I Am the Fated Villain

1355: The ball of ambitions’ guesses, the tip of the iceberg revealed by Mr. Gu?

The spirit of the Ball of Ambitions, like a flickering ball of light, floated in Chu Lian’s mind, emanating a mysterious aura. Its tone had always been indifferent, without much fluctuation. But now, there was a faint trace of fear.

“If we hadn’t severed the connection with the outside world in time, neither you nor I would have been able to leave that place. I have only witnessed such terror in the powerhouse of the civilization that created the Ball of Ambitions—the Lord of Ambitions, the first master of the ball…”

“I don’t understand how a weak civilization can harbor such a terrifying aura.”

“Do you think the great terror you mentioned noticed the anomaly between us?” Chu Lian asked, unable to suppress his fear. Had he not acted decisively or stayed a moment longer, he might have drawn the attention of that unspeakably terrifying being.

However, he still remembered to ask the spirit of the Ball of Ambitions about the current safety situation of Juxian Village. He was genuinely worried, as the mysterious Mr. Gu and the black-robed old man beside him always instilled a sense of unease in Chu Lian.

“Probably not. If he had noticed, the owner of that terrifying aura wouldn’t let you leave safely,” the spirit of the Ball of Ambitions explained. If it were truly captured by that unknown entity, it would mean destruction for both itself and the Ball of Ambitions.

The remaining energy within the Ball of Ambitions was insufficient to bind another host. Moreover, according to the rules set by the civilization that created the Ball, once the treasure recognized its owner, it was obligated to focus on protecting the host’s life, discarding all else. As the Artifact spirit of the Ball of Ambitions, it could not interfere with the Lord’s selection; it could only serve as a guide for the host.

Additionally, its existence was intrinsically linked to the Ball of Ambitions and the host. Unless it could truly banish the Ball of Ambitions, it would have to adhere to the rules and face destruction alongside the host.

The spirit of the Ball of Ambitions was an independent consciousness that had experienced many hosts. If all went well, Chu Lian should be the last host. Previous hosts had never reached the level of the first host and had fallen along the way. Meanwhile, the Ball of Ambitions had endured unimaginable damage, nearly irreversible.

“I’ve already sensed Juxian Village, and it doesn’t harbor the dangers you feared. As for Mr. Gu, he is indeed mysterious. He likely possesses some form of heaven and earth treasure that conceals his cultivation—so much so that even I couldn’t see it clearly.”

“As for the black-robed old man, judging by the aura he exudes, he is not far from the Dao Realm. Having a being on the verge of entering the Dao Realm as a servant suggests that Mr. Gu’s origins are not simple. I suspect he may not be a creature of this civilization but could come from another ancient and powerful civilization. In this age, to have a servant nearly at the Dao Realm level is remarkable; even the former inheritors of the civilization that created me may not have received such treatment.”

The spirit of the Ball of Ambitions elaborated, providing insight into the situation.

Although it couldn’t harness the energy within the Ball of Ambitions, it could use its own wisdom to deduce perceptions and assess the strength of Gu Changge and the old man in black. For it, wisdom was indeed the most magical and powerful force in the world.

When Chu Lian heard this explanation, he was momentarily stunned. This was a direction and possibility he had never considered.

“Artifact spirit, are you suggesting that Mr. Gu might come from a more powerful and ancient civilization on the other side? Isn’t he from the Spiritual Realm?” He couldn’t help but ask, shocked and struggling to believe it.

If this were true, it would mark his first encounter with beings from another civilization, and in such a manner. Until now, Chu Lian had only learned about other civilizations from the master who had taken him in. But those were all from ancient texts; he had never imagined he would actually come face to face with them.

The spirit of the Ball of Ambitions replied confidently, “The possibility of this is over 90%. If he were a creature of the Spiritual civilization, no matter how great his background, it would be impossible for someone on the verge of entering the Dao Realm to be closely protected. Even the Spiritual royal family you wish to overthrow lacks such background and qualifications.”

This realization was quite striking. During his period of deep sleep, Chu Lian had unexpectedly come into contact with such a person. Could this be what they called a variable, a stroke of incredible luck that allowed him to encounter someone so significant?

Chu Lian was utterly stunned. He had never anticipated that the mysterious Mr. Gu would possess such a terrifying background. In comparison, the Spiritual royal family seemed trivial.

He swallowed hard, suddenly grasping why Miss Huang had said those words to him. She likely knew of Mr. Gu’s origins. Yet for some reason, they referred to each other as cousins.

At this moment, Chu Lian began to piece many things together. However, he still had other questions lingering in his mind and couldn’t help but ask, “Artifact Spirit, since you said Mr. Gu has such a terrifying background, why does he still appear in the world where the Spiritual civilization exists? It seems like he’s staying here intentionally.”

This was what puzzled him the most.

The Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions, unsurprised by the question, calmly replied, “Host, your perspective is still too limited. You only know about the Spiritual civilization, but you are unaware of how many ancient and terrifying civilizations have been nurtured in the vast, boundless universe. In front of those civilizations, the Spiritual civilization is insignificant.”

“These giant civilizations govern territories that span countless dimensions of time and space—beyond imagination. Even the ancient real world can only serve as an attachment to them. The successors or disciples of these great powers, before ascending to higher unity, are often sent to various worlds for tempering and trials.”

Hearing this, Chu Lian suddenly understood. He nodded and said, “I see. Mr. Gu is likely here in the Spiritual Civilization as part of the tempering and trials arranged by the powerful forces behind him. And that black-robed old man must be his protector, ensuring his safety during the process.”

The Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions said, “You are fortunate to have appeared before such a person. Moreover, he is still very young and has a bright future ahead of him. You should value this connection. If you have the chance in the future, leave the Spiritual civilization. Traveling through the boundless world could be a great destiny for you.”

Chu Lian understood its meaning, but his current focus was on overthrowing the rule of the Spiritual royal family and restoring peace to the world.

And yet, how should he put it? He always felt a bit uncomfortable around Mr. Gu. There was something in Mr. Gu’s tone and expression—a calm, detached gaze, as if he stood in a higher realm, overlooking all living beings. His voice was always so steady and composed, as though nothing could truly surprise him. Even the woman Chu Lian admired seemed to hold Mr. Gu in high regard.

“If I have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely leave the Spiritual civilization and explore other worlds…” Chu Lian thought to himself, his eyes filled with longing.

With the explanations provided by the Ball of Ambitions, Chu Lian felt completely at ease now, no longer preoccupied with thoughts of leaving Juxian Village.

“At the same time, for the sake of my junior sister, I have to stay and become a guest.” After making his decision, Chu Lian was straightforward and went to find Ling Huang to explain his intentions. However, he pretended to deliberate for a long time before reluctantly agreeing to stay as Mr. Gu’s entourage.

“Cousin has many disciples, each with varying capabilities. They are categorized into three levels: heaven, earth, and mortal. The salary and benefits for each level of guest ministers differ.”

“Originally, according to the rules, if Mr. Chu Lian were to become a guest minister, he would need to undergo certain trials to receive a guest honorary token. However, since Mr. Chu Lian and I are relatively familiar, my cousin made an exception and directly elevated Mr. Chu Lian to a heaven-level guest official, granting him the highest salary and resources.”

In the courtyard, Ling Huang stood with a graceful figure and jade-like skin that shimmered with a captivating luster, accompanied by a large group of people. With a smile on her face, she read aloud the rules and requirements for guest officials to Chu Lian, explaining the details of his salary.

At the same time, people presented Chu Lian with an ancient token engraved with the word “Heaven.”

As Ling Huang spoke, her group brought in boxes filled with exotic treasures and placed them in the courtyard. These included divine artifacts, Dao treasures, secret techniques, and jade bones. Instantly, a celestial glow illuminated the area, and the mist of treasures surged as if they had stepped into a land of riches, with vibrant light covering the ground.

Some treasure chests were opened, releasing a rich medicinal fragrance that filled the air, making one feel as if they could unfurl their pores and transform into a flying immortal.

“This is your starting salary…” Ling Huang said with a smile.

These treasures were exceptionally precious and rare within the Spiritual civilization, often considered priceless. Cultivators and creatures at the immortal king level would fight fiercely for them.

Chu Lian stood speechless for a long time, gazing at the courtyard filled with light and the fragrant scent of medicine. Although he had prepared himself, he was still taken aback, his mind buzzing with disbelief.

What did it mean to be rich and powerful? This was the true definition!

Even with the treasure of the Ball of Ambitions, he found himself swallowing quietly at the sight before him, unable to tear his gaze away. He began to understand why the spirit of the Ball of Ambitions had made those comments. If the salary alone was so astounding and terrifying, how immense must the treasures and wealth Mr. Gu possessed truly be? He could hardly imagine it.

And this was merely the tip of the iceberg that Mr. Gu had revealed.

“Brother…”

In the courtyard, Ming Xiu, who was also witnessing this scene, struggled to regain her composure. It was the first time she had seen such a vast display of wealth, and she wondered if her eyes were deceiving her.

In particular, many of the treasures were suitable for her cultivation. At that moment, Ming Xiu felt envious of her senior brother. This was just the first day he had become Mr. Gu’s disciple, and he had already received so many treasures. If Mr. Gu valued him, what kind of incredible rewards awaited him? She didn’t dare to imagine.

“Miss Huang, I want to know what I need to do to become Mr. Gu’s disciple. It can’t be that he gives out so many treasures for no reason,” Chu Lian asked, still in awe. He didn’t believe that Mr. Gu was simply performing good deeds without ulterior motives; rewarding him with a salary while supporting a group of followers seemed unlikely.

“Mr. Chu Lian will learn more about this matter in the future. I can’t disclose anything at the moment. For now, focus on cultivating and improving your strength. However, as a doorman, Mr. Chu Lian will need to follow your cousin’s orders in the future. There are rules associated with this token; if Mr. Chu Lian accepts it, you can refine it…”

“And once it is refined, it means that the agreement binds Mr. Chu Lian, so you must be clear about that,” Ling Huang said, her smile still gentle as she explained and kindly reminded him.

Chu Lian had anticipated that there would be no excessive constraints, so he immersed himself in the token and quickly read the content of the agreement. It was an equal agreement, ensuring he would not be forced to act against his sense of benevolence, righteousness, and morality.

He kept his eyes wide open and asked the Artifact Spirit of the Ball of Ambitions to help him verify if there were any issues with the agreement. After receiving a clear affirmation, he felt confident enough to refine the token, effectively signing the agreement and generating a binding force in the background.

Once he completed this process, Ling Huang returned to her own affairs, looking content. Chu Lian had intended to keep her there and talk a little more, but seeing her leave filled him with sadness and regret.

“I suggest the host refrain from developing any feelings for this woman. She is not simple and seems to be highly valued by Mr. Gu. Getting too close may cause Mr. Gu to feel displeased. Creating too many connections could hinder your current progress.”

“Now that the host is reliant on others, it’s best not to overstep boundaries; there is an order of respect,” the voice of the spirit of the Ball of Ambitions echoed in Chu Lian’s mind, reminding him.

Chu Lian was well aware of this, and he was not the type to let personal feelings overshadow important matters.

“With these resources, my strength can be greatly improved, and I’ll soon break through to the immortal level…” His eyes sparkled with excitement as he gazed at the piles of wealth shimmering with immortal light and mist.

Meanwhile, Ling Huang returned to Gu Changge to report on her recruitment of Chu Lian.

“You did well,” Gu Changge said approvingly. “Soon, find some people to create a bit of trouble for him. Don’t let him feel too stable or comfortable. Arrange some challenges for him to face, so he doesn’t grow suspicious.”

“After that, set up encounters with more powerful opponents to give him practice and experience. When the time is right, you can bring them into the fold and let them fight.”

Gu Changge nodded, issuing further instructions.

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