This Is What a Villain Is Like

Not even Emperor Xia could clearly see what was happening inside.

A dead silence fell upon the high platforms. Prince Zhenbei, Xiao He, who had stood up, stared with wide eyes, utterly incredulous.

The many members of the Nobility and the ministers were also stunned. Who would have believed it if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes?

From the depths of Qianyuan Prefecture, an incredibly mysterious, ancient artifact suddenly flew out, descended from the heavens, and fell toward Jiang Lan.

It was like something straight out of a legend.

’Why would that mysterious substance, shrouded in rosy mist, choose him? Is it truly fate?’

"I heard that back in the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion, there was an ancient stone wall inscribed with the Four Saints Ancient Celestial Skill. Its inheritance also acknowledged Jiang Lan, but due to an accident, other Celestial Prides scrambled to snatch it away when it emerged..."

"This probably isn’t the first or second time this has happened. The young master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion possesses overwhelming good fortune."

"He’s clearly just an ignorant, good-for-nothing playboy. What has he possibly done to deserve the heavens’ favor?"

Many of the Immortal Sect Elders recalled the various rumors surrounding Jiang Lan and felt a deep sense of resentment.

Back in the Purple Mist True Monarch’s Cave Mansion, the younger generation from their sects had concealed their auras to fight for that opportunity, so the incident had left a deep impression on them.

When they connected that incident to what had just happened in Qianyuan Prefecture before everyone’s very eyes, it was hard not to draw conclusions.

"The young master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion is blessed with great fortune. He is a man of destiny."

"Favored by the heavens, with profound luck and endless blessings... According to ancient records, as long as such a person doesn’t fall, they are destined to bear the Mandate of Heaven and rule the cosmos..."

The clamor of shocked voices echoed across the surrounding platforms. Even Emperor Xia’s mind was reeling, finding it difficult to accept.

’Does Jiang Lan’s fortune surpass even mine, the true Emperor? Could I be the fake one?’

The commotion and shock within Qianyuan Prefecture were far more astounding than what was seen by the outside world.

Bearing the brunt of it was Ye Ming, who had been chasing the Heaven-Reaching Stele for a long time.

He had watched with his own eyes as the Heaven-Reaching Stele flew away from him. He had watched as it tore through the Void, fled into the distance, and then descended from the sky, landing directly on... the one person he hated to the bone and never wanted to see again.

"Jiang Lan..."

The moment he saw the Heaven-Reaching Stele fall toward Jiang Lan and vanish into his body, Ye Ming’s eyes turned bloodshot. He let out a hoarse cry, wanting to roar at the heavens to vent the boundless fury and indignation in his heart.

Why?

’Why would the Heaven-Reaching Stele choose Jiang Lan?’

’Back in the Purple Mist True Monarch Secret Realm, why did the inheritance of the Four Saints Ancient Celestial Skill also choose him?’

’What has he ever done to deserve any of this?’

At that moment, Ye Ming was practically mad with hatred. He felt a coppery tang in his throat, as if he were about to spit blood.

Even the Old Ghost’s constant attempts to console and persuade him in his mind were futile. His eyes were red, and he desperately wanted to charge forward and force Jiang Lan to hand over his Heaven-Reaching Stele.

’That fortuitous opportunity was supposed to be mine.’

Feeling the same as Ye Ming were Xiao Teng, Xia Jie, and many others of the younger generation.

The shock and disbelief in their hearts were simply beyond words.

What could possibly be more shocking and unbelievable than watching an artifact shrouded in radiant light descend from the sky and land on Jiang Lan?

Following the shock came a profound sense of bewilderment and an inability to accept what had happened.

"How is that possible..." Xiao Teng was dumbfounded. The excruciating pain from his broken legs was nothing compared to the turmoil in his heart.

"Xiao..."

Ye Ming landed and rushed over to Xiao Teng, his reason barely suppressing the fury and indignation in his heart.

However, as he approached, a terrifying sense of danger instantly washed over him.

Ye Ming’s scalp went numb, and goosebumps erupted all over his skin.

He followed the source of this terrifying danger with his eyes.

Not far away, a pair of beautiful, cold, and indifferent eyes were sizing him up.

In that instant, all the anger and killing intent in Ye Ming’s heart vanished without a trace.

It was as if he had been plunged into an endless abyss. A terrifying chill locked onto him, and even the Old Ghost, who was constantly chattering in his mind, suddenly fell silent.

Only when the young woman in white withdrew her gaze did Ye Ming feel as if he had been brought back to life.

But he was drenched in a cold sweat, his robes clinging to his back.

’What a terrifying young woman. Who in the world is she?’

’In just a single instant, it felt like I’d taken a stroll past the Ghost Gate.’

It was the first time Ye Ming had ever experienced such a feeling, and an indescribable terror filled his heart.

"The Heaven-Reaching Stele..."

Meanwhile, Jiang Lan had no time to worry about the outside world.

After the ethereal, mist-like substance fell from the sky and enveloped him, he felt something suddenly appear within his Spirit Sea: an object forged from an unknown material, shaped like a Token.

The object floated there, looking like gold but not quite gold, like bronze but not quite bronze. It was ancient and simple, suffused with a mist of Chaos.

It was wreathed in dense Profound Yellow Mother Qi, a single wisp of which seemed heavy enough to crush an entire mountain range.

A faint message emanated from it, allowing him to quickly understand what it was.

’It’s just... this thing suddenly fell from the sky and acknowledged me as its master.’

’Logically, wasn’t this opportunity supposed to belong to Ye Ming?’

At the same time, a massive amount of fortune surged into Jiang Lan’s Mud Ball Palace. Both his Destiny Dao Fruit and Age Dao Fruit began to undergo astonishing changes, maturing toward the next stage.

New information and records, all related to the Heaven-Reaching Stele, also appeared in his mind.

As Jiang Lan casually processed this information, he figured out why the object had come to him.

’I can’t think of any explanation for this other than Jiang Ruxian.’

’This is already something beyond the plot I’m familiar with. If I had known there was a Supreme Treasure like this in Qianyuan Prefecture, I would have done anything to get my hands on it.’

’Otherwise, just letting Ye Ming get it for free would mean losing a huge amount of fortune, not to mention giving him another trump card.’

’If I’d known about it, I definitely would have intercepted it ahead of time.’

’Having Jiang Ruxian step in to help me like this was truly unexpected.’

’She must have appeared in Qianyuan Prefecture not just to help me win first place. Her bigger plan was most likely for this Heaven-Reaching Stele.’

Jiang Lan was enveloped in an ethereal glow, surrounded by drifting rosy mist and divine radiance, which made his snow-white robes seem all the more otherworldly.

Watching Jiang Lan, who stood with his eyes closed as if processing the information from the Heaven-Reaching Stele, a gentle smile touched Jiang Ruxian’s lips from a short distance away. She gave him one last look before riding her snow-white Celestial Horse away, departing silently without alerting a single soul.

Nearly all the members of the younger generation were staring at Jiang Lan, their gazes filled with shock and disbelief, so very few noticed her.

Of course, even if they had tried, no one could have noticed her departure.

The expressions on the faces of Ye Ming, Xiao Teng, and the others were incredibly grim. There was no longer any doubt as to who would be the champion of the Qianyuan Prefecture tournament.