We Villains Don't Want to Be Stepping Stones - Chapter 1

"We Villains Don't Want to Be Stepping Stones - Chapter 1: Colluding with the Demon Empress"

Chapter 1: Colluding with the Demon Empress

"Look! They're coming out!"

At the edge of an ancient and desolate abyss, countless disciples from various clans stared in shock, their eyes trembling as they exclaimed.

From the depths of the abyss, two figures emerged side by side.

One was a young man dressed in white robes, his appearance ordinary. The other was a woman clad in phoenix-like attire, wearing a crown of purple gold. Her skin was as smooth as water, her beauty unparalleled, and her brow carried the air of someone who had long held supreme authority.

However, at this moment, her face was slightly pale, exuding an unexpected fragility that evoked pity.

"The Demon Empress Yue Qiuci!"

"She's still alive! Damn it, who is that young man...?"

"It's Chu Yang, the Young Master of the Xuan Jian Sect!"

"I can't believe these two have colluded together."

"Yue Qiuci is severely injured! Everyone, now is our chance to rid the world of this demon! Let's attack and slay the Demon Empress!"

The proud disciples of various clans shouted in anger, their faces filled with both fear and hatred.

But the phoenix-clad woman furrowed her brows and turned to the young man beside her. "Young Master Chu, you may leave without worry. This debt of gratitude... Qiuci will never forget for the rest of my life."

Her gaze was clear and resolute.

Chu Yang took a deep breath and leapt toward the distant horizon.

"Stop him! We can't let this traitor of the righteous path escape!"

The proud disciples' expressions were intense, their bodies surrounded by radiant spiritual energy as they prepared to intercept Chu Yang.

But at this moment, Yue Qiuci suddenly raised a hand and unleashed a crushing force upon them.

"BOOM!"

A terrifying demonic aura descended, shattering rivers and annihilating forests. The few disciples who had stepped forward were instantly crushed into bloody fragments, scattered across the ground.

"Gulp!"

The crowd, previously filled with anger, froze in place, too afraid to make another move.

Yue Qiuci stepped forward, rushing toward the group.

Colluding with the Demon Empress was an unforgivable sin.

If these sect disciples survived today, Chu Yang's future would be utterly bleak.

Thus, from the moment the two walked out of the abyss together, Yue Qiuci had no intention of letting anyone leave alive.

"Buzz!"

In the heavens and earth, a dark radiance bloomed, eroding all other energies.

Facing Yue Qiuci's overwhelming power, the sect disciples before her were like lambs awaiting slaughter.

"Young Master, it's this person."

Meanwhile, atop a distant mountain peak, a black-clad youth stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the chaotic scene below. His face, resembling that of a celestial being, showed no trace of emotion.

The youth appeared to be around seventeen years old, handsome with dazzling star-like eyes, exuding an aura of noble perfection.

His name was Ling Xiao, the Young Master of the Wan Dao Demon Sect and also the direct-line heir of the ancient Ling Clan.

The Five Domains of Tian Man—East, West, South, North, and the Central Holy Land.

The barren lands lacked spiritual energy, and even the strongest cultivators barely reached the Po Wang (Breaking Illusion) Realm.

But Ling Xiao's family sect was a legendary powerhouse in the Holy Land, capable of crushing any force from the barren lands.

More importantly, the current Ling Xiao was not the original host but a traverser.

When the two broke through the domain barrier, Ling Xiao unexpectedly crossed over and awakened the ultimate cheat code for all traversers—the system.

However!

Unlike typical novel protagonists, Ling Xiao's system was a villainous one—a system capable of plundering fate points.

In other words, he had become the common enemy of all those destined individuals in this story.

Talk about starting in hell mode!

As a former third-rate writer in his past life, what Ling Xiao could rely on now were the numerous rewards provided by the system and his knowledge of the novel's plot.

The scene before him was familiar, and the whopping 500 fate points glowing around Chu Yang made him salivate.

Behind him stood a gaunt figure clad in black, his face emaciated and exuding a sinister aura.

"The Demon Empress?"

Ling Xiao's eyes were cold, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Colluding with the Demon Empress, being sealed in some forbidden land, only to rise as the unrivaled strongest?

Brilliant.

However, contrary to Ling Xiao's expectations, he didn't sense the presence he was looking for on this empress.

Clearly, what he sought wasn't with her.

"Young Master, shall we capture her?"

The black-robed elder's eyes shimmered with cold intent, dark light surging.

To him, these so-called strong individuals of the Northern Wasteland were nothing more than ants, unworthy of notice.

"Wait a little longer."

Ling Xiao shook his head, watching Chu Yang disappear into the distance, his eyes thoughtful.

Based on his predictions, this chosen one would soon face tribulations and be rejected by the righteous path.

At that time, he would undoubtedly awaken new talents and soar to new heights.

But!!

Now that Ling Xiao was here, that "sky" might just turn into the Western Paradise for Chu Yang.

What puzzled Ling Xiao slightly was the crime Chu Yang would be accused of by his sect.

After all, given Yue Qiuci's strength, slaughtering all the present sect disciples wouldn't take much effort.

Thus, the act of colluding with the Demon Empress seemed to be nothing more than a cover-up.

Interesting. It seemed there would be more twists in the plot.

As Ling Xiao pondered silently, several more figures appeared in the distant void.

Leading them was a woman in green robes, her beauty ethereal, her demeanor aloof.

Though her cultivation level was only at the Xu Ling (Void Spirit) Realm—not particularly strong—

However!!

Just like Chu Yang, Ling Xiao could see a faint glow of destiny surrounding her.

Another hundred points of destiny—another chosen one!

In the Tian Man Domain, cultivators were divided into nine realms:

Physical Training, True Energy, Tai He, Void Spirit, Awakening Spirit, Soul Sea, Xuan Qing, Breaking Illusion, and Ascension.

The Void Spirit Realm was especially a watershed in cultivation.

Many remained stuck here for life, unable to progress further.

"It's someone from the Xuan Jian Sect!"

"Ye Qingchan! It's Ye Qingchan, the daughter of the Xuan Jian Sect's master!"

As the green-robed maiden descended from the sky, the sect disciples' faces twisted with deep hatred.

"What happened here?" Ye Qingchan frowned lightly, raising her head to look at the phoenix-clad figure in the distance. Her eyes trembled.

The Demon Empress Yue Qiuci!

Her strength truly placed her at the pinnacle of the Northern Wasteland.

Even if all the sect masters gathered, they might not be able to defeat her!

But!!

At this moment, Ye Qingchan could sense that her aura was unstable, clearly indicating she had sustained significant injuries.

"Don't pretend! Chu Yang colluded with the Demon Empress. I see your Xuan Jian Sect's true intention—to kill us and dominate the Northern Wasteland!"

"What?"

Ye Qingchan's expression froze, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes.

Her thoughts weren't focused on why Chu Yang had colluded with the Demon Empress but rather... this could very well be a conspiracy targeting the Xuan Jian Sect!

Someone had deliberately set this up to make the Northern Wasteland sects believe the Xuan Jian Sect was colluding with demons, paving the way for their destruction!