This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 143: Chapter 88: The Seed of Disappointment Has Been Sown, So Where Is Her Jiang Lan?

Jiang Lan had only been sensing for a moment when a terrifying draining sensation assaulted his mind. He grew so dizzy he could barely see and nearly fell to the ground.

This domain of rules, one that could so easily strip away life, was far beyond what he could currently handle.

He had only felt a glimmer of it before and had never truly unleashed it. Just doing so now made him feel as if his head would explode and his Divine Soul would shatter.

During this time, he had appeared to be relaxing and enjoying himself, but in reality, he hadn’t slacked off for a moment. He had been constantly tempering his Divine Soul with the White Bone Visualization Technique, and the Power of his Divine Soul had been increasing rapidly.

Now, intending to leverage the local Array to make a move, he knew there was no simpler or more direct method than this life-stealing art.

The next moment, having located his target, Jiang Lan withdrew his focus.

Within the range of his perception, a single thread suddenly snapped, then disintegrated into a cloud of ash and vanished.

After it was all done, Jiang Lan felt completely drained. He leaned against the wall, panting heavily. He then took out a few Elixir Pills and swallowed them, only then beginning to feel his strength return.

’It’s best to stay away from domains like this, which are currently beyond my reach...’

’If that guy had been any stronger, my head would have been the one to explode.’ Jiang Lan calmed himself, the strange glint in his eyes faded, and his expression returned to normal.

The night deepened.

「1:00 AM」

Inside a remote, dilapidated blue-brick house overgrown with weeds, a young cultivator was meditating. A Token from the Ancient Inquiring Sect hung at his waist, and wisps of Spiritual Energy swirled around him.

Suddenly, a streak of blood-red, ghostly light flashed from the ground before him, coalescing into a small, sinister banner that swirled with a cold wind. A human face was stretched across its surface.

The face on the banner twisted into a ghastly sneer and lunged at the young cultivator, sinking its teeth into his neck.

Caught completely off guard, the young cultivator had no time to react. His eyes widened in terror and despair.

The next moment, he let out a bloodcurdling scream as his flesh began to dissolve. Within moments, all that remained was a pool of blood on the ground.

The sudden scream, shrill and terrified, pierced the dead of night.

The other Disciples of the Ancient Inquiring Sect heard the commotion and rushed over immediately. When they saw the scene, they froze, their eyes wide with horror and disbelief.

"What’s going on?"

"How did Junior Brother Han die?"

"This is bad! Go tell Senior Brother Han Yiming! Something’s happened to his brother..."

The Disciples’ faces were etched with fear. A few began to investigate the scene for any trace of the killer, while the others rushed off to report to Han Yiming.

The Disciple who had just died and vanished was Han Yiming’s own brother.

Because of his special status, he had been granted a private courtyard for his cultivation. But now, he had died a horrible death, leaving behind nothing but an inexplicable pool of blood.

As a True Disciple of the Ancient Inquiring Sect, Han Yiming doted on his younger brother. No matter what trouble he caused within the Sect, Han Yiming would always smooth things over for him.

For him to die here, just like that... Han Yiming was sure to be overcome with rage when he found out.

Soon, Han Yiming arrived, his expression as dark as a thundercloud. A few Disciples from other Immortal Sects, having heard the commotion, came over as well.

"Does anyone know what happened here?" Han Yiming’s hand trembled slightly before clenching into a fist. His voice was low and dangerous.

"We don’t know, Han. We just heard a scream and rushed over, but by the time we got here, it was too late to see anything."

"We didn’t even see Han Erlin’s body. We have no idea what happened."

The few Disciples who had first discovered the scene spoke up hastily, afraid they would be punished by Han Yiming or implicated in the event.

"Who would be so bold as to kill my brother right under my nose?"

Han Yiming took a deep breath, forcing down his grief and rage. With a wave of his hand, he ordered, "Investigate. Find them. I want to see just who did this."

Images of him and his brother relying on each other surfaced in his mind.

As the older brother, he was always focused on his cultivation and never disciplined his younger sibling. This led to his brother’s arrogant and condescending personality, and he had offended many people in the Sect.

But because of Han Yiming’s protection, no one ever dared to speak out against him.

He had planned on fighting for his brother to obtain the inheritance from the Purple Mist True Monarch’s abode. But now, they were suddenly separated by death—and it had happened right under his watch.

Han Yiming suppressed his murderous intent and grief, secretly vowing to avenge his brother.

’No matter who the killer is, no matter what grievances they had with my brother... anyone who dared to kill him will pay the price a hundred times over.’

Early the next morning, a light mist drifted through the crisp, fresh air.

Ling Zhuyun was awoken by the sound of noisy chatter outside her courtyard.

She rubbed her temples to clear her head, then donned her light veil, put away the Zafu, and left her room.

"What happened?" she asked a nearby Jasper Pool Sect Disciple.

"Reporting to the Saintess," the Jasper Pool Sect Disciple replied hastily, "last night, the brother of Han Yiming, the True Inheritor of the Ancient Inquiring Sect, died a horrific death. Only a pool of blood was left behind. As a result, True Inheritor Han Yiming flew into a rage and has sent Disciples to search everywhere for the killer."

"Dead?"

"And only a pool of blood remains?"

Ling Zhuyun was taken aback. Then, as if she had thought of something, her brow furrowed and her expression turned grim as she headed outside.

On the open ground outside the village, a crowd of cultivators had already gathered. There were members of the younger generation as well as many from the older generation. Most of them, however, were Loose Cultivators.