After Being Reborn a Hundred Times, I Refused to Be the Villain - Chapter 12:

Chapter 12: Four Steps into the Origin Spirit Realm

Outside Xiangdao City, a trapping formation unfolded, enveloping Ling Yun within. A chilling murderous aura descended upon him.

“I didn’t expect that after losing my cultivation and leaving the Heavenly Dao Sect alone, there would still be people trying to kill me?” Ling Yun raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Xu Aozi, I’ve wanted to kill you for a long time!” A venomous voice growled from the shadows. A man wearing the Heavenly Dao Sect’s robes stepped out, staring at Ling Yun with fierce hatred.

“You’re from Pill Peak… that guy, what was your name again?” Ling Yun looked at the man, his tone showing faint confusion.

Seeing that Ling Yun didn’t even remember who he was, the man’s twisted face contorted further with rage.

“Fourth Uncle, I want him dead! And not just dead—I want him to die in agony!”

“You ignorant brat. You’ve lost your cultivation, left the Heavenly Dao Sect, and yet you still dare act arrogant? Today, I’ll show you what the Fang family is capable of!” The black-robed man standing beside the Heavenly Dao Sect disciple said coldly. A wave of sinister demonic Qi emanated from him.

“Demonic Qi? You’re a demonic cultivator? Fang family… it’s you, Fang Meng’ao!” Ling Yun finally recognized the disciple standing before him when he saw the demonic Qi around the black-robed man.

He was the third personal disciple of the Pill Peak Master and a direct descendant of the renowned Fang family. While the Fang family wasn’t considered powerful compared to the Heavenly Dao Sect, it was still a sizable force.

Ling Yun remembered him for two reasons. First, when he was still the Chief Disciple of Snow Moon Peak, Fang Meng’ao had long coveted the spiritual herb procurement rights of Pill Peak that were under Ling Yun’s control. He had used all sorts of underhanded means to seize them, even invoking the Fang family’s influence to pressure Ling Yun.

The result was obvious—Ling Yun not only thwarted all of Fang Meng’ao’s schemes but also made him suffer several heavy setbacks. If not for being a direct descendant of the Fang family, Fang Meng’ao would likely have been expelled from Pill Peak already.

The second reason was something that would happen in the future. A disciple from Pill Peak would collude with demonic cultivators, secretly ambushing disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect and using their bodies as materials to refine forbidden pills. Their wicked hands even reached toward Snow Moon Peak.

For such an unforgivable and evil act, Ling Yun had flown into a fury. With thunderous force, he captured the mastermind in the shortest time possible. That mastermind was none other than Fang Meng’ao. Ling Yun personally led people to annihilate the Fang family. Of course, in the end, all the credit was twisted and given to Lin Chuan.

“Your Fang family colluded with demonic cultivators. If the Heavenly Dao Sect finds out, you’ll be turned to dust.”

“Heh, Xu Aozi, don’t try to scare me by hiding behind the sect’s name. When you left the sect, did anyone from Snow Moon Peak even come to see you off? This place is already sealed by my formation. Today is your death day. No one can save you! I’ll shatter your bones one by one and see if you’re still so stubborn! Fourth Uncle, do it!” Thinking about how he would get to torture Ling Yun, Fang Meng’ao’s expression twisted with sadistic glee.

Although he already knew Ling Yun’s cultivation had plummeted due to a damaged foundation, and that his strength had fallen to the Body Tempering Realm, he still didn’t dare be careless. He had specially brought along his Fourth Uncle, a demonic cultivator at the peak of the Origin Spirit Realm.

Even if Ling Yun’s death was discovered later, it could be blamed on a demonic cultivator. Everyone would assume Ling Yun had offended one during his time outside, and it wouldn’t be traced back to him.

“Young man, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for provoking the Fang family. I’ll show you what the methods of a demonic cultivator are like!” Fourth Uncle slowly raised his hands. A cloud of gray mist condensed between them, and ghostly wails faintly echoed within.

This ghostly Qi was formed from resentment and death energy—once it touched a target, it would cling like a bone-hugging parasite, devouring flesh and soul alike. It was an extremely terrifying torture.

“You really think that just because I left Snow Moon Peak, I’ve become a pushover?” Ling Yun lifted his eyes, and an invisible force erupted from his body.

In an instant, the entire formation space was suppressed by this overwhelming aura. Even the ghostly Qi in Fourth Uncle’s hand became stagnant.

Fourth Uncle’s heart trembled. Just a moment ago, Ling Yun was like an ant he could crush easily. Now, in a mere glance, he seemed to have turned into a terrifying primordial beast, capable of devouring him whole with just its aura.

Ling Yun took a step toward them.

With the first step, his bones and muscles crackled, echoing with the roar of tigers and leopards. Blood-colored mist exploded from his body—impurities forced out through intense tempering. In one step, he reached the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.

With the second step, inner Qi was born and circulated through his entire body, penetrating his meridians, flowing through his limbs and bones, refining his organs. He reached the peak of the Internal Qi Realm.

With the third step, inner Qi was tempered over and over, transforming into Gang Qi—unyielding and indestructible. Gang Qi surged from his body, sweeping away the blood mist that had clung to his clothes from the first step.

With the fourth step, Gang Qi merged with spiritual essence, evolving endlessly. Around Ling Yun, it seemed as though worlds were forming and perishing. All things coexisted within his aura. He had stepped into the Origin Spirit Realm.

“No… no… this is impossible… this is impossible!” Fang Meng’ao’s face was filled with horror, and his voice turned stammered.

What had he just seen? A man who had lost his foundation and cultivation broke through to the Origin Spirit Realm in just four steps. Fang Meng’ao had only reached the Origin Spirit Realm with the aid of both Pill Peak and the Fang family’s medicinal support. What right did Ling Yun have to surpass him?

To think he had once mocked Ling Yun for pouring his heart into Snow Moon Peak. Now it all seemed laughable. For a moment, he even wondered if this was all just a dream.

Fourth Uncle was equally shaken. The fusion of Gang Qi with spiritual essence, forming spiritual resonance, was a hallmark of entering the Origin Spirit Realm. His own spiritual resonance leaned toward cold Yin energy, which he used to injure opponents from within.

But what had he just witnessed? From Ling Yun’s resonance, he saw the heavens and earth themselves—not just elements, but all of existence. Was this truly what the Origin Spirit Realm was capable of? Was Ling Yun even still within that realm?

Fourth Uncle suddenly realized that Fang Meng’ao’s decision to ambush Ling Yun, and his own agreement to assist, were both disastrous mistakes. And now, this mistake could no longer be undone.

“Even if you’ve broken through to the Origin Spirit Realm, so what? My Fourth Uncle is at the peak of that realm! You know how vast the gap is between each level! Fourth Uncle can still kill you with ease! Fourth Uncle, kill him!” After his initial shock, Fang Meng’ao was consumed by humiliation and rage. All he wanted now was to kill Ling Yun completely.