[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-really-am-a-villain":3,"chapter-i-really-am-a-villain-i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-1256":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Really Am A Villain",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1434081,1885,"Chapter 1256 - Ghost Monarch Nether-Prime","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-1256",1256,"\u003Cp>“You don’t understand,” Hexben said. “These past few years, the number of Lost Souls and God-Slaves has dropped sharply. If it keeps on like this…” He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, waved his hand dismissively, and smirked. “No point in telling you more. Just do as you’re told.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group continued south for half an hour. The further they went, the more barren the surroundings became. No other Spectral Ghost Racesmen could be seen nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss Hexben,” Xie Changliu said, “aren’t we getting close to the gods’ territory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop talking and keep walking,” Hexben replied coolly. “You two are lucky to have joined us when you did. There’s a good opportunity ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What opportunity?” Xie Changliu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hexben halted and pointed toward a mountain in the distance. “See that spot halfway up the slope?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was far away, Xu Zimo could faintly make out something on the bare cliffside, a single purple flower blooming there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t see it clearly, but he asked, “The Flower of Death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right,” Hexben said with a grin. “You two just joined us, so here’s your chance to prove yourselves. Go pick that flower for me, and you’ll be handsomely rewarded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo gave a cold laugh. As expected, Hexben had ulterior motives. Recruiting them into his squad was just a ploy to use them as expendable pawns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already at the border. The mountain he pointed to likely lay within the gods’ domain, crossing it would be extremely dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? You refuse?” Hexben frowned, his tone suddenly sharp and icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo smiled without replying, instead scanning the surroundings to check for any other ghost patrols nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll leave it to you,” he said to Xie Changliu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ghosts before them weren’t strong. Even Hexben, their leader, was only at the Imperial Meridian realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Changliu snapped his fingers, and countless sword energies burst forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the ghosts fell like wheat under a scythe, every one of them dead where they stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Hexben remained alive, his legs severed beneath him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… you’re not ghosts?” he gasped in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re in no position to ask questions,” Xu Zimo said coldly. “You’re only allowed to answer them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want?” Hexben stammered, panic rising in his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First question,” Xu Zimo said. “Tell me about the forbidden land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re outsiders, aren’t you?” Hexben realized at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could say more, he screamed in agony. One of his arms had been sliced off, black yin energy spilling from the wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seems you didn’t understand me the first time,” Xu Zimo said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are thirty-two cities in the forbidden land,” Hexben said quickly, trembling. “The ghosts and gods each control sixteen. Every city has a Ghost Monarch stationed there. On the gods’ side, I only know there are sixteen God Generals and one Primal God Sovereign. As for us ghosts, there are sixteen Ghost Monarchs, and the great Ghost God himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know of Sunflower City?” Xu Zimo asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sunflower City?” Hexben shook his head. “None of the thirty-two cities have that name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third question,” Xu Zimo said. “What is the Flower of Death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know either!” Hexben said frantically. “We only received orders from Ghost Monarch Nether-Prime to search for them. I swear I don’t know why. Please, let me go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo exchanged a glance with Xie Changliu. In the next moment, Xie’s sword flashed, and Hexben’s head rolled to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo stepped forward, tearing through the air, and reappeared halfway up the mountainside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he get a clear look at the Flower of Death before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had three petals, their dark purple hue swirling with black veins that rotated counterclockwise. A faint aura of decay radiated from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xu Zimo touched the petal, a surge of death energy flowed into him instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It clashed violently with the energy of the Tree of Life within his body, the two opposing forces grinding against each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He plucked the flower and decided to study it later. For now, the priority was to locate Sunflower City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wood God Jumang’s inheritance was far more important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to Xie Changliu, the two burned and buried the corpses of Hexben’s group, then began heading back the way they came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Hexben’s words, there should be a city somewhere to the north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they couldn’t find any leads there, Xu Zimo would have to seek answers directly from the Ghost God himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, they arrived at the place where the evil aura was thickest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before them stood a massive city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its towering black walls exuded pure malice; the entire city radiated suffocating energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dense waves of killing intent rose upward, shrouding the heavens themselves and even obscuring fate’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What heavy death energy,” Xie Changliu said gravely. “This place is only fit for the dead. If living beings enter, their life force will be drained in no time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a way,” Xu Zimo said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected the city’s aura to be this intense, but with the Tree of Life in his body, he was immune to such corruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tore off a leaf from the tree and handed it to Xie Changliu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The life force within this will protect you until it’s spent,” he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yama City,” Xu Zimo murmured as they approached the gates, gazing up at the ancient black walls inscribed with eerie symbols.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On both sides of the gate were two lines of words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘When Yama comes at the third watch, life and death are decided by fate.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They entered the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, it was vast, ghosts by the tens of thousands brushed past them in an endless stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you heard? General Hepburn’s won a hundred matches in the arena without a single loss!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I’ve heard. For the past six months, no one’s been able to take that arena from him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All around them, the ghostly crowds were buzzing about the same topic, the arena battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo grabbed a passing ghost and asked, “Have you ever seen the Ghost Monarch Nether-Prime?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this about?” the ghost said suspiciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have important intelligence to report to him,” Xie Changliu said quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s important, report it to your captain,” the ghost said impatiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our captain was ambushed and killed,” Xie Changliu said, feigning grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then go to your division’s Ghost General,” the ghost replied. “The Ghost Monarch isn’t someone just anyone can meet. Even I’d like to see him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo and Xie Changliu exchanged a look. This was going to be tricky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew Hexben had served under Ghost Monarch Nether-Prime, but as for the Ghost Generals, they knew little to nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s check out the arena,” Xie Changliu suggested. “Didn’t they say there’s a Ghost General fighting there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo nodded. It was their best lead for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city was large, so it didn’t feel crowded, but the arena was an exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, the streets were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with ghosts, the massive crowd surrounding the ring so tightly that it was impossible to move freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo and Xie Changliu squeezed their way forward until they could finally see the scene on the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>",1206,"2026-06-06T01:07:13.278Z",1,"novelbin.me","acaf635d2c7c8918be1f95a1b7bc6db82ff90e2ed58d943e15e6d230c89db0e4","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-1257","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-1255",1822,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-really-am-a-villain-cover.jpg"]