[{"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-853":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},1433578,1885,"Chapter 853 - Azure Dragon Crown Prince","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-853",853,"\u003Cp>“Who do you favor?” Just as Xu Zimo was watching the two fight with great interest, a soft voice suddenly sounded beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zimo froze for a moment and quickly turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw a woman gracefully sitting beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a spotless white long dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her whole demeanor was like that of an immortal, aloof and pure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beauty for the ages, a joy to behold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had an oval face, a high nose bridge reminiscent of women from the Western Continent, and thin lips lightly tinted red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her eyes were as calm as still water, revealing nothing within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in white carried a faint fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like plum blossoms, proud and self-appreciating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her long skirt spread across the ground like a lotus slowly unfurling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her skin was fair, the kind that looked as if it would bruise at the lightest touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why aren’t you speaking?” the woman asked with a smile, looking at Xu Zimo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do we know each other?” Xu Zimo asked doubtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know you, but you might not know me,” the woman shook her head and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone who passed the tenth floor of the Heavenly Dao Tower, many in the academy would want to know them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not interested,” Xu Zimo waved his hand and replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t answered my question,” the woman tilted her head, resting her elbows on her knees and supporting her chin, her tone filled with dissatisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I favor Ren Pingsheng,” Xu Zimo replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?” the woman in white asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ren Pingsheng cultivates the legacy techniques of Grand Emperor Tun Ri, very powerful. That Wang Lang probably isn’t a disciple of an imperial lineage, so his cultivation method is weaker,” Xu Zimo said. “And their foundations are different, Ren Pingsheng’s is clearly deeper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard you’re from the True Martial Sacred Ground,” the woman in white said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You ask too many questions,” Xu Zimo replied lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two were complete strangers, and he truly didn’t want to talk much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just curious,” the woman in white looked very wronged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes even grew a little misty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked pitifully at Xu Zimo. “Don’t you like me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seduction?” Xu Zimo frowned at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her behavior was strange to him, he could tell she was usually very cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just her looks, but her whole temperament suggested a “strangers keep away” aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just tell me, answer a few of my questions,” the woman said, pulling at Xu Zimo’s arm and gently shaking it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like she was acting spoiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weirdo,” Xu Zimo muttered, getting up and leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his departing back, the woman in white was stunned for a moment, then chuckled softly to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Doesn’t know how to appreciate charm. This makes things difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the arena stage, Ren Pingsheng held the Sun-Devouring Axe, like a true emperor descending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devouring power swirled around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each surge of might was stronger than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lang could only defend passively, his body already covered in blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bloodthirsty Ghost Shark behind him struggled fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sounds of explosions boomed across the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stage was built from Heavenly Dao crystal, able to withstand even the attacks of Arcane Immortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Grand Emperor True Treasure, the Sun-Devouring Axe still radiated imperial might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it had been tempered by the Heaven’s Will, giving it an advantage over most weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another explosion rang out, Wang Lang couldn’t dodge in time. The huge axe blade came down within mere tens of centimeters of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could even feel the oppressive force from the axe, along with the suffocating breath of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, Wang Lang, who had been barely holding on, couldn’t endure anymore. He shouted toward the stage below, “Crown Prince, save me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew he was calling to the Azure Dragon Crown Prince, and they were all curious what the Crown Prince’s reaction would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ao Nan, best not to get involved in this,” someone beside him reminded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A life-and-death duel, with a life-and-death agreement signed, was troublesome to interfere in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not like an ordinary sparring match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Azure Dragon Crown Prince’s true name was Ao Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was ugly, his eyes weighing the pros and cons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he interfered, trouble was likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he didn’t, everyone knew Wang Lang served him loyally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he abandoned him now, what would others think? Who would dare serve him again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough,” as the Sun-Devouring Axe forced Wang Lang into a corner with nowhere to retreat, a loud shout suddenly rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within that shout was a faint dragon’s roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made Ren Pingsheng’s head tremble for an instant, his hand slowing just enough for Wang Lang to narrowly escape death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Azure Dragon Crown Prince has made his move,” someone said with interest. “Now things are getting fun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Pingsheng and Wang Lang were both relatively unknown in the academy, their fight wasn’t especially interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if a holy son of an imperial lineage got dragged into the mess, that was something many people were happy to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was when it became entertaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop here,” Ao Nan, the Azure Dragon Crown Prince, looked at Ren Pingsheng and spoke lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re breaking the duel rules,” Ren Pingsheng raised his head, meeting Ao Nan’s gaze without fear, and said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a life-and-death duel, without both participants’ consent, no third party was allowed to interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was an academy rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Violation meant punishment based on the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Heavenly Dao Academy, everything was equal, at least in principle. Even a holy son of an emperor-lineage immortal sect couldn’t escape punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this so-called equality was only as equal as it could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like people were always ranked high or low, true equality didn’t exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not in reality, and not in theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said stop here,” Ao Nan didn’t answer directly, but his eyes flashed with menace as he spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Pingsheng frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ao Nan had indeed broken the rules, but the academy’s punishment likely wouldn’t be too severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he hadn’t been injured, the penalty would be based on the actual result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? Dissatisfied?” Ao Nan said lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then fight me. If you have the guts, face me in a life-and-death duel, no surrender, no survival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he spoke those last four words, his tone brimmed with killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was strong enough for anyone to feel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pingsheng, don’t accept his challenge,” just then, a woman’s voice called from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young woman in a purple coat, her face delicate and pretty, hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her complexion was pale, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her long hair was tied back in a braided ponytail with a purple ribbon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were full of worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she appeared, the crowd watching below grew noisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No mistake, she’s the one the Azure Dragon Crown Prince and Ren Pingsheng are fighting over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is interesting, but she looks pretty ordinary to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1169,"2026-06-06T01:06:58.319Z",1,"novelbin.me","4f2669299c0aeec7c01c8e879fc52b93a834a32ee7f90fdc4f07f771fc5ca5ef","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-854","i-really-am-a-villain-chapter-852",1822,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-really-am-a-villain-cover.jpg"]