Villains Aren't Stepping Stones!

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Departure

The next day.

Shen Haoran steps echoed through the open air hallway, leading towards the port where the Profound Ark was waiting for them.

The jade walkways were suspended thousands of meters above the ground, offering an uninterrupted view of the shifting clouds and the shimmering spiritual barrier that protected the central core of the domain.

”Welcome back, young master.”

At that moment, a soft, melodic voice broke the silence of the corridor.

Shangguan Mu’er stepped out from the shadow of a grand pillar and bowed gracefully to Haoran.

Her unique bluish-silver hair swayed like silk strands caught in a celestial breeze, and her bluish-silver eyes seemed to brighten, casting a brilliant, clear light the moment she laid eyes on him.

Her posture was the epitome of refined elegance, yet there was an underlying layer of profound, hidden strength pulsing beneath her calm exterior.

Haoran stopped and turned to look at her, his expression slightly softening as he nodded at her, acknowledging her greeting, before looking around the empty corridor. ”Where are Luochen and Xueli? And that little firecracker, Yanmei?”

Shangguan Mu’er straightened herself, her expression serene as she replied, ”The three of them went to a secret realm, young master. Your mother, the Matriarch, sent them there to retrieve an ancient artifact that aligns with their specific cultivation paths and to temper their spirit against the trial illusions within. They have been gone for three months now, and their progress is said to be exceptional.”

”I see. No wonder I haven’t seen them all day.” Haoran nodded, his mind calculating the timeline of their return.

He knew that under his mother’s strict guidance, none of his companions would be allowed to slack off.

”Then, you’re coming with us to the Eastern Region?”

Shangguan Mu’er nodded, her gaze steady and unwavering. ”Yes, young master. And the madam... She told me that this is a good time for me to head to the Vast Wilderness afterward and search for the Gula Demon Clan.”

”...K see.” Haoran nodded slowly, his face shifting into a look of deep contemplation.

The Shen Clan’s knowledge of Cultivation was vast, spanning millions of years and encompassing the techniques of countless human sects, beast tribes, and ancient lineages.

But even they didn’t have that much knowledge on the specific cultivation methods and internal meridian structures of the Gula Demons.

They were a reclusive, terrifying race that resided in the absolute darkest, most inhospitable depths of the Vast Wilderness, existing outside the boundaries of human morality and standard spiritual laws.

If she stayed here within the safety of the Shen Clan Domain, surrounded by human cultivation techniques that clashed with her true nature, then her immense potential would be completely wasted.

She would hit an insurmountable bottleneck that no amount of resources could bridge.

However, the alternative was fraught with existential dread.

If she decided to go to the territories of the Gula Demons, the outcomes were stark and binary: she would either be recruited, recognized for her worth, and nurtured into a supreme powerhouse of their race... or she would have her flesh, blood, and unique soul devoured by the gluttonous elders of the clan who sought to steal her power for themselves.

After all, she was no ordinary demon descendant; she possessed the pure, unadulterated bloodline and ancient inheritance of the Ancestor of the Gula Demons.

To the modern Gula Demons, she was either a messiah to be worshipped or the ultimate tonic to be consumed.

”That will be a very dangerous path,” said Haoran, his voice dropping to a serious, low register.

His golden eyes locked onto her bluish-silver ones, silently gauging her resolve.

No matter how indifferent he was to life, he ultimately didn’t want to see a loyal companion throw her life away in the untamed wilds.

But of course, this was a necessity. A Cultivator cannot grow without suffering hardships.

And Haoran had particular fondness for girls who can endure and survive trials and tribulations.

Not to mention Shangguan Mu’er have already proved her worth during her ascent to Spirit Ascension Realm back in the Saint Burial Realm.

Shangguan Mu’er nodded, not a single trace of fear or hesitation showing on her beautiful face. ”Yes. But, like you always say, young master, a Cultivator’s path has never been easy. We fight against heaven, earth, and fate itself to catch a glimpse of immortality.”

Haoran nodded at her, acknowledging her resolve.

”...Young master, once the affairs in the Eastern Region are over, it will be a time for us to say goodbye, and I might never return to the Central Region again. Before that... would you allow me to make one request?”

Shen Haoran stared at her for a long moment, the silence between them filled only by the distant whistling of the high-altitude winds.

Sensing the absolute finality and gravity in her heart, he gave a firm, reassuring nod. ”No problem. Whatever it is, as long as it is within my power, I will grant it.”

Hearing his unconditional promise, Shangguan Mu’er smiled faintly, a look of profound relief and gratitude washing over her features. ”Thank you for indulging me, young master. Your kindness is something I will carry with me into the wilderness.”

Shen Haoran turned, his long black and gold robe snapping in the wind as he looked out toward the distant staging grounds of the clan. ”Well, let’s go. It’s time to leave. The others are waiting, and the barbarians won’t wait for us to finish our goodbyes.”

With that, the two of them walked down the jade path, their figures blending into the mist as they headed toward the launch pads.

*

*

*

On a vast, empty plane built from reinforced obsidian stones that could withstand the impact of falling meteors, a massive Profound Ark hovered silently.

The vessel was a masterpiece of ancient engineering, stretching over three thousand meters in length, its hull carved from black star-iron and covered in thousands of glowing, intricate defensive formations.

Streams of golden and silver power rippled across its surface, crackling with an aura that could obliterate ordinary cultivators who dared to approach without permission.

Below the towering shadow of the ark, Shen Xinye, Shen Tao, Shen Ji, Shen Xun’er, and Shen Ying stood in a straight, orderly line.

Standing before them, acting as a wall of absolute authority, were the Seven Enshrined Elders and Chu Xueyu, their expressions unreadable but their presence anchoring the entire space.

Just then, Haoran walked towards them from the palace pathways, his footsteps light yet carrying a rhythmic weight, followed closely by Shangguan Mu’er.

The five crowns looked up as he approached, and in a synchronized movement, they cupped their hands at him as a sign of deep, unfeigned respect.

Well, they certainly very much respected him now.

The arrogance that usually defined the top geniuses of an Immortal Clan had been thoroughly beaten out of them during the tournament a year ago.

He alone had fought and defeated all ten of them simultaneously in the clan’s arena... well, technically it was eight of them, since Shen Tao and Shen Jian had already beaten each other to near-death and couldn’t actually join the main fray, but that was besides the point.

The sheer, overwhelming dominance Haoran had displayed that day had left an indelible mark on their souls.

They highly doubted that even if both Shen Tao and Shen Jian had been at their absolute peak and fully synchronized that day, things would have changed.

Haoran was a monster that existed completely outside their understanding of genius.

”You’re here,” Chu Xueyu nodded at Haoran, her icy gaze softening for a fraction of a second as her son took his place at the front of the group.

She stepped forward, her voice cutting through the hum of the Profound Ark’s engines. ”Let us begin.”

At that signal, the First Enshrined Elder took a step forward.

His face was a map of ancient wrinkles, and his eyes were completely white, yet they seemed to pierce through the flesh of the youth before him to look directly at their souls.

”Your mission this time is simply to temper yourselves in the fires of real, unrestricted warfare,” the old man stated, his voice vibrating with a ancient force that shook their Dantians. ”You are not subjects of the Tian Yuan Empire, nor do you owe anything to the mortal throne. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to get reckless or throw your lives away for some useless, pathetic patriotic ideals. If a city is falling and the risk to your life is too high, you retreat. The lives of common mortals mean nothing compared to the preservation of the Shen Clan’s bloodline.”

The Second Enshrined Elderfollowed immediately, taking a step forward as his brother stepped back. ”There will be no elder following you into the Eastern Region. You will have no hidden guards, no master protectors, and no one to pull you out of a bad tactical decision. You must rely entirely on your own senses, your own strength, and your own judgment. However, the clan token resting within your souls will react automatically, but only when your life is in extreme, absolute danger of being extinguished. At that exact microsecond, a Heavenly Saint powerhouse of our clan will immediately rip through space and come to rescue you. But remember—if that token activates, your trial is considered a total failure, and you will face severe demotion upon your return.”

Lastly, the Third Enshrined Elder followed, his expression the sternest among the seven.

He glared at the five crowns, his spiritual pressure flaring slightly to emphasize his words. ”And most importantly, never disgrace the name of Shen. If we hear of any of you acting like cowards, begging for mercy from barbarians, or disgracing our clan’s reputation through dishonorable conduct on the battlefield, we, the Seven Enshrined Elders, will personally handle your punishment! And I assure you, you would prefer death over our disciplinary halls.”

The five Crowns stood firm, their spines straight and their eyes burning with a fierce, proud light.

They didn’t flinch under the terrifying pressure of the old monsters.

They will never bring insult to their name! They were the apex talents of the greatest lineage in the Central Region, and they would rather let their bodies turn to ash than let the world look down on the Shen Clan.

Chu Xueyu took a final step forward, her crimson dress fluttering as the Profound Ark’s boarding ramps began to lower with a heavy, mechanical groan.

”Alright. Prepare for departure. Step onto the ark and reclaim what was lost, or forge your names in blood.”