[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-villain-is-too-self-destructive":3,"chapter-this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-157":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","This Villain Is Too Self-Destructive",{"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},2282524,4465,"Chapter 157: Shadows of the Broken Reef, Traces of Blood Sacrifice","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-157",157,"\u003Cp>The \"Swift Shadow Boat\" sped like a streak of silver light across the surging Vast Sea, leaving the silhouette of Star Fall Island far behind. The closer they drew to the \"Broken Reef Labyrinth,\" the more treacherous the sea conditions became. In the sky, lead-gray clouds hung low, obscuring the starlight, and the sea breeze turned bone-chillingly cold, whipping up murky foam. Ahead, an area composed of countless jagged, strangely shaped black reefs lay silently prone upon the churning sea like the skeletons of ferocious beasts, stretching for an unknown number of miles. Between the reefs, undercurrents surged and water mist permeated the air; visibility was extremely low, and when spiritual sense probed within, it felt as if it had fallen into a quagmire, suffering intense interference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fellow Daoist Zhao, ahead lies the outer perimeter of the 'Broken Reef Labyrinth'.\" The Star Patrol captain, a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator named \"Li Feng,\" came to Zhao Yuan’s side with a grave expression. \"The sea conditions here are complex, with dense reefs underwater and even unstable spatial folds and natural illusion mists. Even with a sea chart, one must be extremely careful when navigating. The coordinates where the distress signal last vanished are in the northwest section deep within the labyrinth, a place known as 'Ghost Tooth Bay.' The terrain there is even more perilous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuan nodded, his gaze sharp as lightning as he scanned the black reef forest ahead, which seemed to be waiting to devour them. \"Silent Shadow\" transmitted a faint, vigilant tremor from its scabbard—not a violent warning, but rather a natural reaction to the pervasive, subtle negative energy filling the surrounding environment (chaotic heaven and earth spiritual energy, the lingering resentment of demonic beasts, and... a trace of an extremely obscure aura that made him instinctively repulsed).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Captain Li Feng, in your opinion, would ordinary cultivators venture deep into 'Ghost Tooth Bay' without a pressing matter?\" Zhao Yuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Feng shook his head: \"Very rarely. 'Ghost Tooth Bay' is rich in several types of rare deep-sea cold iron and 'Yin Soul Algae,' but the extraction difficulty is high and the risks are great. Usually, only desperate outlaws or cultivators in urgent need of specific materials would risk entering. But I have heard of no large-scale collection activities recently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about the abnormal fluctuations in the distress signal? Is it confirmed to be related to the Rebirth Sect?\" Zhao Yuan looked at the Star Patrol member responsible for monitoring the magic tools inside the boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Star Patrol member replied: \"Reporting to Fellow Daoist Zhao, the fluctuation characteristics are seventy percent similar to the residual evil power of the Rebirth Sect recorded at Heishuicheng and the Star Sink Ruins, but they are weaker and more heterogeneous, as if... mixed with something else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuan’s suspicions deepened. He recalled the double-polluted mutant monsters in the Star Sink Ruins. \"Accelerate, stay vigilant, keep the communication array fully open, and be ready to contact Elder Ling Shuang and Star Fall Island at any time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The concealment and defensive arrays on the surface of the \"Swift Shadow Boat\" shimmered with light. Without losing speed, it maneuvered even more nimbly through the gaps between the massive reefs, like a cautious fish, sailing into the depths of the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once inside the labyrinth, the light dimmed abruptly. The towering black reefs blocked most of the daylight, and the seawater took on a deep, inky green color. Beneath the water, shadows flickered, as if countless sinister phantoms were lurking. The suppression of spiritual sense grew stronger; it felt sluggish and difficult to move after extending ten zhang. The only sounds in their ears were the roar of waves crashing against the reefs, the whimpering of surging undercurrents, and the sharp, infant-like wailing of some unknown seabird, which made one’s skin crawl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three o'clock on the port side, there is a violent energy disturbance underwater! Watch out!\" a Star Patrol member suddenly warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words had faded, several thick tentacles flashing with dark blue electric light lunged out from the pitch-black seawater, coiling toward the \"Swift Shadow Boat\" like giant pythons!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a 'Thunder-Pattern Ghost-Faced Octopus'! At least a Golden Core peak-stage demonic beast!\" Li Feng shouted sharply. A star-studded long sword already appeared in his hand, and with a flash of sword light, he slashed at the foremost tentacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other Star Patrol members also reacted quickly, either offering up magic tools to bombard the beast or strengthening the boat's defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuan did not move. His gaze passed over the attacking tentacles and looked into the deeper water. Under the sensing of \"Silent Shadow\" and his own keen perception of star power and negative energy, he discovered that the attacks of these demonic beasts... seemed somewhat \"deliberate\"? Their attack angles were not entirely random; it was more like they were driving or forcing the flying boat to deviate toward a specific direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thought stirred in his mind. His Nirvana Sword Intent brushed past like a breeze, not attacking the tentacles directly, but \"touching\" the extremely faint energy aura remaining on one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trace of an imperceptible \"guiding\" intent, originating from the same source as the heterogeneous evil power in the distress signal, was captured by him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These demonic beasts were being influenced! Or rather, they were being secretly driven by some power to \"lead the way\" for them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Captain Li Feng, no need to entangle with them, just repel them. Watch the course; we seem to be being guided in a certain direction,\" Zhao Yuan transmitted his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Feng was startled, then immediately noticed the anomaly. Although the attacks of these demonic beasts were fierce, they did not fight to the death. Once the flying boat made evasive maneuvers or counterattacks, they would retreat slightly and then force them from another angle, truly as if they were performing some kind of \"herding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood!\" Li Feng’s sword stance changed from killing to blocking and repelling. Coordinating with the other Star Patrol members, they quickly broke free from the entanglement of the tentacles. The \"Swift Shadow Boat\" increased its speed, and with Zhao Yuan’s intentional \"cooperation,\" it followed the secretly guiding force toward the deeper, more energy-chaotic regions of the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deeper they went, the more bizarre the environment became. Fine, black fragments that seemed both bone-like and metallic began to float in the seawater, emitting a faint, decaying scent similar to the materials of the Star Sink Ruins. Occasionally, one could see fragments of broken, ancient-style magic tools half-buried in the crevices of the reefs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here... it seems a battle once took place, and it was quite a long time ago,\" Li Feng frowned. \"It doesn't look like it was left by recent cultivator conflicts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuan nodded, his vigilance raised to the maximum. The Star Sink Ruins were not an isolated case; beneath the Vast Sea, one knew not how many ancient secrets remained buried. The Rebirth Sect choosing this place to set an ambush (if it truly was a trap) was likely because they had taken a fancy to the hidden and chaotic nature of this environment, as well as some \"geographical advantage\" related to the ancient times that might exist here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, after passing through a narrow waterway formed by countless sharp stone pillars—resembling the maw of a monster—the view ahead suddenly opened up, revealing a relatively calm, gloomy bay surrounded by circular cliffs—this was \"Ghost Tooth Bay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bay was not large, and the seawater presented an ominous dark red color, as if mixed with blood. The air was filled with a heavy, fishy stench and a cloying, putrid odor. In the center of the bay, several pieces of shattered wooden planks and sail wreckage were floating; by their style, they were exactly the type of medium-sized \"sea-exploring ship\" commonly used by Vast Sea cultivators. And on the shallows near the right cliff, several motionless figures were lying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Over there!\" a Star Patrol member pointed to the shallows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Swift Shadow Boat\" slowly lowered its altitude and cautiously approached. Li Feng and two Star Patrol members were the first to leap off the flying boat, landing on the shallows with weapons drawn in alert. Zhao Yuan followed closely behind, his gaze scanning the surroundings sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five people lay on the shallows, three men and two women, all dressed in the ordinary attire of Vast Sea rogue cultivators. They bore varying degrees of injuries and traces of seawater immersion, their auras weak, and they were unconscious. Judging from the residual spiritual power fluctuations, their cultivation bases ranged from Foundation Establishment late-stage to Golden Core early-stage. Around the waist of one of them hung a positioning jade talisman that was still flickering extremely weakly, originating from the same source as the distress signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked just like a team of ordinary cultivators who had encountered a shipwreck or a demonic beast attack and had luckily drifted here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Yuan’s heart sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too \"standard.\" Standard victims, standard injuries, standard unconsciousness, standard... flawless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the tremor of \"Silent Shadow\" intensified abruptly the moment he stepped onto these shallows! The sword intent pointed directly at those \"unconscious\" bodies and the sand and stone beneath them, which were soaked in dark red seawater!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What made his scalp tingle even more was that deep within his sea of consciousness, the heavily sealed dark purple \"Demonic Seed\" was now transmitting an extremely faint, yet unmistakably clear... resonance and palpitation! It was as if it had sensed a power of the same source, or... had been summoned by something!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were not ordinary victims! These were... sacrifices? Or killers disguised as sacrifices?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Careful! Retreat!\" Zhao Yuan shouted sharply, and at the same time, \"Silent Shadow\" instantly left its sheath! The gray-white Nirvana Sword Intent, mixed with a trace of ghostly blue starlight, expanded violently like a circular ripple with him at the center, sweeping toward those five \"corpses\" and the surrounding ground!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost at the same instant Zhao Yuan shouted his warning!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden change occurred!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those five bodies that had been \"unconscious\" suddenly opened their eyes! There was not a shred of intelligence in their eyes, only a murky dark red and dullness! Their bodies sprang up, twisting at angles that defied the logic of joints like marionettes, with astonishing speed, lunging directly at the nearest Li Feng and the two Star Patrol members! They emitted inhuman, beast-like wheezing sounds from their throats!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more terrifying was that the dark red sandy ground beneath them suddenly lit up with dense, dark red runes that twisted and squirmed like blood vessels! A formation with a diameter of over ten zhang, emitting a thick, bloody, and evil aura, was instantly activated! The light of the formation connected with the dark red evil power erupting from the five \"corpses,\" forming a powerful binding and erosive force field that enveloped everyone on the shallows!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Blood Fiend Binding Spirit Formation!\" Li Feng was both shocked and furious. Sword energy erupted as he slashed at the lunging \"corpses,\" only to find that the skin of these \"corpses\" was as hard as iron and had astonishing resistance to spiritual power attacks. After being struck, they merely staggered back, and viscous dark red liquid flowed from their wounds, which instead made the light of the formation even more intense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Star Patrol members also fell into a bitter struggle. Their magic tools struck the \"corpses\" with similarly poor results, and they were constantly weakened by the formation's erosive force field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are not living people! They are 'Blood Puppets' refined by evil arts! The formation is absorbing our blood energy and spiritual power to strengthen them!\" Zhao Yuan saw through the key at a glance. He swung his sword to slash at the squirming runes on the ground. Wherever the Nirvana Sword Intent passed, the runes became dim and disintegrated as if burned, but the formation's range was too large, and the runes were endless, making it difficult to destroy completely for a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he felt that this formation was not just meant to trap and weaken them. It was more like a prelude to a sacrificial ritual! These \"Blood Puppets\" and this formation were transforming this area, including them, the intruders, into some kind of \"sacrifice\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Must destroy the formation core!\" Zhao Yuan’s gaze was sharp as lightning as he scanned the entire bay. The source of the formation's light seemed to come from the center of the bay, beneath the area where the dark red seawater was most concentrated!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cackle cackle... not slow to react... worthy of a little one who could survive in that broken ruin and even bring back some 'good things'...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman’s laughter, seductive to the bone yet carrying bone-chilling coldness and madness, rang out abruptly over the bay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked up and saw that on the top of the ferocious reefs at the entrance of the bay, a slender figure had appeared at some unknown time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a woman dressed in a gorgeous red long dress, her appearance bewitching, yet her flowing eyes carried a heart-stopping evil. She stood barefoot on the reefs, her skirt fluttering without wind, and her body was surrounded by a faint mist of pink and dark purple intertwined. Her aura... had actually reached the Nascent Soul late-stage! And the nature of that aura was of the same source as the Rebirth Sect’s evil power, yet even purer and more bizarre, carrying a strong sense of seduction and decay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rebirth Sect... Saintess?\" Li Feng gritted his teeth, recalling some vague descriptions in intelligence reports about the upper echelons of the Rebirth Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can call me 'Blood Charm'.\" The red-dressed woman covered her mouth and chuckled, but her gaze stuck to Zhao Yuan like a venomous snake, lingering especially on the \"Silent Shadow\" at his waist and the center of his brow (the location of his sea of consciousness), a flash of greed and surprise crossing her eyes. \"Originally, I just wanted to fish for some small fry to replenish the consumption of the 'Blood Pool,' but I didn't expect... to actually lure a little treasure like you, carrying the 'scent of stars' and... a 'Demonic Seed.' Truly an unexpected joy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could actually sense the star-like quality of \"Silent Shadow\" and the \"Demonic Seed\" in Zhao Yuan’s sea of consciousness! Zhao Yuan felt a chill in his heart; this woman was definitely no ordinary Rebirth Sect leader!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Blood Charm\" seemed to enjoy the grave expressions of Zhao Yuan and the others, continuing to speak in that seductive voice: \"This 'Ghost Tooth Bay,' a long, long time ago, was a side table for a certain 'Star Banquet'... The residual star resentment and blood fiend are just right for nourishing my 'little darlings.' You came just in time. With your flesh, blood, and souls, especially you, little treasure...\" She pointed at Zhao Yuan, \"With the 'Star Fire' on you and that 'seed,' it should be enough to let this 'Blood Fiend Star-Summoning Formation' complete its final step, summoning a trace of true 'Star Fiend Blood Light'... By then, perhaps this turtle shell of Star Fall Island can be cracked open a seam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood Fiend Star-Summoning Formation! Summoning Star Fiend Blood Light! Her goal was actually the defensive array of Star Fall Island!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuan instantly understood the true purpose of this trap. The remnants of the Rebirth Sect had not given up their plot against Star Fall Island; they were looking for other ways to weaken or destroy the defensive line! And he, because he carried the star inheritance and the Demonic Seed, had actually become an excellent \"catalyst\" in the eyes of the opponent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wishful thinking!\" Li Feng shouted angrily, attempting to break free from the entanglement of the Blood Puppets to attack \"Blood Charm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Blood Charm\" gave a contemptuous smile and waved her slender hand. The pink and dark purple mist around her turned into several long whips, easily dispersing Li Feng’s sword energy and forcing him back into the formation. \"Don't be in such a hurry; the good show hasn't even started yet. To welcome such distinguished guests, I have prepared a special program...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She formed a strange and evil hand seal with both hands and began to chant obscure syllables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following her chanting, the dark red seawater in the center of the bay churned violently! A huge vortex began to form, and in the center of the vortex, something was faintly rising! At the same time, the movements of the five \"Blood Puppets\" became even more frantic and fearless of death, and the binding and erosive power of the formation increased abruptly! Furthermore, a bizarre, soul-piercing seductive sound and fearful illusions began to assault everyone’s minds!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuan felt the \"Demonic Seed\" in his sea of consciousness transmit another restless palpitation, as if it were being stirred by this evil formation and the power of \"Blood Charm\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the critical moment, he bit the tip of his tongue hard, the sharp pain clearing his mind. A fierce look flashed in his eyes; he could not wait any longer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Captain Li Feng, everyone, buy me three breaths of time! Attack the Blood Puppets with all your might, interfere with the formation, and contain that demoness!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words had faded, Zhao Yuan had already concentrated all his mind on \"Silent Shadow.\" On the sword body, the dark gold and ghostly blue light were more intense than ever before! He no longer tried to destroy the runes on the ground, but aimed the tip of his sword at the center of the bay, at the dark red vortex that was forming and emitting a terrifying suction and ominous aura!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would replace defense with offense, using the strongest Nirvana Star Sword to strike directly at the energy core and summoning source of this evil formation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Blood Charm\" seemed to have sensed Zhao Yuan’s intention, and for the first time, a trace of gravity and... excitement appeared on her seductive face?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Want to strike hard at the core of the 'Blood Fiend Star-Summoning Formation'? Interesting... let me see just how bright your 'Star Fire' is!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She increased the intensity of her chanting, and the object rising in the vortex became clearer—it seemed to be a huge, incomparably large... spine? Or tentacle? Covered in dark red scales and decaying bone spurs, it emitted an evil Star Fiend aura that froze the soul!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three breaths passed in a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuan rose with his sword, man and sword becoming one, turning into a brilliant sword rainbow of intertwined gray and blue that seemed about to slash open this filthy world, and without a moment's hesitation, he stabbed into the deepest part of the dark red vortex!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, in the clouds above the entrance to the bay, an ice-blue escape light arrived with astonishing speed, and Elder Ling Shuang’s cold voice resounded through the bay:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Demoness, cease your arrogance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",3171,"2026-06-20T01:44:26.720Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","fdeda66ddab607d8873ea98273cbb0833b53daf329a8ffbba6dcb4a78f3d83c1","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-158","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-156",182,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-villain-is-too-self-destructive-cover.jpg"]