—
Chapter 2 Rise of the Immortal
Villain
Night wrapped the city like an obsidian cloak as Zhang Wei left the abandoned library. His footsteps echoed along the quiet pathways of Jiangnan University, the two guards trailing respectfully behind him.
Every breath he took felt clearer.
Every movement felt sharper.
The fragments of the Heavenly Void Scripture pulsed inside him like a second heartbeat, whispering ancient truths long lost to the mortal world.
A new path lay before him—one not granted by fate, but stolen by his own hands.
He entered the SUV and closed his eyes, letting the engine's hum blend into the night.
"System," he said calmly. "Show me the detailed information of the technique I just acquired."
A metallic chime rang inside his consciousness.
[Heavenly Void Scripture — Fragment]
Grade: Unknown (likely above Heavenly Grade) Stage: Incomplete
Description: A cultivation method that refines spiritual energy into 'Void Qi, a higher-order essence capable of enhancing body, spirit, and soul simultaneously. Even the fragment grants exceptionally high cultivation speed.]
[Requirement: Strong spiritual sense, stable mental state.]
[Warning: Due to the host's current low cultivation base, pushing too fast may cause qi deviation.]
Zhang Wei chuckled softly.
"A technique above Heavenly Grade... the protagonist really had insane plot armor."
He leaned back, tapping his fingers on the leather armrest.
"But it's mine now."
Outside the tinted windows, neon signs flickered like stars. Flying cars zipped across the mid-air roads. The
power of cultivation and technology combined to
create a world that felt like the future wrapped in ancient mysticism.
This world was intoxicating.
And he would stand above it.
Li Mei, seated in the passenger seat, glanced back
hesitantly.
"Young Master... may I ask what you were doing in that
old building?"
Zhang Wei smiled faintly.
"Retrieving something important."
She hesitated, biting her lip. "Is it... related to
cultivation?"
Zhang Wei didn't answer directly.
Instead, he let a strand of spiritual energy flicker
between his fingertips.
A faint ripple of pressure filled the car.
Li Mei's eyes widened sharply.
"Young Master...! You broke into the initial stage of
Body Refining?!"
The two guards stiffened, their expressions changing
instantly.
Zhang Wei nodded, enjoying their shock.
"Surprised?"
Li Mei bowed her head deeply.
"I underestimated you, Young Master.
Congratulations..."
He waved casually.
"It's just the beginning."
The car soon glided into the private underground
garage of Heavenly Dragon Manor. Dozens of luxury cars, rune-linked armored vehicles, and even a couple of floating spiritual cruisers lined the space like a
mechanical army.
Zhang Wei stepped out and stretched lazily.
"Young Master," Li Mei said softly, walking beside him,
"your father is still in Europe for the Global Cultivation Summit. He is expected to return in three days."
Zhang Wei nodded.
Zhang Long-the world's richest man. Head of the strongest conglomerate. One of the few mortals who forced ancient clans to bow.
And a parent the original Zhang Wei feared greatly.
"Send word to the main staff," Zhang Wei commanded calmly. "From now on, no one enters my courtyard
without permission."
Li Mei blinked.
"You're going into seclusion?"
"Correct."
Her lips curled in a faint smile.
"Then I shall make arrangements immediately."
Zhang Wei walked into his private villa-Silk Dragon
Court. The moment he stepped inside, smart formations lit up automatically, scanning his bio- signature and adjusting the temperature, humidity, and
qi-flow according to his preferences.
The place was luxurious enough to blind normal
people.
White jade floors from the Kunlun mines.
Curtains woven from spirit silk.
A garden illuminated by floating lanterns powered by
qi stones.
A koi pond where mutated golden carp swam, each a treasure in its own right.
But Zhang Wei barely glanced at these.
He headed straight for the cultivation chamber at the
heart of the villa.
The door slid open with a smooth hiss.
The chamber was a circular room lined with carved
talisman arrays, glowing in patterns that accumulated and refined natural spiritual energy. At the center lay a
meditation platform made of pure spirit jade.
He sat down.
Hands clasped.
Eyes closed.
"System... begin cultivation guidance."
[Affirmative.]
[Warning: Initial cultivation cycle will be painful.]
[Heavenly Void Scripture activation in 3... 2... 1...]
A thunderous surge of energy erupted inside him.
Spiritual energy rushed into his body like a tidal wave, smashing into his meridians and forcing them to
expand. His muscles shuddered. His breathing grew
harsh.
The pain was sharp-like molten metal pouring into his
veins.
Zhang Wei gritted his teeth.
"Stronger... I need to become stronger..."
His determination burned like fire.
He could not afford weakness.
He could not afford to die like the original villain.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
Then-
Boom-!
A soft explosion of qi burst from his body.
Spiritual energy rippled outward, shaking the chamber
lightly.
[Congratulations, Host.]
—
[Cultivation Breakthrough: Body Refining Realm – Stage 2]
[Reward for first breakthrough: +50 Villain Points, +1 Spiritual Sense.]
Zhang Wei exhaled deeply.
His body felt lighter.
Stronger.
His senses sharper. His awareness expanded several
meters beyond the room.
He stood and flexed his arm.
The muscles felt denser. More compact. A simple
punch now carried enough force to easily break reinforced steel.
He smiled.
Just the second stage of Body Refining-and he was
already leagues above ordinary cultivators.
With a technique like Heavenly Void Scripture... the
path ahead was limitless.
[New Quest Available!]
—
Stage 2
Villain Progression Objective: Establish your dominance within the Zhang family's internal heir competition.]
Reward: 2000 VP, Qi Tempering Pill, Minor Soul
Enhancement.] Penalty: System will decrease cultivation speed by 50% for 3 days.]
Zhang Wei frowned slightly.
"Internal heir competition?"
He searched his inherited memories.
In the original story, Zhang Long was strict. Extremely
strict. Although Zhang Wei was the only blood heir, the family corporation was controlled by various branches. Several cousins were powerful cultivators in their own right and wanted the inheritance.
Originally, the competition destroyed Zhang Wei's prestige and helped the protagonist rise.
But now?
He lifted his chin slightly.
"These little side characters want to compete with
me?"
A cold smirk curled across his lips.
"Very well."
He looked at the glowing array beneath his feet.
"I'll crush them one by one."
Morning
Sunlight seeped through the spirit-infused glass
windows, bathing the villa in warm golden light.
Zhang Wei stepped out of the chamber, refreshed and more powerful than ever. His aura was heavier now— dominant, cold, and pressing.
Li Mei was already waiting.
"Young Master, breakfast is prepared."
Zhang Wei walked toward the dining hall, where an extravagant feast awaited him-spirit beast meat, qi- boosting fruits, rare teas infused with medicinal herbs.
As he began eating, Li Mei spoke carefully.
"There have been... rumors this morning."
Zhang Wei didn't look up.
"Oh? About what?"
"Your two cousins-Zhang Han and Zhang Rui-are
saying you were seen in a university area last night."
Zhang Wei's eyebrow twitched.
"And?"
"They claim you went to chase a woman. They're
calling you 'useless' again."
A soft laugh escaped him.
"So predictable..."
He leaned back in his chair.
"In the original plot... the family looked down on Zhang
Wei because he lacked cultivation. That's why they dared to humiliate him."
He lifted his cup.
"But today's Zhang Wei is different."
Li Mei bowed her head slightly.
"If you wish, I can suppress the rumors."
"No need," Zhang Wei said calmly. "Let them bark."
He placed his cup down.
"Let them spread the rumor far and wide."
Li Mei blinked in confusion.
"My reputation as a trash young master is my camouflage. The more they underestimate me... the
easier it becomes to break them."
A chill raced down Li Mei's spine.
This Young Master... had changed.
"I want to see the two cousins, Zhang Wei said
suddenly. "Where are they?"
"They are at the martial arena... training for the clan's
monthly evaluation." Zhang Wei stood.
"Good. I'll visit."
The Zhang family's martial arena was vast-large enough to hold thousands. Disciples trained under the morning sun, their strikes creating gusts of wind and
violent qi fluctuations.
As Zhang Wei entered, dozens of heads snapped in his
direction. Whispers broke out instantly.
"That's the Young Master..." "I heard he got drunk last night again."
"No cultivation, no discipline... just a spoiled brat with money."
"Why did he come here? To embarrass himself?" Zhang Wei ignored them.
He had expected this. The original Zhang Wei really was useless.
But today?
He would change their worldview.
Zhang Han, one of his cousins-a tall young man with
a muscular build-was sparring at the arena center. He
noticed Zhang Wei and scoffed loudly.
"Well, look who decided to crawl out of the nightclub."
Zhang Rui, another cousin, walked up smirking.
"Did you come to watch real cultivators train, Young
Master? Or are you here to chase more university
girls?"
Several disciples snickered.
Zhang Wei smiled calmly.
Then spoke.
"You two look lively. How about a little spar?"
The arena fell silent.
Zhang Han burst into laughter. "You? Spar? With us?"
Zhang Rui patted his stomach mockingly.
"Careful, cousin. You might break a nail."
The disciples laughed again. Zhang Wei tilted his head slightly.
"Attack me. Both of you." The laughter stopped instantly.
"...Are you serious?" Zhang Han asked, eyes narrowing.
"I said attack."
A cold aura seeped from Zhang Wei's body.
The two cousins exchanged confused glances.
Zhang Rui snorted.
"Fine. Don't cry later." He dashed forward, palm glowing with qi.
A real martial strike.
A blow that could knock out a grown adult.
Zhang Wei didn't move.
He observed the attack calmly.
At the last moment, he lifted a finger.
And tapped.
Tap.
A soft sound.
But Zhang Rui was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing
onto the ground several meters away.
The arena froze.
"What-?!"
"That... that was one finger!"
"Impossible!"
Zhang Han's eyes bulged.
"You... you awakened cultivation?!"
Zhang Wei smiled coldly.
"Awakened? No."
He stepped forward.
"I broke through."
Zhang Han swallowed hard. His bravado crumbling.
"You... you're already at Body Refining Stage 2?"
Zhang Wei didn't answer.
Instead, he appeared before Zhang Han in a flash-so
fast the disciples couldn't react.
His hand gripped Zhang Han's chin.
He whispered.
"Do not bark at me again."
Then he threw him aside casually.
Zhang Han rolled across the ground, coughing blood.
Shock.
Silence.
Fear.
Whispers erupted like wildfire.
"The Young Master... is actually strong?!"
"He reached Stage 2 in one night?!"
"This talent is monstrous!"
Zhang Wei stood at the center of the arena, hands
behind his back.
His aura pressed down on everyone present like a
mountain.
He turned his gaze toward the trembling disciples.
"I expect you all to remember today."
His eyes glinted with cold authority. "The trash Young Master you mocked... no longer
exists."
Ding!
[Villain Act Detected: Crushed internal family
opposition publicly.]
[Villain Value +300]
[Reward: Minor Soul Enhancement acquired.]
Spiritual clarity washed through him, making everything sharper-sounds, movements, even distant
qi vibrations.
He breathed deeply.
This world... would soon belong to him.
As Zhang Wei left the arena, Li Mei rushed to his side.
"Young Master, that was..."
He glanced at her.
"Necessary."
She nodded quickly.
"What will you do next?"
Zhang Wei's smile turned sharper.
"Next?"
His eyes shone with icy determination.
"Next, I'll deal with the protagonist again."
He looked toward the city.
"And this time... I'll cripple his luck completely."