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

After the Nirvana Cleansing realm, the next great challenge was the Void Tribulation realm.

At this stage, a cultivator had absorbed so much of the Great Dao’s power and forged such a deep connection with the universe that they faced an unexpected danger—they risked being pulled into the vast cosmic forces, their very existence dissolving into nothingness. If they weren’t careful, they could lose themselves completely, their consciousness swallowed by the endless void.

That’s why this stage was called Void Tribulation.

The word Void represented emptiness—a terrifying nothingness where one’s sense of self could vanish forever, leaving behind only a husk, a body without a soul.

The only way to survive this trial was to grasp the Dao of Space. This wasn’t just about understanding space—it was about mastering it, bending it to one’s will. By doing so, a cultivator could carve out their own world, a sanctuary where they could exist without fear of being erased. Not only would this power keep them safe, but it would also make them exponentially stronger in battle.

But mastering the Space Dao was easier said than done. True unity with it was even harder.

Take Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning, for example. Trapped within Jiang Chen’s Void Tribulation Soulring, they were living proof of just how perilous and unpredictable this realm could be.

Nangong Wan had already grasped the Space Dao, but she hadn’t yet merged with it. That single gap was enough to hold her back, stopping her from stepping into the Fourth Step of the Cultivation Path.

Shangguan Ning was even further behind—she hadn’t fully grasped the Space Dao at all, making her progress even slower than Nangong Wan’s.

But right now, Jiang Chen had bigger things to focus on. His immediate task was clear: use the Dao Palace as his foundation and spread the power of the Great Dao throughout his body, forcing his very cells to transcend.

He had already come a long way. Defeating Shao Ji and the others—four Transcendence realm cultivators—was no small feat. These weren’t just any opponents. Every single one of them had mastered the Five Elements Laws of the Great Dao and even dabbled in other, more obscure Daos.

But Jiang Chen had something even greater—his Death Calamity Dark Star Moon Dao Embryo Bloodline. With it, he had already fully mastered the Five Elements Laws of the Great Dao.

Now, he held an incredible arsenal of power.

The Five Elements Daos—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—were already his. On top of that, he had mastered the Sword Dao. And if that wasn’t enough, he also commanded the Daos of Wind, Thunder, Ice, and Darkness, plus a fragmented understanding of the Soul Dao.

Altogether, Jiang Chen wielded the power of eleven different Great Dao laws—breaking into the Early-stage Transcendence realm was completely within reach.

"Let’s begin!" Jiang Chen took a deep breath and started channeling his newly acquired core cultivation method—the Supreme Pure Creation Heart Sutra.

"Vast purity, profound creation, through the ages..."

As he activated the sutra, power surged from his Dao Palace, sending ripples of Great Dao energy flowing through every part of his body. The very laws of the universe seemed to respond, radiating in strange, unpredictable patterns across his form.

Nearby, Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning watched him closely.

With these two experienced Void Tribulation realm powerhouses keeping an eye on him, the risk of Jiang Chen making a mistake dropped significantly. Their presence alone was like a safety net, ensuring he wouldn’t falter at this crucial moment.

Time passed, his aura shifting, morphing, evolving.

Then, in an instant—a flicker of movement.

His eyelashes trembled. A strange flash of light rippled across his skin, making his entire body seem hazy, almost untouchable. It was as if he had momentarily stepped beyond the physical world.

And just as suddenly—it was gone.

Jiang Chen opened his eyes, his energy stabilizing.

He had done it.

He had stepped into the Third Step of the Cultivation Path.

He had officially entered the Transcendence Realm!

System, show me my stats! As soon as he thought the command, an information panel materialized before his eyes.

[Host: Jiang Chen

Aptitude: Perfect Grade

Innate Talent: Eternal Boundless Body

Realm: Early-stage Transcendence

Great Dao: Sword Dao, Fire Dao, Metal Dao, Wood Dao, Earth Dao, Wind Dao, Thunder Dao, Water Dao, Ice Dao, Darkness Dao (Complete), Soul Dao (Fragmented)

True Combat Power: Peak-stage Transcendence realm

Cultivation Methods: Supreme Pure Creation Heart Sutra (Primordial Chaos, Main Technique), Bright Spirit Pure Heart Art, Mysterious Body Locking Primordial Technique, Falling Sun Nine Heavens Mystic Art, Titan Body Forging Ancient Scroll, Death Attraction Nine Tribulations Sword Technique, Golden Cicada Umbra Shield Skill, Ten Thousand Soulseed Art (Transcendence, Perfect-Level)...

Main Equipment: Purple Heaven Immortal Sword (Immortal Tool, Low-Grade), Fate Chasing Kite Pupils (Dao Tool, Top-Grade 8/9), Peerless Sky Piercing Sword, Purple Orchid Meteor Leaf (Magic Treasure, Top-Grade)...

Villain Value: 337,200 points

Black Heavenly Fate Value: 64,222 points

Heaven-Defying Fate Changers: Villain Eye, Burning World Red Lotus, Eternal Vows Binding Ring, Wordless Heavenly Jade, Void Tribulation Soulring, Death Calamity Dark Star Moon Dao Embryo Bloodline

System Mall: Level 2]

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but grin.

Peak-stage Transcendence realm combat power, and that’s just my normal state! Excitement roared through him. The sheer depth of power flowing within him was intoxicating.

But that wasn’t even his full strength.

If I activate my dragon-human hybrid form, unleash the Void Tribulation Soulring, and strike from the shadows—I’d be unbeatable within the Transcendence realm!

Even cultivators at the Nirvana Peering realm would have trouble taking me down at full power!

The thought sent a thrill through him. His fists clenched as he felt the incredible force pulsing through his veins, a smirk creeping onto his face.

Still, he knew better than to let his guard down.

He wasn’t just any cultivator—he was the Villain.

And villains never got to rest. Tribulations would always come for him.

Complacency was not an option.

At the exact moment Jiang Chen broke through, Mo Hao sat cross-legged in a dimly lit meditation chamber, his expression tense.

He had burned through all the pills he’d traded for, desperately trying to stabilize his shaky cultivation base.

And it worked—mostly.

His cultivation had improved, but it wasn’t some grand, heaven-defying transformation. The pills had patched up his foundation, but they hadn’t strengthened it beyond the ordinary.

Mo Hao exhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing.

Middle-stage Transcendence realm… that’s all I’ve got right now.

He clenched his fists.

My combat strength is nothing special. If I face Jiang Chen like this, I’ll be crushed.

He gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling inside him.

Even with ten thousand Pretentious Points, it wouldn’t be enough to bridge the gap. Jiang Chen was too far ahead.

So what now? Mo Hao thought, his brow furrowed.

Then, an idea struck him.

A classic trick. Feign weakness. Lure the enemy in. Strike when they least expect it.

But there was one problem—this wouldn’t work on Jiang Chen.

That guy was too sharp. Too ruthless. Too unpredictable.

No, Mo Hao needed a different approach. He needed weaker prey.

He smirked.

Aside from Jiang Chen, no one on this Immortal Martial Continent should be able to beat me outright.

If I play weak, let my enemies think they have the upper hand…

Overpowering them will be child’s play.

It was a slow grind, but every fake defeat would earn him more Pretentious Points. And little by little, those points would add up.

Not a bad plan.

With that thought, Mo Hao opened his eyes, stood up, and strode toward the door.

Just before leaving, he paused.

From the chamber next door, he sensed steady, deep breathing—Jiang Chen was still in deep cultivation.

Mo Hao’s smirk widened.

Stay in there and cultivate all you want, Jiang Chen. Big brother is going out to have some fun.

Without making a sound, he slipped away from the ruins of Inheritance Peak.

What he didn’t realize, however, Jiang Chen had already seen through his plans.

Before Mo Hao even made a move, Jiang Chen had quietly relocated every cultivator from this Cave Heaven to the outside world.

So, when Mo Hao wandered around the vast landscape, hoping to put his trick into action, he was met with a frustrating reality—there was no one here!

After what felt like an eternity of searching, he finally stopped in his tracks, dumbfounded.

"What the hell?! Not a single person in such a massive Cave Heaven?"

Standing on top of a mountain peak, he scanned his surroundings, eyes burning with irritation. The only living things in sight were a few harmless demonic beasts, lazily resting in the distance.

Mo Hao’s face twitched in frustration.

"What am I supposed to do with a bunch of dumb beasts? Deceive them? Tch, what a joke."

He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.

"Damn it. Jiang Chen’s actually wasting an entire Cave Heaven by keeping it empty!"

With no other choice, Mo Hao turned back toward the Inheritance Peak ruins, flying quickly through the sky. If no one else was around, then he’d just have Jiang Chen release him from this place.

But as he approached the meditation chamber, he suddenly heard the sound of slow, steady breathing coming from inside.

Jiang Chen was still in deep cultivation.

Mo Hao froze, his eye twitching.

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I’ve been wandering around for this long… and he’s still completely undisturbed?

He frowned, hesitating for a moment before calling out.

"Daoist friend Jiang Chen?"

Silence.

Jiang Chen didn’t answer. Didn’t even stir.

It was as if he was completely immersed, lost in the depths of cultivation.

Mo Hao’s expression darkened.

Am I… stuck here? He rubbed his forehead, irritation creeping in. If Jiang Chen doesn’t come out, I won’t be able to trick anyone!

For a second, he actually considered disturbing Jiang Chen’s cultivation—but he quickly shook the thought away.

No… interrupting a cultivator in deep meditation? That’s a death wish. Read exclusive chapters at novelbuddy

As he stood there, caught between frustration and hesitation—

The door to the meditation chamber suddenly swung open.