This Is What a Villain Is Like

The Qianyuan Prefecture contest drew to a close, and Jiang Lan, the young master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, claimed the top spot without a shred of suspense.

A hazy mist of Chaos descended, enveloping everything. An inexplicable aura of cosmic law suffused the world, teleporting every member of the younger generation from within Qianyuan Prefecture to the outside.

In an instant, the Central Square was filled with the figures of the younger generation, a bustling crowd of people.

Outside the black chariot, Emperor Xia retracted her gaze. Her expression returned to one of calm, but her heart was anything but.

She had been searching for Jiang Ruxian, but she never saw her again, not even when Qianyuan Prefecture closed.

Like her, many Elders from the Immortal Sects and high-ranking members of the Noble Families were also searching for Jiang Ruxian, eager to discover her origins and identity.

However, Jiang Ruxian was like a silent, traceless wisp of smoke, arriving and departing quietly, without attracting anyone’s notice.

Even the memory of her face seemed to gradually fade from people’s minds, becoming blurred and indistinct.

In the shadows, however, some factions had already commissioned portraits of her likeness and dispatched people to investigate.

"Back to the Mansion."

A pure light lingered around Jiang Lan, and a hazy, mist-like aura enveloped him. He seemed to have undergone some sort of astonishing transformation.

His expression was calm as he returned to the high platform belonging to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Many people were curious about the exact nature of the mysterious object he had obtained.

Countless gazes converged on him, sizing up his current aura.

But no one dared to ask any questions.

Even Emperor Xia’s eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity, but she did not voice any questions.

If any ordinary member of the younger generation had obtained such a mysterious object, they would have inevitably been interrogated, and might even have had it forcefully taken from them by those coveting it in the shadows.

But since it was Jiang Lan who had obtained it, the various powers and Dao Lineages could only watch with assessing gazes, their hearts filled with silent regret, not daring to harbor any covetous thoughts.

"Teng’Er..."

Seeing Xiao Teng teleported out covered in blood, Prince Zhenbei, Xiao River, rushed forward, his face etched with heartache. At the same time, he ordered the steward behind him to fetch a Healing Holy Medicine.

"Father..."

"I have disappointed you, Father. I have brought shame upon Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion." Xiao Teng’s face was pale. With both legs broken, he was unable to stand and could only lean on his subordinates for support.

Xiao River’s face was full of grief and resentment. "That Jiang Lan is vicious and cruel, truly despicable. This is not your fault, Teng’Er."

The surrounding officials on good terms with him also came forward one after another to offer their condolences.

The other Commandery Princes and Vassal Princes shook their heads slightly at the sight. In comparison, the other young nobles had fared much better.

After all, Jiang Lan had shown no regard for even the Royal Family and Relatives.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Xia’s gaze flickered slightly. She then gave an order to summon an Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Then, her gaze fell upon Zhang Yuan, the Yijian Palace disciple standing beside Xiao Teng.

Inside Qianyuan Prefecture, if she wasn’t mistaken, it was this very disciple from Yijian Palace who had been relentlessly pursuing the mysterious object.

"Spring Orchid, go conduct a thorough investigation on that disciple from Yijian Palace..." she ordered coolly.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Spring Orchid’s figure quietly withdrew.

Ye Ming left the Central Square alongside Xiao Teng and the others. His powerful Spiritual Sense allowed him to vaguely feel many gazes sizing him up, but he could only pretend not to notice.

He had drawn a fair bit of attention during this Qianyuan Prefecture contest, but had gained basically nothing from it. Even the Heaven-Reaching Stele that was right before his eyes had ultimately turned into a streak of light and flown into Jiang Lan.

In such a crowded place with so many prying eyes, Old Ghost had also fallen silent and wasn’t speaking to him. ’He seems to be wary of something.’

’The third young master of Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion, Xiao Teng?’

’The reaction from the Star Bead is coming from him? What is going on?’

Meanwhile, just outside the Imperial Palace square, a pair of captivating eyes were quietly observing Xiao Teng, their owner seemingly lost in thought.

On the Observatory Platform, National Master Ge Qixing also retracted his gaze. Then, as if a thought occurred to him, he summoned an old servant from behind him—a man whose presence was so faint he seemed almost non-existent—and gave him a few instructions.

Although the Qianyuan Prefecture contest had concluded, the uproar in the outside world was far from over.

News of the events spread like wildfire, as if on wings, sparking a massive sensation and widespread discussion everywhere.

Those who had personally witnessed the events in the depths of Qianyuan Prefecture still found it difficult to accept, feeling that everything had been too dreamlike and incredible.

Jiang Lan, the ignorant and incompetent epitome of a worthless, profligate heir, had actually earned the acknowledgment of the mysterious object from the depths of Qianyuan Prefecture.

This was the kind of thing that should only happen in novels.

’Could he truly be favored by the heavens, blessed with immense fortune?’

In the wake of this event, many stories related to Jiang Lan also began to spread rapidly.

Many people even learned of the incident that had taken place in the Purple Mist Mountain Range outside Anyang City.

Hadn’t Jiang Lan also gained the acknowledgment of an ancient Celestial Skill’s inheritance back then? And hadn’t many members of the younger generation concealed their auras and joined forces to try and snatch it from him afterward?

After all, quite a few members of the younger generation had witnessed and even participated in the events of that day.

With such a precedent, what had just occurred in Qianyuan Prefecture no longer seemed so difficult to accept.

Even so, many members of the younger generation still felt a stifling resentment, as if their Dao Hearts had been sullied. What had Jiang Lan possibly done to deserve such a fortuitous encounter?

An Elder from one of the Immortal Sect Lineages recorded the day’s events in Qianyuan Prefecture with a Memory Stone and sent it back to his Sect. He soon received a reply.