Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate

Chapter 230: A Setup Gone Awry

Xu Xinlan scanned the jade slip with her divine sense. "So, additional materials are needed for its use," she noted.

"It seems to be a secret art tied to the healing discipline," one of her companions added.

They exchanged glances and nodded in agreement, confirming there were no concerns.

"Then, our deal is complete," Ji Mingxiu declared, a grin spreading across his face as he gathered all the storage artifacts.

It’s worth mentioning that one storage artifact cannot be stored within another.

The sheer number—over twenty thousand storage artifacts—was impressive. But for someone like Ji Mingxiu, a prominent powerhouse of the Dao Palace realm, amassing such a collection was hardly an obstacle.@@@@

’Once Jiang Chen gets his hands on these, and with the guidance of two Void Tribulation realm experts, his progress will soar. What fantastic news!’ Ji Mingxiu thought, his smile widening as he carefully collected the divine storage artifacts.

As he did, Xu Xinlan turned to Dong Yuanzheng, her face unreadable. "So, what’s your plan for investigating the Bottomless Abyss?" she asked, her voice cool and detached.

Dong Yuanzheng, clutching a storage ring, replied, "Naturally, we plan to use the formation that blocks Demonic Spiritual Qi, carefully probing our way down."

"The formation is ready, and there’s no better time than now. Please, proceed." He gestured toward a massive pit nearby, its depths shrouded in darkness like an endless abyss, his intent clear.

Ji Mingxiu’s thoughts raced, ’They’re trying to lure us into the Bottomless Abyss before making their move!’

’Of course! It’s all so obvious now. They must be allied with the demon race. That abyss must be their territory.’

’Hmph! If not for Jiang Chen’s warning, we might’ve walked straight into their trap.’

Outwardly, they remained composed, but within, Ji Mingxiu, Li Shang, Han Xu, and Liu Mei all shared the same realization. Though subtle, a flicker of understanding passed across their faces.

"Where is the formation located?" Xu Xinlan asked, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

Dong Yuanzheng raised his storage ring. "Right here," he said, revealing that the enormous formation disc was stored within.

Xu Xinlan examined it closely, her expression unreadable. "Mm-hmm, it’s the same formation you showed us before," she remarked.

"I didn’t expect the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace to possess such a rare ancestral treasure," she continued, her tone curious. "Why is there no historical record or even rumors about this? And why wasn’t it put to use earlier?"

Dong Yuanzheng kept his expression stoic as he explained, "In the past, there was no activity from the Bottomless Abyss. We saw no reason to expend resources exploring it, especially given its dangers. Even our forebears couldn’t fathom it despite countless attempts."

He paused, his gaze growing more intense. "But things have changed. With the repeated tides of demonic beasts and the widespread diffusion of the Bottomless Abyss Spiritual Qi—more accurately, Demonic Spiritual Qi—we’re now forced to investigate the source of the disturbance."

"That seems reasonable," Ji Mingxiu acknowledged with a nod. "In that case, our esteemed daoist friends from the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace should take the lead in setting up the formation."

Dong Yuanzheng’s expression darkened slightly. "This formation isn’t a simple matter. We’ll need the help of everyone here to deploy it properly."

Upon hearing this, Ji Mingxiu, Li Shang, Han Xu, and Liu Mei suppressed their disdain. It was clear to them: Dong Yuanzheng’s plan wasn’t just to lure them into the Bottomless Abyss, but to occupy them with the formation’s setup, giving him the perfect opportunity for an ambush.

Dong Yuanzheng, having transformed into a demonic cultivator blessed by the demon race, wielded extraordinary strength. Yet even he struggled to maintain a protective barrier under such an overwhelming onslaught.

The intensity was overpowering—blood sprayed through the air, cries of anguish tore the silence, and within moments, Dong Yuanzheng was left gravely wounded, teetering on the brink of life and death.

The drama unfolded with the breathtaking speed of a lightning strike!

The remaining members of the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace stood frozen in shock.

It wasn’t until they saw Dong Yuanzheng’s grievous injuries that reality hit them, and they launched their counteroffensive with a newfound fervor.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A chilling demonic aura erupted from the Deputy Palace Lords of the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace.

Almost instantly, they unleashed a storm of vicious attacks on Ji Mingxiu’s group.

In mere moments, a thick veil of dark Qi engulfed the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak, casting a colossal shadow that stretched for hundreds of thousands of kilometers!

At the same time, Xu Xinlan and her fellow Jade Lake Heavenly Temple members stared in stunned disbelief. But soon, realization dawned, and they wholeheartedly embraced the revelations shared by the Purple Heaven Holy Land.

The sheer release of demonic Qi from Dong Yuanzheng and his companions was undeniable proof of their allegiance to the demon race.

"Dong Yuanzheng!" Xu Xinlan’s voice trembled with fury. "Who would’ve imagined? The Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace, parading as a beacon of righteousness, now in league with the demon race! You’ve sealed your fate!"

"Exterminate these vile traitors!"

Such fiery anger was rare on the faces of the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple’s great powerhouses, but now, without hesitation, they leaped into action.

Had it not been for Ji Mingxiu’s timely warning, they might have unknowingly walked into a slaughter within the Bottomless Abyss, defenseless and unprepared.

This betrayal had forged a rift of hatred that could never be mended.

"Ha! You think uncovering my scheme gives you the upper hand? Foolish!"

Dong Yuanzheng laughed, blood staining his lips, a maniacal gleam in his eyes. "With Lord Long Tianlu by our side, your doom is certain. Swear allegiance to him, and perhaps you can delay the inevitable!"

"Surrender now, and when the Immortal Martial Continent transforms into the Demonic Martial Continent, there might still be a place for you in the new order."

"Refuse, and every being in your Holy Land and Heavenly Temple will be annihilated—their very souls erased from existence!"

His taunts were punctuated by a chilling smile, his face twisted in wicked glee despite the blood he continued to cough up.

Then, a thunderous boom echoed across the land!

The earth and sky for hundreds of thousands of kilometers around Dong Yuanzheng quaked. From the depths of the Bottomless Abyss, a massive pillar of black and red light erupted, tearing through the heavens!