[{"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-88":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},2282455,4465,"Chapter 88: A Chance Encounter on the Journey","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>Leaving Black Rock City, Lin Xuan did not choose the fastest official post road. Instead, based on the map provided by Yue Qingtian, he selected a relatively remote route that would pass through several locations potentially containing special spiritual materials or ruins. He needed time to consolidate the gains from his trip to the Southern Wilderness, and he also wanted to gain a deeper understanding of this vast Tianyuan Dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He maintained a low profile, keeping his aura restrained at the early Nascent Soul stage, and slightly adjusted his appearance to look more ordinary, like a typical wandering Nascent Soul loose cultivator. The technique he used under his feet was not the highly spiritual-power-consuming \"Earth-Shrinking Step,\" but a simpler wind-riding technique. His speed was neither fast nor slow, allowing him to calmly observe the mountains, rivers, landscapes, and local customs along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tianyuan Dynasty possessed a vast territory, stretching millions of miles from east to west and north to south, governing nine provinces and a hundred commanderies. Cloud Wilderness Province, where Black Rock City was located, lay in the western part of the dynasty, adjacent to the Southern Wilderness. Its people were fierce, the terrain was filled with dense mountains and forests, and the spiritual energy was relatively violent and thin. As one traveled further east, closer to the \"Central Province\" where the imperial capital \"Tianyuan City\" was located, the terrain became flatter and more open, the spiritual energy grew richer and purer, and towns and villages were scattered like stars, with a clearly more prosperous cultivation civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, Lin Xuan saw scenes completely different from the western frontier. Massive spiritual boats shuttled through the clouds like floating cities, traveling between major cities. He could often see cultivator sects occupying spiritual mountains and blessed lands, setting up mountain-protecting arrays that covered dozens of miles, radiating thousands of rays of light. Some bustling gathering points for cultivators exceeded Black Rock City in both scale and liveliness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also heard more rumors about \"Jin Shisan\" and \"Lin Xuan.\" There were many versions, becoming more mysterious with each retelling. Some said Jin Shisan was the reincarnation of an ancient great power, possessing three heads and six arms, exhaling chaotic energy. Others said Lin Xuan was the successor of some hidden holy land, sent by his master to enter the world for training, specializing in slaying demons. Some even conflated the two, weaving even more bizarre stories. Regarding this, Lin Xuan merely smiled and dismissed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this day, he arrived at an area called \"Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley,\" located at the border between Cloud Wilderness Province and the neighboring \"Green Wood Province.\" This place was named for its abundance of a small demon beast called the \"Illusion Light Butterfly,\" whose scales were an important material for crafting high-tier illusion talismans. The scenery in the valley was beautiful, with babbling brooks and exotic flowers and herbs everywhere, full of spiritual energy, forming a sharp contrast to the ruggedness of the western wild mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan slowed his pace, enjoying this rare beautiful scenery, when his spiritual sense suddenly stirred. He detected a violent fluctuation of spiritual power coming from several dozen miles ahead, accompanied by a woman's sharp cries and the roars of demon beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He originally did not want to meddle in other people's business, but as his spiritual sense swept over, he discovered that among the two sides fighting, the side being besieged seemed to be a small team of human cultivators, and their situation was precarious. The ones besieging them were not Illusion Light Butterflies, but a group of fierce demon beasts with dark golden fur, resembling leopards and possessing a single horn on their foreheads—\"Gold-Splitting Leopards.\" The leader among them had an aura that had reached the peak of the fifth rank (equivalent to the late Nascent Soul stage)!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The highest cultivation base in this small team was only the mid Nascent Soul stage, and they all seemed to be injured. Being besieged by dozens of Gold-Splitting Leopards, the lowest of which were fourth rank (Golden Core stage), they were in extreme danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan frowned slightly. Gold-Splitting Leopards usually inhabited areas near mineral veins rich in metal-attribute spiritual energy. Although fierce by nature, they generally would not leave their territory to attack human cultivators in such a large, organized manner, especially in this Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley, which was dominated by wood-attribute spiritual energy. When things are abnormal, there must be a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, his figure moved silently toward the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley, on a chaotic clearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five cultivators stood back-to-back in a small circle, struggling to resist the tide-like attacks of the Gold-Splitting Leopard pack. These five consisted of three women and two men. Judging by their uniform blue-green outfits with a sword-shaped emblem embroidered on the cuffs, which featured a green vine wrapped around it, they appeared to be disciples of a certain sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader was a woman with a clear, beautiful face and a cold temperament, holding a long sword like autumn water. As the sword light flowed, it carried a biting chill. Her cultivation was at the mid Nascent Soul stage, and it was she who was confronting the peak fifth-rank Gold-Splitting Leopard King head-on. However, she was clearly at a disadvantage; a trace of blood had already spilled from the corner of her mouth, and the clothing on her left shoulder was torn, leaving several claw marks deep enough to see bone, with the destructive golden baleful energy lingering in the wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the other two women, one used dual short blades with agile movement, and the other played a zither, using sound waves to harass the enemy; both were at the late Golden Core stage. Of the two men, one held a giant shield with solid defense, and the other drew a long bow, his arrows like meteors; both were at the peak Golden Core stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They coordinated quite tacitly, clearly having acted together for many years, but under the absolute gap in strength and numbers, their protective light barrier was already crumbling. The man holding the shield was pale, and his giant shield was covered in deep claw marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Sister! We can't go on like this! This Leopard King is too strong, and these beasts seem to have gone mad!\" the woman using the dual short blades shouted anxiously, having also sustained several wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold woman, named Su Lingxue, was an inner-sect elite disciple of the \"Green Wood Sword Sect.\" She gritted her teeth and swung her sword, forcing back a pounce from the Leopard King, her voice carrying a trace of exhaustion and determination: \"It was my misjudgment. I didn't expect a Gold-Splitting Leopard King on the verge of breaking through to the sixth rank to be hidden here! I will hold it off; you find a chance to break out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No! Senior Sister, if we die, we die together!\" The woman playing the zither had tears in her eyes. The zither music suddenly became impassioned, and sound blades slashed toward the surrounding leopard pack, but with little effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gold-Splitting Leopard King seemed to possess high intelligence. Seeing that Su Lingxue was the core, it roared, and the dark golden fur all over its body stood on end like metal spikes. The golden light on its single horn condensed to the extreme, and it suddenly shot out an incredibly condensed golden beam, capable of piercing mountains, straight at Su Lingxue's heart!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This strike was fast, ruthless, and accurate! It contained the Leopard King's lifelong golden baleful demon power!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue's expression changed drastically. She could feel the terror of this strike; in her current state, taking it head-on would mean certain death! She struggled to hold her sword horizontally to block, the cold light on the blade flaring brightly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ice Lotus Protection!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A huge ice crystal lotus bloomed in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the golden beam instantly tore through the ice lotus and slammed fiercely into the sword blade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clang—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A harsh sound of metal clashing rang out. The long sword in Su Lingxue's hand wailed and flew out of her grip. She was hit as if by a heavy blow, spat out a large mouthful of blood, and flew backward, her aura instantly withering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Sister!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other four disciples were devastated and wanted to rescue her, but they were tightly entangled by more Gold-Splitting Leopards. They could only watch helplessly as a cruel light flashed in the Leopard King's eyes, and it pounced again toward the now defenseless Su Lingxue!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue looked at the blood-red maw and sharp claws drawing closer, a trace of despair and unwillingness flashing in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just at this critical moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A green figure, like a ghost, appeared silently between Su Lingxue and the Leopard King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person who arrived was naturally Lin Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even look at the pouncing Leopard King, but casually raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and tapped lightly on the forehead of the fierce Leopard King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no earth-shattering momentum, no dazzling spiritual light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like that, a simple, unadorned finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time seemed to freeze at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gold-Splitting Leopard King, which had been pouncing with the force of ten thousand jun, suddenly froze in mid-air. Its cruel, bloodthirsty eyes were instantly filled with boundless fear and disbelief. It felt a power of \"annihilation\" that it could not understand, could not resist, and that seemed to originate from the essence of heaven and earth, follow that finger, instantly invade its skull, extinguish its demon soul, and shatter its vitality!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Puff...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft sound, like a ripe fruit falling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incredibly fierce Gold-Splitting Leopard King, its skull harder than refined gold, shattered inch by inch from the inside out like weathered rock, finally turning into a cloud of dark golden dust that drifted in the air. Its massive headless body maintained its pouncing posture and slammed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deathly silence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was the remaining Gold-Splitting Leopard pack so frightened by this strange and terrifying scene that they stopped attacking, prostrating themselves on the ground and whimpering in fear, but even the four disciples of the Green Wood Sword Sect all froze in place, their mouths agape, looking like they had seen a ghost at the green-robed figure who had suddenly appeared and killed the peak fifth-rank Leopard King with a single finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue sat slumped on the ground, clutching her chest, staring blankly at the back in front of her, which was not tall but seemed capable of supporting the heavens. The daze of surviving a disaster and the extreme shock were intertwined, leaving her speechless for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan slowly withdrew his finger, his gaze calmly sweeping over the shivering Gold-Splitting Leopard pack. He didn't even release any pressure, but those Gold-Splitting Leopards seemed to have encountered a natural predator, whimpering, tucking their tails, and retreating rapidly like a tide, disappearing into the depths of the dense forest in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crisis was thus resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the four Green Wood Sword Sect disciples come to their senses, rushing to Su Lingxue's side to help her up and feed her elixirs to heal her wounds. Their gazes, meanwhile, glanced toward Lin Xuan with awe from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue suppressed her churning blood and, supported by her junior sister, walked to Lin Xuan, bowed deeply, and said in a voice that was weak but full of gratitude: \"Junior Su Lingxue of the Green Wood Sword Sect, thank you, my lord, for saving our lives! May I ask for your honorable name? We will certainly repay this kindness generously!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan turned around, glanced at her, and said indifferently: \"Just passing by, no need to be polite. Why did you attract the siege of the Gold-Splitting Leopard pack? This place is not their usual habitat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue hurriedly replied: \"Reporting to my lord, we were carrying out a sect mission to collect the pupae of the 'Illusion Light Butterfly King' here. Unexpectedly, near the Butterfly King's nest, we discovered a small 'Geng Metal Spiritual Marrow' mineral vein that had just been revealed, presumably due to a shift in the earth's veins. Just as we were about to collect it, we disturbed the Gold-Splitting Leopard pack that cultivates by relying on this mineral vein...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Metal Spiritual Marrow? Lin Xuan's heart stirred. This was a top-grade metal-attribute refining material, which had miraculous effects for tempering flying swords and increasing sharpness. Although it was of no great use to him, if the quantity was sufficient, it would be good for exchanging for other resources or for tempering the natal flying sword embryo he had obtained from the secret realm, which had not yet been fully refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that's how it is.\" Lin Xuan nodded. \"Your injuries are not light; this place is not suitable for staying long. Leave as soon as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue hesitated for a moment, then spoke: \"My lord's life-saving grace cannot be repaid. If not for my lord, we would not only have been unable to obtain that Geng Metal Spiritual Marrow mineral vein, but our lives would also have... I am willing to share the information about the mineral vein with my lord and offer the portion of spiritual marrow we have already collected as a token of our appreciation.\" She could see that Lin Xuan's strength was unfathomable, and befriending him would definitely be beneficial and harmless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan glanced at her and felt some appreciation for this woman's ability to know when to advance or retreat. \"Very well. Lead the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Su Lingxue's guidance, the group soon arrived in front of a hidden cliff deep in Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley. Below the cliff was a newly cracked fissure, from which rich Geng Metal energy emanated. The interior of the fissure was not large, but it indeed nurtured dozens of drops of Geng Metal Spiritual Marrow that looked like liquid gold, flashing with a sharp light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue put the dozen or so drops of spiritual marrow they had already collected into a jade bottle, respectfully handed it to Lin Xuan, and informed him in detail of the location of the remaining mineral vein.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan did not stand on ceremony; he accepted the jade bottle, swept his spiritual sense over the mineral vein, and memorized its location. These spiritual marrows were enough for him to perform an initial tempering of that natal flying sword embryo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for this.\" Lin Xuan said to Su Lingxue. \"You should return to your sect quickly to heal your wounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord...\" Su Lingxue seemed to want to say something more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan waved his hand, his figure flickered, and he had already turned into a green rainbow, disappearing into the distant sky, arriving suddenly and leaving freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue looked in the direction he disappeared, lost in thought for a long time, before finally, at her junior sister's reminder, withdrawing her gaze, her heart deeply imprinting that green-robed back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Sister, that lord was so powerful! What is his name?\" the young girl using the dual short blades asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingxue shook her head, a strange light flashing in her eyes: \"I do not know his name, but judging by his demeanor and bearing, he is definitely not a person who will remain in a pond. Perhaps... in the near future, we will hear his name again in the imperial capital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had a premonition that the radiance of this mysterious lord she met today would never be buried in this Cloud Wilderness frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley, Lin Xuan continued eastward. He found a quiet valley, opened a temporary cave dwelling, and took out the dozen drops of Geng Metal Spiritual Marrow and the natal flying sword embryo he had obtained from the inheritance of the Five Elements Loose Cultivator, which he had been nourishing with chaotic spiritual power but had never truly refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sword embryo was gray all over, seemingly unremarkable, but it contained chaos within and could accommodate ten thousand laws. Lin Xuan activated the Chaotic Dao Fire, tempering and fusing the Geng Metal Spiritual Marrow into the sword embryo bit by bit. He saw fine golden patterns gradually emerge on the gray sword embryo, flowing like blood vessels. The sword body trembled slightly, emitting a joyful, light hum, its sharpness restrained but appearing more profound and heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The initial tempering was completed, and the quality of the flying sword was raised by a large margin. Although it had not yet reached the level of a spiritual treasure, it far exceeded ordinary magic treasures. Lin Xuan stored it in his dantian and continued to nourish it with the Chaotic Dao Seed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After doing all this, he set off again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The closer he got to the heart of Green Wood Province, the more cultivators he encountered, and the news about the imperial capital became more well-informed. He heard that the imperial capital did not seem peaceful recently; undercurrents were surging among major forces, and they all seemed to be preparing for an upcoming grand event. At the same time, the discussion about \"Lin Xuan\" and \"Jin Shisan\" became increasingly intense, with some even opening bets on whether the two were the same person, and what kind of waves he would stir up if he arrived at the imperial capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this day, he was flying over a vast primeval forest when suddenly, from the sky far ahead, came a clear, piercing cry of a bird that could pierce gold and crack stone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately following, a terrifying aura that was incredibly scorching, as if it could burn the eight wildernesses, swept over like a storm! The distant sky was dyed a gorgeous and dangerous crimson red!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan's pupils shrank; he stopped his figure and looked toward that crimson sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw a huge, magnificent divine bird with an extraordinary wingspan that covered the sky, its whole body burning with raging green flames, engaged in an earth-shattering battle with a figure shrouded in hazy starlight!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That divine bird... its form was like a phoenix, its voice like a flute, its green flames burning the sky!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qingluan?!\" Lin Xuan's heart shook. This was a top-tier divine bird possessing the true spirit phoenix bloodline; an adult Qingluan's strength was comparable to a Soul Transformation cultivator!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the figure fighting the Qingluan, although shrouded in starlight and not clearly visible, used divine abilities that drew upon the power of the stars, transforming into countless star chains and destructive light beams. Its power was heaven-shaking, and it was actually able to fight the Qingluan to a draw!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Star power... such pure star path...\" Lin Xuan's gaze fixed, feeling the Dao rhyme emitted by the starlight figure. It actually felt somewhat homologous to the \"Zhou Tian Star Technique\" he cultivated, but it seemed more complete and more majestic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sudden battle occurring above Green Wood Province, comparable to the Soul Transformation level, instantly attracted the attention of all powerful cultivators within a radius of ten thousand miles!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xuan stood in the void, his sleeves fluttering in the energy storm coming from afar. He stared at the spectacular scene of the collision between the starry sky and the green flames, his eyes deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The road to the imperial capital, it seems, is much more exciting than he had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>",3263,"2026-06-20T01:44:26.720Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","a5c578a5fbb309de40af903ed7943d9effbac384fde45bb446df27c7a3d72033","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-89","this-villain-is-too-self-destructive-chapter-87",182,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-villain-is-too-self-destructive-cover.jpg"]