This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 146: Chapter 88: The Seed of Disappointment Has Been Sown, Where’s Her Big Jiang Lan?

But Ye Ming couldn’t bring himself to do it...

She concealed the glimmer of disappointment in her eyes. Of course, she wouldn’t hold it against Ye Ming, but she could no longer trust him as she had before—not enough to break the rules and lie for him.

"Zhu Yun..."

Ye Ming knew his hesitation had aroused Ling Zhuyun’s suspicion.

He had indeed been flustered and hesitant, because his Sumeru Ring truly contained an item related to the Blood Immortal Sect.

At this moment, Ye Ming was filled with immense regret and hated Jiang Lan to the bone. ’If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have been so greedy and kept it, thinking it might be useful later.’

Now, it had become the very thing that was destroying the trust between him and Ling Zhuyun.

Ye Ming’s actions also aroused the suspicion of the other Celestial Prides present.

Jiang Lan wiped the smile from his lips. He could clearly feel another great surge of fortune flowing into his Mud Ball Palace.

The seeds of disappointment had been sown.

After this, it would be nigh impossible for Ye Ming to win the fair lady’s hand.

Once a crack in trust appears, it only widens, never to be repaired.

Just as it had been between Jiang Ruxian and him.

BOOM!!!

But just as the crowd was about to act, intending to forcefully inspect Ye Ming’s Sumeru Ring...

A violent tremor suddenly erupted from deep within the surging, purple-misted mountains. It was as if some powerful being was about to awaken, or as if an earth dragon were turning in its sleep.

The entire land rumbled, the mountains trembled, and all living things were struck with terror.

Streaks of brilliant light burst forth from that direction.

Even through the concealing purple mist, they were clearly visible: one Magical Artifact after another, wreathed in rosy light. Shimmering with brilliant colors, they rained down from the heavens—Divine Furnaces, bronze cauldrons, and Long Swords streaking across the sky.

"The dwelling of the Purple Mist True Monarch has appeared..."

It’s unclear which Celestial Pride cried out, but everyone’s attention was instantly captured. Expressions of utter surprise and excitement appeared on their faces.

In that moment, who could be bothered with Ye Ming? Even Han Yiming, who was still deep in grief over his brother’s death, was drawn in, unable to hide the joy on his face.

From all directions, the many Celestial Prides and cultivators who had arrived early also noticed the spectacle. Filled with excitement, they all began rushing toward it.

’I’ve waited so many years for this day.’

’Heaven truly does reward the determined.’

’The inheritance of the Purple Mist True Monarch belongs to me, and no one can take it!’

Beneath Zixia Temple, within a vast and deep Earth Palace.

The Zixia Daoist sat cross-legged on a simple, ancient altar.

Sensing the commotion outside, his eyes snapped open, shooting out two beams of divine light. His entire body trembled with overwhelming joy.

Then, he rose and left. With a single step, he instantly appeared within Purple Mist Mountain.

With a flick of his wide sleeves, one Human-Faced Banner after another flew out and plunged into the ground. Array Patterns activated, and the very power of the heavens and earth began to rumble and buzz.

Wisps of purple mist gushed forth, and the haze that had originally shrouded the mountains suddenly thickened, becoming a boundless sea that submerged everything.

If one could still see a few dozen feet in the thin mist before, it was different now. The surging purple haze truly blanketed the entire Purple Mist Mountain Range, so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

The world plunged into darkness as all light was blotted out.

’No one can compete with me.’

’All of you can just die.’

The Zixia Daoist’s once-indifferent face was now twisted into a savage sneer. He chanted an incantation, spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood, and summoned a brilliant Ancient Mirror, which he hung high in the air.

SHIING! SHIING! SHIING!

Rays of light cascaded down, blazing and dazzling.

They were as radiant as a Majestic Sun, and wherever the light touched, screams rang out as figures exploded, dying horribly on their way to the Monarch’s dwelling.

The earth’s ley lines converged, and Heaven and Earth Essence Qi erupted forth, forming Soaring Dragons and tigers that relentlessly attacked the cultivators who had come.

"Someone laid a trap here."

Only then did some people belatedly realize something was wrong, their faces turning incredibly grim.

But there was no time to think. All they could do was fight for their lives against the creatures formed from the essence qi.

"Protect the Young Master!"

In front of the village, Ao Xu, Luo Ying, Li Daoyi, and the others were also caught completely off guard by the sudden turn of events.

By the time they reacted, a thick purple fog had swept in, completely concealing everything around them.

They lost sight of Jiang Lan, and they couldn’t even tell where they themselves were. All they could hear were occasional screams from somewhere nearby.

"The Young Master is gone!"

A divine light shot from Li Daoyi’s eyes, forming a sharp sword that dispersed the surrounding fog. Sensing the auras of Ao Xu and the others, he quickly moved to regroup with them.

Ao Xu and his group hadn’t scattered, and all the Knights were nearby, but everyone’s face was etched with fear and anxiety.

In that startling moment, they had all been captivated by the phenomenon of the Monarch’s dwelling appearing. When they came to their senses, Jiang Lan was gone.

If anything happened to the Young Master, all of their heads combined wouldn’t be enough to pay the price.

Li Daoyi took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and think of a way to find him. The inheritance of the Purple Mist True Monarch was no longer important; the priority was to find Jiang Lan first.

Jiang Lan had no cultivation whatsoever, and this place was anything but safe.

’Could someone have taken him just now? That man surnamed Ye?’

Just then, Li Daoyi noticed a figure appear ahead of him. He froze for a moment before quickly recovering.

It was the graceful figure of a tall, slender woman. She wore a slightly loose, gossamer-like long dress. Her hair was styled in a cloud-like bun, adorned with a tilted jade hairpin, and a misty veil concealed her flawless, fairy-like face.

Her pair of clear, glass-like eyes held not a trace of emotion. Like an ice sculpture, she exuded a frosty aura that kept others at a distance.

But at this moment, the expression on her face was somewhat dazed.

"Junior Sister Li."

Li Daoyi stepped forward, clasped his hands, and spoke politely.

Li Mengning didn’t respond, seemingly still lost in her thoughts.

’Where did he go? Jiang Lan was right there! How could he just vanish in the blink of an eye?’