the Northern Desert—truly terrifying. One Ancient Saint Sword felled countless heroes. Who could possibly force the Gu Clan to this point? Even the Ancient Saint Sword has been drawn and fully awakened. A saint artifact at complete revival would give even an ordinary Saint a headache.

"So tragic… I can feel the Gu Clan's territory turning into a furnace of flesh and blood. Even if they win this war, the clan will exist in name only. A saint weapon like this will surely attract the covetous eyes of countless devils and demons."

"…"

As that sky-splitting sword beam appeared, another terrifying force blanketed the Northern Desert.

"A saint weapon… another fully awakened saint weapon! Are they trying to ignite a true saint war?"

"No—this cannot be allowed! A saint war would turn the Northern Desert into a sea of carnage. Raise the clan-protecting arrays at once! Seal off the saintly might!"

The two saint weapons clashed. The sky over the Northern Desert darkened. Thunder roared, and torrential rain poured. Countless cultivators had no idea what was happening—they only saw two beams of divine light soaring into the heavens before colliding in cataclysmic fury.

Su Chen was not surprised that Lin Zhan possessed a saint weapon. But the current Lin Zhan had suffered a shattered state of mind and grievous wounds. As long as Su Chen killed him here, that saint weapon would become his own. With two saint weapons in hand, he could establish a force far greater than the Gu Clan had ever been!

Su Chen wielded the Ancient Saint Sword and fought Lin Zhan from the heart of the Gu Clan territory all the way to the Northern Sea, from the Northern Sea to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, and from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains out into the outer starfield. Countless living beings trembled and perished in the aftermath of the two saint weapons' clash.

"Gu Chen, you are not my match. I will personally kill you and bring justice to everyone who died by your hand or because of you!"

Golden aura enveloped Lin Zhan's entire body. The blood dripping from his wounds actually shimmered with golden light. When it fell upon distant stars, those stars shattered into cosmic dust.

"Because of me?"

Su Chen sneered. "If you hadn't insisted on making an enemy of me, why would I have bothered with mere ants? All those deaths are because of your foolishness, your blindness, your arrogance!"

Lin Zhan's powerful frame shuddered. Then his face turned cold as frost. He spoke calmly.

"Gu Chen, between us there is only victory or defeat—nothing more."

Su Chen threw his head back and laughed wildly. "Victory or defeat? Well said! When it comes to ruthlessness, I must admit you surpass me, Lin Zhan."

Su Chen attacked relentlessly, seeking any opening. But to his disappointment, Lin Zhan only grew fiercer the longer they fought. The saintly aura around him grew denser and denser.

"This bastard… he isn't going to break through to Saint mid-battle, is he?"

Su Chen cursed under his breath. A terrible premonition rose in his heart. If Lin Zhan achieved sainthood here, all hope would vanish. For this battle, he had made countless preparations—sacrificed everything.

Yet the sheer difficulty of killing a Child of Destiny far exceeded anything Su Chen had imagined. Bearing heaven's mandate, blessed by destiny itself. Su Chen fought his way back into the Northern Desert once more.

Lin Zhan suddenly felt an ominous chill. The breakthrough insight he had grasped in the heat of battle began to waver and fade as his state of mind descended into chaos.

"Gu Chen—you dare?!"

Lin Zhan seemed to realize what Su Chen intended. His voice cracked with hoarse fury as he roared, desperately trying to stop him.

Su Chen's lips curved into a smile. He abandoned his direct clash with Lin Zhan. The Ancient Saint Sword in his hand shifted trajectory and slashed toward the ranks of the War God Hall.

"With this sword, what will you choose, Lin Zhan?"

Su Chen's gaze carried open expectation. He had dropped all defense. If Lin Zhan chose to save the War God Hall's elites, he would forfeit the fleeting chance to become a Saint. With the power of the ancient saint still at Su Chen's command, the two of them could fight to the bitter end—victory uncertain. If Lin Zhan chose to press forward with his breakthrough, he would once again be forced to watch the finest of the War God Hall die before his eyes.

Under Su Chen's watchful stare, Lin Zhan slowly closed his eyes. In an instant, his black hair turned snow-white. Three thousand strands of white danced wildly in the wind. He stood motionless and let the elite forces of the War God Hall perish in front of him.

A heaven-shaking aura erupted from Lin Zhan's body. It swept across the entire Northern Desert like a blazing sun, illuminating everything in its path. His thick vital blood condensed into a golden ocean that drowned the stars.

He had become a Saint.

Su Chen laughed. With Lin Zhan making this choice, he no longer had any chance of victory. The Ancient Saint Sword in his hand erupted with its most dazzling radiance.

"The final glory of the Gu Clan… gathers here."

Su Chen's last thread of consciousness was swallowed by the explosive power of the Ancient Saint Sword.

…

Darkness. Utter blackness.

Su Chen had returned to the Reverse Fate Space.

"Truly worthy of a Child of Destiny—blessed and chosen by fate itself."

Su Chen murmured softly. In this life, he had cornered Lin Zhan time and again, pushing him to the brink of absolute death. Yet every single time, some twist of fate allowed Lin Zhan to slip away. Even in their final, decisive battle—when he had nearly shattered Lin Zhan's dao heart—he had still failed to stop the man from achieving sainthood. All he had accomplished was forcing Lin Zhan onto a path of sainthood born from utter despair.

But Lin Zhan had paid a heavy price as well. The elite core of the War God Hall he had painstakingly built was buried here. His state of mind was fractured beyond repair, destined to become an eternal nightmare.

Curious about the rewards of this life, Su Chen quickly summoned the Reverse Fate Scripture and began to read.

[Seventh Life Summary: You were born into a declining saint clan. With a Nirvana Realm Venerable as your grandfather, you were doted upon from birth. Bearing the innate Heavenly Origin Body, you ranked among the absolute top geniuses within the Gu Clan. Your only misfortune was inexplicably offending a heaven-blessed individual who bore a mortal grudge against you for stealing his childhood sweetheart. You chose to strike first and began hunting the Child of Destiny.]

[Despite exercising extreme caution at every step, you ultimately failed to kill him. You rose steadily within the clan, befriended prodigies across the Northern Desert, and became the most dazzling trendsetter of your era—eventually seizing full control of the Gu Clan.]

[In the final battle, every scheme you laid shattered your enemy's dao heart, yet you still fell to the weight of destiny. This war had no victor. Though you served merely as a stepping stone, even as the long years passed and the Gu Clan faded into the river of history, one person would remember you forever.]

[Evaluation: Seven Stars (Blue)]

[Reverse Fate Points: 7000]