I Really Am A Villain

Chapter 1568 - True Martial Tribulation Tower

Deng Linyu was leading Yan Pingfan around, showing him the various places within the True Martial Sacred Ground.

When she spotted Xiao An’an, Deng Linyu quickly walked over with a smile. “An’an, let me introduce someone. This is Young Master Yan, a great benefactor of our True Martial Sacred Ground. He helped us defeat the Ocean Dragon Prince, and he even plans to settle here in our sect. This is Xiao An’an, my close sister.”

“Is that so?” Xiao An’an nodded slightly. “Thank you, Young Master Yan.”

“No need. For those who cultivate the Dao, aiding others is simply our duty,” Yan Pingfan replied with a shake of his head.

“Oh, he’s awake.” Only then did Deng Linyu notice Xu Zimo opening his eyes.

“Linyu,” Xiao An’an quickly tugged her sleeve and whispered, “Be careful. This is our Imperial Ancestor.”

“An’an, don’t let him fool you. Look at him, does he have the bearing of a true cultivator?” Deng Linyu said with a laugh. “Look at Young Master Yan. He’s what a true powerhouse looks like.”

“Senior Sister, please stop,” Xiao An’an protested. She wasn’t foolish. Xu Zimo had cured her True Martial Sword Physique, something countless others would never be capable of.

But Deng Linyu only became more insistent. She was worried Xiao An’an would be deceived, especially since the two were close.

“Hey, you say you’re the Imperial Ancestor. Do you have any proof?” Deng Linyu asked Xu Zimo.

“Little girl, stop messing around. I don’t need to prove anything,” Xu Zimo replied.

“Oh? Sounds like you’re scared to talk because you’re afraid you’ll slip up. I’m not as easy to fool as An’an,” Deng Linyu shot back.

“Think whatever you want.” Xu Zimo waved dismissively, then looked at Xiao An’an. “Push me around a bit. I want to take a look.”

“Shall we go together? Young Master Yan also wants to tour the sect,” Deng Linyu said. She watched Xu Zimo carefully, worried her junior sister would fall for a scam.

“Senior Sister, you must not talk nonsense,” Xiao An’an reminded.

“Fine, fine, I won’t say anything,” Deng Linyu agreed.

Xiao An’an pushed Xu Zimo along, and the four walked together.

Most of the True Martial Sacred Ground had been destroyed and reduced to ruins, so there were few ancient sites left to visit.

They arrived at a valley. A mountain towered upward, thousands of meters high, its presence grand and awe-inspiring. Yet the mountain had been cleaved cleanly in half. At the center of the split was a narrow passage like a thin line drawn across the sky. Sword intent surged endlessly from that line. Even after hundreds of thousands of years, the sword intent had not faded.

But that alone wasn’t extraordinary. Many powerful cultivators, even Xu Zimo himself after attaining eternity, could leave behind eternal, undying sword intent. What was remarkable was that this place not only preserved the sword intent, but also retained the laws embedded within the strike that cleaved the mountain.

That was terrifying.

Those who came afterward could comprehend the laws left here and use them to cultivate. A completely ordinary patch of land had been transformed into a cultivation treasure. Training sword intent or laws here yielded twice the results with half the effort.

The group stopped before the site.

“This is Imperfect Peak,” Deng Linyu explained to Yan Pingfan. “It’s said our founding ancestor, the True Martial Saint Sovereign, cut it in half. The ancestor was the strongest in our sect, and even in the Absolute God Heaven he stood on equal footing with the Ten God-Clans.”

“I’ve heard of True Martial Saint Sovereign. I admire him greatly,” Yan Pingfan said. “If possible, does your sect have any writings he left behind? I’d love to read them.”

“We can check the Scripture Tower later. I’ll help you find some,” Deng Linyu answered without hesitation. It was clear she trusted Yan Pingfan deeply, and her tone even carried a faint trace of girlish affection, still light for now, but bound to grow once they became more familiar.

“Thank you, Miss Deng,” Yan Pingfan replied quickly.

“No need for such formality. You’re our sect’s benefactor. Helping you is the least I can do,” she said.

Watching the two exchange polite words, Xu Zimo shook his head. Xiao An’an explained, “This place holds the sword intent left by the ancestor. I used to come here often when I was forming my sword force.”

“It’s a decent spot,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“Does the True Martial Sacred Ground have any special places?” Yan Pingfan suddenly asked.

Deng Linyu shook her head. Nothing came to mind, until Xiao An’an said, “Does the True Martial Tribulation Tower count?”

“Yes! The Tribulation Tower!” Deng Linyu repeated quickly. “It’s one of our sect’s great wonders. When the sect was destroyed, most places fell, but the True Martial Tribulation Tower alone remained intact.”

“Oh?” Yan Pingfan sounded intrigued. “Could you take me to see it?”

“No problem,” Deng Linyu said.

The four headed toward the tower. Along the way, Yan Pingfan asked many questions about it. Deng Linyu explained, “The True Martial Tribulation Tower was refined by the ancestor himself. It’s a treasure meant to help future generations cultivate. Climbing the tower grants powerful rewards. But although it’s stood for hundreds of thousands of years, no one has ever successfully ascended it.”

“That can’t be. At its peak, your sect was glorious, full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Are you saying none of them could climb it?” Yan Pingfan asked skeptically.

“I don’t know. According to the ancestral elder, climbing the tower depends on your Dao Heart, not raw strength,” Deng Linyu replied.

“This fellow seems a bit too curious about the True Martial Saint Sovereign,” Xu Zimo remarked lazily from his wheelchair.

Yan Pingfan glanced at him, a faint gleam flashing in his eyes before he frowned slightly. “Senior True Martial is the one whose path I follow. Now that I’m here, naturally I’m curious. Please don’t take offense.”

“This is our sect’s business. You really think you’re the Imperial Ancestor,” Deng Linyu said, exasperated as she looked at Xu Zimo. “I’m too tired to expose you. Just talk less.”

“Ah, love really does make people blind,” Xu Zimo muttered.

“Please don’t mind her,” Xiao An’an whispered. “Senior Sister Deng is kind-hearted but often speaks bluntly. She takes good care of us junior disciples.”

“If she had any ill intentions, I wouldn’t let her run her mouth so freely,” Xu Zimo answered.