Ch. 23 - Not Just A Brain Dead Villain

After returning to the sect branch, Xu Zimo began his training.

Night fell like a giant beast devouring the world. A bright moon hung in the sky.

"The moon climbs to the treetop."

Xu Zimo was now cultivating the Annihilation Codex, the secret art of Grand Emperor San Dao. When mastered, it would generate a force called Annihilation Force inside the body.

He had trained in this technique in his previous life, so everything came naturally to him, like second nature. It posed no difficulty at all.

His main focus now was still on developing his personal cultivation method, the Grand Freedom Sovereign Codex.

In his past life, this technique had only been developed up to the God Meridian Realm before it hit a wall.

But after being reborn, he now had a deeper understanding of both the future and the past.

Xu Zimo believed it wouldn't be long before he could push the technique beyond the God Meridian Realm.

The night passed quietly. Early the next morning, Xu Zimo rose at dawn.

At the moment, his only Meridian Skill was the Sword-Drawing Technique.

But he was confident: his drawing speed was now so fast that even cultivators at the Meridian Forging or True Meridian Realm would struggle to react.

Still, he knew that wasn’t enough. Speed had no ceiling.

He also realized that he could infuse his Annihilation Force into the Sword-Drawing Technique, increasing both speed and power.

He set a strict daily routine for himself: 1,000 sword draws every morning and evening, 1,000 sword swings every session.

Hard work makes up for lack of talent. Even though he was reborn, he wouldn’t let himself slack off, hard work was essential on the road to power.

After breakfast and a morning of intense training, Xu Zimo finally took a break around noon.

It was time to visit the Chang Clan.

With a smile tugging at his lips, he murmured, “It’s about time I gathered that particular item.”

Accompanied by Guan Zhenhai, the group made their way to the Chang estate.

As the local tyrant of Skysword City, the Chang Clan’s residence naturally occupied the most prosperous section of the central avenue.

At the gate, two servants stepped forward to block their path, saying they needed to report before letting them in.

Xu Zimo didn’t bother with pleasantries, he was here to cause trouble, after all.

Lin Ruhu took care of it with two swift kicks, sending both servants flying as he stormed through the gates.

The Chang Estate was as grand as expected, pavilions, rock gardens, lotus ponds, flowing streams, luxurious yet majestic.

“Well, well, which fine young talents from the True Martial Sacred Ground have come to visit my Chang Clan?” Chang Tianxiong, dressed in a flowing blue robe and exuding a powerful presence, walked out laughing heartily.

Behind him were five Chang Clan elders and a host of clan members.

“Elite Inner Court Disciple of the True Martial Sacred Ground, Feng Buyu,” Feng said coolly, showing his identity token.

Chang Tianxiong’s heart sank.

Elite inner court disciples were typically True Meridian Realm powerhouses, matching the strongest experts of his family.

And he could tell that Feng Buyu wasn’t even the leader, the one at the center of it all was the purple-robed youth standing at the front.

“This… is beyond what I anticipated,” Chang Tianxiong frowned slightly. The identity of their visitor was far higher than expected.

“Have these young heroes come because of my disappointing son?” he asked, pausing, then waved his hand.

Chang Wei was dragged out, tied up, like a criminal. Chang Tianxiong raised his voice with conviction:

“My Chang Clan has always followed the True Martial Sacred Ground's guidance and upheld its authority with absolute loyalty. If my son has truly offended these esteemed talents in any way, we will not shield him. Today, I hand him over to you, do as you see fit. We will have no complaints.”

Xu Zimo watched this well-rehearsed performance with a smile, thinking to himself, “As expected… he’s the same as in my last life. A true schemer.”

As the head of the Chang Clan, Chang Tianxiong was a dominant figure in Skysword City.

But he wasn’t a frog in a well, he knew how vast the world was, and he could assess his own strength. He stood firm when needed, but knew when to yield without shame.

Even if it meant sacrificing his own son, he could do it with a straight face.

Xu Zimo knew this was a trap: first, Chang Tianxiong emphasized his family’s loyalty to the sect.

Then, instead of pleading or defending, he presented his son like an offering, bound and subdued.

If Xu Zimo actually killed Chang Wei over a petty argument, how would the outside world view the True Martial Sacred Ground?

“Come now, Lord Chang, there’s no need for this. Young people can be hot-headed, conflict happens. No one’s still holding a grudge. Yesterday’s events? I’ve already forgotten them,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.

Xu Zimo had originally planned to stir up trouble directly.

But he changed his mind, Chang Tianxiong wasn’t some reckless idiot who’d try to fight him without thinking.

That kind of approach wouldn’t work here. As a “professional” villain, Xu Zimo knew that if he wanted to get what he came for, it had to be on terms others would willingly accept.

“Young heroes like you have far broader minds than my foolish son,” Chang Tianxiong said sternly, giving Chang Wei a hard kick to the ground.

“What are you still standing here for? Get to the back courtyard and reflect on your behavior. Don’t ruin our guests’ mood.”

“Yes, yes,” Chang Wei stammered, nodding frantically as the servants helped him away.

He knew his father was protecting him, trying to end this matter before it escalated.

“You’ve come all this way; how could we let you remain standing out here? Please, come in, we’ve already prepared food and drink,” Chang Tianxiong said with a smile.

Xu Zimo nodded with a laugh and entered with Lin Ruhu and the others.

Chang Tianxiong’s gaze deepened, his brows furrowing in thought.

The moment Xu Zimo forgave Chang Wei, he knew something was off.

Xu Zimo hadn’t come for the son.

Or perhaps... his visit to Skysword City had always been aimed at the Chang Clan from the very start. Even without the conflict, he would’ve come.

The question was, why?

What had the Chang Clan done to offend him? Or was there something here that he wanted?

He thought for a moment and started to piece together the general idea behind Xu Zimo’s actions.

At the banquet, Chang Tianxiong tried to probe with small talk, but Xu Zimo only smiled and focused on eating, never once mentioning his true purpose.

Finally, after five rounds of wine and nearly finishing the meal, Xu Zimo smiled and said:

“I heard from others that the Chang Clan’s ancestors were once just humble villagers from a small mountain village. It was only after some fateful opportunity that they began cultivating and eventually built the Chang Clan's current prestige.”

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