I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 970: The Ball of Ambitions, Ling Huang of the Spiritual Realm

Along the journey, Chu Lian and Ming Xiu, siblings, witnessed the tragic scenes in various places firsthand. The Spiritual Royal Family of Lingxu oppressed and exploited all clans, demanding tribute on time and increasing taxation. Speculations arose among the clans about the Spiritual royal family hoarding resources, but the brunt of these burdens fell squarely on the various ethnic groups, leaving them in misery.

In Chu Lian’s perspective, the Spiritual race had endured suffering for a prolonged period, and a rebellion against the rule of the Spiritual royal family seemed inevitable, perhaps even imminent. This moment felt like another opportunity. However, this time, Chu Lian bid farewell to his mentor and brought along his younger sister for a significant reason. He believed it to be his chance.

Just a few days prior, he had finally completed a million rounds of tempering and successfully unlocked the ball of light, gaining its recognition as its master. Named the ball of ambition, it hailed from a civilization of unknown latitude, crafted by capturing the will of ancient heavens with all the might of that civilization. Endowed with boundless power and fortune, it was considered a treasure of that civilization.

However, despite refining this treasure, that civilization didn’t attain immortality. As Chu Lian sought to approach its real location, that once magnificent and prosperous civilization collapsed and faded into the annals of ancient history. The ball of ambition had been adrift since then, searching for a destined individual.

Though Chu Lian belonged to the Ghost clan, not the Spiritual royal family, he had heard tales of the real place. Legends spoke of it as the source of all worldly origins, attributing the calamities experienced by all factions to its origins.

In this expansive world, the civilizations qualified to approach the real place were so formidable and prosperous that their grandeur was beyond imagination. In comparison, the Spiritual Realm paled in significance, as inconsequential as dust. Possessing the treasure left behind by such a civilization infused Chu Lian with confidence. He saw it as a means to overthrow the rule of the Spiritual royal family and finally avenge his parents.

For now, the ball of ambitions bestowed upon Chu Lian various functions to aid in his growth. Among them, the most enigmatic, in his opinion, was the “sign-in” function. By complying with the Ball of Ambition’s requirements and signing in at specific locations, Chu Lian could directly obtain valuable items such as cultivation bases, techniques, divine weapons, and elixirs. This function promised rapid improvement in his cultivation, motivating Chu Lian to venture beyond his mentor’s guidance into the outside world.

Moreover, the ball of ambition possessed another function: the ability to gather and harness the power of luck. From these reservoirs of luck, it could extract various original substances and energies.

In Chu Lian’s perspective, original matter and energy were exceedingly rare and nearly omnipotent resources. Accumulating enough of these substances would enable him to exchange for numerous divine artifacts stored within the ball of ambition. These artifacts, relics of the civilization that crafted the ball of ambitions, boasted immense power and wielded various formidable abilities, such as the world’s relics, the Great Seal of the Heavenly Heart, the Profound Banner, and the Chaos Star Sand.

Apart from these functions, the Ball of Ambitions harbored many yet unopened capabilities, fueling Chu Lian’s anticipation. “I’ve only unlocked the first floor of the Ball of Ambitions so far, with eight more floors awaiting discovery. Once I muster the strength to open the third floor, I’ll confront the Spiritual royal family with confidence. I wonder what strength I’ll possess upon reaching the ninth floor.”

Chu Lian exuded confidence. In just two days, the Ball of Ambitions had elevated him from an ordinary cultivator to a master level, rivaling those who had cultivated for millennia. While he still had a considerable distance to traverse before reaching the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm, not to mention the Immortal Realm beyond, this newfound hope filled him with boundless confidence.

“Ming Xiu, you needn’t worry so much. Senior brother will eventually prove you wrong.” Chu Lian noticed the concern etched on his junior sister’s face and offered reassurance.

“Brother, mind your surroundings. There’s a carriage approaching on the official road ahead. Be cautious; we don’t want them overhearing you,” Ming Xiu admonished, rolling his eyes at his senior brother’s seemingly absent-minded chatter. He acknowledged that this excursion served as a much-needed break; otherwise, people might begin to question their sanity.

Chu Lian also spotted a carriage speeding ahead on the official road. Keen to avoid any trouble and continue to their next destination for signing in, he motioned to his junior sister, and they rode their horses to the side early to let it pass. Judging from the carriage’s ornate exterior and the three-headed cloud-patterned white horse pulling it, it was clear that its occupants were affluent or aristocratic. Numerous guards and maids trailed behind, adding to the entourage’s imposing presence.

Neither Chu Lian nor Ming Xiu wanted to draw attention or cause any complications with their conversation. Despite the Spiritual Market’s longstanding existence, the Spiritual royal family’s enduring rule, and the multitude of ethnic groups supporting it, encounters with its affiliates were unavoidable.

However, within the carriage, a beautiful figure appeared somewhat despondent, her jade hands clenched white beneath her sleeves. Adorned in an elegant noble dress, her hair arranged in a simple bun, she wore no makeup, her features exuding an unparalleled beauty. The two maids accompanying her trembled in fear, their faces drained of color as they knelt on the ground.

“Outside, refer to me as Miss,” she instructed, her tone subdued. “And do not disclose my identity.”

Gradually, she seemed to regain composure from her earlier discontent. She hadn’t anticipated hearing disparaging remarks about the Spiritual royal family shortly after leaving the Spiritual Palace. The vehement criticism and desire to overthrow the royal family incited her fury, nearly prompting her to retaliate physically. Yet, she restrained herself, determined to maintain a low profile during this excursion away from the palace, devoid of any inquiries about the royal family.

On the flip side, why was she unaware of these sentiments? If not for the ancestral decree, how could she willingly accept the current rule of the Spiritual royal family, especially when the world seemed to be in mourning under their governance? However, she felt powerless. As the emperor of the Spiritual royal family, she was bound to obey her ancestors’ commands, devoid of any authority to make significant decisions. Instead, she bore the resentment and hatred of the various ethnic groups, shouldering the blame.

“Yes… yes, miss,” the two maids stammered in agreement, their earlier fears lingering. Upon overhearing the conversation outside regarding the Spiritual royal family, they sensed trouble brewing.

Such discussions, even in private, were potentially fatal matters. And yet, here was someone boldly speaking ill of the Spiritual royal family in the presence of its reigning emperor. It was akin to inviting disaster.

Though merely Ling Huang’s attendants, the maids possessed formidable cultivation, allowing them to catch every word exchanged between Chu Lian and Ming Xiu from their vantage point. If they could hear it, undoubtedly Ling Huang could as well.

“Miss, permit us to deal with this insolent individual,” the maids implored, eager to remove Chu Lian and Ming Xiu from the equation.

Ling Huang waved a dismissive hand, her demeanor calm. “There’s no need. I’m not one to harbor grudges. Even if I were to eliminate these two, what purpose would it serve? How would it alter the world’s perception?”

Her self-deprecating expression belied her words. The maids paled, silenced by her response, understanding the futility of further discussion.

Such matters involving the secrets of the Spiritual royal family were beyond their purview. As the carriage sped past on the official road, casting up clouds of dust, Ling Huang couldn’t help but cast a glance towards Chu Lian and Ming Xiu.

“Hmm?” Ling Huang’s sudden frown prompted her to halt the carriage with a moment’s deliberation. “Stop,” she instructed her attendants, who complied without question.

Chu Lian and Ming Xiu, anticipating the carriage’s passage, were taken aback when it unexpectedly halted before them. The attendants behind the carriage maintained impassive expressions, lending an ominous air to the encounter.

Caught off guard, Chu Lian and Ming Xiu exchanged wary glances. “Brother, do you think they heard us?” Ming Xiu whispered, her concern palpable.

Though apprehensive, Chu Lian retained his composure, bolstered by the newfound strength he had acquired in recent days.

Meanwhile, Ling Huang frowned from within the carriage, her expression clouded with doubt. Concealed beneath her sleeves, her fingers absently manipulated a seal, as if engaged in some form of calculation.

“Bring them to me,” Ling Huang eventually decided, her doubt lingering despite her efforts to ascertain the situation.

Despite her formidable cultivation, she found herself unable to deduce the fate of mere mortals.

Though Ling Huang’s initial glance at Chu Lian had been casual, she was surprised to sense a nebulous tumult surrounding him, as if veiled in mist. Intrigued, she instructed her maid to halt the carriage.

However, upon closer scrutiny, Ling Huang realized that Chu Lian’s fate was shrouded in mystery, obscured by an impenetrable fog that defied her attempts at clarity. If not for a significant treasure, his fate would be deemed peculiar. Yet, given her formidable strength, it was inconceivable for such a treasure to elude her notice. After all, aside from the ancestors of the Spiritual royal family, she was the most powerful being in the world. Nothing should have been able to escape her scrutiny.

“Our miss wishes to meet you,” the maid announced as she approached Chu Lian, her presence sending a shiver down his spine. He couldn’t discern their cultivation levels, indicating their superiority over him.

Concerned for his and his sister’s safety, Chu Lian gathered his courage and inquired, “May I know who the two young ladies are?” He understood that any conflict could potentially jeopardize their well-being, prompting him to contemplate utilizing the secret treasure bestowed upon them by their master.

“Our miss awaits you in the carriage; please follow us,” the maids replied dismissively, their indifference palpable. Oblivious to Ling Huang’s intentions, they merely executed her orders without question.

Observing Chu Lian’s peculiar fate, Ling Huang’s countenance darkened slightly as she contemplated a certain possibility. “Such a fate may signify the variable mentioned in ancient texts—a manifestation beyond conventional aptitude, impervious to talent, with boundless potential for future achievements.”

Though she speculated along similar lines, Ling Huang remained uncertain. Throughout the history of the Spiritual Realm, no such variable had ever emerged.

These characters were merely recorded in the annals and had traversed various real worlds. At her current level, Ling Huang’s strength had reached a pinnacle, rendering further advancement impossible without some extraordinary opportunity to alter her fate. She viewed other cultivators as devoid of secrets, able to manipulate the past, present, and future like pages in a book within the realm governed by the Spiritual Royal family. Ling Huang’s astonishment upon encountering Chu Lian stemmed from his enigmatic nature, a rarity she hadn’t encountered outside her peers of similar stature. Unlike others whose secrets she could effortlessly unveil, Chu Lian remained shrouded in obscurity, his present, past, and future veiled in uncertainty.

“If this individual is indeed a variable or anomaly, he will undoubtedly emerge as an extraordinary figure in the future. Perhaps he will topple the rule of our Spiritual royal family and reshape the world,” Ling Huang contemplated, her resolve solidifying.

Such a character must be either harnessed or eradicated before he could mature into a serious threat. Ling Huang understood the importance of controlling or neutralizing Chu Lian’s potential influence, lest it become a calamity. As she pondered the implications, Ling Huang reaffirmed her decision.

Unfledged variables posed no significant threat to her, yet she couldn’t underestimate Chu Lian’s latent power or the unforeseen opportunities he might encounter.

“Miss, we have brought him,” the maids’ voices interrupted Ling Huang’s deliberations.

“Please, bring this young man inside,” Ling Huang instructed, composed and regal, her demeanor belying the weight of her thoughts.