This Is What a Villain Is Like

Once he had completely condensed all of his Lifebound Divine Techniques, his power would undergo a monumental transformation.

After bidding farewell to his parents, Jiang Lan returned to his courtyard to find You’er practicing a Step Technique. Her black dress flowed like a lotus amidst a hazy mist. Her figure was elusive, like the afterimage of a startled swan, flickering in and out of existence until even her aura seemed to vanish completely.

With his eyes closed, it was as if he were facing a true Void.

"Master..."

Seeing Jiang Lan return, she joyfully materialized and hurried over to greet him.

You’er’s cultivation had recently broken through to the Fourth Realm, the Illuminating Nether Realm, so she was now able to handle more tasks for Jiang Lan.

"Were you slacking off while I was away, You’er? The moment I return, you start diligently practicing your Step Technique?" A smile played on Jiang Lan’s lips as he reached out to stroke her dark hair.

Li Mengning’s cultivation had hit a bottleneck. Before the Feng Jun Grand Ceremony, she had returned to the Taiyi Sect, needing to use a few of the Sect’s treasured grounds to achieve her breakthrough.

It would take a considerable amount of time for her to break through and then stabilize her new realm, so she was not currently at the manor.

"You’er... didn’t slack off..."

You’er lifted her porcelain-white face, which was nuzzling his warm palm. Hearing his words, her cheeks instantly flushed red with anxiety, and she scrambled to explain.

Jiang Lan chuckled. "If you lie to me, you know there will be a punishment."

"I... I didn’t lie to you, Master..." You’er stammered.

"Good, as long as you’re not lying."

Jiang Lan pinched her cheek and asked casually, "How has that woman I asked you to watch been these past few days?"

"She... she came by and lingered outside the manor a few days ago, but when she learned that you... that you were confined, Master, she left. Since then, she’s been staying at Shao Hualou in the west of the city and hasn’t gone out." When it came to official business, You’er’s report was prompt.

Jiang Lan nodded. ’It seems Fairy Miaoyin doesn’t dare to move against Xiao Teng herself.’

’Although she suspects something is wrong with him, she has no proof.’

Now that Emperor Xia planned to send Xiao Teng to investigate the loss of the Dragon-Suppressing Seal, it presented the perfect opportunity for Jiang Lan.

The National Master, Ge Qixing, was deeply hidden. To deal with him, Jiang Lan could only make his move through Xiao Teng. For now, Emperor Xia was still unaware of the connection between Xiao Teng and Ge Qixing.

Before the previous emperor passed away, he left behind two secret imperial edicts. The former Chief Eunuch, Duke Wei, was officially ordered to guard the imperial tombs. In reality, he took one of the edicts, found the Sixth Prince, Qi Qingxuan, and began protecting him in secret.

The other edict was in the hands of the National Master, Ge Qixing.

As for his father, Jiang Lintian, his achievements had been so great they threatened the throne. Although he had helped the late emperor accomplish incredible things, he was never truly trusted.

Jiang Lintian was still unaware of these two matters.

’The late emperor was no fool. He was a man of great foresight. He knew that Great Xia would inevitably become a battleground for various factions. He also knew that regardless of whether Emperor Xia could control the court and stabilize the situation, there was a high chance she would end up as someone else’s pawn. That’s why he made this move—to pull the rug out from under everyone’s feet.’

’Right now, Song Youwei has left the Imperial Capital, and Ye Shiyin is in no position to act for me. This Fairy Miaoyin seems to be hiding quite a few secrets herself. It’s the perfect chance to test her with a bluff.’

As Jiang Lan contemplated his plan, he decided to make his move based on these two points.

Because of the embroidered pouch left by the Half-Immortal Zhenren, Emperor Xia was still dispatching people to investigate, searching for the person involved and trying to discover the identity of the late emperor’s hidden heir.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

For the time being, Jiang Lan had no intention of revealing this matter to her.

Although Emperor Xia held some favor for him, it had not yet reached the point of unwavering trust or admiration.

After teasing You’er for a while, Jiang Lan returned to his palace to continue condensing his Lifebound Divine Techniques.

Currently, in addition to the Three Thousand Phoenix Void Art, he had also recently used the Four Saints Ancient Celestial Skill as a foundation to condense the Four Saints Slaughter Great Skill.

Each Slaughter Skill was built upon this foundation, created by combining the vast experience he had absorbed from Lin Fan. They could manifest the true Power of the Four Saints, which could be combined and modified to produce all sorts of tyrannical abilities.

Beyond that, there was the Celestial Essence Sword, built upon his Sword Dao experience and named for the concept of a single sword strike that could stabilize the world. There was also the Great Immeasurable Skill, originating from the Blood Immortal Sect’s legacy, and the Purple Mist Immortal Light from the Zixia Daoist’s teachings...

Each Lifebound Divine Technique represented the quintessential mysteries of these inherited legacies.

Jiang Lan was like a furnace, forging all of these legacies into one, making them his own. He extrapolated from them, deriving and developing them to an exceptionally profound level.

Of course, his ability to reach such a stage was entirely thanks to the Mysterious Ancient Vine.

This process had also consumed a tremendous amount of destiny.

’I only need to condense the last two Lifebound Divine Techniques, and then I can start preparing the materials needed to break through to the Dharma Realm...’

Jiang Lan’s cultivation had never faced any bottlenecks or obstacles, nor did he need to seek any special enlightenment.

The knowledge for it was all instinctual, as if he had been born with it. Once he had accumulated enough power, he would break through naturally.

When others reached the Sixth Realm, the Divine Power Realm, they not only had to condense their Lifebound Divine Techniques but also had to rely on various insights, deductions, studies, and refinements to move them beyond their nascent stages toward perfection.

The Lifebound Divine Techniques he condensed, however, were already at the most profound and esoteric level achievable at his current realm. They could not be advanced any further.

Therefore, the Divine Power Realm was merely a transitional stage for him.

It was just like the Illuminating Nether Realm and the Soul Palace Realm before it. Only the Dharma Realm might require a bit more of his time.

This was partly due to the Immortal Embryo Creation Dew, which had allowed him to Reverse Innate and gain a flawless foundation. However, the primary reason was the Destiny Dao Fruit produced by the Ancient Vine.