Chapter 71: Rebirth: I Am the Villain (Part 9)

Northern Tianxuan Region
Su Chen opened his eyes, a surging, vast aura sweeping through his body.
A hint of joy appeared in his black and white eyes.
“Nirvana Realm… I’ve finally broken through!”
After seven lifetimes, he had finally become a Venerable.
With Su Chen’s breakthrough, the Elder Council was shaken.
Su Chen assumed the position of Clan Chief, wielding power over a vast clan, with tens of thousands of miles of land under his control.
To Su Chen’s delight, the method of forging the Sword Body had, through the efforts of the ancient clan over the past few centuries, successfully developed some techniques, cultivating at least three Acquired Sword Bodies.
Although this developed Sword Body was much weaker than his previous life’s Sword Body, with numerous drawbacks, it was still stronger than ordinary mortal martial artists, cultivating faster and with a higher potential!
It was perfectly suited as a battle weapon.
Unfortunately, Su Chen didn’t have that much time.
Looking at the intelligence sent by a friend from a sacred land, Su Chen murmured,
"This day... has finally come."
The intelligence report revealed that Lin Zhan was leading the War God Temple army to the Northern Region of Tianxuan.
It also expressed regret that he couldn't help Su Chen; certain beings within the sacred land forbade him from getting involved in this matter, and he could only risk warning Su Chen.
Su Chen understood that Lin Zhan's growth far exceeded his expectations, and he now undoubtedly possessed the ability to annihilate a clan, which was why he had returned to the Northern Region of Tianxuan to settle old scores.
Behind him lay a power that even the sacred land took notice.
Upon learning of this formidable enemy, Su Chen didn't sit idly by. This was a destined duel, and he began making preparations using every means at his disposal.
He sent the seeds of the ancient race to the outer regions, preserving the last embers of their power.
Even Su Chen wasn't confident of victory in this battle.
As time passed, accompanied by thunderous roars over the ancient race's territory, warships emerged from the void. Powerful beings stood atop these ships, their faces contorted with bloodthirsty smiles as they gazed towards the ancient race.
"These are the Venerable One's enemies? Finally, we can have a good feast!"
An ancient horn sounded.
Su Chen looked up at the center of the warship, where a young man stood atop a giant dragon's head, clad in golden armor and wielding a golden halberd.
The young man remained indifferent, head bowed, his gaze also fixed on Su Chen.
"Activate the formation!"
With Su Chen's exclamation, countless runes appeared above the ancient race, raining down and enveloping their territory.
The ancient race's sacred formation.
Lin Zhan looked at the terrifying formation that had been unleashed, a cold smile playing on his lips.
He had seen far too many formations like this.
"Summon the Sacred Weapon!"
With Lin Zhan's command, ancient runes appeared on the heads of the members of the War God Temple, and immense power gathered above the ancient clan.
An ancient, colossal bell appeared, and with its tolling, the entire world spun.
"A Sacred Weapon! It's actually a Sacred Weapon!"
The elders of the ancient clan exclaimed in astonishment upon seeing the ancient bell.
The power of the Sacred Weapon shattered countless ancient clan territories. Even with the protection of the Holy War, many low-level ancient clan beings instantly turned into blood mist.
Similarly, after the Sacred Weapon was summoned, countless members of the War God Temple had their vital energy drained, dying instantly.
Su Chen smiled, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar person, and calmly said, "Lin Zhan, you've changed."
Facing the enemy he once dreamed of killing, Lin Zhan remained calm. The two, like old friends, silently observed the clash of their forces, unmoved.
Faced with Su Chen's sarcasm, Lin Zhan coldly replied, "People...always change. Do I frighten you now?"
Su Chen shook his head, waved his hand, and several figures appeared out of thin air before him.
Aged, yet familiar.
One of them, a frail old man with a wrinkled face, burst into tears upon seeing Lin Zhan.
Lin Zhan's body trembled.
Those faces, though greatly aged, he remembered clearly.
His father... his mentor who had always looked after him at Qingxuan Martial Academy... his senior sister with whom he had once shared a fleeting romance...
Now, they were all alive and well before him. For countless days and nights, he had dreamt of these people coming to claim his life, demanding to know why he hadn't saved them, yet they were all still alive.
Joy, anger...
Su Chen watched Lin Zhan's complex and ever-changing expression, then smiled: "It's a pity, time flies, and only a few of them survived."
"Lin Zhan, do you know how much effort it took to keep them alive until now?"
Lin Yunpeng shouted in shame and anger: "Zhan'er, don't worry about us! Kill the Ancient Clan and avenge your dead relatives!"
The others echoed: "Lin Zhan, don't worry about us! Killing Gu Chen will be a worthy death!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhan trembled and roared: "Gu Chen, you're despicable!"
"Release them! If you release them, I can preserve the last embers of your Ancient Clan!"
Su Chen scoffed. He was already dead; what did he care about the deluge after his death?
"Zhan'er, you must live on!"
In front of Lin Zhan, Su Chen released the restraints on the others. They simultaneously gathered their energy and chose to self-destruct.
Su Chen did not stop them.
"Gu Chen, I'll kill you!"
Looking at Lin Zhan's bloodshot eyes, Su Chen smiled.
Lin Zhan raised his golden halberd, ready to kill Su Chen, when a familiar figure appeared before him, staring at him with venomous intent.
Lin Yue'er appeared, blocking Lin Zhan's path.
"Lin Zhan, you killed everyone! Five hundred and thirty members of the Lin family died because of you!"
Lin Zhan's heart bled. Looking at Lin Yue'er, he growled like a wild beast.
"Lin Yue'er...you...get out of my way!"
Lin Yue'er smiled contemptuously, rushing towards Lin Zhan like a moth to a flame, dying before his eyes.
Seeing the person he had wanted to kill day and night die before him, Lin Zhan felt no joy. Blood tears streamed from his eyes as he single-handedly stormed into the ancestral land of the ancient clan.
Within the ancestral land of the ancient clan, figures revived, dragging their broken bodies. Without uttering a word, they directly attacked Lin Zhan, annihilating many, some severely injuring him.
Once all the resources of the ancestral land were exhausted, Su Chen bowed slightly forward.
He looked at Lin Zhan, the dense, blood-red marks beneath his feet spreading out in all directions like a spiderweb.
"We swear to defend the glory of the Holy Clan to the death!"
Amidst roars of fervor echoing across the heavens and earth, warriors of the ancient race self-destructed, countless energies flowing through their blood-stained blades towards Su Chen. At the center of the formation, a blood-red longsword appeared, its blade inscribed with ancient mountain and river runes, recording the history of the ancient race.
The ancient race's heirloom, the Ancient Sacred Sword!
Su Chen gripped the Ancient Sacred Sword, the power of the ancient saint awakening within him.
At this moment, Su Chen felt an unprecedented power within him!