When They Finally Realized, I Was Already the Strongest Villain - Chapter 8:

Chapter 8: The Nineteenth Floor of the Demon Suppression Tower, The Once-Immortal Senior Brother

The system’s broadcast left Gu Han momentarily dazed. The previous few rewards had all been excellent, yet this so-called special reward—a key—felt completely out of place. What was that supposed to mean? Did this imply that whether he could obtain the upcoming special reward depended solely on his own luck?

“The nineteenth floor of the Demon Suppression Tower…?”

Gu Han finally caught the crucial detail. In all his lifetimes, the Demon Suppression Tower was known to have only eighteen floors. Of course, he had never actually ventured that high. The highest he had ever reached was the fourth floor. Normally, stepping onto the fourth floor required at least a 1st stage Unity Realm cultivation level. For him to reach that place with only a 1st stage Spirit Palace Realm cultivation was already an incredible feat.

Perhaps because he had entered the tower many times and had grown familiar with the aura and logical structure inside, the illusionary demonic beasts generated by the lower levels posed little threat to him now.

“On the fourth floor and below, I’m confident I can endure a full month without trouble… But to climb to higher floors, or worse, to this rumored nineteenth floor that shouldn’t even exist—wouldn’t that be suicide?”

He had never intended to risk his life by entering the Demon Suppression Tower. His only goal had been to obtain the system’s sign-in rewards. Yet now, the system had gone off-script, presenting him with a highly unique reward that he had to claim personally.

Just as Gu Han was deep in thought, the system’s voice echoed once more.

[Ding! Kindly note, the nineteenth floor of the Demon Suppression Tower is not located above the eighteenth floor, but directly beneath the host’s current location.]

“Below me?”

Gu Han froze slightly, surprised that even the Demon Suppression Tower didn’t follow conventional logic. He quickly began to inspect the ground beneath his feet, as prompted by the system.

Before long, after a thorough search, he discovered a keyhole-like opening hidden beneath a thick layer of dirt and dust in a remote corner. The sight of it filled him with doubt again.

Wasn’t the Demon Suppression Tower built specifically to seal powerful demonic beasts? Why would there be a keyhole? Could it be that the ancient cultivators who created this place had the idea of releasing them someday? Were they not afraid that those powerful demons would wreak havoc upon the world?

Well, Gu Han wasn’t afraid. He was already playing the role of a villain—nothing really mattered anymore.

[Ding! Host’s attitude aligns with villain persona. Awarding 500 Villain Points as encouragement.]

Click!

He retrieved the special bronze key from his consciousness space, inserted it into the keyhole, and gave it a slight twist. A crisp unlocking sound rang out in the silent space.

Almost at the same moment the key was turned, the rampant demonic aura surging through the tower suddenly stopped as if solidified, plunging into an eerie stillness.

Buzz!

Next, countless ancient and obscure inscriptions carved into the tower walls began to hum and tremble as if awakening from an endless slumber. Blinding radiance lit up the old symbols, resonating with one another. The entire Demon Suppression Tower began to shake violently, rumbling like a beast awakened.

At the same time, the high-level demonic beasts sealed on the upper floors were disturbed. Deep, low growls echoed out—startled, and filled with an unsettling excitement.

Outside the tower, the sudden massive disturbance from the Demon Suppression Tower alarmed the entire Wandering Sword Sect. Even the Supreme Elders personally took action to prevent the mythical ancient demon from breaking free.

“Han’er… Han’er is still inside!” Mu Bailing’s expression turned panicked.

The Demon Suppression Tower was already extremely dangerous. If the elders further reinforced the seal now, the next opportunity to open the tower would be delayed again. Whatever slim chance Gu Han had for survival could be completely erased by this sealing.

“Mu Bailing! What are you causing a scene for at this point?” Sword Master Tai Xu, clearly frustrated by the situation, scolded her angrily. “This outcome—you were the one who chose it, weren’t you?”

“When Gu Han left for the Demon Suppression Tower, why didn’t you stop him then? Why are you regretting it now?”

“You’re not a child anymore. Take responsibility for your decisions.”

Mu Bailing opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing. She suddenly felt a deep sense of self-loathing. Everything that had unfolded so far—her identity as Gu Han’s master was inseparable from it all. And now, what right did she have to feel heartache?

…

“Senior Brother…” Liu Ruyan, Youwei, and the others who had heard the commotion had already gathered near the Demon Suppression Tower. They stared blankly, their hearts filled with pain, as they watched the elders reinforce the seal on the tower.

One by one, old memories resurfaced.

Back when they were younger and bullied by disciples from other peaks, it was their Senior Brother who stood up for them. With one sword, he climbed to those peaks, terrifying the other disciples into submission.

The sect had never opposed internal conflict between its many peaks. Back then, Gu Han had fought alone with a single sword, leaving entire peaks trembling in fear. Ever since, no one dared to bully them again.

They still remembered how Gu Han’s white robe was soaked in blood, under the setting sun, looking like a man carved from crimson.

When they lacked cultivation resources, he had risked his life, taking on countless dangerous missions into secret realms just to gather what they needed.

When they were afflicted with illness, it was Gu Han who locked himself inside the pill furnace chamber, refining pills nonstop for three days and nights, creating the most effective medicine to cure them.

Back then, countless female cultivators in the sect were envious of them—envied them for having such a protective and doting immortal-like Senior Brother.

But now…

What had they done?

A Senior Brother so gentle and sincere to them, in the end, was abandoned by every one of them. With a heart filled with despair, he had entered the Demon Suppression Tower alone—to die.

Regret had already begun to sprout in their hearts and was spreading uncontrollably through their bodies.

“Please come with us to the Law Enforcement Hall,” a few disciples landed beside them. “The Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall has some questions for you.”

Their tone was cold and distant. Back then, they had respected Profound Feather Peak mostly because of Gu Han. Since he was overly protective, anything involving Liu Ruyan and the others had to be handled with extreme care.

But now, these women had pushed their immortal-like Senior Brother into the Demon Suppression Tower with their own hands. There was no need to show them any kindness anymore.

“I knew it! Senior Brother Gu was framed! He’s not that kind of person!” a disciple said.

“According to some insider gossip, the truth might be that Senior Brother Gu didn’t run away from battle at all, but that it was related to Junior Sister Ruyan!”

“I heard she faked evidence and framed Senior Brother Gu!”

“Tsk, tsk! Who would’ve thought Junior Sister Ruyan would be that kind of person? Disgusting!”

“Senior Brother Gu treated her well all along! To falsely accuse him with forged evidence, she’s just an ungrateful snake!”

Many cultivators nearby broke into whispers, heatedly discussing the scene.

What was laughable was that when the incident first broke, they had all cursed Gu Han without restraint. But now that the truth had flipped completely, they acted like righteous warriors, condemning Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan’s face turned deathly pale.

But… back then, Junior Brother Ye had told her that the demonic beast had suddenly attacked them without warning. In her memory, that little junior brother had always been honest and kind. He wouldn’t lie to her deliberately… right?

…