I Am the Fated Villain

Chapter 1389: The Treasure Book of Scavengers, Her Darkest Period

This book was surrounded by a vast chaos, exuding a simple yet profound atmosphere. Wisp after wisp of clear brilliance rose and fell, seeming to encapsulate all the secrets of the world. The moment the slightly rough strand of hair touched its surface, the quaint book erupted with an even more dazzling radiance.

The young man gazed intently at the unfolding spectacle, his expression revealing an eager anticipation that was hard to conceal.

The period in Gufeng Ancient City can be said to be the most significant turning point for Empress Pingtian. Surely, many beings have encountered or witnessed these events here.

He mused, his heart racing with hope.

Book of Scavengers, don’t let me down.

He murmured to himself, brimming with expectation. The young man’s name was Wang He. Originally a casual cultivator, he was like many young cultivators of his age in the immortal civilization—possessing mediocre talents and lacking any extraordinary background.

If carelessly tossed aside in an ancient city, no monk would have noticed it. Absent any extraordinary circumstance, a young cultivator like Wang He would likely remain stagnant at the threshold of the immortal path for his entire life. He would waste his years, leaving behind regrets, ultimately fading into dust.

However, Wang He was not like other ordinary young cultivators. He was fortunate enough to discover this mysterious ancient book on a dark and windy night many years ago. The Book of Scavengers was the name of this quaint tome.

Although Wang He was unsure of how it worked, he sensed that this ancient book was far from ordinary. He decided to use it as a protective talisman, placing it over his heart beneath the fabric of his clothes, thinking it might save his life in a critical moment.

As time passed, he almost forgot about the mysterious ancient book. It wasn’t until a confrontation with an enemy, during which he snatched a precious elixir, that he stumbled upon its remarkable abilities. After putting the elixir close to his body, he suddenly noticed a strange phenomenon.

The instant the elixir made contact with the ancient book, it erupted into a dense mist while simultaneously radiating an array of mysterious and extraordinary brilliance. The previously blank pages began to come alive, evolving various scenes until they ultimately formed a booklet documenting the life of the rare elixir.

It was this experience that unveiled the book’s unique function to Wang He and allowed him to learn its name: the Book of Scavengers. He discovered that it originated from a mysterious civilization he did not yet understand and was forged as a supreme treasure during that civilization’s downfall.

As for why it was called the Book of Scavengers, Wang He was just as puzzled. He only knew that he could place various substances with a special aura or unique life force within the book. The Book of Scavengers would then automatically evolve into a peculiar record that detailed the experiences of that item throughout its existence.

This documentation included every phase of the object’s life, from its birth to its eventual destruction. For example, if Wang He were to place an ancient treasure inside the Book of Scavengers, it would begin to chronicle the life story of that treasure. It would include details such as the methods and materials used to create it, the identity of the smith who forged it, its first owner, and how it was transferred to subsequent owners.

Moreover, the book would narrate how the treasure was lost, how it came into the possession of others, and what kind of conflicts or wars ultimately led to its demise.

The processes recorded in the Book of Scavengers were astonishingly detailed. This account encompassed the past, present, and even glimpses of the future, presenting a mysterious and extraordinary narrative. After discovering the book’s remarkable function, Wang He was both shocked and ecstatic. Had he not witnessed it for himself, he would never have believed that such a miraculous treasure existed in this world.

However, the Book of Scavengers came with its own limitations. After each use, it required time to replenish the energy within it. The more powerful the item documented, the more energy it consumed, resulting in longer recovery times. To this day, Wang He had no understanding of the specific nature of the energy required by the Book of Scavengers; he could only wait for a significant period for it to recover after each use.

Fortunately, through this mysterious book, Wang He gradually established a firm foothold in the world around him. Although he appeared young, his actual age exceeded tens of thousands of years.

With all his foresight and powerful means of acquiring knowledge, Wang He had touched the threshold of the Dao Realm many years ago. However, successfully stepping into the Dao Realm was no easy feat. Even after years of accumulation, he did not dare to take risks lightly and preferred to gather enough strength before making that crucial leap. As a result, his current strength could only be described as a half-step into the Dao Realm.

Moreover, Wang He had established a powerful sect known as the Scavengers Sect, drawing upon various means and resources to do so. After tens of thousands of years of management, the sect now boasted a rich heritage. His disciples were exceptionally talented, each one capable of stirring the pot in various factions in the future.

Additionally, the Scavengers Sect had several priests who were comparable to the Dao Realm, all of whom had received Wang He’s kindness and subsequently joined the sect at his invitation. In simple terms, aside from superpowers like the Zhuo and Hun clans, the Scavengers Sect could be regarded as one of the most formidable forces within the immortal civilization.

This time, Wang He had come to Gufeng Ancient City because he had set his sights on an existence that would prove to be immensely powerful in the future. He had devised numerous arrangements to bring this future powerhouse into the Scavengers Sect, hoping she would become his right and left arms.

Of course, Wang He harbored some ulterior motives. After all, she was the legendary Empress Pingtian, destined to make her mark on the world and defeat eight thousand foes with a single palm strike. In the dark years to come, when all manner of “heaven” would invade and the people would suffer, it would be she who donned a white dress and battle armor, standing against the sky. With a single punch of light, she would banish the eternal darkness, bringing hope to the common folk.

Which man in this world would not admire and revere her upon hearing those four characters?

Although Wang He had only captured a few records through the lives of various practitioners and beings, it was impossible to conceal his yearning for the peerless Empress Pingtian. Among the countless narratives surrounding her, many creatures and cultivators of the immortal civilization had shared records and rumors about this remarkable empress.

Her youth was filled with tragedy and sympathy, stories that moved listeners to tears. Then, she emerged as an astounding figure, like a brilliant star illuminating both ancient and modern times, bringing clarity to the skies. She was undeniably the most talented and unparalleled individual in the immortal civilization throughout history.

In the life stories of countless cultivators, whenever Empress Pingtian was mentioned, they often became mere supporting characters, overshadowed by her brilliance. Even with the power of the Book of Scavengers in his possession, which hinted at a boundless future, Wang He couldn’t help but admire her.

In the past, his own weakness had silenced any ambitions he might have had, but now, everything had changed. After extensive inquiries and speculation, he had finally confirmed the true identity of the Pingtian Empress.

To be precise, this was the time when the Pingtian Empress was still young and had not yet fully risen to prominence. Simultaneously, it marked the most tragic and bleak period of her life, filled with suffering, torture, and pain. In Wang He’s eyes, this was the perfect moment to “take advantage of the void” and forge a causal relationship with the future empress. For Empress Pingtian, these hardships would ultimately become the driving force behind her ruthless nature in the years to come.

As Wang He returned from his thoughts, a burst of brilliance flickered from the Book of Scavengers before him. The strand of hair vanished quickly, and in its place, several ancient characters began to evolve on the surface of the book.

Zhuo Sanjin!

Wang He murmured to himself.

It seems this shopkeeper is a member of the Zhuo clan.

He took a glance at the booklet and began reading, eager to uncover details about Empress Pingtian through the life of this shopkeeper.

Since he had never encountered Empress Pingtian directly, it was impossible for him to obtain anything imbued with her aura. Furthermore, using the Book of Scavengers to acquire a genuine account of her life was out of the question. Therefore, he resolved to settle for second-best, relying on the experiences of other beings in Gufeng Ancient City to piece together information about her. This approach had always been Wang He’s method for identifying opportunities, and it often yielded useful insights.

As he frowned and flipped through the pages, quickly scanning through the shopkeeper’s biography, he noted that these records varied greatly between individuals and were not exhaustive. Many seemingly unimportant details had been omitted from the “Book of Scavengers.” After reading through several paragraphs, a look of joy appeared on Wang He’s face.

“In the 33rd year of the later Wenli calendar, Zhuo Sanjin participated in the apprenticeship ceremony of the Zhuo clan. His status did not permit him to approach the leader, so he could only observe from a distance. The woman he saw was veiled, cold, and silent, yet her beauty dimmed the very sky. At that moment, Zhuo Sanjin felt envy, never imagining she would one day be the renowned Empress Pingtian.”

Wang He whispered the record, his voice filled with uncontainable joy and excitement. He felt a sense of validation; his efforts had finally borne fruit, confirming the true identity of Empress Pingtian.

“Indeed, what I suspected was correct. It was during this time that she killed Elder Zhuo Wu of the Zhuo Clan… No one knows that she was captured and imprisoned by the Zhuo Clan for a period, only to later become a disciple of Elder Zhuo Wu.”

He paused, reflecting on the information he had gathered previously.

“Not many people are aware of Empress Pingtian’s past. Her true history is being uncovered as she becomes the apprentice of Elder Zhuo Wu…”

After considering this, Wang He finally understood the future dynamics: “I can see now why Empress Pingtian would ultimately kill her master. Elder Zhuo Wu may have taken her in name, but she must have had ulterior motives. How could she accept someone who had killed her own descendant as a disciple? This is the root of the enmity between them.”

As he analyzed these revelations, Wang He’s confidence grew, and he began to formulate plans. This period marked the darkest time in Empress Pingtian’s life.

Although he was not yet capable of directly confronting Elder Zhuo Wu, he believed it was entirely possible to win Empress Pingtian’s favor and guide her from darkness into light through other means. At that moment, he felt confident that he could capture the heart of the Pingtian Empress.

Just as Wang He was lost in thought, a knock echoed from outside his door.

This inn was lavishly appointed, each room enhanced with formations designed to isolate vibrations and conceal detection. Therefore, Wang He was not concerned about being spied upon.

“Who is it?” he called, tucking away the Book of Scavengers and keeping his tone steady.

“Master, the elders, brothers, and sisters have all settled in,” replied a respectful male voice from outside the guest room.

“Okay, come in now,” Wang He responded, nodding as he regained his composure. He got up, smoothed down his clothes, and stepped outside to greet his disciples.

The visitor was one of Wang He’s apprentices, distinguished by an extraordinary background. He had come to Gufeng Ancient City, ostensibly to reconnect with old friends and discuss matters related to the Scavengers Sect, and had brought along several elders and disciples.

As Wang He stepped out, he found a group waiting for him just outside the guest room. The assembly included both men and women, some with non-human features and others from foreign races. Despite their diverse appearances, all bore youthful faces, radiating a precious brilliance, with flickers of sunlight dancing in their eyes.

In addition to the younger members, several elder figures stood among them—both male and female—who were slightly older and dressed in matching robes.

“Let’s go,” Wang He said, a smile brightening his face. “It’s not every day we get to visit Gufeng Ancient City. I’ll show you all the wonders it has to offer.”

His voice was warm and inviting, as he consistently maintained a respectful and gentle demeanor in front of the elders and disciples, who returned his regard with deep respect and admiration.

“Master, have you heard about the recent happenings in Gufeng Ancient City?”

As they stepped out of the inn and onto the bustling street, a lively female disciple with striking features moved closer to Wang He, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. The street was alive with creatures of all races, their voices blending into a vibrant hum that filled the air.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Having just arrived, the disciples were captivated by the ancient city’s grandeur, which exuded a timeless aura as if it were a place that would never fade. Yet, what intrigued them most were the sensational events that had taken place in Gufeng Ancient City recently.