This Is What a Villain Is Like

The origin of the purple mist was unknown; no one knew where it drifted from. It transformed into silken ribbons that wound around the mountain cliffs and through the forests and groves.

Some of the Demon Beasts and mountain spirits among the peaks also seemed to be nourished by this purple mist. Every day, they would gather where the mist was thickest, absorbing it to aid their cultivation.

This led to rampages among the Demon Beasts. Many powerful ones emerged to fight for territory, and a number of cultivators who went to investigate returned injured.

Some said this was a sign that the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion was about to appear.

The major sects also dispatched their disciples to investigate.

Every day, Divine Rainbows could be seen streaking across the sky as they descended upon the area. Later, even people from the Observatory appeared, bringing many powerful experts to survey the surroundings. They discovered a convergence of essence qi beneath the earth, which appeared to be Heaven and Earth Essence Qi coalescing into the form of a dragon, ready to soar into the heavens.

Cultivators began to appear near Purple Mist Mountain, and Zixia Temple on the mountain itself drew even more attention. Every year, cultivators would go there to linger and observe. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Some claimed Zixia Temple was a legacy left behind by the Purple Mist True Monarch, but this could not be confirmed. Inquiries in the nearby villages and towns revealed that Zixia Temple had only appeared in recent years; it had never existed before.

Therefore, many began to suspect that the Temple Master of Zixia Temple might know some secrets, and people went to investigate every day.

But the Zixia Temple’s Temple Master was unfathomably powerful, suspected to be a hidden expert at the Sixth Realm, the Divine Power Realm. This caused all who came to investigate to return in defeat, and some encounters even led to bloody conflict.

After this news spread, Anyang City became even more bustling.

Previously, some had doubted the authenticity of the inheritance from the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion, but all signs now indicated that a truly heaven-shattering opportunity was about to be born.

For a time, numerous Divine Rainbows and war chariots descended from the skies outside the city.

Inside the city, it was a sea of people, with figures everywhere. The younger generation was particularly numerous; upon learning of the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance, they had swarmed over.

The other cities, towns, and villages closest to Purple Mist Mountain were even more overcrowded, the clamor reaching the heavens.

The streets were filled with the figures of cultivators, creating an extraordinary spectacle.

Many rare Alien Races made their appearance. Some time ago, a True Inheritor from an Immortal Sect Lineage also arrived, bringing a large retinue of followers.

A Quasi-Saintess from the Jasper Pool Sect was also spotted, having arrived in Anyang City.

True Disciples from the Taiyi Sect, young prodigies from the Nether Abyss Sect, and many others also appeared in the area.

...

Anyang City, the Jasper Pool Sect’s residence.

Inside a brightly lit hall, a woman in white stood silently, her face veiled by a light gauze.

Her black hair danced in the air, her jade-like form’s curves obscured but graceful and elegant. Her neck was slender, her skin like ice and jade, as if a Fairy from Guanghan Palace had descended to the mortal world, transcendent and otherworldly.

Zhao Dieyi, Chen Ning, and the other female disciples of the Jasper Pool Sect all stood quietly before the woman, their heads slightly bowed in a display of great respect.

Even the Jasper Pool Sect Elder in charge of this residence was very courteous when facing the woman in white.

"I thought only a handful of people knew about the appearance of the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion. I didn’t expect it to become common knowledge in just a few short days."

The woman in white sighed softly. Her voice was as beautiful as heavenly music, captivating the hearts of all who heard it and making it difficult for them to maintain their composure.

"Saintess, did you already know that the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion would appear?"

The Jasper Pool Sect Elder in charge of the residence, a beautiful and still-graceful woman, asked in surprise.

The woman before them was, of course, the Jasper Pool Sect’s Quasi-Saintess, Ling Zhuyun. She was also the current pillar of the sect, whose talent and strength far surpassed her peers.

"I learned of it from a friend. In fact, it was he who invited me here to explore the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion together."

Ling Zhuyun replied calmly, "Since I have already arrived in Anyang City, I imagine he will be paying a visit very soon..."

Her words deeply shocked the Jasper Pool Sect disciples present. They knew that this Saintess, while seemingly approachable, was in fact proud and aloof at heart.

She didn’t even hold the other two Quasi-Saintesses in high regard.

For her to call someone a friend, that person must surely be extraordinary.

’Could it be the Dao Yi True Inheritance from the Taiyi Sect? I heard he fought the Saintess a few years ago, and she remarked that he was "not bad." Or is it Guan Yingxue from the Divine Maiden Palace?’ a disciple wondered.

"On my way here, I heard that the Jasper Pool Sect ran into some trouble in Anyang City. A young master from the Great Xia Prime Minister’s Mansion publicly abducted one of our female disciples at the Drunken Immortal Residence. Is this true?"

Ling Zhuyun suddenly asked this, her calm gaze sweeping slowly over the disciples and the Elder present.

Her question left everyone stunned.

The female disciple who had been stepped on by Chu Chan in front of everyone that day trembled and quickly lowered her head, pretending not to have heard.

Noticing many eyes turning to her, Chen Ning could only bite the bullet and prepare to step forward to explain what had happened that day.

Although Ling Zhuyun was the Jasper Pool Sect’s destined Saintess, when faced with the Prime Minister’s Mansion, they would rather not cause offense.

’But how could she explain something like this?’

’If Ling Zhuyun insisted on seeking justice for the Jasper Pool Sect, it would mean offending the Prime Minister’s Mansion—a consequence that ordinary disciples like them could not bear.’

"Disciple Chu Chan greets the Saintess..."

Just then, a voice came from outside the hall.

Chu Chan walked in, dressed in a long, flowing, tasseled skirt, a jade hairpin in her hair, and adorned with pearls and jade. Her beautiful face was free of makeup, and her gaze was composed and calm. Even facing Ling Zhuyun, she showed not a hint of timidity, her bearing neither servile nor overbearing.

Ling Zhuyun was slightly surprised. ’This was the first time she had seen such an air about an Outer Sect disciple.’

’But the name sounded familiar... Was this the female disciple who, according to the news, was publicly abducted by the young master from the Prime Minister’s Mansion?’

All the Jasper Pool Sect disciples looked at Chu Chan in astonishment. She hadn’t been at the Jasper Pool Sect residence for some time, and many assumed she had been with Jiang Lan all along. They never thought she would suddenly show up today.

Chen Ning’s expression darkened. She knew where Chu Chan had been; the two of them had completely fallen out.

’Did Chu Chan come today to complain to Ling Zhuyun?’

However, after entering the hall, Chu Chan paid no mind to Chen Ning. Instead, she looked at Ling Zhuyun, and as she offered a slight curtsy, a beautiful handmaiden following behind her stepped forward and presented an invitation.

Seeing this, Ling Zhuyun was once again slightly surprised, unsure of Chu Chan’s intentions. The other disciples and the Elder in the hall were equally perplexed.

"Disciple Chu Chan, on Young Master Jiang’s orders, has come to deliver this invitation to the Saintess."

"In three days, Young Master Jiang intends to host a tea gathering. He is extending a broad invitation to the many young Celestial Prides in Anyang City to discuss and plan for the matter of the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance," Chu Chan explained.